Pauli Undesser, MWS, CAE
Chief Executive Officer
Pauli Undesser is the Chief Executive Officer of the Water Quality Association (WQA) and the Water Quality Research Foundation (WQRF), where she oversees the strategic direction and operations of both organizations. With two decades of experience in the water treatment industry, Undesser has helped advance water quality standards, forge collaboration across water-related industries, build global alliances, and shape regulatory frameworks that protect consumers and strengthen the industry.
Under her leadership, WQA has achieved significant organizational growth and introduced innovations that streamline operations, enhance member value, and improve technical resources. She has guided major initiatives, including capital campaigns, regulatory negotiations, and efforts to remove trade barriers, always keeping mission integrity at the forefront. In August 2025, Undesser became an official TEDx speaker, presenting “Smart Cities Can’t Afford Dumb Water” at TEDxFolsom, where she highlighted the critical intersection of water quality, infrastructure, and community needs.
Undesser’s contributions to the industry have earned her widespread recognition, including the Association Forum’s “40 Under 40” honor in 2016 and the Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation that same year. She received the Inspiring Leader Award in 2018 for her commitment to staff engagement and organizational culture. Since 2020, she has served on the board of directors for the Association Forum, representing more than 44,000 association professionals. Undesser holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a master’s degree in biochemistry from Northern Illinois University.
Tom Bruursema, MS
Chief Operating Officer
Tom Bruursema directs the overall administration, leadership and cross-functional strategy execution for WQA’s Product Certification, Laboratory, Technical Affairs and Quality departments. He joined WQA in 2018, serving as Associate Executive Director of Member & Public Engagement until 2022.
Bruursema has a rich background in the water treatment industry and in marketing and business operations. He spent 30 years at NSF International, where for a time he was General Manager of Drinking Water Treatment Units and Environmental and Research Services. He holds a Master of Science degree in Biology from Eastern Michigan University.
Richard Mest
Strategic Affairs Officer
Richard Mest serves as the Strategic Affairs Officer for the Water Quality Association, a role in which he guides key initiatives related to business development, government affairs, and technical strategy. With a long-established career in the water treatment sector, Mest brings a strong record of innovation, organizational leadership, and industry advocacy to WQA.
Mest’s longstanding involvement with the association includes serving as WQA president in 2013–14 and as president of the Water Quality Research Foundation from 2020–22. His contributions have been recognized with WQA’s Lifetime Membership Award and induction into the WQA Hall of Fame. He has also served on national industry groups, including serving as president of the Water Systems Council.
Before joining WQA, Mest served as Director of Special Programs and president of Master Water Conditioning, where he helped strengthen the company’s position as a leading water treatment manufacturer prior to its acquisition by A.O. Smith. He continues to be a strong advocate for effective water treatment solutions and is dedicated to supporting industry growth through collaboration, education, and mentorship.
Kyle Jones
Chief Financial Officer
Kyle Jones is responsible for assuring WQA and WQRF’s accounting policies, procedures and practices are in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and result in accurate and timely financial reports, as well as adhering to the investment and fiscal policies set by the WQA and WQRF Boards and Finance Committees.
Jones came to WQA and WQRF with experience in managing nonprofit finance, audits, strategic planning, operations and systems implementation. He holds a bachelor’s degree and PBCA from Indiana University and has a solid understanding of GAAP, finance, IT, operations and nonprofit organizations.
Mike Sennett
Chief Legal Officer
Mike Sennett serves as the Water Quality Association’s Chief Legal Officer following many years as an antitrust and competition law partner with the global law firm Jones Day. Sennett is very familiar with the association, its operations and industry leadership, its Gold Seal Certification Program and laboratory services, and its members, their needs and their products and services, having served as outside legal counsel to WQA for more than 25 years. He also is an adjunct faculty member at Loyola University of Chicago School of Law, serves on the board of the Institute for Consumer Antitrust Studies and is a longstanding trustee of Children’s Home & Aid, an Illinois social services agency assisting families and children in Illinois where the need is greatest.
Sennett holds an A.B. with honors in philosophy and English from Quincy University and a J.D, cum laude, from Loyola University Chicago, in addition to doing graduate work in jurisprudence and economics at Northwestern University
Kathleen Burbidge, CAE
Vice President of External Affairs
Kathleen Burbidge serves as Vice President of External Affairs at the Water Quality Association, with 10 years at the association. In her role, Burbidge is responsible for the leadership and cross-functional strategy development for Membership, Professional Training and Certification, and Government Affairs. She also supports the association’s efforts on stakeholder engagement across members, clients, learners and other organizations to position the association for continued growth.
Burbidge earned her Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation through the American Society of Association Executives and she was named to Association Forum’s “Forty Under 40” list in 2020. She has served as Chairperson to the Association Forum’s Young Professionals Special Interest Group (SIG) in 2021 and Public Policy Advisory Council (PPAC) in 2022 and 2023.
Kelli Fleischmann
Business Development Strategist
Kelli Fleischmann is the Business Development Strategist at the Water Quality Association, where she brings extensive expertise in project management, business development, and international operations within the drinking water industry. Since joining WQA in 2018, Fleischmann has played a key role in ensuring the integrity and advancement of the association’s certification programs.
Prior to her role at WQA, Fleischmann served as Business Development Manager for Ahlstrom-Munksjö in Mount Holly Springs, Pennsylvania, where she led efforts in commercial development and new market penetration. She also spent several years at NSF International, holding various leadership roles, including general manager of Global Water Systems and Drinking Water Treatment Units, where she gained valuable experience in water system standards and certifications.
Fleischmann’s leadership and industry knowledge continue to strengthen WQA’s certification programs, supporting the association’s mission.
Angie Silberhorn, CMP
Events Director
Angie Silberhorn is WQA’s Events Director, responsible for developing the strategic and operational plan to manage the Association’s conventions and key meetings along with other key customer and member events. She came to WQA after eight years with the Warehousing Education and Research Council, most recently as its Director of Events and Strategy. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management from Roosevelt University and is a Certified Meeting Professional.
The Greater Midwest Chapter of the Professional Convention Management Association honored Silberhorn with the 2020 Robert J. Donovan Award, presented to an outstanding meeting professional who leads by example, inspires volunteerism and is committed to the growth of the industry.
Eric Yeggy
Technical Affairs Director
Eric Yeggy plans and coordinates the activities of the Technical Affairs department. This department tracks water quality issues and treatment needs and advances the Water Quality Association’s presence as a recognized resource and leader in the water quality sector. Additionally, Eric facilitates the activities of WQA’s Water Sciences Think Tank, which fosters collaborative discussions, knowledge sharing, and innovation in the drinking water treatment industry. WQA members, government agencies, and other non-profit organizations can contact Eric to request the help of the Think Tank.
Eric has been part of the WQA team since 2009 and has led the development of new industry standards for Sustainability, Safety and Performance of water treatment products. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from the University of Northern Iowa and began his career in the environmental testing industry. As an analytical chemist in the testing industry, he brings a wealth of knowledge to WQA, including gas chromatography, mass spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma analysis, and numerous other techniques used to test wastewater, soil, drinking water, consumer products, and industrial materials.
Tambra Thomas
Quality Director
With a strong background in quality systems management and a commitment to quality operations best practices, Tambra Thomas was promoted to Quality Director in 2023 after 10 years with WQA. She is responsible for ensuring all departments comply with Association-related accreditations, regulations and policies surrounding audits, document control and initiatives supporting WQA’s Strategic Operating Plan and business objectives.
Thomas became WQA Quality Manager in 2013 after a dozen years at Suburban Laboratories and Abbott Laboratories. She holds a B.S. in Chemistry from Loyola University Chicago and a master’s degree in management and organizational behavior from Benedictine University.
Tanya Lubner, PhD
Professional Certification & Training Director
Dr. Tanya Lubner has served as WQA’s director of Professional Certification & Training since 2005. In this role, she oversees the development of new program areas, creation of educational materials and examinations.
Prior to joining WQA, Lubner was a sales engineer for a manufacturer of optical spectroscopy instrumentation. She holds a doctorate in inorganic chemistry from the University of Wyoming.
Zac Gleason
Laboratory Director
Zac Gleason comes to WQA from the manufacturing and technology development sector where he oversaw contract and grant-based efforts as well as field testing, internal quality assurance, development experimentation and third-party verification/certification.
He brings more than 15 years’ experience in water, sanitation and hygiene and 10 years of laboratory oversight experience along with hands-on knowledge of more than 85 different water treatment technologies and counting. After working with government agencies and regulatory bodies from around the world, NGOs and non-profits, as well as the manufacturing and for-profit sector, he has gained a diverse and unique perspective on the challenges associated with providing clean water to people from all walks of life.
Gleason holds a bachelor’s degree in Microbiology from the University of Washington (Seattle).
Christine Rahyun Lee
Country Manager – South Korea, Taiwan and Japan
Christine Rahyun Lee serves as the country manager for the Water Quality Association in South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan. Based in Seoul, Lee is responsible for WQA’s Gold Seal Product Certification Program and promoting WQA membership, product certification, and professional certification across the region.
Lee brings seven years of experience in the water treatment industry, specializing in certification processes for point-of-use and point-of-entry devices. Before joining WQA, she worked as a research engineer at Coway, where she developed expertise in water treatment system certification and compliance. Her strong technical background and industry knowledge make her a valuable resource for growing WQA’s presence in Southeast Asia.
Lee graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a degree in chemistry. Her commitment to advancing water quality and supporting WQA’s mission ensures continued success in expanding the association’s reach and impact throughout the region.
Vaneet Gupta
Country Manager – India
Vaneet Gupta serves as an independent contractor for WQA in India. He performs factory inspections on behalf of WQA’s Gold Seal Product Certification Program and also works to increase awareness of WQA Membership, Product Certification and Professional Certification.
Gupta has an extensive water and water treatment industry background. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Dr. Harisingh Sagar University, MP, India, as well as a Masters of Business Administration from the Centre for Management Development, Modinagar, UP, India.
Julia Zhu
Asia Pacific Operations Manager
Julia Zhu, based in Shanghai, serves as the Operations Manager representing WQA in China. Julia is responsible for the overall operations of WQA in China, including increasing WQA brand awareness and developing public and government relationships.
Zhu has a water-related product certification background with rich experience in operations, project management, customer services and business development. Before joining WQA, she was in charge of multiple business lines for NSF, including Water Programs in China. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Psychology from East China Normal University and is studying for her MBA at Fudan University.
