Coaching

Special District Coaching Program

The Special District Coaching Program is designed to help individuals accelerate their advancement in local government management, the program was created in partnership with CSDA and Cal-ICMA. Emerging leaders from all districts, at any stage of their careers, are invited to link with experienced local government managers (coaches) and use them as an educational and career development resource.


The program is operated on a volunteer basis, subject to the time constraints of the coach and the emerging leader. These individuals determine, and are solely responsible for, scheduling, content, and all aspects of the coaching relationship. SDLF provides this service as a resource only. Individual coaches are not endorsed by SDLF and have not gone through a specific screening.

Disclaimer: By accessing this program, indivduals understand and agree that any advice given is designed to provide general guidance in career development, management, operations, governance, and other related topics based on the experience of the coaches and is not intended to be relied upon as legal advice. Information provided is not a substitute for individual judgment or legal opinions.

To get started, select a listed coach and fill out the contact form below. It's easy, free and confidential.


Coaches Corner


Coaching Webinars

Participants of the SDLF Special District Coaches Program are able to participate in a variety of career development webinars at no charge through CSDA’s sponsorship of the Cal ICMA Coaching Program:

View Program

Webinars can be viewed live or as recorded sessions and provide a resource that helps to prepare mid-career professionals to take their places in senior management roles.

Scott Carroll, SDA

Scott Carroll, CSDM

General Manager
Costa Mesa Sanitary District

Scott Carroll has twenty-nine years of local government experience working in several municipalities in Southern California.  In January 2010, Mr. Carroll was appointed General Manager to the Costa Mesa Sanitary District.  In 2013 and in 2022, Mr. Carroll was named General Manager of the Year from the California Special Districts Association for demonstrating leadership in good governance and transparency. Mr. Carroll is passionate about serving others and being a servant leader. He is dedicated to building strong workplace cultures based on a clear set of human values and beliefs that include empathy, respect, empowerment, inspiration and caring for others.  His experience about creating strong cultures was featured in magazines, including Public Management and California Special Districts, and he facilitates professional development workshops to senior executives on servant leadership.  Mr. Carroll has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Public Administration from San Diego State University and a Master Degree in Public Administration from University of La Verne, California.   He is a Certified Special District Manager from the California Special District Leadership Foundation and he is a Credentialed Manager from the International City/County Management Association (ICMA).

 

Tim Deutsch, SDA

Tim Deutsch, CSDM

General Manager
Orange County Cemetery District

Tim Deutsch over 30 years of experience in local government. He received both his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Marketing and Master’s in Public Policy & Administration from California State University Long Beach. He has served as a utilities aide, management analyst, and administrative manager for the City of Newport Beach. He has served as the general manager of the Orange County Cemetery District since 2006.

Deutsch is currently a Certified Special District Manager (CSDM).

Justin Scott-Coe

Justin Scott-Coe, CSDM

General Manager
Monte Vista Water District

Justin Scott-Coe has over 18 years of experience in water resource and local government management. He is General Manager of Monte Vista Water District, having previously served as Assistant General Manager and Water Resources and Community Affairs Manager for the District, and as Integrations Manager for Riverside Public Utilities. Scott-Coe also served on Riverside’s Board of Public Utilities. Scott-Coe has a Ph.D. in English from Claremont Graduate University, a Grade 3 Water Use Efficiency Practitioner Certificate from the American Water Works Association, and is a Certified Special District Manager (CSDM).

Sean Barclay

Sean Barclay, CSDM

General Manager
Tahoe City Public Utility District

Sean Barclay has over 13 years of local government experience with the Tahoe City Public Utility District (TCPUD), serving the north and west shores of Lake Tahoe with water, wastewater collection and parks and recreation services, serving as the General Manager for the last five years.  Barclay’s passion is leadership and organizational culture and leads the District with a focus on a set of established Core Values. Barclay believes that the foundation of a successful organization is a strong workplace culture and is committed to developing future leaders in local government.

Barclay has Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from California State University, Chico and has completed several leadership programs, including the UC Davis Executive Leadership Program.  Barclay holds certification as a GIS Professional and is a licensed Professional Land Surveyor in California and Nevada. 

Barclay is currently a Certified Special District Manager (CSDM).  

Kara Ralston, SDA

Kara Ralston, CSDM

Chief Executive Officer
Camarillo Health Care District

Kara Ralston has over 20 years of experience in local government. Ralston achieved her Masters of Business Administration with emphasis in Management from California Coast University. Her interests include communications, personnel and collaborations.

Ralston is currently a Certified Special District Manager (CSDM).

Ryan Clausnitzer, SDA

Ryan Clausnitzer, CSDM

General Manager
Alameda County Mosquito Abatement District

Ryan Clausnitzer MPA, is the General Manager of the Alameda County Mosquito Abatement District where he oversees the finances, human resources, operations, technology, safety, advocacy, and research at the district. Prior to his position as General Manager, Ryan spent time on the district’s Board of Trustees serving one term as President of the Board.

Since becoming General Manager, the district obtained the Government Finance Officers Association’s Excellence in Financial Reporting, the Special District Leadership Foundation’s District Transparency Certificate of Excellence, and regularly publishes in peer-reviewed journals related to mosquito control research where he is a co-author.

He achieved his background in public health, municipal financing, grant writing, and public policy through work in city planning and redevelopment, as a Peace Corps volunteer, and regulatory experience focused on burgeoning industries. He has certifications through the California Department of Public Health as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist and Vector Control Technician; by OSHA as a Hazardous Waste Operator and Emergency Responder; and by the Special District Leadership Foundation as a Certified Special District Manager.
After obtaining his undergraduate degree, Ryan continued his education while working full-time by taking classes in economics, accounting, statistics, and finance. He also enrolled in graduate school full-time to obtain his Master of Public Affairs degree from the Goldman School of Public Policy at the University of California, Berkely with a focus on local government.

Ryan is in his 2nd term as President of the California Special District Association where he also served as Vice-President with two terms as Treasurer and Chair of the Fiscal Committee. He also sits on the Board of the Alameda County Special District Association and the Executive Committee of the East Bay Economic Development Agency.

In his free time, he serves as the Athletic Director and Board member at his children’s school along with being a basketball coach. Ryan also volunteers through his membership with the Rotary Club of Alameda.

Pete Kampa, SDA

Pete Kampa, CSDM

Kampa Community Solutions

Pete Kampa has over 25 years of local government experience, beginning with Lake Don Pedro Community Services District as the general manager. He went on to serve as general manager for McCloud Community Services District, Twain Harte Community Services District and Tuolumne Utilities District. Kampa has also served on the California Special Districts Association Board of Directors since 1998. Kampa has a special interest in helping special districts develop their accountability and transparency strategies, and formed a consulting company, Kampa Community Solutions, to provide general management services for small districts. Kampa currently serves as General Manager for the Groveland Community Services District and Copper Valley CSD.

Kampa is currently a Certified Special District Manager (CSDM).

Josh Green

Josh Green, CSDM

General Manager
Cosumnes Community Services District

Joshua has over twenty years of experience in local government including seventeen years with the City of Portland, Oregon. He was hired by Cosumnes CSD in 2017 as the Parks Administrator and was promoted to his current post in 2019. In this role he provides leadership to over 800 staff across four District departments: Parks and Recreation, Administrative Services, Facility & Development, and the Fire Department.

Under his leadership the District has implemented a Strategic Plan, Climate Action Plan, and has introduced multiple strategies and initiatives related to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice.

Joshua’s honors include being named the Community Programs & Services Community Educator of the Year by the Oregon Community Education Association, receiving the National Venturing Leadership Award from the Boy Scouts of America, and holding certifications as an Accredited Interscholastic Coach, and Parks and Recreation Professional. And in 2021, Joshua was recognized by the Sacramento Business Journal as a 40 under 40 honoree.

 

Richard “Rick” Howard, SDA

Rick Howard, CSDM

General Manager
Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District

Rick Howard received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from University of San Diego. He went on to achieve his master’s in Public Administration from the University of Southern California.

Howard has over 35 years of experience in various positions within local government. He began his career as a management analyst for the City of Poway. Howard served as senior management analyst for four years, as an assistant to the city manager for three years and went on to serve as the deputy city manager at the City of Mission Viejo for seven years. Howard served four years as deputy executive director for the North County Transit District, and six years as the General Manager at the Town of Discovery Bay Community Services District. Howard is currently the District Manager for the Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District, a position he has held since 2016.

Howard is currently a Certified Special District Manager (CSDM).

David Aranda, CSDM

General Manager
Mountain Meadows Community Services District

David Aranda most recently served as the general manager, board secretary and treasurer for North of the River Municipal Water District. For sixteen years he served in the same positions for Stallion Springs Community Services District.

Aranda was privileged to serve as a committee member working with the Legislature in drafting new CSD law.  He currently serves as president of the Special District Risk Management Authority and the Special District Leadership Foundation.  He was part of the original committee that drafted and produced the CSDA Special District Leadership Academy courses.

Aranda is currently a Certified Special District Manager (CSDM).

Justin Scott-Coe

Jeremy Wittie, CSDM

General Manager
Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District

Jeremy has been a member of the Vector Control community since 1998 and started with the Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District in 2008.  Jeremy was hired as the District’s Vector Ecologist working in the Laboratory Department. Two years later, he was promoted to Scientific Operations Manager, where he oversaw the Surveillance and Operations program. In January 2016, he was hired as the District’s General Manager.

In 1998, Jeremy received his Bachelor of Science in Aquatic Biology from the University of California Santa Barbara.  After working for a vector control district in Santa Barbara county for several years, he attended graduate school at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.  There he received his Master’s Degree in Entomology with his research focus in Medical Entomology, in 2003.

Jeremy has been an active member of the Mosquito and Vector Control Association of California where he has served as President, Chaired the Legislative Committee, and served on several other Association committees. He currently serves as Treasurer for the Special District Association of Riverside County. He is also a board member of the Employer Risk Management Authority and the Southern region alternate board member for the Vector Control Joint Power Authority.

When not working, Jeremy enjoys spending time with his family, riding a skateboard, photography, running, and developing his acoustic guitar skills.

Dennis LaMoreaux, SDA

Dennis LaMoreaux, CSDM

General Manager
Palmdale Water District

LaMoreaux has over 30 years of experience working in special districts the majority with a water district but has also been employed with a community services district. He received his B.S. in civil engineering from the University of Wyoming. LaMoreaux has interest in coaching engineers interested in public water agencies.

LaMoreaux is currently a Certified Special District Manager (CSDM).