City Employee Receives Laboratory Analyst of the Year Award

Jackie McCloud, Environmental Projects Analyst received local, state and federal awards of excellence for her outstanding work with the City of Watsonville.

• Laboratory Person of the Year from the California Water Environment Association - Monterey Bay Section (Local)
• Laboratory Analyst of the Year from the California Water Environment Association (State)
• Laboratory Analyst Excellence from the Water Environment Federation (National)

Jackie is one of only a few members of the CWEA-Monterey Bay Section to have received the National Award from the Water Environment Federation. She is the current President of the CWEA-Monterey Bay Section and is a member of the Young Professionals in the Water Environment Federation.

Jackie was hired in 2008 by the City of Watsonville as a Water Quality Chemist and in August of 2013 was promoted to Environmental Projects Analyst. She holds a grade 4 certification as a lab technician, the highest certification.

In her new role with the City as an Environmental Projects Analyst, has secured a $750,000 grant to help treat Pinto Lake for its blue-algae problem. She has jumped right into water infrastructure grant applications and has applied for over 30 million in grants, and is working on FEMA flood control, water supply and water quality issues!

Jackie is a Water Programs/Community Education Instructor at Gavilan Community College where she is currently teaching an introductory class to water and wastewater technology, ensuring  to bring more people into this field of work.

Congratulations Jackie!