McGill is Happy to Welcome Tom Swartout to our Water / Wastewater Team!
Tom Swartout brings over 20 years of experience to McGill
Tom Swartout brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his new role as a senior project manager for McGill’s water / wastewater team. With over 20 years of experience in providing management, technical support, engineering, design, construction, and operations and maintenance services, Tom is equipped to handle the complex challenges faced in our industry.
When asked what led him to a career in engineering, Tom said, “I’ve always been good at science and math – those subjects came naturally to me in school. I was fortunate to have a great AP chemistry teacher in high school that sparked my interest in chemistry. My father is a civil engineer (now retired), and I was encouraged to study engineering after high school as it seemed like a good fit for me. I’ve worked in several different facets of engineering throughout my career and found enjoyment in the common thread of developing cost-effective solutions to help people solve technical problems.”
BIOLOGICAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT PROCESSES
One of Tom’s main interests and key areas of expertise lies in activated sludge wastewater treatment processes. “Shortly after graduating from Virginia Tech, I took a temporary engineering position, supporting the operation of an industrial wastewater treatment plant. This work sparked my interest in biological wastewater treatment and ultimately led me to Clemson to pursue an advanced degree in this field.” Tom’s specialized training and extensive experience with a wide variety of biological wastewater treatment plants allow him to quickly identify design or operational issues and develop technical solutions to improve process designs and enhance operability.
MUNICIPAL PUBLIC WORKS EXPERIENCE
Tom’s first-hand experience serving as a public works water resources engineer for a capital city gives him with valuable insight on public infrastructure projects. Tom wrote Capital Facilities Plans for the drinking water and sewer utilities, initiated and managed capital projects utilizing internal and external engineering design staff, and implemented technical solutions to improve service to citizens and control utility rates. This municipal sector experience provides a “project owner” lens through which Tom views municipal projects, enabling him to better assess the unique challenges faced by our clients and develop cost-effective solutions that meet their specific needs.
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND INDUSTRIAL CLIENTS
In addition to having supported public projects as both a municipal employee and an engineering consultant, Tom has worked on many water and wastewater projects for government agencies and industrial clients, nationwide. This breadth of project experience with public and private sector clients has equipped Tom with the skills to navigate the intricacies of local, state, and federal regulations and permit requirements. This experience is invaluable in ensuring that McGill’s projects meet all necessary standards and guidelines set forth by relevant authorities.
ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS
Tom is passionate about preserving the environment and makes it a point to incorporate environmental best practices into his work whenever possible. “I have always been concerned with environmental ethics. Working in the water / wastewater field has allowed me to apply my skills to support work on the greener side of things.”
STRONG COMMUNICATION SKILLS
What sets Tom apart is his ability to understand and communicate the needs and constraints of municipal clients. Tom’s knack for communicating technical information to non-technical stakeholders is an asset to McGill. In an industry that often deals with complex concepts and terminology, it is crucial to be able to effectively convey information in an understandable way to a wide audience. This capacity allows for better collaboration between clients, stakeholders, and project teams, leading to more efficient and successful outcomes.
WE ARE SO GLAD TO HAVE TOM ON BOARD AT MCGILL
Tom will undoubtedly enhance McGill’s ability to serve our clients throughout the southeast.
Tom said, “I took the job at McGill because I wanted to work with a great group of people that I saw were delivering critical projects to serve our local communities. I am grateful to be a part of such a smart and dedicated team. The culture here is unmatched.”
As Tom embarks on this new chapter of his career at McGill, we are confident that his passion for developing cost-effective solutions that protect the environment, his technical expertise and breadth of work experience, and his effective communication skills will contribute significantly to our ongoing success.
LEARN MORE
Click here to read more about McGill’s water / wastewater capabilities and learn how we can help you with your next project!
