Innovative Municipal & Quasi-Municipal Consulting & Management Services

Principal

Jerry Bennett founded Bennett Beam Consulting & Management LLC in 2023. Jerry has served as general manager for Miami County Rural Water District 2 in Hillsdale, Kansas for 33 years and plans to retire from this position in 2027. He began his career in municipal finance in 1980, then became city manager for LaCrosse, KS in 1987. While in LaCrosse, Jerry was an adjunct professor for the Dodge City Community College Environmental Technology program. He earned his undergraduate degree from Friends University, where he is a member of the Order of the Tower Honor Society. Jerry is the first Kansan to obtain the National Rural Water Association Utility Management Certification. He is a certified municipal clerk and maintains Kansas Class IV certifications in water and wastewater treatment. Jerry is president of the Kansas Rural Water Finance Authority and is a founding member of the Hillsdale Area Water Cooperative (HAWC), where he serves as treasurer. 

 Utility Operations and  Management Consultant

With over four decades in utility management and city operations, Mike has been pivotal in developing and maintaining essential municipal services in Osage City, Kansas. As the former Director of Utilities, he has extensive expertise in project planning, budget management, policy development, and strategic planning.

Michael is a certified State of Kansas Class IV Water Treatment Plant Operator, Class III Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator, and Natural Gas System Operator. He has managed critical utility operations—electric, natural gas, wastewater, and water systems—overseeing numerous infrastructure upgrades and ensuring compliance with regulations. He has successfully managed budgets exceeding $8 million and led major projects, including the construction of treatment facilities and system upgrades.

A leader in the field, he has served on various boards and committees, including the Kansas Municipal Gas Agency (KMGA) and Kansas Municipal Utilities (KMU). He is an active member of professional organizations such as the Kansas Section American Water Works Association (KSAWWA) and the Water Environment Federation (WEF). He even co-founded the Flint Hills Area Gas Operator Training Group in 2002, which contributes significantly to industry training and development.

For his dedication, Mike has been recognized with numerous awards, including the KMEA Gilbert E. Hanson Jr. Award for Outstanding Service and the KMGA Mike Gilliland Honor Award.

His deep knowledge of utility management makes him a sought-after consultant for municipalities aiming to optimize their operations and infrastructure.

Special Projects & General Consultant

Trenton Morris is a professional engineer licensed in Kansas and Oklahoma. He grew

up in Joplin, Missouri and later studied Civil and Environmental Engineering at Missouri

University of Science and Technology in Rolla, Mo. He competed at the collegiate level

in both Cross Country and Track & Field, achieving NCAA Division II All-American

Honors.

With over a decade of experience in the water and wastewater industry, Trenton has a

broad depth of knowledge and experience actively managing roles in both the

consulting and municipal sectors. He is a certified class IV water/wastewater operator

for the state of Kansas; and has experience in design, construction, permitting

compliance, and operations of facilities across Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma.

In 2024, Trenton was appointed by the Kansas Water Office to serve a 3 year term on

the Marais des Cygnes Regional Advisory Committee. He has a passion for helping

others and enjoys being out in nature. Trenton takes a common sense approach

offering value-driven, practical solutions.

Project Advisor

Steve Randtke,  Professor Emeritus of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering at KU, holds a B.S. degree civil engineering from Loyola

Marymount University, and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in civil / environmental engineering from

Stanford University. He has more than 50 years of experience in the field of

environmental engineering and science.

Steve’s areas of expertise include water supply and treatment; controlling natural and synthetic

contaminants using source protection and conventional and advanced treatment technologies;

formation and control of disinfection byproducts (DBPs); removing DBP precursors using

coagulation, softening, and various adsorption and membrane processes; removing pesticides and

their metabolites, taste- and odor-causing compounds, algal toxins, iron and manganese, and sulfide;  water treatment plant

design; and municipal and industrial wastewater treatment for potable and non-potable reuse.

Steve is a life member of the American Water Works Association (AWWA), the Water

Environment Federation, and the Association of Environmental Engineering and Science

Professors (AEESP). Past service activities include: Board of Directors, AWWA; Vice-

President, AWWA; Chair, Research Division, AWWA; President, AEESP; and Technical Co-

Editor, Water Treatment Plant Design, 5th ed., a handbook of AWWA and the American Society

of Civil Engineers.

Previous advisory roles include: the Drinking Water Committee of EPA's

Science Advisory Board (SAB); the SAB’s Hydraulic Fracturing Study Plan Review Panel; the

Drinking Water Committee Augmented for Review of the Effectiveness of Partial Lead Service

Line Replacements; and the Hydraulic Fracturing Research Advisory Panel. He was engaged,

formally and informally, in developing the current Microbial and Disinfection Byproducts

(MDBP) rules, especially the enhanced coagulation and softening rule and the filter

backwash rule; and he was recently appointed to the SAB’s MDBP Revisions Review Panel.

Steve has provided expert advice to numerous utilities, consultants, public officials, private

citizens, and other entities seeking practical solutions to a broad array of water-related

challenges.

IT, Cybersecurity and Systems Consultant

Chase retired from the United States Navy in 2024 after 20 years of distinguished service. He advanced from a technician to a Chief Manager of Personnel and Equipment for Advanced Computer Weapon Systems. Throughout his career, he earned numerous personal achievement medals, and held a Top Secret security clearance, showcasing his initiative and expertise with various computer systems.

In 2014, Chase completed a comprehensive apprenticeship program and was certified by the United States Department of Labor in Computer Operations. He has extensive experience in managing and operating computer systems, software applications, and network protocols. His developed proficiency in troubleshooting, system maintenance, and real-time problem-solving has been critical in operational environments. 

Currently, Chase works in data management, information security, and user support services. He has a passion for training and educating staff on best practices, continually striving to enhance organizational efficiency and security.

At home, Chase enjoys fostering his children's interest in technology by teaching them about robotics, building computers, navigating virtual environments, and exploring artificial intelligence. 

IT, Cybersecurity and Systems Consultant

Jason York is a seasoned Security Engineer with over 16 years of IT experience, specializing in cybersecurity. Born and raised in Kansas, Jason's passion for technology began early with him building his first computer as a teenager. He pursued his IT studies at Ottawa University before joining the US Navy in 2004 as an Information Systems Technician.  During his service, Jason managed networks for over 2000 users, obtained his Security+ certification, and held a Top Secret Security Clearance.

After his military career, Jason attended Centriq Training, where he completed the Network Administrator Program and earned his CompTIA A+ and GIAC Incident Handler certifications. He held roles as desktop support at Terracon Consultants Inc. and G.E.H.A. Later he served as a Security Engineer for CenturyLink and Nebraska Furniture Mart, where he was the initial contact for information security incidents, conducted threat analysis, and implemented response plans. 

Currently, Jason works as an IT consultant, leveraging his extensive experience to provide expert guidance and solutions in the field of cybersecurity and IT infrastructure.