Employee Service Recognitions

Staff Report & Agenda Item Details

DAVID HERNANDEZ - 25 Years David began working at the San Antonio River Authority (River Authority) in December 2000 as a Water Quality Analyst II when the lab was still at the Guenther facility. He was promoted to Water Quality Analyst III two years later and then to the Water Quality Analyst Administrator position in 2010. David took his first supervisory role in 2013 when he was promoted to the Lab Operations Supervisor. Next he was promoted to the Senior Laboratory and Data Management Scientist position in 2015, and then transitioned to the role of Senior Data Management and Analysis Scientist, which is the position he holds today. David’s experience in the lab and data management and analysis components of the River Authority’s environmental work make him an invaluable member of the organization. He was part of the team that onboarded the first Laboratory Information Management System at the River Authority in 2006, a platform that has allowed the River Authority to more efficiently and accurately analyze water quality data across the basin for almost 20 years. He has taken a leadership role in the recent agency-wide data governance efforts, helping to improve governance and overall organization of data across the organization. David and his team developed many of our public-facing data visualization tools, most notably the Water Quality Viewer that allows constituents to view and download data from across the basin, and the apple snail removal viewer that gives the public access to removal locations and numbers. David and his team continue to work on streamlining data collection, storage and analysis efforts and are developing infographics and visualizations to help communicate data to the public on the Westside Creeks and River Road restoration and the Otilla dam removal/modification pre- and post-construction environmental monitoring efforts. Congratulations on 25 years of service! GREG MATEO - 25 Years Greg was hired as a Laboratory Technician in December 2000, was promoted to Water Quality Analyst I in 2001, Water Quality Analyst II in 2003 and Water Quality Analyst III in 2007. Greg was the Laboratory Supervisor from 2015 to 2017, and has been in senior technical roles since then, including his current position of Technical Water Quality Scientist, a title he has held since 2022. The River Authority’s Regional Environmental Laboratory has shifted its focus over the years and Greg has been instrumental in onboarding new instruments, methodologies and techniques in support of organizational priorities. Most recently, when the lab onboarded analytical support of the Nueces River Authority’s (NRA) entire water quality monitoring program, Greg was tasked with troubleshooting issues from analyzing salt and brackish water samples. Utilizing his depth and breadth of technical knowledge, Greg was able to adopt a solution to ensure NRA received accurate results, giving them confidence in our staff’s ability to tackle difficult analytical problems. This display of accountability and excellence resulted in Greg being recognized for his values in action at an all-hands meeting earlier this year. He is instrumental in training new staff members, and can analyze nearly all the parameters under our laboratory accreditation and troubleshoot instruments throughout the lab. Greg’s depth and breadth of knowledge helps ensure our laboratory continues to operate at an extremely high level and has gained a reputation as the gold standard across the state. Congratulations on 25 years of service! BRIAN WRIGHT - 35 Years Brian joined the River Authority on December 3, 1990, as an Engineering Technician I. Since that time, he progressed through the levels of Engineering Technician and Construction Inspector until February 2020 when he was promoted to Senior Construction Inspector, the position he currently holds. In 2013, he was a SARA Star Award recipient. Over the course of his career with the River Authority, Brian has performed multiple roles on various wastewater, flood control and park projects, including project designer, project inspector, and project manager. The list of projects he has supported is extensive. Here are just a few areas where he has been involved: San Antonio Channel Improvements Project Area, Green Infrastructure/Nature-based Solutions, and Utility Support on multiple projects as well. In addition to providing oversight and expertise on construction projects, Brian has demonstrated leadership within the Engineering Department through his active role on the developer coordination team. He was instrumental in the start-up of the program to coordinate development adjacent to Museum Reach and Mission Reach which has now expanded to San Pedro Creek and the Westside Creeks. He supports the development of the Construction Inspections team by encouraging formal and on-the-job training, promoting the use of technology when it can help them be more effective and efficient, and seeking out learning opportunities for himself. He has a particular drive to learn more about construction methods and best practice on ecosystem restoration and stream restoration projects, preparing for what may come with the Westside Creeks Ecosystem Restoration project. Brian is appreciated for his hard work, his creativity in seeking solutions, his calm demeanor and no-drama approach to issue resolution, and his helpful nature. Congratulations on 35 years of service!