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Terry Morse chosen as new CEO of NGWA

Westerville, OH – Terry Morse has been selected as the incoming chief executive officer of the National Ground Water Association. He is the successor to Kevin McCray, CAE, who, after 22 years as CEO and 35 years in the ground water industry, is retiring Dec. 31, 2017.

“Terry brings experience and skills necessary as NGWA moves forward in dealing with the ever-changing business climates of our membership, as well as the Association itself,” said David Henrich, CWD/PI, CVCLD, the incoming board president and a member of the search task group.

“NGWA looks forward to Terry joining our staff team this November as he works closely with Kevin during the final weeks of 2017,” said board president Todd Hunter, CWD/PI. “Kevin helped NGWA tremendously by giving us ample lead time for an orderly and thoughtful transition.”

Morse was selected from a field of 53 applicants, and is an association management veteran with a strong background in sales and marketing. Most recently, Morse has been a regional vice president for sales and marketing at RT Specialty LLC.

This followed several years with the Ohio Independent Insurance Association, as well as at the National Federation of Independent Business, and the Gibson Foundation where he was the lead officer of the subsidiary of Gibson Guitar Corp.

“My personal life experiences,” Morse said, “coupled with my professional education, training, and knowledge, have made me cognizant of how important the need is to protect our groundwater system through advocacy, education, public awareness, and professional training. The opportunity to join with others who share the same mission, vision, and values will be the pinnacle and most rewarding chapter of my professional career.”

The CEO search task group was led by Jeffrey Williams, MGWC, CVCLD, the immediate past president of the NGWA Board of Directors. Joining him in the effort were representatives from all NGWA membership sections, including Hunter and Henrich, as well as Paul Eberhardt, Ronnie Hensley, and Scott King, PG.

The search was facilitated by Nancy Rummel, CAE, herself an association management veteran, who owns a consulting business serving both nonprofit and for-profit clients.

Morse, a central Ohio resident, holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Ohio State University and a master’s degree in business administration in brand marketing from the University of Liverpool (England).

Since the association’s founding in 1948, it has had only four full-time chief executives. Jay H. Lehr, Ph.D., served from 1966 to 1991, David Schmitt from 1991 to 1995, and McCray from 1995 to 2017.