Tony Torchia Special Recognition Award
The Tony Torchia Award is given to one person each year at our Annual Conference in recognition of special contribution to the water and/or wastewater fields in Vermont. The award was created by the board of directors in 2001 to honor former board member Tony Torchia.
2022 recipient Buddy Ball (right)
Recipients
Year
Recipient
Organization
2025
Eric Blatt
VT DEC Water Investment Division
2024
John Choate
City of Winooski
2023
Lance Colby
Elizabeth Walker
Fairlee Water Department
Vermont Rural Water & Sugarbush (retired)
2022
Buddy Ball
Lunenburg Fire Districts 1 & 2
2021
Marcel Mayhew
Village of North Troy Water and Wastewater
2020
Jim Fay
Champlain Water District (retired)
2019
Shaun Fielder
Vermont Rural Water Association (former Executive Director)
2018
Mark Simon
Simon Operation Services
2017
Dick Pratt
Champlain Water District (retired)
2016
Andy Fish
VT DEC Wastewater Management Division
2015
Ray Solomon
VT DEC Drinking Water Groundwater Protection Division
2014
Paul Olander
VT DEC Wastewater Management Division
2013
Don Phillips
Aldrich + Elliott
2012
Andy Rouleau
Graniteville Fire District #1
2011
Richard Kenney
Town of Hartford
2010
Ray Counter
Brandon Fire District #1
2009
Bob Wood
Saputo Cheese
2008
Brent Palmer
St Albans City Water Department
2007
Floyd LaFoe
Bellows Falls Water System
2006
Don Kittell
Town of East Fairfield
2005
Ruth Taylor
VT DEC Water Supply Division (retired)
2004
Gilles Blais
International Water Co. & Northeast Rural Water Association (board of directors)
2003
Rhonda Shippee
USDA Rural Development—Vermont
2002
Bernie Lucey
NH Department of Environmental Services
2025 — Eric Blatt, VT DEC Water Investment Division
2024 — John Choate, City of Winooski
2023 — Lance Colby, Fairlee Water Department
Elizabeth Walker, Vermont Rural Water & Sugarbush (retired)
2022 — Buddy Ball, Lunenburg Fire Districts 1 & 2
2021 — Marcel Mayhew, Village of North Troy Water and Wastewater
2020 — Jim Fay, Champlain Water District (retired)
2019 — Shaun Fielder, Vermont Rural Water Association (former Executive Director)
2018 — Mark Simon, Simon Operation Services
2017 — Dick Pratt, Champlain Water District
2016 — Andy Fish, VT DEC Wastewater Management Program
2015 — Ray Solomon, VT DEC Drinking Water Groundwater Protection Division
2014 — Paul Olander, VT DEC Wastewater Management Program
2013 — Don Phillips, Aldrich + Elliott
2012 — Andy Rouleau, Graniteville Fire District #1
2011 — Richard Kenney, Town of Hartford
2010 — Ray Counter, Brandon Fire District #1
2009 — Bob Wood, Saputo Cheese
2008 — Brent Palmer, St Albans City Water Department
2007 — Floyd LaFoe, Bellows Falls Water System
2006 — Don Kittell, Town of East Fairfield
2005 — Ruth Taylor, VT DEC Water Supply Division (retired)
2004 — Gilles Blais, International Water Co. & Northeast Rural Water Association (board of directors)
2003 — Rhonda Shippee, USDA Rural Development–Vermont
2002 — Bernie Lucey, NH Department of Environmental Services