IRWA Staff Members
Don Craig
Executive Director
Don has worked within the Rural WaterAssociation family for over 40 years. Starting
as the IRWA Circuit Rider in April of 1985 for
three years, he then went to work for the
“parent” organization, the National Rural Water
Association for 21 years. In 2009, he returned
to IRWA, as the Deputy Executive Director. He
became the Executive Director of the Illinois
Rural Water Association in May of 2024. Don
has nearly 50 years of experience in Water and
Wastewater Systems Management.
Roger Noe
Deputy Director
Roger joined the staff of IRWA November 2014
as a Circuit Rider. He became IRWA's Deputy
Director in May 2024. Prior to his employment
with
IRWA, Roger worked for the Village of
Wayne City
for 12 years. He was the water
superintendent for 3.5
years of the 12. Roger
currently holds an Illinois EPA
class A water
license and a Class 4 wastewater
license.
He
has obtained his certifications in Utility
Management and Utility Finance from Water
University.
Roger
graduated
from college with an
Associates
Agriculture
Business. Roger
also serves
as a council
member on
the village board of his
hometown
in Southern
Illinois.
Denise Burke
Chief Financial Officer/
Chief Publications Officer
Denise joined the IRWA staff
in
April
2003. She is responsible
for the
Accounting and
Financial
Reporting
procedures,
National
Reporting
Procedures, assisting
the
training
staff
with all of the
USEPA
Water and
Wastewater |
training
sessions, organizing
the
annual IRWA Golf Outing,
the
Technical
Assistance Bulletin and
the
IRWA
Water
Ways
Magazine.
Evan Jones
Circuit Rider #1/Staff Coordinator
Evan was hired in the summer of 2013 to
fill
in for
the Source Water program. He
moved
over to the
Circuit Rider position
in October
2013, in 2015
wastewater
technician for the
Northern part half of
the state, and in 2017
he was again
moved to Circuit
Rider. Evan
holds a
Class B Water Certificate and his
operator
in
training for Class A. He also holds
a
Class 2 Wastewater license. He covers
the
counties
in the west central part of
the state.
Evan
provides
communities
with on-site
technical assistance.
Chuck Woodworth
Circuit Rider #3
Chuck joined the IRWA staff in November 1997,
as a Groundwater Specialist. In 2008 Chuck
transferred
to the Circuit Rider program. Chuck
covers East central
Illinois and is responsible for
assisting communities with
on-site technical
assistance, leak detection, rate studies,
operator
certification and other functions related to daily
operation of a water supply. Previously Chuck was
a water
operator for 10 years at a 2.5 MGD lime
softening
groundwater treatment plant. Chuck
holds a Class A
water
license and has
30 years
experience in the
drinking
water
industry.
Clark Cameron
State Circuit Rider
Clark joined our team in August 2018.
He has 18 years in the water and wastewater
industry and holds a Class C water license. He
assists communities with such activities such as;
technical training and compliance issues, capacity
development related activities, operator training
and
certification, identification of unaccounted for
water loss
and identifying improvements to the
overall operation of
the public water supply system.
Before coming to IRWA
he worked at a 4 million
gallon/day water plant.
Jeff McCready
Wastewater Technician #1
Jeff joined the IRWA Staff in April 2017
and is responsible
for technical assistance
and training for the northern
half of the state.
Jeff has over 27
years experience in Public
Works serving as the
Water and Wastewater
Superintendent for the Village
of Woodhull.
Prior
to his
employment with IRWA, Jeff
served
on the
IRWA Board
of Directors for 6 years.
Jeff holds
a Class "C" Water license
and a
Class "IV"
Wastewater license.
Shawn Dakin
Wastewater Technician #2
Shawn joined the IRWA Staff in January
2026
and
is responsible for technical
assistance
and training
for the southern
half of the state. Shawn came out of
retirement after
25 years with the
State of
Illinois to
enter public works
serving as
Maintenance Superintendent
for the
Village of Tamms in southern
Illinois assisting the
village in updating
all
water distribution systems
and
wastewater
systems. Shawn is a
current
holder of Class IV
Wastewater
license and is
pursuing Class D Water
Distribution certification.
Scott Tozier
WW Quality Action Specialist
Scott joined our staff in January 2022.He comes from upper New York State,
and has 34 years of experience in municipal
water and wastewater treatment. Scott
currently holds Class “1” wastewater, and
Class “A” water license certifications in
Illinois. Prior to starting with IRWA, he was
Chief Operator of a 1 MGD activated sludge
treatment plant; as well as Lab Director for
Town of Ontario, NY for 30 years. Scott is
responsible for implementing three Clean
Water Act programs in wastewater, which
will cover priority areas concerning training
and technical assistance for SRF and other
funding matters, compliance and operations,
and working with de-centralized systems.
Rodney Phillips
Energy Effiency Circuit Rider
Rodney became our Source Water
Protection
Specialist
in April of 2026.
He has 27 years in
the industry - 16
with the Village of Moweaqua as a
Water-Sewer and Street Assistant. 11
with the City of Decatur as a Operator
of a 20MGD
surface Water Plant. He
also served as a Sexton over
14
cemeteries in the Moweaqua and Assumption
area for 28 years, Rodney currently
holds a
Illinois Class A water license
and Class 1 sewer license. In his role
at IRWA he provides free energy
efficiency surveys to assist systems
evaluate where they can cut costs
on their energy bills.
Dave McMillian
Training Specialist
Dave started with the Association in
February
2019.
His primary responsibility
is to coordinate
and
establish training
sessions for water supply
operators. He
comes to IRWA out of retirement
from
Illinois EPA. Dave culminated his career
with the state in December 2018 after
spending
over 33 years working with
Illinois water supplies.
He has continued
contributing to the industry by
assisting
in the continuing education of Illinois'
water supply professionals here at IRWA.
Steve Vance
Training Specialist
Steve began in his position with the
Association in February 2022 after
retiring from the Illinois EPA. Steve’s
work with
community water supplies
includes 28
years
working with Illinois
EPA, including 5 years
as the manager
of the Agency’s Field
Operations
Section.
In continuing
his career in the
potable
water industry, Steve’s
responsibilities with
the
Association
include
coordinating training sessions
and
providing technical assistance for
community water supplies
in Illinois.
Jeff Tumiati
Apprenticeship Coordinator
Jeff began his position as
Apprenticeship Coordinator in
November of 2020. He was
previously
on the IRWA board
for 16 years. He
has
33 years’
experience in the water and
wastewater field. Jeff currently
holds
Class B water, Class IV
Wastewater
and Illinois Plumber
licenses.
Marc Lemrise
Apprenticeship Training
Coordinator
Marc joined the IRWA staff in January
2021 as a Circuit Rider. He is now the
Apprenticeship Instructor. Marc holds
training sessions all over the state to
prepare the students in the Apprenticeship
program for their water and wastewater
exams. He holds a Class A water license
and a Class 1 wastewater license as well
as a Class K Industrial license. Before his
career at IRWA, he was the Superintendent
for the Village of Tonica for 19 years.
Mary Reed
Compliance Assurance Specialist
Mary started at the Association in
October
2022 after retiring from the
Illinois EPA. Mary’s work with community
water supplies includes 24 years working
with
the drinking water compliance unit,
including 4.5 years as the manager of that
unit. In
continuing her career in the potable
water industry, Mary will assist community
water supplies to remain and/or return to
compliance with state and federal rules
and regulations
relating to potable water.
Illinois Rural Water Association
3305 Kennedy Road; PO Box 49
Taylorville, IL 62568
Phone: 217-287-2115
Fax: 217-824-8638
Email: ilrwa@ilrwa.org
Privacy Policy