Underground Construction - November 2021 - 16

Gary Oradat to be Named
2022 MVP
Annual Award Is Sponsored By UCTA, Underground Construction
The Most Valuable Professional of the underground infrastructure
industry will be honored at the annual Underground Construction
Technology (UCT) International Conference & Exhibition, in Fort
Worth, Texas, at a special luncheon on Jan. 25. The 2022 award,
co-sponsored by the Underground Construction Technology
Association and Underground Construction magazine, will be
presented to Gary N. Oradat, P.E.
Oradat, who resides in North Richland Hills, Texas, has
had a 45-year career of progressive engineering, supervisory/
managerial, and administrative/executive experience involving
the various aspects of municipal planning, operations, design,
construction and management, in the water/wastewater
transportation and treatment, stormwater drainage, and raw
water transmission segments.
Robert A. Carpenter, editor-in-chief of Underground
Construction, recently made the announcement on behalf of the
UCTA and the magazine.
" Gary has been a fundamental force for growth and
improvement throughout the industry for much of his career, "
Carpenter stressed. " His involvement and leadership have been
critical successfully addressing market needs.
Since his graduation from Texas A&M University in 1975,
he has been continuously involved in the underground
infrastructure construction and rehabilitation industry.
His first position was in Dallas Water Utilities, as a wide-eyed
young utility engineer that led to a successful 23-year career
with the city of Houston's Public Works and Engineering
Department. He started as an Engineer III and worked his
way up to Deputy Director.
He retired from the city in 2004, joining the Coastal Water
Authority as chief engineer and advancing to executive director.
Upon leaving CWA in 2011, he founded Oradat & Associates,
P.C. and most recently was the water utilities practice lead with
Halff Associates.
He joined the Trinity River Authority in 2019 to serve as
executive manager of the newly developed Planning, Design
and Construction Administration team.
Throughout his career, Oradat has demonstrated leadership
and expertise that significantly contributed to the improvement
of the agencies he was in, and to the underground sewer and
water infrastructure industry.
The work he and many of the previous MVP recipients did,
especially during Houston's 1990s technology explosion as a
key element of the Greater Houston Wastewater Program,
allowed the city to develop and utilize technology and materials
to reshape our industry. The template has been often repeated
by other cities around the country.
Oradat's career has also positively impacted the underground
marketplace by assisting with improvement of concrete
additives and pipeline coatings/liners for use in manhole
and/or sanitary sewer rehabilitation.
His professional involvement includes being a past chairman
with The American Society for Testing and Materials-Plastic
Piping Systems Committee. He is an active member of several
subcommittees including, sewer, trenchless technology and
reinforced plastic piping systems. He is also a past board
member with the Underground Construction Technology
Association's Gulf Coast chapter. He is currently a member
of the American Public Works Association and the Society of
American Military Engineers, and a registered professional
engineer in Texas and Louisiana.
Gary Oradat, 2022 MVP
16 NOVEMBER 2021 | UCONonline.com
In his private life, Oradat and his wife attend North Richland
Hills Baptist Church, where he serves as the Sunday School
teacher for married adults. He is also a past Boy Scouts of
America Den and Pack Leader, Sam Houston Area Council.
To attend or sponsor the MVP Award Luncheon, details are
available on the UCTA website: uctaonline.org. *
http://www.uctaonline.org http://www.UCONonline.com
Underground Construction - November 2021

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