Several water quality industry leaders were honored March 29 during the Opening General Session of WQA Aquatech USA – the largest water industry show in North America – sponsored by the Water Quality Association (WQA) and the Amsterdam RAI.
Honored at the Rosemont, Ill., event was James W. Baker, CWS-VI, president and CEO of AmeriWater, Inc. in Dayton, Ohio. Baker received WQA’s highest honor, the Hall of Fame Award.
The Hall of Fame Award recognizes lifelong dedication and service to the water quality improvement industry and extensive participation and support for the betterment of the association.
Baker is a 35-year veteran of the water treatment industry. He founded AmeriWater in 1995. Previously, he was president and co-owner of Dayton Softwater/Dayton Water Systems. He was formerly president and owner of Servi-Soft of Madison and LaCrosse, Wis, and Rochester, Minn., as well as president and owner of Kentucky Miracle Water.
“Jim has spent much of his time in the leadership of the Water Quality Association, driving the strategic planning process and ultimately, the strategic reorganization of the WQA,” said Water Quality Association Executive Director Peter Censky. “The changes that Jim helped fashion will have a positive impact on this industry for years to come.”
Also honored was I. Donald Rosuck, senior advisor to LaSalle Capital Group. Rosuck was this year’s Lifetime Member Award recipient.
The Lifetime Member Award recognizes exceptional service to the water quality improvement industry as well as outstanding support and commitment to the association’s mission.
Prior to his work with LaSalle Capital Group, he was principal for Rosuck Management Services for nine years. Before that, he was president and CEO of Culligan International, Inc., a position he held for 10 years.
During his tenure at Culligan, Rosuck reintroduced the familiar “Hey Culligan Man” advertising slogan, and launched Culligan’s bottled water business, resulting in national distribution in three years.
The final award presented during the event was the President’s Award, which was presented to WQA President Gerald Dierolf, CWS-VI, CI. Dierolf is president of Gerry’s Culligan Water Conditioning in Eagle Lake, Florida. The 2006 WQA Aquatech USA conference wraps up Dierolf’s one-year term as WQA president.
Source: WQA
