For questions about CASA News, please contact Alyssa Downs.

Get to Know the CASA Team: Shacara Gamboa, Manager of Association Services

Shacara manages a full spectrum of both financial and administrative functions on behalf of CASA. In her role, Shacara performs the roles of accounts receivable and payable, budgets, banking, recordkeeping and office management. She also supports membership strategy, onboarding and retention as well as helping with conference planning and leading our Human Resources workgroup. Joining the CASA team in 2023, Shacara brings a background as the Director of Operations in the emergency restoration and construction industry, managing administration and financials. She also has five years of experience in Hospitality Management and strives to exceed customer service expectations. Shacara holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from California State University of Monterey Bay.

 

Shacara beyond the office:

  • What's your favorite animal, and is there a reason behind it?

I’m partial to English Bulldogs because we have a four-year-old named Oakley. He has a huge, stubborn personality but is also the biggest love bug and the cuddliest member of our family.

  • What is the last show you binge-watched?

I recently binge-rewatched the first season of House of the Dragon to prepare for the second season, which unfortunately ended much too quickly! Now, I’m on the hunt for a new show recommendation to keep me entertained until the next season arrives in 2026.

  • What is your go-to comfort food?

Having lived in Monterey for almost ten years, seafood is my go-to comfort food. I’ve been spoiled by the best clam chowder and seafood pastas—nothing in Sacramento can compete!

  • If you could have a vacation house anywhere in the world, where would it be?

My family is from the Azores, and I have yet to make the trip to visit. I’d love a vacation house on the oceanfront there, so I could explore my roots and finally meet some of my relatives!

Annual Conference Recap

CASA's recent Annual Conference in Monterey was a tremendous success! With over 370 attendees (a new record!), the event brought together the clean water sector's best and brightest, fostering networking and collaboration. A big thank you to all the speakers, moderators, and panelists who shared their knowledge and experiences with CASA members.

 

For those unable to attend, you can view the informative presentations and handouts shared by our speakers and panelists on our website.

READ MORE

CASA Celebrates 2024 Awards of Excellence Winners

Congratulations to the recipients of CASA’s 2024 Awards of Excellence! CASA is proud to recognize the hard work your agencies do to provide an invaluable service to California communities. To see the full list of award applicants and a description of their projects, be sure to check out the Awards Brochure . Interested in submitting your project? Mark your calendar! We will begin accepting applications for the 2024 Awards of Excellence in March: CASA Awards Program. Check out this year’s winners below:

READ MORE

Michael F. Dillon Public Service Award

We are thrilled to announce that Terrie Mitchell, who recently retired as the Manager of Legislative & Regulatory Affairs at Sac Sewer, was honored with the Michael F. Dillon Public Service Award during the CASA Annual Conference. This award, established by the CASA Board of Directors last year in recognition of Michael Dillon, CASA’s longtime Executive Director and Lobbyist who retired at the end of 2023, celebrates individuals who have demonstrated outstanding public service within the wastewater sector. Terrie has been a dedicated member of CASA for many years, serving on the State Legislative Committee, among others. Congratulations to Terrie on this well-deserved recognition, and we wish her all the best in her retirement!

CASA Acknowledges 2024 Education Foundation Scholarship Recipients

The CASA Education Foundation (CEF) was formed to enhance the future of California’s clean water community by attracting new professionals into the clean water sector through scholarships. This year, the CEF presented $5,000 scholarships to four worthy students, including the third annual Bruce Wolfe scholarship. Learn more about the scholarship recipients and view their thank you videos below:

READ MORE

Learn About CASA’s Committees & Workgroups!

Participating in CASA’s Committees and Workgroups is an excellent way to contribute to the clean water community and get the most out of your agency’s CASA membership. Most CASA Committee seats are two-year terms, but some committees may have openings throughout the year. If you are interested in subscribing to any of the Committee or Workgroup LISTSERVs or learning more about our various committees, please email Cheryl MacKelvie at cmackelvie@casaweb.org and identify the committee or Workgroup you are interested in. Below please find a brief description of each Committee and Workgroup:

READ MORE

Last Chance to Apply for the 2024-25 CASA Mentorship Program

Apply today to join us as a mentor or mentee to inspire others, share knowledge and drive change through the CASA Mentorship Program! This 11-month comprehensive program, kicking off in October and concluding in August 2025, serves to connect clean water professionals from across the state of California. The program is open to both associates and agency members. Interested in learning more? Register and join us this afternoon for a virtual information session:

 

Be sure to visit the CASA LEAD webpage for additional information! If have any questions, please email Alyssa Downs. The deadline to apply for this year’s program is Friday, August 30th.

 

Follow this link to the mentor or mentee application.

READ MORE

Next Level Leadership Program 

Check out the Next Level Leadership Program, a one-year development initiative for both experienced and rising leaders in the electric and water utilities industry. This comprehensive program is designed and facilitated by the Leading With Courage® Academy, offset with funding from the California Water, Wastewater, and Energy Workforce Development Program for underrepresented populations. This leadership experience offers a unique blend of practical skills development, insightful assessments, and networking opportunities that strives to move participants from “meets expectations” to “exceeds expectations.”

 

Key Benefits of the Program:

  • 52 Hours of Facilitated Meetings with monthly meetings, including 4 in-person sessions, 8 virtual meetings, and small group discussions.
  • Four Leadership Assessments to help “raise your game.” covering critical areas like emotional intelligence and personal behavior tendencies and preferences.
  • Diverse Curriculum addressing essential leadership skills. including self-awareness, communication, coaching, and women and minorities in leadership.

 

To register a participant or to learn more, please visit Register Now or contact Lee Eisenstaedt at (262) 412-4710 or Lee@LWCNetwork.com

READ MORE

CAPIO 2024 Leadership Summit

Registration is open for the California Public Information Officers (CAPIO) Leadership Summit taking place in Walnut Creek, CA on October 3 & 4! Join CAPIO for an insightful and engaging two days geared toward public sector communicators looking to further their leadership skills.

READ MORE

Innovative Technology Seminars

The 2024 Innovative Technology Seminars, co-hosted by CASA and CWEA, are happening on October 29th at the Hyperion Water Resource Recovery Facility in Los Angeles and October 30th at the Southeast Community Center in San Francisco. We are very excited to bring these popular seminars back again this year with a tremendous lineup of speakers. Register today and please reach out to Greg Kester with any questions or comments.

Visit CASA's Job Board.
Facebook  Twitter  

CASA represents more than 135 local public agencies engaged in the collection, treatment and recycling of Wastewater and biosolids to protect public health and the environment. Our mission is to provide trusted information and advocacy on behalf of California clean water agencies, and to be a leader in sustainability and utilization of renewable resources.

Visit Our Website