We would like to introduce our proposed slate for the next year, and each nominee has provided a brief statement about themselves. Please join us at our banquet next month on Saturday, March 7, 2015, and join us in celebrating our award winners and installing our new officers! For more information, please visit: http://wp.me/p3OhAp-bm

President
Rashi Gupta, Carollo Engineers
Rashi is a Project Manager at Carollo Engineers where she has focused on wastewater treatment plant design at local facilities for the last eleven years. More than six years ago, she became involved with the SARBS Professional Development Committee because she wanted to be part of the SARBS mission to maintain a well-trained workforce. She later joined the SARBS Board where she is currently the President-Elect and remains involved with the Professional Development Committee.

President-Elect
Mike Prayoonvech, Cortech Engineering
Mike is a Cal Poly mechanical engineer graduate involved with pump and process equipment sales at Cortech Engineering for both municipal and industrial clients. He has been part of the municipal business for nine years. Mike joined SARBS because it is a great organization that is set to the professional growth and education of all those involved in the water industry

Vice President
Daniel Wing, E.S. Babcock Laboratories
Daniel Wing has been active with SARBS for the last four years during his career with Babcock Laboratories, a local lab serving the environmental industry and many SARBS member agencies. His membership in the group has helped him develop strong personal and professional connections and he’s proud to contribute to the professional development of his colleagues and help the next generation of water environment professionals to grow in their careers.

Treasurer
William Cassidy, Orange County Sanitation District
William is in the later years of his career and would like to step up by giving back to the industry and those new or early in their careers. He would like to be more involved in providing education and / or training opportunities to those who wish to advance their career through education. William has served CWEA and SARBS in a number of venues: Committee member for the 2014 P3S Annual Conference; Trainer at SARBS, TRIS, DAMS, and SDS training workshops for since 2011; Ops Challenge lead judge (maintenance event) since 2008. William has also been serving as a quest lecturer in the Civil Engineering Department at CSULB for the last 2 plus years. William currently is an Engineering Supervisor overseeing the Collection Facilities Engineering and Odor & Corrosion Control Divisions at OCSD.

Secretary
Cindy Murra, Orange County Sanitation District
Cindy Murra is currently a SARBS First Year Director. Cindy is on the SARBS Professional Development Committee (PDC), and she has participated in PDC events since 2013. She would like to continue with the SARBS Board of Directors in order to be an active participant of the ever growing water environment community. Cindy has been employed with the Orange County Sanitation District (OCSD) since 2004. She is an associate engineer within OCSD’s Planning Division and is managing projects such as the Effluent Reuse Study, Plant 1 Primary Treatment Rehabilitation Study, and the Bay Bridge Pump Station and Force Mains Rehabilitation Study. Cindy is a member of OCSD’s Volunteer Incentive Program and was awarded volunteer of the year 2013-2014.

Second Year Director
Shari Needham
Shari joined the SARBS Board of Directors two years ago as a First Year Director after volunteering with the SARBS Collection Systems Committee. She is excited to increase her contributions to the SARBS community over the next year as a Second Year Director!

First Year Director
Ron Wade, FPS Consulting
Ron has been in the water resource recovery industry since 1974 and an active member of WEF (since 1977), CWEA since 1981 and the Hawaii Water Environment Association (HWEA) since 2011. His focus has evolved to water reuse and green energy in both California and Hawaii where he is certified as a Grade V and Grade 4 Treatment Plant Operator respectively. After retiring from Orange County Sanitation Districts as Chief Plant Operator he started his own water environment focused consulting company with his wife Alison and is partnering with companies involved in water reuse, alternative disinfection and green energy. Ron would like to have the opportunity to work closely with local section leadership and as well as the members to share in their knowledge and to also “give back” where he can.

First Year Director
Bryce Danker, CH2M Hill
Bryce currently serves at the SYP Committee Co-Chair for the 2015 CWEA Annual Conference. He would like to join the SARBS Board of Directors to participate in and guide opportunities for professional and industry growth for those in the wastewater field. Bryce is currently employed at CH2M HILL and focuses on wastewater projects ranging from pilot studies to full scale design.

Past President
Megan Yoo Schneider, Moulton Niguel Water District
Megan first fell in love with WEF and CWEA over a decade ago, and since then she’s served to give back to the water environment community in numerous ways (including founding the SARBS Students and Young Professionals Committee six years ago). She is serves on the CWEA Board of Directors as the SRC Chair and on the WEF Committee Leadership Council as the WEF Stockholm Junior Water Prize Committee Chair, in addition to her other involvements. Megan has a B.S. in Chemical Engineering with a specialization in Environmental Engineering and an M.S. in Engineering with a concentration in Environmental Engineering. She is currently employed by Moulton Niguel Water District, and she is looking forward to providing mentorship and guidance to the new board members as she steps into the Past President role for the 2015-16 term.

Corporate Director
Tony Pollak, Western Municipal Water District
Tony Pollak is currently a SARBS section member and would like to join the SARBS Board of Directors as a way to participate in the future growth of our profession. Tony has been operating wastewater treatment plants for the past twenty-three years, and he was previously awarded the SARBS Operator of the Year Award. Tony is currently employed by Western Municipal Water District as the Chief Plant Operator at their two facilities. Prior to Western, Tony had worked for South Orange County Wastewater Authority where he spent time at four different facilities.