Press Release

BRYN MAWR, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Aqua America, Inc. (NYSE: WTR) President and CEO Christopher Franklin today announced the promotion of two tenured managers to his executive team. Former Director, Investor Relations and National Field Services Brian Dingerdissen will fill the newly created position of chief of staff. Stan Szczygiel will be named vice president of finance to support the company's increased focus on its corporate growth program.

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Franklin created the chief of staff role in recognition that people are the company's greatest asset and that managing a large, geographically dispersed organization naturally presents challenges. As chief of staff, Dingerdissen will play a key role, ensuring that the company's vision and core values — including an increased emphasis on people —are fully integrated throughout the organization. Dingerdissen will assist the CEO with thorough preparation to expedite decision making and increase the probability of holistic decision making. Dingerdissen will use his skills to maintain a personable connection with each state and department across the company. He will also serve as an extension of the CEO's office, sensing potential issues and risks.

"Brian has been a key and trusted advisor to me for nearly a decade. His sound counsel has played an important role in many of the important decisions we've made in the past," explained Franklin. "Brian's broad based experience in investor relations and operations has exposed him to the strengths and challenges of the organization and industry. His background and his ability to manage and organize multiple functional responsibilities make him uniquely qualified to fill this new role." Franklin said Dingerdissen will continue to oversee investor relations.

Dingerdissen, a 10-year veteran of the company, has held various roles of increasing responsibility in the investor relations and operations areas of the company. As director of investor relations for the past 7 years, he managed the company's communications and relationships with Wall Street, including those with buy-side and sell-side analysts and both institutional and retail shareholders. As director of field services, Dingerdissen led a transformational, company-wide initiative to optimize management of company assets through the redesign and implementation of processes, training and overall change management.

Dingerdissen earned his B.S. in finance and his M.B.A. from Villanova University. Dingerdissen currently serves on the board of directors of the Villanova Executive M.B.A. Alumni and has previously served on the board of directors of the Philadelphia chapter of the National Investor Relations Institute.

Stan Szczygiel will fill the new position of vice president of finance. In his new role, Szczygiel will continue to oversee the budget and planning group, but will also play an important new role in the evaluation of potential growth initiatives. His keen analytical abilities will now also support the corporate development team to refine strategy and evaluate potential growth ventures.

"Stan has a sharp analytical mind and has had many of years of experience with acquisitions and mergers, both at Aqua and previously in his career with large companies such as Exxon, Foster Management Companies and NovaCare," said Franklin. "As we build the team that will grow the company, Stan is one of our top picks."

Aqua America CFO Dave Smeltzer added, "Stan has been a staple in the board room on key decisions related to prospective transactions and he is well prepared for his new role. I have great confidence in him."

Previously, Szczygiel was director of budget and planning, where he managed Aqua America's annual operating budget preparation, was responsible for the company's 5-year strategic planning process and prepared analysis on potential acquisitions and dispositions of utility properties. While Szczygiel will report to CFO Dave Smeltzer, he will also work closely with newly appointed Executive Vice President of Strategy and Corporate Development Dan Schuller on regulated and market-based growth opportunities.

Szczygiel earned his CPA while working at Coopers & Lybrand (now pwc). He has B.S. in accounting from Arizona State University and an M.B.A. from Drexel University.

Aqua America is one of the largest U.S.-based, publicly traded water utilities and serves nearly 3 million people in Pennsylvania, Ohio, North Carolina, Illinois, Texas, New Jersey, Indiana and Virginia. Aqua America is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol WTR. Visit AquaAmerica.com for more information.

WTRG

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Aqua America, Inc.
Donna Alston
O: 610.645.1095
M: 484.368.4720
DPAlston@AquaAmerica.com

Source: Aqua America, Inc.

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