Once Lonnie Boss received his bachelor’s degree — debt-free — he was overcome with a sense of relief, pride and commitment to Denver Water.

“It was a sense of achievement beyond words,” said Boss, associate accounting analyst at Denver Water, who recently completed his bachelor’s degree in business management with help from Denver Water's tuition assistance program.

“I’m a lifer at Denver Water,” said the Colorado State University Global grad. “And now I can apply what I’ve learned to improve my work and help out my department.” 

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One of the perks of working for Denver Water is the chance to earn an advanced degree or professional certification with financial assistance. Denver Water offers $5,250 each year for qualifying degrees or programs, helping employees stay at the top of their professions. 

“People want to continue their education, and we want to encourage employees to continue to grow in their careers,” said Liz Chavez, who manages the program through Human Resources.

Some of the more popular degrees include business administration, environmental science, information technology and organizational leadership. But employees don’t have to earn a degree for the experience to be useful — Chavez said many employees use tuition assistance to earn certifications in water quality, plumbing, electrical and many other trades. 

The number of employees receiving tuition assistance varies each year. Last year, roughly 50 employees participated; this year, 24 employees are taking advantage of the opportunity. 

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“It’s never too late to go back or finish or even begin your degree or certificate,” Chavez said.

Tad Cogan, Denver Water’s director of support services in operations and maintenance, echoed Chavez’s sentiments. He recently earned a master’s degree in public administration and leadership from The Ohio State University, and he previously earned a bachelor’s in organizational leadership — all with assistance from Denver Water.

“If the last few years have taught us anything, it’s that we really need to expand our toolbox and adapt to what comes our way,” he said. “The market situation, inflation, climate change — so many things are hitting us from so many different perspectives. This has helped me adapt and apply what I’ve learned not only to my own position but to all of Denver Water.”  

Support services manages Denver Water’s warehouse, fleet and trade shops, including electrical, mechanical, HVAC and plumbing, all the services that keep Denver Water’s core operations moving. He encourages his staff to take advantage of tuition assistance, especially now that colleges have expanded their online offerings and scope of available degrees.

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“There’s no excuse to not find something out there that can enhance your own development and what you can offer to the organization,” Cogan said. “Especially if it’s by using the benefit Denver Water has provided.”

Boss agreed, saying the experience improved his communication, research, critical thinking and time-management skills. And because he took his time obtaining his degree — something he had been working on since graduating from high school in 1991 — he was able to graduate without debt.  

“Now I’ll always have this education,” he said. “You can always take your education with you.”

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