American Water, the largest water services provider in North America, announced the appointment of Mark Strauss as president of American Water Enterprises (AWE) Group.
AWE was formed in January 2005, and it brings together American Water’s non-regulated business units offering closely aligned services that supplement its core water and wastewater, and operations and maintenance contract businesses. These include services such as community onsite water systems, service-line protection programs, water and wastewater management for military bases, and other innovative solutions that address a variety of challenges facing the industry.
Strauss joined American Water in 1997 as Corporate Counsel and Secretary for the Applied Water Management Group (AWM). He was promoted to the position of chief operating officer in 2002 until he was appointed president and CEO of the group in 2003. As president, he was responsible for bringing to fruition projects that included the Solaire, the nation’s first independent wastewater treatment and recycling system in the basement of a residential high-rise in New York City, and a water reclamation project located in Mansfield, N.J., which recently received a 2006 New Jersey Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award.
“As president of Applied Water Management, Mark challenged his group to deliver innovative products and solutions and as a result helped to solidify American Water’s reputation as an industry leader,” said Don Correll, president and CEO of American Water. “I know he will bring that same enthusiasm to his new post as head of AWE.”
Prior to joining American Water’s Applied Water Management Group, Strauss served as vice president and general counsel of Vizzoni Brothers Construction, Inc. He is a member of the New Jersey Bar Association and holds board positions for Skylands Community Bank and the Design/Build Institute of America. Strauss holds a JD from Seton Hall University School of Law in New Jersey and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Bowdoin College in Maine.
Replacing Strauss is Tim Davies, who has served as the group’s chief operating officer and vice president of operations of AWM for the last five years. During his tenure, the group experienced numerous improved health and safety achievements, as well as realized overall operational efficiencies.
Strauss replaces Graham Wood, who recently completed a two-year assignment with American Water.
Source: American Water
