Duperon sales manager Steve Aiken wins 2026 MWEA President’s Award

Duperon Corporation Regional Sales Manager Steve Aiken has been selected for the 2026 President’s Award from the Michigan Water Environment Association. The honor recognizes his five-decade wastewater career, hands-on plant operations experience and broader impact on the water sector. Why it matters: - The MWEA President’s Award spotlights leaders whose work has shaped Michigan’s water sector and influenced wastewater operations more broadly. - Steve Aiken’s recognition underscores the value of field experience in helping utilities and engineering firms solve treatment-plant challenges. - The award also reflects long-term service in an industry where operational expertise can affect public health and environmental performance. What happened: - Duperon Corporation said Regional Sales Manager Steve Aiken was selected to receive the 2026 President’s Award from the Michigan Water Environment Association. - The MWEA President’s Award is hand-selected by the MWEA President. - The award recognizes individuals for leadership, stewardship and meaningful impact on the water sector. - Duperon announced the honor on June 18, 2026, in Saginaw, Michigan. The details: - Aiken’s wastewater career began in 1971, when he joined Michigan’s Oakland County DPW as a plant operator. - He has served in nearly every role in wastewater, including operator, superintendent and engineer. - Aiken has worked as a licensed operator for more than 40 wastewater treatment facilities. - In his role at Duperon, Aiken works with municipal utilities and engineering firms across the United States and Canada. - His territory includes Michigan and several East Coast states. - Aiken has been with Duperon for 15 years and has helped support a significant portion of the company’s North American market. - Mark Turpin, president of Duperon Corporation, said Aiken brings deep technical knowledge, real-world operational experience and a commitment to helping treatment plants succeed. - Aiken is a Vietnam veteran, father of three, grandfather of six and great-grandfather of one. Between the lines: - The award gives outside validation to a career built on practical wastewater experience rather than only sales leadership. - Aiken’s path from plant operator to regional sales manager suggests Duperon is valuing field credibility as much as product knowledge. - The recognition also reinforces MWEA’s role in elevating professionals who combine technical skill with service to the water community. What’s next: - Aiken will be recognized as the 2026 President’s Award recipient by MWEA. - Duperon is likely to continue leaning on Aiken’s operational background in work with utilities and engineering partners across North America. The bottom line: - The award honors a wastewater veteran whose decades of hands-on experience have translated into industry influence and customer-facing impact.