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NJ American Water expands external affairs reach with promotions
Dawn Furnas//January 18, 2023//
Listen to this articleNew Jersey American Water recently announced an expansion of its external affairs reach, as well as two promotions to meet that goal.
Denise Venuti Free, previously director of communications and external affairs, was promoted to senior director of the department. Chelsea Kulp was promoted from manager of external affairs to senior manager of government and external affairs.
Both will continue to oversee communications, issues management, media relations and customer education.
In her new role, Venuti Free will also be responsible for further aligning multiple teams within the Camden-based company.
For her new position, Kulp will add municipal relationship management to her responsibilities and serve as a point of contact for municipal leaders in the company’s central region.
In a statement, Mark McDonough, president of New Jersey American Water, commended Venuti Free’s and Kulp’s “extensive experience in communications and external affairs” and further explained the moves.
“This organizational shift to incorporate municipal relations into our External Affairs team’s scope will help us continue to provide outstanding service and strengthen relationships with our communities across the state,” McDonough said.
Venuti Free, who has more than 25 years of communications, customer education, marketing, and media and government relations experience, joined American Water in 2009 as external communications manager in Corporate Communications. She has also served as director of communications and external affairs for the Eastern Division and later moved into her role with New Jersey American Water.
Venuti Free earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from Rutgers University.
Kulp, who joined the company in January 2015, has more than a decade of communication, community outreach and media relations experience. She earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental policy, institutions and behavior from Rutgers University.
