Four Different Careers – One Common Thread

Twenty-eight, 27, 19, and 18. That’s how many years Metering Specialist David Gnau, Plumber Leader Shawn Shaw, Project Engineer Mike Meyer, and Emergency Turner Tim Johnson have served at Louisville Water, respectively.

As they get ready to retire at the end of July, there’s a lot of time for reflection. While they had four different careers, there is one common thread – each one has great pride in Louisville Water and the work that they do.

To quote the Chinese philosopher Confucious, “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”

“I go home and tell my wife every day that I love my job. I really do,” Johnson shared. “It’s kind of gratifying to help people out, fix their problems. If I can’t fix it, then I get it taken care of.”

Johnson spent many years working with a crew.

“I liked the helper job [plumber leader’s assistant]; I’m just getting too old for it,” he said.

Now, as an emergency turner, Johnson’s often by himself. Gnau knows a lot about that. He’s worked nearly his entire career in metering. While he may not love all the driving, it takes him to his happy place.

Gnau said his favorite part of the job is “being outside and meeting with customers. I love the outdoors. I love being outside. I’ve made a lot of friends out here.”

Like Johnson, Gnau enjoys going that extra step for our customers.

“Helping them, especially with leaks and showing them what to do; how to fix it and what roads to go down (to find a solution), things like that,” he said.

As a project engineer, Mike Meyer’s job looks a little different. While you’ll usually find him working on large infrastructure project plans, he remembers his early days as the engineer based at the Allmond Avenue Distribution Center where Shaw, Johnson, and Gnau work.

“I really enjoyed my time there. I learned a lot about our field pipeline system and spent much time in the field. I worked alongside the emergency turners helping with transmission main shutoffs for pipeline assessment projects,” Meyer explained. “I also managed the critical main reduction program, where I worked directly with critical customers planning their shutoff to install valves each side of their service.”

In his 19 years, Meyer’s imprint is felt across Louisville Water’s vast network of pipes carrying water to nearly a million people in our community. That includes overseeing the current project to replace the 130-year-old water main running under Oak Street.

But his favorite assignment?

“The I-64 Transmission project. It was approximately 3.5 miles of new 36-inch steel pipeline. It was the first time we used steel transmission pipe. I built two pipe carts that the inspector and I wheeled through the entire length of pipe for internal inspection before placing the pipe in service.”

Shaw’s most memorable experience takes us to eastern Kentucky. He was part of the group who answered the call for help after catastrophic flooding in July 2022 severely damaged part of the water system in Perry County.

“Helping out the Hazard community and getting them back ‘in water’ and just doing service work with them,” immediately came to Shaw’s mind when asked about one of his favorite moments.

It’s that same sense of service and community that drives his commitment here at home. Whether it’s working with fire hydrants, installing a new service line, or repairing a broken water main, Shaw’s boots have always been on the ground.

“It’s a service we provide to the community for drinking water and fire protection. We maintain that on a daily basis,” he said, adding, “It’s been rewarding in the sense that I was able to help out the community for one thing, but the number one thing was it gave me a good opportunity to take care of my family.”

A sentiment echoed by Gnau.

“It has provided me a great life. All my days have been good here.”

As a third-generation employee at Louisville Water, Gnau said, “I thought I would be here longer. My dad wanted me to work 33 years so the Gnaus would have a hundred-year tradition here. I told him there’s no way I’m going to make it that long,” he chuckled.

With 28 years, he can certainly leave with his head held high.

Looking ahead, Meyer said, “I will miss the ride into work every day. I will miss my noon downtown bike rides with friends. I will dearly miss the faces of my coworkers and the light joking around. I do like managing projects and I’ve had some good ones!”