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Paul L. Kelley

791 Pordon Lane
Healdsburg CA 95448

Home: 707-473-8387 Cell: 707-953-5166 Email: paul@paulkelley.org

Personal and Professional Objectives:

Capitalize on the relational, interpersonal, and diplomatic skills that I have honed over 25 years
to lead an organization, as Executive Director of an industry-wide association while making a positive
impact on communities and people’s lives.

Qualifications:

Extensive Experience Creating Results in the Policy, Political and Regulatory Arena— I have
unique qualifications to work with a diversity of interests and ideologies to achieve real results. Through
the use of political acumen, diplomacy, and relationships to bring consensus around issues, I led the
Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Initiative, Energy Independence Program, the successful completion of
the Russian River Biological Opinion – preserving the water supply for three counties, advocating at the
CPUC for innovative energy technology funds, and at the State Water board on behalf of desalination
projects and more regulatory certainty.

Experienced and Knowledgeable Leader While Maintaining Relationships— I have built lasting
working relationships with water professionals, elected officials, federal and state partners, agricultural
interests, state and regional associations to secure funding and accomplish service goals, including: the
North Coast Integrated Regional water management program that continues to provide funding for
projects, as well as the North Bay Watershed Association and Russian River Watershed association that
brings together the regulated agencies to work with communities, agriculture and regulators on
solutions in the watershed.

Proven Track Record Working with State and Federal Partners – I have been successful in
accomplishing initiatives that needed State and Federal support, for example: Led the Pacific Coastal
Salmon Initiative to get start up Federal funding that continues to fund 5 states fisheries recovery efforts
to this day, and worked with DWR to implement their successful desalination grant program.

Execution on Strategic Plans -- I am experienced in the strategic planning and visioning process
but adept at actually executing them to produce real results along with a recognized brand. For
example: at Sonoma County we developed and implemented its first strategic plan that has had
productive outcomes; and the Sonoma County Water Agency long term water supply plan that resulted
in the Russian River Biological Opinion preserving water supply for three counties.

Recognized Leadership Skills—I have been recognized within Sonoma County and outside the
County in regional and statewide organizations, some recent examples include: President of the
Association of California Water Agencies in 2010, serving as Vice-Chair of the California Water
Commission in 2011, Executive Director of the Bay Area Biosolids to Energy Coalition (2013-2016),
Executive Director of CalDesal, May 2016 to the present. And I was honored to be recruited to serve as
the Acting Executive Director of ACWA (August 2017 to October 2017).

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