Dru Whitlock
Dru Whitlock has joined global architecture, engineering, and consulting firm Stantec as the global practice leader for biosolids and energy recovery, based in the Cottonwood Parkway office in Salt Lake City, Utah. In his role, Whitlock will focus on growing the firm's biosolid and energy recovery practice in the Southwestern Region of the United States and globally. Whitlock is a recognized leader in anaerobic digestion and biogas utilization who recently led the thermal hydrolysis digestion process planning and engineering for the $1 billion San Francisco Public Utilities Commission Biosolids Digester Facility project to meet Class A biosolids with an entirely new process train. From there, Whitlock has built a career as a wastewater process engineer with increasing focus on solids handling and advanced anaerobic digestion technologies. Bringing international experience to the team, Whitlock has provided wastewater process support to a wide range of clients across North America, South America, Europe, Middle East, and Australasia. With a passion for protecting and enhancing the environment, Whitlock is known for driving thought leadership in the biosolids and energy recovery space. Intent on advancing the future of global resource recovery practices, Whitlock is an active member of the Water Environment Federation (WEF) Residuals and Biosolids Committee (RBC) and Chair of the WEF RBC Bioenergy Technology Subcommittee. He is also a member of the Water Research Foundation including peer-reviewed, published studies on solids handling-related research and served in many roles for the Water Environment Association of Utah including secretary/treasurer and president. “Dru is an industry leader in biosolids, energy recovery from biosolids, and renewable energy systems,” says Arthur Umble, Stantec global practice leader for wastewater. “He brings a depth of knowledge and experience that emanates from his ability to think critically, creatively, and holistically. Above all, Dru is gifted at effectively communicating complex technical topics with people at all levels. It is people like Dru who are moving the needle on building a sustainable future.”