Teen’s article wins award
Alyse Ritvo of Oakland, Calif., is the inaugural winner of the ITT Award for Excellence in Student Water Journalism (AESWJ). Ritvo, 18, a senior at Head-Royce School in Oakland, was given the award for her feature article titled Sure You Drink Bottled Water, But Do You Know Why?, which explores America’s love for bottled water and the lack of access to safe drinking water for billions of others in developing nations. Ritvo’s article was named the winner by a judging panel of top environmental, science and water journalists and industry leaders from a pool of articles submitted nationwide. The Quill and Scroll Society, the international honorary society for high school journalists, administered the competition.
Keogh returns to firm
Becky Keogh has re-joined CH2M HILL as Vice President for the southeast region’s Energy & Industrial Systems Business Group, effective immediately. Keogh will be responsible for helping define the firm’s global strategies and growing the firm’s business in Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas, particularly in the areas of compliance and permitting strategies, regulatory/legislative policy and advocacy and corporate/community-based sustainability programs. She will be based out of the firm’s Little Rock, Ark., office.
Hague adds to marketing team
Samantha Palmer is the newest member of the Hague Quality Water International Marketing team. Palmer has a professional background in marketing and graphic design and is new to the water treatment industry. She will be responsible for the design of Hague marketing materials and coordination of various marketing projects.
Abernethy assumes new role
Aquionics has appointed Robert Abernethy to the newly created role of Country Manager, Canada. Abernethy will establish an office in Ontario, providing a local contact for the company’s municipal and industrial customers throughout Canada and selected Northern U.S. states. His experience includes developing new markets for UV technologies and most recently he served as President of MS Filter Inc. Abernethy earned an MBA degree with a marketing major from York University (Toronto) and a BA degree in geo-engineering from the University of Toronto. He is a Registered Professional Engineer in the Province of Ontario and a founding member of the International Ultraviolet Association.
Lipp joins IBWA
Dr. Markus Lipp has joined the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) as Director of Science and Research. His duties include monitoring publications and electronic information resources for water research activities in government, industry and academia; managing the work of the association’s science and research consultants and advisors and conducting and managing projects initiated by the IBWA Technical Committee. Lipp’s previous experience includes consulting services to government and nonprofit organizations in the food and animal feed industries. Prior to that, he worked with the Monsanto Company in St. Louis, Mo., managing technical outreach, education and training for agricultural biotech products for the U.S., E.U., Codex Alimentarius Commission and the International Standards Organization. Lipp holds a Ph.D. in analytical chemistry and has completed postgraduate courses in technology.
Multiple appointments at A.O. Smith
A.O. Smith announced several appointments at its Milwaukee, Wis., world headquarters. Patricia K. Ackerman, Vice President and Treasurer, will be responsible for ensuring adequate funding capacity for the corporation and its subsidiaries, managing financial community relationships, global cash and foreign exchange exposures, overseeing investment pension assets and managing real estate. Ackerman has held the positions of Cash Manager and Manager of Capital Markets and International Finance since joining the company in 1983.
Kenneth J. Maciolek, newly named Vice President, Associate General Counsel and Assistant Secretary, has been a member of the Law Department since 1990. His responsibilities include the areas of international, antitrust, employment and employee benefits law, business transactions and counseling.
Jane M. Sanford, named Vice President of Global Human Resources and Organizational Development, will be responsible for all human resources-related process and programs, training, education and development programs and leadership development and succession planning. Sanford has served as corporate Director of Human Resources since January 2005.
Craig R. Watson, now Vice President of Investor Relations, joined A. O. Smith as Director of Investor Relations in 1996, responsible for all investor and shareholder relations for the company. Previously he held the same position at Sunstrand Corporation of Rockford, Ill.
Thomas J. Olander assumes the newly created position of Vice President of Global Compensation, Benefits and Payroll. He will be responsible for all U.S. and worldwide compensation and benefit programs. Olander has an extensive background in executive management positions in human resources.
State-of-the-art water treatment plant
On March 24, 2006, state and local officials joined representatives of Aqua New Jersey, Inc. (Aqua) for a ribbon-cutting ceremony and presentation at a new $2.6 million water treatment facility that supplies drinking water for Phillipsburg and Lopatcong, Pohatcong and Greenwich townships. Construction began last summer on the facility that employs ultraviolet (UV) light treatment to enhance water quality for approximately 10,600 Aqua customers. The new plant is capable of treating 10.5 million gallons per day and is the first in New Jersey to employ UV disinfection for this particular type of application, which requires no added chemicals and is a cost-efficient alternative to a traditional filtration plant.