Celebrating Employee Anniversaries

“Great place to work. Great people,” said Regional Development Director Jim Smith. He was one of nearly 60 Louisville Water employees recognized at the Louisville Water Tower last Thursday during the presentation of the company’s 2024 Service Awards.

“For many, working at Louisville Water is a source of pride,” said Vice President Kelley Dearing Smith, who emceed the event. She pointed out several highlights in the company’s history, including Louisville’s Water’s longest serving employee: J. Baxter Kremer, who worked from 1897 to 1954 — 57 years!

“The mission drives our work, but for many of us, it’s the people, the culture that keeps us here,” Dearing Smith said.

Employees at the event last week were honored for reaching 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, or 40 years of service. A range of gifts were presented, including actual meter lids that Cross Connection Specialist Tim Meyer had crafted into clocks.

Jim Smith was honored for his four decades with Louisville Water. He said he has fond memories of working in the corporate office that was located where the Omni Louisville Hotel is now. Serving under five company presidents, he helped Louisville Water through taste and odor events, droughts, and oil spills, and he has been instrumental in growing the company’s regionalization efforts to the south, east, and north of our service area.

“Forty years goes by fast,” he said.