Board of Water Supply appoints Tait as new chief engineer

LIHU‘E — The Kaua’i Board of Water Supply has appointed Joseph Tait to the position of Manager and Chief Engineer at the Department of Water (DOW), effective Friday.

Tait will succeed Mark 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.”

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 Research Foundation and the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies.

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,” Tait said in a release.

KBWS also acknowledges the significant leadership role and achievements of 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.”
Source: The Garden Island