Valerie Pryor, 2016

After almost 15 years with the agency, Assistant General Manager Valerie Pryor recently announced her resignation from SCV Water, effective April 20.

Pryor has accepted a position as general manager of Zone 7 Water Agency (Alameda County Flood Control and Water Conservation District Zone 7).

Zone 7 Water Agency, which marked its 60th anniversary in 2017, is a public agency in eastern Alameda County that provides flood control and wholesale water supply to the Livermore-Amador Valley, serving the communities of Dublin, Livermore, Pleasanton and San Ramon (see map above).

Pryor’s official start date as Zone 7’s new GM is Sunday, April 22 – Earth Day – but she reports to work there Monday morning.

“It’s a sad day for the agency, and for me, but I’m so excited for Valerie and her new opportunity,” said Matt Stone, SCV Water general manager.

Pryor was hired in June 2003 as the administrative services manager for the former Castaic Lake Water Agency. She was promoted to assistant general manager in 2017 and played a key role in the transition to the new SCV Water that took effect on January 1 this year.

The State Water Project contract, strategic planning, finance and human resources are some of the major areas of responsibility Pryor had with SCV Water.

Some of her accomplishments include:

• Modernizing SCV Water’s finances, including developing award-winning budgets;
• Serving as a key negotiator on the team that acquired the stock of the Valencia Water Company;
• Serving as the SCV Water’s lead negotiator for State Water Project contract negotiations;
• Working to upgrade SCV Water’s bond rating twice, to a rating of AA.

“I’ve enjoyed my time at the Agency and have appreciated working with and learning from the employees and the Board of Directors,” Pryor said.

“I have worked with most of you for several years, whether we were together in CLWA/SCWD or as partners in NCWD and VWC,” she said in a farewell note to her SCV Water colleagues. “I’m pleased that we have all joined together in SCV Water. While I am looking forward to my new opportunity, I will definitely miss working with all of you at SCV Water.”

Pryor also noted that working with SCV Water’s diverse water supply portfolio, water transfers and groundwater banking programs have helped to prepare her for her new job, as well as working with the local and statewide water community.

“Valerie takes with her a wealth of institutional knowledge but leaves behind a foundation of sound fiscal policies and management practices,” Stone said. “I know her staff is prepared to carry forward while we go through a recruitment process to replace her.”

“On behalf of the Board of Directors, we certainly appreciate everything Valerie has contributed to this agency,” said Bill Cooper, SCV Water board president. “Her professionalism and expertise have always reflected well on SCV Water. We wish her all the best.”

As SCV Water’s assistant GM, Pryor also served as chief financial officer and treasurer.

She holds a Master of Arts in Urban Planning and a Bachelor of Arts in Geography from the University of California at Los Angeles as well as a post-graduate Diploma in Economics from Bristol University.

Prior to working for CLWA, she worked for the city of Los Angeles as the head of Administrative Services for the Department of Transportation.

Pryor also worked for the city of Los Angeles City Administrative Officer, performing budget and policy analysis for a number of city departments.

She is a member of the California Municipal Treasurer’s Association, the California Society of Municipal Finance Officers and the Government Finance Officers Association. She also serves as an Alternate Director for the State Water Project Contractors Authority.

The Zone 7 Board of Directors voted 5-0 to hire Pryor during its March 21 meeting in Livermore, after a months-long search to replace outgoing GM Jill Deurig, who retired at the end of March after nearly 11 years with the agency.