Connect with an Expert

CMUA members -- leaders of publicly owned electric utilities and water agencies across California -- are innovating to advance affordable, reliable, and sustainable utility service for millions of customers statewide. These utility leaders are an indispensable resource for those who want to learn more about water, power, and/or utilities. 

MEDIA INQUIRIES: Please contact Matt Williams, CMUA Communications Director, at mwilliams@cmua.org to request an interview with an expert listed below.

Utility Leaders

Daniel “Dan” Beans, CEO/Director
Roseville Electric Utility
LinkedIn | Bio



Key Subject Areas:

  • Wildfire Mitigation and Recovery
  • State and Federal Energy Policy
  • Electrification “Realities”
  • Cybersecurity
  • Supply Chain & Threats to Infrastructure Investment
  • Affordability
  • Utility Operations
  • Electrical Engineering
 

Clifford Chan, General Manager
East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD)
LinkedIn | Bio



Key Subject Areas:

  • Water Supply Reliability and Affordability (+Adapting to Climate Change)
  • Environmental Stewardship & Balancing Needs
  • Achieving Carbon Neutrality / Public Agency Electrification
  • Aging Water Infrastructure / Infrastructure Investment
  • Wildfire Resilience
  • Water Policy and Regulation
  • Workforce Development
  • Intersection of Water and Energy/Electricity
  • Benefits from Publicly Owned Utilities


Paul Cook, General Manager
Irvine Ranch Water District
LinkedIn | Bio





Key Subject Areas:
  • Balancing Water Rates with Needs
  • Drought Planning and Response
  • Energy’s Vital Role in Water Reliability
  • Fighting Wildfires: Realities of the Water System
  • Infrastructure Financing
  • Urban Runoff – Risks and Mitigation
  • Water “Banking,” Conservation, and Efficiency
  • Wastewater Treatment and Recycling
  • Workforce Development
 

Shivaji Deshmukh, General Manager-Designate
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
LinkedIn | Bio



Key Subject Areas:

  • Climate Adaptation
  • Desalination
  • Groundwater Management and Wastewater Operations
  • Recycled Water / Potable Reuse
  • Biosolids Optimization
  • Workforce Development

Nick Dominguez, General Manager
Lassen Municipal Utility District
LinkedIn | Bio



Key Subject Areas:
  • Balancing Affordability with Regulations
  • Cybersecurity Threats & Mitigation in Rural Areas
  • Energy Markets  - How They Work
  • Net Metering
  • Renewables and Grid Integration
  • Wildfire Mitigation, Risk and Liability

Miguel Guerrero, General Manager
San Bernardino Municipal Water Department
LinkedIn | Bio



Key Subject Areas:
  • Artificial Intelligence & Cybersecurity
  • Drought Resilience & “Generational” Water Reliability
  • Emerging Chemicals & Water Quality
  • Infrastructure Investment, Design & Construction
  • Public Education
  • Wastewater Water Reclamation & Reuse
  • Wildfire Response & Recovery

Jason Martin, General Manager     
Rancho Water
LinkedIn | Bio



Key Subject Areas:
  • Agriculture/Urban Water Use Balance
  • Cybersecurity
  • Leadership Development
  • Regulatory Issues & Challenges (Affordability)
  • Water Use Efficiency & Innovation

Joe Mouawad, General Manager
Eastern Municipal Water District
LinkedIn | Bio



Key Subject Areas:
  • Climate Change Impacts on Water Supply / Sustainability
  • Conservation / Public Education
  • Desalinization
  • Disaster Response
  • Public Financing
  • Modernizing the Water System / Infrastructure
  • Water “Banking”
  • Water Recycling/Reuse & Supply Diversity

Rachel Murphy, General Manager
Contra Costa Water District
LinkedIn | Bio



Key Subject Areas:
  • Design, Construction, Operations, and Maintenance of Water Systems
  • Project and Program Management regarding water district initiatives
  • Regional and Local Partnerships
  • Water Education and Policy
 

Janisse Quiñones, CEO and Chief Engineer
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
LinkedIn | Bio



Key Subject Areas:

  • Artificial Intelligence & Utilities
  • Critical Infrastructure
  • Cybersecurity Threats and Mitigation
  • Electrification(+Equity & Affordability)
  • Emergency Management
  • Wildfire Mitigation
  • Workforce Development


Jim Shetler, General Manager and CEO
Balancing Authority of Northern California
LinkedIn | Bio



Key Subject Areas:
  • Energy Reliability – Ensuring Energy Loads are Being Properly Supplied
    • Contractor and Vendor Management
    • Federal Standards and Compliance
  • Market Engagement and Monitoring Real-Time Energy Flow
  • Regional Collaboration on Energy Priorities

Diana Tang, Assistant General Manager
Long Beach Utilities
LinkedIn | Bio



Key Subject Areas:
  • Emergency Response as Incident Commander, Operations and Communications
  • Energy Reliability in Large Urban Areas - Long Beach is the largest CA municipal gas utility; seventh largest municipal gas utility in the US
  • Public Infrastructure Financing
  • Public Policy Development / Energy Policy through the legislative process and local ballot measure initiatives
  • Public-Private Partnerships
  • Workforce Development Collaboration
 

CMUA Staff

Danielle Blacet, Executive Director
California Municipal Utilities Association (CMUA)
LinkedIn | Bio



Key Subject Areas:

  • Achieving California’s Climate Change Goals
  • Affordability of Water and Power
  • California Water & Energy Policy/Implications
  • Water and Energy Resiliency (Capture, Storage, Conveyance)
  • Weather Extremes
  • Wildfire Liability for Utilities
  • Utility Infrastructure – Aging & Investment


Andrea Abergel, Director of Water
California Municipal Utilities Association (CMUA)
LinkedIn | Bio



Key Subject Areas:
  • Water Affordability & Reliability
  • Climate Resiliency - Flooding and Drought
  • Diversifying California’s Water Supply Portfolio
  • Infrastructure – Aging Systems, Dam Safety & New Tech
  • Wastewater & Public Health
  • Water Quality / Chemicals of Concern
  • Water Rights
  • Water’s Role in California’s Energy Future

Derek Dolfie, Director of Energy 
California Municipal Utilities Association (CMUA)
LinkedIn | Bio



Key Subject Areas:

  • Balancing Climate Goals with Energy Rates
  • Cap and Trade (Cap and Invest)
  • Creating a Western Region Energy Grid
  • Energy Affordability, Reliability & Resilience
  • Future Energy Policy – Strategies
  • Local Government
  • Public vs. Investor-Owned Energy
  • Wildfire Liability & Mitigation