Board Members

Elisa M. Speranza
President of CH2M HILL’s O&M Business Group
Chair of Water For People Board
elisa.speranza@ch2m.com

Charles C. DiLaura
President
Neptune Technology Group Inc.
Vice-Chair of Water For People Board

Mark Premo
General Manager
Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utility
Treasurer of Water For People Board

Edward D. (Ned) Breslin
Chief Executive Officer
Water For People
Secretary of Water For People Board (Ex-officio)

Dr. Paul T. Bowen
Water Technology Director
The Coca-Cola Company

Erich Broksas
Senior Vice President, Innovation and Investments
The Case Foundation

Monica Ellis
CEO
Global Environment and Technology Foundation and Global Water Challenge

Mary Kay Kaufmann
Chief Marketing Officer and VP of Sales, Americas
Nalco Company

Harold MacNeil, P.Eng.
Engineering Information Engineer
Halifax Regional Water Commission

Patrick McCann
President & CEO
Weston Solutions, Inc

David Nastro
Managing Director
Morgan Stanley

Darwin Nelson
Senior Vice President
CDM

Constance M. Roesch
Superintendent of Commercial Service Div.
Greater Cincinnati Water Works

James Williams
President
Peerless-Midwest, Inc.

Biographies

Elisa M. Speranza
Elisa Speranza is president of CH2M HILL’s O&M Business Group based in Denver. She was appointed to this position in January 2008. A recognized leader in the North American water profession, Elisa directs operations, administration and client relations for CH2M HILL O&M Business Group and is responsible for establishing and achieving the firm's vision, market strategy and performance objectives. She earned a Master's degree in Public Administration from Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government and a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from Boston College. Elisa is a past American Water Works Association (AWWA) Executive Committee member, and a past leader of several other water- and community-oriented organizations. Her work has been extensively published and presented, and in 2007 she received the AWWA's Outstanding Service award. Elisa joined the Water For People Board of Directors on July 1, 2000 and served as Vice Chair from July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2009. She was elected Chair for a two-year term beginning July 1, 2009.

Charles C. DiLaura
Charles (Chuck) DiLaura is President of Neptune Technology Group, Inc. He has been with the company for thirty-four years; he started with Neptune as a sales trainee and customer service manager for Neptune’s Eastern Region in Glen Rock, New Jersey. He was assigned progressively increased responsibility through 14 different positions until Investcorp purchased Neptune in November 2001 and Chuck was named President and CEO. Neptune is currently owned by Roper Industries. Chuck volunteers with organizations such as Relay for Life and the Family Sunshine Center. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Marketing from Iona College and attended PMD at The Harvard Business School. Chuck joined the Water For People Board of Directors on July 1,2003, and was elected Chair for a two-year term beginning July 1, 2009.

Mark Premo
Mark Premo is the General Manager of the Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utility, a position he has held for over 20 years. Prior to that, he worked with OTT Water Engineering, URS Corporation in Anchorage and the State of Washington Department of Ecology. He holds both a Master and Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Washington. He is a past President and a current Board member of the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies, past Treasurer and Board member of the Water Research Federation, and past Board member of the Water Environment Federation. Mark joined the Water For People Board of Directors on July 1, 2009, and was elected Treasurer for a four-year term beginning October 2009.

Edward D. (Ned) Breslin
Edward D. (Ned) Breslin joined Water For People as its Director of International Programs in January 2006, and was appointed Acting CEO in late 2008. The board hired him as Chief Executive Officer on May 13, 2009. Ned was first introduced to the challenges of water supply when living in the Chalbi Desert of northern Kenya in 1987, linked to a Lutheran World Relief program through his university – St. Lawrence.  He subsequently worked for a range of local and international water and sanitation sector NGOs in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, including positions at the Mvula Trust and as Country Representative for WaterAid in Mozambique, before joining Water For People.

Dr. Paul T. Bowen
Dr. Paul Bowen joined The Coca-Cola Company in 1999 and is the Water Technology Director on the Global Water Stewardship team. His responsibilities include oversight of water efficiency, water reuse, and wastewater treatment for over 1000 manufacturing sites. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry & Natural Systems from Mercer University and Master of Science and Ph.D. in Environmental Systems Engineering from Clemson University. He is affiliated with the American Water Works Association, the Water Environment Federation, the International Water Association, the American Society of Civil Engineers, and the American Chemical Society.

Erich Broksas
Erich Broksas, Senior Vice President of The Case Foundation, brings years of business development, investment, innovation, management, and communication experience to Water For People’s Board of Directors. Erich leads the team at The Case Foundation in finding unique ways in which individuals, foundations, and non-profits can leverage innovative technology and business models for good. He also oversees all international development investments, programs and campaigns with an emphasis on creative and disruptive solutions to the clean water and malaria crisis in Sub-Saharan Africa. Erich holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and a Master of Arts degree in International Relations from Washington State University. On Water For People, he states, “The vision of the organization and leadership team is spot on in their desire to change the conversation on monitoring and evaluation, transparency, and the use of technology and innovative methods to address complex problems.”

Monica Ellis
Monica Ellis is the Chief Executive Officer and a founding member of the Global Environment & Technology Foundation, a leading not-for-profit that develops public-private partnerships to bring clean water and sanitation to communities in need. Monica is also serving as CEO of Global Water Challenge, a coalition of corporations, NGOs and other organizations committed to achieving universal access to safe drinking water and sanitation (WASH). She is a graduate of the University of Missouri – Columbia and serves on a variety of boards including the International Rural Water Association. Monica looks forward to helping Water For People flourish in the WASH sector and admires the organization’s focus on locally sustainable solutions.

Mary Kay Kaufmann
Mary Kay Kaufmann is a 30-year employee with Nalco Company, a company providing essential expertise for protecting and conserving water, energy, and air. Mary Kay's experience is in sales, marketing and sales management.  She is currently Chief Marketing Officer and VP of Sales for the Americas.  Mary Kay was a 7-year board member of the Naperville United Way and the Chicagoland United Way Crusade of Mercy Leadership Giving Women’s Initiative. She volunteers at Naperville Humane Society and the Joliet Township High School Advisory Committee. Mary Kay received a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. She was the 2008 commencement speaker for University of Illinois College of Chemistry and a frequent speaker at water scarcity conferences. Mary Kay admires Water For People and supports the mission, vision, and differentiated approach of the organization.

Harold MacNeil
Harold MacNeil joined the Halifax Regional Water Commission in 1992 and has worked in the positions of Engineering Information Supervisor, Engineering Information Engineer and his current position of  GIS Manager. His responsibilities include the management of the Engineering Information section which delivers GIS (Geographic Information System), CAD (Computer Aided Drafting), and records management services to Halifax Water, a combined water, wastewater and stormwater utility serving a population base of ~375,000 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.  Harold's previous work experience includes 3 years as a secondary school teacher in rural Zimbabwe, Africa. He has a Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Engineering degrees from Dalhousie University as well as a Diploma in GIS from the Centre of Geographic Sciences. Harold is a member of the Association of Professional Engineers of Nova Scotia, American Water Works Association, and the Atlantic Canada Water and Wastewater Association and is currently president of the board of Water For People–Canada.

Patrick McCann
Pat McCann joined Weston Solutions, Inc. in October 1996 and led the company through a successful transformation from public to employee ownership, becoming chief operating officer in 1997, president in 1998, chief executive officer in 2003, and chairman of the board in 2006. Pat holds a Bachelor and Master of Science degree in Economics from State University of New York and a Master of Business Administration degree from Virginia Tech. Pat looks forward to assisting Water For People increase its impact through sustainable drinking water and sanitation solutions in the developing world.

David Nastro
David Nastro, Managing Director, Head of the Global Power and Utility Group - Investment Banking for Morgan Stanley, is responsible for managing the global group, working with domestic and international clients in the regulated and competitive power, water, gas, clean energy and infrastructure sectors. He runs the leading utility investment banking franchise on Wall Street focused on mergers and acquisitions, strategic advisory assignments and raising equity and debt capital. David holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations from Amherst College and a Master of Philosophy degree in International Relations from Cambridge University. David looks forward to helping Water For People achieve a lasting impact in the clean water and sanitation sector through sustainability and education.

Darwin Nelson
Darwin Nelson has over 22 years of experience managing and implementing water and environmental programs for federal, public and private clients worldwide.  As Senior Vice President for CDM, he currently leads CDM’s efforts in identifying, positioning, pursuing and implementing their water resources portfolio with the US federal government. Along with Water For People, Darwin has been associated with National Waterways Conference, 50 for Colorado Leadership Development Program, NFL Junior Player Development Program, and was a volunteer middle school math instructor. Darwin is a registered Professional Engineer and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Arizona State University. Darwin is a strong advocate for the mission and approach that Water For People has developed for addressing water and sanitation challenges.

Constance M. Roesch
Connie (Constance) Roesch has served 33 years in public service, 30 of these years with the City of Cincinnati as a senior manager in the Community Development Department, as the City’s Director of Budget, Assistant Finance Director, and, currently, as a Superintendent at the Greater Cincinnati Water Works.  She is a member of the American Water Works Association and the American Society of Public Administrators, among others. Connie holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting from the University of Cincinnati. Her passion for Water For People began in 2001 when she started working in the water industry and became a volunteer for the Ohio AWWA Water For People committee.

James Williams
Jim (James) Williams is President and CEO of Peerless-Midwest, Inc., a water supply contracting and hydrogeologic services company with offices in Indiana and Michigan. Jim is affiliated with the American Water Works Association, the National Ground Water Association, Women’s Care Center, Inc., and the Indiana Rural Water Association. He holds a Bachelor of Science-Management and Administration degree from Indiana University. Jim is highly motivated to make a difference in the battle against the world water, sanitation, and hygiene crises.