The American Water Works Association has elected Dr. Chi Ho Sham as its next president.
Sham is a 30-year member of the AWWA and chair of the Technical & Educational Council and Stormwater Utility Management Committee.
Sham, an active member of the New England Section, was one of seven new officers elected at the AWWA’s annual winter meeting on Jan. 25 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Also elected were the treasurer, three vice presidents, a director-at-large and a service provider director-at-large, according to the AWWA.
The new officers will begin their terms in June, after AWWA’s Annual Conference & Exposition (ACE20) in Orlando, Florida.
“Water issues are becoming increasingly complex and require interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary thinking and actions to develop innovative and cost-effective solutions,” said Sham.
Sham will support AWWA’s collaboration with the Water Research Foundation, the Water Environment Federation, American Planning Association and other organizations and universities to develop innovative solutions using technology and education, according to the AWWA.
Additionally, Jon Eaton was elected as the association’s next treasurer. Eaton has been an AWWA member since 1994 and has served in several roles with the Minnesota Section.
According to the AWWA, the three vice presidents elected by the board are:
• Jennifer Elms, director of the Texas Section and an associate, senior project manager at EHRA, Inc., in Houston.
• Dr. Stephen Randtke, director of the Kansas Section and a professor at the University of Kansas.
• Patrick Staskiewicz, director of the Michigan Section and public utilities director for the Ottawa County Road Commission in Grand Haven.
Michelle Stockness will act as director-at-large and Corianne Burnett was selected as a service provider director-at-large, reported the AWWA.