GAWP President Tyler Richards

Tyler Richards is the Deputy Director of Operations and Environmental Services for Gwinnett County's Department of Water Resources. In this capacity she manages the wastewater treatment, water treatment, collection, distribution, and stormwater divisions.

Tyler has been active in both WERF and WEF. She has been on the WERF Research Council for 7 years, chaired the Research Council for 2 years and served on the Board of Trustees for WEF for 2 years.

Tyler has held numerous other offices, served on committees and chaired committees for GAWP, AWWA Qualserve, WEF and WERF over the years.

Tyler grew up on the Space Coast of Florida during the peak of United States space exploration. She spent her childhood on the Indian River sailing, fishing and collecting 'critters'. This early experience fostered a love of the outdoors and the water environment. She received her BA in Biology from Rollins College and a Masters of Science in Environmental Engineering from Georgia Tech.

In 1982 she began working for the City of Atlanta as a Research Engineer. It was a wonderful opportunity to work directly with operations at facilities to do both practical and basic research on wastewater treatment processes. In addition she was privileged to work with some of the great water professionals both past and present.

During her 19 years with the City Tyler had the opportunity to manage large wastewater design projects, negotiate consent decrees, manage facilities and attend lots and lots of public meetings. She is excited to have the opportunity to learn more about water treatment, the water distribution system, and management of stormwater in her current position with Gwinnett County.

Tyler lives with her husband, Jim Strawinski, and one child, Katie in Alpharetta. Her oldest daughter, Kristen, has just graduated from Appalachian State University and her middle daughter, Kelly is attending University of North Carolina in Wilmington. Tyler spends her time off reading, running, playing tennis and tending her organic vegetable garden and chickens.