Team Member Spotlight: Shadrack Ampomah

There When It Rains

While many Michiganders spent the Fourth of July weekend this year celebrating with family and friends, Shadrack Ampomah and his team acted in real time to stay up to date on pop-up storms and rapidly shifting weather patterns, preparing to handle storm overflow within our systems. This is the significance of Shadrack’s job as an Operations and Maintenance Manager at our Connor Creek Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) facility. During high-rain seasons, our team members at our CSO facilities handle the overflow, or excess water that occurs when our regional conveyance system reaches capacity during heavy rain. 

“We relieve the system and make sure the city is not flooded, and basements are protected and our water bodies are clean. That’s what I do.” 

An Unconventional Journey

Shadrack’s entry into the water sector was unconventional. Fresh out of college in his home country of Ghana, he experienced a period of uncertainty about where he would land in his career. Shadrack took up a job selling life insurance, where one day, he was tasked with making a sale to members of a water bottling company. After conversation with the employees sparked his interest, Shadrack joined the recycling section of thecompany as an independent contractor. His manager, upon seeing the decorated qualifications in his resume, took a chance and referred Shadrack to a job in the water department. 

“It was a gamble.” He said, reflecting on his moment of luck. “If the manager hadn’t referred me, that would have been it. I probably would have been a recycling man. But that’s what changed the trajectory. That’s what got me into water.” 

The door to a whole new career path opened for Shadrack, where he made strides in his professional progression. He went on to intern at the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD) in the investigations department, where, despite applying full time, he didn’t get the job. 

“I was doing well, but I didn’t get the job. That was one of the jobs that I put in a lot of effort for, but the job didn’t come. But the good thing is I learned a lot.” 

This bank of knowledge would come in handy when the manager called back, offering Shadrack a role as an operator. 

Shadrack received his MBA and moved up the ranks to the role of supervisor, gaining even more valuable experience as a leader. By the time a friend of his reached out to recommend that he apply for a position at Great Lakes Water Authority, he felt confident in his skillset. 

His friend’s good word about GLWA was enough to convince Shadrack to take a chance and leave Ohio. He packed his belongings and prepared to make Michigan his new home. But this isn’t the first time Shadrack made a big move. He originally immigrated to the U.S. from Ghana in 2015. 

“I felt a mixture of excitement and uncertainty and a fear of making the wrong choice.” Shadrack said about his preparation to move from his home country, Ghana, 11 years ago. He was encouraged to keep on his path by trusting that if he could transition from his first job in life insurance to the water sector, then he could shed his anxiety and take on this opportunity too.  

“I was like, ‘you know what, it always works out.” He said. “And it was a good gamble. It worked out, I’m liking it here.” 

From One Field to Another

A leap of faith led Shadrack to travel from Ghana to Ohio to propel his career forward, and from Ohio to Michigan and become a dedicated team member at GLWA. But one facet of his identity transcended continents: his love for soccer. 

Back in Ghana, Shadrack was set on his goal of becoming a professional soccer player since childhood. When his younger brother developed an interest in the same path, he made another major trajectory change.Shadrack shifted directions to pursue a life in water, relinquishing his dream career to make way for his brother to prosper in the sport. Now, Shadrack cheers his younger brother on at professional soccer games as he plays internationally, while he has committed to making a broader impact on community health. 

Shadrack never strays too far from the game himself, serving as a licensed referee in his free time. It brings him joy and peace, reminding him of his love for the game.  

Though his career led him to the water sector, the principles of drive, teamwork, and commitment learned on the field shape the invaluable work that he continues to do at the organization.  

Shadrack’s entry into the water sector began through a chance encounter with employees at a water bottling company in Ghana and has flourished into a career of protecting public health and wellbeing in Southeast Michigan, helping to deliver one of the nation’s most essential services to a community of millions.