MNWD GM Stepping Down After a Decade

After more than 10 years as general manager of Robert C. Gumerman, has announced his plans to retire on June 24. 

The MNWD also announced the selection of Joone Lopez as Gumerman’s replacement. Lopez is currently the general manager of Calaveras County Water District, southeast of Sacramento. 

During Gumerman’s tenure at MNWD, he oversaw significant expansion of the District’s local water storage and a number of projects to improve the district’s water supply reliability. 

His day-to-day management was the long-range planning of leaving the District with the capability to provide reliable water service throughout the year and in the event of water-supply interruptions. 

In addition, MNWD achieved an AAA credit rating under Gumerman’s leadership, which will allow the district to save customers millions of dollars over the lives of several major reliability enhancement projects. He was also influential in developing and implementing the district’s Water-Budget-Based Rate Structure, which has assisted customers to achieve dramatic improvements in their efficiency and pay the lowest rates available.  

“Guiding one of Orange County’s largest water providers through the water-supply and economic hurdles of the past ten years has been one of the great challenges and honors of my career,” Gumerman said.  “I’m proud to leave MNWD with a reliable water supply and sound fiscal footing, and know our customers will be in the good hands of an extremely committed staff that always puts water quality and service first.”   

Lopez was selected following an extensive nationwide search.  She will be joining the District as its general manager on June 25. In her position at Calaveras County Water District, Lopez is responsible for providing water and wastewater services to customers within 1,100-square-mile service area and hydroelectric power to surrounding cities.  She generated an additional $30 million in projected revenue, acquired approximately $10 million in state and federal funding, negotiated a five-year MOU with the district’s employee union, developed and implemented a Strategic Business Plan, and initiated acquisition of three water system and assessment districts. 

"I'm excited to join such an outstanding organization,” Lopez said. “I look forward to working with staff and the board to build on the long-standing success of the District and providing excellence in service for our communities." 

Lopez is returning home by moving to Southern California. Raised in the San Gabriel Valley, she earned a master’s degree in public administration from California State University, Northridge and a bachelor’s degree in communication from University of California, San Diego. Before taking charge at Calaveras County Water District, she worked at West and Central Basins Municipal Water District and Apple Valley Ranchos Water District.