Arizona Water Company's Terri Sue Rossi Named a 2026 Most Influential Women in Arizona

Arizona Water Company (AWC) is proud to announce that Terri Sue Rossi, vice president of water resources, has been named a 2026 Most Influential Women in Arizona Business by AZ Business Magazine. Rossi was selected from a competitive field of more than 2,000 nominees statewide and is featured in the July issue of AZ Business as part of the magazine’s annual cover story. She will also be honored at a celebratory dinner on August 20, 2026, at Chateau Luxe in Phoenix.

A seasoned water resources manager with experience in state and local government and in Arizona’s largest water utility providers, Rossi is widely recognized for her leadership in securing a 100‑year assured water supply for the communities of Casa Grande and Coolidge earlier this year—an achievement she considers the most significant of her career. At AWC, she leads a team of emerging women leaders whom she proudly calls her “future Most Influential Women.”

“Terri Sue is the definition of a public servant, committed to the communities she serves,” said Fred Schneider, president and COO of Arizona Water Company. “Her leadership has shaped Arizona’s water future, and her commitment to mentoring the next generation of women in our industry is extraordinary. This recognition is well deserved.”

Rossi’s nomination highlighted not only her technical expertise and policy impact, but also her role as a champion for women in professional spaces. Colleagues describe her as someone who “never hesitates to share her knowledge” and that she “unconditionally supports the professionals who will one day step into the sphere she has cultivated for Arizona.”

When asked what advice she would give her younger self, Rossi shared the same guidance she offers the women she mentors:

If we are nothing else, we are kind.

Save as much for retirement as you possibly can as soon as possible.

If you are not failing, you’re not working to your full potential.

Never let your work define you as a human being.

Rossi holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Arizona and a master’s degree from Rutgers University. Outside of her professional work, she is also a musician—and, as she puts it, “still a tomboy.”

Arizona Water Company (AWC) has been headquartered in Phoenix for more than 70 years. AWC provides clean, safe and reliable drinking water to more than 320,000 Arizonans in 8 counties across the state. For more information about AWC, visit www.azwater.com.