Board of Directors and management team

John J. Entsminger oversees the operations of the Southern Nevada Water Authority, which is responsible for acquiring, treating and delivering water to local agencies that collectively serve 2 million residents and more than 40 million annual visitors, and the Las Vegas Valley Water District, which serves more than 375,000 customer accounts. He was appointed general manager by both agencies' Boards of Directors in early 2014, having previously served as director of environmental and water resource law and senior deputy general manager. Entsminger joined the organization in 1999 as an attorney.

Entsminger has spent his career addressing the unique water challenges facing Southern Nevada. He has been instrumental in developing inter basin and international agreements protecting Lake Mead water elevations, including the 2007 Colorado River Interim Guidelines and Minutes 319 and 323 to the 1944 U.S. - Mexico Water Treaty. In April 2014, he was appointed by Governor Sandoval to serve as Nevada's lead negotiator on Colorado River matters.

On the national front, Entsminger serves on the Boards of Directors of the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies and the Water Research Foundation, and the Desert Research Institute Foundation Board of Trustees.

Committed to public involvement, Entsminger works closely with a committee of community stakeholders tasked with making recommendations on issues related to funding, planning and facilities construction and maintenance. These recommendations will guide future organizational initiatives, including a renewed commitment to maintaining its vast water systems.

Entsminger is a graduate of the University of Northern Colorado and of the University of Colorado School of Law, where he was awarded the Charles N. Woodruff Natural Resources Law Fellowship. He and his family have been in Las Vegas for 25 years.

David L. Johnson is the Deputy General Manager of Operations at the Southern Nevada Water Authority and the Las Vegas Valley Water District.

Mr. Johnson has been with the organization since 2004 and manages five departments with more than 600 employees within the Water Quality & Treatment; Operations; Information Technology; Human Resources; and Environmental, Health and Safety and Corporate Security departments. These departments are primarily responsible for the protection, treatment, and distribution of millions of gallons of safe drinking water within Southern Nevada to 2.2 million residents and visitors every day.

With over 30 years of experience in management relating to water supply, water quality and treatment, and chemical manufacturing in Nevada and New York, David brings innovative and forward-thinking initiatives to Southern Nevada’s water system. Mr. Johnson utilizes his knowledge in identifying solutions and launching pilot and full-scale projects to manage key operations of the organization.

Mr. Johnson serves as Chairman of the Board for WaterStart, a non-profit organization connecting innovative technology companies with global water agencies seeking solutions to enhance operations. David is also a member of the American Water Works Association, WateReuse Association, American Public Works Association, Water Environment Federation, International Ozone Association and Nevada Water Resources Association.

David earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Purdue University and maintains Level 4 Water Treatment and Level 4 Distribution certifications from the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection.

David and his wife, Lisa, have lived in southern Nevada for 25 years where they raised four children.

Colby Pellegrino is the Deputy General Manager of Resources for the Southern Nevada Water Authority and the Las Vegas Valley Water District.

After joining the agency in 2003, Pellegrino served as an instrumental part of the Water Resources division, supporting Colorado River modeling efforts to anticipate changes caused by climate change, reduced flows, and other inputs.

In her current capacity, she is responsible for the management of the Water Authority’s water resource portfolio, which includes protecting Nevada’s interests and rights to Colorado River water through interstate negotiations, developing regional water conservation programs, managing groundwater resources, and water resource planning.

Pellegrino also serves on the Board of Alliance for Water Efficiency, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the efficient and sustainable use of water and water conservation advocacy throughout North America.

A native of Las Vegas, she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and her Master of Business Administration from Mississippi State University.

Pellegrino has two children and is an avid cook, hiker, and outdoors enthusiast.

Doa Ross is the Deputy General Manager of Engineering for the Southern Nevada Water Authority and the Las Vegas Valley Water District.

E. Kevin Bethel is the Chief Financial Officer for the Southern Nevada Water Authority and the Las Vegas Valley Water District.

As the chief financial officer, Bethel is responsible for all financial functions, including debt management, capital planning, financial reporting, budgeting as well as water rates and charges for both agencies, which collectively serve more than 2 million residents and 40 million annual visitors in Southern Nevada.

Bethel has served in a financial leadership capacity in the utility industry, both regulated and non-regulated, for 30 years. Before joining the Water Authority and Water District in 2018, Bethel was the senior vice president and chief financial officer at NV Energy from 2013 until 2018. Bethel joined NV Energy in 2007 as vice president and chief accounting officer.

Before moving to Nevada, Bethel served as assistant controller for American Electric Power, Inc. in Ohio. Prior experience includes key accounting management positions with The Williams Company, Central & South West Services, and the Public Service Company of Oklahoma.

Bethel earned a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Oklahoma State University, and he holds his certified public accounting certificate from Oklahoma. Since 2008, Bethel has served as a board member of Opportunity Village, and he is the board’s past treasurer and past audit committee chair. He also served as a Las Vegas Metro Chamber Trustee from late 2013 through September 2018.

An Oklahoma native, Bethel and his wife, Sherry, have lived in Las Vegas since 2007.

Gregory J. Walch serves as General Counsel for the Southern Nevada Water Authority and the Las Vegas Valley Water District.

As a member of the Water Authority and Water District Executive Teams, he oversees the Legal Department of both agencies.

After receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Engineering from Iowa State University in 1985, Walch spent the next four years as an engineer with Layne Western Company, designing and overseeing construction of water well systems for industrial and municipal clients.

In May 1992, Walch received his Juris Doctor from the Lewis & Clark Northwestern School of Law. He has practiced environmental, water, land use, mining, eminent domain and administrative law, and has regularly appeared before the Nevada State Engineer and other state agencies and administrators, various federal agencies, and state and federal courts in Nevada. In 1996, Walch co-founded the law firm now known as Holley, Driggs, Walch, Puzey & Thompson. Walch has been recognized by Chambers USA, Mountain States Super Lawyers, and Martindale-Hubbell for his work in environmental and natural resources law.

Walch and his wife, Shauna, have two sons, Rowan and Quin.