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February 14, 2019

Mr. Richard O’Donnell
Koff and Associates
2835 Seventh Street
Berkeley, CA 94710

Subject: San Diego Public Utilities Director Recruitment

To Mr. O’Donnell:

The position of Public Utilities Director at the City of San Diego is an exciting opportunity
and I thank you for the opportunity to apply. You will find my strengths in leadership,
capital projects, regional relationships, project management, organizational
development, succession planning and perhaps most important, skills as a
communicator and consensus builder, match up with the expectations you have for the
new Utilities Director.

Experience: Twenty of my thirty years of experience were leading San Juan Water
District, including 13 years as General Manager. SJWD provides wholesale water
supply to four retail agencies, as well as a small retail service area. SJWD water supply
consists of a CVP service contract, water rights, and a contract with Placer County
Water Agency. I consistently received excellent performance evaluations from the
Board of Directors and staff. I am currently the interim General Manager at Monterey
County Water Resources Agency, which is requiring strong abilities to provide direction
financially, strategically and culturally.

Financial Acumen: I have overseen the development of multiple ten-year financial plans
for both wholesale and retail service areas. The results of more capital costs than water
rates could accommodate resulted in three bond issuances. SJWD retaining an
AA/AA+ credit rating through the financial challenges of the drought years. Debt
structure was developed to limit financial impacts on retail customers throughout the
wholesale service area. Debt management included the refinancing of older, higher
rate debt when interest rates dropped.

Communication Skills: As a known member in the water community, I have earned a
reputation as a consensus builder that is capable of guiding groups towards decisive
action. I have a poised, yet strong communication style. I understand when to sit back
and listen and when to provide options for possible decisions. My integrity has earned
trust from Federal and State agencies, customers, staff and elected officials.

Leader: Leaders are created when the support of others pushes them into leadership
positions. My biggest step in this direction was when all the staff at SJWD signed a

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