Trainer Spotlight

Cla-Val is known as a leader in the water industry for manufacturing automatic control valves. From developing hydraulic actuated globe valves in the late 1930s to providing advanced electronic and hydraulic control systems today, Cla-Val is well known for quality materials and customer service. The dedication to their customers extends past service to providing dedicated training and helping the industry solve any problem they may encounter. Pennsylvania Rural Water Association would like to spotlight Andrew Furman and Jim Graber from Cla-Val and recognize the part they play in helping industry professionals understand control valve operation and maintenance.

Andrew is a graduate of Kean University, and since 2017, he has been an Area Sales Manager with Cla-Val. With 12 years under his belt at Cla-Val, Jim, a graduate of Ohio State University, proves that once you enter the water industry, you are here to stay. Jim enjoys the industry because of the challenging work, learning/doing something new every day, and the ability to lend a hand to keep the water flowing. Like so many of us in the industry, they note there are a lot of people who have been in the industry for a long time and are nearing retirement age. Replacing experienced staff is a big challenge, but Jim has noted that those entering the industry are high-energy and eager to learn!

A bit of advice offered to the industry is to not be afraid to ask questions. Operators need to understand that if they have a question, it is more than likely someone else has the exact same question, but they are not willing to ask. Operators need to understand industry professionals are very willing to share their knowledge and help, but they can’t if operators don’t ask. The staff at Cla-Val enjoy providing training classes and love the interactions with the attendees and helping them feel more comfortable working with control valves. They enjoy the troubleshooting section of the class and relating to real-world problems operators encounter. For all these reasons and more, the Pennsylvania Rural Water Association would like to say “thank you.”