Nicholas DeBenedictis was elected Chairman of Aqua America, Inc. (formerly Philadelphia Suburban Corporation) in May 1993, 10 months after joining the corporation as its president and chief executive officer, and chairman of its principal subsidiary, Aqua Pennsylvania (formerly Philadelphia Suburban Water Company).
Prior to joining Aqua America, DeBenedictis spent three years (1989-1992) as senior vice president of corporate and public affairs for PECO Energy, 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 membership, which 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). Before joining the cabinet, he spent eight years (1973-1981) with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, first as the Assistant Regional Administrator for Region 3, based in Philadelphia, before being transferred to serve in Washington, D.C. from 1980-1981.
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 reaching the rank of Captain.
DeBenedictis was elected Chairman of the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau's (PCVB) Board of Directors in July 2004 and chaired former Philadelphia Mayor John Street's 21st Century Review Forum Regional Cooperation Committee. He currently serves on the policy committee of the Pennsylvania Business Council and is a former Chairman of the Council (formerly the Pennsylvania Business Roundtable). DeBenedictis is a member of 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: Drexel University, Exelon Corporation, PNC Bank - Southeast Pennsylvania Advisory, Glatfelter and Independence Blue Cross. He is a past president of the National Association of Water Companies. DeBenedictis has received numerous awards for public service and civic leadership. They include:
? 2010 Ellipse Award for Improvement of Quality of Life Through Infrastructure, Pennoni Associates
? 2009 "Heart of Philadelphia Award", Greater Philadelphia Hotel Association
? 2008 Man of the Year Award, Boys Town of Italy
? 2008 Anthony J. Drexel Award, Drexel University
? 2007 Greater Philadelphia Area Leadership Award, Roman Catholic High School
? 2007 - Knighted as a Cavaliere Ufficiale in the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
? 2007 Entrepreneur of the Year Award (Philadelphia Region); Finalist, 2007 Entrepreneur of the Year Award, National Competition, Ernst & Young
? 2007 Vision for Philadelphia Award, Philadelphia Hospitality, Inc.
? 2005 William Penn Award, Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce
? 2005 Hope Award, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Greater Delaware Valley Chapter
? 2001 Ambassador Award, The Philadelphia Boys Choir and Chorale
? 2000 Humanitarian Award, Magee Rehabilitation Hospital
? 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
DeBenedictis has received an Honorary Doctorate of Science degree from Widener University and an Honorary Doctorate of Letters degree from Drexel University.
Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer of Regulated Operations
Aqua America Incorporated (NYSE: WTR)
Christopher Franklin was promoted to executive vice president of Aqua America and president and chief operating officer of regulated operations responsible for Aqua America's regulated operations, including customer operations, throughout the company's entire service area, which includes approximately 3 million people in 12 states.
Franklin, a 20-year veteran of the company, has held executive roles in public affairs, customer operations and most recently as regional president of the company's southern and mid-western operations, where he managed eight states. While holding that post, Franklin significantly increased the performance and earnings power of these diverse state operations, while simultaneously serving as senior vice president of the company's corporate and public affairs, where he was also responsible for the company's federal, state and municipal legislative affairs, investor relations, and communications.
Prior to his current position and since December 2009, Franklin was regional president for the company's Southern and Midwest operations as well as senior vice president of its customer operations, which included the national customer call centers, national meter operations, 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 and rebranding the company and its subsidiaries, and expanding its investor relations outreach to increase analyst coverage of the company.
Prior to joining Aqua America, Franklin worked at PECO Energy Company (an 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 ITC Inc. (NYSE: ITC), an expanding electric transmission utility headquartered in Michigan. In addition, he serves on the Board of Magee Rehabilitation Hospital, The Walnut Street Theatre, and has been appointed by the Majority Leader of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to serve as a director on the board of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA). He is a past president of the Board of Trustees of the West Chester University Foundation and is past chairman of the Chester County Chamber of Business and Industry.
Franklin lives in Chester County, Pennsylvania with his wife Jennifer and three children, Jack, Isabella and Charlotte.
Executive Vice President / President, Aqua Capital Ventures
Karl Kyriss, a professional engineer and veteran Aqua America executive was named executive vice president of Aqua America and president of a new business unit -- Aqua Capital Ventures in December 2011. He has the primary role of pursuing acquisitions of municipal and private regulated water and wastewater companies while spearheading non-regulated water and wastewater projects in the unregulated business arena. His non-regulated responsibilities include Aqua Resources, Inc. and Aqua America's new venture into servicing the water needs of natural gas drilling that is now expanding in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Texas.
In addition to growth programs, Mr. Kyriss oversees Aqua America's $300 million capital investment program and manages the company's engineering, environmental, information systems, purchasing and fleet programs.
In 2009, Mr. Kyriss was promoted to regional president northeastern operations and was responsible for Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and Maine. In 2005, he served as regional president of Aqua's Mid-Atlantic operations. Mr. Kyriss rejoined Aqua America in June 2003 as president of Aqua Pennsylvania, Inc., the company's largest operating subsidiary.
Prior to rejoining Aqua America, he spent 10 years at American Water Works Company, where he served first as director of engineering design and subsequently as vice president, operations, northeast region, which included New Jersey, New York and New England.
Mr. Kyriss previously worked for Philadelphia Suburban Water Company (now Aqua Pennsylvania) between 1981 and 1989 as manager, treatment and quality control. He also has held various positions with consulting firms and began his career with the Philadelphia Water Department.
Mr. Kyriss has B.S. and M.S. degrees in chemical and biochemical engineering from the University of Pennsylvania and is a professional engineer in Pennsylvania. He served on the AWWA Research Foundation Board of Trustees for six years.
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.
Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
David P. Smeltzer is executive vice president of finance and chief financial officer for Aqua America, Inc., responsible for all financial functions, including planning, regulatory relations, finance, accounting, Sarbanes-Oxley compliance and capital spending in regards to return on investment. He also manages the company's retirement plans and programs and supports the company's investor relations team to help build shareholder value.
Smeltzer, a 25-year veteran of Aqua America's financial management team, has been Aqua America's chief financial officer since 1999 and held various leadership roles prior to becoming CFO including vice president of rates and regulatory affairs for Aqua America and vice president-controller of Aqua Pennsylvania, Inc.—the company's largest operating subsidiary.
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 Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Association of Water Companies (NAWC) and its Rates and Revenue Committee. He chairs the NAWC Finance committee, is chairman of the Board of the Cradle of Liberty Council, Boy Scouts of America and serves on the Board of Junior Achievement of Delaware Valley.
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.
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Nicholas DeBenedictisChairman, President and CEO