People

2017 National Public Works Week Celebrates How Public Works Connects Us

In conjunction with the American Public Works Association, this week from May 21-27, municipalities throughout the U.S. and Canada are celebrating National Public Works Week to honor public works professionals who plan, design, build, manage and operate the infrastructure that ensures a higher q..

GridLiance Hires Utility Industry Veteran as VP of Corporate Development

GridLiance, the nation’s first independent transmission company primarily focused on working with Public Power, has named utility-industry veteran Kevin Donnelly as vice president of Corporate Development. Donnelly joins GridLiance with more than 20 years of utility industry experience, including i..

PSE&G CEO Calls for Regulatory Changes in New Jersey

Ralph Izzo, president, chairman and chief executive officer of Public Service Enterprise Group, today called for a set of regulatory reforms in New Jersey that would establish financial incentives for utilities to help their customers reduce at-home energy use, as well as expand access to renewable ..

APWA Honors Top 10 Public Works Professionals

The American Public Works Association earlier this month announced the 2017 Top Ten Public Works Leaders of the Year. APWA’s Top Ten Public Works Leaders are recognized for the career service achievements of public works professionals. This year marks the 57th anniversary of the Top Ten Leader..

MasTec Announces Passing of Board Member

MasTec, Inc. today announced that John Van Heuvelen, an independent member of the Company’s Board of Directors, has passed away after a brief illness.  Van Heuvelen was appointed to the Board in 2002 and served as MasTec’s lead independent director of the Board for several years. “John has been..

Illinois American Water Announces Changes in Southern Illinois Leadership Team

Illinois American Water has promoted Karen Cooper to senior manager of field services and production for the company’s Southern Division serving the Metro East, Alton, Cairo and Hardin County service areas. Cooper, who previously served as operations superintendent for the Alton District service ar..

California American Water Has New VP of Operations

American Water recently announced it has named Garry Hofer the Vice President of Operations of California American Water, effective immediately. Hofer replaces Rich Svindland, who was named the President of California American Water last February. As the vice president for Operations, Hofer will no..

Entergy Names Rod West as Utility Group President

Entergy Corporation has named Rod West group president, utility operations, effective July 1.  West succeeds Theo Bunting, who is retiring from the company after 34 years of service. West will be responsible for the operational and financial performance of the regulated utilities, including ele..

Aqua America Promotes Two to Vice President

Aqua America, Inc. announced today that Bill Jerdon and Bill Packer have each been promoted to vice president. “Under their leadership, both Bill Jerdon and Bill Packer have contributed to Aqua’s solid financial reputation, which ensures our continued ability to provide safe and reliable service to..

CMS Energy and Consumers Energy CFO to Retire, Successor Named

CMS Energy and Consumers Energy Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Thomas (Tom) J. Webb has been reassigned to the position of Vice Chairman and will retire, effective Nov. 1, 2017. Webb served in the CFO role since joining the company in 2002. For the past 15 years, he helped..

FERC Member Won't Pursue Another Term

WASHINGTON (AP) — One of the two remaining members of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission says she will not seek a second term, a move that could leave the five-member panel with a single commissioner and further hobble its ability to make decisions. Democrat Colette Honorable said Friday ..

Hydro One Begins Search for New CFO

Hydro One Limited today announced that Michael Vels, Chief Financial Officer, will be leaving the company effective May 19, 2017 to assume the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Empire and its wholly-owned subsidiary Sobeys Inc. “We appreciate Michael’s many con..

NW Natural Hires New CFO

NW Natural has hired Frank Burkhartsmeyer to serve as the company’s new Chief Financial Officer, effective May 17, 2017. Burkhartsmeyer comes to NW Natural from Avangrid Renewables where he served as president and CEO. Previously, he was senior vice president of Finance at Iberdrola Renewables US. ..

Utility Worker Saves Man's Life

NEW YORK (AP) — A utility worker is being credited with saving a man who fell onto a New York City subway track just before a train pulled into the station. Cellphone video taken by a Seattle teenager shows Jonathan Kulig, of Queens, picking up a young man who had fallen off a Manhattan station’s p..

American Water VP to Discuss Water Infrastructure Financing

American Water today announced Jennifer Gambol, the company’s vice president and treasurer, will participate in the New York City Bar Association’s Project Finance Committee Panel on March 28 in New York, N.Y. Gambol will join other industry and government leaders on a panel to discuss the developm..

People In The News: March 2017

VacuWorx Vacuworx Global appointed Rob Verwilligen as European business director. Based in the Netherlands, he will manage sales and service, partner agreements and logistics for Vacuworx Europe. Verwilligen has more than 20 years of experience developing sales relationships in the European market..

ADS President to Retire This Year

Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. has announced that Joseph A. Chlapaty intends to retire as the company’s President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman of the Board by the end of 2017. As part of the company’s succession plan, its Board of Directors has created a search committee and has hired rec..

Ductile Iron Pipe Research Association Names New President

The Ductile Iron Pipe Research Association has selected Patrick J. Hogan as President, bringing national expertise in governmental affairs to an industry group whose members champion the safe delivery of water through reliable infrastructure systems. Hogan has served in senior positions for..

Henkels & McCoy Names New VP – Executive Sponsor

Henkels & McCoy, Inc. has promoted Elsaid Wahba to the position of Vice President – Executive Sponsor. In this capacity, Wahba will be responsible for managing the Pipeline Division Project Management Office, which handles executive project sponsorship and management, business and proposal developme..

People In The News

Toro The Toro Company has named Rick Rodier vice president of Sitework Systems Business. Rodier has been with Toro since 1987 and has held a variety of operational, marketing and business management roles, most recently as general manager of Sitework. He was also named the 2017 chairperson for The ..

California American Water Names New President

California and Hawaii American Water have named Richard Svindland their new president, effective March 1, 2017. Svindland replaces Robert MacLean, who has served as president of California American Water since 2009. MacLean will now become senior vice president of American Water’s Eastern Division, ..

West Virginia American Water Names New President

West Virginia American Water has named Brian Bruce its new president, effective March 1, 2017. Bruce replaces Jeffrey McIntyre, who has been named Senior Vice President of American Water’s Mid-Atlantic Division, encompassing Pennsylvania and West Virginia. McIntyre will also become President of Penn..

Senate Confirms Scott Pruitt to Lead EPA

WASHINGTON (AP) — Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt on Friday won Senate confirmation to head the Environmental Protection Agency, a federal agency he repeatedly sued to rein in its reach during the Obama administration. The vote was 52-46 as Republican leaders used their party’s narrow Senate..

Sterling Construction Names New President

Sterling Construction Company Inc.’s Board of Directors has elected Joseph A. Cutillo as President, effective immediately. Cutillo had previously served as Sterling’s Executive Vice President Chief Business Development Officer. Cutillo has nearly 30 years of executive management experience and a de..

Martin Herrenknecht Receives the Werner von Siemens Ring

Dr.-Ing. E.h. Martin Herrenknecht accepted the Werner von Siemens Ring – one of the most prestigious technical engineering awards – on December 13, 2016 in the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities for his work in the development of innovative tunnel boring machines and groundb..

Kirby-Smith Names Woody Ferrell Pipeline Services Account Manager

Kirby-Smith Machinery, Inc. has appointed Woody Ferrell as Account Manager – Pipeline Services Division. In this role, Ferrell will focus on developing relationships within the oil and gas pipeline construction industry, and represent Kirby-Smith nationally as the company expands its presence in th..

PHMSA Appoints 24 Members to Pipeline Safety Working Group

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) today appointed 24 members to the pipeline safety Voluntary Information-Sharing System (VIS) Working Group. The newly created advisory committee that will provide the Secretary of Tran..

CGA Names Sarah K. Magruder Lyle 2nd President in Organization’s 16-Year History

The Common Ground Alliance (CGA) has selected Sarah K. Magruder Lyle as its second president, effective Jan. 23, 2017. Magruder Lyle will replace Bob Kipp, who has served as CGA’s president since the organization’s inception in 2000. Kipp’s term as president will officially end in late April, creat..

Chairman of Colorado PUC Announces Resignation

PUEBLO, Colo. (AP) — The head of the Colorado Public Utilities Commission has announced his resignation. The Pueblo Chieftain reports (http://bit.ly/2gCzQkc ) that Chairman Joshua Epel announced Tuesday that he will resign two years ahead of the end of his most recent term. His last day will be Jan..

Water Research Foundation Appoints John Albert as Chief Research Officer

The Water Research Foundation (WRF) has appointed John Albert as Chief Research Officer. Albert will contribute to the strategic direction of WRF as part of the Senior Management Team and as director of Research Services and Subscribers Services. “We are excited that John has accepted the role of C..