John Ritchey, PE Receives Joseph J. Ellam Presidents Award from ASDSO
French & Parrello Associates (FPA) is proud to share that John Ritchey, PE, was honored with the Joseph J. Ellam Presidents Award at the Association of State Dam Safety Officials (ASDSO) Dam Safety Conference in Cleveland, Ohio, on September 22. This prestigious award, named in honor of ASDSO’s first president, is presented annually by the current president of the organization, to an individual who has made a significant impact during their term.
Mr. Ritchey was recognized for his exceptional leadership and dedication as Co-Chair of the ASDSO Conference Program Committee, a role he has held since 2005. Under his guidance, the conference has continued to thrive and remains a vital platform for advancing dam safety practices nationwide.
At FPA, Mr. Ritchey has served as a Project Consultant in the company’s Water Resources Discipline since 2019, following a distinguished 34-year career with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). Beyond his professional work, he remains deeply engaged in the dam safety community, serving on the ASDSO Advisory Committee, chairing task forces, and contributing to national research and policy development efforts.
“Throughout his career, John has truly embodied the mission of ASDSO”, stated Eric C. Betz, PE, BCEE, CME, Vice President and Director of Infrastructure at FPA. “Receiving the Joseph J. Ellam Presidents Award is not only a testament to his dedication and commitment to dam safety, but highlights his technical acumen, sound engineering judgment, and professional excellence that he has demonstrated throughout his career. John has made a lasting impact on the industry and as a result of his knowledge and leadership, has improved dam safety across our nation’s communities.”
Please join us in congratulating him on this outstanding honor!