Board of Directors

Rick Maloy – President

Rick Maloy is the Water Conservation Manager at Central Utah Water Conservancy District who works with State and local water agencies to develop water conservation strategies and public outreach tools. Rick knows the importance of water and what needs to be done to meet the future demand as the state of Utah continues to grow, particularly regarding outdoor water use. Rick has spent over a decade working in the field of water distribution and conservation and serves as the current president of the Utah Water Conservation Forum a non-profit agency devoted to supporting professionals in sustaining a statewide water conservation movement. Rick holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Utah and is currently completing a master’s in business administration from Utah State University.

Brenda Wilde – Vice President

Brenda Wilde is the Water Billing Coordinator for Park City Municipal Corporation, where Brenda is responsible for accurately billing and maintaining a complex billing system. This includes monitoring and analyzing system data of an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) for city water meters, service orders, Utility Collection, customer service, and analytical billing functions, ensuring over 5,300 Park City Water customers received accurate billing statements each month, billing and collecting over $19 million annually.

Brenda is passionate about water conservation and is skilled in helping customers in understanding their home water use reports, navigating the customer WaterSmart portal and assuring customers are notified of high use and possible leaks. She is proud to work for Park City where goals of Water Conservation and of preserving natural environment are top priority.

Candace Schaible – Treasurer

Candace has been the Iron County Horticulture/Water-Wise Landscape Educator for the Utah State University Extension and the Central Iron County Water Conservancy District since 2008. She is a graduate of South Dakota State University’s Horticulture program and is currently working towards her Graduate degree in Adult Education from Utah State University. Her work as an Extension Educator focuses on teaching, program development, and scholarship in relation to horticulture and water conservation.

Julie Gillins – Secretary

Julie has been with the Washington County Water Conservancy District since 1995. She has a Bachelor’s in Communications and a master’s in professional communication from SUU. As the district’s Water Conservation Manager, she has had many opportunities to collaborate with other agencies and stakeholders to implement conservation programs throughout the county. Some programs are:

• Annual Water Fair. Approximately 2,000 Washington County 4th graders converge on Dixie State University campus and participate in presentations educating on all aspects of water from the water cycle to how to conserve this precious resource.
• Demonstration and community gardens. Julie chaired a committee to develop, build and currently oversees the management of each garden. These gardens were built through grants and in cooperation with local agencies.
• Developed and managed many incentive conservation programs. Programs ranging from toilet rebate, to system audit and loss control to Water Smart Irrigation Upgrades.
• Managed a water check program since 2005. These landscape irrigation audits are performed on landscapes for homeowners and commercial properties where recipients are educated on correct irrigation practices.

David Rice – Past President

David Rice was born and raised in South Eastern Utah and has spent most of his life in Utah.  David received his Bachelor’s degree from Weber State University in Biology and Secondary Education.  In 2000, David decided to continue his education at Utah State University and received his Master’s degree in horticulture and water-efficient landscaping.  He worked for the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District from 2002-2007 as the Demonstration Garden Manager, eventually being promoted to Conservation Programs Manager. David now works for the Weber Basin Water Conservancy District as the Conservation Programs Coordinator.

Courtney Brown

Courtney Brown began his career as a landscaper for various companies in southern Utah; Phoenix, Arizona; and Las Vegas, Nevada, which led to an interest in water conservation. He worked for the Southern Nevada Water Authority as a Water Waste Investigator (water cop) before moving to Utah. 

Courtney is now a Conservation Programs Manager for Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District, where he has worked for 15 years. He enjoys his association with conservation professionals throughout the state.

Lauren Ploeger

Lauren Ploeger is an engineer at Franson Civil Engineers, a firm that specializes in water resources. She works on water system improvements projects involving culinary, secondary, and agricultural water. She has compiled many water management and conservation plans, drinking water source protection plans, and feasibility studies that help public water suppliers and irrigation companies more efficiently manage their water resources. She has also assisted her clients in receiving and managing federal grants for conservation-related projects. Lauren has both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Civil Engineering from Brigham Young University.

Kelly Kopp

Kelly Kopp is a professor in the Department of Plants, Soils and Climate at Utah State University where her research efforts are focused on landscape water conservation, irrigation technology, and sustainable turfgrass management.  She is also an Extension Specialist at USU and has traveled extensively throughout Utah, the U.S., and beyond giving seminars, presentations, and other educational programs on landscape water conservation.  She is the Director of USU’s Center for Water Efficient Landscaping, board member of the Utah Water Conservation Forum, and former chair of the Alliance for Water Efficiency.

Scott Blake

Scott Blake is a Resource Management Specialist with the US Bureau of Reclamation. He provides oversight for the Water Conservation and Recreation Programs. He started with Reclamation in January of 2012. Prior to Reclamation, Scott worked for Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District in Preston Idaho where he was Program Manager over water conservation projects, habitat rehabilitation projects and invasive species prevention.

Myrna Groomer

Myrna is the Water Resource Analyst for Sandy City Department of Public Utilities. She evaluates, plans, implements, and manages projects and programs related to short-term and long-term water resource management, water conservation, source water quality protection, energy efficiency, waste reduction, water education, storm water coordination, and rate studies. Myrna has bachelor’s degrees in Environmental and Sustainability Studies and Geography.

Dave Snyder

Dave Snyder is an Outdoor Recreation Planner with the US Bureau of Reclamation. He started with Reclamation in May of 2014 and provides oversight for the Water Conservation and Recreation Programs in the Provo Area Office. He specifically oversees the WaterSMART (Sustain and Manage America’s Resources for Tomorrow) and Water Conservation Field Services Program. These programs focus on improving water conservation and helping water and resource managers make wise decisions about water use. The goals of these programs are primarily achieved through administration of grants, scientific studies, technical assistance, and scientific expertise.

Jenna McRory

Jenna McRory is a Licensed Landscape Architect at J-U- B Engineers, Inc. Jenna understands water conservation principles and has applied them in the design of parks, streetscapes, demonstration gardens, and irrigation systems. She graduated from Utah State University with a Bachelors of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning (BLA). She has been with J-U- B Engineers, Inc. for over two years working on various commercial developments, municipal streetscapes, and recreation projects. She is very interested in integrated designs that incorporate conservation and sustainability.

Shelby Ericksen

Shelby is one of the Water Conservation Coordinators with the Utah Division of Water Resources. She works with and provides support to local water agencies throughout the state on Water Conservation Plans, assists in developing the State Water Plan’s conservation section, administers statewide efficiency and rebate programs, advises on public information campaigns, and other conservation-related projects and programs. Her love for water and conservation bloomed during a college internship with Central Iron County Water Conservancy District which led to a career in water conservation. Shelby is a graduate of Southern Utah University’s Political Science program.

Michelle Ketchum

Michelle Ketchum is the Director of Administrative Services at Granger-Hunter Improvement District. In this capacity, she plans and implements the conservation efforts of the District through education and community outreach. Michelle has a Bachelor of Science in Business – Human Resource Management and has received both a Utah Water System Operator and Wastewater Collection Operator Certification.

Dani Zebelean

Danielle Zebelean grew up along the Wasatch Front immersed in sustainability movements of the 2000’s, from water to waste disposal. She completed her bachelor’s in civil engineering at the University of Utah where her passion for water treatment blossomed. Her master’s degree in environmental engineering from the University of Utah focused on industrial wastewater treatment.

Danielle currently works for the Department of Environmental Quality in the Division of Drinking Water as a permitting engineer.  Her favorite part is being able to interact with, and hopefully help, the small rural towns in Utah with drinking water challenges.

Josh Zimmerman

Josh Zimmerman is a Water Conservation Coordinator at the Utah Division of Water Resources. He works with and provides support to local water agencies throughout the state of Utah on Water Conservation Plans, assists people with rebates and funding opportunities, advises on public information campaigns, and other conservation-related projects and programs. His interests in water and conservation are in education, outreach, and using the resource in a manner that is efficient and optimal.