Board of Directors and management team

Marilyn Kirkpatrick joined the Clark County Commission in August 2015 when she was appointed by Gov. Brian Sandoval to fill a vacancy. At the time, Kirkpatrick was serving in the capacity of assemblywoman for Nevada's Legislative District 1.

Kirkpatrick was first elected to the Nevada legislature in 2004 and served five regular and seven special sessions in Carson City before the appointment. In 2013, she was elected speaker of the assembly and prior in 2011, she was the only member of the assembly to chair two committees: government affairs and taxation.

Clark County Commissioner Marilyn Kirkpatrick was elected to a second four-year term on the County Commission that began January 2021. She also was elected by her peers on the Commission to serve two terms as chairman from Jan. 9, 2019 until Jan. 4, 2022.

A native Nevadan, Kirkpatrick grew up in Clark County. She graduated from Western High School and attended Krolack Business School and the Community College of Southern Nevada.

Commissioner Kirkpatrick and her husband have six children, six grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

For more information about Commissioner Kirkpatrick, visit the Clark County website.

Dan Stewart has served as a member of the Henderson City Council representing Ward IV since 2017.

In addition to the Southern Nevada Water Authority Board of Directors, Stewart also serves on the Colorado River Commission of Nevada and as chair of the Nevada State College Foundation.

Councilman Stewart is president of Valley Construction Company, a general engineering and building contractor, and vice president of development for Gardner Company, the master developer for the Harry Reid Research and Technology Park in partnership with the UNLV Research Foundation.

Stewart is a graduate of Brigham Young University, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering. He also received his master’s degree in Construction Engineering and Management from Stanford University and completed the Harvard University Advanced Management Development Program.

For more information about Councilman Stewart, visit the City of Henderson website.

Mr. Walton is currently serving as City Council member for the City of Boulder City. Prior to being elected to City Council, Mr. Walton served 4 years on the Planning Commission, as well as Interim Fire Chief in Boulder City. In addition to serving on the Southern Nevada Water Authority Board of Directors, Mr. Walton is also currently serving on the Las Vegas Convention and Visitor’s Authority Board of Directors.

Professionally, Mr. Walton has served for over 30 years within the fire service in Southern Nevada, retiring from Henderson Fire Department in 2010 as Division Chief of Training. Mr. Walton earned his B.S. in Public Safety Administration from Grand Canyon University.

Mr. Walton served as Assistant Program Director for the Fire Technology program at College of Southern Nevada, and also co-founded HRTA, a training and testing consulting company for fire service organizations.

Mr. Walton is a commercially rated airplane pilot and certified flight instructor, and an avid recreation league ice hockey player.

Councilman Walton and his wife have 4 children and 15 grandchildren.

A native of Southern Nevada, Scott Black was elected to the North Las Vegas City Council in June 2017.

He has served as commissioner of the Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority Board, and member of the Southern Nevada Regional Planning Coalition, Southern Nevada District Board of Health, Southern Nevada Child Drowning Prevention Coalition, and Local Elected Officials Consortium Committee.

Black received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies with an emphasis on Public Relations and Advertising from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He went on to earn a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Phoenix.

Councilman Black is an avid bicyclist, a vintage Volkswagen enthusiast, and enjoys camping and hiking with his family in his spare time. He and his wife have one daughter.

For more information about Councilman Black, visit the City of North Las Vegas website.

Olivia Diaz won her election to the Las Vegas City Council, Ward 3 seat in June 2019. Born and raised in Las Vegas, she is the first Latina to represent the Hispanic community on the Las Vegas City Council.

Councilwoman Diaz earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and a Master of Sciences in bilingual education from NOVA Southeastern University. She taught as an elementary school teacher and worked as an English language Learner and Literacy intervention specialist in the Clark County School District for nearly 18 years.

Councilwoman Diaz is a former member of the Nevada State Assembly representing District 11 from 2010 to 2018. There she also broke another glass ceiling by being one of the first four Latina women ever elected to the Nevada State Legislature in 2010. In the 2013 session, Diaz served as majority assistant deputy whip.

As the representative of Ward 3, one whose population is at least 65% Latino/a, Diaz has brought the same passion and work ethic from the halls of the schools and legislature to continue to bring positive change to the residents. She has championed bringing more attainable housing, increased access to early childhood education and healthcare services as well as working on initiatives to minimize the heat island effect. Because of these efforts, she was recognized in 2021 as a Señora of Excellence. She currently sits as the chair of the Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority, serves on the board of the Southern Nevada Health District, and is the vice-chair of the Local Elected Officials Consortium for Nevada's Workforce Connections board.

For more information about Councilwoman Diaz, visit the City of Las Vegas website.

A former three-term Mayor of Henderson and a practicing attorney in business and commercial law for more than 35 years, James Gibson was appointed to the Clark County Commission in July 2017.

While mayor of Henderson, Gibson guided the city through a period of unprecedented growth as it became the second-largest city in Nevada.

A native Nevadan, born in Las Vegas and a near lifetime resident of Henderson, Gibson has served on numerous boards and commissions, including the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority Board of Directors, the Nevada Development Authority Board of Directors, the Las Vegas Events Board of Directors, the Regional Transportation Commission and as Co-Chair of the Civilian Military Council for Nellis Air Force Base. In the private sector, Gibson served on the St. Rose Dominican Hospital Board of Directors.

Gibson is president of Western Elite, a full-service waste services provider in Clark County. He previously served as General Counsel of American Pacific Corporation operating subsidiaries, president of the Las Vegas Monorail Company, and president and chief executive officer of Vegas.com.

Gibson has been recognized for his contributions by local, state and national organizations. Among the many awards he has received are the Lili Claire Foundation’s Spirit of Leadership Award and the Humanitarian Award from the National Jewish Medical and Research Center.

For more information about Commissioner Gibson, visit the Clark County website.

Clark County Commissioner Justin Jones was elected to the Clark County Commission in January 2019.

Jones served in the Nevada State Senate as an assistant majority whip from 2012 to 2014.

He has provided pro bono representation to child victims of domestic abuse and neglect through the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada's Children's Attorney Project. He also has served as chair on the Volunteer Center of Southern Nevada and Battle Born Progress, as a board member for United Way of Southern Nevada and Emerge Nevada, and as a founding board member of Nevadans for Background Checks.

Jones has been a practicing attorney in Nevada since graduating from George Washington University Law School in 2001. Before entering private practice, Commissioner Jones served as a law clerk to the Honorable Roger L. Hunt of the United States District Court, District of Nevada.

He and his wife have two children.

For more information about Commissioner Jones, visit the Clark County website.

John J. Entsminger oversees the operations of the Southern Nevada Water Authority, which is responsible for acquiring, treating and delivering water to local agencies that collectively serve 2 million residents and more than 40 million annual visitors, and the Las Vegas Valley Water District, which serves more than 375,000 customer accounts. He was appointed general manager by both agencies' Boards of Directors in early 2014, having previously served as director of environmental and water resource law and senior deputy general manager. Entsminger joined the organization in 1999 as an attorney.

Entsminger has spent his career addressing the unique water challenges facing Southern Nevada. He has been instrumental in developing inter basin and international agreements protecting Lake Mead water elevations, including the 2007 Colorado River Interim Guidelines and Minutes 319 and 323 to the 1944 U.S. - Mexico Water Treaty. In April 2014, he was appointed by Governor Sandoval to serve as Nevada's lead negotiator on Colorado River matters.

On the national front, Entsminger serves on the Boards of Directors of the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies and the Water Research Foundation, and the Desert Research Institute Foundation Board of Trustees.

Committed to public involvement, Entsminger works closely with a committee of community stakeholders tasked with making recommendations on issues related to funding, planning and facilities construction and maintenance. These recommendations will guide future organizational initiatives, including a renewed commitment to maintaining its vast water systems.

Entsminger is a graduate of the University of Northern Colorado and of the University of Colorado School of Law, where he was awarded the Charles N. Woodruff Natural Resources Law Fellowship. He and his family have been in Las Vegas for nearly 20 years.

David L. Johnson is the Deputy General Manager of Operations at the Southern Nevada Water Authority and the Las Vegas Valley Water District.

Mr. Johnson has been with the organization since 2004 and manages five departments with more than 600 employees within the Water Quality & Treatment; Operations; Information Technology; Human Resources; and Environmental, Health and Safety and Corporate Security departments. These departments are primarily responsible for the protection, treatment, and distribution of millions of gallons of safe drinking water within Southern Nevada to 2.2 million residents and visitors every day.

With over 30 years of experience in management relating to water supply, water quality and treatment, and chemical manufacturing in Nevada and New York, David brings innovative and forward-thinking initiatives to Southern Nevada’s water system. Mr. Johnson utilizes his knowledge in identifying solutions and launching pilot and full-scale projects to manage key operations of the organization.

Mr. Johnson serves as Chairman of the Board for WaterStart, a non-profit organization connecting innovative technology companies with global water agencies seeking solutions to enhance operations. David is also a member of the American Water Works Association, WateReuse Association, American Public Works Association, Water Environment Federation, International Ozone Association and Nevada Water Resources Association.

David earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Purdue University and maintains Level 4 Water Treatment and Level 4 Distribution certifications from the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection.

David and his wife, Lisa, have lived in southern Nevada for nearly 25 years where they raised four children.

Colby Pellegrino is the Deputy General Manager of Resources for the Southern Nevada Water Authority and the Las Vegas Valley Water District.

After joining the agency in 2003, Pellegrino served as an instrumental part of the Water Resources division, supporting Colorado River modeling efforts to anticipate changes caused by climate change, reduced flows, and other inputs.

In her current capacity, she is responsible for the management of the Water Authority’s water resource portfolio, which includes protecting Nevada’s interests and rights to Colorado River water through interstate negotiations, developing regional water conservation programs, managing groundwater resources, and water resource planning.

Pellegrino also serves on the Board of Alliance for Water Efficiency, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the efficient and sustainable use of water and water conservation advocacy throughout North America.

A native of Las Vegas, she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and her Master of Business Administration from Mississippi State University.

Pellegrino has two children and is an avid cook, hiker, and outdoors enthusiast.

Doa Ross is the Deputy General Manager of Engineering for the Southern Nevada Water Authority and the Las Vegas Valley Water District.

Ross joined the organization in 2000 and throughout her career she has been instrumental in the design and construction of critical water infrastructure, asset management, expansions in support of development and ensuring system reliability for southern Nevada's residents and visitor population.

In her current capacity, she is responsible for executing the design and construction of the critical water projects included in the Water Authority's Major Construction and Capital Program and the District's Capital Improvement Plan. Ross has a passion for innovation in the areas of smart water technology and water loss management and incorporates innovative solutions into the projects and management of the system. Her departments include Engineering, Infrastructure Management and Customer Care & Field Services.

Ross graduated from the University of Nevada Las Vegas, is a licensed professional engineer and has served on multiple committees and boards in the areas of innovation, engineering design, construction best practices and materials performance.

E. Kevin Bethel is the Chief Financial Officer for the Southern Nevada Water Authority and the Las Vegas Valley Water District.

As the chief financial officer, Bethel is responsible for all financial functions, including debt management, capital planning, financial reporting, budgeting as well as water rates and charges for both agencies, which collectively serve more than 2 million residents and 40 million annual visitors in Southern Nevada.

Bethel has served in a financial leadership capacity in the utility industry, both regulated and non-regulated, for nearly 30 years. Before joining the Water Authority and Water District in 2018, Bethel was the senior vice president and chief financial officer at NV Energy from 2013 until 2018. Bethel joined NV Energy in 2007 as vice president and chief accounting officer.

Before moving to Nevada, Bethel served as assistant controller for American Electric Power, Inc. in Ohio. Prior experience includes key accounting management positions with The Williams Company, Central & South West Services, and the Public Service Company of Oklahoma.

Bethel earned a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Oklahoma State University, and he holds his certified public accounting certificate from Oklahoma. Since 2008, Bethel has served as a board member of Opportunity Village, and he is the board’s past treasurer and past audit committee chair. He also served as a Las Vegas Metro Chamber Trustee from late 2013 through September 2018.

An Oklahoma native, Bethel and his wife, Sherry, have lived in Las Vegas since 2007.

Gregory J. Walch serves as General Counsel for the Southern Nevada Water Authority and the Las Vegas Valley Water District.

As a member of the Water Authority and Water District Executive Teams, he oversees the Legal Department of both agencies.

After receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Engineering from Iowa State University in 1985, Walch spent the next four years as an engineer with Layne Western Company, designing and overseeing construction of water well systems for industrial and municipal clients.

In May 1992, Walch received his Juris Doctor from the Lewis & Clark Northwestern School of Law. He has practiced environmental, water, land use, mining, eminent domain and administrative law, and has regularly appeared before the Nevada State Engineer and other state agencies and administrators, various federal agencies, and state and federal courts in Nevada. In 1996, Walch co-founded the law firm now known as Holley, Driggs, Walch, Puzey & Thompson. Walch has been recognized by Chambers USA, Mountain States Super Lawyers, and Martindale-Hubbell for his work in environmental and natural resources law.

Walch and his wife, Shauna, have two sons, Rowan and Quin.