Forest Park Forever Hires Frank Kartmann, Former President of Missouri American Water, as Senior Vice President of Park Operations
Contact:
Katy Peace, Marketing & Digital Media Manager | kpeace@forestparkforever.org | 314.561.3290
ST. LOUIS, April 4, 2016 – Forest Park Forever, the private nonprofit conservancy that partners with the City of St. Louis to restore, maintain and sustain Forest Park, has hired Frank Kartmann as the organization’s first Senior Vice President of Park Operations.
Kartmann, who began his role on March 29, 2016, was selected after a competitive national search. Reporting to the President and Executive Director, he will lead Forest Park Forever’s newly created Park Operations division, overseeing the organization’s Department of Land Management (horticulture, nature reserves) and Department of Planning & Projects (capital projects, hardscape maintenance). Kartmann joins John O’Gorman, Senior Vice President of Development, and Tamara Sheffield, Senior Vice President of Finance & Administration, on the organization’s senior leadership team.
“We are thrilled that Frank has joined the Forest Park Forever team,” said Lesley S. Hoffarth, President and Executive Director of Forest Park Forever. “During his highly successful career, Frank has proven himself to be a collaborative and visionary leader who achieves operational excellence across a range of complex projects that impact millions of people. As a longtime St. Louisan and Forest Park visitor, Frank knows how important this treasure is to our entire community and he is eager to make a great park even greater.”
“I am honored to be joining such an inspiring enterprise as Forest Park Forever,” said Frank Kartmann. “I look forward to joining a strong team and helping lead this organization in its mission to sustain Forest Park for current and future generations.”
Kartmann joins Forest Park Forever from a 26-year career with Missouri American Water Company and its parent, American Water Works Company, Inc. Missouri American provides water and wastewater utility service to approximately 1.5 million people across Missouri.
Beyond most recently serving as Missouri American’s President for six years, Kartmann served the organization in a number of roles over his career, including Director of Distribution Operations for the Central Region of American Water, during which he led field operations for seven of American Water’s Midwest subsidiaries. Previous to this position, he served as Vice President of Operations and Vice President of Engineering for Missouri American.
Kartmann was a founding member of the Metro Water Infrastructure Partnership (MWI Partnership), a regional water and wastewater infrastructure education organization based in the St. Louis metro area that has been cited as a national model by the Water Environment Federation. He was the MWI Partnership’s President in 2014 and 2015. Kartmann was also a Bio Research & Development Growth (BRDG) Park advisory board member in 2014 and 2015. He served for several years on the board of the Missouri Energy Development Association and was its Chairman in 2015. Also in 2015 Kartmann served on the steering committee for the creation of the Missouri Comprehensive State Energy Plan. During his leadership of Missouri American, Kartmann and his team partnered with environmental organizations, including Missouri River Relief, Open Space Council, Greenway Network and the World Bird Sanctuary to restore and sustain the natural environment. Under Kartmann’s leadership, Missouri American received the Missouri Department of Natural Resources Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence in 2014. Additional awards Kartmann has received include the World Bird Sanctuary’s Wildlife Conservation Award, Fete du Feather (2015), and the Missouri DNR Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence (2014).
Kartmann earned a master’s in business administration from Washington University in St. Louis and a bachelor’s in civil engineering from the University of Missouri, Rolla. He also earned a bachelor’s in secondary education from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. He is a registered professional engineer, licensed in the state of Missouri.
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About Forest Park Forever
Founded in 1986, Forest Park Forever is a private nonprofit conservancy that works in partnership with the City of St. Louis and the Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry to restore, maintain and sustain Forest Park as one of America’s greatest urban public parks.
Along with the City of St. Louis, Forest Park Forever raised $100 million between 1995 and 2003 and dramatically restored many landmark destinations in Forest Park, including the Emerson Grand Basin, the Boathouse and the Jewel Box.
Today, Forest Park Forever maintains Forest Park with the City of St. Louis; raises funds for and helps manage capital restoration projects called for in the Forest Park Master Plan; delivers experiential educational opportunities to teachers, students and adults; and provides information and guides for the Park’s 13 million annual visitors. Not part of the Zoo-Museum Tax District, Forest Park Forever is supported by private donations from throughout the community, including its 7,000 members, 1,100 volunteers and many leading community and corporate partners.
Connect with us at facebook.com/forestparkforever, twitter.com/forestpark4ever and instagram.com/forestparkforever.
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