CEO’s Message

The Power of Partnerships

Neil McCormick CSDA Chief Executive Officer

At CSDA we work hard at building partnerships that help to bring the best in advocacy, professional development, and member benefits to all CSDA members. We also work hard to make sure our partners feel valued

and are benefiting from the relationship.

Recently, CSDA has worked through some changes and updates related to a few of our partnerships. Some initiated by us and some by the partners. It’s been an eye-opening experience and a firm reminder that it’s important to keep in mind what a true business partner looks like and what the expectations should be.

Support each other and be prepared to adjust as needed to keep focused on why you first came to work together.

CSDA Board and Staff

Officers

RYAN CLAUSNITZER, CSDM, PRESIDENT, Alameda County Mosquito Abatement District ELAINE MAGNER, VICE PRESIDENT, Pleasant Valley Recreation & Park District ARLENE SCHAFER, SECRETARY, Costa Mesa Sanitary District JERRY L. GILMORE, TREASURER, Truckee Sanitary District GREG ORSINI, PAST PRESIDENT, McKinleyville Community Services District

Members of the Board

DON BARTZ, CSDM, Phelan Pinon Hills Community Services District STANLEY CALDWELL, Mt. View Sanitary District CHAD DAVISSON, CSDM, Ironhouse Sanitary District VINCENT FERRANTE, Moss Landing Harbor District PETER KAMPA, CSDM, Groveland Community Services District JO MACKENZIE, Vista Irrigation District NOELLE MATTOCK, El Dorado Hills Community Services District PATRICK OSTLY, North of River Sanitary District #1 STEVE PEREZ, CSDM, Rosamond Community Services District LORENZO RIOS, Clovis Veterans Memorial District FRED RYNESS, Burney Water District KIMBERLEE SENEY, Gold Mountain Community Services District

California Special Districts Association 1112 I Street, Suite 200, Sacramento, CA 95814 toll-free: 877.924.2732 • www.csda.net

In my mind, some of the core characteristics of great business partners include being:

Supportive – Not every project, effort, month, or year is going to be the best. There will be ups and downs just like any relationship. Support each other and be prepared to adjust as needed to keep focused on why you first came to work together.

Collaborative – There will be pain points along the way for sure. Share in the successful and less successful moments. Discuss challenges and opportunities regularly. Together, develop options for moving forward and compromise with the big picture in mind.

Transparent – Significant changes to the partnership should not be a surprise to any of the partners. Being open, communicating often, and ensuring your partner is looped in on key decisions is extremely important.

Goal Focused - Stick to what you agreed to. When you’ve achieved or exceeded goals, celebrate and work for even greater collective success. Don’t independently change the goal markers on a partner just because

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Staff

NEIL MCCORMICK, Chief Executive Officer MEGAN HEMMING, Professional Development Director KYLE PACKHAM, Advocacy & Public Affairs Director CASSANDRA STRAWN, Member Services Director RICK WOOD, Finance & Administration Director AARON AVERY, Legislative Representative EMILY CHA, Member Services Specialist MARCUS DETWILER, Associate Legislative Representative BRENT FARRAR, Graphic Design/Video Specialist VANESSA GONZALES, Communications Specialist COLLEEN HALEY, Public Affairs Field Coordinator LILIA M. HERNANDEZ, Legislative Assistant MUSTAFA HESSABI, Deputy General Counsel CHARLOTTE HOLIFIELD, Public Affairs Field Coordinator JENN JACOBS, Member Services Representative QUIANA JOHNSON, Member Services Representative ROSARIO CORTÉS KAPELLER, Senior Legislative Representative COLE KARR, Cole Karr, Public Affairs Field Coordinator & Federal Advocacy Coordinator CHRIS NORDEN, Public Affairs Field Coordinator CHRIS PALMER, Senior Public Affairs Field Coordinator AMBER PHELEN, Executive Assistant RACHAEL POPPINO, Professional Development Assistant COLE R. QUERRY, Legislative Analyst JENNIFER SMITH, Professional Development Coordinator ERIC SPENCER, Member Services Specialist DANE WADLÉ, Senior Public Affairs Field Coordinator JAMES WILFONG, Design & Websites Manager KRISTIN WITHROW, Communications Specialist