On The Water Quality Association Podcast, we’re joined by Richard Mest, who has stepped into a newly created role as WQA’s Strategic Affairs Officer.

Richard is no stranger to the association or the industry. He’s served WQA as President, Board member, volunteer, and advocate, and his leadership spans decades of involvement at both the association and manufacturer levels, including his time with A. O. Smith. He’s also been deeply involved in government affairs, helping establish WQA’s presence in Washington, D.C., and has led nationally through roles like president of the Water Systems Council.

In this conversation, we’ll talk about why he wanted to step into this new strategic role, what members can expect, including mentorship, how the association is positioned in today’s regulatory environment, and what success looks like in this new role.