We've always known Jackie was the real deal, but she showed just how cool she was when she let Stephanie instigate an impromptu breakdance battle in Jackie's Presidential Suite at WEFTEC2019. We covered a lot of ground in this chat including:

• Her biggest goals for her year as president.
• WEF's plan for building more diversity and inclusion in the water sector.
• Addressing workforce challenges and the apprentice program at Charlotte Water.
• Getting YPs more involved, attending WEFTEC, plus some words of experience on the power of personal resiliency and patience when working in a risk-averse industry.
• Her one piece of magical advice.

Jackie Jarrell, P.E., is the 2019-20 president of the Water Environment Federation (WEF), an international organization of water quality professionals headquartered in Alexandria, Va.

Jackie has been with Charlotte Water for more than 29 years. Recently, Jackie was appointed as an interim Deputy Director for Charlotte Water. This has expanded her role to oversee Customer Service, Communications, Industrial Pretreatment, Laboratory Services, and the Industrial Pretreatment Program, with more than 60 significant industrial users. 

As a WEF member, Jackie has held multiple leadership and committee roles, including serving as the chair of the Utility Management Program Symposia and the first vice-chair of the Utility Management Committee.

She is actively involved with the North Carolina Water Quality Association, a regulatory advocacy organization of utilities in North Carolina, and is a past chair and a current board member.

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