Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District Executive Director Jeff Theerman will retire, effective Jan. 13.
He has accepted a position with environmental engineering consulting firm Brown and Caldwell, an organization that manages water, wastewater, and associated utility projects throughout the United States, according to a district news release.
Theerman will manage projects nationwide in his new role. Brown and Caldwell does not have an office in St. Louis, nor does the firm do work for MSD. Theerman’s work will be focused outside of the St. Louis area, the release stated.
Theerman was named executive director in May 2004, after serving in the role as interim executive director for more than seven months. As executive director, he was responsible for all activities and services provided by MSD, including the management of all financial, leadership, and regulatory functions. Previous positions during Theerman’s 28 years with MSD included director of operations and assistant director of operations
Theerman managed MSD through many changes, including the transition to a new Board of Trustees and management team, respectively, in 2003 and 2004, as well as consent decree negotiations with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the state of Missouri and the Missouri Coalition for the Environment.
During Theerman’s tenure as executive director, MSD has intently focused on transparent fiscal management, with an emphasis on holding down rate increases, even as MSD’s state and federal regulatory obligations have continually increased, according to the release. He has led efforts to implement technology upgrades that allow for improved customer service and better management of MSD’s capital program.
Theerman’s tenure also has included increased involvement by MSD in state and federal regulatory affairs.
Before joining MSD, he was an environmental protection engineer with the Illinois EPA.
Theerman holds a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from the University of Missouri-Rolla, a master of science degree in civil engineering from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville and is a licensed professional engineer in Missouri.
He is a past president of the National Association of Clean Water Agencies. In 2008, Theerman was named Engineer of the Year by the St. Louis Chapter of the Missouri Society of Professional Engineers. In 2011, he also was named to the Missouri Science and Technology Academy of Civil Engineers at the Missouri University of Science and Technology — formerly known as the University of Missouri-Rolla.
A search will be conducted for Theerman’s replacement, the release stated. A timetable and process for that search has not been announced.