Staff and Board
Board of Directors
Officers
Charles Applebee
Founding President
Chuck Applebee is the founder of Water Quality & Compliance Services Inc., established in 2004 providing contract operations for drinking water and wastewater facilities across Maine and parts of New Hampshire. In 2012, he expanded his commitment to water quality by founding Maine Coast Lab. Under his leadership, Water Quality & Compliance Services transitioned to an employee-owned company (ESOP) in 2025.
Chuck’s company partners with engineering firms, treatment installation companies, and contractors to oversee and install treatment systems and vital components that improve water quality and protect public health. He is highly knowledgeable about funding opportunities and is a dedicated advocate for the water and wastewater industries at all levels.
Chuck has held numerous leadership positions with the Maine Water Environment Association (MEWEA) and the New England Water Environment Association (NEWEA), serving as President of MEWEA in 2008 and receiving the prestigious Alfred Peloquin Award from NEWEA in 2010. His career also includes serving as Wastewater Superintendent for the Town of Wiscasset (1993–1999) and as Director of Public Works and Wastewater for the City of Gardiner (1999–2013).
Jeffrey Twitchell
Founding Vice President
Raised on a working farm, Jeff taught high school physics, chemistry, and math for 10 years and owned a building design and construction business prior to establishing Air & Water Quality (AWQ) in 1989. He has co-authored an EPA water radon course and served as an instructor for EPA radon programs at Rutgers University. He has done projects in both Mexico and Canada. Jeff maintained a Class II operator’s and distribution license for public water systems during most of his tenure with AWQ. Now his focus is on designing small and very small public water systems.
Kathy Rodgers
Founding Treasurer
Kathy Rodgers is the owner of The Water Office, LLC, which provides water operations, consulting, and project management services in New England. Kathy works with an extensive network of engineers, treatment installers, professional service providers, and project funders to help small systems achieve compliance or meet their project goals. She has helped leverage tens of millions in project funding across New England and is experienced in USDA-RD, BIA, State Revolving Loan Funds, CDBG, and NBRC applications..
From operating to advocating, Kathy has held a wide range of roles in the water industry since 2005. She earned a B.S. in Chemistry and a Master’s in Business Administration from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale, and holds Class II water treatment and distribution licenses in Maine, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island.
Roderick Santulan
Founding Secretary
Roderick Santulan is a seasoned professional with over three decades of experience in the nonprofit, private sector, government, and higher education. He is a proven leader and manager with expertise as a program and project manager, strategist, and business developer. His past roles include as Program Manager for a Veterans NonProfit, Site Leader for Amazon Logistics, former Director for CGI-Federal, and a 20-year U.S. Air Force veteran, combat pilot, and an entrepreneur with IBDC Business Solutions, Inc.
Rod’s educational background includes an MBA from Southern Illinois University and a Master of Arts in Security Studies from the Naval Post Graduate School at Monterey, California. He attended an executive course in Accelerated Management from YALE School of Management. He holds a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification and is trained as a Certified Grant Writer with the American Grant Writers Association.
Board Members
Tom Bahun
Founding Board Member
Tom co-founded Tom’s Water Solutions with his son in 2020 to provide training, consulting, and technical solutions to water systems. He is a Class IV licensed water and a grade 5 wastewater operator. Tom has worked in the industry for 30+ years, specializing in operator certification exam prep training, emergency planning, and safety solutions. He is a certified instructional trainer and is best known for his fun and engaging presentation style. Tom is a wealth of knowledge for small, medium, and large water systems.
Mark McCluskey
Founding Board Member
Mark McCluskey has been employed by A.E.Hodsdon Engineers for 39 years as a project manager and a Class IV water operator. Mark manages and operates 5 municipal water systems and 2 NTNC systems. Mark also manages projects for water distribution and treatment systems.
Staff
Donald Schwartz
Executive Director
Donald Schwartz holds B.S and M.S degrees, both with a field of concentration in Aquatic Science. He has worked within numerous related disciplines over the past 40+ years, including field aquatic research and laboratory management, state environmental compliance, civil engineering consulting, regional administration of non-profit community technical assistance, and serving as director of a county planning commission. He has overseen environmental planning for The Water Office, LLC since 2023.
Join Us in Making a Difference
Get involved with Mworc today to help promote sustainable water practices in your community.
