Contact: Tara Moran, President and CEO, California Water Data Consortium, tmoran@cawaterdata.org, 650-796-2546
Rick Callender Joins the California Water Data Consortium Board of Directors
SACRAMEN
TO – The California Water Data Consortium (Consortium), a nonprofit organization that supports cross-sector collaboration to ensure high-quality, accessible data for the benefit of everyone in California, announced today that Rick Callender will be joining their Board of Directors. As the CEO of Santa Clara Valley Water District (Valley Water), Rick has a strong history of leadership in California water, bringing expertise in urban water supply management, public policy, and communications to the Board beginning in January 2022.
“Data is the cornerstone of well-informed water management decisions. At Valley Water, we continue to improve water resilience to make sure there is equity and environmental justice in the communities we serve. We are excited to join the California Water Data Consortium to advance the goal of high-quality data to sustainably manage water for the benefit of all Californians,” said Mr. Callender.
With over 25 years of experience at Valley Water, Mr. Callender became Valley Water’s first African American CEO in 2020. Prior to this role, Rick served as the Chief of External Affairs where he led Valley Water’s efforts in strategic communications and government relations. In addition, Mr. Callender has worked as a Special Assistant to former City of San Jose Mayor Susan Hammer, as a Field Campaign Organizer for the California Democratic Party, as a Congressional Fellow for the United States House ofRepresentatives, Subcommittee on Energy, and as a Congressional Fellow to Congressman Ronald V. Dellums. He also served as president of the San Jose-Silicon Valley NAACP from 2000 to 2008 and is currently the President of the California Hawaii State Conference NAACP.
“We are thrilled to have Rick joining the Consortium’s Board of Directors. Valley Water continues to be a leader in the California water community. We are excited to have Rick’s experience, expertise, and leadership as part of our team,” said Tara Moran, CEO of the Consortium.
Mr. Callender received a B.S. in Industrial Engineering and Technology from California State University, Chico, completed all coursework for his Master of Arts in Public Administration from San Jose State University, and holds a Juris Doctorate from Northwestern California University School of Law. He is also a member of the California State Bar.
Joya Banerjee, who has served on the Consortium’s Board since its founding, will be stepping back from her duties as a Board member. In her time on the board, Joya, who is a Senior Fellow at the US Water Alliance, has helped establish the mission, vision, governance, and much more for the Consortium. Joya will be transitioning to a role on an Advisory Board, where she will continue to collaborate with the Consortium.
“Joya has been instrumental in the establishment of the Consortium. As one of our founding Board members, she has given so much to the vision and culture of our new organization. We thank her for her service and will miss her greatly on the Board, but are grateful to continue working with her in her new role as an Advisory Board member,” said Mike Myatt, Board Chair.
Learn more about the California Water Data Consortium, subscribe to our listserv, and view a complete list of the Consortium’s Board of Directors at https://cawaterdata.org.