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Wastewater, Polyurethane Industries Name New Leadership

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

The wastewater treatment and polyurethane industries have new leaders and advocates at the helms of their professional associations.

Kentucky sanitation executive Jeff Eger has been named executive director of the Water Environment Federation, and Lee Salamone returns to the American Chemistry Council as senior director of the Center for the Polyurethanes Industry.

Water Environment Federation

The Water Environment Federation (WEF) is a nonprofit technical and educational organization for water quality professionals. It has 36,000 individual members 75 affiliated member associations worldwide.

Eger, who assumes his position Jan. 24, comes to WEF from Sanitation District 1 (SD1) in Fort Wright, KY, where he had served as executive director since 1994. SD1 is the second-largest public sewer utility in Kentucky, maintaining $1 billion in physical assets.

“We are fortunate that someone with Jeff’s leadership, experience and creativity is taking up the torch to represent WEF as it faces the next generation of environmental challenges,” said WEF President Jeanette Brown.

Green Track Record

SD1 is recognized as a national leader in implementing green infrastructure in wet weather control, advocating for legislation and policy change on the state and national levels, and using adaptive watershed management in controlling and managing storm water, WEF said.

"We look forward to continuing WEF’s visionary thinking and inspired leadership as Jeff comes on board,” said Brown. “The WEF board was particularly impressed by his credentials in working with water regulations and stormwater issues.”

Stormwater, Sanitary Management

At SD1, Eger developed and implemented a regional stormwater management program to comply with federal regulations. In 2009, he began taking responsibility of public stormwater collection systems. He also supervised the regionalization of 30 municipal sanitary sewer systems. 

“Through the strong leadership of the SD1 board of directors and staff, the organization has proven that an innovative and a cost-effective plan can be developed to manage the vital wastewater and stormwater infrastructure in Northern Kentucky,” Eger said. “I look forward to promoting the concepts we pioneered here on a national and international platform.”

Eger is a member and past chairman of The Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission. He also chairs the Wet Weather Partnership, which focuses on environmentally responsible solutions to urban wet weather issues.

Eger succeeds William (Bill) Bertera, whom WEF credits with increasing membership and financial stability, and with making the annual WEFTEC conference the largest of its kind in the world.

Center for the Polyurethanes Industry 

CPI, an arm of the American Chemistry Council, represents U.S. producers and distributors of chemicals and equipment used to make polyurethane, as well as manufacturers of polyurethane products.

Salamone, whose appointment took effect Dec. 9, formerly served as a director on ACC’s public health and policy team. She also has worked as a public affairs consultant with the Silicones Environmental, Health and Safety Council of North America and, most recently, as a senior consultant with AcuTech Consulting Group.  

‘Proven Strategic Leadership’

In her new role, Salamone will be responsible for day-to-day management of CPI, working closely with the steering and management committees, other trade associations and the customer community.

“As opportunities continue to expand worldwide for polyurethane products, Lee’s technical and policy advocacy experience and proven strategic leadership skills will help position this industry to capitalize on those opportunities,” said Steve Russell, vice president of the Plastics Division.

“Her strategic guidance in developing new programs, advancing advocacy objectives, and addressing emerging issues will support the customer base while contributing to new market development.”

Salamone said, “I look forward to working with CPI's leadership, members, value chain and all stakeholders to deliver value and sustainable solutions on behalf of this industry.”