Allison named to Northwest Arkansas Business Journal's Fast 15 Class

At just 26 years old, Garver Process Mechanical Engineer Kenzie Allison is already playing an instrumental role in supplying communities in Northwest Arkansas – and across the country – with our most critical resource: safe, reliable water.  

Part of Garver’s Water Team in Fayetteville, Allison was recently recognized for her contribution by being named to Northwest Arkansas Business Journal’s latest Fast 15 class. The list celebrates outstanding young professionals across industries within the region.

“I’ve always loved all things math and science and knew early on that civil engineering would be a great fit,” Allison said. “I’ve also always been passionate about supporting my community. That I get to spend my days doing that by designing and managing the infrastructure projects that supply clean water is such a blessing [so rewarding].”

While her role lends itself to intricacies like valve selection and pump sizing, Allison approaches her work with local water and wastewater treatment plants with a holistic view and as a way to better her home state. Having witnessed firsthand the growth of the region over the last decade, Allison is eager to support continued development of Northwest Arkansas by partnering with our local utilities in bringing to life vital infrastructure solutions.  

From Mountain Home to Springdale, Allison's resume includes critical Arkansas water and wastewater projects, including her work on the Northwest Arkansas Conservation Authority’s Wastewater Treatment Plant expansion project. As a project engineer, she played a major role in the design of multiple clarifiers and associated equipment. She also had a hand in the Springdale Wastewater Treatment Facility improvements, assisting with construction sequencing reports and cost estimating.

An often overlooked but crucial part of the role of an engineer is public speaking. Because infrastructure projects often include multiple stakeholders – many of them community and political leaders – engineers are frequently tasked with presenting project progress, study findings, and more to city council members, public forums, and the like. With this in mind, Allison led the charge in launching a Toastmasters Club at Garver’s Fayetteville Water Design Center with the intent to improve upon her own presentation skills and help her colleagues do the same.

Because the next generation will continue to carry the Northwest Arkansas region and its infrastructure forward, Allison is committed to cultivating the engineering professionals of tomorrow. She is heavily involved in Garver’s STEM outreach program – which aims to combat the national shortage of engineering graduates – and regularly presents to students at her alma mater, the University of Arkansas, on water and wastewater engineering.

Outside of the engineering industry, Allison is an avid volunteer at local soup kitchens and regularly attends fundraising events, particularly those involving biking and running.

Allison epitomizes what it means to serve — both through her work as a water engineer and as a devoted community member — and her impact will be felt well into the future. 

To learn more about what Garver’s Water Team can do for you, visit our Water services page.