Ernest Calderon Joins Arizona American Water Board of Directors

PHOENIX, Jan. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Arizona American Water announced today that Ernest Calderon, founder of Calderon Law offices and President of the Arizona Board of Regents, has joined the Board of Directors of Arizona American Water.

Calderon has practiced law in Arizona for 27 years, focusing on business and government litigation, employment and labor law, administrative law, health care and professional licensing, education law, general business law and alternative dispute resolution.

Prior to entering private practice, he served as the Director of Legal Affairs for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Arizona, practiced as a litigation attorney for the Arizona Public Service Company and served as law clerk to Senior U.S. District Judge Walter E. Craig.

"Ernest Calderon is an incredible leader and example of an Arizonan who's made a difference in his home state," said Paul Townsley, President of Arizona American Water. "We look forward to learning from his experience and contributions in communities that we both work to improve, and care a tremendous deal about."

An active participant in civic and community organizations, Mr. Calderon was appointed by Governor Janet Napolitano to serve as president of the Arizona Board of Regents and served on the Governor's P-20 Education Council. In Spring 2004, he was selected by the State Bar of Arizona as one of its delegates to the American Bar Association House of Delegates. He was named Valley Leadership's Man of the Year for Metropolitan Phoenix. He served as President of the Grand Canyon Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and also serves on the Northern Arizona University Foundation

"I am very proud to join the men and women of Arizona American Water," said Ernest Calderon. "Their commitment to customer service and Arizona greatly impressed me. I hope to contribute significantly by joining their board."

Mr. Calderon served as President of the State Bar of Arizona in 2002-03 - the first person of Hispanic origin to serve as President since the Bar's founding in 1933. He is a past President of Valley Leadership, a past Chair of the Catholic Community Foundation of the Roman Catholic Church of the Diocese of Phoenix, and a former member of the Arizona Commission on Appellate Court Appointments. He has served the State of Arizona and six Arizona Governors by appointment.

Arizona American Water's Board of Directors supports the company in fulfilling its mission of providing high quality, reliable water and wastewater service to its customers. Members of the Board foster a culture of strong corporate governance through rigorous discussion and the exercise of their independent judgment in the decision-making process. The company greatly values the role and input of the board.

Arizona American Water, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Water, is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water and/or wastewater services to more than 300,000 people.

Founded in 1886, American Water is the largest investor-owned U.S. water and wastewater utility company. With headquarters in Voorhees, N.J., the company employs more than 7,000 dedicated professionals who provide drinking water, wastewater and other related services to approximately 15 million people in 32 states and Ontario, Canada. More information can be found by visiting www.amwater.com.

SOURCE Arizona American Water