Incoming officers include president-elect, first AWWA YP director-at-large

The American Water Works Association (AWWA) is welcoming a newly elected slate of incoming officers, including Brent Tippey, the next president-elect, and Lily Lopez, the first Young Professional director-at-large.

Tippey, Lopez and four AWWA vice presidents were selected by the Association’s Board of Directors during its Jan. 25 winter meeting in Hilton Head, South Carolina. The officers’ terms begin in June at the conclusion of AWWA’s Annual Conference & Exposition (ACE25) in Denver.

Tippey is a licensed professional engineer and vice president, East Region Drinking Water Lead for HDR. Based in Lexington, Kentucky, he has been a volunteer and leader with AWWA and the Kentucky/Tennessee Section since 1999 and is currently a member of AWWA’s Board of Directors and Executive Committee. He holds a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from the University of Kentucky.

“Being elected President is deeply meaningful to me and the full measure has yet to sink in,” said Tippey, who will succeed current President-Elect Heather Collins as president in June 2026.  

“I have so much respect for the individuals who serve on the Board of Directors,” he added. “Their commitment to the industry and AWWA is just inspiring. To be selected by that group of peers, it is something I could not have imagined when I started my water journey over 20 years ago.”

Lopez is director of external affairs and sustainability at Walnut Valley Water District in Walnut, California. She has been active with the California-Nevada Section since joining AWWA in 2020 and is a graduate of the Transformative Water Leadership Academy.

AWWA’s board of directors approved designating a director-at-large (DAL) position for a Young Professional (age 35 or younger) at its January 2024 meeting. There are three other DAL positions on the board, one of which is designated for a service provider volunteer.

The four AWWA vice presidents selected by the Board are:

• John Eisnor, director of operations, Halifax Water in Nova Scotia, Canada. He has been a member of AWWA and the Atlantic Canada Section since 2000.
• Andrea Odegard-Begay, senior associate, Hazen and Sawyer in Goodyear, Arizona. She joined AWWA and the Arizona Section in 2000.
• Kevin Smith, project manager, Ramboll. He has been a member of AWWA and the Virginia Section since 2011.
• Andrea Song, utilities division manager, City of Westminster, Colorado. She joined AWWA and the Rocky Mountain Section in 1999.

In addition, Mark Theiler, director of production at Middlesex Water Company in New Jersey, was appointed to a three-year term as a Young Professional advisor to the Executive Committee. His term will begin in June 2025 after current YP advisor Ji Im from the New England Section completes her term.