Explain why you are a candidate for AWBD? What three personal attributes make you the best candidate for the position of Trustee? (100 word limit)
I have been serving AWBD as a Board member since my election in 2019 and I have considerably more to contribute to the advancement of the organization. My personal attributes are: 1) related to being a MUD Director, and Civil Engineer that gives me the understanding of the industry from a variety of perspectives. 2) my involvement with other organizations where I bring leadership, industry knowledge, and engineering expertise perspectives to the table when addressing issues that arise. 3) pride in getting things accomplished and listening to the concerns when brought to my attention. I look forward to serving AWBD.
As an incumbent who has served two years on the AWBD Board of Trustees, I am seeking reelection because I still have a passion for serving our membership and advancing the AWBD mission. Prior to my time on the AWBD Board, I served 5 years as a Director at Willow Fork Drainage District; therefore, I bring an “in the trenches” experience as a director. My second attribute is my communication skills, which have been honed and tested during my career and in service to my community. Lastly, I approach problem-solving collaboratively, involving key players with expertise and influence to offer viable solutions.
I am a candidate for AWBD Gulf Coast Trustee because I believe that I can be an asset to the board in helping continue the magnificent work of the prior trustees while also expanding and continuing to grow the great legacy of the organization. What makes me the best candidate is that I am a great listener, leader, and communicator. I believe I will bring fresh ideas to the table and pride myself on doing what is right. What makes me a unique and different type of candidate is that my background is not in the water industry.
I would like to expand my contribution to the Association, industry and our community of professionals, volunteers and elected officials through service on the Board. I take commitments that I make and the people that I make them to seriously, which will help me best serve the members of the Association. I am also practical and would approach any decisions made for the Association in such a manner. Lastly, I’m personable and approachable, which help me be able to listen to and be receptive to the concerns of the members I will represent.
With the new areas of Texas discovering the value of MUDs, there will be new consultants, Board members, legislators, and others who are impacted by, or have influence on our direction. AWBD has clear goals but the key to keeping AWBD sustainable and thriving is through having an approach to those goals that allows for flexibility when internal or external factors call for a different or more nuanced strategy. AWBD should be purposeful but adaptable.
To ensure AWBD is a sustainable organization that continues to grow and be successful we must continue to focus and expand on our education and awareness. I believe expanding our reach outside of the water industry will be crucial to ensure we have fresh ideas and growth as an organization. Since joining the board, I have prided myself on educating anyone who will listen about water districts and encouraging them to get involved.
I believe the continued engagement and education of the Association’s membership and the community is key. From my experience, being a director on a MUD board is sometimes a thankless job but is a role that is necessary to ensure our communities continue to enjoy the basic comforts that clean and running water provide.
Increase members to the organization. Develop opportunities to bring value to our members and provide programs and events that are applicable to Districts across Texas and not just a particular region. Texas is large and diversified state, and we need to work as a unified organization to address concerns together.
I am proud of AWBD’s success so I would only encourage and expand the direction of complete statewide membership that AWBD is already moving towards. Our workshops, locally and in other areas, are vital to instilling AWBD’s value to existing and new members and to preserve our organization’s promising future.
I would improve on training by supplying more basic education on water, wastewater, and systems. Over the years I have had to learn a lot but in bits and pieces by attending conferences and different trainings. Being someone with no prior industry knowledge it can be a bit overwhelming.
As a member for several years, I think the Association is well run and works towards ensuring its members are best served in everything they do. I believe the Association could provide more frequent opportunities for members to network at Association sponsored events. It’s always good seeing familiar faces.
Successes and Concerns for my district are as follows:
a. Success & Concern: providing the lowest tax rate, and not compromising the quality of services to the community.
b. Being proactive to maintain the facilities, opposed to being reactive. Being reactive can be associated with higher costs to addressing an issue during emergency conditions.
c. Be available to District constituents to hear their concerns and assist getting them addressed.
d. Staying on top of aging infrastructure and not being in the court of “Failure to Act” before a failure occurs causing residents inconvenience and disturbance to their lives.
My District was one of the communities devastated by Hurricane Harvey. We are upstream of the Barker Reservoir and had to wait over a week for the water to recede to assess the damage. The thing people don’t talk about in a flood is, while it is evident the storm sewer backs up, the wastewater system backs up too. Everything the water touched was ruined.
I consider it a major success that we were able to help the District by investing over $2.3 million on cleanup and then having about 95% of those funds refunded by FEMA and other agencies.
My water district is an older district that has seen lots of change because of new residential development. Change has not always been easy, and at times creating an old versus new mentality. As a board, we have been able to work past it and come together on major projects to enhance the district while also lowering tax rates. These things include switching to smart meters, creating a website, building a new water plant, and a reclaimed water project. Areas of concern for us continue to be water regulations and long-term sustainability with cost being top of mind.
As an AWBD Gulf Coast Trustee I would like to expand networking opportunities where directors can share experiences, knowledge, and challenges they have faced or are facing. This could be beneficial for the organization by creating opportunities for districts to share lessons learned and possibly collaborate on projects.
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