press release

December 26, 2002
For Release January 1, 2003

New Manager for the New Year

Dennis Bostad, a 25-year veteran with the agency, is the new General Manager at Sweetwater Authority. Bostad succeeds Al Sorensen, a 25-year employee who was part of the management team at the agency from its opening day (August 30, 1977) until December 27, 2002.

Sweetwater Authority provides public drinking water service to 175,500 residents of Chula Vista, National City and Bonita. It operates Loveland and Sweetwater Reservoirs, the Robert A. Perdue (conventional) Water Treatment Plant in Spring Valley, and the Richard A. Reynolds Demineralization Facility in Chula Vista.

Bostad served nine years as Director of Water Quality at Sweetwater Authority before becoming Operations Manager in 1999. During a 22-year career in Water Quality, Bostad held responsibilities in water treatment, water resources, and endangered species management. He holds a B.S. in Biology from San Diego State University, and an M.A. in Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix. Bostad is immediate past president of the National City Chamber of Commerce and a Hilltop High School graduate. He resides in Bonita.

Bostad will be teamed with Mark Rogers, the Authority’s new Operations Manager. Rogers is also a 25-year water industry veteran. Prior to joining Sweetwater Authority as Business and Support Services Director in 2001, Rogers had served as Manager of the Coronado/Imperial Beach water system owned and operated by California American Water Company. Rogers is a Hilltop High School and San Diego State University graduate and resides in Chula Vista.

Sorensen, an engineering graduate, began his water career in 1968. He is an avid boating and fishing enthusiast, and former Chula Vista Yacht Club Commodore. He and wife Donna, a Chula Vista businesswoman, plan to remain active in civic and charitable events.

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