Longtime industry leader celebrated for insight, innovation
LISLE, Ill. – Longtime water quality industry leader Richard Mest has joined the Water Quality Association as Strategic Affairs Officer. In the newly created role, Mest will serve as a mentor and catalyst for strategic affairs across the association, but most specifically WQA’s business development strategy, government affairs and technical affairs.
“Richard’s pioneering vision, profound industry insight and relentless dedication to innovation have shaped the future of water treatment,” said WQA CEO Pauli Undesser, MWS, CAE. “I could not be more pleased that he has agreed to join us in this role, where his leadership will be instrumental as we chart an ambitious course for WQA’s future.”
Mest’s contributions to the industry have earned him WQA’s highest honors, the Lifetime Membership Award in 2020 and induction into the WQA Hall of Fame in 2022. He served as WQA president in 2013-14 and as president of the Water Quality Research Foundation in 2020-22, capstones to decades of volunteer leadership that continued until his appointment.
He joins WQA from A.O. Smith, where he served as Director of Special Programs and president of Master Water Conditioning, a manufacturer of water treatment products, services and technical support for residential, commercial and industrial applications. Mest joined Master Water Conditioning in 1978 and had built it into an industry leader when A.O. Smith acquired the company in 2021.
“I am grateful for this opportunity to take a full-time role advocating for better water and smarter treatment solutions that can improve people’s lives,” Mest said. “I am passionate about these issues and look forward to working as part of the WQA team.”
Mest also has served as president of the Water Systems Council and has been honored with awards from the WSC, the National Groundwater Association and others, including being named to the Eastern Water Quality Association Hall of Fame. He worked closely with the late David Loveday, WQA’s longtime Government Affairs Director, to establish a strong WQA presence in Washington, D.C., and has been steadfast in his advocacy work at state and national levels.
Mest also serves as a mentor in the WQA Mentorship Program and is an avid educator, frequent speaker, and the author of numerous technical articles on water treatment.
WQA is a not-for-profit trade association representing the residential, commercial, and industrial water treatment industry. WQA’s education and professional certification programs have been providing industry-standardized training and credentialing since 1977. The WQA Gold Seal certification program has been certifying products that contribute to the safe consumption of water since 1959. The WQA Gold Seal program is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the Standards Council of Canada (SCC). WQA publishes a consumer-friendly website, BetterWaterToday.org.
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