Given in honor of Ray E. Cross, Water Specialist Emeritus and Past President of WCAI 1960, this award recognizes current and former WQA members whose pioneer spirit and unwavering commitment has made a notable difference in the water treatment industry and has not been previously honored with a leadership award.

Nominations for the 2022 award will open in the Fall of 2021.

Previous Winners

2003 - Ray E. Cross
2003 - Joel Edison
2003 - Lowell Foletta, Water Resources International, Inc.
2003 - Mary Gabel
2003 - John R. Grayson
2004 - Charles E. Poellet
2005 - Katharyn W. Ely
2005 - D. Dean Spatz, PE, Watasso Ventures
2007 - James Kewley
2008 - Glenn Gruett, Water-Right, Inc.
2009 - Michael S. Kopacz
2010 - Orville Schaefer, Culligan Water Conditioning
2011 - Doug White
2012 - Richard P. Jerzak, Pentair Water Purification
2013 - David Farley, Sr., Sprite Industries Incorporated
2014 - Donald K. McGhee, Hydro Systems, Inc.
2015 - Donald E. Heskett, KDF Fluid Treatment, Inc.
2015 - James A. Horner, ENPRESS LLC
2016 - Gregory Reyneke, MWS, Red Fox Advisors
2017 - Jack Slovak, AROMAN Incorporated
2018 - Lori Jansen, Minnesota WQA
2019 - Chris Wilker, EcoWater Systems, Inc.
2020 - Darwin "Buzz" Goldstein, MWS, Charger Water Treatment Products
2021 - Larry Gottlieb, ResinTech, Inc.
2021 - Doug Ramer, MWS, CWR,  Martin Water Conditioning