The Great Lakes Water Authority, located in Detroit, has elected new officers: John J. Zech, board representative from Wayne County, as board chair, Jaye Quadrozzi, board representative from Oakland County, as vice chair, and Freman Hendrix, board representative from the city of Detroit, as secretary, to its board of directors. The new officers will each serve a one-year term.
“I want to thank Dr. Walker-Griffea for her leadership of the board over the last year,” says Zech. “She helped us very successfully navigate a challenging time due to all the changes brought about by the coronavirus pandemic. Despite the unique concerns of 2020, we made great progress on behalf of GLWA and its member partners, which included approving a new business inclusion and diversity program and expanding eligibility for greater access to the water residential assistance program. I look forward to my year as chair and to making a positive impact using my extensive experience in municipal leadership. I also am committed to the spirit of regional collaboration, which has guided this board in its first five years.”
Appointed to the board by Wayne County Executive Warren Evans in July 2020, Zech has more than 40 years of public service experience. He has served in leadership roles with a number of communities across southeast Michigan including the cities of Wayne, Allen Park, Lincoln Park, Plymouth, and Southgate. He is active in the community and previously served on the board of directors for the Michigan Municipal League. He has also earned life membership status with the International City Management Association. Zech holds a bachelor’s in business administration from the University of Detroit.
Appointed as Great Lakes Water Authority’s Oakland County representative in October 2019, Quadrozzi brings more than 20 years in complex commercial litigation for both federal and state courts to her new role as vice chair. Quadrozzi is a member of the state bars of Michigan, Illinois, and California, and also serves as the Oakland County representative on the Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority Board of Commissioners.
Appointed as one of Great Lakes Water Authority’s two representatives from the city of Detroit in March 2016, Hendrix brings more than three decades of experience serving the people and families of Detroit and southeast Michigan. In addition to serving as a former deputy mayor and chief of staff for former Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer, he has extensive municipal finance experience. Hendrix serves on the board of the Regional Transit Authority of Southeastern Michigan and as the Wayne County sheriff’s representative on the Wayne County board of ethics.
The full 2021 GLWA board of directors is comprised of the following members:
- John J. Zech, board chair, representative from Wayne County
- Jaye Quadrozzi, board vice chair, representative from Oakland County
- Freman Hendrix, board secretary, representative from the city of Detroit
- Brian Baker, director, representative from Macomb County
- Gary A. Brown, director, board representative from the city of Detroit
- Beverly Walker-Griffea, director, representative appointed by the state of Michigan
The Great Lakes Water Authority provides drinking water services to nearly 40 percent and wastewater services to nearly 30 percent of Michigan’s population.
