Maria Gutzeit

The Newhall County Water Board has selected member Maria Gutzeit to serve as its president for 2012 and named B.J. Atkins as vice president.

The board made the appointments during its annual reorganization meeting  Jan. 12. Gutzeit takes the gavel from Dan Mortensen, who was elected in November to his second term on the board.

Gutzeit was first elected to the NCWD board in 2003 and served as its president in 2005, 2006 and 2009.

“It is exciting to work with a public agency so committed to looking for innovative ways to meet the public needs for safe, reliable water,” said Gutzeit, a chemical engineer who owns an environmental consulting firm.

B.J. Atkins

Atkins, who also owns an environmental consulting firm, was first elected to the NCWD board in 2005 and served as its president in 2008 and 2010. He is also the NCWD’s liaison to the Castaic Lake Water Agency.

“It is a privilege and honor to serve on the board,” Atkins said in a statement. “I look forward to working together for the benefit of the NCWD ratepayers who entrusted us with this responsibility.”

Rounding out the five-person board are Lynne Plambeck and Kathy Colley. NCWD serves more than 44,400 residents in Newhall, Canyon Country, Valencia and Castaic.