Debbie Dewey, president of Missouri American Water, recently was elected to the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry's board of directors.
"With a strong background in utility, economic development, industrial and small business sectors," Dan Mehan, the state Chamber's president and CEO, said in a news release, "Debbie brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our board, and we are grateful she is joining our efforts to make our state a more competitive place for jobs and growth."
The Chamber's board consists of more than 50 employers, representing companies of all sizes and industries from around the state.
"Without the commitment and direction of the hundreds of men and women who have served on our board over the years, the Missouri Chamber would not be the organization it is today," Mehan said.
The Chamber said it's "Missouri's largest statewide business association (and) is recognized as one of the most influential advocacy groups in the state - representing Missouri employers before the legislature, courts and government agencies."
The news release noted Missouri American Water - which is a subsidiary of the Camden, New Jersey-based American Water Works Co. - is the largest investor-owned water utility in Missouri, providing high-quality and reliable water and/or wastewater services to approximately 1.5 million people.
By comparison, Ameren-Missouri, the state's largest investor-owned electricity provider, serves only 1.2 million customers, primarily in central and eastern Missouri.
Dewey holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, Florida, and a master's degree in business administration from the University of Central Florida, Orlando.
The Chamber news release said, as Missouri American's president, she "drives the company's operational results and strengthens customer, regulatory and local government relationships."