We’re so excited to introduce you to our laboratory director, Andy Smith! With nearly 30 years of experience in the field, Andy is an expert in lab processes and quality assurance. 

Andy kicked off his WETLAB career over two decades ago as a lab analyst and quickly climbed the ranks to lab supervisor and lab manager. Having been in roles ranging from quality assurance manager to the laboratory director since 2007, Andy has now held a lab management role for as long as Taylor Swift has held hers in the music industry. 

What really makes Andy shine is his combination of hands-on know-how and fantastic relationships with regulatory agencies. He knows our analyses inside and out, and his experience in data review ensures that we not only meet, but exceed, our clients’ needs. He maintains strict compliance and practice standards, working closely with regulators, lab certification officers, and our own personnel to ensure that WETLAB remains the top-of-the-line environmental testing laboratory in Nevada.

Andy’s enthusiasm for the environmental lab industry is contagious. We’re lucky to have him on board, and we can’t wait to see how his expert direction continues to elevate our work. 

We are very honored to be nominated in NNBW’s Best in Business for Best Technology Company/Firm and Most Philanthropic – Over 30 Employees! Thank you so much to our amazing community for your continued support. Congrats to all the nominees! You can cast your votes here until October 27th, 2024: https://www.nnbw.com/bestinbusiness2024/#/gallery

Western Environmental Testing Laboratory announced Cheyenne Holter has been promoted to sample
control manager.

With nearly three years of experience, Holter was previously the sample control lead at WETLAB. In this
position her duties included processing the intake of samples, sample control systems, personnel, and
assisting clients.

Holter earned a Bachelor of Science in geoscience at Pacific Lutheran University in Washington. In her new
role, Holter will manage sample control infrastructure that supports WETLABs daily operations.
This includes supervising sample control personnel and couriers, scheduling courier routes, and ensuring
samples are properly received and processed for analysis.

See full article here.

In Our WETLAB World

WETLAB’s 22nd Birthday

Our team had a blast on May 6th for WETLAB’s 22nd Birthday! Thank you to our amazing employees and to all those who have supported us over the last 22 years. We appreciate all of you!

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Garry’s Retirement 

While we are sad to see Garry go, we all consider ourselves lucky to have been able to work with such a great human being. For the past eight years, Garry has been an integral part of WETLAB and we will miss his friendship and amazing sense of humor dearly!

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Kara – Woman of Achievement

Congratulations to the Nevada Women’s Fund’s 2024 Woman of achievement, Kara Ansell. We are so proud to have her as a member of our team and look forward to seeing what accomplishments she achieves next!

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Stampede Lake Camping Trip 

While WETLAB’s Environmental Club focuses on establishing ways we as a company can become sustainable, they are also responsible for planning outings that facilitate our team spending more time in nature. At the beginning of August, 13 of WETLAB’s team members and their families spent a beautiful weekend camping at Stampede and Boca Resevoirs.

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Safety Training 

Maintaining and continuously improving our safety procedures is paramount to ensuring the well-being of our staff. WETLAB’s Sparks facility recently worked with Legacy Fire Services for a fire drill to ensure all systems in the facility are functioning optimally in the event of an emergency. As our service offerings increase and our teams grow, we are expanding our training offerings to provide staff more frequent equipment training with our vendors and refresher safety protocol trainings.

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Summer BBQ 

During WETLAB’s monthly BBQ, our Business Office Manager Keith Schwartz showed off his grill skills. 

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Aces Game 

WETLAB’s teams exceeded reporting goals for the second quarter. To thank our hardworking staff the whole crew, family, and friends were invited out to a night at a Reno Aces game! Some of the staff at our Elko facility even made the journey to Reno. 

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In Our Industry

Elko Mining Expo Recap 

WETLAB returned to exhibit at this year’s Elko Mining Expo in June.  Held each summer, the Elko Mining Expo is one of the oldest and most notable events in the mining industry. A cornerstone of the mining industry and Northern Nevada, the expo attracts hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of community members. 

Since opening Western Environmental Testing’s second laboratory in Elko in 2006, WETLAB has been dedicated to contributing to the safety and well-being of the area by providing data for environmental solutions. It is always a pleasure for our team to engage with students and families attending the Elko Mining Expo, providing education on the environmental testing that supports their communities and local mines. 

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Tri State Seminar 

Mckenna, Jill, and Nick made their way from Sparks to Las Vegas to exhibit at Tri-State Seminar August 6-7, 2024. Each year, Tri-State Seminar brings together thousands of water and wastewater professionals from California, Nevada, and Arizona. The team had a blast at the opening showcase, enjoying some classic Elvis Presley and country music by Sam Riddle. Congrats to WETLAB’s raffle winner, David from JBS Tolleson!

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In Our Community

Employee Volunteer Spotlight: Lauren Craig/Kicks for a Cause 

WETLAB was proud to have the opportunity to be a sponsor of Kick for a Cause kickball tournament again this year. Lauren, our Invoicing and Reporting Coordinator, invited us to support this great organization which provides resources to families of special needs children.

McClelland Golf Recap

WETLAB’s teams had a ball at the 34th Annual McClelland Literacy Foundation Golf Tournament on July 13, 2024. Garry Gray may have recently retired as WETLAB’s Business Development Manager, but he has returned to ensure we keep up our reputation in the golf game.  

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GOTR Breakfast 

In July, Girls on the Run held their Limitless Potential Breakfast. It was a morning of fun, inspiration, and delicious, healthy breakfast food. At this event, GOTR was able to raise $17,050 to further support the young girls of our community. 

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Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), otherwise known as ‘forever chemicals’, are a large group of human-made chemicals that have been used in various industrial and consumer products since the 1940s. These substances have been used in a wide range of applications, including:

• Firefighting foam: PFAS are used in some fire-suppressing foams because they can form a barrier that smothers flames.
• Nonstick cookware: PFAS are used to create a nonstick surface on cookware like frying pans.
• Stain-resistant fabrics: PFAS can be found in stain-resistant treatments for carpets, upholstery, and clothing.
• Water-repellent coatings: Used in products to make them resistant to water and grease.

These wide-spread occurrences are cause for real concern. Current scientific evidence indicates that exposure to PFAS can lead to various adverse health effects in humans, such as elevated cholesterol levels, immune system impacts, certain cancers, thyroid hormone disruption, and lower birth weights in infants.

Therefore it’s crucial to monitor and understand the levels of exposure affecting both humans and the environment. A holistic approach to observing PFAS is necessary seeing as they can be released into the air, earth, and water. Not even drinking water is safe from potentially harmful exposure. 

While testing for PFAS takes highly specialized equipment and lab processes, Enthalpy Analytics has been pioneering methods to not only identify the presence of PFAS, but also treat them accordingly. Wetlab is proud to work with Enthalpy Analytic by offering PFAS testing to our clients. Continuing our pursuit of the very best environmental testing possible, Wetlab is dedicated to the health and safety of our community.

Meet Kara, System Administrator at WETLAB. She enjoys gaming, gardening, and sanitized databases.

 

With over a decade of experience honing skills in the dynamic world of IT and Information Systems, both as a professional and a hobbyist, Kara brings a wealth of knowledge to our team. Holding a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and an Associate’s Degree in Information Systems, she is committed to pushing the boundaries of technological possibilities. 

 

As a proud member of both the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), Kara is dedicated to bridging the gap between businesses and technology. Whether it’s coding, delivering data analytics, or implementing new processes through software, she thrives on the excitement of enhancing business operations. 

 

Kara brings her passion to WETLAB by creating time-saving automations, such as the new proprietary client portal, MyWETLAB. This portal revolutionizes the way you can engage with our services and streamline your experience. This allows you to easily track orders, access documents, and to eventually have the capabilities to view real-time results, meaning you don’t have to wait for the full report to start seeing testing results. In May 2024, Kara was honored as one of Nevada Women’s Fund’s 2024 Women of achievement. We are so proud to have her out in the community, representing WETLAB! 

On May 23, 2024, at the Downtown Reno Ballroom, our very own Kara Ansell was celebrated at the Women of Achievement Awards. Originally from Winslow, Arizona, Kara holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and an Associate of Science in Information Technology. With nearly six years at WETLAB, Kara has been instrumental in crafting user-centric software and innovative automations. Her blend of quirkiness and creative thinking drives her to devise smart tech solutions for business challenges, with Java as her go-to language. Kara’s recognition at this event, Reno’s largest business luncheon, highlighted her outstanding contributions to our organization and the broader community. Known as a huge (self-proclaimed) fantasy nerd, Kara’s passion and dedication have made a significant impact, inspiring all of us at WETLAB.

In Our WETLAB World

Celebrating WETLAB Anniversaries

We love celebrating around here, especially when we have the opportunity to celebrate our people. Congratulations to Sam, who recently celebrated his 5 year anniversary with WETLAB and to Nick, who reached a major milestone recently, celebrating 20 years with the company. You are both integral parts of our team and are so appreciated. Thank you for your dedication!

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Welcome Aurora Lynn Pierce!

Our WETLAB family grew recently! Caitrianna Bishop, client service manager, welcomed a healthy baby girl on February 4th. Congratulations on your new addition!

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Gigi UNLV Training

We are excited to share that Gigi Herchik, our lab manager in Las Vegas, has begun continuing education courses at UNLV for their Management Certificate program. By the end of the program, she’ll have gained a comprehensive understanding of the tools a supervisor/manager must have to lead a team to its full potential.  Through these courses, Gigi will develop skills in conflict management, communications, people/team management, project management, and managing diversity in the workplace. Gigi’s dedication to further developing her leadership skills will undoubtedly benefit our team and enhance our service to you.

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In Our Industry

 

Nevada Water Resources Association Conference

We had a great time at the annual NWRA conference in Las Vegas. We enjoyed keynote speakers, Senator Cleave Simpson, Rio Grande Water Conservation District and Adam Sullivan, P.E., Nevada State Engineer.

 

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SME Annual Conference & Expo

McKenna and Nick had a great time in Phoenix last month showing off our new trade show booth at the annual SME Conference. The SME Annual Conference & Expo stands out as the premier platform for showcasing diverse mining research. The extensive Expo offers firsthand insights into cutting-edge mining technologies and advancements, fostering collaborative interactions with top industry vendors for innovative partnerships. We are always thrilled to be there!

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2024 NvRWA Annual Training, Technical Conference and Expo

Mckenna completed a wonderful presentation with the State of Nevada regarding proper sample collection techniques at the 2024 NvRWA Annual Training, Technical Conference, and Expo, held in early March at the Nugget Resort Casino in Sparks.  This annual gathering remains an exceptional chance for participants to connect with vendors, enhance their expertise, accrue contact hours, and engage with peers in the Drinking and Wastewater sectors.

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Save the Date: Elko Mining Expo

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In Our Community

Employee Volunteer Spotlight: Washoe County Search and Rescue

Meet Hollie Timmons, project manager in Sparks! She is a dedicated volunteer with Washoe County Search and Rescue. This year she has been fortunate to participate in Backcountry EMS and Avalanche Training. 

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Save the Date: Girls on the Run Mini Golf

Girls on the Run Sierras is hosting their mini-golf event on Saturday, May 11th from 11 AM- 1PM at Wild Island. This is a day for all GOTR girls, families and supporters to come together and enjoy a few hours of fun in the sun. There is no need to register before the event- families are encouraged to just show up! We are so honored to support this great organization.

 

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We are thrilled to announce that WETLAB is now the proud sponsor of the Galena High Lacrosse team! 🥍

This sponsorship reflects WETLAB’s commitment to supporting local communities and fostering the spirit of teamwork and excellence in our youth. As the team takes the field, they will not only represent their school but also the dedication and support of WETLAB. Here’s to a season of great games and greater achievements. Go Grizzlies!