Al Bly of U.S. Water announced his retirement from the water treatment industry after 31 years.
“I would like to thank U.S. Water employees, customers, vendors and industry professionals for what has been an incredible ride. Thank you to my partners in starting and building U.S. Water: Stacey Bly, Randy Meyer and Mike Bertrang. The vision was to create a great company consisting of chemistry, equipment, and engineering in support of the customer to change the water treatment industry in a positive way, to create opportunities for those who wanted to improve the environment in which we live in a positive way, and to create a company where an employee’s passion and energy could be harnessed for a great outcome for the customer. I think we accomplished that,” said Bly.
Bly expressed appreciation to LaMarr Barnes, Kent Herbst, Jim Merritt and those who were instrumental in growing U.S. Water through 10 acquisitions, and to ALLETE Chairman, President and CEO Al Hodnik and the ALLETE team for continuing the vision to grow U.S. Water. Duluth-based ALLETE Inc. acquired U.S. Water in 2015.
“I would like to thank Terry Loso, Jim Stahl, and Clay Watson for helping us and propelling us forward; Ron Fagen and Dave Vandergriend for putting faith in us during the ethanol industry buildout that helped push us to another level; and Bruce Ketrick, Steve Dumler, Dennis Clayton, Andy Weas, Greg Gehrke and my many friends at Associated Labs and AWT. I could not have not succeeded without your help and guidance,” Bly said.
“All of us at U.S. Water thank Al for his vision, his passion for the company and the water treatment industry, and his leadership in developing our company into the national platform we have become,” said Barnes. “We wish Al and Stacey the best in their next phase of life. I know Al will continue to celebrate our wins as we move forward in fulfilling his original vision for the company.”
Source: U.S. Water
