Nick O. Rowe was president of Kentucky American Water, the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high quality and reliable water and/or wastewater services to approximately half a million people. In this role, he reinforced and strengthened customer, regulatory and local government relationships, drove operational and financial results and was the principal external contact for American Water in Kentucky. He was responsible for driving performance within the state, establishing consistent best practices and enhancing American Water’s efforts to maintain and build external relationships. Additionally, Rowe served as senior vice president of American Water, overseeing the operations of Tennessee, Virginia and Maryland American Water.Rowe joined American Water in 1987 as management assistant at West Virginia American Water and was subsequently promoted into various management positions with responsibility for the day-to-day operations of American Water facilities in Pennsylvania and oversight of contract operations in North Carolina, Georgia and Florida. Rowe previously served as senior vice president of American Water’s Central and Eastern divisions, which included the states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia. Rowe is involved with various regulatory agencies, civic organizations and professional associations and currently holds board positions with Lexington Industrial Foundation, Central Bank Advisory Board, Kentucky Chamber of Commerce (past chair), Commerce Lexington and Lexington Clinic. He previously served on the boards of Commerce Lexington (past chair), United Way of the Bluegrass and St. Louis Regional Chamber of Commerce. He is currently a member of American Water Works Association (AWWA), the National Association of Water Companies and the national AWWA Water Utility Council.Rowe holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Western Kentucky University and a master’s degree in business administration from Lebanon Valley College. He attended executive education programs at Oxford University in England and IMD in Lausanne, Switzerland.In July 2007, the Public Relations Society of America’s Thoroughbred Chapter selected Rowe to receive its Communicator of the Year Award. He was selected for his leadership and open communication in the business.Read more about this authorRead less about this author