As I approach my retirement from MSD at midnight on Sunday June 30, I wanted to take a moment to thank all of MSD’s partners and stakeholders. During my career here at MSD, I have had the pleasure of working with many of you as I progressed through the organization. I would like to extend my gratitude to everyone who has supported our efforts over the years.
1995-2000 Construction Management Department:
Thanks to everyone in the construction community, including the contractors, construction workforce, workforce providers, our construction management consultants, and industry organizations. While I was fortunate enough to have worked with few of you in the 16 years prior to my coming to MSD, it is during these 5 years that I really felt like we were a team. Thank you for all of your support.
2000-2003 Program Management Division of the Engineering Department:
In addition to the Construction Industry, I want to thank the Consulting Industry. Combining these two functions was unique for MSD, but you helped make us very successful. All of the successes we had during these four years allowed us to try a variety of delivery techniques that proved invaluable in the years to come.
2003-2013 Director of Engineering:
Again, thanks to the Construction and Consulting Industry. I consulted many of you on ideas to deliver our eventual capital program within a Consent Decree framework. I think it is safe to say that the program that came out of those discussions has been very successful so far.
My gratitude extends to our government partners at the local, state, and national level. It was during this time that I had the opportunity to get directly involved in our partnerships with all of the individual municipalities and their elected officials as well as with our State and Federal local officials. I still rely on many of the partnerships and friendships I was lucky enough to develop during this time.
I also want to thank the advocacy community for taking the time to work through issues with us and come to answers that have proven very successful. While our discussions were sometimes long and passionate, they were almost always productive.
2013-2024 Executive Director:
For this time period, I first want to say thanks again to every group I have already mentioned, as well as to any group that I may not have appropriately recognized. During this time, MSD really focused on solidifying our communications with all of our various engagement groups, transforming our interactions into true partnerships. The passage of Proposition S will finally provide funding for MSD to help address stormwater flooding and creek erosion, as well as our continuing efforts to address the health of the water environment. This effort has not ended, and I think you will find MSD working to enhance the relationships with all of our partners as we continue with our mission.
In conclusion, just thanks to everyone. I look forward to being involved with MSD as a private citizen, and in the process probably saying some well-meaning but sometimes strange things. But that is OK, because I will know that most of us still want the same thing and will be pulling in the same direction.
Brian Hoelscher
Executive Director and CEO