CCWA - Key Persons


Darin Dargatz

Job Titles:
  • Water Treatment Plant Supervisor
The Water Treatment Plant Supervisor is responsible for the day-to-day treatment plant operations at the the Polonio Pass Water Treatment Plant., including maintenance and laboratory functions. The Water Treatment Plant receives raw water from DWR and treats the water utilizing full conventional treatment technologies to meet all state and federal potable water standards and performs all chemical and biologic analyses required by the California Department of Public Health and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Dessi Mladenova

Job Titles:
  • Controller
The Controller manages the finance department's daily finance/accounting activities including payroll and audits, preparation of the operating and capital budgets, preparation of the comprehensive annual financial reports, debt management, risk management, and cash management. The Controller provides oversight of the employee benefits program for the Authority. Additionally, the Controller monitors the general ledger and supervises staff in areas such as accounts payable and payroll.

Eric Friedman

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board
  • Board Chair, City of Santa Barbara Representative

Farfalla Borah

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board
  • Goleta Water District Representative

Jeff Clay

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board
  • Board Vice Chair, Santa Ynez River Water Conservation District, ID 1 Representative

John Brady

Job Titles:
  • Deputy Director of Operations and Engineering
The Deputy Director of Operations and Engineering serves as the operations officer for the Authority and is responsible for all operational and engineering related activities, including planning and directing the operations and maintenance of the water treatment plant, laboratory, distribution system and network system. In addition, the Deputy Director of Operations and Engineering is responsible for all engineering work and oversees project management related to CCWA's distribution pipeline, water treatment plant, and ancillary facilities. The Deputy Director of Operations and Engineering is charged with the responsibility for construction contract administration and management, and provides technical oversight to the operations and maintenance departments, including evaluating, designing, and implementing operational and capital improvements for the Authority. Additional secondary duties include oversight of professional consultants and detailed analysis and design for engineering work performed in-house.

John Sanchez

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board
  • City of Buellton Representative

Ken Coates

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board

Lacey Adam

Job Titles:
  • Senior Accountant
The Senior Accountant assists the Controller in planning, organizing, directing, coordinating and performing accounting and fiscal activities of CCWA, including preparation of the monthly financial and quarterly investment reports for the Board of Directors, preparation of the Continuing Disclosure report, and assisting the Controller with the preparation of the CCWA fiscal year budget and long term budget plans. The Senior Accountant assists the Deputy Director - Operations and Engineering with water accounting and reporting to the Department of Water Resources. Additionally, the Senior Accountant provides back-up to staff in areas such as accounts payable and payroll.

Lisa Watkins

Job Titles:
  • Office Manager
The Office Manager administers the employee benefits program, which includes health insurance, life insurance, dental and vision insurance, deferred compensation, Section 125 cafeteria plan, and the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). The Office Manager maintains vendor risk management related to auto, property and liability insurances. Additionally, the Office Manager serves as Secretary to the Board of Directors.

Megan Lizalde

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board
  • City of Guadalupe Representative

Mike Cordero

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board
  • City of Santa Maria Representative

Per California

Job Titles:
  • Government
Per California Government Code 4216, anyone planning to excavate in proximity to existing subsurface utilities must notify the Regional Notification Center (Utility Service Alert) prior to excavating. If the new work is to conflict with existing utilities, the exact location of the utilities is to be determined by excavation (pothole) in cooperation with the utility operator prior to new construction.

Ray Stokes

Job Titles:
  • Executive Director
The Executive Director is the chief executive officer and administrative head of the Authority, with the responsibility for planning, organizing, staffing, coordinating, budgeting, and directing the administrative activities and operations of the Authority. The Executive Director is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the Authority Board of Directors. The Executive Director appoints the Supervisors of all departments and is responsible for implementation of policies established by the Board of Directors. The Executive Director is responsible for providing and exercising overall supervision and disciplinary control over the necessary administrative and operating staff to carry out official Board policies. The Executive Director is responsible for the execution of contracts and other documents on behalf of the Authority to the extent provided by the Board of Directors. The Executive Director serves as the Treasurer for the Authority.

Shirley Johnson

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board
  • Carpinteria Valley Water District Representative

Thomas Petersen

Job Titles:
  • Distribution Supervisor
The Distribution Supervisor is responsible for the day-to-day water distribution system operations and maintenance including system operation, facility maintenance, rechloraminating and dechloraminating, erosion control, right-of-way issues, revegetation, environmental compliance, and fiber optic communications.

Todd York

Job Titles:
  • Maintenance Superintendent
The Maintenance Superintendent oversees plant maintenance and supervises the two Maintenance/IC&R Technicians and the Maintenance Foreman. Together with available operations staff, they keep the treatment plant in full operation.