Garver welcomes Chris High as new Florida Water Leader

Chris High, PE, has joined Garver as Tampa Water Team Leader. Based in Tampa Bay, he will help grow the firm’s water practice across Florida. High brings a long track record of supporting clients with the planning, design, and delivery of critical infrastructure projects. 

High has spent much of his career in the Tampa Bay region, building experience across municipal water, wastewater, and wet-weather infrastructure. His background includes transmission and force mains, pump and lift stations, utility system improvements, and collaborative delivery methods such as progressive design-build and CMAR. Over the course of his career, he has worked across design, project management, and construction management, giving him a practical understanding of how projects move from concept through construction.

“Chris brings deep local knowledge, trusted industry relationships, and a strong understanding of project delivery in the Florida water market,” said Brian Shannon, VP and Eastern Region Water Director at Garver. “His experience and leadership will be a tremendous asset as we continue expanding our services across the region.”

High has seen how Florida utilities are adapting to aging infrastructure, funding pressures, regulatory change, and storm-driven reprioritization. Those factors are increasing the need for practical, resilient solutions and delivery approaches that help communities move critical projects forward with greater confidence.

“What stood out to me about Garver is the combination of technical depth, strong client focus, and collaborative approach to delivery,” High said. “I’m excited to help grow the Tampa team, support utilities across Florida, and deliver solutions that work in practice and create long-term value for the communities they serve.”

For High, the opportunity is both professional and personal. After building his career in Florida, he is focused on continuing to grow the market while helping utilities address complex, long-term water challenges. His background, which includes contractor-side experience and work across multiple delivery methods, shapes how he approaches each project with an emphasis on practicality, collaboration, and results.

High is actively involved in professional organizations including American Water Works Association (AWWA), the Water Environment Federation (WEF), the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA), the Water Collaborative Delivery Association (WCDA), and WateReuse.  

With his addition, Garver continues to expand its water practice in Florida, supporting communities with infrastructure solutions designed to perform reliably today and adapt to future needs.