HomeMy WebLinkAboutDOWNR09282021KBWSappointsJosephETaitasManagerandChiefEngineer
NEWS RELEASE
DEPARTMENT OF WATER, COUNTY OF KAUA`I
MEDIA CONTACT: JONELL KAOHELAULI’I, INFORMATION & EDUCATION SPECIALIST
245-5461| JKAOHELAULII@KAUAIWATER.ORG | FACEBOOK: @KAUAIDOW
For immediate release:
September 28, 2021
KBWS appoints Joseph E. Tait as Manager and Chief Engineer
LIHUE – The Kaua'i Board of Water Supply (KBWS) announces the appointment of Joseph E. Tait to the position
of Manager and Chief Engineer at the Department of Water (DOW), effective October 1, 2021. Mr. Tait will
succeed Mark R. Knoff, DOW’s interim Manager and Chief Engineer since Nov. 2020.
“Joseph’s industry experience as a municipal business leader, public sector strategy executive and over 30 years
of hands-on, day-to-day operations will help to further advance the mission of the Department of Water,” said
KBWS Board Chairperson, Gregory Kamm. “The board is excited to work with Joseph and confident that the
Department of Water will be well positioned to thrive in the years to come.”
Mr. Tait previously served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Metropolitan Water
District of Southern California and has managed organizational competitiveness programs and operating
improvement projects throughout the western United States; from Anchorage to Salt Lake City, Los Angeles,
and Honolulu. He has also served on public utility and water industry association national boards such as the
American Water Works Association (AWWA), AWWA Research Foundation and the Association of Metropolitan
Water Agencies (AMWA).
Mr. Tait will serve alongside Deputy Manager-Engineer, Judith Hayducsko leading the DOW’s four divisions and
more than 90 employees.
“I’m thrilled and excited to join the outstanding Department of Water family of water professionals in this
servant leadership position.” said Joseph Tait.
KBWS also acknowledges the significant leadership role and achievements of DOW’s interim Manager and Chief
Engineer, Mark R. Knoff during this transitional period.
“Mark has been instrumental in leading the Department during this pandemic with minimal impact to essential
water services. He played a critical role in executing agreements with our sister County agencies for the Hanalei
base yard and has worked with the Hawai'i State legislature to subsidize for much needed projects in just a few
short months,” said Kamm. “We truly appreciate Mark’s technical expertise, leadership and hard work during
this transitional period and the board intends to work closely with the Department to continue this momentum.”
-continued-
Water has no substitute…Conserve it!
About the Kaua`i Department of Water
The Kaua`i Department of Water, a semi-autonomous agency of the County of Kaua`i, manages and operates
nine water resources and distribution systems. It derives its revenue from water sales with no direct subsidy
from the County General Fund. The Department’s mission statement, “Together, we provide safe, affordable
and sufficient drinking water through wise management of our resources and with excellent customer service
for the people of Kaua`i” is embraced by the Department and the Kaua`i Board of Water Supply Members. For
more information about the Kaua`i Department of Water, visit www.kauaiwater.org or follow the Department
of Water’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/KauaiDOW.
Joseph “Joe” E. Tait appointed DOW’s Manager and Chief Engineer, effective Oct. 1, 2021
###