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November 22, 2019

Lorien Fono, Ph.D., P.E.
1815 Delaware St.
Berkeley, CA 94703

Mr. Romo and members of the BACWA Executive Director Recruitment selection committee,

I appreciate the opportunity to submit my application for the BACWA Executive Director
Position. This role demands leadership, interpersonal, technical, as well as administrative skills. I
know you are familiar with my work at BACWA, and I hope to use this submission as well as
the interview to discuss how I would bring my strengths and background to meet these needs.
As Regulatory Program Manager for BACWA, I have developed excellent relationships with
staff at agencies around our Region, including upper management, engineers, laboratory staff,
and operations and maintenance supervisors. As Executive Director, I will leverage these
connections to continue to engage with the membership about developments that are of concern
to them, and to receive input on positions that BACWA should take on important issues. I have
established working relationships with our colleagues at the other Summit Partner Agencies, and
I will look for opportunities to continue to make use of these connections to engage in Statewide
issues of importance to our local POTW community.
I understand that responsiveness to the Executive Board is a key requirement. The Executive
Director must provide the Board with the necessary information to develop an informed
approach on an issue, develop alternatives and a recommendation where appropriate, then
carefully listen to the Board’s direction. I have admired and will emulate our current Executive
Director’s capacity to balance priorities and build consensus when all our members may not be
in alignment on a given issue.

I recognize that the collaborative relationship with our Regional Water Board has been nurtured
over time, is a key asset to our community, and serves as a model for other regions around the
country. As Executive Director, a top priority will be to continue to foster that relationship, as
well as to establish rapport with new staff at the Regional Water Board and at other regulatory
agencies at all levels of government. Because of the work that the Executive Board and the
BACWA community as a whole has put into collaboration, BACWA is a credible partner for our
members as well as regulators who understand that we are deeply committed to environmental
protection, but we also need to respect our agencies’ ratepayers.
As you are all aware, nutrients are the single most important issue facing the SF Bay Area
POTW community because of the cost associated with potential management actions. With the
adoption of the second Watershed Permit, and looking ahead to the third Watershed Permit,
which may include load caps, this is a critical time to provide leadership continuity. If selected as
Executive Director, and pending the Executive Board’s wishes, I would commit to the position at
least until the adoption of the third watershed permit to provide that continuity.