Carol W. Kwan
Biography
PERSONAL
OBJECTIVE
My
interests and concerns have for some years been concentrated on seeing
to it that water quality meets the standards that make it safe for
human consumption and the environment. I have come to realize that
the issue of water is one that transcends geopolitical borders, geographical
boundaries, political ideology, and culture and requires an elevated
consciousness of policy and decision makers to take those necessary
and bold steps to ensure that our precious water resources are properly
managed and not taken for granted.
BACKGROUND
Carol
Kwan emigrated from Hong Kong to the United States with her family
in 1971. The Kwan Family settled in the South Bay of Southern California
area where Carol has embraced as home.
PROFESSIONAL
BACKGROUND
Carol’s
family opened a restaurant and, as is typical for many immigrant families,
all the children helped with the business. Carol in particular became
quite involved with the operations and eventually assumed responsibility
for running all aspects of the family business.
After
her graduation and the sale of the family restaurant, Carol followed
her instinctive calling as an entrepreneur and started a successful
marketing and promotion company in Los Angeles. As a businesswoman,
Carol learned finances, marketing and the importance of effective
interactive skills. The company eventually began engaging in projects
and ventures on an international scale.
In 1994, Carol went to China where she spent
two years as an environmental consultant to the water authority in
the city of Zhongshan, Guangdong. During this period she consulted
on the financial and social feasibility of a water recycling and reclamation
plant. As a result of her involvement and this insightful experience,
she formed Engineering Ventures for the Environment, LLC; a company
focused on performing international environmental consulting, and
has served as its President.
EDUCATION
Business
Administration, California State University, Long Beach.
POLITICAL
AND ELECTIVE EXPERIENCE
As
the first Asian-American and the first female elected to the West
Basin Municipal Water District Board of Directors, Carol represents
the cities of Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, Lomita
and unincorporated areas of Torrance. She has been elected three times by
her constituency to serve as their Director. Her peers on the Board
in recognition of her contributions and knowledge of the issues, elected
Carol as President in 2003. In her role as the chief policy maker
for the district, she oversees the District’s operations and annual
budget of over $100 million dollars. Furthermore, she is also overseeing
the $300 million Expansion of the West Basin Recycling Plant which
when completed will enable substantial use of recycled water in lieu
of potable water in various applications, thereby helping to preserve
the precious drinking water resources in Southern California.
SIGNIFCANT
WATER AND INDUSTRY AFFILIATIONS
- Elected as President
of the West Basin Municipal Water District (first female president).
- Appointed in 1997 as
one of the 37 Directors of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern
California, the largest and most influential water agency in the
United States.
- Board Member of National
Water Resources Institute and United States Desalination Coalition.
- Co-chair of the Water
Reuse Committee of the International Water Association.
CIVIC
INVOLVEMENT
- Vice President of the
Chinese Chamber of Commerce of LA.
- Vice-Chair and Chair
of the Golden Dragon Parade.
- Vice-Chair of the Chinese
Heart Council of the American Heart Association.
- Chair of Heartfest
of Los Angeles, 2000.
- Board Member of the
Center for the Pacific-Asian Family.
SPECIAL
SKILLS
Carol
is also fluent in Cantonese and Mandarin.
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