Incoming Vice President, Treasurer, and two new WEF trustees will officially assume their roles following WEFTEC 2026.
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – July 21, 2026 – The Water Environment Federation (WEF) today announced that its House of Delegates confirmed the incoming Vice President, Treasurer, and trustees who will join WEF’s Board of Trustees following WEFTEC 2026.
The newly confirmed leaders bring decades of experience in utility management, engineering, operations, strategic planning, and organizational leadership to help guide WEF’s mission of inspiring the water community in pursuit of human and environmental well-being.
The House of Delegates confirmed:
Tracy L. Ekola, Vice President and Senior Director at Brown and Caldwell, as incoming Vice President.
Heather A. Cheslek, Global Industrial Water Solution Leader and Associate Vice President at Black & Veatch, as incoming Treasurer.
Eddie M. Abisaab, Chief Operating Officer of Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD) Virginia, as Trustee.
Zonetta E. English, Strategic Initiative and Project Delivery Director at Louisville & Jefferson County Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) Kentucky, as Trustee.
Following WEFTEC 2026, Paul J. Schuler, Senior Strategic Advisor with Carollo Engineers, will become President of the Water Environment Federation, succeeding Keith Hobson. The newly confirmed officers and trustees will officially begin their terms at that time.
“On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I congratulate Tracy, Heather, Eddie, and Zonetta on their confirmation by the House of Delegates,” said Keith Hobson, president of WEF. “Each brings exceptional leadership, expertise, and a deep commitment to the water community. I look forward to working alongside them as we continue advancing WEF’s strategic priorities and preparing for a successful leadership transition at WEFTEC.”
Incoming Vice President
Tracy L. Ekola is Vice President and Senior Director at Brown and Caldwell and brings more than 30 years of leadership experience in the water sector. Throughout her career, she has guided strategy, business growth, and organizational performance across public and private utilities while building high-performing teams and fostering collaborative partnerships. As incoming Vice President, Ekola will join WEF’s officer leadership team and begin a progression that traditionally leads to the presidency of the Federation. Her strategic vision, executive leadership experience, financial acumen, and longstanding commitment to the water profession make her exceptionally well qualified for the role.
Incoming Treasurer
Heather A. Cheslek has been a practicing engineer for over 27 years and leads Black & Veatch’s Global Industrial Water Solution based out of Raleigh, North Carolina. Her experience covers all aspects of planning, optimizing, designing, and constructing water and wastewater infrastructure to help clients solve the most complex challenges. She has a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Michigan State University, a master’s degree in environmental engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and is a registered professional engineer. Heather is an active member of the Water Environment Federation, has served in leadership roles for several state-wide and national organizations and serves on the Professional Advisory Board for MSU’s Civil and Environmental Engineering Department. She is married, has two adult children and enjoys water sports, running, golfing, and spending time outdoors.
New Trustees
Eddie M. Abisaab is Chief Operating Officer of Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD) in Virginia. Recognized as a visionary utility executive, he has led organizational transformation, major infrastructure investments, and the development of high-performing teams. His ability to integrate engineering, operations, innovation, and long-term strategic planning has helped position HRSD to address future challenges through resilience, innovation, and collaboration.
Zonetta E. English serves as Strategic Initiative and Project Delivery Director at Louisville & Jefferson County Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) Kentucky. She has successfully advanced strategic initiatives, capital project delivery, stakeholder engagement, and innovative wastewater treatment solutions. Her expertise in navigating complex regulatory environments and strengthening organizational performance has earned her recognition as a respected leader within the water sector.
“The Nominating Committee was focused on identifying leaders who bring a broad range of expertise, diverse perspectives, and a demonstrated commitment to advancing the water profession,” said Howard Carter, immediate past president of WEF and chair of the Nominating Committee. “The caliber of this year’s incoming officers and trustees reflects the depth of talent across our community, and we are confident they will help guide WEF as it enters its next century of impact.”
Following WEFTEC 2026, the 2026-2027 WEF Board of Trustees will include:
Paul J. Schuler, President
Corey Williams, President-Elect
Tracy L. Ekola, Vice President
Keith Hobson, Immediate Past-President
Heather A. Cheslek, Treasurer
Ralph Erik Exton, Secretary and WEF Executive Director
Eddie M. Abisaab, Trustee
Zonetta E. English, Trustee
Andrea Hall, Trustee
Walid Khoury, Trustee
Rasha Maal-Bared, Trustee
Brian Persing, Trustee
The WEF House of Delegates confirmed the incoming officers and trustees at its July 15 meeting. The individuals will officially assume their roles following WEFTEC 2026.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Alyson Moses,
WEF Managing Director, Marketing and Communications,
Water Environment Federation | amoses@wef.org
Trinity Foreman
Director of Communications
Water Environment Federation | tforeman@wef.org
About WEF
The Water Environment Federation (WEF) is a not-for-profit, nonpartisan organization providing water professionals with the latest in education and training. WEF is leading the transformation to the Circular Water Economy: reducing waste, recovering resources, and regenerating ecosystems. Founded in 1928, WEF’s mission is to inspire its 31,000 members and 75 affiliated member organizations and the water community in pursuit of human and environmental wellbeing. WEFTEC, WEF’s premiere event, is the largest annual water quality exhibition in North America attracting a diverse, global audience. More than 20,000 registrants and 1,000 exhibitors convene at WEFTEC to experience innovative solutions and gain expert insights that positively impact the future of water. For more information, visit wef.org.