Tracy Ekola, PE is a member of the 2023-24 Board of Trustees for the Water Environment Federation (WEF), an international organization of water quality professionals headquartered in Alexandria, Va.
Tracy serves as vice president and Midwest senior director for Brown and Caldwell. As an executive with more than 30 years of experience in environmental engineering and business leadership, Tracy provides clear, effective communication and collaboration to maintain a positive forward-thinking environment. Her leadership experience has focused on organizational strategy, innovation and utility performance, regional and national market analyses, risk management, project management improvement processes, succession planning and leadership training and development.
With an extensive background in planning, design, and construction of wastewater treatment facilities, she has worked in various roles from on-site engineer to key leadership roles in both public-sector and private/employee-owned organizations. She has worked with industrial clients and public utilities addressing regulatory challenges, technology evaluation, developing innovative utility management approaches, program delivery/implementation, and capital improvement program development.
Tracy has been an active member of WEF and the Central States Water Environment Association (CSWEA), participating in various committees and leadership roles spanning almost three decades. Tracy has served on the WEF House of Delegates as a delegate at large and a second term as a delegate for CSWEA. She served on the WEF House of Delegates (HOD) Budget Committee and multiple HOD workgroups. She has served as the conveyance and watershed community director and recently as Director for multiple task forces for the Community Leadership Council. She has also served on multiple WEF committees, including Government Affairs, Utility Management, and Program communities.
Tracy also has been an active participant in guiding local, state, and national level regulations. In collaboration with utilities and supporting organizations, she has provided input on various topics related to water quality, wastewater treatment, biosolids management, and land application to strive for cost-effective, innovative solutions that are protective of the environment. Collaboration is key to her success in working alongside utilities and their industry partners to evaluate scenarios that benefit the community, stakeholders, and industry partners.
Tracy graduated with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the University of Minnesota and Executive Education Vistage International at Stanford Graduate School of Business. She resides in Minnesota with her husband, who works for the state of Minnesota in natural resources and forestry planning. They enjoy working and playing in the great outdoors along with their two sons, who are employed as electrical and mechanical engineers.
Updated Oct. 4, 2023