From ensuring the quality of drinking water in our community, to promoting employee safety and wellness, to helping to raise awareness and funds for organizations that serve a variety of roles in our community, Traci Cross, this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, has balanced her career, family and volunteer roles with devotion. 

While a native of Wilkes-Barre, Traci spent twenty years in central Pennsylvania, where she began her career in the water industry while simultaneously working to complete her college education. During this time, Traci earned an associate’s degree in applied science from Susquehanna University and, ultimately, a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Bloomsburg University. In 2005, Traci moved back to Wilkes-Barre, where she continued working for Pennsylvania American Water and met her husband, Mark Cross.  

Traci recently retired from Pennsylvania American Water Company, after spending 35 years in the water industry. During this time, she served in a variety of supervisory and management roles, most recently of which was as the Senior Director of Operations for the company. In this position, she demonstrated leadership in client and field operations, financial performance, health and safety, as well as environmental compliance. 

In addition to her career, Traci enjoys being able to support local organizations and has been actively involved in serving the Greater Wyoming Valley community in a volunteer capacity at a multitude of organizations and events for more than 20 years, some of which include the United Way Day of Caring, the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, Camp Freedom, the SPCA of Luzerne County, North Branch Land Trust, Leadership Northeast, Volunteers of America, and the Cancer Wellness Center of NEPA. For the past eight years, Traci dedicated many hours to the Osterhout Free Library, where she has served as a member of the library’s annual gala committee and has secured numerous sponsorship and raffle sales that support this essential fundraiser for the Library. Traci also introduced her daughter, Durga, to community service at a young age, and now serves alongside her mother on several committees for events that raise funds for nonprofits in our region.

While Traci retired from PA American Water earlier this year, she continues to serve, not only with her numerous board and civic involvements, but also as an inspiration to everyone in our community.

Thank you to the Wright Center for Community Health for sponsoring this Award!  

Join us on Thursday, November 13th at Mohegan Pennsylvania for an evening of connection and to celebrate with our award recipients! Register on our events page here.