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A 19-year veteran with the city of San Diego, most recently as director of the city’s Public Utilities Department, will join Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA) as its new general manager as of this coming Dec.1. Halla Razak will assume her position with IEUA as current General Manager Joe Grindstaff retires after leading the agency for nearly five years. Grindstaff’s career of more than 40 years includes 30-plus years of experience in management and planning in the fields of water, wastewater and resource management.
“We are very excited and honored to have Halla Razak join and lead our team as general manager. Halla is a proven leader with stellar credentials and experience in both water and wastewater management,” said IEUA Board President Steve Elie. “She will be invaluable to the Agency and the region as we address the many challenges ahead including the ongoing need for water-use efficiency, expanded use of recycled water and our continued focus and leadership on issues involved in environmental sustainability.”
Razak is a registered professional civil engineer in California. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Dayton (OH) and Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering from San Diego State University. Razak began her career with the city of San Diego, rising from Junior Engineer/Assistant Engineer to Chief Deputy Director of the Engineering and Capital Project Department over the course of 19 years. She held the position of the Colorado River Program Director for the San Diego County Water Authority from 2005 – 2013 prior to her current position with the city of San Diego.
In her current position, she oversees more than 1,600 employees and a budget of $864 million. Under her management, the Public Utilities Department initiated the design of Pure Water San Diego, which by utilizing water purification technology to clean recycled water is expected to produce a third of the City’s drinking water by 2035. Razak has served as the Director of the Public Utilities Department for the city of San Diego for the past four years.
“I am looking forward to working closely with the IEUA Board of Directors and staff to continue to enhance water resources management in the Chino Basin,” said Razak. “IEUA is well known for its leadership and innovation in sustainability, and I will work diligently to champion those values.”
IEUA distributes imported water, provides industrial/municipal wastewater collection and treatment services, and other related utility services to more than 875,000 people within its 242-square miles, through its member agencies including the cities of Chino, Chino Hills, Fontana, Montclair, Ontario, and Upland along with Cucamonga Valley Water District, Fontana Water Company and Monte Vista Water District.
