Kim Schalek Downes

Vice President of Business Development, Government and External Affairs

New Jersey American Water
1 Water Street, Camden, NJ 08102

Kim Schalek Downes serves as Vice President of Business Development, Government and External Affairs for New Jersey American Water, the state’s largest regulated water and wastewater utility serving approximately 2.9 million people across the state. She leads strategic initiatives that strengthen partnerships with policymakers and communities, advancing public policy, communications and engagement efforts that support the company’s commitment to providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable water and wastewater services.

With over 35 years of experience in government relations, public policy and strategic consulting, Downes brings deep expertise in building partnerships across public and private sectors. Before joining New Jersey American Water, she was President and CEO of Salmon Ventures, Ltd., a public affairs and management consulting firm she founded in 2003, where she led initiatives for utilities, government agencies, school districts, and healthcare organizations. 

Downes was instrumental in establishing the New Jersey Energy Coalition (NJEC) in 2008, serving as Chair to guide communications, expand membership and elevate dialogue around energy policy in the state. Earlier in her career, she held government positions of increasing responsibility, including Aid to a New Jersey State Assemblyman and Mayor, Grants Director, and Vice President and Executive Coordinator at AUS, Inc., a public sector consulting firm. 

She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a concentration in Policy and Management Studies from Dickinson College. Downes currently serves as Vice Chair of the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy Advisory Board at Stockton University and serves on the Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey Board of Directors, the Home Port Alliance for the USS New Jersey Executive Board, the New Jersey Utilities Association Board of Directors, and the Battleship New Jersey board. She is also a member of The CEO Group. 

New Jersey American Water, a subsidiary of American Water, is the largest regulated water utility in the state, providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable water and wastewater services to approximately 3 million people.

American Water is the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States. With a history dating back to 1886 and celebrating 140 years in 2026, We Keep Life Flowing® by providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable drinking water and wastewater services to approximately 14 million people with regulated operations in 14 states and on 19 military installations. American Water’s approximately 7,000 talented professionals leverage their significant expertise and the company’s national size and scale to achieve excellent outcomes for the benefit of customers, employees, investors and other stakeholders.