31 March 2010 – The American Water Works Association (AWWA) has named David B. LaFrance as its new executive director. He will join the staff in May.
LaFrance, 46, has served as director of finance for Denver Water for the past 12 years and is a respected industry leader in the areas of utility economics and water rates.
“It’s a privilege to lead AWWA at such an important moment in the history of our association,” LaFrance said. “I look forward to working with AWWA volunteer leaders and staff in fulfilling our mission to protect public health and to provide safe and sufficient water for all.”
LaFrance was selected by the AWWA Board of Directors after unanimous recommendations from a Transition Committee and the Executive Committee, both comprised of AWWA volunteer leaders. He succeeds Gary Zimmerman, who resigned in March 2009.
“David is a proven leader in the water community, and he has the ideal skill set to lead AWWA in the new decade,” said AWWA President Craig R. Woolard. “His superb understanding of the water industry and experience with the many issues facing our members will serve the association well.”
LaFrance has been a member of AWWA for 15 years and served as chair of AWWA’s Audit Committee from 2005 to 2008 and its Rates and Charges Subcommittee from 1993 to 2002.
Prior to being named director of finance at Denver Water in 1998, LaFrance served as the utility’s manager of rate administration for five years. From 1988-93, he worked as a utility rate economist with the global engineering and consulting firm CH2M Hill in Denver and Portland, Ore., and from 1986 to 1988 he was a natural resources economist with the US Army Corps of Engineers in Portland.
LaFrance earned an MBA in finance from the University of Colorado-Denver in 1992 and a BS in economics from Lewis and Clark College in Portland in 1986. He lives in Denver with his wife, Justine, and two children, Sierra and Devon, both in high school.
CONTACT
Greg Kail
Director of Public Affairs
+1 303 734 3410
gkail@awwa.org
