Aqua America Inc. has hired Karen M. Heisler as senior vice president and chief human resources officer. Heisler comes to Aqua America from UGI Utilities Inc., where she had been vice president of human resources and administration since 2012.
As chief human resources officer for Aqua America, Heisler will lead a department of more than 20 employees. She is charged with attracting and retaining the people who will work to keep Aqua America in a prominent role in the utility industry. Heisler will lead the effort to ensure that the company’s more than 1,600 employees receive the professional development and training opportunities to ensure they are part of a strong workforce. She will also have responsibility for employee benefits, compensation and labor relations for Aqua America’s 14 local bargaining units.
“Our employees strongly believe in our mission, and Karen will bring a unique set of experiences to Aqua that are important in our efforts to continuously evolve and improve our corporate culture,” said Aqua America President and CEO Christopher Franklin. “I have elevated the position of CHRO to report directly to me so that I can work with Karen to foster a culture in which all employees are valued and developed. Karen will be a welcomed addition who further rounds out an already strong senior leadership team. We’ll work together to leverage the comprehensive experience and perspective Karen has gained from working in a variety of other industries.”
Prior to UGI, Heisler was corporate vice president of human resources for Precyse Solutions, a national provider of health information management services and technologies; and senior vice president of human resources for Pegasus Communications, a mid-sized telecommunications company. She also held senior human resources positions with Comcast Corp. and Episcopal Hospital in Philadelphia.
Heisler earned her B.S. in journalism from Temple University and an M.S. in management from LaSalle University. Her professional memberships include the Human Resources Executive Alliance and the Society of Human Resources Management.
Source: Aqua America Inc.
