Board of Directors & Staff

At Missouri Rural Water Association, our mission is to be the leading source of professional services, support, and representation for Missouri water and wastewater utilities.

Meet the men and women behind our mission

MRWA has assembled a staff of professionals who bring extensive experience to bear in managing the Association’s programs. The Board of Directors and Staff are dedicated to assisting water and wastewater systems throughout the state in providing quality water to all Missourians.

Board of Directors

MRWA Executive Staff

MRWA Office Staff

MRWA Circuit Riders

MRWA Apprenticeship

Wastewater Technicians

MRWA Technical and Service Staff

Missouri Rural Water Association
Board of Directors

Randy Garrett

Board Member

Representing: Region #1

Term of Office: March 2025 - March 2028 (Elected to serve a 3-year term)

Phone: 660-373-1000

Email: [email protected]

Address:

Harrison County PWSD #2
22209 E US Hwy 136
Bethany, MO 64424

David Waller

Board President & National Director

Representing: Region #2

Term of Office: March 2023 – March 2026 (Elected to serve a 3-year term)

Phone: 660-385-6457

Fax: 660-385-6006

Email: [email protected]

Address:

Macon County – PWSD #1
PO Box 386
Macon, MO 63552

Tammie Winter

Board Member

Representing: Region #3

Term of Office: March 2024– March 2027 (Elected to serve a 3-year term)

Phone: 660-584-2344

Fax: 660-584-7650

Email: [email protected]

Address:

Consolidated Public Water Supply District No. 2 of Lafayette, Johnson And Saline Counties
1801 Walnut Street
Higginsville, MO 64037

Will Humphrey

Board Member

Representing: Region # 4

Term of Office: January 2024 - March 2026 (Serving remainder of existing 3-year term)

Phone: 573-395-4578

Fax: 573-395-3324

Email: [email protected]

Address:

Cole County PWSD # 4
7712 Route M
Jefferson City, MO 65101

Annette Bonacker

Board Member

Representing: Region # 5

Term of Office: March 2025 - March 2028 (Elected to serve a 3-year term)

Phone: 314-974-0551

Email: [email protected]

Address:

Jefferson County PWSD #8
7970 Graham Road
Cedar Hill, MO 63016

Melinda Piper

Secretary

Representing: Region #6

Term of Office: March 2023 – March 2026 (Elected to serve a 3-year term)

Phone: 417-682-3401

Fax: 417-682-3038

Email: [email protected]

Address:

Barton County C-PWSD #1
1009 E 11th St, Box 586
Lamar, MO 64759

Paul Michael Shaw

Vice President

Representing: Region #7

Term of Office: March 2024 – March 2027 (Elected to serve a 3-year term)

Phone: 573/724-1521

Email: [email protected]

Address:

Pemiscot Co Con PWSD #1
309 E Broadway St
Hayti, MO 63851

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Missouri Rural Water Association Staff

You may email these staff members by simply clicking on their emails below or call their listed phone number.

MRWA Executive Staff

The executive staff and office staff are responsible for the administration and daily operation of the association.

Howard Baker

Executive Director

Howard joined the MRWA staff in June 2009. His 37 years of experience include 16 years as the water and wastewater superintendent for Johnson County PWSD #3. He has also worked for Johnson County PWSD #2, the City of Lawton, Oklahoma wastewater treatment plant, and served in the U.S. Air Force as an Environmental Support Specialist at Whiteman Air Force Base. Howard holds a DW-A drinking water treatment and DS-III drinking water distribution certification, plus a WW-A wastewater certification.

Phone: 660-422-2111

Email: [email protected]

Crystal Cooper

Chief Financial Officer

Contact Crystal with questions regarding MRWA billing or accounting. Crystal has been with MRWA since 1999. She coordinates the day-to-day operations of the office in Ashland, oversees financial accounting and maintenance of records.

Phone: 573-657-5533

Email: [email protected]

MRWA Office Staff

Saem Yem

Member Services Secretary

Contact Saem regarding system, individual, or associate membership. As Member Services Secretary, she is responsible for tracking and updating the member database as well as the Resource Directory. Saem is also involved with conference preparations, bookkeeping, and federal program reporting.

Phone: 573-657-5533

Email: [email protected]

Maggie Dixon

Training Secretary

Contact Maggie regarding training registrations. As Training Secretary, she is responsible for tracking and updating training class and conference registrations, training information, and is your first point of contact for on-line training issues.

Phone: 573-657-5533

Email: [email protected]

Andy Bowman

Marketing and Events Coordinator

Prior to joining the MRWA team in September 2015 as a Water Training Specialist, Andy served his hometown in southeast Missouri as Director of Public Works where his job duties included distribution operator and wastewater operator. While there, he earned his DS-II certification, WW-C certification, and Backflow Assembly Tester Certification. In December 2016, he took the position of MRWA Marketing Coordinator.

Contact Andy with questions, comments, or concerns with the following:

Conference Inquiries
MRWA Website
MRWA Social Media
MRWA e-NewsUpdates
WaterLines Magazine

Phone: 573-714-3186

Email: [email protected]

MRWA Circuit Riders

Drinking-Water Circuit Riders provide on-site technical assistance to publicly-owned drinking water systems. The TMF Circuit Rider and the Small System Circuit Rider provide on-site technical assistance with Technical Managerial and Financial needs including compliance issues to all systems including small drinking water systems that tend to be privately owned, such as mobile home parks, subdivisions, and businesses. The Management Circuit Riders provide training and on-site technical assistance to decision-makers, managers, and office professionals.

Joe Anstine

Operations Director/Resource Conservation Circuit Rider

Joe Anstine joined the MRWA Staff in December 2002. Prior to joining MRWA Joe was the Superintendent for the City of Leeton where he attended the daily operations of the water and wastewater systems. Joe holds a DW-A certification, a WW-D certification, and a DS-III certification. Joe was Chief Operator for the City of Leeton in 1997 when the system received Water System of the Year from MRWA. In 2000, Joe was named Wastewater Operator of the Year by MRWA and in 2001 Joe was named Water Operator of the Year for the Northwest section of the Missouri Water and Wastewater Conference. Contact Joe with any questions regarding drinking water.

Phone: 660-351-0394

Email: [email protected]

Nathan Lines

Drinking Water Circuit Rider

Nathan joined the MRWA staff in March 2022, and has 15 years of experience in the water and wastewater industry. Prior to joining the MRWA staff, Nathan was the public works director for the City of Lincoln, where he served for 8 years. He currently holds a DS-II certification as well as a WW-D certification.

Contact Nathan with any questions regarding drinking water.

Phone: 660-723-4922

Email: [email protected]

Josh Thompson

Drinking Water Circuit Rider

Josh joined the MRWA staff in May 2024. He currently holds a DS-II, DW-C, and WW-D certifications

Contact Josh with any questions regarding drinking water.

Phone: 573-578-1611

Email: [email protected]

Dustin Goodwin

Drinking Water Circuit Rider

Dustin joined the ranks of MRWA in November 2024. His career in the water industry began in 2014 with Mill Creek Water District in Quincy, IL where he worked in water treatment and distribution. Additionally, Dustin served in water treatment in Palmyra and Hannibal. He currently holds DS-III, DW-A, and WW-D certifications.

Contact Dustin with any questions regarding drinking water.

Phone: 573-795-1812

Email: [email protected]

Michael Bertschinger

Energy Efficiency Circuit Rider

Michael started in the water industry in 2001 as an equipment operator for a heavy construction company working with public water systems. He obtained an Advanced Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems installer license through the state of Missouri in 2004. In 2007 he accepted the position of Vice President and continued to estimate and manage civil projects until he took the position of City Supervisor for the City of Auxvasse in 2014. Joining the MRWA team in 2022, Michael looks forward to utilizing his knowledge base to assist rural systems and to expand his own learning through their experiences.

Contact Michael with questions regarding energy audits, energy conservation, and energy efficiency.

Phone: 573-220-7320

Email: [email protected]

Jim Patton

EPA Water TTA/Small System Circuit Rider

Jim joined the staff of MRWA in January of 2004. Prior to his employment with MRWA, Jim served as Water Superintendent and Chief Operator with the City of St. Robert. Jim was also employed by the City of Crocker water/wastewater department. Contact Jim with questions regarding EPA training/technical assistance and small systems.

Phone: 573-337-0053

Email: [email protected]

Mary West-Calcagno

Wastewater TMF Circuit Rider

Prior to joining MRWA in April 2022, Mary worked for the City of Moberly for a combined total of 10 years as Utility Director overseeing the drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, and billing systems. She led the efforts to update the drinking water plant, lift stations, and water and sewer systems, passing three multi-million dollar bond issues and associated rate increases. She also worked as the Environmental Services Manager for the Missouri Public Utility Alliance and as the Midwest Wastewater Marketing Principal for Jacobs Engineering in St. Louis. Mary is a certified DW-A operator and DS-II operator. Mary was previously certified as a WW-A operator. Mary has more than 35 years of experience in municipal utilities at all levels.

Contact Mary for assistance with technical, managerial, or financial issues in wastewater.

Phone: 314-954-9351

Email: [email protected]

MRWA Apprenticeship

Donald Jones

Apprenticeship Coordinator

MRWA’s Apprenticeship Coordinator, Donald Jones, joined the staff of MRWA in February 2015. Prior to being employed by MRWA Donald was employed by the Department of Natural Resources as a Water Specialist III in the South East Regional Office. While with MoDNR, Donald did technical assistance, performed operator certification training, and helped facilities with all different types of compliance issues. Prior to working for MoDNR, Donald began his career in the water industry in December 2000 while employed by the City of Caruthersville. While working for the City, Donald acquired a WW-A certification, a DW-B certification, and a DS-III certification. Donald has worked in every aspect of the water and wastewater field. In 2009 Donald won the Kramer Award from MWWC SE Section.

As the MRWA Apprenticeship Coordinator, contact Donald with questions on the MRWA Apprenticeship Program either as an apprentice or as a system wanting to participate in the program.

Phone: 573-359-8801

Email: [email protected]

Klark Bohling

Apprenticeship Trainer

Klark comes to MRWA with 31 years of experience in the water/wastewater industry. Prior to joining the MRWA team in August 2021, his roles during those years spanned from an equipment operator constructing water and wastewater systems across Missouri to Water/Wastewater Superintendent and Public Works Director for the City of Cole Camp. He has won both MRWA Water Operator of the Year (2013) and MRWA Wastewater Operator of the Year (2017) Awards and holds DS-III, DW-D, and WW-B certifications.

Contact Klark with questions regarding the apprenticeship program’s training.

Phone: 660-221-5896

Email: [email protected]

Wastewater Technicians

Wastewater Technicians provide on-site technical assistance, and some limited amount of classroom training, for publicly-owned wastewater systems. Please click to email or call their cell phone number.

Gary Webber

Wastewater Technician

Contact Gary with any questions regarding wastewater issues. Gary Webber, MRWA’s Wastewater Technician, joined the staff of MRWA in March of 2003. Gary was previously employed by the City of Unionville since June of 1983. He currently holds an “A” level Water Operator Certification, “A” level Wastewater Certification, and a “DSIII” Distribution Certification. Gary is also a graduate of the National Rural Waters Water University Study Course. Gary has previously been honored as “Water Operator of the Year” from both the Northeast Region of the Missouri Water and Wastewater Conference and the Missouri Rural Water Association. Since March of 2003, Gary has worked in MRWA’s Sourcewater Protection, Water Training, and Wastewater Technical Assistance Programs. He has conducted training classes for operators and provides on-site assistance to water and wastewater utilities across Missouri.

Phone: 660-626-6140

Email: [email protected]

Barry Barnes

Wastewater Technician

Barry Barnes, one of MRWA’s Wastewater Technicians, joined the staff of MRWA in June of 2022. Barry was previously employed by the City’s of Summersville and Eminence. He currently holds a WW-B Certification and a DS-II Certification. Contact Barry with any questions regarding wastewater issues.

Phone: 417-247-0482

Email: [email protected]

Matt Marshall

Decentralized Wastewater Specialist

Matt joined the MRWA team in January 2024. He began his career in the water/wastewater industry in 2004 as a laborer and heavy equipment operator for a construction company specializing in water/wastewater. In 2012 he was employed by the City of Poplar Bluff Municipal Utilities’ distribution department. Three years in Municipal Utilities, Matt transferred to the wastewater treatment plant as an operator and was later promoted to foreman. He has also owned his own compliance and remediation company and was a contract operator for the city of Neelyville. He currently holds WW-A and DS-III certifications.

Contact Matt with questions regarding wastewater.

Phone: 573-718-9812

Email: [email protected]

MRWA Technical and Service Staff

The technical and service staff are responsible for special services and projects. Please click to email, or call MRWA at 800-232-6792, to discuss any mapping, training, or special service project needs that you may have.

Valarie Main

Technical, Managerial, Financial (TMF) Specialist

Before joining the MRWA team in September 2022, Valarie worked for the City of Otterville as city clerk. She is very active in her community serving on the PTO, Otterville Pool Board, and Otterville Fair Board. That same civic-mindedness was what drove Valarie to leave her 15-year career as a supervisor in the medical billing field to help her hometown through a difficult time.

Contact Valarie for assistance with technical, managerial, and financial questions and S.U.B.S. related questions.

Phone: 660-473-3365

Email: [email protected]

Darla Conner

Technical, Managerial, Financial (TMF) Specialist

Darla joined the MRWA team in September 2024, bringing her 35 years of office experience to the association. She’s no stranger to MRWA. In 2016, she received the MRWA Office Professional of the Year award, and she currently holds an MRWA COP certification. Additionally, she holds certificates in Sunshine Law training and 20 years of experience as City Clerk for Urich, MO. Before that, her field was the insurance industry for 15 years, during which she worked as a licensed insurance broker/agent, accounting department manager, and assistant human resource manager.

Contact Darla with technical, managerial, and financial questions.

Phone: 660-525-5535

Email: [email protected]

Melody Molder

Technical, Managerial, Financial (TMF) Specialist

Melody joined the MRWA team in June 2023. She worked for the City of Hermitage as their City Clerk for the last 5 years. She currently has an AA in Medical Administrative Assistant from Bolivar Technical College and a BA in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix.

Contact Melody for assistance with technical, managerial, and financial questions or issues in drinking water.

Phone: 417-298-6833

Email: [email protected]

Ramona Huckstep

Technical, Managerial, Financial (TMF) Specialist

Before joining the MRWA team in January 2025, Ramona worked for the Missouri Municipal League for 10 years as a Policy and Membership Associate and for the Missouri Department of Natural Resources for almost 20 years as a Project Manager and Outreach Coordinator.

Contact Ramona for assistance with technical, managerial, and financial questions in wastewater.

Phone: 573-619-8657

Email: [email protected]

Brandon Decker

GIS Mapping Specialist

Brandon joined the Staff of MRWA in November of 2022. Prior to his employment with MRWA, Brandon served as Water Superintendent for Butler County PWSD #2 out of Qulin, MO, and also assisted the City of Qulin where his wife is currently the City Clerk. Contact Brandon with any questions pertaining to GIS and the GIS Mapping of your Water and Wastewater Systems.

Phone: 573-789-7661

Email: [email protected]

Russell Gerling

Sourcewater Technician

Russell joined the MRWA staff in April 2025. He currently holds DS-III, DW-A, and WW-A certifications

Contact Russell with questions regarding water sources and the protection of those sources.

Phone: 660-621-1885

Email: [email protected]