There's No Masking our Commitment to Serve
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The request came in around midnight, asking if Metropolitan could provide mutual assistance to transport about 20,000 cloth masks from Northern California to the Southland.
A water district in the Bay Area had the personal protection equipment but needed someone to pick up the masks and deliver them to the city of Long Beach Water Dept., the agency that volunteered to distribute them to water agencies and wastewater agencies in Southern California.
Facilitating the arrangements was CalWARN, the California Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network that provides statewide mutual assistance for public and private water and wastewater utilities.
Metropolitan is a member of CalWARN, as well as other statewide emergency response groups that provide and receive assistance in times of emergency.
The request went first to Team Manager
John Poli
and then to WSO Group Manager
Brent Yamasaki.
They reached out to External Affairs. Within minutes of receiving the email,
Brian Martz
responded that he was available to go "wherever needed."
Brian
has a Class 2 commercial driver’s license and regularly drives a Met van that is sed by the Education unit to take supplies to water festivals and events.
“Staying at home is important but it can feel pretty helpless,”
Brian
said. “So the chance to do something that is going to benefit people working in our industry made me feel good. I was very glad to help.”
Brian and the driver from Northern California met at a halfway point, near Visalia, where they exchanged 40 large boxes filled with PPEs.
Brian
then made the return trip to Union Station and delivered the equipment to Long Beach where it is already being given to other agencies in need.
An earlier shipment provided Metropolitan with 1,750 cloth masks.
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Watchful Eyes Protect Nesting Birds
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For nearly 20 years, a pair of bald eagles has nested in a massive Cottonwood tree next to the shore of Copper Basin, near Metropolitan’s Gene Camp. Their fledglings have been counted and monitored every year.
Over time, the eagles’ waterfront home has become so big that today it’s about the size of a mini-Cooper. The nest is passed to different pairs, likely relatives, according to biologist
Tania Asef
of the Environmental Planning Section.
Tania
, and her colleague Assistant Environmental Specialist
Jolene Ditmar
, both came to Metropolitan within the last few years. One of their key responsibilities is compliance with environmental codes and regulations, which involves conducting sensitive species surveys including nesting bird surveys, which take place pandemic or not.
These days
Tania
and
Jolene
operate alone and visit various locations where construction or maintenance is taking place to be sure that no nests – either in the ground or in trees -- will be disturbed by the work planned.
“
Tania
and I perform surveys and monitoring and then provide protective recommendations to ensure active nests are not subject to potential project impacts,”
Jolene
says.
“Nests can be in the most unexpected places,”
Tania
explains, including structures at Diemer that attract swallows and phoebes.
Nesting season for many protected birds is February – September, so now is prime nesting season, according to
Jolene
.
Both woman are essential workers for Metropolitan and the birds. “I value being able to live and work harmoniously with animals and to realize, even for a second, that there is something bigger than ourselves, to care for,”
Tania
said.
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Take one for the Team as an MVP for MWD
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Javier Bautista
, the Facility Design Support Team Manager. has always been a team player.
In high school, he was a star baseball player and was chosen for the LA Times All South-East Los Angeles Baseball Team of the year. Later when he came to work for Metropolitan, the "boom" of Javier’s bat helped our softball team win their first Major League Softball Championship.
Javier
has worked in the Engineering Services Group for more than 27 years and believes his playing days influenced the person he is today. While working on large design projects such as the Inland Feeder, San Diego Pipeline No. 6 North, Ozone Retrofit Program, and the California WaterFix study, he has come to understand and appreciate the value of good leadership.
This encouraged him to study management. He earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Organizational Management from the University of La Verne and is currently working on his Master's degree in Leadership & Management.
When asked how he measures success,
Javier
responded, “I measure my success by the personal growth I have been able to make in my life. I believe I’ve grown personally and professionally by pushing my limits, and stepping outside of my comfort zones. I enjoy sharing knowledge and influencing colleagues to reach greater success.”
Javier’s
wife, Lisa Bautista, is an employee of Metropolitan’s Credit Union. She began employment nine months before Javier joined Metropolitan.
Outside of his job,
Javier
spends time traveling to warm places and the Eastern Sierras, where he enjoys camping, fishing, and relaxing in nature with his wife and children, Jake and Madison.
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