DENVER, Colo., Feb. 10, 2004 - The American Water Works Association (AWWA), the authoritative resource on safe drinking water, has announced the election of longtime water expert Andrew W. Richardson as its next president-elect.
Richardson, a principal and director of the Phoenix and Las Vegas offices of the consulting firm Greeley and Hansen, will assume the AWWA presidency in June of 2005, following the one-year term of Kathryn McCain. McCain succeeds current president Marlay Price in June 2004 at the AWWA Annual Conference and Exposition in Orlando, Florida.
"Water is to this century what oil was to the previous century," said Richardson, whose father served as AWWA president 20 years ago. "First and foremost, clean water is essential for a nation's public health, but water is also quality of life. It's economic development. It's sustainable recreation. I'm privileged and honored to serve in this position at a moment when people are increasingly aware of the need to protect the quality and supply of the water we share."
Established in 1881, AWWA is the oldest and largest nonprofit scientific and educational organization dedicated to safe drinking water in North America. AWWA has over 57,000 members worldwide and its 4,700 utility members serve 80 percent of America's population.
"The American Water Works Association has intellectual capital second to none in the water community," Richardson said. "My role through the collective leadership of our Board will be to facilitate the use of that intellectual capital towards the implementation of AWWA's new strategic planning initiatives, which will enable water professionals and others to take advantage of the many opportunities the coming century offers."
An AWWA member for almost 20 years, Richardson has been a long-time leader in the Association and the water community. He is an AWWA Vice-President and serves on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee. He chairs the Strategic Planning Committee and has served on other Board committees, as well as committees on water reuse and international issues. He holds a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the University of Illinois and masters degrees in civil engineering and business administration.
"There are few people who understand water the way Andy Richardson does," said AWWA Executive Director Jack Hoffbuhr. "AWWA will continue to expand and thrive as the authoritative resource for safe drinking water under his leadership."
Other AWWA leadership elected by the Board of Directors and set to take office June 2004 as Vice-Presidents include:
- Mari Garza-Bird, senior engineer with MWH Americas, from AWWA's Texas Section
- Nilaksh Kothari, general manager of public utilities for Manitowoc, Wisconsin
- Mike Leonard, general manager of the Atlanta-Fulton County Water Resources Commission
- Gerald Samuel, a manager with Opertech Consulting in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Curtis Truss, executive director of the Operator Training Committee of Ohio. Truss is already serving a one-year term as vice-president and is from the Ohio Section.
The Association's director-at-large position will be filled by Melissa Wisely from the Pacific-Northwest Section, who will serve a three-year term. Wisely is a water quality manager for Spokane, Washington.
AWWA is the authoritative resource for knowledge, information and advocacy to improve the quality and supply of drinking water in North America and beyond. AWWA is the largest organization of water professionals in the world. AWWA advances public health, safety and welfare by uniting the efforts of the full spectrum of the drinking water community. Through our collective strength we become better stewards of water for the greatest good of the people and the environment.
