Joel H. Jones is the Chief Executive Officer of Renewable Water Resources (ReWa), a regional wastewater treatment and collection utility that provides services for more than 500,000 residents in the Upstate of South Carolina. As CEO, Jones plays a critical role in supporting the area’s future and protecting its environmental purity. He has more than 30 years of experience in the industry.
Working directly with ReWa’s Board of Commissioners, governmental agencies and environmental and economic development groups, Jones leads the development of comprehensive plans for projected growth throughout the Upstate. ReWa employs 195 people and has an annual operating budget in excess of $100 million. Its capital program is expected to drive investment of $400 million in new projects over the next five years.
Prior to serving as CEO, Jones served in a number of roles at ReWa; in fact, he first joined the organization in 1993 before continuing his early career at another Upstate utility. Ultimately, he returned to ReWa to serve in a number of key roles, including, most recently, in the Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Chief Technical Officer (CTO) positions. In those roles, Jones was responsible for the development and implementation of mission-based programs that champion ReWa’s strategic vision.
He is a graduate of Clemson University and Southern Wesleyan University and serves as an affiliate of the American Water Works Association (AWWA), Water Environment Federation (WEF), and Water Environment Association of South Carolina (WEASC). Jones has also supported his community as a Deacon at Crossroads Baptist Church, as well as serving on the executive board for Ten at the Top (TATT), a regional nonprofit that supports collaborative approaches to community planning.