Prior to joining the Board, Cari spent three decades leading water and wastewater agencies in Southern California and most recently, served as the Water Utilities Director for the City of Oceanside. Cari is able to leverage this expertise to bring a unique perspective to the Board, focused on infrastructure, financial sustainability and water quality.
Cari’s innovative water reliability strategies allowed Oceanside to develop multiple supply enhancement projects including the expansion of recycled water, higher quality recycled water for agriculture, indirect potable reuse, and groundwater expansion. Cari recently oversaw the development of the first fully operational Indirect Potable Reuse project in San Diego County, Pure Water Oceanside. Pure Water Oceanside became operational in December 2021 producing 3 - 4.5 million gallons of water per day. In 2022, Cari was recognized by WateReuse CA as the Recycled Water Advocate of the Year, a statewide award recognizing outstanding leadership and dedication to the promotion and use of recycled water beyond what would be professionally expected.
Cari and her husband Bruce have lived in the Rainbow service area for over two decades.