Mary Samar
Philadelphia,PA
Summary
Experienced water resources professional with a demonstrated history of effectively managing utility programs to advance community resilience through water stewardship. Skilled in engaging with leadership groups and diverse community stakeholders in the public and private sectors to tackle the nation’s foremost pressing water challenges.
Overview
4
4
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Water Conservation Specialist II
Santa Clara Valley Water District
San Jose, CA
09.2021 - 03.2023
- Operated the landscape irrigation survey program and implemented resource improvements to streamline and provide an excellent customer experience
- Developed a Salesforce CRM system
- Managed survey staff and contractor partnership
- Managed the Submeter Rebate Program to yield over 300 annual rebates to improve water efficiency at multi-family residential complexes
- Presented on the program at Homeowners Association and committee board meetings
- Collaborated with utility cost-sharing partners on Advanced Metering Infrastructure and VertexOne Home Water Use Report contracts
- Improved agreement procedures by outlining industry Best Management Practices and editing customer leak alerts
- Led implementation and oversight of the Leak Detection Certification Training pilot for landscape and plumbing industry professionals
- This included ensuring sufficient funding was encumbered for planned projects, effective collaboration between partners, and project monitoring
- Managed the contractor supported, direct install lawn conversion program, Lawn Busters, for underserved communities
- Prepared a Request for Proposal (RFP) packet to expand the contract with a $500,000 annual budget
- Developed an Oracle database for program tracking
- Launched two direct install toilet retrofit and leak repair pilot programs with a $100,000 total budget
- Tasks included contract management, vendor collaboration, and targeted marketing to income-qualified customers
- Managed a contractor supported, multi-lingual outdoor water efficiency webinar series, hosted on Zoom and Facebook Live
- Acted as website development subject matter expert, writing technical content and improving accessibility of web resources
- Visualized and analyzed program data using Microsoft Excel and Power B.I
- Prepared technical reports and memos for management plans, boards, committees, grant funding and partner agencies
- Supervised three staff members for program operations and special projects.
Water Conservation Specialist
City of Flagstaff Water Services Division
Flagstaff, AZ
05.2021 - 09.2021
- Administered water conservation programs including incentives for efficient commercial equipment, landscape conversion, high efficiency facility fixtures, and residential and commercial water consultations
- Facilitated outreach efforts, including managing program webpages, developing and delivering informational presentations, direct interactions with utility customers and collaboration with community stakeholders
- Developed the scope for a new program for retrofitting schools with water efficient facilities and landscaping.
Communications Aide
City of Flagstaff Water Services Division
Flagstaff, AZ
06.2019 - 04.2021
- Developed and implemented water utility strategic communications campaigns, including Water Resources and Conservation, Stormwater, Regulatory Compliance, Water Reclamation and Capital Improvements
- Delivered informational presentations for outreach events with local and regional partners
- Topics included city water supply and management strategies, stormwater pollution and flood awareness
- Created technical content for the utility to convey information about programs and initiatives; media included blog posts, news, fact sheets, ArcGIS story maps, public comment survey analyses, press releases and customer notices.
Interim Water Conservation Manager
City of Flagstaff Water Services Division
Flagstaff, AZ
01.2020 - 05.2020
- Managed water conservation program operations, tracking and reporting to achieve water savings goals
- Facilitated community stakeholder meetings and conducted cost-benefit data analysis and review for Flagstaff’s 2020 Water Conservation Strategic Plan and Implementation Plan
- Wrote a comprehensive application, highlighting the city’s compliance with American Water Works Association industry water efficiency standards for the Alliance for Water Efficiency national G480 leaderboard
- Planned, coordinated and implemented the city’s primary annual water conservation outreach campaign for Arizona’s Water Awareness Month
- To increase community engagement, tasks included establishing partnerships, creating informational videos and social media content, and distributing water saving devices
- Managed a $30,000 campaign budget
- Supervised staff by developing work plans and conducting regular progress checks.
Education
Master of Science in Environmental Sciences and Policy -
Northern Arizona University
01.2019
Bachelor of Arts in English Literature -
Georgia Southern University
01.2015
Awards
2020 Central Arizona Project & Arizona Hydrological Society Award for Water Research
Graduate Research- “On the Precipice of Transition: Water, Crops and Adaptation in Pinal County, Arizona”
Certification
Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper (QWEL) Certification
California Water Efficiency Partnership
Timeline
Water Conservation Specialist II
Santa Clara Valley Water District
09.2021 - 03.2023
Water Conservation Specialist
City of Flagstaff Water Services Division
05.2021 - 09.2021
Interim Water Conservation Manager
City of Flagstaff Water Services Division
01.2020 - 05.2020
Communications Aide
City of Flagstaff Water Services Division
06.2019 - 04.2021
Master of Science in Environmental Sciences and Policy -
Northern Arizona University
Bachelor of Arts in English Literature -
Georgia Southern University
Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper (QWEL) Certification
California Water Efficiency Partnership
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