Chuck Casey

Job Title: Utility Generation Manager

Department: Riverside Public Utilities, Power Resources

Job duties: Responsible for all aspects of power generation facilities owned by the City of Riverside including safe and reliable operations and maintenance, annual budgets and long range planning, environmental health and safety, federal, state and local regulatory reporting and compliance.

Education background and training:

Two years Naval Nuclear Power School, eight years US Navy, twenty five years private and public power generation plants. Training includes heat transfer fluid flow, advanced mathematics, physics and chemistry, electrical and electronic engineering, nuclear physics, safety, accounting, project management, air emissions controls, combustion and water chemistry and more.

Degrees/ Certificates:

US Naval Nuclear Power School. Many certifications related to environmental health and safety, supervisory and management, project management and more.

Major: Electrical, nuclear and chemistry.

What sparked your interest in the utility company?

The strong foundation for long-term ownership and growth with electrical power plants, environmental stewardship, professionalism by means of policy and procedures, delegation of responsibility allowing employee empowerment for improvement.

Please explain how you obtained your position at RPU:

I was hired as a consultant to train and establish the Power Generation Division when RPU built their first power plant in 2002. When my 3-year contracted ended I applied and was hired as a full time manager of the division.

What other jobs did you do previous to working for the utility?

US Naval Nuclear Submariner, Power Plant Operator, Power Plant Electronics Technicians, Power Plant Supervisor, Power Plant Manager (construction and operations).

How long have you worked for RPU? 16 years

What advice would you give to students interested in your field?

Learn more about the field and the future of power generation. The industry is challenging and always changing with a major transformation occurring with the accelerated onset of renewable energy. Have a strong background in mechanical and/or electrical engineering and integrated equipment operations. You need a desire for understanding machinery, chemistry and environmental and air emission controls. Learn theory and obtain hands on training and experience.

In High School what would you have been voted as “Most Likely to……” ?

Start a computer company or teach High School AP Physics.

What are some things you enjoy doing outside of your work?

I’m on the Board of Directors for four non-profits, I build classic cars, collect classic and modern pinball and arcade machines, 3D printing, home automation, travelling, boating, investing and my family. Most recently I started my own business called the Riverside Game Lab. My partners and I restored, operate and maintain 98 classic and modern video games, pinball machines, VR and other games.

Would you like students to contact you throughout the year? Sure, no problem.

If so, please provide your contact information:

Email: ccasey@riversideca.gov

Phone: 951-710-5010 (office)

Greg Herzog

Job Title: Utilities Senior Resources Analyst

Department: RPU – Water Resources

Job duties: To Protect the City’s groundwater rights and interests, to ensure the City continues to have access to its water supply, to monitor and evaluate the City’s source water; and to participate with developing new water supplies.

Education background and training: 4 years at Crafton Hills Community College followed by 2 years at UC Riverside.

Degrees/ Certificates: Bachelor of Science Degree, Water Operator D2 and Water Treatment T2 certifications with the State.

Major: Geology

What sparked your interest in the utility company?

I was somewhat familiar with the local issues pertaining to groundwater and geology, and was eager to learn more and get engaged.

Please explain how you obtained your position at RPU:

After graduating from UCR in the early stages of the great recession, I was eagerly looking for a career in Geology. One of my professors informed me of a group called the Inland Geological Society, and mentioned that it could be a great networking opportunity. The Inland Geological Society is a local organization made up of professionals and students with interests and careers in Geology. I met a number of people at this meeting and the Newsletter editor was kind enough to include my resume and a letter of interest in the monthly newsletter. Shortly after, I received a call from the Water Resources Manager at RPU who had received the newsletter and invited me to an interview for a temporary position. I interviewed for the position and got the job, working as a temp in the Water Resources group. After a year, the position I was temping for finally opened up for full employment and I was fortunate enough to interview and get the job.

What other jobs did you do previous to working for the utility?

Paid Call Volunteer Firefighter, short-order cook, worked in the music department at Barns and Noble, lab technician at a geotechnical company testing soil and concrete properties, and worked in a geophysical laboratory at UCR preparing rock samples for ultrahigh pressure and temperature analyses.

How long have you worked for RPU? 10 years

What advice would you give to students interested in your field?

Geology has many different exciting avenues from oil, gas, and mineral exploration to geotechnical work in constructing roads and houses, to working in the water industry. Should any future geologist (or environmental scientists) be interested in the water industry, I would highly recommend getting exposure to groundwater modeling and even consider getting a masters in groundwater modeling or a masters in business administration after earning a bachelors in Geology. Either of these pathways would set you up to be much more marketable when looking for a career after college.

What are some things you enjoy doing outside of your work? Outdoor activities

Email Greg! Gherzog@riversideca.gov

Cliff Bellinghausen

Job Title: Chief Water System Operator

Department: Water Operations-Production-Treatment

Job duties: Production, Treatment, Transmission, Storage, Distribution

Education background and training: Water Technology, Advanced Mathematics

Degrees/ Certificates: CA Treatment 4, CA Distribution 5

Major: Water Technology

What sparked your interest in the utility company? I actually was involved in pond hardscape construction when an overlapping opportunity came up that eventually led to my transition into Water Treatment/Production

Please explain how you obtained your position at RPU: Competitive Process (interviews), and a background in Governmental Physical Security

What other jobs did you do previous to working for the utility? Other water agencies, US Navy (10 yrs)

How long have you worked for RPU? I was recruited in 2001 as a direct result of 9/11. I started before the ink was dry on my medical forms.

What advice would you give to students interested in your field? Learn all you can about emerging technologies, but don’t forget about the evolution of water. Some of the most coveted lessons in the field are some of the earliest facts that have held up over time.

In High School what would you have been voted as “Most Likely to……” ? Spend 2 hours describing and defining ‘air’.

What are some things you enjoy doing outside of your work? Aquaponic gardening, raising chickens

Would you like students to contact you throughout the year? It wouldn’t kill me

If so, please provide your contact information:

Email: cbellinghausen@riversideca.gov

Phone: 951-351-6318