Catawba Wateree Water Management Group 2015 Annual Report
From Plan to Acti
n:
Advancing the 
Brian Hester
Brian Hester serves as the Chester County Administrator, working to provide strategic direction and operational oversight for fifteen county departments and all elected officials. Rooted in lifelong principles of integrity, service and accountability, Brian leads with a strong work ethic and a deep commitment to family. Brian Hester was born and raised in Travelers Rest, South Carolina. Earning a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a master’s degree in strategic leadership from Clemson University, he then went on to graduate from the FBI National Academy, class 265. With more than 30 years of public service, Brian has dedicated his career to community focused leadership in local government and public safety. He served for over 25 years with St. Lucie County, Florida as Chief Deputy.
Fred Castles
Fred Castles is the Executive Director of Chester Metropolitan District (CMD), the only public water utility in Chester County. Fred has been with CMD for 21 years and has over 35 years of experience in water resources management. CMD is a charter member of the Catawba-Wateree Water Management Group (CWWMG), and Fred has served in various positions and on various committees since the group’s formation. Fred graduated from the William States Lee College of Engineering at the University of North Carolina – Charlotte in 1991, and holds professional engineering licenses in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia.
Myra Reece
Myra Reece is the Director of the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES), overseeing the bureaus of Air Quality, Coastal Management, Land and Waste Management, Regional and Laboratory Services, and Water. Myra works collaboratively with state and federal agencies, local governments, businesses and communities to ensure protection of South Carolina’s natural resources while balancing the state’s economic and environmental interests. Before assuming her role as SCDES Director, Myra served in leadership roles with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) for more than 30 years. She currently serves as the Chair of WaterSC and is a past-president of the Environmental Council of States (ECOS).
Joe Koon
Joe Koon is the Director of the Division of Water Resources in SCDES’s Bureau of Water. He oversees Hydrology, Groundwater and Surface Water Withdrawal, Underground Injection Control, and the Private Well programs. These programs focus on planning, coordination, permitted use and reporting, and management of the State’s water resources. Prior to this role, Joe spent 9 years in the Mining and Reclamation Section and was the spokesperson for the State in the Interstate Mining Compact Commission. Prior to DHEC, Joe spent 10 years in the private sector with environmental consulting and industry. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Geology from Clemson University in 2000.
Linwood Peele
Linwood Peele has worked in the NCDEQ Division of Water Resources focused on water resources planning and management for more than 30 years. During most of this time, he served as the Water Supply Planning Branch Supervisor. He is responsible for supervising the Planning Branch and providing technical assistance to local government water systems with Local Water Supply Plan and Water Shortage Response Plans, Water Withdrawal & Transfer Registration, and Interbasin transfer (IBT) certification, along with many other water supply issues. Linwood holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from North Carolina A&T State University.
Harold Brady
Harold Brady is the Water Supply Development Coordinator with NCDEQ. He has worked in the NCDEQ Division of Water Resources focused on water supply planning for 17 years. During that time, he has served in many different roles, including the water supply development coordinator and the water withdrawal and transfer registration coordinator. This has led to considerable involvement with numerous Interbasin transfers (IBTs) across the state. Harold is originally from the Sandhills and a graduate of North Carolina State University.
Sarah Braman
Sarah has been with the Town of Cary for almost 10 years, and serves as the Water Resources Manager, supporting both long range planning and data analysis & reporting in the Utilities Department. Prior to that role she worked in consulting for 7 years after receiving her undergraduate degree in Biological & Agricultural Engineering from North Carolina State University.
Laura Meadors
Laura is the Global Sustainability Programs Manager at Apple, where she leads water, zero waste and embodied carbon activities across Apple’s facilities portfolio. She joined Apple in 2014, and previously managed renewable energy procurement and environmental reporting. Laura began her career on Wall Street trading agricultural commodities and has spent the last 20 years working in energy, water and carbon markets. She holds a master’s degree in natural resource economics from the Yale School of the Environment and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Wellesley College.
Robert Long
Robert is the Director of Chester County Economic Development. He is a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) with almost 30 years of experience. During his career, he has worked in various economic development roles with the Aiken/Edgefield Economic Development Partnership, the Darlington County Economic Development Partnership, Gwinnett County, GA from 2012-2015 and the Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce from 2015-2020. Robert returned to South Carolina as the Director of Chester County Economic Development in October 2020, where he has made an immediate impact with record project activity and announcements.
Erica DePalma
Erica DePalma is a Senior Program Manager at the US Water Alliance, a national nonprofit organization advancing policies and programs that build a sustainable water future for all. She assists with the Alliance’s technical assistance and field-building work as part of its National Environmental Finance Center. Before joining the Alliance, Erica worked at The Water Center at the University of Pennsylvania, where she supported the management of national and regional water programming and research. She worked closely with partners, from water utilities to community leaders to educators, to develop and implement impactful solutions to urban water challenges. Erica graduated with an MS in applied geosciences with a focus in hydrology from the University of Pennsylvania and a BS in environmental science from Fordham University.
Jennifer Gibson
Jennifer Gibson is the Water Plant Superintendent for the City of Belmont and has served in this role since February 2022. Jennifer began working with the City of Belmont in May 2014 as a lab technician at the city’s water plant – her first role working in water treatment. Jennifer went on to become a certified A-surface water operator. Jennifer is a Charlotte native and moved to Belmont in 2007. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in zoology from North Carolina State University and worked at an animal hospital in Belmont for 12 years prior to transitioning to a career in water treatment and operations.
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