The DEAWRA is currently holding elections for Board Members. We are looking to fill 4 Board positions and the Officer Positions of President, Vice President and Secretary. Only DEAWRA members are eligible for voting will be receiving an email with a link to place your votes.

Please submit votes by January 25, 2024. 

Information for voting has been emailed to members. Submit votes HERE using the info sent via email.

If you have any questions about voting, please email Tara Cutillo.

NOMINEES

Officer Positions (Choose 1)

President

Michael Bard (Veolia)

Michael is a Manager of Communications and Community Relations at Veolia’s Delaware Operations. In this role, he manages external and internal communications, government relations and community engagement for a water utility serving over 100,000 people in Delaware. Before joining Veolia, Michael worked as a Program Manager for the Cadmus Group supporting USEPA Office of Water programs on water security and resilience, drinking water and clean water state revolving funds, watershed protection and UCMR5.  Michael has also worked in external affairs and policy roles for Artesian Water and advocated for clean water initiatives with the Delaware Nature Society.

Michael holds a Master’s Degree in Environmental Policy from American University in Washington, D.C. and a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from the University of Delaware. While working towards his graduate degree at AU, Michael held staff roles at the White House Council on Environmental Quality, Office of Climate Resilience and U.S. State Department, Office of Water. Michael enjoys hiking New Castle County and Delaware State Parks with his wife and two sons. Iron Hill, Middle Run Valley and Rittenhouse Park are local family favorites.

 

Vice President

Gina Tonn (Verdantas)

Gina Tonn is a Principal and Senior Project Manager at Verdantas where she leads the Sustainability Practice Group.  She has 24 years of experience in environmental and water resources engineering including positions at DNREC and the Wharton Risk Center.  Her areas of expertise include climate change resiliency and flood risk management.  She holds a PhD in Geography and Environmental Engineering from Johns Hopkins University where she participated in a Water, Climate, and Heath fellowship program.  She is a licensed professional engineer (PE) and a certified floodplain manager (CFM).

Secretary

Danielle Gruber (KCI)

Danielle Gruber is a project manager for KCI Technologies Inc., specializing in water quality and stormwater management.  She is a University of Delaware alumni and holds a masters from Towson University. 

Board Positions 

Taron Booker, PE (AECOM)

Taron is an Associate Vice President in AECOM’s Water Resources practice area. In this role, he leads and manages the design of various programs and projects throughout the northeast region, with a heavy emphasis on Green Stormwater Infrastructure design and implementation. Prior to joining AECOM in 2019, Taron worked as the Manager of Civil Engineering Design for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA). During his time at SEPTA, Taron was responsible for overseeing all departmental design project tasks including stormwater management, site layout and grading, erosion and sediment control, sewer and water utility upgrades, and parking lot design. He implemented and managed SEPTA’s Sustainable Retrofits Program.  Taron holds a Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering from Villanova University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from Civil Engineering. Taron is also a licensed professional engineer in Pennsylvania and Delaware. Taron enjoys spending time with his wife, son, and daughter and watching his favorite football and basketball teams.

Jennifer Eagan (UMD EFC/UD)

Ellie Mortazavi (New Castle County)

My name is Ellie Mortazavi, the Stormwater Program Coordinator for Dept. of Public Works, New Castle County Government. I have a Master’s degree in Environmental Engineering from University of Delaware. During the last 25 years of my professional career, I’ve worked in private and public sectors with concentration in both water quality and quantity aspects of stormwater management design, inspection and maintenance as well as the implementation of stormwater permits and regulations.