For immediate release: November 1, 2012
Contact: Communications Manager, Project WET Foundation | 406-585-4115 | email
Bozeman, Montana—Two candidates with impressive and highly varied backgrounds have joined the newly expanded Project WET Foundation Board of Directors. With the addition of Dr. Alan Rimer—a water reuse expert for the global engineering, consulting and construction company Black & Veatch—and NBA Legend Harvey Catchings, the Project WET Board has grown to eight members.
"Growing the Board of Directors beyond its previous seven-member limit allowed us to take advantage of the many talents that both Harvey and Alan brought to the table," explained Project WET Foundation President and CEO Dennis Nelson. "We are fortunate to have had interest from such outstanding candidates."
With a varied, 40-year career in environmental engineering, Dr. Alan Rimer (PhD, DEE, P.E.) has been involved with planning and design for a variety of water reuse, water resources, wastewater treatment, solid waste management and environmental management projects for local, state and the federal governments, as well as a wide variety of industries, across the United States, Asia, Europe and South America. A specialist in water reuse, Dr. Rimer has been involved in every stage of the reclaimed water business, and his work in the area of water resources has ranged from water supply and nonpoint source master planning studies to water treatment plant design, distribution design and rate studies.
An accomplished businessman and entrepreneur, Harvey Catchings first came to prominence as an NBA basketball player.
Drafted into the NBA by the Philadelphia 76ers, Mr. Catchings also played for the New Jersey Nets, the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Clippers. His 1,226 career blocks rank him among the top NBA shot blockers of all time. Active in Project WET partner the National Basketball Retired Players Association, Mr. Catchings shares the partnership's interest in promoting STEM education and careers, especially for youth in urban settings.
Project WET's Board of Directors represent the 501(c)(3) organization's commitment to "water for all water users"—a core Project WET principle emphasizing that "water of sufficient quality and quantity is vital for all water users: energy producers, farmers and ranchers, fish and wildlife, manufacturers, recreationists, rural and urban dwellers." Board members come from all water user categories and multiple regions, representing not only U.S. government agencies such as NASA, USDA and USAID but also corporations including the international mining group Rio Tinto, Nestlé Waters North America and Intel Corporation. (Click here to see the full list of Board members.)
About Project WET: Since 1984, the Project WET Foundation has been dedicated to reaching children, parents, teachers and community members of the world with water education to ensure a sustainable planet where water needs are met and all people are good stewards of water. Project WET ("WET" stands for "Water Education for Teachers") is active in all 50 U.S. states and in more than 65 countries worldwide.