As a special district, the Fort Collins-Loveland Water District (FCLWD) is governed by a five-member board of directors. Our board is elected by you, our customers, and serves a two to four-year term during which time they are responsible for making important decisions to guide the District today and into the future. Our board members have extensive experience in water, community leadership and operations management and donate their expertise and time to ensure customers have access to high-quality, safe, reliable and affordable water. Please join us in recognizing Ron Ruff for six years of dedication to the District, as well as welcoming a new board member, Denis Symes.
Ron has always been personally connected to water. Growing up in Colorado and working in agriculture in Fort Collins and eastern Colorado for most of his life, water has played a big part in his life and career. Ron has been a customer for many years and was actively involved with the District and the board before joining himself. In 2017, Ron officially joined the board to share his extensive expertise in agriculture, farming and ranching and to help protect the quality of water for new and existing customers. While on the board, Ron served in an additional leadership position as Vice-Chairman of the board. We are honored to have Ron’s insights and expertise on the board these last six years and wish him all the best.
To fill Ron’s position, we are pleased to welcome Denis Symes to the board of directors. With a background in business administration and economics, Denis has extensive experience within the transportation industry having worked for organizations such as Mobil Oil, the US Department of Transportation, Volvo Bus Corporation and the Washington METRO. Prior to retiring in 2013, Denis also provided consulting services to transportation operators and new businesses and worked as a legislative and policy analyst for the US General Services Administration. His various experiences help him consider and understand the complexity of water issues and the economic impact of water decisions. Denis moved to Colorado in 2015 from the East Coast and quickly discovered the issues affecting water in the West. Since becoming a Coloradan, he has learned that water is critical to development and agriculture, Denis is interested in playing a part in guiding the outcomes for the future of the District and the larger Northern Colorado community.
Denis joined the FCLWD board of directors as a non-voting associate board member in January 2023. He was appointed as a director on October 5, 2023, to step into his new role with voting privileges. He will serve a two-year term.
Without the guidance and expertise of our board members past, present and future, the District would not be where it is today. Our board is a vital part of our operation and serves as the guiding hand for the vision of the District. If you want to be part of the future of water in our District, get involved! A great place to start is becoming an associate board member so you can acquaint yourself with the board duties and the operations of the District. If you’re interested in joining, send us a note at FCLWD.com/contact.
