Title: Water Systems Superintendent
Company: City of Fort Worth
Location: Azle, Texas, United States
Russ Pior, water systems superintendent for the city of Fort Worth, Texas, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Executives for dedication, achievements, and leadership in government.
Celebrated for nearly 45 years in the world of public utilities, Mr. Pior’s entry into the field was somewhat by chance. He initially planned to work for his father’s construction company with the goal of one day taking over. Unfortunately, at the time that Mr. Pior graduated from college, a recession was affecting construction, so his father suggested he consider other options. This led him to a position as a meter reader for a utility service in Ruidoso, New Mexico.
As he established himself as a meter reader for more than five years, Mr. Pior grew increasingly interested in the field of water treatment. Throughout this time, he volunteered to take on extra tasks that would teach him more about the essentials of this important utility service. Recognized for his interest and eagerness to learn, Mr. Pior was encouraged to continue in this direction. He ended up shifting into the role of a utility operator in southern New Mexico for over 10 years.
Building on his water treatment and utilities experiences up to that point, Mr. Pior became the superintendent of water systems for the city of Fort Worth, Texas, in 1998. Serving in this position since then, he oversees all five water treatment plants in Fort Worth. Mr. Pior’s responsibilities include monitoring distribution systems, collaborating with other municipalities, training plant operators, researching and evaluating new technological advancements, and ensuring compliance with government safety regulations. He also dedicates time to mentoring and working directly with up-and-coming talent in the field, ensuring they receive the best possible professional training and development.
Though his career journey has been filled with many memorable moments, Mr. Pior is especially proud of the hard work he put into improving quality issues with one of the city’s water treatment plants. He recalls facing seasonal chlorine loss problems for several years, with multiple experts struggling to identify the cause. Mr. Pior put together an internal team that crossed departments to find a solution. Demonstrating the success of his leadership in this effort, the chlorine levels at that plant have remained stable since 2022.
Mr. Pior’s performance in the field was born of his academic journey. He obtained a Bachelor of Science in business management from Park University in 1995. Subsequently, Mr. Pior earned a Master of Science in management from the Holloman Air Force Base branch of Troy University in 1998. Committed to lifelong improvement, he has also earned certification in supervision and in the Six Sigma methodology.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Mr. Pior is also a loving husband, father to two, stepfather to two and grandfather to five. When not working, he finds joy in racing dirt bikes, spending time at the lake, playing bass guitar and performing in a band. Mr. Pior looks forward to the completion of two major plant expansions in the years ahead, having spearheaded these projects from conception. While he has considered retirement, he has no plans to step back until these projects have successfully finished and been proven to safely function for public use — the latest in a legacy of examples of his devotion to the health and well-being of his community.
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