Executive Director

Bob Freudenthal (BobFreudenthal@taud.org)

Bob Freudenthal has been appointed Executive Director of the Tennessee Association of Utility Districts effective June, 2008. Mr. Freudenthal recently served as Deputy General Manager for the Hendersonville Utility District. Prior to his appointment as Deputy GM Bob served over twenty years as a Public Works Director for the cities of Hendersonville, TN and Paducah, KY. Mr. Freudenthal was responsible for the successful delivery of water and wastewater services to approximately 38,000 residents within the HUD region. Included in his duties were operational management, personnel management, budgeting, and capital project management. HUD serves an area within middle Tennessee that is experiencing rapid growth. Current projections indicate the current population of the region could double within ten years thus creating a significant demand on existing infrastructure. Since 1999 HUD has allocated over $30 million toward improved service and is projecting a similar investment over the next five years. Mr. Freudenthal has served on the APWA Board of Directors for eight years serving as President in 2006. During his service on the Board of Directors Mr. Freudenthal served as Treasurer, Finance Committee Chair, Membership Committee Chair, Executive Committee member, and Nominating Committee member. He has also served on numerous charitable, civic, and community boards in the Hendersonville and Paducah areas. Bob currently serves as Chairman of the Hendersonville Regional Planning Commission. Mr. Freudenthal has BS in Business Management from Mid-Continent University.

(615) 896-9022

Office Manager

Penny Funk (PennyFunk@taud.org)

Penny Funk serves as TAUD’s Office Manager. Responsible for overall management of office and administrative functions of the Association, oversees all conference and meeting planning, financial monitoring, maintaining relationships with outside interested parties, vendors and all public relations and problem solving associated with membership, and oversight of Board of Directors meetings. Also assist Executive Director with special projects. She is a Dekalb County native and resides in Alexandria Tennessee. Penny has been employed with TAUD since 1988 and the first employee in TAUD’s history to reach 20 years of service.

(615) 896-9022

Education

Tonia Pass (ToniaPass@taud.org)

Tonia Pass serves as the Publisher/Marketing contact and has been employed with TAUD since 1999. She is responsible for all publishing and marketing aspects of the Association and the Training Station, including development of event material, editing the TN Utility News, informational requests and other correspondence, promotional materials, assisting management with special projects and handling the membership database. Tonia is a native of Rutherford County and currently resides in Murfreesboro.

(615) 896-9022

Member Services

Beth Blackwell (BethBlackwell@taud.org)

Beth Blackwell serves as Member Services and has been with the Association since 2002. She is a Rutherford County native and resides in Murfreesboro. Beth is responsible for member services, public relations, event planning, training records, and basic office tasks.
(615) 896-9022

Accountant/Bookkeeper

Carol Mims (CarolMims@taud.org)

Carol Mims is the Accountant/Bookkeeper for Tennessee Association of Utility Districts and has been employed by TAUD since 2006. Carol is a Los Angeles, California native and has lived in Williamson County since 1995.
(615) 896-9022

Receptionist/Communications/Publishing

Colleen Keahey (Colleen@taud.org)

Colleen moved from Estill Springs to Murfreesboro in 2002 to attend MTSU and has been with TAUD since Fall of 2007. She first served as the education administrative assistant to the TAUD Training Station before being appointed as staff contact for communications, publications and social media. Colleen has a background in web design, graphic arts and studied art history, philosophy and German at MTSU. Colleen handles all in-house TAUD publications, including the Tennessee Utility News. She also manages TAUD's social media, facebook & twitter.
(615) 896-9022

West Tennessee Circuit Rider/Field Supervisor

Tony Wyatt (TonyWyatt@taud.org)

Tony has been the Water Circuit Rider for TAUD since 1991. He also serves as the Field Supervisor for the association. Prior to joining TAUD, Tony worked with the Huntingdon Utility Department for 10 years. As circuit rider, he provides technical assistance and training to water systems in West TN and the western portion of Middle TN that includes water treatment, distribution, compliance issues, computer skills, certification and other related areas.
(731) 415-9101

Advocacy/Finance

John Hall (JohnHall@taud.org)

Provides on-site assistance to utilities in management, finance and policy’s under program funding by the State of Tennessee Office of the Comptroller. Region coordinator and legislative liaison for the Legislative program and TUPAC. Served with TAUD since March 1993. Previously, John served on the TAUD Board of Directors from 1980 until 1993, and as President from 1992-1993. Prior General Manager of the Sewanee Utility District 1976-1993.
(931) 607-1014

Training Specialist

John Shadwick (JohnShadwick@taud.org)

John Shadwick is Training Specialist for TAUD. John is responsible for the NRWA/EPA Training Program, Technology Conference, Board Basics Conference, and has oversight of TAUD's Certification Cram Sessions. He is a Certified Instructional Technologist and Certified Environmental Trainer. He is a native of Chattanooga and a resident of Rutherford County for over thirty years. He has served TAUD since 1989.
(615) 804-4069

Education Manager

Brent Ogles (BrentOgles@taud.org)

Brent is Education Manager with the Association. He is responsible for developing and coordinating the technical training and assistance activities. Before coming to the Association in August 2008, Brent was Director of Tennessee’s Fleming Training Center and was responsible for water and wastewater operator certification and the training conducted by the State.
(615) 556-6002

East Tennessee Circuit Rider

Steve Roberts (SteveRoberts@taud.org)

21 years of experience

Since 1990, Field Office Manager of the Division of Water Supply

Grade 4 Water Treatment License

Started work with TAUD in January 2011

(865) 256-5383

Middle Tennessee Circuit Rider

Bruce Trotter (BruceTrotter@taud.org)

A native of Dickson County, Bruce began working in the water and wastewater industry in 1991. He holds many certifications including a Grade IV Water Treatment Plant Operator’s License, Bacteriological Lab, Grade II Distribution System Operator’s License, Grade II Wastewater Collection System Operator’s License and Grade IV Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator’s License.
Bruce became Chief Operator for the Water Treatment Plant of the City of Dickson, TN in 1995 where his job duties included employee supervision and schedule preparation, hiring of plant employees, State of Tennessee compliance issues, monitoring of filters, chemical evaluation for optimal water plant treatment efficiency, quality and quantity, and public relations concerning water quality. In 2002 he visited several Membrane filter plants to learn about this new technology and was instrumental in the planning and design of the first membrane treatment plant in Tennessee.
After becoming the Director of Operations for the Water Authority of Dickson County, TN, (WADC) in 2004, he supervised all department heads, assigned departmental staff, handled employee concerns and discipline and conducted employee performance evaluations, as well as, long-range planning for water and sewer development. In 2006 he was assigned director over the Wastewater Treatment Plant for the WADC where he was responsible for remaining compliant with the State of TN for nutrient removal.
(615) 788-9756

Wastewater Circuit Rider

Dewayne Culpepper (DewayneCulpepper@taud.org)

Dewayne Culpepper has been employed by the Tennessee Association of Utility Districts (TAUD) since 1990 as a wastewater technician providing on-site assistance for wastewater operators and managers. Dewayne was awarded the Wastewater Technician of the year from the National Rural Water Association in 1992. Prior to TAUD, Dewayne was the General Manager of Monteagle Utilities. Dewayne was also employed by Tullahoma Utilities Board as a Grade IV wastewater operator and then promoted to Water and Wastewater System Engineering Aid. Dewayne is a native of Tullahoma and resides in Estill Springs.
(931) 607-6981

Wastewater Circuit Rider

Dan Martin (DanMartin@taud.org)

Dan started at TAUD in July 2006, as a Wastewater Technician providing on-site technical assistance to wastewater utilities across Tennessee. Prior to TAUD, Dan worked at Pima County, Arizona as a Principle Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator. His practice in the utility industry started in 1997 as the water and wastewater operator for a large aircraft maintenance facility. He has experience in operating various activated sludge, trickling filter, industrial, membrane filtration & lagoon wastewater systems. He also has a background in Hazmat and as an EMT Firefighter.
(931) 312-9405

Source Water Specialist

Larry Lewis (LarryLewis@taud.org)

Larry Lewis is the Source Water Protection Specialist for the Tennessee Association of Utility Districts and has been employed by TAUD since 1997. Larry is a native of Jackson, Tennessee and he currently resides there.
(731) 234-0360

Information Systems Technician

Greg Baker (GregBaker@taud.org)

Greg has worked for TAUD since 1997. Prior to that, he worked 8 years for the Town of Huntingdon Water and Wastewater System. As a IT person for the association, he assists in designing and coordinating the development of integrated information system databases. He maintains the association website and assists other staff with computer issues. He also assists utility systems with computer issues and with the experience of working at a water and wastewater system can assist them with any related issues.
(731) 225-5240