Employee Spotlight: Matt Erickson, Operations Manager

Matt Erickson , PE, truly believes in the power of water. He only needs a glass of H2O to get going every morning – he has never had a drop of coffee. It is a testament to Matt’s innate positive energy and the power of hydration.

His commitment to water began during his internship with AE2S. Growing up, he enjoyed math and science and got involved in engineering and drafting classes in high school, which guided him when selecting his college major. During his internship with AE2S, Matt experienced a variety of projects including surveying, road design, water, and wastewater treatment, as well as construction and resident project representative (RPR) services. “After shadowing some passionate water engineers and seeing how the projects I was working on impacted the community, I realized I shared that same passion. I’ve been committed to water ever since,” he says.

Matt earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering and a Master of Engineering in Civil Engineering with an Environmental Emphasis from the University of North Dakota.? Now, more than 10 years later, Matt is the Operations Manager for the AE2S office in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. “In addition to our commitment to our clients and projects, AE2S is very committed to our staff and their career development.?I am appreciative of the opportunities I have had for professional training and personal growth, and I truly enjoy working with our staff amongst all our offices,” Matt says with a smile.

As Operations Manager, he is responsible for office management in addition to his engineering duties managing projects and designing water systems. “I really enjoy working collaboratively with our clients through the design process and then getting out into the field and seeing those projects transition from design to reality through the construction process. I’ve helped communities optimize both water and wastewater treatment systems through design and implementation of processes such as pretreatment, ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis, distribution system improvements, and storage to help them provide better, safer, more reliable water,” says Matt. “It is rewarding to know my work at AE2S is helping communities solve problems that affect so many people. We’re helping to bring an essential resource to people – safe and reliable drinking water.”

Two of his favorite projects include the water treatment plants (WTP) in Grand Forks, North Dakota and Pierre, South Dakota. “During graduate school, I worked on a pilot study at the Grand Forks Water Treatment Plant researching the feasibility of pretreatment, ultrafiltration, and reverse osmosis for the City’s source water. Following my graduation, I joined the AE2S team full-time and continued to work on the project, contributing to the planning and design of a new regional plant for my hometown of Grand Forks. The completion of the award-winning facility in 2020 was the result of decades of hard work and planning, and I was fortunate to be part of the team that made it happen,” says Matt with pride.

He also worked on the design team for Pierre’s WTP project. “Pierre is located along the Missouri River, but the City’s previous water system utilized a series of groundwater wells that were experiencing increased manganese levels. The project featured a change in water source, a unique site location, and a lot of interesting and challenging design aspects,” explains Matt. “It was really rewarding to be a part of an important project benefiting the Capitol of South Dakota.”

Most recently, Matt has been working on an important pump station and ground storage reservoir for the City of Mitchell, South Dakota. “We are close to finishing up construction. The collaboration between City staff, the engineering team, and the contractor has made the project exciting and I look forward to the startup and operation as the project is completed,” says Matt.

Aside from project work and office management responsibilities, Matt is an active member of the American Water Works Association South Dakota Section. Currently, he is the AWWA-SD Section Chair. Over the past five years he has also served as the Chair-Elect, Administrative & Policy Council Chair, and Young Professional Council Chair. “Getting involved in AWWA has given me a wonderful opportunity to meet a lot of people throughout South Dakota, learn from others in the industry, get involved with all types of water systems, and form many great relationships,” says Matt enthusiastically.

He is married to his college sweetheart, Lexi. The couple has two children, five-year-old Madeline and three-year-old Cameron, plus a new golden retriever puppy named Josie. Matt and Lexi stay busy with the kids’ soccer and swimming activities. The Erickson family loves spending time outdoors together and traveling. In his limited free time, Matt also enjoys watching sports, boating, fishing, and golfing.

Luckily, Matt’s naturally energetic nature mixed with tap water keeps him on the go, whether it’s with his family, professional organizations, or working on multiple projects simultaneously.