Valerie Steele, President and CEO of Albuquerque-based Savio Engineering, has been named to the board of directors of the International Professional Pond Companies Association (IPPCA). She will serve as treasurer of the organization. The IPPCA is a non-profit organization and serves as the pond and waterscape industry’s official trade association. The IPPCA’s goal is to ensure that high-level, quality standards are met within the waterscape industry. They offer contractor certification to professional members and their mission is to promote, protect and advance the pond and waterscape industry.
“As a leading manufacturer of pond and waterscape components, it’s in our best interest to serve our colleagues and do our part to maintain the high-quality standards set by IPPCA,” said Steele. The board is comprised of 15 members and maintains over 50 corporate members.
In addition to Savio Engineering, Ms. Steele founded and oversees the Savio Water Feature Institute. The goal of the institute is similar to that of IPPCA in that the intended goals are to improve and maintain a high level of quality water feature distributors and contractors. The institute offers water industry professionals the most innovative and beneficial educational programs available. This includes programs and curriculum inclusive of design concepts, installation techniques and technological advances. “We believe the key to success in our industry, and in any industry, is education,” said Steele. “We want what we’re doing at the local level to mirror the best practices and high-quality expectations that are set at the national and international level by organizations like IPPCA.”
