Sternberg Receives National Rural Water Association’s Executive Director Peer Leadership Award!

Dennis Sternberg, Executive Director for the Arkansas Rural Water Association, received highest honors from his peers when he was named the 2006 Executive Director of the Year.  Peer Leadership Awards were presented at NRWA’s 20^th Annual In-Service Training Seminar held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 

The NRWA Peer Leadership Awards program was established to recognize the outstanding efforts of Rural Water Association representatives. Sternberg was honored for his dedication and service to Team Rural Water on local, state and national levels. 

Sternberg has been involved in the water and wastewater industry since 1979. In December 1979, he graduated from Neosho Missouri “Water & Wastewater Technical School” with “Highest Honors”. In 1980, he went to work for the City of Bull Shoals, Arkansas as Water & Wastewater Superintendent until 1988. He then went to work for NRWA as a Field Representative covering the State of Arkansas. In March 1989, ARWA was awarded that program from NRWA.  Beginning in 1993, Sternberg was hired to oversee the association and worked under the EPA Program Managers position.  Then in 1995 ARWA’s Board of Directors created the Executive Director’s position and Sternberg was a natural fit.  

In December of 1999, ARWA relocated to Lonoke Arkansas into there new 10,000 sq. ft. “Arkansas Rural Water Association Dale Bumpers Training Facility”. This facility is located on seven acres and has a mini-water-distribution system for training.  ARWA has continued to grow with membership and become a leading organization in the state in the water and wastewater certification training programs. ARWA has a staff of fourteen full-time staff and two part-time staff with a budget of approximately $1.4 million.    

The National Rural Water Association is a federation of 48 State Rural Water Associations serving over 24,558 water and wastewater utility members in 49 states with additional programs in Honduras and Puerto Rico. 

NRWA members form a solid foundation for Team Rural Water.  Upholding the motto of “Quality On Tap!” Rural Water Associations provide small communities in every state with management and technical resources to supply safe and affordable water. 

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