The National Assn. of Water Companies (NAWC) announced the election of two individuals to new positions on its governance board.
President-elect is Martin A. Kropelnicki, chief executive officer and president of California Water Service Group (Group). Prior to his appointment as president and CEO in September 2013, Kropelnicki served as president and chief operating officer. He joined Group in 2006 as chief financial officer and treasurer, and was named Bay Area CFO of the Year in 2009. Kropelnicki brings significant finance, operations and business experience to NAWC, having spent 10 years in the high-tech industry and 17 years in the electric, gas and water utility industries.
Christopher Franklin, president and chief executive officer of Aqua America, was elected vice president of NAWC. Franklin has been part of Aqua America’s leadership team for nearly 25 years and was appointed its CEO in 2015. In his previous role as president and chief operating officer, regulated operations, Franklin managed Aqua’s eight state subsidiaries, which serve about 3 million people. Earlier, as Aqua grew nationally, Franklin consolidated and restructured the company’s customer operations to improve service and increase efficiency. Franklin has also led Aqua’s legislative affairs, investor relations and communications teams.
“Marty and Chris are valuable resources to all of us in the water industry,” said NAWC executive director Michael Deane. “They have been leaders on issues ranging from conservation and sustainability to state and federal regulatory matters. NAWC member companies are pleased that they are contributing this leadership to the association as we continue to work together to protect and provide America’s most valuable natural resource: water.”
Source: NAWC
