>
In Our WETLAB World
Earth Day Celebration Michelle Sherven, president of WETLAB, attended Earth Day event at Idlewild Park with KTMB
Conscious Communication We were proud to host HR Expert, Karyn Jensen to discuss mindful communication and intentional conversation with our team.
In Our Industry
Nevada Water & Wastewater Operators Conference Nick Ross, Operations Manager, and Mckenna Oh, Sparks Project Manager, presented at the Nevada Water & Wastewater Operators Conference in March.
Elko Mine Expo Check us out at the Elko Mine Expo June 5nd-6th at the Elko Convention & Conference Center. Visit our booth #111 to meet the team!
Our very own Operations Manager, Nick Ross, has been appointed to the Board of Trustees for Nevada Water Resources Association (NWRA) District 1 for Clark, Lincoln, Nye and Esmeralda Counties. As board member, he will be responsible for representing his district, advancing NWRA’s mission to protect Nevada’s water resources, and providing governance. Nick is looking forward to the opportunity to further advocate for water sustainability and the need to protect Nevada’s water resources.
In Our Community
Michelle Sherven, president of WETLAB, was featured in Northern Nevada Business Magazine during March Women’s Month. Check out the full article HERE.
WETLAB team members Jackie & Cassie inspiring the next generation of scientists at Fernley’s East Valley Elementary School Career Fair.
Coming Up: KTMB Great Community May 2nd
At WETLAB, we are committed to staying at the forefront of laboratory technology so we can continue providing high-quality analysis with the fast turnaround times our clients expect. As part of several facility upgrades planned throughout 2026, we’re excited to announce the installation of a new Velp Scientifica DKL Fully Automatic Digestion unit.
TKN digestion is a critical step in nitrogen analysis, used to convert organic nitrogen and ammonia in environmental samples into ammonium sulfate for measurement. It is an established method used across environmental, food, chemical, and agricultural testing and is recognized by major standards organizations, including EPA, ISO, AOAC, and DIN.
Our new unit improves both capacity and efficiency by allowing multiple samples to be processed at once. With fast block heating, precise temperature control, and automated programmable operation, it helps us increase throughput, improve consistency, and reduce turnaround time.
This investment also reflects our commitment to safer, more environmentally responsible lab practices. By moving from mercury oxide to copper sulfate in the digestion process, we are reducing the use of mercury-based chemistry while maintaining reliable analytical performance. That change supports industry and regulatory efforts to reduce hazardous mercury use in environmental testing.
Nitrogen analysis is essential in wastewater testing and environmental monitoring. Reliable TKN testing helps track nutrient levels, identify potential pollution concerns, and support compliance with environmental regulations for wastewater and runoff. With this new digestion unit in place, WETLAB is better equipped to deliver efficient, dependable nitrogen analysis while continuing to invest in the technology and processes that improve your overall client experience.
Maintaining samples within the proper temperature range is essential for preserving their integrity and ensuring accurate results from the laboratory. This can be especially challenging during the summer months, when high outdoor temperatures can quickly impact samples.
Analytical methods and environmental regulations require that most samples, except those for metals analysis, be received by the laboratory at a temperature of 2° – 6° C (35° – 42° F). From the time of sample collection through storage and transportation to the laboratory, temperature plays a fundamental role in preserving the quality of samples and preventing unwanted changes.
To help maintain proper temperatures, samples should always be transported in a cooler with wet ice or ice packs (commonly referred to as blue ice). Particularly during the summer, we recommend the use of wet ice over ice packs as wet ice is more effective at cooling. WETLAB can provide coolers and ice packs with your sampling supplies.
Additional actions can further improve temperature control. Keep coolers out of direct sunlight when possible and store them in shaded or air-conditioned areas. Limit how often the coolers are opened to help maintain internal temperature, and plan sample collection and delivery to reduce transport time during peak heat. It is also important to monitor and record sample temperatures during transport to document any deviations to assess potential impacts on quality.
As a certified laboratory, WETLAB is committed to delivering results that are accurate, reliable, reproducible, and defensible. Achieving this starts well before analysis, as quality results start in the field. We’re here to equip your team with the knowledge and resources necessary to preserve sample integrity from the moment of collection.
Meet Mckenna Oh, WETLAB Sparks Project Manager. Mckenna has been a valued member of the WETLAB team since 2019 when she began in the Client Services Department. In her current role as Project Manager, she facilitates communication and coordination between clients and analytical staff to ensure project requirements are clearly defined and met. Before stepping into her current role, Mckenna worked in sample control, where she managed the intake and logging of samples with precision and care.
You may have seen Mckenna around industry trade shows representing WETLAB and presenting expert sessions. She presented sessions at both the 40th Annual Tri-State Seminar in Aug 2025 and Nevada Water Resources Association (NWRA) Annual Conference in Feb 2026. Her recent sessions have covered Water Sample Collection Best Practices to educate members of regional water associations. Mckenna’s favorite part of her job is interacting with the wide variety of people she encounters daily.
Mckenna received a Bachelor of Science in chemistry from the University of Nevada, Reno. Outside of work, Mckenna is very active and likes to play tennis, pickleball, and golf. She loves traveling and is planning a trip to Germany for Oktoberfest this year. She is also a huge sports fan and loves to go to hockey and football games.
Keep your eyes out for Mckenna at our upcoming tradeshows!
Meet Caitrianna Bishop, Client Services Manager at WETLAB Sparks. Actually, you’ve probably already met Caitrianna via email or phone. And if you’ve visited WETLAB’s tradeshow booth, there’s a good chance you’ve met her face to face!
As the Client Services Manager she oversees project management, sales, accounts receivable, and the sample receiving team to ensure a seamless client experience. Throughout her 5 years with WETLAB, Caitrianna has dedicated herself to nurturing strong client relationships to provide the highest quality services. As a member of WETLAB’s leadership team, Caitrianna works collaboratively to enhance the overall client experience and support WETLAB’s continued growth.
Caitrianna graduated Cum Laude from Texas A&M University with a Bachelors in Environmental Science and a minor in Horticulture as well as receiving her Associate of Science from Brookhaven College. During university, Caitrianna was honored to be recognized with membership to The National Society of Leadership and Success, the nation’s largest accredited leadership honor society whose mission is to recognize, cultivate, and honor leaders while making a lasting, positive change in the world.
Caitrianna completed a Medical Foraging Internship with the Awakened Foundation, where she gained hands-on experience identifying and harvesting local plants and transforming them into tinctures, oils, teas, pastes, and other natural remedies. She also helped construct a greenhouse using recycled materials and cultivated plants used in product creation. This experience deepened her appreciation for sustainability, plant identification, and creative, resource-conscious practices.
Caitrianna is also active in the community, staying informed on public issues, and supporting initiatives that promote positive local impact.
With a strong foundation in environmental science, a passion for sustainability, and a client-first approach, Caitrianna plays a vital role in delivering the exceptional service WETLAB is known for. Her leadership, collaborative spirit, and dedication to building lasting client relationships continue to support both the success of WETLAB’s clients and the company’s continued growth.
One of the biggest innovations we have been working on, beginning in 2025, is the early development of WETLAB’s new LIMS system. This initiative represents a major step forward in saving time and improving efficiency across our processes, all of which support the delivery of high-quality service to our customers.
Another key area of progress has been the implementation of automated alerts and dashboards that provide employees with as close to real-time information as possible when they need it most. By improving visibility into results, job statuses, and critical process milestones, these tools help streamline communication and reduce delays. This increased awareness allows teams to respond more quickly and make informed decisions, supporting greater accuracy, timeliness, and consistency in day-to-day operations.
We have also devoted significant time to developing improvements that support invoicing workflows. These upgrades are designed to help our invoicing staff save time by maintaining a high level of accuracy, ensuring that charges are correct and clearly aligned with the services provided to our customers.
Looking ahead, we plan to double down on our efforts to continue building out the new LIMS system. Future development will include client self-service capabilities, improved ease of use and versatility for our employees. By leveraging technologies such as OCR and AI-driven tools, we aim to speed up key processes and reduce manual effort. Our ongoing goal is to deliver excellence and consistency in service for our clients, creating efficient, fulfilling workflows for our employees.
2025 was a year defined by teamwork, adaptability, and meaningful operational progress at WETLAB—focused on delivering a smoother, faster, and more transparent client experience. As team members transitioned into new roles across the laboratory and project support functions, cross-department collaboration became even more essential. These changes reinforced the strength of our internal partnerships and the value of cross-training to maintain continuity, flexibility, and consistent service.
We also strengthened our Sample Control team, welcoming two new Sample Control Specialists, and promoted Ash to Sample Control Lead. Ash brings valuable perspective from both Sample Control and Quality Assurance, helping reinforce process consistency, documentation accuracy, and coordination between incoming samples and downstream reporting. In addition, Scianna transitioned from Sample Control into the Project Management Assistant role, expanding our capacity to support client communication, sample tracking, and internal coordination—especially during high-volume periods.
A major focus throughout the year was improving efficiency and modernizing key systems that clients interact with directly. One of the most visible upgrades is how reports are delivered. Clients may notice reports now coming from our reporting@wetlaboratory.com email group. This updated reporting workflow replaced manual email distribution and has significantly improved the speed and reliability of report delivery by reducing manual steps, minimizing the potential for errors, and improving overall consistency. It also provides stronger visibility and tracking internally, so our Client Services team can quickly confirm when reports were sent and ensure the right recipients receive results without delay.
We also improved real-time workflow visibility by replacing our physical whiteboard with a virtual dashboard, giving our team a clearer, up-to-date view of sample status and priorities. This change supports faster internal decision-making, stronger cross-team alignment, and more responsive communication when clients need updates.
Looking ahead to 2026, we’ll continue investing in improvements that make working with WETLAB easier—streamlining workflows, enhancing communication, and expanding the tools available to help clients access their data quickly and confidently.
MyWETLAB is your portal to convenient access to results, reports, and project information. Need to get signed up? We’d love to help you get started. Please reach out to Caitrianna or Mckenna, and they can walk you through setup and ensure your team has access.
For WETLAB, 2025 was a highly productive year defined by measurable performance gains, strategic investment, and a deliberate focus on resilience and service continuity. Building on what we learned in 2024, we continued to refine our processes and communication workflows—resulting in an 8% improvement in turnaround time (TAT). More importantly for our clients, our average time to deliver results was kept to under two weeks, helping teams make faster decisions without sacrificing data quality or clarity.
A key driver of this improvement was the introduction of senior group lead roles, designed to strengthen both day-to-day execution and long-term facility development. One senior group lead focuses on production throughput and prioritization, while the other emphasizes facility systems, readiness, and continuous improvement. Together, these leaders have elevated consistency across the lab by ensuring staff maintain a shared understanding of sample and analysis status, proactively identifying bottlenecks, and turning operational feedback into actionable upgrades. We’re excited to see how these roles continue to mature and compound their impact in 2026.
As part of our commitment to reliable capacity and responsive service, we also made targeted investments in instruments and infrastructure—both to expand throughput and to build redundancy where it matters most. In 2025, we added and upgraded equipment including a second mercury (Hg) analyzer to dramatically increase capacity and reduce single-instrument risk. We also expanded and modernized critical preparation and analysis capabilities with additions such as an ammonia (NH) analyzer, a new fume hood, and replacement TKN digestion systems. Notably, the new TKN digestion technology is fully automated and significantly cleaner, improving both operational efficiency and the working environment while supporting more consistent processing.
Finally, we launched a company-wide initiative to strengthen cross-training and cross-functional coverage. For clients, this translates into greater reliability: cross-training helps ensure continuity during staff absences, reduces vulnerability to single points of failure, and improves our ability to surge capacity when project needs shift. For our team, it provides broader technical development and clear pathways for growth—supporting long-term retention and strengthening the expertise behind every dataset we deliver.
Overall, 2025 reinforced WETLAB’s commitment to what client’s value most: faster, more predictable turnaround; dependable capacity; and a lab team structured to deliver consistent, high-quality results—even as demand and complexity evolve.
In Our WETLAB World
Location Holiday parties
Las Vegas
Elko
Holiday Spirit Week Winners
In Our Industry
AEMA Annual Meeting
In Our Community
Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful Lunch & Learn: Recycling 101
Humane Society Holiday Drive benefitting animals in need in the community
Children’s Cabinet Adopt a Family benefitting families in need in our community
Reno Rescue
Ash has been volunteering at Reno Rescue as a Stable Moments mentor where she works with foster children to allow them to connect with a horse on the ranch.
MTO Youth Outdoor Skills Camp
Scianna dedicated time this summer volunteering at MTO Youth Outdoor Skills Camp helping kids make survival bracelets and sharpen their archery skills as well as generally supervising them throughout the two days she was there. Ask her about it for more details!
In September, WETLAB’s leadership team stepped away from the laboratory setting and into the outdoor learning environment at Project Discovery to participate in The Leadership Challenge (Full Ropes Course). This immersive program featured more than 40 low- and high-challenge events, designed to test not only physical ability but also collaboration, communication, and leadership skills in dynamic scenarios.
Building Skills Through Challenge
Each challenge required the team to work together in new ways, pushing boundaries and building confidence. Whether balancing across suspended beams, scaling ropes, or navigating complex team exercises, participants were continuously encouraged to rely on one another’s strengths. The experience emphasized the importance of adaptability in leadership, reminding us that growth often happens outside of our comfort zones.
After each event, the group came together for guided debrief sessions. These conversations created space to reflect on what was learned in the moment and how those insights could be applied back at WETLAB. Core themes included:
- Communication – Clear, direct, and respectful dialogue is the foundation of effective teamwork.
- Trust – Relying on one another under pressure reinforced the importance of mutual confidence among colleagues.
- Consistency – Delivering steady effort and dependable support, no matter the challenge.
- Empathy – Recognizing and valuing the perspectives and emotions of others.
- Second-Order Change – Going beyond surface-level adjustments to one that alters the system’s framework and requires new perspectives forced from crisis or forced confrontation with root causes.
These takeaways were applied with WETLAB’s core values, underscoring how intentional leadership development can strengthen the workplace culture.
Bringing Lessons Back to WETLAB
The ropes course was more than a physical test—it was a powerful metaphor for the leadership journey. The skills practiced in the field translate directly into how WETLAB approaches projects, solves problems, and fosters collaboration across teams. By embracing challenges, practicing empathy, and building trust, our leadership team is better equipped to guide WETLAB toward continued growth and innovation.
