Cindy Wallis-Lage

President of Water Business, Member of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors, Black & Veatch

Biography

Cindy Wallis-Lage is President of Black & Veatch’s water business and serves as a member of the company’s Executive Committee and Board of Directors. When named in 2012, she became the first woman president of an operating division at Black & Veatch in the company’s 100-year history.
Wallis-Lage leads a workforce of more than 2,800 professionals in more than 75 offices located in the United States, UK, Asia Pacific and India. Her responsibilities encompass Black & Veatch’s water-related business strategies, development and operations. Under Wallis-Lage’s direction, the water business at Black & Veatch has posted strong financial metrics and implemented strategic growth initiatives to put it in position to achieve its long-term goals.
As a licensed professional engineer, Wallis-Lage has played a leadership role on projects involving more than 100 facilities worldwide, helping public and private entities successfully develop, enhance and manage their water, wastewater and stormwater facilities and infrastructure. Prior to becoming President of Black & Veatch’s water business, she was the Executive Managing Director of its Technical Solutions Group, a large, global team with a vast range of technical capabilities, ranging from water and wastewater treatment planning and design through planning and asset management and heavy civil infrastructure competencies. Wallis-Lage also previously served as the Chief of the Water Technology Group, a team of technical experts focused on the development, selection and implementation of innovative and sustainable solutions in four treatment process areas – water, wastewater, residuals and operations.
On the basis of her experience and expertise, Wallis-Lage is recognized as a foremost expert in the treatment and reuse of water and wastewater resources. She has authored or co-authored more than 50 papers, 20 technical articles and seven textbook chapters and is frequently asked to present on the challenges and direction of the water industry.
Wallis-Lage is a dynamic leader of industry- and community-based organizations and programs. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the U.S. Water Alliance and the Water Research Foundation as well as the Leadership Council for Water For People. She advocates for STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education and promotes interest in engineering as a rewarding career. She serves as Chairman on the Board of Directors for the Girl Scouts of Northeast Kansas and Northwest Missouri and has been executive sponsor for Kansas City’s Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day.
Using her position, passion and knowledge, Wallis-Lage is a champion of the world’s water resources. She advocates understanding water’s true value and promoting its resilience so that communities may achieve their social, economic and environmental sustainability goals.
Her leadership has garnered numerous awards and accolades, from industry and community organizations alike. In 2017 and 2018 Wallis-Lage was named among the Top 25 Global Water Leaders by Water & Wastewater International.
Wallis-Lage earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Kansas State University in 1985, and a master’s degree in environmental health engineering from the University of Kansas in 1990.