Water Well Journal
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/728580
McCray Stepping Down as NGWA CEO in December 2017 After more than 34 years of combined employment by the National Ground Water Association and its subsidiaries, including more than 20 as the chief executive officer, Kevin McCray, CAE, informed the NGWA Board of Directors of his retirement as the Association's CEO effective December 31, 2017. "I am humbled and gratified by the many diverse opportu- nities afforded me during my service to the Association's membership, as well as to the larger global groundwater community," McCray told the Board. "All in all, everyone has been an honor to serve. "It has also been my special reward to work beside excep- tionally dedicated and member-focused staff colleagues throughout my NGWA career. I am confident I learned far more from them than ever could be tallied. They are NGWA, through and through." McCray first began work for the Association in 1979 as an assistant editor in its publishing subsidiary. From 1983 to 1985, he worked for an industry manufacturer, and returned to NGWA in December 1985, serving in a number of roles until being named the Association's executive director in August 1995. He also serves as the chief executive of the Association's foundation. With McCray at the helm, NGWA has accomplished a multitude of achievements greatly impacting the ground- water community in the last 20 years. Among them are: • Publishing an industry standard in 2014, the ANSI/NGWA- 01-14 Water Well Construction Standard • Developing a set of industry best suggested practices that currently numbers 19 with more in development • Hosting numerous national and international professional development opportunities, including events in Australia and Panama • Having NGWA work with several federal agencies, includ- ing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, on a variety of programs benefiting the groundwater industry and well owners • Invigorating NGWA's charitable foundation, creating several endowed funds that have awarded tens of thousands of dollars in grants and scholarships • Hosting its biggest annual exhibition, the Groundwater Expo, in 2004 with 5,959 attendees in Las Vegas • Seeing its technical journals, Ground- water and Ground- water Monitoring & Remediation, grow in international recognition with hundreds of thousands of articles downloaded annually from researchers all around the world. • Developing a program for well owners to become better stewards of groundwater with a website and other material specific to homeowners using water well systems as their daily source of water. "I will miss the energy and satisfaction of helping any individual or any organization in need of the Association's resources," McCray added. "I look back on a legacy of accomplishments large and small and take pride in knowing I have left valued contributions." NGWA Board President Jeffrey Williams, MGWC, CVCLD, is activating a task group from within the Board of Directors, which will meet to review a recommended transi- tion timetable and related actions, as well as expectations for the future CEO. He anticipates the search beginning in the first quarter of 2017. NGWA is not currently accepting resumes and is not taking calls or emails about the position at this time. Williams anticipates the new CEO will assume his or her duties in conjunction with the 2017 Groundwater Week annual meeting and trade exposition, December 5-7, 2017, in Nashville, Tennessee. "During my time on the board, especially as president, I have looked to Kevin for guidance on many issues," Williams said. "He has never failed to be thorough, forthright, and pro- fessional. He maintains a tremendous amount of insight and knowledge on so many subjects. "As Kevin opens a new chapter in his life, NGWA must do the same. I anticipate this to be a challenging but rewarding experience. Kevin has set the bar very high with his level of service and dedication, but NGWA must now embrace the opportunity to find a person that can continue to lead our Association forward. We will work hard to ensure this transi- tion is a positive move for both Kevin and NGWA." The LOG waterwelljournal.com 18 October 2016 WWJ