Charles Vein, the 2006 recipient of the Kenneth J. Miller Founder’s Award, has a passion for drinking water industry, maybe even more passion than for his Harley Davidson.  When he isn’t cruisin’ down the road on his hog, he is dedicating his time to many volunteer committees in the water industry and out.  He has served or is a member of the American Public Works Association, American Water Works Association Board of Directors, North Dakota Rural Water Association, North Dakota Water Pollution Control Conference, North Dakota Water Users, Construction Specification Institute, Minnesota Rural Water Association, National Rural Water Association, North Dakota League of Cities, as well as non-industry volunteer projects such as a founder of the Northland Foundation and other church programs, and track and field programs at the University of North Dakota.

He has over thirty years of professional engineering experience, serving clients throughout North Dakota and Minnesota and fifteen years experience as President of engineering firm he co-founded.  In his professional career, he has managed a wide variety of projects ranging from water studies to multi-million dollar, multi-year rural water system and water treatment plant designs.  He resides in Grand Forks with his wife Leeza and are the proud parents of Jennifer, Laura, and Michelle.