Connecting to Serve
Trent Duncan
Water Resources Superintendent, Town of Weaverville
For millions of Americans, access to clean water for a drink, a bath, or a load of laundry is as simple as twisting a knob.
Trent Duncan counts himself among those who took it for granted—until he began his career in public water services at age 19 in Hendersonville. Now with 20 years of experience in the field, Duncan possesses a unique understanding of what it takes to distribute clean water to thousands of households and businesses in his community.
In 2008, Duncan joined the Town of Weaverville in western North Carolina as an operator in their water treatment plant. Twelve years later, he leads a team of five as the water resources superintendent.
“I had no clue about water treatment,” Duncan laughs. “Now, I oversee everything dealing with treatment, including plant expansions, upgrades, and dealing with on-site contractors.”
The public’s lack of understanding about water treatment creates challenges for Duncan and his team. Repairs and improvements on specialized equipment are costly and communicating those budget requests requires finesse.
“When we need funding, it’s a major hurdle for us to overcome,” Duncan said. “People don’t realize how expensive it is to run this operation, and just because we see the need for something doesn’t mean other people understand it.”
Duncan would find the opportunity to improve his leadership and communication skills by way of a pitch from LGFCU Fellows Program Director Willow Jacobson to Municipal and County Administration course participants.
“I watched the videos online of Fellows alumni and listened to what people had to say,” Duncan said. “It intrigued me. I wanted to learn more about myself, help people on my team maximize their talent, and get better at my public speaking with councils and managers.”
From his earliest experiences with the program—including a personal phone call from an alumnus—Duncan recognized that the Fellows program would be unlike anything else he had participated in.
“I went into the course with a sense of excitement about what I would gain from the experience,” Duncan said. “I left with tons of new knowledge, techniques, and new people I could contact for advice or help in any situation.”
Duncan has put this knowledge to work, gaining greater self-confidence as a leader and as a public speaker. These skills are useful when he faces the challenges of communicating about water treatment and his department’s needs—a topic many of his peers might struggle to understand.
The Fellows program completely changed the way I think about nearly every aspect of being in the public service sector.
— TRENT DUNCAN
“Fellows helped me learn to think creatively and use visualizations when speaking about these complex topics,” Duncan said. “The knowledge I gained in the program has given me the tools to be able communicate effectively with mayors, council members, and managers.”
For Duncan, who has spent his entire career in water services, participating in the Fellows program was eye-opening. The cohort experience helped Duncan and his peers broaden their understanding of other viewpoints, but also find a great deal of common ground.
“The Fellows program completely changed the way I think about nearly every aspect of being in the public service sector,” Duncan said. “I was around people from all walks of life who had all types of jobs and job-related issues. It reminded me that almost everything can be dealt with if you can find a way to connect with others in a caring way.”