Our Board of Directors
South Metro Water is governed by a Board of Directors consisting of experienced and distinguished leaders in water.
Mark harding
President
Dave Kaunisto
Vice President
Dave serves as District Manager for East Cherry Creek Valley Water & Sanitation District, which provides water, sewer and storm water service to approximately 55,000 residents of the South Metro Region. His accomplishments include successfully leading the effort to build several major new water projects that enhanced the ability of his District to meet the water needs of the growing region it serves.
Mark Marlowe
Secretary
A recognized water leader in Colorado and in Georgia, Mark serves as Utilities Director for the Town of Castle Rock, overseeing a state-of-the-art water, wastewater and stormwater system serving more than 70,000 residents. He has helped lead the Town’s shift from 100 percent reliance on non-renewable groundwater to more than 29 percent renewable water on an annual basis, on its way to 75 percent renewable by 2050.
Sam calkins
Treasurer
Ron redd
Assistant Secretary
Ron has decades of experience in water, first as program manager for the Metro District of Southern California where he oversaw construction of an 800,000 acre-foot reservoir and a large tunnel project, later as Utilities Director for Castle Rock, and now as District Manager for Parker Water and Sanitation District. Ron is focused on ensuring that residents of Parker have a secure water future based on renewable supplies and believes regional collaboration and partnerships are essential.
Our staff
The staff of South Metro Water brings their deep expertise in water supply and management to benefit each member and the customers they serve.
Executive Director
Lisa Darling
Lisa brings more than 25 years of experience in Colorado water resources to her role as Executive Director of South Metro Water. Prior to joining South Metro Water, she managed the South Platte River Program for Aurora Water, the state's third-largest water utility, where she was one of the key leaders who developed the Water Infrastructure and Supply Efficiency (WISE) Project, a model in regional cooperation on water issues facing the region. She is also a leader in Colorado water planning as a member of Colorado's Interbasin Compact Committee and the South Platte Basin Roundtable.
Director of Finance & Accounting
Sheila Giusti
As Director of Finance and Accounting, Sheila is responsible for analyzing and presenting all financial reports and overseeing all financial projects, programs and grant accounting. She coordinates and leads the annual audit process and also leads and oversees the annual budgeting and planning process, in collaboration with the Executive Director and senior engineer. In addition, she updates and implements all necessary business policies and accounting practices to improve the finance department's overall policy and procedures. Sheila came to SMWSA because of her interest in Colorado water conservation efforts and the importance of bringing affordable and renewable water to the South Metro area.
Executive Assistant & Education Coordinator
Angie Grunder
Angie is a former educator and is passionate about creating a positive outlook on water and conservation in our youth. She has her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education and taught Kindergarten for five years. She is eager to continue her passion for education in this role. She loves visiting the classrooms on behalf of the Water Ambassador Program and works to continually grow and better the program. In addition to overseeing the Water Ambassador Program, Angie works with committees and board memebrs to create a positive environment at SMWSA!
Engineering & Operations Manager
Chris Muller
Chris has over 11 years of experience in infrastructure design, construction management, water resources planning, and system operations for both consulting firms and governmental agencies. At South Metro Water, Chris oversees the implementation and operation of the Water Infrastructure and Supply Efficiency (WISE) Project where he is able to put into practice his passion for collaborative projects that provide sustainable solutions to meet current and future water demands.
Senior Project Engineer
Kate Bandel
Kate is passionate about the engineering and operating perspectives of water systems, and she is excited to apply her knowledge of hydraulic and fluid mechanics in support of SMWSA’s mission to design and develop a sustainable water future. Kate assists with the implementation and operation of the Water Infrastructure and Supply Efficiency Project (WISE) and contributes to the water quality and total dissolved solid (TDS) management within existing and future SMWSA’s water supply. She has a BS in Environmental Engineering with a specialization in Water Systems from Colorado School of Mines.