WEF and NGICP Partners Accept Power of A Summit Award During ASAE Reception

On Oct. 2, representatives from the Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.), DC Water (Washington, D.C.), and the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) received a coveted Power of A Summit Award from the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE; Washington, D.C.).

Accepting the Summit award on behalf of NGICP were (from left) Adriana Caldarelli, Claudio Ternieden, Seth Charde, Dwane Jones, and Renee Kayal. WEF photo.

The award recognizes the success of the National Green Infrastructure Certification Program (NGICP), a workforce development initiative created by WEF and DC Water in 2016. Since the program’s inception, NGICP has provided more than 500 technicians around the U.S. with credentials that indicate their skills in the design, maintenance, and management of green stormwater infrastructure to prospective employers.

The Power of A Awards are divided into three categories—Silver, Gold, and Summit, which is the highest level. At ASAE’s 20^th-Annual Power of A Summit Awards Dinner held at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., NGICP partners received one of six Power of A Summit awards. In all, ASAE conferred 41 Power of A awards recognizing transformational association programs and initiatives. More than 1,000 association professionals attended the reception.

NGICP Trainer Dwane Jones sits with WEF Deputy Executive Director Tim Williams during ASAE’s 20th-Annual Power of A Summit Awards Dinner. WEF photo.

“WEF is overjoyed the association community recognizes the value of our NGICP initiative for the individuals and communities it serves,” said WEF Executive Director Walt Marlowe. “Associations are a critical driving force for positive change, and NGICP has the same goals. The program unlocks exciting new opportunities for NGICP graduates and enhances the health and sustainability of our water environment.”

 Sharon J. Swan, chair of the Power of A Awards judging committee, commended WEF and DC Water for developing a “collaborative initiative that strengthens society.”

NGICP Director Adriana Caldarelli and DC Water Green Infrastructure Manager Seth Charde received one of six Power of A Summit awards – the highest honor conferred each year by ASAE – during a ceremony on Oct. 2. WEF photo.

Key NGICP partners attending the event included:

• Adriana Caldarelli, WEF NGICP director;
• Seth Charde, DC Water green infrastructure manager;
• Dwane Jones, NGICP instructor and director of UDC’s Center for Sustainable Development & Resilience;
• Walt Marlowe, WEF executive director;
• Tim Williams, WEF deputy executive director;
• Claudio Ternieden, WEF senior director of government affairs; and
• Renee Kayal, WEF acting chief operating officer.

Learn more about the NGICP at ngicp.org.