Young will replace Gary Larimore as Executive Director of the KRWA
(JORDAN SMITH/WCLU NEWS)
BOWLING GREEN, KY – The Board of Directors of the Kentucky Rural Water Association (KRWA) is pleased to announce the selection of Scott Young as the association’s next executive director.
Young will replace Gary Larimore, who is retiring after leading KRWA for 42 years since its inception. The decision follows an extensive nationwide search process. Young will begin his duties as Executive Director no later than July 1, 2022.
Young has served as general manager of the Glasgow Water Company (GWC) since 2006. The municipal water and wastewater utility is the 10th largest water producer in Kentucky and provides service to approximately 20,000 water connections, 7,200 sewer connections, and 5 regional water utilities.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to work with the KRWA membership, board and staff,” Young said. “I can’t imagine a more important responsibility in the commonwealth than supporting KRWA’s mission in providing support to rural water and wastewater utilities. I look forward to building upon KRWA’s 42 years of commitment to public health.”
Under Young’s leadership, GWC received the Wooden Bucket Award in 2014 presented by KRWA. This prestigious award honors a utility that has made substantial and lasting improvements in providing high-quality drinking water and wastewater services in its community. The Kentucky Water and Wastewater Operators Association named GWC as 2015 Water Treatment Plant of the Year and 2017 Wastewater Treatment Plant of the Year. The GWC has received other recognitions that include the 2016 Kentucky Governor’s Safety and Health Award, 2018 Grand Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Kentucky, 2018 Environmental Project of the Year by the American Public Works Association of Kentucky, and 2018 Excellence in Energy Leadership Award by the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet.
Young is a 1996 graduate of Western Kentucky University (WKU) with a degree in civil engineering technology and was a 2012 WKU Summit Award recipient. Scott is a 2009 graduate of the KRWA Utility Management Institute. In 2021, he received his Executive Leadership Program Certification from Cornell University. Scott resides in Glasgow, Kentucky with his wife Holly, daughters Aniston (10yr) and McKenzie (5yr), and son Breck (8yr).
John Dix, KRWA board president said, “Scott Young is uniquely qualified for this role with his experience, leadership and accomplishments. Scott’s experience in managing a utility that serves both municipal and rural areas combined with his passion for our industry made him a great choice to lead our Association. Gary Larimore’s dedication over the past four decades has made KRWA a national leader in our industry and Scott is the right person to continue our service and leadership.”