Fernando Baez serves as the Manager of Engineering for the District.  In this capacity, Fernando has the responsibility of organizing, planning, and supporting and supervising the engineering and construction operations and functions of the District.

Fernando has been with the District since 2013 and before that, he was an engineering consultant for 6 years.  Fernando received his Bachelor of Science in Engineering from California State University, Northridge and is a registered civil engineer in California.  When not at work, Fernando enjoys spending time with his wife and two children.

Grant Burton is the District’s Human Resources and Risk Management Department Manager. In this capacity, Grant is responsible for recruitment and selection, human resources information technology, employee relations and recognition, workplace investigations, training, performance evaluation, benefits and risk management, including safety and emergency preparedness.

Before starting at Calleguas in July of 2021, Grant was Of Counsel to the Calleguas’s District Counsel, then Cohen and Burge, LLP, focused and employment issues. Grant also advised other California Water District in Labor and Employment Law matters.

Grant was with The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California for 23 years before joining Cohen & Burge, first as a Senior Deputy General Counsel, and then as a Human Resources Manager. Grant is member of the State Bar Labor and Employment Law Section, and a former member, and Chair, of the Ventura Water Commission. He also served as Conflict Counsel for the Ventura County Civil Service Commission. Grant was also a member of the Association of California Water Agencies Legal Affairs Committee and was the Committee’s Chair of the Ethics Subcommittee. For a time, Grant served as an Arbitrator for the California State Mediation and Conciliation Service of the Public Employment Relations Board.

Tricia Ferguson currently serves as the Assistant Manager of Human Resources and Risk Management for the Calleguas Municipal Water District. After graduating from Pepperdine University with a bachelor’s degree in business, Tricia began working for a developer with a base in Ventura County. She held multiple positions with increasing responsibility during her tenure. In 2008, after the birth of her oldest son, she applied for a part-time position with Calleguas and provided administrative support to the Engineering department. She later moved into a full-time position with the Operations and Maintenance division, fulfilling various roles including supervisory responsibilities, purchasing and contract management as well as warehouse and fleet operations.

She understands the critical mission that Calleguas fulfills for the residents of Ventura County as it relates to the reliability of the water supply. She believes that every member of the Calleguas team is critical to achieving that mission and is proud to be a part of the Calleguas family.

She is currently enrolled in a master’s program at California Lutheran University. This year will be her 16th year with the District. She is always ready to serve the District wherever she is needed.

Henry Graumlich is the District’s Executive Strategist. He is responsible for advising the General Manager and Board of Directors on the District’s strategic approach to water resources policy. He also advocates for the District’s strategic interests at local, regional, and statewide forums with special emphasis on Metropolitan Water District, regional collaboration, and strategic initiatives.

Henry is a generalist who specializes in systems approaches to complex problems. He joined Calleguas in 2007 and has over thirty years of experience in executive water resources planning and policy that includes stints at the City of Ventura and Camrosa Water District. Henry facilitate Calleguas’ Board of Directors’ first strategic plan. He works with the District’s Metropolitan Water District director, Metropolitan staff, and member agency managers to promote regional water supply resilience and further Calleguas’ long-range strategic and policy interests.

Henry attended Oberlin College and Conservatory of Music where he studied French horn and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English (inter-disciplinary 19th century studies), Phi Beta Kappa. He holds a Masters of Public Administration with distinction from California State University, Northridge. Member, Society for Decision Making Under Deep Uncertainty.

As Manager of the External Affairs Department, Charlotte Holifield serves as the District’s Public Information Officer, engaging with media outlets and the public about Calleguas’s programs, events, and policies, as well as managing the district’s legislative program, including analyzing legislation and serving as the District’s liaison to local, state, and federal policymakers.

Charlotte joined Calleguas as a Management Analyst in August 2023 after serving as the California Special Districts Association (CSDA) Public Affairs Field Coordinator for the Central and South Coasts. In that capacity, she worked with more than 100-member special districts to engage them in CSDA legislative advocacy efforts and provide information about CSDA events and programs. In 2022, she earned the Santa Barbara CSDA chapter Chairman’s Appreciation Award for her outstanding accomplishments and service to the organization.

Prior to her tenure at CSDA, Charlotte worked at Ventura County water retailer Camrosa Water District, where she initiated a legislative program and led outreach efforts to customers and elected officials. Earlier in her career, she served as the Senior Governmental Relations Representative at the San Diego County Water Authority, monitoring legislative issues and engaging with local, state, and federal elected officials.

Charlotte has broad experience working for a variety of elected officials, including establishing and running the field office of a United States Senator and as an aide to two State Senators, including a fellowship at the California State Capitol.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of California at Berkeley, and a master’s degree in public policy from California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo.

Jennifer Lancaster is the Manager of Water Resources. She oversees the District’s water use efficiency and conservation programs, annexations of new territory, environmental planning and permitting, and communications activities. Jennifer joined Calleguas in 2019 as a Principal Water Resources Specialist, and prior to that, worked for over 12 years in environmental consulting. Jennifer holds a Master of Science degree in Biology from Cal State Northridge and a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology with a conservation biology emphasis from UC Riverside.

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Wes Richardson serves as the District’s Manager of Information Technology. Growing up around the water industry he began working in the field in 1999 and started with the District in 2000. He holds a D5 State Water Resources Control Board Water Distribution license and a T4 Water Treatment license. Wes has a BS degree in Information Technology from Colorado State University and has worked extensively in the development of the District’s SCADA OT network prior to taking the role of Manager of IT. While not working for the district he enjoys being out on the lake in his boat, watching his children’s sporting events, or spending time on the golf course.

Dan Smith serves as the District’s Manager of Finance. Mr. Smith joined the District in 2011. He is currently responsible for providing financial support services to the District’s departments. These services include accounting, budget administration, debt management, financial reporting, payroll, setting of rates and fees, and managing cash and investments. Mr. Smith has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in accounting from the California State University, Fullerton. Mr. Smith’s prior experience includes working as the Assistant Finance Director at the City of Palmdale and the Budget Officer at the City of Santa Clarita and has worked in governmental accounting for over 23 years.

Kara Wade is the Clerk of the Board for Calleguas Municipal Water District. In this role Kara assists the Board of Directors, General Manager and Department Managers in daily activities.

Kara joined the District in 1999. She started her career in the Engineering and Construction Department, first as the Engineering Administrator’s Assistant, and then as the Engineering Administrator, where she spent 14 years. In 2012 she was promoted to Clerk of the Board.

Since 2000, Kara has held a Grade 2 Water Distribution Operator Certificate She is a Ventura County Deputy County Clerk and has been a Notary Public since 2012.

Walt Wendelstein serves as District Counsel for Calleguas. He is the founder, owner, and Managing Partner of Wendelstein Law Group, P.C.  Walt began his legal practice in 1998 and has extensive experience in California government entity, real property and water law.

Walt graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1993 with a BA in Law and Society.  He obtained a Juris Doctorate from the Pepperdine University School of Law, and a Master’s Degree in Dispute Resolution from the Pepperdine University Straus Institute of Dispute Resolution, in 1998.  Walt is a member of the Association of California Water Agencies Legal Affairs Committee.