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CSDA 2022 Award Recipients
Congratulations to all of the 2022 CSDA Annual Award Recipients!
Individuals and districts both received awards acknowledging their achievements in various areas including exceptional public outreach, leadership, and innovation! The awards were presented at this year’s CSDA Annual Conference & Exhibitor Showcase held August 22 – 25, 2022 in Palm Desert. Winning submissions from each category are as follows:
2022 CSDA Exceptional Public Outreach & Advocacy Award (Large District Category) Southgate Recreation & Park District for its Southgate Recreation & Park District: Southgate Chronicles
Pictured left to right: Southgate RPD Board Member Manuel Mejia, Administration Manager Paula Hansen, CSDM, General Manager Ward Winchell, CSDA Communications Specialist Vanessa Gonzales, and CSDA CEO Neil McCormick
2022 CSDA Innovative Project of the Year Award (Large District Category)
Rainbow Municipal Water District for its Rapid Aerial Water Supply (RAWS)
Pictured left to right: Rainbow MWD Director Michael Mack, CSDA Communications Specialist Vanessa Gonzales, RMWD Board President Hayden Hamilton, RMWD Finance Manager Tracy Largent, General Manager Tom Kennedy, CSDM, RMWD Director Miguel Gasca, and CSDA CEO Neil McCormick
2022 CSDA Exceptional Public Outreach & Advocacy Award (Small District Category) Isla Vista Community Services District for its Isla Vista Mobility Plan
Pictured left to right: CSDA Communications Specialist Vanessa Gonzales, Isla Vista CSD Community Engagement Director Sydney Casler, and CSDA CEO Neil McCormick
Auburn Area Recreation and Park District for its Auburn Bike Park
Pictured left to right: CSDA CEO Neil McCormick, Auburn Area RPD Landscape Architect and Auburn Bike Park Project Manager Mike Scheele, and CSDA Communications Specialist Vanessa Gonzales
Chapter of the Year Award Contra Costa Special Districts Association
Pictured left to right: CCSDA Chapter President and Ironhouse Sanitary District General Manager Chad Davisson, CSDM, and CSDA CEO Neil McCormick
Pictured left to right: CSDA Professional Development Committee Chair and Ironhouse Sanitary District General Manager Chad Davisson, CSDM, Ironhouse Sanitary District Secretary & District Administrator Cecilia Goff, and CSDA CEO Neil McCormick Pictured left to right: CSDA Professional Development Director Megan Hemming, Costa Mesa Sanitary District Board Member Mike Scheafer, and CSDA CEO Neil McCormick
Pictured left to right: CSDA Professional Development Director Megan Hemming, Costa Mesa Sanitary District General Manager Scott Carroll, CSDM, and CSDA CEO Neil McCormick
Staff Member of the Year Award Cecilia Goff, Ironhouse Sanitary District
Board Member of the Year Award Mike Scheafer, Costa Mesa Sanitary District
General Manager of the Year Award Scott Carroll, CSDM, Costa Mesa Sanitary District
Ralph Heim Public Outreach & Advocacy Award Stephanie Thisius-Sanders, North of the River Recreation and Park District
Pictured left to right: CSDA CEO Neil McCormick, CSDA Legislative Committee Chair and El Dorado Hills Community Services District Director Noelle Mattock, North of the River RPD Planning & Construction Director Stephanie ThisiusSanders, and CSDA Federal Advocacy Coordinator Cole Karr
Beacon Award for Innovation in Clean Energy Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit) for its Zero Emissions Bus Program
Pictured left to right: Institute for Local Government CEO & Executive Director Erica Manuel, AC Transit Board President Elsa Ortiz, and CSDA CEO Neil McCormick
Excellence in Technology Award Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District for its Equal Representation: Midpen’s Ward Boundary Redistricting Project
Pictured left to right: Midpen’s District Clerk Jen Woodworth, GIS Program Administrator Jamie Hawk, and Senior Technologist Nathan Greig (photo credit: Loana Lumina) Representatives from Southgate RPD, Isla Vista CSD, and Auburn Area RPD display their districts’ awards after accepting them at the 2022 CSDA Annual Conference & Exhibitor Showcase in Palm Desert.
For questions about the CSDA awards program, contact CSDA Communications Specialist Vanessa Gonzales at (877) 9242732 or at awards@csda.net. Thank you to all those who participated and submitted nominations this year!
CSDA Endorsed Affiliate - Payment and Merchant Services
AllPaid (formerly GovPayNet) is honored to be selected as CSDA’s Endorsed Affiliate for Payment Services/Merchant Services. AllPaid’s payment platform provides CSDA and its members a secure industry leading payment solution with exceptional customer service and support. These services are available at below market, pre-negotiated rates, exclusively for CSDA members.
AllPaid Key Features and Benefits:
PCI Level 1 Security Robust Reporting Multiple Payment Options: Onsite, Online, By Phone 24/7/365 Call Center Guaranteed Payments - No Charge Backs for CSDA Members No Cost to CSDA Members
Bill Morton Accepts CSDA’s Most Prestigious Award: 2022 William Hollingsworth Award of Excellence
Pictured left to right: Municipal Finance Corporation President and Founder Bill Morton, CSDA CEO Neil McCormick, and CSDA President Ryan Clausnitzer, CSDM
CSDA is pleased to honor William (Bill) Morton with the most prestigious honor bestowed by CSDA, the William Hollingsworth Award of Excellence. This award celebrates distinguished, ongoing service, and exceptional contributions to special districts and the communities they serve. The criterion for this award includes a demonstration of significant leadership for, or in partnership with, special districts regionally and statewide. Morton embodies all of these characteristics and so much more.
Morton is the president and founder of the Municipal Finance Corporation, which has served the CSDA Finance Corporation for more than 20 years. Prior to forming the Municipal Finance Corporation in 1999, Morton served as vice president of a California public finance firm for twelve years. He also formed and operated a municipal securities broker/firm from 1988 to 1994. During his career in public finance, Morton has arranged project financings for all types of public agencies including cities, counties, special districts, school districts, higher education, and health care agencies. He received his B.A. in International Relations from the University of Southern California and an MBA from the University of Texas.
Morton specializes in structuring, documentation, and the administration of tax-exempt financing for district’s capital improvements, large or small, and efficiently arranges competitively priced project financings. He goes the extra mile to find the best financing to meet the needs of the district, which can yield significant savings. He has a straightforward approach and an ability to clearly lay out the financing process for each district.
The CSDA Finance Corporation Board of Directors approves each financing and, as a consultant to the CSDA Finance Corporation, Morton explains in detail the nuances of each financing and keeps the Board up-to-date on the status of each of his prospects. He regularly contributes funds to support the activities of the CSDA Finance Corporation.
Continuing to show leadership and support for special districts, Morton has generously donated to the Special District Leadership Foundation (SDLF) and supports CSDA by exhibiting through the Alliance and CSDA Finance Corporation at the Annual Conference and Exhibitor Showcase.
Morton exemplifies what the Hollingsworth Award of Excellence represents. His creativity and innovation in meeting the capital financing needs of special districts is a service that some lenders just don’t offer! Morton has handled over 1,300 closed financings totaling over $2.5 Billion.
His contributions and commitment to CSDA, the CSDA Finance Corporation, and special districts statewide over many years exemplifies CSDA’s mission and core values in serving our members.
It was our pleasure to present the 2022 William Hollingsworth Award of Excellence to William (Bill) Morton at the CSDA Annual Conference and Exhibitor Showcase in Palm Desert this year.
