Ozarks Water Watch Has New Executive Director!

 

David Casaletto, President, Ozarks Water Watch 

One week ago, on February 3rd, Ozarks Water Watch welcomed Cathy Stepp as our new Executive Director. Now, don't get all excited, you can't get rid of me that easily. I will still be around as President of Ozarks Water Watch, but will spend a majority of my time with our drinking water and wastewater companies, Ozarks Environmental Services and Ozarks Clean Water Company.

So let me tell you a little about Cathy and her work history. In a few weeks, Cathy will write a newsletter providing greater insight into her life, but for now, I'd like to provide you with an shortened introduction to our newest member of the team. Cathy has around 20 years of experience dealing with environmental issues. Most recently she served as the Regional Administrator for USEPA Region 5 headquartered in Chicago working in the Great Lakes states. Previously she held the position as the Principal Deputy Regional Administrator for EPA Region 7 in Kansas City.

Cathy was appointed as the State Cabinet Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (in Missouri that title would be Director) from 2011 to 2017.  Wisconsin DNR is the third largest state agency with 4,000 employees and is responsible for state enforcement and protection of wildlife, fisheries, state parks, trails, forests and environmental permitting. Think of Missouri DNR and MDC all rolled into one agency.

From 2003 to 2007, Cathy was elected as a Wisconsin State Senator and served on the Environmental and Natural Resources committee. Prior to her Senate term, Cathy served as a citizen appointee on the Wisconsin's Natural Resources Board that directed the policy of Wisconsin DNR.

Given my background in our family's hardware and lumber business, I can relate to Cathy and her husband Paul's private sector home building company before she entered public service.

One of the biggest reasons that Ozarks Water Watch was fortunate enough to have Cathy join our water quality organization, is the fact that Cathy and Paul fell in love with our beautiful Ozarks and decided to make the Branson area their home. I ask you to join me in welcoming Cathy to the Ozarks and please help her as she continues our work to protect the water quality of our Ozarks streams, rivers and lakes!