Tag Archive for: leadership

Kim Hales and Suzanne Till were recently sworn in to new terms on the Padre Dam Municipal Water District Board of Directors. Photo: Padre Dam MWD

Padre Dam Swears In New Board Member, Returning Incumbent

The Padre Dam Municipal Water District swore in Kim Hales as its newest member of the Board of Directors on December 9, 2024. Incumbent director Suzanne Till was also sworn in for her second term on the District’s Board of Directors, and will continue serving as the Board’s Vice President.

Hales and Till were elected by their constituents during the November 2024 general election to serve for a four-year term on the Board. Director Till will represent Division 2. Director Hales will represent Division 4.

“I welcome Director Hales and returning Director Till to serving these newly elected terms on the Padre Dam Board of Directors. They will each contribute their own perspectives to the Board as representatives of our community while the Board continues to successfully serve and meet the mission of the District for customers,” shared Board President Bill Pommering.

An overhead view of construction progress on the East County Advanced Water Purification program Education Center. Photo: East County AWP Padre Dam

An overhead view of construction progress on the East County Advanced Water Purification program Education Center. Photo: East County AWP

Kim Hales Brings Science Background To Board

Hales is an Alpine resident, who owns and enjoys a 23-acre ranch with her husband Steve, a retired United States Navy Captain. Together, they manage and care for goats, chickens, dogs, gardens and open space habitat. She holds a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science Degrees in Biology. She has been a Professor of Biology at Cuyamaca College for the last 20 years, and served as interim Dean of Math, Science and Engineering for just under three of those years.

Hales spent much of her professional life on the ocean studying dolphins, marine birds and sharks. She also previously worked as an Animal Handler at the San Diego Zoo.

“I look forward to serving on the Padre Dam Board and utilizing my science background to ensure a sustainable water supply future for decades to come. Water is key to all lives and I am happy to be a part of managing this important resource responsibly,” said Director Hales.

Suzanne Till Pledges To Address Water Affordability

Till was elected her first four-year term in November 2020, and in August 2023, she was named Board Vice President. Till grew up in Lakeside and has lived in Santee for over three decades.

Till is a United States Marine Corps veteran and a former Professor of Geography at Cuyamaca and Southwestern Colleges. She currently teaches geography at Mater Dei Catholic High School in Chula Vista. She has a Ph.D. in Water Resources Geography from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and a Masters in Geography and Urban Planning from San Diego State University.

“I am honored to have this opportunity to continue to serve the constituents of Division 2 in Santee. I look forward to representing them to make sure water affordability is top of mind. I am also looking forward to seeing the East County AWP Project completed,” commented Director Till.

Directors Till and Hales will serve four-year terms ending in December 2028.

Padre Dam provides water, sewer, recycled water, and recreation services to approximately 102,000 residents in East San Diego County, including Santee, El Cajon, Lakeside, Flinn Springs, Harbison Canyon, Blossom Valley, Alpine, Dehesa, and Crest. The District is a public agency with policies and procedures directed by an elected five-member Board of Directors. The District imports 100% of our treated water
supply and treats two million gallons per day (MGD) of wastewater at our Water Recycling Facility.

Water Conservation Garden Closes Amid Restructuring

The Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College, a treasured community destination, has closed temporarily amid efforts to reorganize under new leadership.

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Tish Berge and Kelley Gage Appointed to Key Leadership Positions

San Diego County Water Authority executives Tish Berge and Kelley Gage were promoted Monday by General Manager Dan Denham. Berge moves from assistant general manager to deputy general manager after two years in her prior post. Gage, who served as director of water resources the past five years, is now assistant general manager.

Berge moves from assistant general manager to deputy general manager after two years in her prior post. Gage, who served as director of water resources the past five years, is now assistant general manager.

Berge oversees finance, government relations, public affairs, administrative services, and human resources at the Water Authority. Gage oversees the water resources, engineering, and operations & maintenance departments.

Depth of knowledge and experience

“Tish and Kelley are veteran leaders in the water industry who bring a depth of knowledge and experience that will continue to benefit the region and our retail member agencies,” said Denham.  “We have an exceptional leadership team at the Water Authority, with Tish and Kelley at the forefront.”

Berge joined the Water Authority as assistant general manager in February 2021, and since joining she secured $18.5 million in state funding and negotiated project labor agreements and memorandums of understanding with labor. From 2017 to 2021 Berge served as general manager of the Sweetwater Authority, leading the agency to earn a “District of Distinction” award from the Special District Leadership Foundation.

Before that, Berge served as Rincon del Diablo Municipal Water District’s director of administration and finance and as assistant general manager for San Elijo Joint Powers Authority. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Harvey Mudd College, and a Master of Business Administration with an emphasis in finance from the Paul Merage School of Business at the University of California, Irvine. She is a Certified Special District Manager and Registered Professional Engineer.

Gage has been with the Water Authority for more than 19 years, working in the fields of water supply planning, environmental planning, and water and regulatory policy. She started with the agency in 2001, then rejoined the Water Authority as director of water resources in 2018. From 2015 to 2018, Gage served as the senior director of water resources at Eastern Municipal Water District. She has also worked for the Olivenhain Municipal Water District, and the State of Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. She has a bachelor’s degree in geology and environmental science from Michigan State University.

(Editor’s Note: For more information about the Water Authority’s leadership team, go to: sdcwa.org/about-us/departments-leadership/.)

San Diego County Water Authority And its 24 Member Agencies

Tish Berge and Kelley Gage Appointed to Key Leadership Positions

San Diego County Water Authority executives Tish Berge and Kelley Gage were promoted Monday by General Manager Dan Denham. Berge moves from assistant general manager to deputy general manager after two years in her prior post. Gage, who served as director of water resources the past five years, is now assistant general manager.

Berge oversees finance, government relations, public affairs, administrative services, and human resources at the Water Authority.

Deputy General Manager Tish Berge

Tish Berge-Deputy General Manager-leadership-Berge

San Diego County Water Authority Deputy General Manager Tish Berge. Photo: San Diego County Water Authority

Assistant General Manager Kelley Gage

Gage oversees the water resources, engineering, and operations & maintenance departments.

Kelley Gage-Gage-Assistant General Manager-leadership

San Diego County Water Authority Assistant General Manager Kelley Gage. Photo: San Diego County Water Authority

Depth of knowledge and experience

“Tish and Kelley are veteran leaders in the water industry who bring a depth of knowledge and experience that will continue to benefit the region and our retail member agencies,” said Denham.  “We have an exceptional leadership team at the Water Authority, with Tish and Kelley at the forefront.”

Berge joined the Water Authority as assistant general manager in February 2021, and since joining she secured $18.5 million in state funding and negotiated project labor agreements and memorandums of understanding with labor. From 2017 to 2021 Berge served as general manager of the Sweetwater Authority, leading the agency to earn a “District of Distinction” award from the Special District Leadership Foundation.

Before that, Berge served as Rincon del Diablo Municipal Water District’s director of administration and finance and as assistant general manager for San Elijo Joint Powers Authority. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Harvey Mudd College, and a Master of Business Administration with an emphasis in finance from the Paul Merage School of Business at the University of California, Irvine. She is a Certified Special District Manager and Registered Professional Engineer.

Gage has been with the Water Authority for more than 19 years, working in the fields of water supply planning, environmental planning, and water and regulatory policy. She started with the agency in 2001, then rejoined the Water Authority as director of water resources in 2018. From 2015 to 2018, Gage served as the senior director of water resources at Eastern Municipal Water District. She has also worked for the Olivenhain Municipal Water District, and the State of Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. She has a bachelor’s degree in geology and environmental science from Michigan State University.

Dan Denham Appointed Water Authority General Manager

The San Diego County Water Authority Board of Directors today voted unanimously to appoint Dan Denham as general manager, following the retirement of former General Manager Sandra L. Kerl in June. Denham has served in several leadership capacities with the Water Authority for the past 17 years, including his most recent post as deputy general manager.

San Diego County Water Authority General Manager Dan Denham. Photo: San Diego County Water Authority

Dan Denham Appointed San Diego County Water Authority General Manager

The San Diego County Water Authority Board of Directors August 24 voted unanimously to appoint Dan Denham as general manager. The appointment follows the June retirement of former General Manager Sandra L. Kerl.

Denham has served in several leadership capacities with the Water Authority for the past 17 years, including his most recent post as deputy general manager. In that role, he oversaw the MWD and Colorado River programs, along with the Engineering, Water Resources, and Operations & Maintenance departments. Denham also continues to oversee the implementation of long-term agricultural-to-urban conserved water transfers that are among the largest in the United States. As a commissioner on the Quantification Settlement Agreement Joint Powers Authority, he leads the Water Authority’s fulfillment of environmental mitigation obligations and legislative advocacy efforts at the Salton Sea.

Dan Denham: “Depth of experience”

“We are fortunate to have Dan’s knowledge of the San Diego County Water Authority and his depth of experience managing multiple programs, including the landmark agreements that have ensured a safe and reliable water supply for San Diego County,” said Mel Katz, chair of the Water Authority Board. “We look forward to working closely with Dan to ensure the Water Authority’s continued success serving our vibrant region.”

As general manager, Denham’s priorities include continuing to enhance relations with the Water Authority’s member agencies, minimizing rate increases, concluding the long-running litigation with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, and ensuring long-term water supplies for the semi-arid San Diego region.

“Position of strength”

“I’m thankful for the opportunity to lead this agency and build on the many achievements of my predecessors, my colleagues, and generations of leaders on our Board,” said Denham. “It’s clear there are few easy answers to some of our generational challenges like water reliability – but there never has been. Thankfully, San Diego County can work from a position of strength based on our investments in supplies and conservation over the past 30 years.”

Before joining the Water Authority in 2006, Denham served in various capacities at the City of San Diego’s Metropolitan Wastewater Department, Financial Management Department and Mayor’s Office. Denham holds undergraduate degrees in public administration and economics, and a graduate degree in public administration — all from San Diego State University. Denham sits on several regional boards, including the North San Diego Business Chamber, the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, the San Diego State University Alumni Board, and the Citizens Forum of the U.S. Section of the International Boundary & Water Commission.

The General Manager’s Office manages and directs the activities of approximately 250 Water Authority staff. The office implements the Board’s Strategic Plan and policies through programs in the Business Plan; oversees the Water Authority’s extensive infrastructure system; communicates and advocates policy positions and programs of the Water Authority to local, state, and federal officials and agencies; and supports the Board of Directors.

Imperial Irrigation District Appoints Jamie Asbury as New General Manager

The Imperial Irrigation District (IID) Board of Directors voted unanimously on Tuesday for Jamie Asbury, the current IID Energy Department Manager, to serve as the new General Manager.

According to IID, Asbury is the first woman in the district’s 112-year history to lead the district.

Water Authority Welcomes New MWD Board Chair Adán Ortega

The San Diego County Water Authority Board of Directors on January 26 welcomed Metropolitan Water District of Southern California Board Chair Adán Ortega, Jr. by hosting a reception for him to meet San Diego County’s community, civic and business leaders.

Ortega took the helm of  MWD’s Board on January 10 as the first Latino chair in the district’s 95-year history. In a presentation during the Water Authority’s formal Board meeting, Ortega focused on shared challenges and opportunities the two water wholesalers face in the era of climate change.

Water agencies together face challenging issues

“Past conflicts aside, I see the San Diego County experience as a model that Metropolitan and other water agencies will need to consider as we confront the changed climate. The San Diego region recognized earlier than many – more than 20 years ago – the need to invest in water supply and infrastructure improvements to ensure reliability,” said Ortega, who made formal comments during the Water Authority’s Board meeting. “The need for these investments has only become more urgent as the impacts of climate change undermine both Bay-Delta and Colorado River water supplies.”

Adán Ortega: “New class of water infrastructure and management”

Ortega also noted that “San Diego’s investments have come at a cost in the form of higher water rates, but the result has been protection against drought,” including the drought that has threatened water supplies across California for the past three years.

“We can’t escape the reality of increasing water rates among our member agencies and Metropolitan, just as San Diego had to do,” Ortega said. “With climate change, we need to envision a new class of water infrastructure and management. San Diego’s leaders and ratepayers have reckoned with rate increases to keep water flowing even with critical shortages in traditional sources of water. That’s the definition of resiliency.”

Ortega has represented the City of San Fernando on the MWD board since March 2021. He is the principal at Ortega Strategies group, a public and government relations firm based in Fullerton, and he served as Metropolitan’s vice president of external affairs from 1999 to 2005. Before representing San Fernando, he served as the City of Fullerton’s representative on the MWD Board.

As chair, Ortega said he places a strong emphasis on agency ethics and the values of diversity, equity and inclusion for Metropolitan’s board and staff. He has appointed the most diverse leadership slate in MWD’s history, including appointment of leadership positions to three of the Water Authority’s four delegates including a board vice chair and chairmanship of the agency’s finance committee. The Water Authority fourth delegate – Lois Fong-Sakai – was recently elected by her peers to serve as MWD Board secretary and parliamentarian.

“Proven consensus builder”

“With decades of experience in government service, Adán is a proven consensus builder who is ideally suited to lead Metropolitan’s diverse 26 member agencies during a period of historic transitions impacting water supply and the environment both in MWD’s service area and the Southwest,” said Water Authority Board Chair Mel Katz.

The Water Authority relies on MWD for about 13% of its water supplies, along with transporting water through the Colorado River Aqueduct to San Diego County. The Water Authority and MWD are working together on critical issues of drought and water supply planning as well as daily coordination of water deliveries.

“Water challenges in the West will continue to grow,” said Katz, “but I am confident that working together with MWD and its member agencies we can meet the needs of Southern California for generations to come.”

Metropolitan Water District Gets a New Chief. What Changes Might Adel Hagekhalil Bring?

Much of Southern California’s water comes from Northern California, the Sierra snowpack, and the Colorado River. One of the agencies tasked with making that happen is the Metropolitan Water District (MWD), headquartered in downtown LA by Union Station. Nearly 19 million people across Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Ventura counties depend on MWD for at least some of their water supply.

Hundreds of MWD workers have a new incoming leader: Adel Hagekhalil. He’s the outgoing head of LA’s Bureau of Street Services. Before that, he was second-in-command at the city’s sanitation department.

Positioned for the Future: San Diego County Water Authority General Manager Sandra L. Kerl

There have been many surprises and unanticipated outcomes in the long wake of the pandemic. Like most workplaces, the San Diego County Water Authority had to quickly adapt a year ago, and that process continues to evolve under the leadership of General Manager Sandra L. Kerl. In a conversation with California Water & Power, Kerl discusses how her organization has embraced change and continues to prepare for the future.