AWR - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Chief Operating Officer
- Chief Operating Officer of Homeowners Services
Eric Palm, Chief Operating Officer of Homeowners Services, is responsible for continued growth by identifying and capitalizing on key new market development opportunities through partnerships and distribution channels. Additionally, Palm oversees all strategic, financial, operational, marketing and sales functions for the business. Palm brings to his position more than 20 years of marketing, business strategy, strategic planning and management experience.
Prior to joining American Water Resources, Palm spent 14 years with Direct Energy, an energy and home services organization where he held successive leadership positions including the Head of Protection Plans and President of their Home Warranty of America subsidiary. His most recent position was Head of Direct Energy's solar operations team. Earlier in his career, Palm co-founded a multi-location John Deere equipment dealer group and consulted in the energy, utility and retail sectors. He also served in the Corp of Engineers, completing two Mideast deployments and retiring as a Colonel in the United States Army Reserve.
Palm earned a master's degree in International Management from the University of Denver and a bachelor's degree in Economics from St. John's University.
Job Titles:
- Chief Commercial Officer
- Senior Executive
Jules Ainsworth is senior executive who is recognized for delivering shareholder value by aligning strategy, people and operations to drive revenue and profit. She has held leadership positions in multi-national companies including EY, Centrica and Homeserve. She served on the executive leadership team at Sears Holdings and was part of a small elite team of 6 that prepared Sears Holdings for a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing. More recently she has worked with Apax Partners (a global private equity fund with $60bn AUM) advising them on strategy and diligence in the services sector. She is now the Chief Commercial Officer at American Water Homeowner Services, an Apax portfolio company.
With an analytical and problem-solving approach to business and the ability to "get things done", Julie finds solutions to complex problems and delivers consistent growth and profit, enhancing stakeholder value. She has created new business models and transformed businesses by fostering agility and innovation, in businesses ranging from start-up to Fortune 50.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Operations
- Vice President of Operations for Homeowners Services
Kathleen O'Hara, Vice President of Operations for Homeowners Services, is a business leader with a proven track record of delivering results, growing revenue, increasing customer counts and leveraging consumer insights to develop products and execute strategic plans. O'Hara's team strives to provide the optimal customer experience.
Prior to joining American Water Resources, O'Hara served as Vice President and General Manager of ServiceLive, a Sears holding company linking customers with local certified home improvement professionals. O'Hara also held the key leadership position of Vice President of Marketing for Direct Energy.
O'Hara earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communication Design from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Her career journey has taken her from graphic artist to product development; from small boutique communications companies to large ad agencies; and across industries as diverse as gaming, insurance, energy and home services. One thing that remains consistent is O'Hara's love of learning and readiness to take on the next challenge.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Business Innovation and Marketing
- Vice President of Strategy & Planning
- Vice President of Strategy and Planning for Homeowner Services
Matthew Lindner, Vice President of Strategy and Planning for Homeowner Services, is responsible for leading the strategic approach for both new products and services, as well as innovation models and processes.
Prior to joining American Water Resources, Lindner brings to his position 15 years of progressive marketing and new products experience from consumer companies including IKEA, Campbell Soup Company & Heinz North America.
Lindner earned his MBA from the University of Pittsburgh and his undergraduate degree in Applied Mathematics from Carnegie Mellon University.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Marketing
- Vice President of Marketing for Homeowner Services
Susan Rowe, Vice President of Marketing for Homeowner Services, is responsible for overseeing the business' marketing strategies to help strengthen the company's position in the home services industry. This includes leading both digital and direct mail initiatives designed to improve brand awareness, increase our visibility in the marketplace for future partnerships, and to increase and maintain customer growth through acquisition and retention campaigns. Additionally, she leads the execution of new products and services to assist efforts with boosting customer loyalty and satisfaction.
Prior to joining American Water Resources, Rowe brings to her position 30 years of marketing experience through her work with AT&T, and has extensive experience working with both agencies and vendors alike on developing successful marketing and product strategies.