My Profile
Jared Pickens
I began my career with the City of Paso Robles in 2007 as a wastewater maintenance technician. Over the course of nine years, I consistently advanced my CSM certification and am currently a grade four. While advancing my CWEA CSM certifications, I also attended and graduated from Cuesta College which was a personal goal I had set for myself. In 2016 and after several rounds of rigorous interviews, I was offered the opportunity to become the wastewater collections supervisor, which was another goal I had set for myself. I spent six and half years leading, training, and developing a team of five fantastic WW operators, and their hard work prevailed in 2019 when we won the CSM of the year award.
Purpose
The Select Society of Sanitary Sludge Shovelers (5S) is used by water environment associations (i.e., those working with sewage and sewage treatment) to honour those who have made a particular contribution to the industry.
Pennsylvania started the High Hat Society in 1937 and used the words "Sludge Shovelers Society" in its initiation ceremony. Later, this became known as the Ted Moses Sludge Shovelers Society. The second Chapter of the Five S Society was formed in Arizona in October 1940, the idea being conceived by A.W. "Dusty" Miller and F. Carlyle Roberts, Jr. There are chapters in many of the United States and in Canada, as well as the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand.
5S chapters do not accept applications, but select potential members. Each inductee receives a badge in the form of a gold tie bar in the shape of a round-nosed shovel.
5S recognizes individuals active in protecting the water environment through participation in Local, State, and/or Federal sponsored activities for five years or more.