Three American Water Executives Honored by the National Diversity Council

American Water (NYSE: AWK), the largest publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility company, announced that three of its executives were recognized by the National Diversity Council for their professionalism, integrity and leadership qualities. American Water’s Chief Financial Officer Susan Hardwick was recognized as a Top 50 Financial Leader, while Valoria Armstrong, Chief Inclusion Officer and Vice President, External Affairs, was honored with the Leadership Excellence Award. Pamela Richardson, Vice President, Chief Labor Employment and Commercial Counsel, was recognized as a Top 50 General Counsel.

“American Water believes in investing in our people, our customers and our communities,” said Walter Lynch, President and CEO of American Water. “At American Water, we encourage, honor, and celebrate differences in our employees, including race and ethnicity. Inclusion and diversity of ideas, thoughts and experiences are vital to our culture and the way we do business. Having multiple members of our leadership team be recognized by the National Diversity Council is a true honor for us.”

Recognized as a Top 50 Financial Leader, as CFO Hardwick is responsible for all aspects of financial management and strategy, including directing finance strategy, investor relations, treasury, financial planning, accounting, internal audit, risk management, supply chain, regulatory services, and control functions. She leads a diverse organization that provides continuous opportunities for growth among her employees and challenges them to achieve their personal and professional goals. Hardwick treats her employees with respect, integrity and fairness and is committed to developing and engaging talented professionals.

Armstrong was honored with the Leadership Excellence Award, which distinguishes a select group of individuals from diverse fields. According to the National Diversity Council, the focus of the award is to give prominence to accomplishments of men and women who exceed the scope of what is expected in their organizations and communities. Armstrong has been responsible for strengthening the American Water’s inclusion and diversity strategy by creating a comprehensive and integrated focus on driving diversity, equity, mutual respect, and inclusiveness across the organization. She is also responsible for leading government and regulatory affairs across American Water’s regulated and market-based businesses. Armstrong engages with key external stakeholders like the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and the National Utilities Diversity Council.