Meet the Urban Water Institute Board of Directors

UWI Board of Directors 2024

About Our Board of Directors

The Urban Water Institute is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors drawn from hands-on policy makers, elected officials and industry leaders who are active in the water resources industry. The Board of Directors meets semi-annually during UWI’s Spring and Fall Conferences.

Active members of the Urban Water Institute who are in good standing are entitled to a seat on the Board, in accordance with UWI's bylaws and the appointment process below. 

Our Current Board of Directors

Our Board is comprised of water industry leaders who represent a cross-section of water districts, city and county water departments, engineering and consulting firms, law firms, water-related nonprofits, and representatives of the academic community. Scroll to the bottom of this page to meet our current Board of Directors. 

How to Appoint a Board Member

If your organization is currently a member of UWI in good standing, you may designate a Board member by contacting our Marketing & Admin Director. Please provide the name of your organization, name of the Board member you wish to designate, their written bio and contact info. 

New members are added to the Board during the semi-annual Board of Directors meetings, which typically take place on the first day of the Spring and Fall Conferences. Potential Board members are asked to be present at the meeting to introduce themself and discuss their interest in serving on the Board. The Board will then vote to accept their position, and their term will begin effective immediately.

UWI Executive Committee

An Executive Committee comprised of UWI Board members is involved in the hands-on operations of the organization. The Executive Committee includes the Board Chair, First Vice Chair, Second Vice Chair, Treasurer, Secretary, past Board Chairs and the Executive Director.  The members of the Executive Committee are appointed by the Board Chair to serve an annual term. The Board Chair may appoint additional members to the Executive Committee when special expertise will enhance the organization's operations. 

The Executive Committee meets monthly to plan and coordinate a wide range of UWI activities, including conferences, special events, strategic planning, marketing and more. Meetings are typically held the fourth Monday of each month.

UWI Planning Committee

A Planning Committee Chair may be appointed by the Board Chair to assist with planning UWI’s conferences and special events. The Planning Committee may also assist with specific functions such as membership recruitment, guest speakers, and other key tasks.

UWI Membership Committee

A Membership Committee Chair may be appointed by the Board Chair to assist with membership development and recruitment. The Membership Committee is also charged with developing recruitment strategies and materials, outlining member benefits, and membership-related reporting.

UWI Policy Committee

A Policy Committee Chair may be appointed by the Board Chair to assist with water policy-related matters. UWI does not engage in advocacy, but focuses on providing objective information to our members who conduct advocacy on behalf of their respective organizations. The Policy Committee is responsible for monitoring federal, state and local legislative and administrative policy proposals to identify where to provide information to other groups regarding water industry rules, regulations, laws and administrative actions.

UWI Board of Directors

Andree Lee

Andree Lee

Vice President, EKI Environment & Water, Inc.

Board Chair

Dave Pedersen

Dave Pedersen

General Manager, Las Virgenes Municipal Water District

1st Vice Chair

Rich Nagel

Vice President, Jacobs

2nd Vice Chair

Lisa Ohlund

Lisa Ohlund

Principal, Ohlund Management & Technical Services

Treasurer

Jason Phillips

Jason Phillips

Chief Executive Officer, Friant Water Authority

Secretary

Darcy Burke

Darcy Burke

Director, Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District

Planning Chair

Shivaji Deshmukh

Shivaji Deshmukh

General Manager, Inland Empire Utilities Agency

Membership Chair

Fernando Paludi

Fernando Paludi

General Manager, Trabuco Canyon Water District

Policy Chair

Steve Bucknam Jr.

Steve Bucknam Jr.

President, Bucknam & Associates

Executive Committee

Larry Dick

Director, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California

Executive Committee

Greg Quist

Greg Quist

Director, Rincon del Diablo Municipal Water District

Executive Committee

Matt Stone

Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency

Executive Committee

Ane Deister

Ane Deister

Executive Director, Urban Water Institute

Executive Director

Jim Atkinson

Jim Atkinson

Director, Mesa Water District

Director

Alan Boyce

President, Materra Farming Company LLC

Director

Paul Brown

Paul Brown

President, Paul Redvers Brown Inc.

Director

Justin Caporusso

Justin Caporusso

Executive Director, Mountain Counties Water Resources Association

Director

Kathleen Coates-Hedberg

Kathleen Coates-Hedberg

Director, Helix Water District

Director

Gil Crozes

Gil Crozes

Senior Vice President, Carollo Engineers

Director

Michael Engelbrecht

Managing Director, Wells Fargo Public Finance

Director

Steve Erie

Steve Erie

Professor Emeritus

Director

Sean Fitzgerald

Sean Fitzgerald

Founder & Principal, Vox Civic

Director

Tom Francis

Water Resources Manager, BAWSCA

Director

Carol Lee Gonzales-Brady

Carol Lee Gonzales-Brady

Vice President, Rancho Water

Director

Kevin Hunt

Partner, Hunt Thornton Resource Strategies

Director

Rob Katherman

Director, Water Replenishment District

Director

Tom Love

General Manager, Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District

Director

Gary Martin

Gary Martin

Board President, Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency

Director

Russ Martin

Russ Martin

Director, Mission Springs Water District

Director

Frank Martinez

Frank Martinez

Principal, Envetco Engineering Services, Inc.

Director

Malissa McKeith

Founder/President, Citizens United for Resources and the Environment, Inc.

Director

Craig Miller

Craig Miller

General Manager, Western Municipal Water District

Director

Jeff Mosher

Jeff Mosher

General Manger, Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority

Director

Greg Newmark

Greg Newmark

Meyers Nave

Director

Mark Pestrella

Director of Public Works, Los Angeles County - Department of Public Works

Director

David Pettijohn

Los Angeles Department of Water & Power

Director

Brian Probolsky

Brian Probolsky

Director, Moulton Niguel Water District

Director

Isabel Rios

Director, Partner Relations, Discovery Cube

Director

Bob Siemak

Bob Siemak

RCS Consulting Group

Director

Peer Swan

Peer Swan

Director, Irvine Ranch Water District

Director

Marilyn Thoms

Marilyn Thoms

Director, East Orange County Water District

Director

Ray Tremblay

Departmental Engineer, Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts

Director

Adam Zacheis

Brown & Caldwell

Director

UWI Executive Staff

Paula Currie

Paula Currie

Events Director, Urban Water Institute

Events Director

Jessica Ouwerkerk

Jessica Ouwerkerk

Marketing & Admin Director, Urban Water Institute

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Marketing & Admin Director