Anthony J. (Tony, A.J.) Geiss, Jr. recently retired as Deputy Executive Director for the Onondaga County Water Authority (OCWA) after 45 years of distinguished service in the water industry. 
Geiss began his career in 1970 with O’Brien & Gere Engineers. Over the ensuing 29 years in the private sector, Geiss worked on numerous water resources, water treatment, pump station, storage tank and other projects for such diverse clients as the Metropolitan Water Board, Town of Colonie, City of Oneida, Monroe County Water Authority, Foxwoods Resort, City of Utica, City of Pittsburgh (PA), OCWA, Providence (RI) Water Supply Board, Erie County Water Authority, City of Binghamton, City of Cortland, Latham Water District and Town of Queensbury.
“I am particularly proud of my work in designing and constructing critical water treatment facilities across New York State and the Northeast,” said Geiss.
Geiss joined OCWA in 1999 as Deputy Executive Director. While at OCWA, he managed over $70 million in construction projects, including multi-tank construction projects (one million to 30 million gallons), multi-pump station construction projects and the addition and/or replacement of more than 500 miles of water main. Interestingly, Geiss oversaw the upgrade of OCWA’s 20 million gallon per day filtration plant, the very same plant he helped design 25 years earlier while at O’Brien & Gere.
During his water career, Geiss was particularly active with the local, state and national chapters of the American Water Works Association (AWWA). He served on several important committees, including the Concrete Tanks Standard Committee, the Water Supply and Distribution Facilities Design and Construction Committee, and the Water Treatment Facilities Design and Construction Committee, as well as chaired of the New York Section of AWWA. In recognition of his work, he received the national George Warren Fuller Award for distinguished service to the water supply field in 2003 and the New York Section’s Engineering Excellence Award in 2015.
Geiss is also active in numerous community organizations. He has chaired the Town of Van Buren Planning Board for the past 20 years and is president of the Central New York Track and Field Officials Association. In addition, he has served as a track official at various high school and college track meets for the past 15 years.
“I first got involved in officiating track meets when my daughters were in school in the mid 1980’s, and I’ve been doing it ever since. I’ve been a runner/jogger since college and I truly enjoy being around the next generation of talented young athletes,” said Geiss.
Geiss graduated from Christian Brothers Academy in 1965 and Syracuse University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering in 1970.
Geiss lives in Van Buren with his wife of 47 years, Linda. They have five daughters and seven grandchildren.