Mark Petrarca Email Address

Senior Vice President, Human Resources and Public Affairs

There's nothing like hot water, and one company has been delivering the world's hot water for more than 80 years...A. O. Smith. But today's A. O. Smith is about more than hot water. We recently entered the water treatment industry to deliver clean water to consumers in China and other fast-growing parts of the world. It's all about water, and A. O. Smith has a singular focus on becoming a global leader in water technology.

I am responsible for all of A.O. Smith's domestic and international human resources activities including policy and strategy development, employment, compensation and benefits, employee relations, performance management, organizational development, and succession planning. I also manage the company's public affairs function which includes internal and external communications, community relations, and serve as the company's official spokesman. I joined A. O. Smith in June 1999 as Vice President-Human Resources for its Water Products Company, responsible for all human resources activities for the operating unit. I also was involved in the 2000 acquisition of State Industries and played a major role in integrating that business into the Water Products Company. Prior to joining A. O. Smith, I worked as Director of Human Resources for Strike Weapon Systems, a division of Raytheon Systems Company, in Lewisville, Texas. I began my career in 1985 at Texas Instruments in its Defense Systems and Electronics Group in Dallas, Texas, holding positions in manufacturing and human resources. I hold a bachelor of science degree in Industrial Engineering from Bradley University, Peoria, Ill., and a master's degree in management and administrative sciences from the University of Texas-Dallas (Richardson).