National Ground Water Association Past President Merritt Partridge of Partridge Well Drilling Co. Inc. in Jacksonville, Florida, received the 2022 Florida Ground Water Association Dottie Mixon Roberts Member of the Year Award at its annual convention and trade show, June 2-4 in Orlando, Florida.
Recipients of this award have made significant contributions to the water well profession and championed the ideals and displayed the distinction and professionalism that water well licensees possess and are viewed as a positive example in the industry.
Partridge became NGWA president at Groundwater Week 2019, making him the youngest in Association history at 33 years old. He is only the second individual in NGWA’s 74 years to serve two years (2020 and 2021) instead of one due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Partridge guided NGWA through an uncertain time during the pandemic and helped the Association remain steady and profitable.
Named to Water Quality Products’ 2021 Class of Young Professionals, Partridge led the Association as president when it debuted the NGWA Learning Center, an online platform of educational sessions. He was also NGWA president when it partnered with Oklahoma State University to develop Drilling Basics, a set of online learning modules.