ROSEMARY MENARD
Director

Rosemary Menard was appointed Director of the Department of Water Resources by the Board of County Commissioners, effective February 13, 2007. 

With more than 28 years of experience working on water utility planning, operations water resources and environmental policy and management issues, Ms. Menard is well versed in managing water resources in metropolitan areas.  Prior to her appointment as Director, Ms. Menard worked for the City of Portland for 10 years and the City of Seattle for 15 years.  With a record of meaningful accomplishments, Ms. Menard excels in working effectively with elected officials, staff, citizens, and policy-makers on utility strategic planning issues and initiatives.  Over the past 15 years Ms. Menard has also worked extensively with water advocacy groups.  Her contributions have been essential in analyzing and responding to federal drinking water regulatory and legislative initiatives, utility industry trends, and strategic planning issues. 

After receiving her undergraduate degree, Ms. Menard went on to earn her master's degree in Public Administrations from the University of Washington.

Ms. Menard received the Distinguished Service Award from the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies for her efforts as the leader of a water utility caucus providing expertise on the implications of potential regulatory provisions on unfiltered systems.

BEN HUTCHINS
Finance and Customer Services Manager

Ben Hutchins, Finance and Customer Services Manager for DWR, oversees the department's financial programs, including; debt management, financial planning, the annual budget, and accounting operations and reporting. He is responsible for developing and implementing DWR's water rates and charges.  In addition, he oversees customer relations.

Mr. Hutchins has worked in various technical, financial, and utility fields for over 18 years.  He previously worked for the City of Sparks, primarily in the Public Works Department.  This nine year period in Public Works provided Mr. Hutchins with a wide range of financial and asset management experiences in sanitary sewer, reclaimed water, and stormwater utilities.  While employed by the City of Sparks he served as the Treasurer for the Washoe County Local Emergency Planning Committee for three years.  Prior to working for the City of Sparks, Mr. Hutchins worked for Kafoury, Armstrong & Co. managing the annual audits and preparation of related federal information returns and financial statements for 16 northern Nevada construction union benefits plans.

Mr. Hutchins holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Nevada, Reno.  In addition, he is a licensed Certified Public Accountant. 

As a community volunteer, he is currently serving his fourteenth year as the Treasurer of a local nonprofit radio station known as Renegade Radio. 

JOE HOWARD
Interim Utility Operations Manager

Joe Howard, Interim Utility Operations Manager for DWR, manages the functions of the Utility Operations Division, including the operation, maintenance, and repair of water services, wastewater systems, reclaimed water systems, and associated treatment facilities.

With over 30 years of experience in the water industry, Mr. Howard has an extensive working knowledge of water treatment, operations, delivery, maintenance, and engineering.  During his tenure with Washoe County Water Resources, Mr. Howard has advanced from Environmental Engineer I to Senior Licensed Engineer. 

Mr. Howard holds both a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture, majoring in renewable natural resources and forestry.  He also holds a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering with an emphasis on environmental engineering. Mr. Howard is a registered Professional Engineer in Nevada. 

ROB KELLEY
Interim Utility Operations Manager

Rob Kelley, Interim Utility Operations Manager for DWR, manages the functions of the Utility Operations Division, including the operation, maintenance, and repair of water services, wastewater systems, reclaimed water systems, and associated treatment facilities.

With over 13 years of experience in the water industry, Mr. Kelley has an extensive working knowledge of Washoe County’s water treatment, operations, delivery, and maintenance.  During his tenure with Washoe County Water Resources, Mr. Kelley has advanced from Utility Worker I to Utility Operations Manager.

Mr. Kelley is currently pursuing his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management. Mr. Kelley is a certified Water Distribution Operator IV and Water Treatment Operator II in Nevada.

CHRIS BENEDICT
CTMRD Program Manager

Chris Benedict manages and acts as the technical lead for the Central Truckee Meadows Remediation District (CTMRD) program.  The CTMRD program is administered by Washoe County DWR to address widespread tetracholroethene (PCE) groundwater contamination on behalf of local water users, property owners, and stakeholder agencies. 

With over 18 years of experience in the water industry, Mr. Benedict worked for GeoTrans (formerly HydroSearch) for 12 years before coming to Washoe County.  He worked as a Senior Geochemist and eventually as the Operations Manager while working on water resources and water quality issues in Nevada and other western states.  Prior to working for GeoTrans, Mr. Benedict worked in the mining industry for 14 years.

Mr. Benedict is a Certified Environmental Manager (CEM).  He graduated from Western Washington University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology, and from the Colorado School of Mines with a Master of Science degree in Geology.  He also holds a PhD in Hydrology/Hydrogeology from the University of Nevada, Reno. 

Mr. Benedict is currently an adjunct professor in the graduate program of hydrologic sciences at the University of Nevada, Reno.  He is a member of the National Groundwater Association and Nevada Water Resources Association.  In addition, he is a former member of the Interstate Technology and Regulatory Cooperation working group on natural and enhanced attenuation of chlorinated solvents.

Jim Smitherman has been the Program Manager for the Western Regional Water Commission and the Northern Nevada Water Planning Commission since both were created by the 2007 Nevada Legislature.  During the preceding seven years he served in a similar role managing the Washoe County Regional Water Planning Commission.  In all, Jim has been responsible for the Washoe County Comprehensive Regional Water Management Plan for about nine years.

Mr. Smitherman has over 19 years of experience in the water industry.  Previously, he worked for 10 years as an Environmental Scientist at the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP) where he was a supervisor for the state's Non-Point Source and Ground Water Protection branch managing federal grants and overseeing surface water and ground water programs.  Mr. Smitherman also worked in the Underground Injection Control program and the Air Quality Planning program.  He was responsible for representing the state's position on water quality issues at a cabinet-level workshop during the Clinton Administration's Lake Tahoe Forum in 1997.  In addition, Mr. Smitherman coordinated with the state's Division of Water Planning and represented NDEP during the development of the State Water Plan.

Mr. Smitherman holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Geology from California State University, Chico and a Master of Science degree in Geology from the University of Idaho.  In addition, Mr. Smitherman earned a Certificate in Public Management at the University of Nevada, Reno.