Ken Surritte

Ken Surritte

Founder & CEO


WATERisLIFE

Oklahoma City, OK USA


What are the things that make you tick, and what are the things that tick you off? What are the things that you pound the table over and stay up at night worried about? That’s where you need to make a difference.

Videos

By Roadtrip Nation

Ken Surritte

Milestones

My road in life took a while to figure out.
Attended Southwest Baptist University, where I graduated with my bachelor’s degree.
Worked for many years as a teacher and participated in humanitarian missions all over the world alongside my wife.
After traveling to the Philippines and China, I found myself becoming more and more passionate about helping people and less concerned with the security of a weekly paycheck and retirement benefits.
My wife and I decided to start Hearts and Hands International, an organization that built and operated orphanages for at-risk children in Asia, South America, and Africa.
While helping to build a water well at one of our orphanages in Kenya, I realized the full extent of the water crisis in Africa and around the world.
In 2007, we founded WATERisLIFE, an organization dedicated to ending the world water crisis by using technologies that already exist.
Using my backpacker knowledge, I helped develop portable straw filters that children could take to school to help prevent water-borne illness as a result of contaminated water sources.
We have since utilized and implemented home systems using NanoTube technology, solar and wind-powered community systems, drilling, and rainwater catchment systems in over 45 countries.
Keep following my journey

Education

High School
Bachelor
Southwest Baptist University

Career

Founder & CEO

I provide water solutions to 1.1 billion people without access to clean water.

Career Roadmap

Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Non-Profit Organizations
Environment & Nature
Helping People

Day to Day

My work mainly involves being able to personally connect with communities and villages all over the world and develop long-term relationships in order to implement long-term solutions. I first have to listen to communities and their needs wherever I go. We don’t try to implement cookie-cutter solutions; we’re looking for buy-in from the community and have to educate them on lifestyle changes. I have to travel all over the world, fundraise, and work with volunteers.

Advice for Getting Started

Here's the first step for everyone

Tap into your passion(s) and don't let fear or negativity stand in your way. Fear stops us from doing what we are truly passionate about. Advocate for others and do your part to help where you can.

Hurdles

The Noise I Shed

From Society in General:

"You can't fix the water crisis. That's stupid."

Challenges I Overcame

Career Change
Work Stress

Interviewed By

Rerouting

Rerouting

Changing careers and reinventing your path