Greenville S.C. (April 25, 2022) – The Renewable Water Resources’ (ReWa) Board of Commissioners today officially welcomed Joel Jones as its newest chief executive officer.
An industry veteran with more than 30 years of experience in the water and sewer utility industries, Jones was recently selected by the ReWa Board to serve as the successor to former CEO Graham W. Rich. Jones, who most recently served as ReWa’s chief operating officer, began in his new role today.
“Joel has earned and established a respect and rapport with ReWa’s entire workforce that, combined with his nearly 30 years of experience in the industry, provides the Board with the ability to build upon its collective vision for the organization’s continued success,” said John Crawford, ReWa’s current board chairman. “We believe he is best equipped to serve as ReWa’s CEO and hereby expresses its full faith and confidence in his ability to lead the organization.”
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.
“I’m honored and humbled to be entrusted with leading an organization like ReWa,” Jones said. “Our team plays a critical role in protecting our shared quality of life in this region, and I’m committed to doing my best to draw upon the strengths of our tremendous employees to build on the work of Graham Rich. I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue striving for improvements that provide value, build equity and grow goodwill.”
Jones is a graduate of Clemson 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.
About Renewable Water Resources (ReWa)
Since 1925, ReWa has been committed to providing high-quality wastewater treatment services to the Upstate of South Carolina while promoting a cleaner environment, protecting public health and the water quality of Upstate waterways, and developing the necessary sewer infrastructure to sustain our community and growing economy.
Servicing a population of more than 500,000 in Greenville County and parts of Anderson, Spartanburg, Pickens and Laurens counties, ReWa’s mission is to improve our community’s quality of life by transforming wastewater into renewable resources through responsible and innovative solutions.
With nine water resource recovery facilities and more than 350 miles of pipe, more than 40 million gallons of water passes through ReWa’s trunk lines and reclamation facilities before being cleaned and returned to our area rivers and streams. To learn more about ReWa, visit www.rewaonline.org.