We are proud to announce that Texas-based national engineering thought leader Leigh Thomas (Cerda) joined the firm as Director of Public Infrastructure – Water, in our Civil Engineering Division.

This addition to the team solidifies our leadership in helping communities across the nation address water infrastructure challenges and opportunities. Leigh will be based in our Austin, TX office.

“Leigh is a national leader in water and wastewater systems.  Her reputation in water-infrastructure planning and asset management certainly precedes her arrival. Adding a professional like Leigh to our team is part of our Strategic Plan — now fulfilled.” Matt Stewart, WGI Civil Division Vice President

Leigh’s experience spans work in the private and public sectors, including over a decade with Austin Water, where she served as Division Manager of the Collections Division and more recent stints as a National Leader for another national engineering firm. She brings a practical approach to assisting clients in addressing their most pressing water and wastewater infrastructure challenges.

Our clients are aware of both the potential, and challenges, associated with technology-related disruption and change. Leigh helps demystify trends, engaging clients to develop both long-range solutions and near-term roadmaps. This helps utilities of all sizes incorporate national best practices into existing planning and design efforts, while anticipating potential changes in populations and gaining infrastructure needs.

For Leigh’s part, the excitement is also unmistakable. She says,

“Partnering with a multi-disciplinary engineering and professional services firm of six hundred associates, spread across a national footprint, is an opportunity to share knowledge and experiences across disciplines. I am excited to take on this challenge.”

Leigh is the 2021 winner of the Water Environment Federation’s Arthur Sidney Bedell Award that highlights her career-long service to the industry.

She is also a past President of the Water Environment Association of Texas (WEAT) and current WEF House of Delegates member, is a published author in the journals of the American Society of Civil Engineers and Water Environment Federation (WEF), and regularly speaks regionally and nationwide on water and wastewater related subjects.

Say hello to Leigh

Reach out to Leigh by email Leigh.Thomas@wginc.com or fill out a quick contact form today.