AUC Group consists of experienced professionals who help our customers overcome every challenge. Clean, safe water makes life possible. It sustains people, families, industries, and the ecosystems that surround them. The water industry attracts remarkable people, and AUC employs some of the best from around the world. Meet our dedicated team of water and wastewater industry stars.
Daniel Kennedy is a seasoned water services leader with more than 25 years of experience in the water and wastewater industry. He spent much of his career with SUEZ, holding progressive leadership roles and most recently serving as Regional Vice President and General Manager, where he led teams across the United States and delivered strong operational performance and customer results.
Mr. Kennedy brings extensive knowledge of water and wastewater technologies across a broad range of end markets, including chemical, petrochemical, refining, power generation, food and beverage, healthcare, municipal, and general industrial applications. After serving as Chief Operating Officer for Seven Seas Water Group, he transitioned to CEO of AUC Group, where he is building a safety-first, performance-driven culture and elevating execution to deliver consistent, best-in-class outcomes for customers. His leadership and industry expertise position AUC to excel as the company grows and continues delivering innovative, reliable water solutions.
Mr. Kennedy holds a Master of Science in Business Administration from the University of Houston and a Bachelor of Science in Economics from The University of Texas at Austin.
Chris Chism is the Vice President of Business Development at AUC Group, where he leads the team responsible for the company’s growth. His focus includes identifying new markets and customers, building strategic partnerships, and aligning commercial and operational teams. Mr. Chism brings more than 20 years of leadership experience in public, private, and private equity-backed industrial companies, having held senior roles at Tyco International and Federal Signal Corporation. His expertise spans commercial expansion, global product management, acquisition integration, and operational improvement. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Distribution from Texas A&M University.
David Rolen joined AUC Group in 2016 as a Project Manager. He provides leadership on many projects with responsibilities including overseeing budgets, communicating with customers and organizing design schedules. He also selects and coordinates fabricators and works with general contractors during the installation of plants.
Prior to joining AUC Group, Mr. Rolen worked for 8 years as a Project Manager and Department Manager for engineering consulting firms, Terracon Consultants and Aquaterra Engineering. He had a wide range of responsibilities that included business development and personnel management, project management, project estimating, development of proposals and statements of qualifications, customer communication, review of quality control data and development of methodologies to investigate project profitability and improve “go-no go” decisions on prospective customers. Some major projects in which he was involved include the LSU Tiger Stadium South End Zone Expansion, Wal-Mart Neighborhood Markets, American Creosote Works Superfund Site and Our Lady of the Lake Hospital.
Gary Sommer is the Controller for AUC Group where he is responsible for all accounting-related activities. Key tasks include managing the company’s cash flow, acting as a liaison for annual audits, monitoring internal controls, assisting in budget preparation, minimizing financial risk, ensuring compliance, identifying cost savings and offering leadership to the financial team. Mr. Sommer has been with AUC Group since 2019 and is a licensed CPA. Prior to joining the company, he spent 20 years in public accounting working with small, mid-sized and large private businesses within Texas and Michigan whose customers include oilfield services, retail, manufacturers, and various professional service corporations.
Tim Williams is the Project Superintendent for all Water and Wastewater Construction at AUC Group, where he is responsible for managing the construction projects and achieving targeted budgets. In addition, Tim oversees the day-to-day management of personnel, equipment and material purchasing, coordinating and scheduling of subcontractors, quality control of projects, and provides technical support to construction supervisors. He has been with the company for over 18 years and is an expert in his field.
Alok Shah joined AUC Group in 2022 as the Engineering Lead, managing a team of engineers who design water and wastewater treatment plants across Texas, Louisiana, and surrounding states. He oversees the bid and budget estimation process and works with the Design team on project submittals and technical specifications to ensure delivery in line with project scope. Mr. Shah brings over 12 years of experience with municipal clients across wastewater collection systems, lift stations, treatment plants, and potable water distribution. He began his career at Jacobs Engineering on the City of Baton Rouge wastewater program and later worked in engineering design consulting in Houston. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in Texas with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering from the University of Georgia and a Master of Science in Petroleum Engineering from Louisiana State University. Mr. Shah also serves on the boards of the American Society of Indian Engineers and the Water Environment Association of Texas, Southeast chapter.
Nestor Rojas leads the drafting and design team at AUC Group, which is responsible for the fabrication and construction documentation behind the company’s modular water and wastewater treatment systems. He provides final review and approval of every drawing set before release and guides the selection of treatment structures and layouts, including elevated headworks structures, WWTP phasing layouts, screening equipment, and outfalls. Mr. Rojas has deep expertise in Autodesk Inventor, Vault Professional, and iLogic automation, and he sets the standards, templates, and tools that keep projects moving efficiently from design to the field. He also coordinates workload with project managers, supports site visits to evaluate complex design challenges, and focuses on developing the team’s capabilities.
Amir Ghobadi joined AUC Group in 2021 as the Senior Process Engineer, bringing over 10 years of experience in water/wastewater treatment for Industrial and Municipal applications. He possesses a wealth of expertise in various areas including unit operations, primary, secondary, and tertiary treatment systems. He is well-versed in both chemical and biological treatment systems, as well as proficient in utilization of membrane filtration and membrane bi-reactor systems (MBR). Dr. Ghobadi is a key contributor to the Engineering team focused on researching, proposing, and developing cutting-edge engineered treatment solutions tailored to our customer’s requirements. He is a certified Professional Engineer and graduated with a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Chemical Engineering and later received a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering.
Dave Carrington serves as the Business Development Manager for AUC Group’s booming Texas market. He brings over 32 years of experience in water/wastewater environmental solutions, business management, and project coordination. Prior to joining AUC, Mr. Carrington held various sales and management positions at Smith & Loveless, Newman Regency Group, US Peroxide, Earth Science Labs, and Trojan Technologies. Mr. Carrington has an impressive track record in exceeding sales goals and developing effective go-to-market strategies. He is highly respected amongst his peers and has a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Missouri – Columbia.
Preston Warner serves as the Business Development Manager for AUC Group, covering the Greater Houston area. His experience in construction management and outside sales of pumps, tanks, filters, and accessories makes him a valuable contributor to the company. Prior to joining AUC Group, Mr. Warner held various positions at Toll Brothers, National Tank & Equipment and SpawGlass, ensuring quality, safety and exceeding customer expectations while being innovative and offering sustainable solutions for the environment and community. Mr. Warner graduated from Texas State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Construction Science and Management with a minor in Business Administration.
Don Henderson is a seasoned Business Development professional with over 30 years of experience in strategic business planning and relationship cultivation. With a demonstrated history of success, he has adeptly led cross-functional teams through the design, analysis, planning, and issuance of large bond transactions within the municipal market. As the former President of Buckshot Strategies, Mr. Henderson spearheaded numerous initiatives aimed at securing funding for diverse infrastructure projects. Now, Mr. Henderson introduces the innovative AUC solution to the Central Texas region, leveraging his extensive experience and insights. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a focus on Finance and Economics from Southwestern University.
Leslie May is the Senior Marketing Manager for both AUC Group and Seven Seas Water Group. She joined the company in 2017 after serving in various marketing roles in the oil and gas industry. Mrs. May is responsible for creating and implementing marketing strategies, developing sales copy, liaising with company stakeholders, planning events, and managing the website and social media activity. She ensures brand consistency and promotes the company and its services, targeting the correct and appropriate audiences. Mrs. May graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Studies.
Our team members share a consuming focus on water because they understand its importance and have discovered the joy of working in the industry. Water makes life itself possible, but life should be about more than just survival. The satisfaction of working in the water industry comes from freeing people to live their best lives and enabling businesses to pursue their core missions without ever again having to worry about water.
AUC’s mission attracts the right stuff. We are a diverse, extended family of like-minded individuals working together to treat wastewater and deliver safe, clean drinking water in order to make communities and environments livable. Many of our team members stay with us for a lifetime, sharing knowledge, growing together, and keeping each other on the road to excellence as they roll up their sleeves and get to work.
11451 Katy Freeway
Suite 300
Houston, Texas 77079
Toll Free: (800) 868-8674
Phone: (713) 983-3255
Fax: (713) 983-3250
[email protected]
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