Charles ‘Charlie’ W. Betz
Former Lindsay Company President Charles ‘Charlie’ W. Betz, born January 13, 1922 in Chicago, Ill.,died November 22, 2007. A graduate of Eastern Michigan University and received a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, he had a passion for sales and flying. Betz served in the US Army in World War II and earned his pilot’s wings during the Korean War. He is survived by his loving wife Joel Lynn Betz; first wife and mother of his sons Shirley Cowan-Betz; sons Charles W. III, John Sumner (Elizabeth), James Edmond (Linda) and Frederick Leland (Cynthia); step-children Erik Ryberg and Heidi Wolter; 13 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Donations in his name may be made to Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E. Flower Street, Phoenix, AZ 85014 or the Alzheimer’s Association, Desert Southwest Chapter, 1028 E McDowell Road, Phoenix, AZ 85006.
Aquion names
Aquion Water Treatment Products appointed Frank J. Kneller, Jr. CEO and a member of the Board of Directors. A career executive in the home improvement industry, he spent most of his career with Terminix International Company. Previously, Kneller was CEO of Cable Lock of Houston (Texas). He began his career at ChemLawn Services Corporation, Philadelphia (Pa.), where he held various positions, including Commercial Operations Manager.
Cathcart elected to Watts Board
Watts Water Technologies, Inc. elected Richard J. Cathcart as a member of the Board of Directors. He was also appointed to serve as a member of the Audit Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board of Directors. Cathcart most recently served as Vice Chairman and a member of the Board of Directors of Pentair, Inc. until his retirement in September 2007. Prior to joining Pentair, he held several management and business development positions with Honeywell International Inc.
Mink named Rohm and Haas VP
Rohm and Haas Company named Kim Ann Mink as Vice President, Ion Exchange Resins. She joined Rohm and Haas in 1988 as a Group Leader in the Analytical Research Department then became the Corporate Regulatory Affairs Manager, Product Integrity Department in 1991. Since 1995, Mink has held several regional and global commercial roles of increasing responsibility. She earned her BA in chemistry from Hamilton College, a Ph.D. in analytical chemistry from Duke University and is a graduate of the Wharton School of Business Management Program.
Mills named WWEMA Chairman
Thomas M. Mills, Vice President Of Marketing and Business Development for Severn Trent Services was been named Chairman of the Water and Wastewater Equipment Manufacturers Association (WWEMA). He began his one-year term at WWEMA’s annual meeting held in November in Ponte Vedra, Fla. The organization, which celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2008, represents the interests of companies that provide technologies used in wastewater treatment and potable water purification for municipal and industrial customers worldwide.
Voutchkov honored
Poseidon Resources’ Corporate Technical Director, Nikolay Voutchkov was named as one of Public Works Magazine’s 2007 trendsetters. The magazine’s annual list recognizes visionaries who stand out among their peers by making national or international impact on the public works sector with fresh and innovative ideas and who set new trends and standards within the industry. Voutchkov was honored for his creation of a new desalination system and leading the development of a novel method to determine salinity tolerance of marine organisms. (See his article, this issue, page __.)
Henthorne named President of IDA
Lisa Henthorne, a Vice President and Global Director Of Desalination at CH2M HILL, was named President of the International Desalination Association (IDA). During her two-year term, she will be responsible for developing a new strategic plan for the association and developing relationships with regional affiliate associations. Henthorne has been active with IDA for a number of years as a North American representative on the Board of Directors and serving as co-chair for the 2007 World Congress. She holds three US patents in water treatment technology.
AWT awards announced
The Association of Water Technologies (AWT) presented awards at its 2007 Annual Convention and Exposition in Colorado Springs, Colorado in November to Richard L. Tassone and Rex Rankin. Tassone (Kemira Chemicals, Inc.) received the Ray Baum Memorial Water Technologist of the Year Award, recognizing his outstanding entrepreneurial spirit, contributions to the field of water treatment and for service to AWT. 
Rankin (Water Treatment Industry Assurance Company) received the Supplier of the Year Award, which recognizes suppliers who are an integral part of the water technology industry.
Lauria appointed at Amiad
Jim Lauria was named Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Amiad Filtration Systems. A Chemical Engineer with more than 25 years of experience in liquid/solid separation processes and water treatment, he previously held leadership positions with EaglePicher Filtration and Minerals, Synergistic Performance Corporation and founded Team Chemistry LLC, a consulting firm that helped clients market water treatment technologies. He will be based at the company’s US headquarters in Oxnard, Calif.
Kinetico US director appointed
Kinetico Incorporated named Benjamin C. Litalien Director of Dealer Sales for the US, responsible for maximizing the benefits of the corporate-dealer relationship by ensuring effective communication, providing support resources and leadership as well as implementing value-enhanced programs to promote the financial health of Kinetico’s individual dealers. A certified franchise executive with almost two decades of franchising and independent dealer network expertise, he is also charged with broadening the company’s distribution network in the US and assisting new dealers as they start operations. Litalien also serves as an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University in Washington, DC.
Procise named to Hydrotech sales team
Hydrotech named Bret Procise as a Sales Representative for Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and West Virginia. He will be based in Ft. Wayne, Ind. Procise has over 15 years experience in the water treatment industry as a Salesman, Sales Manager and is the former owner of an independent water dealership. His responsibilities include growing the four-state region to its full potential.
Charles ‘Charlie’ W. Betz
Former Lindsay Company President Charles ‘Charlie’ W. Betz, born January 13, 1922 in Chicago, Ill.,died November 22, 2007. A graduate of Eastern Michigan University with a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, he had a passion for sales and flying. Betz served in the US Army in World War II and earned his pilot’s wings during the Korean War. He is survived by his loving wife Joel Lynn Betz; first wife and mother of his sons Shirley Cowan-Betz; sons Charles W. III, John Sumner (Elizabeth), James Edmond (Linda) and Frederick Leland (Cynthia); step-children Erik Ryberg and Heidi Wolter; 13 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Donations in his name may be made to Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E. Flower Street, Phoenix, AZ 85014 or the Alzheimer’s Association, Desert Southwest Chapter, 1028 E. McDowell Road, Phoenix, AZ 85006.