BRYN MAWR, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aqua America, Inc. (NYSE: WTR) announced today that Patricia Tuso has been hired as director, human resources. Tuso brings more than 17 years of progressive human resources experience in the healthcare, telecommunications, business process outsourcing, utilities and consulting industries.

As director, human resources, Tuso will be responsible for the strategic direction of talent acquisition, training and organizational development, succession planning, and the information systems functions within the human resources department. Additionally, Tuso will partner and collaborate with the management team to assist with and support the attainment of short- and long-term business goals.

Tuso joined Aqua following her most recent position as director, human resources at UGI, Inc. Previously, she held the same positions at Precyse Solutions, LLC, a health information management company, and TRG Customer Solutions, which provides telemarketing, customer care, and technical support services to Fortune 500 companies in a variety of businesses.

“Tuso’s comprehensive experience in human resources will serve Aqua America well as our corporate culture continues to evolve,” said Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer Karen Heisler, to whom Tuso will report. “She will play a key role in developing and executing our strategy to ensure that we hire and retain the best employees and that we continuously work to ensure that, as our culture evolves, it is one in which all employees know they are valued.”

Tuso graduated from the Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in management and earned a Master of Science in training and organizational development with a concentration in organizational psychology and development from St. Joseph’s University. Her professional certifications include project management professional of human resources and practitioner of the Society of Human Resources Management. She is a member of the Performance Management Institute, the Society of Human Resource Management and the Greater Valley Forge Human Resources Association.

Aqua America is one of the largest U.S.-based, publicly traded water utilities and serves nearly 3 million people in Pennsylvania, Ohio, North Carolina, Illinois, Texas, New Jersey, Indiana and Virginia. Aqua America is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol WTR. Visit AquaAmerica.com for more information.