Let’s Learn From Each Other in 2026 

Why Collaboration, Mentorship, and Open Dialogue Matter More Than Ever
Over the years, the cross-connection control industry has been shaped not just by codes, standards, and test procedures but by people. 

In 2026, as water systems become more complex and public scrutiny continues to grow, one truth remains unchanged: 
our greatest strength as an industry is our willingness to learn from one another. 

Industry Meetings Are Where Progress Begins
Professional meetings, conferences, and committee sessions often bring together people with: 

• Strong opinions 
• Different regional experiences 
• Deep technical knowledge 
• Competing priorities 

These gatherings can be challenging. They can also be incredibly productive. 

The goal of any technical meeting should not be to “win” an argument, but to: 

• Improve public health protection 
• Strengthen industry practices 
• Leave the room with mutual respect, even when agreement is not reached 

That balance is not always easy. Human nature, pride, and long-held beliefs can get in the way, but collaboration remains the right path forward. 

Experience Is a Teacher if We’re Willing to Listen
As professionals mature, many come to realize that experience carries value that cannot be taught from a manual alone. 

Earlier in life, it’s easy to believe we already have the answers. Over time, we learn that listening often teaches us more than speaking ever could. 

The plumbing, mechanical, and cross-connection control industries are filled with individuals who have lived through: 

• Economic downturns 
• Infrastructure failures 
• Code evolution 
• Real-world contamination events 

Their perspectives matter. When we fail to listen, we lose access to decades of hard-earned wisdom. 

Honoring Those Who Shaped the Industry
Many leaders who helped define modern cross-connection control are no longer with us, but their influence remains. 

Some were known for: 

• Calm leadership during heated debates 
• The ability to build consensus 
• Challenging others while maintaining respect 
• Speaking hard truths without personal attacks 

Others were passionate, persistent, and unafraid to stand alone on issues they believed mattered — even when unpopular. 

From both types, there is much to learn. 

Healthy disagreement, when grounded in respect, strengthens outcomes. 
Personal conflict does not. 

Conferences Still Matter in a Digital World
Even in an era of virtual meetings and online training, in-person conferences remain invaluable. 

Events like national backflow prevention conferences bring together hundreds of professionals who: 

• Share challenges from different regions 
• Discuss emerging issues in water systems 
• Learn from manufacturers, regulators, and educators 
• Exchange ideas that don’t always fit neatly into standards documents 

These conversations help identify gaps between theory and reality — and often spark improvements that eventually find their way into codes, standards, and best practices. 

Learning Is a Two-Way Street
Teaching and presenting do not mean having all the answers. 

Some of the most valuable insights come from: 

• Audience questions 
• Regional installation differences 
• Field experiences shared informally after sessions 
• Conversations that continue long after the presentation ends 

Approaching these interactions with a closed mind limits growth. Approaching them with curiosity expands it. 

In 2026, rapid changes in water quality management, chemical use, building design, and regulation demand that professionals remain open to new information — even when it challenges long-held assumptions. 

Mentorship Is the Industry’s Future
One of the most important responsibilities of experienced professionals is mentoring the next generation. 

Younger people entering the cross-connection control field bring: 

• Fresh perspectives 
• New problem-solving approaches 
• Comfort with emerging technologies 
• They also need: 
• Context 
• History 
• Ethical grounding 
• An understanding of why standards exist — not just what they require 

Sharing knowledge is not about ego. It’s about continuity.  As the Dalai Lama famously said, “Share your knowledge. It is a way to achieve immortality.”  That sentiment applies perfectly to this industry. 

A Commitment Worth Making
In 2026, the challenges facing drinking water protection are real: 

• Aging infrastructure 
• Chemical complexity 
• Workforce transitions 
• Increased accountability 

Meeting those challenges requires more than regulations. It requires people willing to listen, teach, challenge respectfully, and learn continuously. 

If we commit to: 

Open dialogue 

• Respectful disagreement 
• Knowledge sharing 
• Mentorship 

Then the industry and the communities it serves will be stronger for it. 

Let’s learn from each other. 
The future of safe drinking water depends on it. 

Sean Cleary

Sean Cleary serves as Vice President of Industry Programs and Operations for the IAPMO Backflow Prevention Institute, advancing education and technical training in cross-connection control and backflow prevention. The IAPMO Backflow Prevention Institute helps to ensure that the professionals responsible for protecting drinking water are properly trained and certified. A licensed master plumber with more than four decades of experience, Sean has worked in all phases of the plumbing and mechanical industries, with deep expertise in cross-connection control systems. He is a Past President of the American Society of Sanitary Engineering (ASSE) and served for more than a decade as Chairman of the ASSE Cross-Connection Control Technical Committee. A graduate of the United Association Instructor Training Program, Sean has dedicated much of his career to strengthening professional competency, standards alignment, and technical excellence across the industry. Under Sean’s leadership, the IAPMO Backflow Prevention Institute prepares plumbers, pipe fitters, irrigation techs, sprinkler fitters, HVAC techs, plumbing engineers, inspectors, facility managers to earn and maintain ASSE and other industry certifications through comprehensive training and continuing education offered across the United States and internationally. Sean co-authored the IAPMO Backflow Reference Manual and has contributed to numerous technical publications. Through his work with IAPMO, ASSE, the American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE), and state plumbing inspector organizations, Sean helps ensure that certified professionals are equipped to prevent contamination and safeguard the drinking water systems communities rely on every day.