Forty Under 40: Rusty Tate

Rusty Tate’s defining moment was on a church mission trip providing water filters to people in Haiti to give them clean water. “It gave me a new appreciation for what we have in the U.S. and what I’m able to help do every day with the municipalities and communities we have the opportunity and privilege to work for.”

Working with clients in Northwest Arkansas and nationwide, Tate designs and implements water and wastewater infrastructure that supplies communities with reliable drinking water. In the past five years, he’s led more than $400 million in projects across Garver’s 17-state footprint, including a $75 million design and construction project for the Northwest Arkansas Conservation Authority wastewater plant, which will double the facility’s capacity. He’s currently designing a $200 million upgrade project in San Antonio for one of the biggest facilities in Texas and working on a disinfection project for Alabama’s largest wastewater plant.

Originally from Elkins, Tate graduated from the University of Arkansas with a biological engineering degree in 2008. He earned a master’s degree in environmental engineering in 2010. Tate became a general project engineer for Garver, passed his professional engineer exam in 2012, then became a project manager and was promoted to process group leader. He started his current job in 2022 and is responsible for 22 people.

Tate sees his role as “just part of the whole,” believing the dedicated people working in the plants he’s designed should get credit because of their “work behind the scenes to keep it all running.”

“Taking personal ownership, no matter how big or small the task” has helped him succeed. Mentored by supervisor John Cutright, Tate also mentors young engineers.

He participates in the Miracle League, Special Olympics and his church’s children’s ministry.