Date: June 11, 2004

Veteran manager named chief administrative officer for Santa Clara Valley Water District

SAN JOSE – Olga Martin Steele has been named chief administrative officer for Santa Clara County’s water resources management agency, the Santa Clara Valley Water District.

Martin Steele becomes the first female to hold the position. She replaces Paul Romero, who is leaving the district to become chief deputy director for the California Department of Parks and Recreation.

“Olga’s direction, talent and valuable experience have helped the water district maintain standards of excellence. I am confident she will continue to be extraordinary as the CAO,” said Stan Williams, the water district’s CEO.

Martin Steele brings 35 years of public service to her new role, most recently as deputy administrative officer of the water district’s Business Resources Division. In that position, she had direct oversight of multiple aspects of the business side of the district, including its equal opportunity program, recruitment and examination, risk management, accounting and other business-support services.

Under Steele’s direction the district was recognized for excellence, receiving a Distinguished Budget Preparation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association.

As CAO, she will expand her oversight to include information management, technical services, employee relations, organizational development, clerk of the board, as well as business resources.

Steele is also the recipient of a 2004 Tribute to Women in Industry (TWIN) award. The award is presented annually by the YWCA of Santa Clara Valley to women executives they consider the best of the best, and to the companies that employ them.

The Santa Clara Valley Water District manages Santa Clara County's wholesale drinking water resources, coordinates flood protection for its 1.7 million residents and provides stewardship for the county's 10 reservoirs and more than 800 miles of streams.