Board of Directors
A board of directors governs SMWSA. Four members represent the largest south-metro water entities (Parker Water and Sanitation District, East Cherry Creek Valley Water and Sanitation District, Centennial Water and Sanitation District and the Town of Castle Rock), and one representative speaks on behalf of the other nine water providers. The organization’s executive director acts as the group’s spokesperson and is responsible for the day-to-day operations and public meetings.
John Hendrick, Centennial Water Supply and Sanitation District
John Hendrick plays a major role in guiding a cooperative regional water supply investigation. He is the general manager of Centennial Water and Sanitation District that serves Highlands Ranch, and also a past president of SMWSA. Hendrick has been involved in water resources planning and engineering for more than 30 years. His specialties include water project development, project management, water rights and portfolio evaluations, demand projections, operation studies, and water quality.
Previously, he served as vice president of operations for a large, private water development company, and vice president of the Colorado office of Nolte and Associates.
Prior to those positions, Hendrick was vice president of resources planning with the Jack G. Raub Company, where he oversaw the water supply planning and implementation for Mission Viejo Company's 22,000-acre Highlands Ranch development. Hendrick secures
nearly 25,000 acre-feet of municipal water supplies, raw-water development, and project planning from the feasibility level through design, construction, and operations. As a principal engineer with Tetra Tech, Inc. he conducted numerous diversified water resources project investigations.
Hendrick is president of the Metro Denver Water Authority and a board member of the Douglas County Water Resources Authority, CET Services, and is a past president of the Littleton Rotary Club.
Frank Jaeger, Parker Water & Sanitation District
Frank Jaeger is district manager of Parker Water & Sanitation District and has been a SMWSA board member for two years. In his more than 25 years as district manager, he has brought together experts in water law, hydrology and engineering to ensure an adequate water supply is available for Parker residents’ current and future needs. His leadership has resulted in use of well injection as a storage option, augmentation of water resources through the capture of AWT treated wastewater and irrigation return flows. Jaeger is in the process of seeking a federal permit for enlargement of the Reuter-Hess Reservoir to provide storage for additional Douglas County residents. One of Jaeger’s most recent endeavors includes the promotion of rotational crop management of portions of farms owned by Parker Water & Sanitation District, allowing water sharing with municipalities and money with the farming communities.
In 2006, Governor Bill Owens reappointed Jaeger to a seat on the Colorado Ground Water Commissioner. He is also a member of the Board of Governors of the Southeast Business Partnership and the Parker Economic Development Council. He received the Distinguished Man of the Year award from the Special District Association in 2000.
Dave Kaunisto, East Cherry Creek Valley Water & Sanitation District
Dave Kaunisto has served on the board of SMWSA for three years. He provides direction along with the other board members on a variety of water-related issues, such as master planning, procurement of renewable water supplies and legislation. He regularly interacts with other regional entities on local and regional water topics.
Kaunisto joined the East Cherry Creek Valley Water & Sanitation District in 1997. During his tenure, Kaunisto has been an integral part of growing the District, which now is able to provide water, sewer and storm water service to an estimated 50,000 people. To keep up with the increased demand, Kaunisto pushed through projects such as the Northern Water Project, the Western Water project and the Irrigation Supply Project. Before joining East Cherry Creek Valley Water & Sanitation District, Kaunisto worked for the City of Westminster for 14 years.
Kaunisto earned a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science degree in environmental engineering from the University of Michigan.
Charlie Krogh, Pinery Water & Wastewater District
As president of SMWSA, Charlie Krogh represents the nine smaller water districts in the Authority. He has been a member of SMWSA board since its inception in August 2004. His responsibilities as president include overseeing public meeting, and taking the lead on projects as they are presented to the Authority.
As district manager of Pinery Water & Wastewater District, Krogh ensures compliance with permits and is responsible for the financial performance of the district as well as the delivery of water and wastewater service to 4,000 customers. Prior to joining the Pinery Water & Wastewater District, Krogh worked at CH2M Hill, an engineering firm, for 18 years. He served as vice president and regional business group manager for the Environmental Business Group in the Rocky Mountain Region.
Krogh earned a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from Oregon State University. He represents the seven special districts on the Cherry Creek Basin Water Quality Authority Board, and serves on the Havana Water & Sanitation District board, the Douglas County Water Resource Authority board, and the Cherry Creek Project Water Authority board. Krogh is also a member of the American Water Works Association, the Water Environment Federation, and the American Institute of Chemical Engineers.
Ron Redd, Town of Castle Rock
As a SMWSA board member, Ron Redd participates in the master-planning sub committee. He has been a SMWSA board member since its inception in 2004.
Redd has served as the utilities director for the Town of Castle Rock for six years. He oversees the operations of the department, including long-range planning and engineering. Redd’s goals for the department are developing a water resources strategic plan to address the Town’s water needs that include water conservation, wastewater reuse, pursing the acquisition of renewable water, and acquiring statically located groundwater. Previously, Redd was the program manager for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.
Redd earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from Montana State University. He is also a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and American Water Works Association. Redd is a licensed professional engineer in both Colorado and California.
Rod Kuharich, SMWSA Executive Director
Rod Kuharich was named executive director of SMWSA in July 2007. Kuharich is responsible for the day-to-day operations and public meetings held by SMWSA, and acts as the organization’s spokesperson. Kuharich also helps facilitate the development of long-term and reliable water resources for the collective membership.
Prior to becoming the executive director of SMWSA, Kuharich amassed more than 35 years of water and utilities experience. Most recently he served as director for the Colorado Water Conservation Board, where he developed and implemented statewide water-policy initiatives. Kuharich also worked as a government affairs manager for Colorado Springs Utilities, and served the City of Colorado Springs Department of Utilities for 21 years as a utilities planning coordinator, senior resource planner, statistician and project manager.
Kuharich is dedicated to conserving, protecting and managing Colorado’s water resources. To that end, Kuharich worked as a state representative and chairman for the Arkansas River Compact Commission, the Colorado River Salinity Control Forum and the Salinity Control Advisory Council. He served as a state representative for the Upper Colorado River Compact Commission, the Glen Canyon Adaptive Management Work Group and the Western States Water Council, in which he was also a member of the management committee.
Kuharich has a bachelor’s degree from St. Ambrose College in Davenport, Iowa and a master’s degree in environmental planning from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois.