The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) is comprised of many talented and dedicated public servants. They all play a critical role in ensuring the safe and reliable delivery of our water, power, and wastewater services. Get to know a few of the talented colleagues at the SFPUC and read their spotlights below.
Casey Rando
Casey Rando is a Senior Environmental Compliance Planner for Natural Resources and Lands Management Division (NRLMD). His role is to ensure that Water operations and maintenance is compliant with local, state, and federal laws and regulations that protect natural resources and the environment.
Casey also oversees Project Review, which consists of vetting projects on SFPUC watersheds and right-of-way lands outside of San Francisco for consistency with SFPUC policies and environmental regulations. During the pandemic, he streamlined the Project Review where he had to adapt to the virtual environment and meet with numerous participants. Through collaboration with his incredible team and support from managers, Casey has nearly tripled the number of projects vetted through Project Review on an annual basis!
Casey’s team worked diligently with PG&E to conduct work on SFPUC lands in a more environmentally sensitive and responsible way. PG&E was grateful for the collaboration with SFPUC staff and have become better stewards on our lands. The biggest challenge in his career has been confronting the word “no.”
The needs of the Water Enterprise or third parties often do not mesh with environmental regulations or internal policies, so the team needs to assess how to obtain project approvals in a very regulated environment. To overcome the challenge from the word “no”, Casey states that the mindset has to change to “what we can do to get this completed.”
Casey expresses that what he loves the most about working at the SFPUC is the diverse professionals he works with because it provides excellent insight and diversity of thought that must be considered in decision-making.
“It is rare to find a situation, where a person can work with such professionals as biologists, hydrologists, foresters, real estate analysts, administrative professionals, engineers, attorneys and others daily. This keeps me on my toes and ensures the work is engaging and rewarding," he said.
One colleague who has had a positive impact on Casey’s work is Ellen Natesan, Planning and Compliance Manager for NLRMD. Ellen has been fully supportive of her staff and provides honest advice. "She has made my job infinitely easier just by listening and is the epitome of a great environmental steward," Casey said.
His advice to new employees: “Talk to your colleagues. Get to know them. There is an incredible diversity of people at the SFPUC, and we all have something to offer. You never know when you will make someone’s day, just by asking how they are doing.”
Outside of work, Casey enjoys spending his free time with his dogs at Golden Gate Park, camping and enjoying beautiful parks throughout California, gardening, and soaking up the sun.
Leon Hillard
Leon Hillard is a Utility Plumber for Water, Supply and Treatment in Millbrae. He services and maintains five major pipelines from Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, serving the greater San Francisco Bay Area. Leon's journey at the SFPUC is unique—he started as a General Laborer in the Street Light workgroup in the Power Enterprise and was promoted as Electrical Line Helper. With his prior experience as a utility plumber, he applied to an open position at the SFPUC, and the rest is history.
Leon is proud of being an SFPUC employee and enjoys engaging with and educating the public and our customers about how they receive their water when they turn on the faucet. In contrast, he views some of the challenges he’s faced throughout his career as a test that made him a better, more resilient worker. “I take pride in constructive advice because it makes you better,” he said.
Some of the SFPUC colleagues who have had a positive impact on Leon’s work are Richard Stephens and Terry Elisaia from the Power Enterprise. Richard provided him with an opportunity for career growth and Terry fostered a positive work environment through words of encouragement.
Leon’s advice to new SFPUC employees: “Work hard, believe in yourself, and don’t give up on anything you’re trying to achieve in your journey at the SFPUC.”
Outside of work, Leon is an avid Warriors fan and one of his favorite places to visit in the City is the Chase Center.
Ramona Snyder
Ramona Snyder is a Senior Clerk at Hetch Hetchy Water & Power (HHWP) for the Chief Engineer who manages Engineering Services, Renewal & Replacement (R&R) and IT Services. Ramona started at HHWP as a seasonal Guest Services worker five and a half years ago, which provided her with access to most of the Hetch Hetchy locations and the ability to meet many colleagues.
After some time, Ramona started a full-time role as a Senior Clerk in Records Management where she had the opportunity to gain an understanding of project history and the SFPUC’s mission statement responsibility - as San Francisco’s supplier of quality water and power. Ramona says that she enjoys the different views and perspectives of the project while working from various HHWP branches.
Ramona takes pride in fulfilling her assigned tasks. She attributes those successes to the teamwork effort shared with her coworkers. One of the challenges that she has faced in this career has been translating her acquired skills and knowledge from the past to present opportunities. She notes that her colleagues have provided support and guidance throughout her job transitions, which have aided in her success in each role at HHWP.
Ramona enjoys working at HHWP because of its unique history and the encompassing natural beauty of its location. “Everybody knows each other, we are all working together from a different branch for the greater good of the project.” Ramona is grateful for the friendships that she's made and to be a part of an amazing collaborative project.
Ramona's advice to new employees: “Step back, take a deep breath, and try and take it all in… the enormity of the project, the master mindfulness of the design, and the steadfast, relentlessness work of the people who were and are now employed here.”