American Water (NYSE: AWK), the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the U.S., participated in the 2025 Leadership Conference for Women in Water & Wastewater, hosted virtually by EUCI October 21 - 22. The conference convened leaders from across the utility sector to explore topics ranging from executive leadership to operational excellence and community impact.

Denise Venuti Free, Vice President of External Communications at American Water, spoke on the panel Confidence and Executive Presence. The panel focused on the behaviors, mindsets and communication styles that inspire trust, drive clarity and position women leaders to succeed in high-stakes environments.

“Denise is a champion for clear communication,” said Maureen Duffy, EVP, Communications & External Affairs, American Water. “Her presence on the panel reflects American Water’s broader commitment to amplifying voices across our workforce and supporting the next generation of leaders in the utility industry.”

Venuti Free shared her experience leading communications in the utility industry and reflected on how authenticity and consistency have shaped her leadership.

“Executive presence is built through clarity of purpose, confidence in action and the courage to lead with empathy,” said Venuti Free. “Contributing to this panel was a meaningful opportunity to uplift the experiences of women in our field and reinforce that inclusive leadership drives better outcomes for teams, for companies and for communities.”

Additionally, Emily Zidanic, Senior Supervisor of Operations at New Jersey American Water, participated on a panel titled Breaking Barriers: Building Support and Challenging the Status Quo in Water and Wastewater.

Participation in the Women in Water & Wastewater Leadership Conference reflects the company’s commitment to sharing knowledge, uplifting voices and advancing equity across the sector.

For more information about the conference, visit: https://www.euci.com/event_post/women-in-water-wastewater/.

About American Water

American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States. With a history dating back to 1886, We Keep Life Flowing® by providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable drinking water and wastewater services to more than 14 million people with regulated operations in 14 states and on 18 military installations. American Water’s 6,700 talented professionals leverage their significant expertise and the company’s national size and scale to achieve excellent outcomes for the benefit of customers, employees, investors and other stakeholders.

For more information, visit amwater.com and join American Water on LinkedIn, Facebook, X and Instagram.

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