LOS ANGELES, Sept. 11, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Los Angeles Business Journal on September, 10, 2013, named Scott Ota, long time Water Replenishment District of Southern California (WRD) Chief Financial Officer, its Government/Public Sector CFO of The Year.

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Since joining WRD in 2003, Mr. Ota has accomplished much, including a comprehensive overhaul of the District's budget development and rate setting process, which has since received the Award for Excellence for Operating Budgeting from the California Society of Municipal Finance Officers for eight (8) consecutive years.  Mr. Ota also led the Districts efforts in 2004, 2008 and 2011 issuance of Certificates of Participation.  He was responsible for leading the financing team; bond counsel, financial advisors, underwriters and underwriter's counsel through the process.

Scott Ota routinely goes above and beyond his duties as CFO, working closely with other WRD departments including engineering and hydrogeology, to learn the technical aspects of the District's projects and programs.  He has used his in-depth knowledge to help secure grants for the expansion of the Leo J. Vander Lans Advanced Water Treatment Facility in Long Beach and for the expansion of the Robert W. Goldsworthy Desalter in Torrance.

WRD Board President Rob Katherman said "We could not agree more with the Los Angeles Business Journal's selection of our own Scott Ota as its CFO of The Year.  You hear people talk the talk about integrity and transparency, but Scott and his team really do walk the walk. He is hard working, professional, and absolutely deserving of this honor." 

Learn more about WRD at www.wrd.org.

Formed by a vote of the people in 1959, the Water Replenishment District of Southern California is the regional groundwater management agency to over ten percent of California's population residing in 43 cities in southern Los Angeles County. WRD is governed by a publicly elected Board of Directors which includes Willard H. Murray, Jr., Robert Katherman, Sergio Calderon, and Albert Robles.

SOURCE Water Replenishment District of Southern California

RELATED LINKSwww.wrd.org