WDBC E-NEWS – February 3, 2021

Meet WDBC Second Vice President Marlea Tichy, PMP, Vice President, Business Development, Kiewit

Also elected at our annual meeting in December 2020, WDBC Second Vice President/Secretary Marlea Tichy took office on January 1, 2021. Marlea is the former third vice president/advisor liaison of the Council.

Marlea has over 30 years of experience in the construction and engineering industry, holding key executive leadership, operations, and project management roles during her career. She played a key role in establishing the design-build subsidiaries at both MWH (now Stantec) and CDM Smith, holding significant operations and board level roles at each firm. While COO of MWH Constructors, she helped grow the group to over $250M in less than five years, profitably overseeing operations in both the U.S. and the U.K. before being promoted out of the role to assist the firm in a new venture. Moving into the CEO role she was successful in orchestrating a series of company turnarounds at two private equity owned construction firms.

A highly versatile executive, Ms. Tichy has a strong track record of working across organizations to achieve business goals and success. She has shown unusual adaptability to “go where the business needs are” and perform as a highly capable operations, project, business, functional, sales, and corporate executive leader. Marlea brings that same energy and versatility to the Council and we are thrilled to have her on our team!

Six-Session Package of Online Education Continues in February - It's Not Too Late to Join!

Join the WDBC for a six-session package of online education sessions designed for owners and practitioners in the water industry. Officials, managers, and engineering and O&M staff of public water/wastewater facilities who are looking to gain essential knowledge needed to procure and deliver design-build and CMAR projects should attend these classes.

If you missed the first one, you can still sign up for the package deal and join us starting in February. Or pick and choose which sessions you'd like to attend and purchase individual tickets.

Each session will include a review of the principles and best practices of collaborative delivery as well as the topic of the day:

February 25: Risk Management
March 25: Contracts
April 22: Conducting the Procurement Process
May 27: Managing & Implementing Collaborative-Delivery Projects
June 24: Getting to Project Completion & Transition

All sessions will be conducted on Microsoft Teams from 10:00 - 1:30 p.m. MST (break 11:30 - 12:00 MST)

Package includes a hard copy and PDF of the 5th edition Water and Wastewater Design-Build Handbook. See registration page for single-session options.

For more information, please contact WDBC Business Operations Manager Bob Golden at 303.641.0550 or rgolden@waterdesignbuild.org.

How Do You Decide the Best Project Delivery Approach?

By Ryan Roberts, P.Eng., PE, PMP, Senior Vice President, Stantec

Find many more blogs on our website:

US Water Alliance CEO Radhika Fox Joins the Office of Water at the Environmental Protection Agency

The Water Design-Build Council is pleased to offer our congratulations to US Water Alliance CEO Radhika Fox on her new appointment as the Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Office of Water at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Radhika is a Day One Presidential Appointee in the Biden-Harris Administration. She will serve as the Acting Assistant Administrator for Water. As proud members of the US Water Alliance, the WDBC is confident that Radhika's leadership skills are exactly what the water industry needs at this crucial time.

Mami Hara, Chair of the Board of Directors for the US Water Alliance, said: “The Board of Directors and staff at the US Water Alliance applaud President Biden for selecting Radhika for this important role at the EPA. Radhika has been a visionary leader at the US Water Alliance for the last five years, and she is the right leader to guide our nation’s water program at this uniquely volatile and critical time. Radhika brings a deep commitment to equity and inclusion in all that she does. She is also an expert consensus builder on complex environmental issues. We are excited for her to take on this even bigger and broader role in the water sector.”

Radhika Fox said: “It is an incredible honor and privilege to be selected by President Biden to serve our country. I am proud to join the EPA team of dedicated career professionals who have a long-standing commitment to protect public health and the environment. Water policy and investments can be a force for addressing the four compounding crises facing our nation—the global pandemic, economic recovery, racial equity, and the climate crisis. I stand ready to support this administration as we Build Back Better for every American."

Member Companies

The Water Design-Build Council stands ready to contribute its expertise, resources, innovation, and enthusiasm to the challenge of strengthening our water and wastewater infrastructure.