Meet Brad VanAnderson, the 2022 Analyst of the Year. He is an Analyst II at Metro Water Recovery. He has been an excellent overall contributor to the lab and has had a stellar year in particular.

Brad is in technical charge of the large nutrient analysis area at Metro. This area includes four nutrient instruments and a changing cadre of about 8 analysts. There are about 25000 individual nutrient analyses performed by this group annually (not including the requisite QC samples). Brad has responsibility of the general health of this area, including throughput, data quality, troubleshooting, developing methods, creating and updating SOPs, and signing off on training. This is an extremely busy area, and it is functioning at a high level under Brad.

Brad also does more than lead the standard work in the nutrient area; he also works to improve and meet changing customer needs. Recently Brad was asked to rush create a new method for ammonia with an MDL 5-10 times lower than our current MDL. Brad was able to test, proof, and bring this analysis into production smoothly and within a few weeks.

Brad is also looking to the future. With the disappearance of Lachat from the nutrient analyzer scene, Brad was concerned about replacements for our current Lachat instruments, and he recently organized two separate on-site demos with different vendors. He has given full reviews of the instruments and their capabilities to management. His initiative and thoroughness are notable, and having this info now is very helpful for future planning and budgets.

Brad is currently co-leading an effort to have same day TAT for certain sludge samples that are of high value to Metro’s operational health. He has exhibited creativity, sound science, and leadership in making this happen. One day turn around on sludge nutrients is not altogether easy! Additionally, Brad has been asked to reduce TAT in general in the nutrient area and he is approaching this with enthusiasm and clear ideas.

Brad is also continually seeking to help, and he has volunteered to learn other analyses and tasks that the lab needed done, even though they are not glamourous assignments. Brad is also continually seeking to grow, and he recently completed training in our metals area. Not only was his training completed in record time, but Brad is now part of a rare group of Metro analysts to become proficient in both metals and nutrients. Of note, Brad is also the only analyst at Metro to pass the RMWQAA Level Three exam.

Brad is one of the rare analysts that not only meet and exceed their responsibilities, but that expand the position completely to where his standard work is levels above the requirements. Brad’s flexibility, enthusiasm, and intellect help Metro daily, and what he has accomplished in the last year in particular has been very worthy of the honor of being the RMWQAA Analyst of the Year.