Ted Corrigan, interim CEO, chosen as new Des Moines Water Works leader

Kim Norvell
Des Moines Register

Ted Corrigan, who has been serving as interim CEO of Des Moines Water Works since his boss died suddenly last year, will officially take over leadership of the public utility. 

The Des Moines Water Works Board of Trustees voted Monday to appoint Corrigan its CEO and general manager after a monthslong national search that was extended because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The board made its choice as neighboring utilities and cities wait to rekindle yearslong discussions, stalled by the pandemic, about forming a regional water utility. Corrigan has been at the center of those discussions. 

Des Moines Water Works provides drinking water to roughly 500,000 people in Des Moines and its suburbs.

A starting salary will be negotiated between Corrigan, board chair Dianne Munns and board member Graham Gillette, who was involved with contract negotiations when Corrigan’s predecessor, Bill Stowe, was hired. 

Stowe, who had led the utility since 2012, died in April 2019 at age 60 after a short battle with pancreatic cancer. 

After a closed meeting Monday, the board said it chose Corrigan because of his stated priorities for the role, including a long-term strategic planning initiative with the board, creating an employee mentor program and writing a mission statement for the utility. 

Ted Corrigan talks about a wetland in Water Works Park in this 2016 file photo. Corrigan was chosen as the utility's new CEO.

Board member Joel Aschbrenner called Corrigan a team builder, strategic leader, strong communicator and environmentally focused problem solver.

"There was a lot of community support — a tremendous amount, in fact — for Ted in his role in the last 14 months as he has served as our interim CEO and general manager," said board vice-chair Susan Huppert. "There have been a number of things he has directed our utility through. You can call it a 14-month interview."

Corrigan has been at Des Moines Water Works since 1990. Before he took on the interim CEO role, Corrigan was the utility's chief operating officer.

Prior to joining Des Moines Water Works, Corrigan, 56, was an engineer at Alvord, Burdick and Howson Consulting Engineers in Chicago. He has a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Iowa State University.

“It’s a tremendous honor after all my time here and the great respect I have for Des Moines Water Works and the general managers who have gone before me,” Corrigan told the Des Moines Register.

He was one of two finalists the board considered, as it narrowed the list from eight applicants chosen by the board's search firm, Colin Baenziger & Associates. More than 120 people applied for the job, which was posted in February. 

The other finalist was Aaron Kraft, the general manager of Rialto Water Services in California since 2015. Kraft has Iowa ties: After graduating with a master’s degree in public administration from Iowa State University, he worked as the environmental services director in Sioux City. 

"I was really impressed with Aaron — his strategic thinking, his passion, his varied experience," Aschbrenner said. "I just think we have the right person here for Des Moines Water Works." 

Both Corrigan and Kraft went through several rounds of virtual interviews with the board, community members, water works staff and union leadership before Monday's selection. 

Ted Corrigan, CEO and general manager of Des Moines Water Works.

Corrigan's nomination was not unanimous.

Although he said he approves of the work Corrigan has done during his time as interim CEO, board member Gillette voted against his permanent appointment, saying the coronavirus pandemic hampered the selection process. Kraft, who lives in California, was unable to come to Des Moines to tour the utility, meet employees or introduce himself personally to the community. 

"One of the two finalists came in with a great disadvantage," Gillette said.

But, he added, he will support Corrigan in his new role.

"I'm confident that Ted will lead us well," Gillette said. 

Kim Norvell covers growth and development for the Register. Reach her at knorvell@dmreg.com or 515-284-8259. Follow her on Twitter @KimNorvellDMR.

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