SWPA Leadership
Pioneering Excellence
SWPA is the industry’s leader in providing accurate, up-to-date technical information about submersible wastewater pumps and the component parts and accessories in lift stations using solids-handling pump systems.
Now in its fifth decade of service, SWPA has become the recognized spokesman and industry leader in hands-on and virtual training for the submersible pump segment of the wastewater industry. SWPA’s dedicated members and staff have worked diligently, particularly in recent years, to position the association as the premier resource for technical information on submersible sewage lift station systems in North America. The technical information created and distributed by SWPA is developed by knowledgeable specialists from the industry’s leading manufacturers of submersible pumps and component parts and accessories. This information is based on a systems approach for municipal and industrial applications and is designed to meet the needs of those who are responsible for designing, installing and operating lift stations using solids-handling pump systems.
Meet Our Board of Directors
Nic Atkins
Nik serves as the current SWPA President. Nic started working for Zoeller as a plant employee while finishing up a business degree at Indiana University Southeast in 2013. After spending time in Zoeller’s Customer Experience departments, and a Product Marketing Manger, he is now the Marketing Manger at Zoeller Company. His duties include helping with the direction of product development, locating potential growth areas, trainings and day to day operations.
Timothy Merkel
Tim serves as the current SWPA Secretary & Treasurer and Chairs the Marketing Committee. Timothy Merkel has been involved in the water and wastewater industry for over 20 years with a focus on building partnerships in the wastewater business with distributors, vendors, and other key relationships across the industry. Timothy got his start in the water and wastewater market at Conery Mfg Inc in Ashland, Ohio in 2003; eventually serving as the National Sales Manager there followed by serving as the Engineered Sales Manager at Topp Industries in Rochester, Indiana from 2011-2017. Since 2018, Timothy has served as the Business Development Manager at Metropolitan Industries in Romeoville, Illinois. Operating out of Ashland, Ohio, he continues to travel the United States in support of Metropolitan Industries including the East Coast branch of Emmons Metro located in Albany, New York. (Note: I removed the old sentence that said he served as Secretary/Treasurer in the past, since he is currently in the role).
Layla Wilhelm
Layla Wilhelm serves as the SWPA Vice-President and chairs the SWPA Membership Committee. Layla Wilhelm is the Global Product Manager over Solids Reduction for JWC Environmental, a Sulzer Brand. Her product portfolio includes the Muffin Monster and Channel Monster dual shafted grinders. She holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from Rochester Institute of Technology, and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Cincinnati. She has over 10 years of wastewater experience, serving as a Product Manager and Applications Engineering. Layla also has experience in metal powder processing and industrial polymer manufacturing.
David Williams
David Williams serves as SWPA’s Immediate Past President and chairs the nominating committee. He serves on the Liberty Pumps Executive Team as Director of Engineering responsible for R&D, Product Design, Quality, Warranty, and Intellectual Property aspects of the business. David holds a BS in Applied Physics from State University of New York at Geneseo and a Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Clarkson University. Prior to entering the wastewater industry in 2007, David held numerous positions in manufacturing engineering and quality management in the automotive industry.
Michael Dodd
Michael Dodd currently serves as SWPA’s Technical Committee Chair. Michael began working for MPE in 2024 after graduating from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering. He now serves as the Lead Electrical Design Engineer at MPE. He leads the design of new products, working closely with cross-functional teams to ensure designs meet performance, reliability, and manufacturability requirements. He is also responsible for updating and refining the current product line, incorporating feedback from production, field performance, and customer input to improve functionality and efficiency. In addition to his design responsibilities, Michael provides hands-on technical support to both customers and field technicians. This includes troubleshooting electrical issues, assisting with product integration, and helping resolve application-specific challenges.
Stefanie Vaughan
Stefanie Vaughan currently serves as SWPA’s Vice Chair of the Marketing Committee. Stefanie was destined to work for the family business. She joined Vaughan Company at age 16, starting off answering phones, making photocopies and picking up supplies from local vendors. Today, Vaughan is the marketing director and trade show and event coordinator for the family-owned and operated business that manufactures centrifugal chopper pumps, screw pumps, mixing equipment and more.