MWH is proud to announce that Lisa Beutler, public affairs specialist, based in our Sacramento office, has recently been elected to the Board of Directors at the American Water Resources Association (AWRA).
Lisa has dedicated the last 13 years of her career to water resources. As the Associate Director of the Center for Collaborative Policy, Sacramento State and during the last three years at MWH, her duties have included service on the multidisciplinary leadership teams for the three California Water Plan updates, federal-state-regional-local planning to integrate land use and water quality goals at Lake Tahoe, and the Central Valley Flood Protection Plan. She has worked with the executive teams of regional sanitation and water agencies, supported development of Integrated Regional Water Management Plans, and assisted state and regional water boards in creating a better regulatory alignment and strategic plans and approaches for water quality goals. Lisa’s projects often tackle, in her words, “wicked, complex problems at massive scales.”
Lisa is particularly passionate about making technical information accessible to decision makers and those impacted by their decisions. As an AWRA Board member, Lisa hopes to leverage her career in the public sector, the university and private industry along with experience working across disciplines, to support the AWRA goals for a National Water Vision and to promote Integrated Regional Water Management Plans.
“My passion for resources began as a child growing up outside of Yosemite National Park with a soil scientist father. I became a State Park Ranger, then a manager at the State Lands Commission. I oversaw management of 1/2 million acres of grazing, forestry, and mineral lands, and supported negotiations for issues ranging from dredging policy to restoration of the Bolsa Chica wetlands, to off-shore oil leasing. Over my years in state government I had the opportunity to work in special offices of two Governors, and one Lt. Governor, and as an Agency Undersecretary,” Lisa commented. “In my personal life I have volunteered to mediate religious disputes. A highlight was co-leading a special track at the 2004 World Parliament of Religions, where we asked 400 of the world¹s religious leaders to articulate their role in ensuring the provision of safe, clean water to all people.”
Lisa will assume her role with AWRA effective January 1, 2015.
For more information on AWRA’s Officers and Board of Directors, including bios, click here.
