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Schools

Where Are They Now?

Q&A with Woodridge High School graduate Mike Cline.

Name: Mike Cline

School:

Class: 1981

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Occupation: Owner, Water Treatment Consulting LLC

What was your career path leading up to your current job?

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My expertise has found me in water treatment. You could say I don't make the water, I make the water better.

After working at Jay-Em Corporation right out of high school, I found myself unemployed like a lot of people in the mid-1980s. So, I went from making aircraft wheels and aerospace machining, to the wonderful world of being a plumber's helper, which wasn't bad.

It gave me my start into water treatment and conditioning. Well, 27 years later, after working with a couple of great companies from a plumber, to a pump and softener company, I had a business of my own for three years and on into wholesale with Ralph Rienhart Co. and the Nelsen Corporation where I handled sales and technical support for hundreds of clients all over the country for just shy of ten years.

Today, I find myself as a consultant. I have my own company, Water Treatment Consulting LLC, that specializes in what else, water treatment.

What does your job entail, and what is your career goal?

I assist mechanical, maintenance companies, plumbers, well drillers and other water treatment companies when they need help with anything from residential water softeners, to commercial and agricultural water treatment equipment, systems design and application and training.

Nobody ever wakes up one morning and says “I want a career in water treatment.” You just wake up one day after about 20 years and say, “darn I have a career in water treatment.”

What do you consider to be your greatest accomplishment?

I love what I do and have designed systems that treat water in places like Al Learner's home, and was able to aid a contractor in designing a water treatment system that made muddy mountain run-off water into something that a small Central American town could use.

When you think of McCormick spices, I had a hand with their water equipment too. I certainly did not think I would be doing what I’m doing now when I was in high school.

What’s your favorite high school memory?

Thinking back on my time at Woodridge High School tends to make me a bit melancholy, but in a good way.

I remember that my biggest goal at that time was to have a better weekend than the last, make every day count. I never thought I was going to be one of the lucky ones, so I figured on living for the moment.

I remember some really neat people, hope everyone turned out well. I look back with fond memories of those I grew up with and they all made an impression on me one way or another. Woodridge had a wide range of personalities within our student body. It was a good place.

Which restaurant, social gathering place or other place did you enjoy spending time at in the Falls when you were in school?

Clarkin’s and Gold Circle are gone. State 8 Roller Rink is history. Chadima's motorcycle shop has been gone a long time.

The Hut is a used car lot. McClusky's is a motorcycle shop. Lawson's is a , and Caruso's Pizza had the best pizza and chicken around.

Does anyone remember Walker Baseball Field? I do. Good times.

What advice would you give to future graduates?

Hold onto the past long enough to sling shot to tomorrow, remember the ride and don't hit the uprights on the way through.

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