Lisa Harris has held a variety of roles at PWSA since joining our team nearly 15 years ago. Her current role of Truck Driver, though, is one of her favorites, and the career she always hoped to pursue. After all, it runs in the family – her great-grandfather started a local trucking business a century ago, and ever since she’s had an affinity for the machines that ultimately help us deliver clean and safe drinking water to those we serve.

Tell us more about your role.

I’m primarily responsible for hauling away dirt excavated from construction sites, delivering it to Brilliant Yard, and then backfilling those areas. I also help maintain the dump truck I drive each day, performing safety checks when I arrive and before I leave work. When someone on the team needs help in other capacities, I’m always happy to jump in.

What sort of impact do you hope to have at PWSA?

To serve as an example for other women, especially those working in this kind of field. Early on in my career I learned what it meant to stick up for myself – not an easy thing sometimes, but something I felt it was my responsibility to do in order to help pave the way for the next generation of female Truck Drivers.

Can you tell us a feel-good story from the field?

I once delivered a water buffalo to one of our neighborhoods and noticed an elderly couple in their doorway. I offered to fill up some water jugs for them, but they didn’t have any, so we found something we had on-hand, filled it up, and delivered it to them. They were so grateful that they cried!

What is the best advice you’ve ever heard?

Do any job to the best of your ability.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

Spending time with my family.

What was your first job?

My first PWSA job was as a Field Technician out of our Warehouse in the Strip District. I’ve also worked at the Water Treatment Plant and at our Howard Street facility on the Northside.