I just can’t get away from the portable sanitation industry. But that’s really a good thing. Let me explain. A year ago I gave up the position as editor of Portable Restroom Operator and entered the ranks of the “mostly retired.” I had overseen PRO and two other magazines for COLE Publishing — Pumper and Onsite Installer — for 20 years, and enjoyed every minute of it. 

I love the people of the wastewater industry. They are a hardworking crew, mostly self-starting small-business owners with a can-do attitude. I believed in the mission of this magazine from the time it was acquired by COLE Publishing in 2004: to support the portable restroom operators with positive personal stories, to enlighten about best business practices and safety at work, and to share valuable information about the products and manufacturers responsible for constant advances in service. 

Stepping away from the magazine was a difficult decision; if you are contemplating similar life changes, you understand this. However, the move was made easier knowing PRO would be left in the competent hands of Tim Dobbins, your editor over the past year. 

So what have I been up to?

Like most newly retired folks, I turned my attention to pursuits including travel, volunteering and catching up on long-neglected home improvement projects. I’m taking up hobbies at a lazy pace; for example wrenching on my 1971 Volvo, art painting and photography. Living in Northeast Wisconsin, I’m also watching a fair share of sports, the Milwaukee Brewers in the summer and the Green Bay Packers this time of year.

You don’t need a full rundown of my retirement activities, but I will share one project I’m proud of. I am a volunteer for Unity Hospice, located here in De Pere, Wisconsin, and my first task was installing a bluebird trail on the nonprofit care facility’s 50-acre property. 

Working with the Bluebird Restoration Association of Wisconsin, I added a dozen nest boxes on this beautiful property to help in the effort to bring back the population of these beautiful birds. Starting in the spring, I will monitor the nest boxes and report the progress of fledglings. I have high hopes the habitat will bring in many nesting birds and that hospice patients will delight in seeing the glint of blue wings dancing in the sunlight.

RAISING THE BAR

While I am writing a new chapter in my life, I still see daily reminders of the important role portable sanitation plays for everyone. Your products and services provide personal comfort for people at work and play. You have a crucial role in our growing economy, offering restrooms at building construction sites, road projects and countless other diverse operations from mines to solar farms that drive our country’s GDP.

Among some of the experiences that rekindle my appreciation for all you PROs are:

Welcome relief on desert hikes. 

My wife, Judy, and I have enjoyed winter retreats to the southwest United States, and I made many hikes through the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts last spring. Nearly every trailhead was marked by a portable restroom. Some of you may be responsible for staking and cleaning the remote units I’ve used around Tucson, Arizona, and Las Cruces, New Mexico. These are examples of the incalculable contributions you have made to the tourist industry in America. And I’ll say you’ve acquitted yourselves nicely as most units are well maintained, furthering the improved reputation of the industry.

Building up greater Green Bay. 

Coming out of COVID-19, there was a brief construction malaise. Not anymore in my neck of the woods. Some might say it’s thanks to the Green Bay Packers, but Northeast Wisconsin is enjoying a building boom in residential and commercial construction. Office buildings, clinics, schools, apartments and condos seemingly are going up everywhere. 

Every crane boom dotting the skyline points to a full array of portable sanitation equipment serving workers on these sites. I’m seeing many standard units, high-rise models, restroom trailers, office trailers and hand-wash stations. You PROs are capitalizing on construction opportunities and selling your customers on newer and better portable restroom choices to enhance the service. 

Your example has helped my city.

All the years I have been watching PROs at work has helped me make a difference in my community. As a member of our city parks board, we recently oversaw the construction of a multipurpose event facility. When it came to the design of the restrooms, my experience with the portable sanitation industry came into play. I was able to help determine the number and arrangement of bathrooms used for the building. 

Rather than large group men’s and women’s rooms, I suggested individual gender-neutral restrooms that could be locked or unlocked based on expected event attendance. The restrooms were also designed with a simple layout and cleaning operation in mind, similar to portable restrooms. As a result, service and maintenance has been more efficient and the incidents of vandalism have been reduced. 

KEEP MOVING FORWARD

These days I’m left with a feeling of gratitude that I played a small part in the evolution of the portable sanitation industry. All that I’ve seen since retiring reinforces my belief there’s been a vast improvement of the portable restroom experience. And you’ve had a windshield view of the advances. 

Years ago, folks almost universally cringed when they needed to use a portable restroom. Units could be dingy, malodorous, overfilled. Users would avoid some restrooms at any cost, and then spread the word that portable sanitation was not to be trusted. The industry reputation seemed irreparably tarnished.

But it’s a different story today. I continue to read the monthly feature stories in PRO, and I come away impressed with the state of the industry. The photos and quotes from service providers in 2025 mirror my own experiences with portable sanitation. PROs are always improving service protocols. Technicians are well-trained and monitored so you can challenge those long-held criticisms from the public. Equipment offerings and service trucks are much improved and offer a near at-home experience. 

I feel really good about the industry when I see one of your trucks rolling by on my travels or when I use one of your restrooms. Keep up the good work! And don’t be surprised if I stop to say hello when I see you making the service rounds or drop in to your office as I’m passing by on a cross-country trip.