Nicholas DeBenedictis was elected Chairman of Aqua America, Inc. (NYSE: WTR) in May 1993, 10 months after joining the corporation as its President and Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman of its principal subsidiary, Aqua Pennsylvania, Inc.
Prior to joining Aqua America, DeBenedictis spent three years (1989-1992) as Senior Vice President of Corporate and Public Affairs for Philadelphia Electric Company (PECO), a $4 billion nuclear utility. He was responsible for government relations, economic development and environmental policies, plus implementation of the utility's public policy positions.
From 1986 to 1989, DeBenedictis was president of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. He successfully designed and implemented various economic and business development programs to service the Chamber's growing small business membership, and represented the regional business community before local, state and federal legislative bodies. The Philadelphia Chamber's overall membership dramatically increased to more than 5,500 businesses, putting it among the five largest in the nation.
DeBenedictis served in two cabinet positions in Pennsylvania government: Secretary of the Department of Environmental Resources (1983-1986) and Director of the Office of Economic Development (1981-1983).
DeBenedictis received a Bachelor's degree in business administration from Drexel University in 1968, and a Master's degree in environmental engineering and science from Drexel in 1969. He served in the Army Corps of Engineers between 1970 and 1973 serving in the rank of Captain.
Now Chairman of the Pennsylvania Business Roundtable and the Executive Committee of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, he also serves on the Board of Directors for many regional businesses, economic and environmental organizations. These include: the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, Independence Visitor Center, Drexel University, PNC Bank, P.H. Glatfelter Company, Provident Mutual Life Insurance Company, Met-Pro Corporation, Philadelphia Health and Education Corporation, and the Pennsylvania Partnership for Economic Education.
DeBenedictis has received numerous awards for public service and civic leadership. They include:
2001 Ambassador Award, The Philadelphia Boys Choir and Chorale
2000 Community Leadership Award, Riverbend Environmental Center
1998 Business Leader of the Year Award, Drexel University
1996 CEO of the Year, Chester County Chamber of Commerce and Industry
1995 Distinguished Citizen of the Year Award, Cradle of Liberty Council of the Boy Scouts of America
1992 Williamson Award for Excellence in Community Service, Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades
1986 Pennsylvania Resource Council Fox-Calhoun Conservation Award
1979 EPA Silver Medal Award for Superior Service
DeBenedictis has received an Honorary Doctorate of Science degree from Widener University and an Honorary Doctorate of Letters degree from Drexel University.
Regional President, Southern Operations and Senior Vice President, Public Affairs and Customer Operations
Aqua America Incorporated (NYSE: WTR)
Christopher Franklin was promoted to regional president, southern operations and senior vice president, public affairs and customer operations at Aqua America, Inc. in February 2007. As regional president, Franklin is responsible for all of Aqua America's utility operations in Texas, Florida, Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, which provide service to approximately 200,000 customer accounts (600,000 residents). Additionally, as senior vice president, public affairs and customer operations, Franklin is also responsible for the company's federal, state and municipal legislative affairs, investor relations, and communications, as well as the customer service operations for the corporation, which includes the company's national customer call center, meter operations, and company-wide billing and collections.
Since joining Aqua America in December 1992 as director, corporate and public affairs, Franklin headed several successful projects, including leading the effort to get favorable utility legislation passed in several states, attaining national print and broadcast media coverage for the company, changing the name of the company and its subsidiaries, and expanding its investor relations outreach to increase analyst coverage of the company. One of the largest and most recent projects has been the consolidation of the company's call centers.
Prior to joining Aqua America, Franklin worked at PECO Energy Company (and Exelon Company) where he was regional, civic and economic development officer, responsible for the review, recommendation and promotion of economic development initiatives in the Philadelphia region.
Franklin earned his BS from West Chester University and his MBA from Villanova University.
Franklin serves on the Board of Directors of Aqua Pennsylvania. He is president of the Board of Trustees of the Fund for West Chester University Foundation. In addition, he serves on the Boards of Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Magee Rehabilitation Hospital, and is vice chairman of the Chester County Chamber of Business and Industry. Franklin is the past Chairman of the Legislative Committee of the Pennsylvania Business Roundtable in Harrisburg.
Regional President, Aqua America Mid-Atlantic Operations
Karl M. Kyriss was named President of Aqua Pennsylvania, Inc. in March 2003, effective June 27, 2003. In his capacity Kyris is responsible for the overall operations of the company including distribution, production, water treatment and quality, water resources, maintenance and construction.
Prior to joining Aqua Pennsylvania, Kyriss spent 10 years at American Water Works Company, where he served first as director of engineering design and for the past five years, vice president, operations, northeast region. Kyriss worked for Aqua Pennsylvania previously between 1981 and 1989 as manager, treatment and quality control.
Kyriss has a B.S. in chemical engineering and an M.S. in chemical and biochemical engineering from the University of Pennsylvania and is a professional engineer in Pennsylvania. His professional associations include the American Water Works Association and the Water Works Operators Association of Pennsylvania.
Regional President, Aqua America Northern Operation
Robert G. Liptak was appointed President, Consumers Water Company and Vice President, Consumers Operations for Aqua America, Inc. (WTR) in March 1999, when Aqua America merged with the former Consumers Water Company of Portland, Maine.
As an officer of Consumers Water Company and its parent, WTR, Liptak is responsible for the overall operations of each of the Consumers operating subsidiaries in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio, Illinois and Maine that collectively serve more than 200,000 households, or an estimated 600,000 individuals.
Prior to this appointment, Liptak was President of Consumers Pennsylvania Water Company, formerly known as Shenango Valley Water Company, a position he held since 1980. Earlier in his career, Liptak spent three years as Vice President, Engineering for Consumers New Jersey Water Company, the Former Garden State Water Company.
Liptak received his BS in Civil Engineering from Bucknell University in 1970 and is a licensed professional engineer in New Jersey.
Liptak is a member of the Boards of Directors of the Sharon (PA) Regional Health System, Mellon Bank-Northern Region, Shenango Valley Industrial Development Corporation, Mercer County Division of the PA Economy League, the United Way of Mercer County, and is Management Co-Chairman of the Northwest Pennsylvania Cooperation Council.
Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Controller
Robert A. Rubin was appointed vice president, controller and chief accounting officer (CAO) of Aqua America in May 2005 after having served a chief accounting officer since March 2004 and as controller for the previous five years.
As CAO, Rubin is responsible for Aqua America's external and internal financial reporting, including that required by the Securities Exchange Commission and Sarbanes Oxley regulations. He is also responsible for taxes, coordinating external audits, corporate accounting and maintaining compliance with accounting standards and principles throughout the company.
Rubin, a Certified Public Accountant with a B.S. in accounting from Penn State University, joined Aqua America in 1989 as an accounting manager after having been employed by KPMG LLP. He was later promoted to manager, budgets and finance before being appointed assistant controller in 1994. His professional associations include the Pennsylvania and American Institutes of Certified Public Accountants and the National Association of Water Companies – Taxation Committee.
David P. Smeltzer was named Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer for Aqua America, Inc. (NYSE: WTR) in 1999 after serving as Vice President, Rates and Regulatory Affairs for Aqua America's largest subsidiary Aqua Pennsylvania, Inc., since 1991. Prior to then, he spent over four years as Aqua Pennsylvania's Vice President-Controller.
Smeltzer joined Aqua Pennsylvania in 1986 after having been employed as Audit manager by the accounting firm of KPMG LLP.
Smeltzer earned his B.S. in Business Administration from LaSalle University in 1980 as an accounting major. In 1982 he became a licensed Certified Public Accountant in Pennsylvania.
Smeltzer is a member of the Pennsylvania and American Institutes of Certified Public Accountants; is a past Chairman of the PA Chapter of the National Association of Water Companies and its Rates and Revenue Committee.
Chief Administrative Officer, General Counsel and Secretary
Roy H. Stahl was named Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of Aqua America, Inc. in February 2007. As CAO, Stahl is responsible for the administrative functions of the corporation including human resources, information services, legal, security, and risk management. Stahl served as executive vice president from 2000 to 2007.
He has retained his position as General Counsel to which he was appointed in 1991, following a seven year history with the company in which he served as corporate counsel; vice president, administration and corporate counsel; and vice president, administration and general counsel.
Before he joined Aqua America in 1984, Stahl spent two years with two of its former subsidiaries, Philadelphia Services Group, Inc. (PSG) as Director of Group Legal Services, and Terraqua Resources Corporation as Vice President of Administration. Prior to this time, Stahl served as Assistant General Counsel at Gilbert Associates, Inc., engineering and consulting firm in Reading, PA.
In 1974, Stahl graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Pre Law from Pennsylvania State University. Three years later, he received his JD from Villanova University School of Law. Stahl, a Phi Beta Kappa, is a member of the American Bar Association, the Pennsylvania Bar Association and the American Corporate Counsel Association.
Shareholder Briefcase
Printed Materials
Email Alerts
Download Library
RSS News Feeds
hide all
Nicholas DeBenedictisChairman, President and CEO