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People In the News

BOND Bond BOND promoted Anthony “Tony” Bond to president and Kane Cuddy to CEO of the Northeast building, civil, utility and energy construction firm’s civil and utility division. As civil and utility president, Bond (a fifth-gene..

In Memoriam: Richard Kinsel, Jr

In MemoriamRichard Kinsel, Jr., died Oct. 2, 2018, in Friendswood, Texas. He founded Kinsel Industries Inc., a Houston-area civil construction firm primarily involved in water/sewer business, in 1976. Under his leadership, the company became a pioneer in trenchless pipe construction/rehabilitation ..

Business People: Felling Trailers (1)

LeRoy Larson joined Felling Trailers Inc., as OEM sales consultant, managing existing accounts, and assisting in developing and improving the technical and marketing aspects of the company’s Power Gen and OEM product lines. He has more than 20 years of related experience and knowledge, including wor..

Business People: Westech

Ben Schmitt is the general manager at Westech Vac Systems, a part of Federal Signal. Schmitt provides organizational leadership and day-to-day management of Westech’s Nisku location, as well as business development, recruiting and overall growth. He has nearly 20 years of sales, engineering, and pro..

Washington Water Service’s Schlender Receives Drinking Water Week Commitment to Excellence Award

Washington Water Service’s (Washington Water) Water Quality Manager Carol Schlender has received the Drinking Water Week Commitment to Excellence award from the Washington State Department of Health (DOH). The Drinking Water Week Commitment to Excellence award is given to an individual water system..

Carmichael Water District General Manager Receives ACWA Leadership Award

The Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) has recognized Carmichael Water District General Manager Steve Nugent with its 2018 Excellence in Water Leadership Award – Building a World of Difference for his leadership and commitment to collaborative regional integrated water management throug..

Brown and Caldwell Strengthens Water Reuse Team

Brown and Caldwell has expanded its water reuse practice with four new hires: Dr. Kati Bell, managing director of water strategy; Melanie Holmer, national water reuse leader; Dr. Allegra da Silva, regional water reuse leader; Melissa Meeker, Rocky Mountain area leader. Bell has over 20 years of pro..

NRTC Names Bartolomei President, Utility Solutions

The National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC) has named Greg Bartolomei President, Utility Solutions, effective May 14. Bartolomei will lead NRTC’s portfolio of smart grid solutions, which includes metering and metering networks, analytics, demand management, smart energy (including sola..

Seaborn Adds Industry Veterans to Lead Sales and Corporate Development Teams

Seaborn Networks has appointed David Zimmer Chief Sales Officer (CSO) and Jim Olson Vice President, Corporate Development. As CSO, Zimmer will be responsible for all of Seaborn’s direct sales, channel strategies and inside sales. He has also been named to the company’s board of directors. Zimmer m..

Vortex Companies Promotes Collier to Sr. Business Development Manager, Northeast

The Vortex Companies has promoted Connor Collier to Sr. Business Development Manager, Northeast. In his new role, Collier will manage the company’s sales team in the region, which now consists of two new members. Kelly Bailey has been named Business Development Manager with Matthew Richards join..

API Names New CEO

The American Petroleum Institute (API) has elected Mike Sommers President and CEO. Sommers will succeed Jack Gerard, who is stepping down in August. Known for bipartisan collaboration and visionary strategic planning, Sommers brings two decades of political experience to API, including his current r..

Aqua America Announces Leadership Changes

Aqua America announced EVP and CFO David P. Smeltzer will retire from his position in October after a 32-year career with the company. As part of the company’s succession plan, Daniel Schuller, who is currently serving as EVP, strategy and corporate development, will succeed Smeltzer as CFO and has ..

Utility Worker Fatally Shot at Job Site in Kansas City

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City police are investigating the shooting death of a utility worker at a job site. Police say 23-year-old Johnathon Porter, of Appleton City, was shot Monday morning. He was working at the construction site for InfraSource, a contractor for Spire Energy. T..

American Water Makes Leadership Changes

American Water has named Deborah Degillio senior vice president of its Eastern Division and president of New Jersey American Water, effective May 1, 2018. Degillio replaces Robert MacLean, who was named president of American Water Enterprises, encompassing the company’s market-based businesses. “I ..

Workers Admit Taking Bribes to Lower Water, Sewer Bills

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (AP) — Two municipal water department workers have admitted taking bribes in return for reducing the water and sewer bills of numerous customers. Joseph DeBonis and William Ortiz both pleaded guilty Friday to official misconduct. Both had been suspended from their jobs with the ..

Former Water Superintendent Charged with Taking $300K

ROGERSVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A former water department superintendent in Tennessee has been charged with using the position to steal more than $300,000 from the department. A Hawkins County grand jury this week indicted 49-year-old Shawn Hatchett, who is the former superintendent of the Rogersvi..

Rennie to Chair EPCOR's Board

Janice G. Rennie, FCA, F.ICD, has been appointed Board Chair of EPCOR Utilities Inc,, effective May 2, 2018. She succeeds Hugh J. Bolton, who is retiring after nearly two decades of leading the company through a significant period of growth. Rennie initially served as a member of the EPCOR Board fr..

Chair of Oregon Utility Commission Quits in Middle of Term

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The chairwoman of the Oregon Public Utility Commission has resigned less than two years after she was appointed. Lisa Hardie did not provide a reason why in a statement Friday, but said it was an honor to serve in the post. Her four-year term was scheduled to end May 31,..

Michael Baker Names Irby-Butler Water/Wastewater Regional Construction Services Practice Lead

Michael Baker International has named Teresa Irby-Butler, P.E., CCM, PMP, Water/Wastewater Regional Construction Services Practice Lead. Based in the firm’s Orlando, Fla., office, Irby-Butler will be responsible for assisting the National Construction Services Practice Lead in identifying, purs..

New Jersey Governor Names Former Democratic State Senator to Utility Board

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy says he’s naming a recently retired Democratic state senator to the board that oversees the state’s utilities. Murphy, a Democrat, said in a statement Thursday that he is nominating Bob Gordon to serve as a commissioner on the Board of Public Utiliti..

Trump has Confidence in EPA Chief as White House Probes His Ethics

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Donald Trump said on Thursday he has confidence in Scott Pruitt, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency, even as the White House investigates whether a condo rental by Pruitt was ethical. The EPA’s ethics office suggested there still could be questions abou..

Frontier Communications Names Burton Vice President, Federal Regulatory Affairs

Frontier Communications Corporation today announced that Alton (AJ) Burton Jr., currently Director, Federal Regulatory Affairs, has been promoted to Vice President. Burton will report to Group Vice President Ken Mason. “With regulatory and legal experience across the telecom sector, AJ is a tireles..

Aqua America Promotes Two Engineers to Vice President Posts

Aqua America (Aqua) today announced two directors from regulated operations have been promoted to vice president roles. Jim Barbato has been named vice president of corporate engineering and Joe Thurwanger has been appointed Aqua Pennsylvania’s vice president of planning and engineering. These promo..

New York City Wastewater Treatment Workers Compete in the 31st Annual Operations Challenge

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today held the 31st annual Operations Challenge where wastewater treatment plant operators compete to showcase the expertise and skills required to operate and maintain the city’s 14 wastewater treatment plants. After competing in five e..

EPA Chief Draws Trump Praise — and Ire

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is offering measured support for Scott Pruitt, the Environmental Protection Agency chief whose deregulatory efforts make him one of the most consequential Cabinet members. But Pruitt, who is at the center of swirling ethics questions over his travel spending ..

Amphenol Appoints Wolff to Board of Directors

Amphenol Corporation today announced that Anne Clarke Wolff, Managing Director and Head of Global Corporate Banking and Global Leasing at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, has been appointed to the company’s board of directors. Wolff has been a Managing Director at Bank of America Merrill Lynch since ..

CommScope Names Pease CFO

CommScope today announced it has named Alexander W. Pease executive vice president and chief financial officer, effective April 2. Pease succeeds Mark Olson is retiring from the company. Pease, who has more than 18 years of extensive financial and operational experience across a wide range of indus..

Downing Joins Black & Veatch as Water Technology Group Innovation Leader

Black & Veatch today announced it has added Leon Downing as a principal process and innovation leader in the global construction, engineering and consulting company’s Water Technology Group. As an expert in resource recovery design and modeling, Downing will provide technology leadership and client..

New Administrator Chosen for Louisiana Utility Commission

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Louisiana’s state utility regulatory agency has a new top administrator, chosen from within the agency’s ranks. The Louisiana Public Service Commission chose Brandon Frey to be its executive secretary, a position that oversees the day-to-day operations of the agency. Frey h..

NASSCO Names Joy Executive Director

After an extensive, nationwide search, the Executive Board of the National Association of Sewer Service Companies (NASSCO) today announced the appointment of Sheila Joy as Executive Director, effective April 2, 2018. Joy will report to NASSCO’s Board of Directors and lead NASSCO in its ongoing missi..