People
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..
Underground Construction Business: People
Brierley Associates Jim Williams, P.E., joined Brierley Associates’ Trenchless Services sector, which provides assistance to the energy industry and other market sectors using HDD and trenchless technologies in the Texas region. He has more than 24 years of experience in underground engineering and..
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California Names Williams to Board
The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (Metropolitan) has appointed Harold Williams to serve on the district’s board of directors. Williams joins Gloria Gray representing the West Basin Municipal Water District on the 38-member Metropolitan board. He succeeds Donald Dear, who served..
Shuler Named PLCA's President of Associate Members
The Pipe Line Contractors Association (PLCA) today announced it has named Jared Shuler President of Associate Members. A PLCA member for the last nine years, Shuler, who previously served as the association’s senior vice president of pipeline contract services, will serve in his new role for a term..
Retired Con Edison President Elected to Ameren's Board
Ameren Corporation today announced that Craig S. Ivey, retired president of Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. (Con Edison), has been elected to the Ameren board of directors, effective March 9, 2018. Ivey served as president of Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. f..
Governor Taps Ex-Prosecutor to Lead South Carolina Utility
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina’s governor has chosen a former top prosecutor to lead the board of state-owned utility Santee Cooper. Gov. Henry McMaster announced Wednesday he has picked former state Attorney General Charlie Condon to fulfill the rest of former chairman Leighton Lord’s ..
Connecticut Water Names New President and CEO
The board of directors of Connecticut Water Service Inc. (CTWS) today announced that David C. Benoit has been named president and CEO of the company effective immediately. Benoit has served as interim president and CEO since Sept. 28, 2017. Richard Knowlton will continue as president of the company’..
Global Water Resources Names Lenderking Director of Water Resources
Global Water Resources, Inc. today announced it has appointed Jake Lenderking as director of Water Resources. “Jake’s senior leadership experience on water resource management throughout Arizona makes him a great addition to Global Water,” said Global Water Resources President and CEO, Ron Fleming...
Frontier Communications Names Curtis Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer
Frontier Communications Corporation today announced that Rob Curtis has joined the company as Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. Curtis will report to John Maduri, Executive Vice President of Consumer Sales, Marketing and Product. “Rob brings a data-driven approach, founded in marke..
Adams to Retire as President and CEO of PECO
Denis O’Brien, senior executive vice president of Exelon Corporation and CEO of Exelon Utilities, and the PECO Board of Directors, today announced that Craig Adams will retire as President and CEO of PECO, effective March 30, 2018. Adams will be succeeded by Mike Innocenzo, currently PECO Senior Vic..
Broadband Visionary Named Inaugural Recipient of CENIC’s Christine Haska Distinguished Service Award
CENIC, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing education and research across California by providing the world-class network essential for innovation, collaboration, and economic growth, today announced David Lassner, President of the University of Hawaii (UH), will receive the inaugural Chr..
FirstEnergy Announces Senior Management Changes
FirstEnergy Corp. today announced management changes designed to support its transition to a fully-regulated utility company. They include: James F. Pearson, currently executive vice president and chief financial officer, named executive vice president, Finance Steven E. Strah, currently sen..
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