SPECIAL DISTRICT INSTITUTE FACULTY

Listed below are the instructors who frequently speak at the Special District Institute Seminars and Workshops.  SDI instructors are chosen for their expertise and experience as a policy maker (Board Member), District staff, consultant of Special District governance, and their presentation skills.  The Institute is always looking for qualified instructors.  Individuals interested in being considered as an instructor for the Institute should send a biography via fax, email or mail to the attention of the Seminar Manager.

Kamil Azoury has been the General Manager/District Engineer of the Goleta Sanitary District, in Santa Barbara County, since 1995.   Prior to joining the District, Kamil spent 20 years as an engineering consultant for various public agencies, and served as District Engineer for several water and sanitary districts in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Kamil served as President of the Southern California Alliance of Publicly Owned Treatment Works (SCAP) for three years and is currently Vice President of the California Association of Sanitation Agencies.

With a degree in Civil Engineering, Kamil received his Master of Science degree in Sanitary and Environmental Engineering from Syracuse University. Kamil is a licensed Professional Civil Engineer in California.

Michael Bardin serves as the General Manager of the Santa Fe Irrigation District in Rancho Santa Fe, California.   He has over twenty-five years experience in the public utility industry, overseeing the administration, management and operations of special districts.  He has degrees in Environmental Science and Business Administration/Management.  He is a certified Special District Administrator.  Michael is an experienced local government administrator who has successfully worked with elected officials to develop and implement strategic plans.

Donna Bartlett-May serves as the Board Secretary at the Helix Water District in La Mesa, California.  Donna has worked in the water industry for 30 years.  She was previously the Board Secretary and Government Affairs/Public Information Officer for the Otay Water District.  In addition to supervising a secretarial staff and her Board Secretary duties at Helix, she performs the legislative tracking function.  Donna has a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration.  She was the President of the East San Diego County League of Women Voters for three years and is presently the Natural Resources Director.

David Beigel is Vice President of Creative Computer Services, Inc., a provider of association automation and Internet solutions.  David assists associations nationwide in billing over $20 million in member dues annually and is a frequent speaker on the Year 2000 issue.  He holds a BA in Management Information Systems from George Washington University and a MS in Project Management from Golden Gate University.

Bob Braitman has been the Executive Officer of the Santa Barbara Local Agency Formation Commission (or LAFCO) since 1992.  Prior to that he was Executive Officer of the Contra Costa LAFCO and has served as Executive Officer of the California Association of LAFCOs.  Prior to founding Braitman & Associates in 1992, Bob was Deputy County Executive for Governmental Organization in Ventura County providing budget and administrative analysis for various County functions.  For 18 years he was also the Executive Officer of the Ventura LAFCO.  Bob Braitman specializes in local government reorganizations, jurisdictional relations, provision of public services by local agencies, land use planning and fiscal analysis.  He has analyzed and formulated recommendations for more than 1,200 boundary and governmental changes, and has prepared spheres of influence and sphere modifications for cities and special districts.

James Cervantes is managing director in charge of Public Finance with Stone and Youngberg, underwriters of municipal bonds. He has specialized in California public agency financings since 1986. His experience includes Mello-Roos and assessment financings, water and sewer enterprise bonds, lease-backed certificates of participation, and tax-exempt redevelopment bonds.

Jonathan M. Coupal is the Director of Legal Affairs for the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association (HJTA).   Coupal is a recognized expert in California fiscal affairs and has argued numerous tax cases before the courts.  In 1995, he won a major ruling before the Supreme Court when it upheld the validity of Proposition 62, an HJTA sponsored initiative guaranteeing the right to vote on local taxes.  He is the principal drafter of Proposition 218, the Right to Vote on Taxes Act. Coupal is a graduate of the Marshall-Wythe School of Law at the College of William and Mary.  After law school, he was with the Pacific Legal Foundation for nine years, specializing in tax issues and political law.

Piero Dallarda is an attorney with the law firm of Best Best & Krieger's Riverside office.

Dean Derleth is the Managing Partner in the Public Law Department of Best Best & Kreiger, LLP's Los Angeles office.   He represents municipal and public agencies in all aspects of general municipal and public agency law.  He is the City Attorney for the cities of Corona, Los Alamitos, and Colton.  Mr. Derleth graduated with distinction from the University of the Pacific, Mc George School of Law and was elected to the order of the Coif, an international academic honor association.   He received his undergraduate degree in Economics from UC Irvine where he graduated cum laude.

Jeff Ferre is a partner in the Public Law Department of Best Best & Kreiger, LLP's Riverside office.   He is Chairman of the firm's Natural Resources Practice Group and serves as General Counsel to the Lake Arrowhead Community Services District and the Twentynine Palms Water District.  In addition, he serves as Deputy General Counsel to the Hi-Desert Water District and the Big Bear City Community Services District.  Mr. Ferre's practice areas include the Brown Act, CEQA, conflict of interest laws, finance/rates and charges and public works construction.  He received his JD from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law.

Karen Gorman, a former deputy trial counsel with the State Bar of California, heads the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's Office of Ethics and Lobby registration.  The Ethics office consults with Board members, employees, lobbyists and others regarding the MTA Codes of Conduct and Lobby Registration Ordinance.  As a deputy trial counsel for the State Bar beginning in 1990, Gorman prosecuted attorneys charged with violating the Rules of Professional Conduct.  She also counseled attorneys on ethics, taught ethics, managed an attorney substance abuse program she created and negotiated discipline agreements.  She supervised a staff of paralegals, investigators and clerks.

Mike Gotch has been active in local and state government for more than 20 years.  In 1979, Mike was elected to the San Diego City Council.  From 1990-94, he served as a member of the California State Assembly and was Chair of the Assembly Committee on Local Government.   Mike has a long history of participation with Local Agency Formation Commissions (LAFCOS) and Independent Special Districts.  In the 1970’s, he was the Executive Officer of the San Diego LAFCO.  He later served as a city representative and as a public alternative member to that Commission.  Mike has served two terms as Chair of the statewide organization, CALAFCO, in the mid 1980’s.  He is currently the public alternate member on the Napa LAFCO and a member of the CALAFCO Executive Board.   Mike is the author of AB 1335, which guaranteed Special Districts two seats on every LAFCO.

Charles Guenther For the last eleven years, Charles Guenther has been the CEO of Eastern Plumas Health Care, a California health care district serving eastern Plumas and Sierra counties.   Previously, Mr. Guenther, has been a consultant, airline pilot, labor negotiator, V.P. of Human Resources for Catholic Health Care West, COO of two large HMO's, President and CEO of Sutter Health's insurance division.  Mr. Guenther holds a BA in Psychology and has completed graduate studies in both Psychology and Business Administration.

Kurt Karlsgodt is an Excel modeling specialist.  Since 1980, he has consulted with clients on dozens of high profile projects.  His expertise is focused on financial and economic modeling.  Mr. Karlsgodt has worked to structure both simple and robust models to be as efficient and reusable as possible. This broad spectrum of analysis has included budgeting, financial needs evaluation, strategic planning and facilities optimization.  Mr. Karlsgodt provided clients with real estate portfolio and MIS services as a Senior Manager in the National Real Estate and Hospitality Consulting Group of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP.  He received his Masters in Business Administration from the University of Southern California in Finance and his B.A. in Economics from Claremont McKenna College.

Wendy Larsen is the Managing Partner of Creative Leadership Partners, LLP.  Wendy has trained and facilitated interest based decision making teams for unions, management, elected officials and community organizations including county and city governments, multi-stakeholder forums, volunteer agencies, fire departments, police departments, transit agencies, public utility districts, school districts, and private industries.  She has expertise in facilitating contract negotiations, strategic planning, environmental issues, community forums, design of performance pay systems, transportation routing and schedule design, and total quality initiatives.

Dan Masnada, as the General Manager of Castaic Lake Water Agency (CLWA), is responsible for the operations and management of CLWA, a wholesale water supplier and State Water Project (SWP) contractor serving the Santa Clarita Valley.  Prior to his employment by CLWA, Mr. Masnada served as Executive Director of the Central Coast Water Authority.  He oversaw the design and construction of the regional SWP treatment and conveyance facilities that serve 24 municipalities, water retailers and other entities in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties. Mr. Masnada serves as Vice President of the State Water Contractors Association.

Mark Meyerhoff based in the Los Angeles Office of Liebert Cassidy Whitmore, represents clients in all types of civil litigation, administrative proceedings and arbitrations.  Mark regularly advises and represents clients in all aspects of employment and labor relation matters.  He develops and updates personnel rules, policies and ordinances for public sector clients, and presents training programs and workshops for supervisors and managers. His legal expertise is in negotiations, disciplinary actions, litigation, labor relations, personnel rules, audits and investigations.

Stephen Morgan is an Application Analyst in Government Financials for Oracle. A director and past president of the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District, Dr. Morgan is a recognized expert who has conducted extensive research in special district consolidations and privatization issues. Dr. Morgan is a lecturer at the University of Southern California and at California State University. In 1996, he received his Doctorate in Public Administration with an emphasis in Public Finance and Intergovernmental Relations. Dr. Morgan received his MA in Public Administration from California State Hayward and a BA in History from the University of California, Berkeley.

Janet Morningstar is in private practice, Janet Morningstar, A Law Corporation.  She is General Counsel for Rowland Water District and Special Counsel to Municipal Water District of Orange County. Previously, Janet was a Partner in the law firm of McCormick, Kidman & Behrens, LLP.  Janet has over 16 years experience in advising governing bodies of local agencies and special districts in such areas as the Ralph M. Brown Act, the Public Records Act, and the California Environmental Quality Act.  Janet earned her JD from the University of Southern California.

Steven W. Northcote, Managing Partner with Leaf & Cole, a San Diego-based CPA firm specializing in auditing water districts and other special districts in California.  With over twenty years experience in governmental accounting and auditing, Steve is a member of the AICPA and California Society of CPAs.  He has received the Certificate of Educational Achievement in Governmental Accounting and Auditing from the AICPA.

Arlene Post is currently a management consultant with the nationwide consulting firm CDM and has more than 30 years of public service experience in communications, customer relations, stakeholder involvement and legislative affairs.  Ms. Post served as Director of Resource Conservation and Public Outreach for Las Virgenes Municipal Water District, leading the district's customer service, public outreach, watershed management, conservation and planning functions.  She managed communications and legislative affairs for the Oregon Department of Transportation and served more than 20 years in New York state government, culminating in a Governor's appointment as Director of Communications for State Parks and Historic Preservation.  Arlene is a frequent speaker and workshop leader on topics of customer service, community involvement and strategic communications.

Valerie Pryor has served as the Administrative Services Director of Castaic Lake Water Agency since 2003.   At the agency, Ms. Pryor serves as the Chief Financial Officer and prepares the annual budget.  Previously, Ms. Pryor worked for the City of Los Angeles Administrative Officer, and for the Department of Transportation.  Her work focused on budget analysis and preparation.  Ms. Pryor served as the head of administrative services for the Department of Transportation and was responsible for budget preparation and administration.  Ms. Pryor holds a Master of Arts in Urban Planning from UCLA.

Martin Rauch is President of Rauch Communication Consultants.  He leads a team that prepares customized strategic outreach programs. Outreach products that range from one-page bulletins and fact sheets, to colorful and informative newsletters, brochures, and web sites.  His particular specialty is strategizing and implementing direct outreach through one-on-one meetings, public talks, focus groups, citizen's advisory committees, community presentations, public meetings and conducting strategic planning sessions for Boards and senior managers.

Robert Rauch is a senior Principal Consultant with Rauch Communication Consultants.  With over 125 special districts, local agencies, and other organizations as clients, Bob is widely known throughout California.  He specializes in planning and implementing focused public information programs, providing management consulting, and conducting strategic planning retreats.  With over 30 years of experience, Bob was privileged to serve as a consultant to the White House and has spoken on management topics at numerous universities.

Glenn M. Reiter is the President of Glenn M. Reiter & Associates, a San Diego-based engineering, computer, and financial consulting firm founded in 1981.  He has over 45 years experience in local government and Special Districts.  Glenn has been the General Manager and Chief Engineer of a large Southern California water district and a Director on the San Diego County Water Authority Board.  He specializes in financial planning, the setting of rates and fees including the financing of capital improvements.  A co-founder of the California Special District Association and the Special District Institute.  Glenn is a registered California civil and professional engineer and a Life Member of the American Water Works Association.

Michael T. Riddell is a Partner in the law firm of Best, Best & Krieger, Riverside office, which is well known for providing legal services to California Special Districts.  Mike represents a number of public entities, especially special districts.  He is a Notre Dame graduate and was selected for a "Roger Kiley" Fellowship, a very prestigious award made only to the highest achieving law students.  Mike is a member of the American Bar Association and the California Bar.  He currently serves on the Association of California Water Agencies Attorney’s Panel.

Irma Rodriguez Moisa is an Attorney with Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo.  She is an expert in handling employment discrimination, wrongful termination and sexual harassment lawsuits.  Irma has experience with disciplinary hearings, arbitrations and negotiations on behalf of city and special district clients and also represents school districts and colleges regarding student suspension and teacher termination issues.  Irma has focused on representing public agency clients in litigation involving employment-related issues, including harassment, discrimination, First Amendment rights, defamation and wrongful termination.  Irma has a B.S. from UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business, a M.A. in public policy from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government, and earned her J.D. from Boalt Hall School of Law, UC Berkeley.

John Rossi is General Manager of the Western Municipal Water District.  Mr. Rossi is responsible for the planning, direction, management, and overall supervision of the water, wastewater, and non-potable water activities and operations of the District, as well as representation for Western on the Santa Ana River, Chino Basin, and Western San Bernardino Watermasters.

John Shannon is the Managing Consultant/Senior Recruiter for CPS Human Resource Services, Shannon Executive Search (A Division of CPS).  Mr. Shannon has thirty years of human resources management experience including twenty-four years experience as a consultant to local, regional, and state government.  During this time, numerous consulting engagements have been successfully completed for cities, counties, educational institutions, special districts, and regional and state agencies.  Mr. Shannon was a partner in another local government consulting firm for ten years before starting his own firm in 1986.   He began his career in key management positions with the City of Inglewood, California.  During his 24 years of consulting experience, Mr. Shannon has personally completed over 100 recruitments for council/board appointed officials, including city managers, county executives, district general managers, and regional agency executives.

Brenda Smoyer is the Principal at Human Resource Strategies, Tucson, AZ, where she has consulted for numerous organizations and fire protection districts in such areas as employment law, compensation and benefits, employee handbook development, and personnel policies.   Brenda is a certified Senior Profession in Human Resources (SPHR).  She is an active member of the Society of Human Resource Management at the local, state, and national levels.  Brenda has also served as President of the Tucson chapter of SHRM.

Robert Walters is currently an Owner/Principal in the legislative advocacy firm of California Advocates, Inc.  The firm has four professional legislative advocates serving private and public sector clients.  Bob served as trustee and president of the San Juan Unified School District Board of Trustees for two terms.  Bob has been in the private practice of law since 1972, focusing on governmental law, with an emphasis on legislative representation.  Prior to his private practice, Bob served as the Assistant to the Secretary of the California Human Relations Agency, Executive Officer to the California Board of Corrections, Deputy Director and Legal Counsel for the California State Office of Economic Opportunity, and Executive Assistant to the Majority Floor Leader for the California State Assembly.  He has also held staff positions in statewide political campaigns and served for a time on the staff of the Coro Foundation of San Francisco.   He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Los Angeles and his JD from the San Francisco Law School.

Charlene Webber is the Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Questys Solutions, one of the pioneers in document imaging , records management and automated agenda management systems.  She has over 28 years in the fields of records management and imaging technology. Charlene has participated in the sales, customer liaison, procurement, integration and installation of high technology systems on numerous projects and trained the personnel of City, County and state government agencies nationwide.  She has spoken on the subjects of Imaging and Legislative Automated Agenda Systems throughout the U.S. and is a Certified Document Imaging Architect (CDIA+).

Jill Willis is an attorney with the law firm of Best Best & Krieger, where she is a member of the Special Districts Practice Group and the Natural Resources Practice Group.  She does general counsel work and also acts as special counsel on water rights issues for numerous public agencies, including special districts, throughout Southern California and on the Central Coast.  In addition, she regularly teaches courses on water law at the University of California, Riverside Extension.  Over the last several years, she has given presentations at a variety of conferences throughout California on ethical considerations for public agency clients and their counsel.

P.O. Box 2317 Vista, CA 92085 USA
800-457-0237 * 760-643-1760 * 760-643-1761 (fax)
  www.sdbmi.com * spcdistint@aol.com