West Des Moines Water Works Names First Woman to Head Utility

Diana Wilson began work Tuesday as the new general manager of West Des Moines Water Works, the first woman to work in that position for the utility.

Wilson, who had worked as an engineering project manager for the utility since 2010, replaced Jerald Stevens, who resigned in September. The utility has since been headed by Bill Garrett, the Water Works assistant general manager, and will continue to work for the utility.

Wilson joins an elite group nationally, one of only a handful of female water works utility general managers in the country, according to a press release. Only 6.1 percent of the general managers and CEOs of water utilities are women, according to a study conducted by Colgate University.

“We conducted a national search with a firm that specializes in identifying candidates for public utilities,” said Karen Novak Swalwell, chair of the utility’s board of directors. “After reviewing the credentials of candidates from Iowa and outside the state, the board unanimously selected Diana.”

Serving as the engineering project manager at West Des Moines Water Works since 2010, Wilson already plays a key role in Water Works operation and built a positive, productive rapport with staff members, professional contractors, vendors and customers. One example of her work and leadership is the southern expansion of the utility’s service.

“She managed that project from the start and delivered it on time and on budget, which is an essential skill to have when managing the community’s water assets and capacity,” Novak Swalwell explained. “Her intimate knowledge of WDMWW together with her professional experience and accomplishments in the water industry uniquely qualified Diana as a leading candidate for the position.”

Before joining West Des Moines Water Works, Wilson worked six years as an environmental engineer with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources where she focused on a variety of drinking water projects, initiatives and regulations. A graduate of Iowa State University with a degree in civil engineering, she also worked in the private sector as a field engineer and project manager.

Gender Disparity in Water Utility Managers

In a soon-to-be released report of the Colgate University study, researcher Manuel P. Teodoro writes:

“Water utility CEOs are overwhelmingly male; just 6.1 percent are female. This gender distribution is clearly disproportionate with respect to the broader population, but such gender imbalances are typical among CEOs across fields. For example, business corporations show a similar gender distribution: in 2012, just 4.2 percent of businesses included in the Fortune 500 had a female CEO (Sellers 2012).”

Wilson was not the only woman to apply for the general manager position.

“We had many qualified candidates from which to choose, and the fact we selected a woman was coincidental to selecting the right person for the job. That being said, we are very happy to install our first woman as GM,” Novak Swalwell added. “As trustees, we are proud to work with a qualified and industrious professional and operations staff. Diana has the respect and support of the staff, which we believe is a great benefit as we transition leadership and prepare for the opportunities and challenges ahead.”

The West Des Moines Water Works is owned by the citizens of West Des Moines and governed by a five-member Board of Trustees. Appointed by the Mayor and approved by the City Council for staggered six-year terms, the trustees formulate policies and govern the operations of the water utility. Managed by a professional staff, West Des Moines Water Works is supported solely by the revenues it generates by supplying water to the community’s residents and businesses.