The Water Quality Association has named Tom Bruursema its Associate Executive Director of member and public engagement.

“We’re delighted that Tom has joined WQA,” said Executive Director Pauli Undesser. “His vast experience developing and leading business operations, defining new growth opportunities and target markets and integrating global strategies are a great fit for our association.”

Bruursema will contribute to the overall administration, leadership and cross-functional strategy execution for WQA’s membership, meeting services, marketing and communications and government affairs departments.

“I’m thrilled to be part of a great organization that I have admired for some time,” said Bruursema, who most recently was president of WaterTomorrow Consulting, an Ann Arbor, Michigan, business supporting water treatment product manufacturers. 

Previously, he spent 30 years at NSF International, where for a time he was general manager of drinking water treatment units and environmental and research services. He holds a master’s degree in biology from Eastern Michigan University.

Undesser also recently announced some internal moves to strengthen international affairs efforts, particularly in the Asian markets.

Government Affairs Director David Loveday, a veteran public affairs professional who has been with WQA since 2007, has been promoted to global government affairs director. In his new role, he is charged with developing and guiding the association’s international and domestic legislative and regulatory agenda as well as building global strategies to ensure creation and passage of key legislation and regulation.

His colleague Kathleen Fultz has a new title – global government affairs manager – to reflect the expansion of her managerial role into the global level.

WQA has contracted with Julia Zhu to help support WQA product certification in China as well as to work with governmental affairs to develop the association’s relationships with local Chinese government agencies and to track local regulations in that country.