By Clarence W. Thomas, Jr.
MGI Contributor

When Clayton County Water Authority’s Chief Operations Officer, Keisha Lisbon Thorpe, was recently asked by MGI about her role, she described it as driving operational excellence across the organization. After hearing about the work she’s done, it’s clear she delivers on that promise every day.
She emphasized that ensuring alignment with the authority’s mission and vision is just as important. “It’s crucial that we comply with all state and federal regulations for water treatment. By maintaining full compliance, we strive to continue to build trust within our community.”

Thorpe joined CCWA in 2018, bringing more than 17 years of combined experience in water and wastewater treatment with hands-on experience in distribution, collections, project management, asset management, technical support, construction and maintenance – proving her to be the perfect fit to lead the organization’s operations forward.

Thorpe works closely with CEO H. Bernard Franks, combining her deep operational knowledge with his strategic vision. Together, they ensure that the authority not only meets regulatory requirements but continuously raises the bar in service, safety, and community trust. “What makes her amazing is not just her ability to manage complex operations, but how she supports and uplifts the people behind the work,” Franks says. “She exemplifies the kind of leadership that keeps our mission moving forward every day.”

Known for leading with excellence, care, and curiosity, Thorpe empowers her teams to solve problems thoughtfully, innovate where possible, and maintain the highest standards across all operations. Her approach creates an environment where employees feel supported, engaged, and motivated to perform at their best. “I believe leadership is fostering excellence,” Thorpe says. “When you lead with care and curiosity, you create a space where people feel trusted, challenged, and inspired to do their very best every single day.”

Since leading operations, Thorpe has driven CCWA to new heights. She was instrumental in the authority receiving its Water First Community designation in 2021. This designation was awarded by the Georgia Environmental Financial Authority for demonstrating a commitment to water stewardship, planning and sustainable practices. The authority also received a one percent decrease on its GEFA loans – making water services more affordable for customers.

The Collaborative Project Delivery platform was championed under Thorpe as well and ensures CCWA operations has a seat and a voice at the table during the design and building stage of projects to ensure an inclusive outcome.

CCWA’s commitment to innovation and industry-leading service is reflected in major projects like the W.B. Casey Water Resource and Recovery Facility, a Class A producer of fertilizer pellets; and a grease recycling program, that is redirecting grease disposal down drains by Clayton County residents and turning the used cooking agent into diesel and aviation fuel, both guided under Thorpe’s leadership.

As a Black woman in leadership, Thorpe doesn’t define her role as COO by her race or gender; she embraces it as an opportunity to inspire the next generation of water industry leaders of color. “It shows that there’s room at the top,” she says. “Water is life, and it plays a vital role in public health, so I don’t take it lightly. Being able to steward it while paving the way for others is both an honor and a tremendous responsibility and it also shows why diversity matters. A variety of perspectives makes an organization stronger, more innovative, and better able to serve their community.”

Thorpe is laser beamed focused on the future and sees operations as the heartbeat of the authority and deeply values the collaboration across departments that makes their success possible. Her goal is to execute the mission of CCWA, so the authority continues to embody its vision, mission, and values—serving the community with trust, reliability, and collaboration. Thorpe noted before ending our time with her, “The result is clean, safe drinking water for our community and sustaining Clayton County’s growth for generations to come.”