Following a highly competitive hiring process, Keri Burchard-Juarez, PE, PMP, has been selected as the next Water Superintendent for Tacoma Water. Her appointment to lead one of the country’s oldest municipally owned water systems was confirmed Wednesday by the Public Utility Board.
“I am thrilled to welcome Keri to Tacoma Public Utilities and have her wealth of expertise and experience to guide Tacoma Water through its next phase of growth and development. We are proud of the clean, reliable water we provide to customers and I know Keri will be an excellent steward for our vital water resource,” said Director Jackie Flowers.
Burchard-Juarez most recently served as Deputy Director for Project Delivery and Engineering at Seattle Public Utilities. She brings more than 25 years of experience in the municipal water and infrastructure sector, with more than a decade of executive level leadership, and is known for her dedication to transparent communication and fiscally responsible utility management.
In addition to serving on the executive leadership team at Seattle Public Utilities, her background includes leadership roles at the City of Austin, where she served in design engineering, project management, and as the Assistant Director of Project Delivery and Engineering. She also led the Municipal Team at Garver USA, managing project design, plan preparation, client coordination, and regulatory approvals. Burchard-Juarez holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Texas at Austin.
Her depth of expertise has led her to be an active contributor to the water and engineering community at local, state, and national levels. She frequently speaks at professional conferences hosted by organizations such as the American Public Works Association, Construction Management Association of America, and the American Society of Civil Engineers. She also generously volunteers her time with the Society of Women Engineers, the Kiwanis Club, and Habitat for Humanity.
Following her appointment by the Public Utility Board, she will officially begin at Tacoma Public Utilities on June 18. Following her appointment, Burchard-Juarez said, “I am passionate about public service and believe in supporting customer and community needs through the way we deliver water. I’m excited to join the talented and dedicated staff at Tacoma Water.”
Media Contact:
Jessica Wilson
253-753-3119
jwilson2@Tacoma.gov