FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., March 15, 2002 -- The Board of Directors of Orange County Water District (OCWD) Friday announced Virginia Grebbien as its new general manager effective April 15.
Grebbien will be the district's fifth general manager and first woman to lead the groundwater management agency since its inception in 1933. OCWD manages Orange County's large underground basin, which provides 75 percent of the water needs for more than two million people in North and Central Orange County. Grebbien will take over for William R. Mills, who will retire from OCWD after more than 14 years of service to the district.
With more than 16 years of experience, Grebbien is well known in the field of water resources management and planning in both Southern California and throughout the State. Currently the Senior Vice President of Project Development for Poseidon Resources Corp., Grebbien has held several management positions including principal engineer for Bookman Edmonston Engineering, general manager of Central and West Basin Municipal Water Districts and manager of the local resource development branch for Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.
"Virginia's long-time experience in both the public and private sectors of the water industry, her knowledge of water reuse, her understanding of Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, and her leadership experience at Central and West Basin will ensure OCWD moves forward quickly in addressing the challenges of providing groundwater for this growing, arid region. Virginia's experience, skills and energy are a perfect fit for this organization and she will bring many new, exciting opportunities to OCWD," said OCWD Board President Jerry A. King.
"I am honored that I have been selected as the new general manager of the Orange County Water District," stated Grebbien. "I am committed to continuing to develop cost-effective, reliable water supplies for Orange County. I support a team environment and look forward to working together with the OCWD board of directors, water retailers and staff members to effectively meet the challenges of Orange County's water future."
Grebbien was extensively involved in gaining funding for the largest reclamation project in the state while at Central and West Basin. She has also served on several regional, state and national panels and committees on water policy issues. Grebbien is a professional engineer with a Bachelors of Science Degree in civil engineering from California State Polytechnic University in Pomona.
She is a former board member and past president of the WateReuse Association and the founding president of the California WateReuse Research Foundation. Currently, Grebbien is a board member of the California Foundation on the Environment and the Economy and member of the American Water Works Association and Colorado River Water Users Association.
Grebbien's extensive involvement in the water community and previous work on landmark water supply development projects will help her carry out OCWD's mission to provide local groundwater producers with a reliable, adequate, high-quality water supply at the lowest reasonable cost.
Grebbien and her husband Brent, an aerospace engineer, live in La Habra Heights with their three children, Danielle, age 10 and twins, Alec and Julia, age 5.
"On behalf of the OCWD Board, I wish Bill Mills an enjoyable and well-earned retirement and thank him for his many years of service to OCWD as general manager. He will be missed," said King.
Orange County Water District is a special agency created by the California State Legislature in 1933 to maintain and manage the groundwater basin under Northern and Central Orange County. OCWD's groundwater basin supplies 75% of the water needs to more than 2 million residents in Anaheim, Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Cypress, Fountain Valley, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Newport Beach, La Palma, Los Alamitos, Orange, Placentia, Santa Ana, Seal Beach, Stanton, Tustin, Villa Park, Westminster, and Yorba Linda.
