RON SERIO NAMED INTERIM WATER SERVICES DIRECTOR
Serio brings 37 years of leadership experience in public works and water services to the role
The city of Glendale is pleased to announce that Ron Serio has been appointed Glendale’s Interim Water Services Director. Serio has been with the city since 2015 as the Deputy Director of Water Services.
In his new position, Serio will lead the city’s water services department of more than 200 employees. His duties include overseeing of the city’s water and wastewater treatment facilities, water and sewer infrastructure, environmental services and administrative functions. The city of Glendale treats and distributes 13 billion gallons of water annually. Serio will also be tasked with maintaining the department’s annual operating budget and its $415 million, 10-year capital improvement plan.
Serio has been working for seven years alongside Glendale’s longtime water services director, Craig Johnson. Johnson will be finishing an almost 30-year career in the city when he steps into retirement at the end of November, after leading Glendale through a period of massive growth.
“Craig built an incredibly talented team of leaders around him and Ron has been at the forefront of that,” said Kevin Phelps, Glendale’s city manager. “Serio brings a solution-based mindset to the role and an understanding of key elements of our city’s critical water infrastructure. He’s a well-rounded leader who knows what it takes to serve our customer’s needs through the challenges all cities face during the drought.”
Before joining the Glendale team, Serio worked in the private sector as a civil engineer and then transitioned to the city of Phoenix where he served in key leadership roles for over 25 years. Serio was first hired in Phoenix as a civil engineer before being promoted to Deputy Director of Public Works and eventually Assistant Water Services Director. In that role, he oversaw four different Phoenix water services divisions, led 500 employees, managing a $92 million operating budget and $450 million, 5-year capital improvement budget.
Glendale’s water services department is responsible for maintaining 1,700 miles of pipe and treats 6 billion gallons of wastewater each year. Each year, water services employees maintain 8,900 fire hydrants and treat and distribute 13 billion gallons of potable water. Employees also read more than 6,200 water meters monthly. Water services maintains the city’s water supply through a portfolio of resources that includes Salt, Verde and Colorado river water, groundwater reserves and reclaimed wastewater for non-potable purposes.
“I am excited to lead Glendale proactively into the future, seeking innovative solutions to keep our city as drought resilient as possible,” said Ron Serio, interim water services director. “I’m so proud of the men and women of this department and the way they tirelessly serve the needs of our residents every day. I am dedicated to water services and it’s an honor to serve those who live or work in this vibrant city.”
Serio holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Arizona State University and is a licensed professional civil engineer in the state of Arizona.
He will begin his new interim role with the city of Glendale on September 30, 2022.