Board of Directors

Mike Pelly

Mike Pelly Director Division 2 Term 2023-2024

Mike Pelly was appointed to the Serrano Water District Board in 2023. Director Pelly earned his Bachelors of Art Degree in Political Science from Whittier College and his Masters of Science Degree from the Argyros School of Business at Chapman University. He and his wife, Sara, have been residents of Villa Park for over twenty years, and lived in Orange for ten years prior to moving to VP. Sara works for OUSD as the Principal at Fletcher Elementary School, and after a thirty-four-year career in elementary education she plans to retire in 2023.

Pelly also serves on the Board of the Community Foundation of Orange where he is Chair of the Grants Committee and is actively involved in the annual Field of Valor event held at Handy Park. As the Vice President, Dean of Enrollment for Chapman University, he manages the offices of Admission, Financial Aid, Registrar, and the Veteran�s Resource Center. In addition, he is the former Head Lacrosse Coach at Chapman, where he has worked since 1986.

On a personal note, Mike and Sara have many hobbies. Mike enjoys restoring classic cars and he helps manage the volunteer committee for the Pebble Beach Concours d�Elegance each August. Mike and Sara enjoy fly-fishing, especially in their home states of Washington and Colorado. You will often see them walking their ten-year old Chocolate Labrador Retriever, Orvis on the streets of Villa Park. In retirement, Sara plans to volunteer for OUSD and stay actively involved in our community.

Woody Rickerl
President - Division 3

Robert F. “Woody” Rickerl has served on the Serrano Water District Board of Directors for nearly 30 years. He is currently serving as Board President.

Director Rickerl is active in community affairs, including the Orange Community Foundation, the Orange County Taxpayers Association, and is a charter member of the Villa Park Rotary Club. In addition, he has been involved with the Villa Park Boat Parade and Villa Park Picnic Committees for many years.

Director Rickerl earned a bachelor’s degree in finance and a law degree from the University of Southern California. He was president of a publicly-held real estate investment trust and a principal and owner in various real estate investment, management, and brokerage companies. Director Rickerl is married to his wife, Jana. They have one grown son.

District Represented: 3

Committee Membership: Finance, City Liaison, Conservation, Recreation Operations, Ad Hoc (Irvine Lake)

Jerry L. Haight
Director - Division 5

Jerry L. Haight was appointed to the Serrano Water District Board of Directors in 2001. He was elected to this position in 2004, 2008, 2012 and most recently, 2016. He served as Board President in 2009 and 2010 and Board Vice President in 2007 and 2008.

Director Haight is currently the President of ABC Marketing Company. His past experience includes management positions in the liquor industry, petroleum industry, and network television.

Director Haight is currently a Commissioner and Board Member of the Orange County Sheriff’s Advisory Council, as well as a founding Board Member of the Christermon Society. He is actively involved with the Center for Missing and Exploited Children and is a member of the Child Abduction Response Team (CART). He is also a member of the Villa Park Community Services Foundation.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in business with an emphasis in marketing from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Director Haight has resided in Villa Park for over 25 years with his wife, Laura, a retired school teacher. They have three grown children, Chuck, Erica, and Lauren.

District Represented: 5

Committee Membership: Personnel & Employee Benefits, Media/Public Affairs, Transparency, Recreation Operations

Jerry L. Haight
Director - Division 5

Jerry L. Haight was appointed to the Serrano Water District Board of Directors in 2001. He was elected to this position in 2004, 2008, 2012 and most recently, 2016. He served as Board President in 2009 and 2010 and Board Vice President in 2007 and 2008.

Director Haight is currently the President of ABC Marketing Company. His past experience includes management positions in the liquor industry, petroleum industry, and network television.

Director Haight is currently a Commissioner and Board Member of the Orange County Sheriff’s Advisory Council, as well as a founding Board Member of the Christermon Society. He is actively involved with the Center for Missing and Exploited Children and is a member of the Child Abduction Response Team (CART). He is also a member of the Villa Park Community Services Foundation.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in business with an emphasis in marketing from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Director Haight has resided in Villa Park for over 25 years with his wife, Laura, a retired school teacher. They have three grown children, Chuck, Erica, and Lauren.

District Represented: 5

Committee Membership: Personnel & Employee Benefits, Media/Public Affairs, Transparency, Recreation Operations

Greg Mills
Greg Mills Board President - Division 3 Term 2016-2020

Director Mills was elected to the Serrano Water District (Serrano) Board of Directors in 2016 and currently serves as the Board Vice President. Additionally, he provides leadership and guidance as a member of Serrano�s Finance and Insurance Committees, and he serves as Serrano�s representative on the Association of California Water Agencies Joint Powers Insurance Authority (ACWA-JPIA) Insurance Committee.

Previously, Director Mills served on the Villa Park City Council for a four-year term, including one year as Mayor and another year as Mayor Pro-Tem. Director Mills also served on the Orange County Sanitation District as a Board member for two years, and he served three years on the Orange County Vector Control District.

Director Mills holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Chemistry from Illinois College, and a Master of Science degree in Engineering Management from Santa Clara University. Additionally, he has extensive management experience, plus over forty years of operational experience in water treatment, process engineering, and technical marketing.

Director Mills is actively affiliated with many professional associations, including: International Society of Pharmaceutical Engineering; American Chemical Society; CS-Mantech; Semiconductor Equipment Material Institute; Parenteral Drug Association; and more.

As a long-term Villa Park resident and Villa Park Rotary member, Director Mills motivation for serving on Serrano�s Board is to ensure the District�s long-term viability while providing high-quality water to its community in the most cost-effective manner. Furthermore, Director Mills believes that Serrano�s long-term viability protects the small-town, close-knit values of Villa Park.

With his extensive operational experience in water treatment solutions such as reverse osmosis, manufacture engineering, and technical executive management and marketing, as well as his astute knowledge of various industry standards for chemical delivery methods, Director Mills brings added value to Serrano.

He and his wife, Andie, and daughter, Abby, (currently at university) are 24 year residents of Villa Park. Andie is a journalist and is also an active member of the community.

Jerry Vilander
General Manager

Jerry Vilander was appointed General Manager of the Serrano Water District in September 2012.

With over 20 years of professional experience in the water industry, Mr. Vilander has extensive knowledge of institutional issues affecting the water industry and the structure and functions of local government and regulatory issues. He previously served as Manager of Operations at Mesa Water District and as Manager of Utilities at La Habra Water and Sewer Authority. Mr. Vilander has a successful track record of cultivating and maintaining effective working relationships with policymakers, community leaders, and special interest groups.

Mr. Vilander is involved with the following professional associations: Water Environment Federation (WEF), California Water Environment Association (CWEA), American Water Works Association (AWWA), American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), American Public Works Association (APWA), American Membrane Technology Association (AMTA), and Southwest Membrane Operators Association (SWMOA).

Mr. Vilander holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from California State University, Long Beach.

Frank O. Bryant
Director - Division 4

Frank O. Bryant was appointed to the Serrano Water District Board of Directors in 2012.

Director Bryant earned a bachelor's of science degree from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. He served in the United State Marine Corps as a pilot and is a Vietnam veteran. Director Bryant retired from Delta Airlines after 33 years as an airline pilot. In recent years, he has worked in various positions in construction management, engineering support, and onsite inspection.

Director Bryant has lived in Villa Park for almost 40 years with his wife Patti. They have three grown children.

District Represented: 4

Committee Membership: Construction & Maintenance, Insurance (Personal Liability & Property Damage), Security, Special Districts (ACWA, ISDOC, JPIA, WACO), Transparency

Rich Freschi
Director - Division 1

Rich Freschi was elected to the Serrano Water District Board of Directors in 2008 and re-elected in 2010.

Director Freschi served on the California Regional Water Quality Control Board as an appointee of Governor Schwarzenegger from 2008 to 2012. He is also a member of the Area Executive Board of Orange County Emergency Management Council, serves as President of the Independent Special Districts of Orange County (ISDOC), and is a member of the Water Advisory Committee of Orange County.

Director Freschi previously served on the City Council of Villa Park for 12 years and served as Mayor twice. During his time on the Council, he served on the Orange County Sanitation District Board of Directors and Trustee of the Orange County Vector Control District, and was an alternate to the Orange County Fire Authority.

Director Freschi's involvement in community affairs includes founding the Villa Park Family Picnic, reactivity the Villa Park Boat Parade, reactivating the Villa Park Halloween Fest, co-founding the Villa Park Clock Tower, and conceiving and assisting in the implementation of the Villa Park Community Foundation. In addition, Director Freschi serves on the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Advisory Council, St. Joseph Hospital Presidential Partners, Marines Memorial Association, American Legion, Rotary International Lifetime Member, Paul Harris Foundation, Lifetime Member of the CHP 11-99 Foundation, former member of the Providence Speech and Hearing Center, B.P.O. Elks Lodge, and Associate Member of the Willa Park Women’s League.

Director Freschi has lived in Villa Park for over 40 years. He served as an executive in financial planning, started two companies, and served as CEO of two companies.

District Represented: 1

Committee Membership: Finance, Special Districts (ACWA, ISDOC, JPIA, WACO), Media/Public Affairs, City Liaison

Brad Reese
Board Vice President � Division 1

Brad Reese was appointed to the Serrano Water District Board of Directors in 2017.

Director Reese received his education at Santa Ana College where he took extensive coursework in the fire science program. He has comprehensive knowledge of water hydraulics and principles having spent 28 years as a Volunteer Fire Captain for the Orange County Fire Authority as well as serving on the OCFA Board of Directors.

Aside from a strong background in fire science, Director Reese has also worked in the technology industry for nearly 40 years as the owner and president of Cirtech, Inc. He oversees the handling of the Cirtech facility’s waste water management systems and waste water recycling processes.

Born and raised in Orange County, Director Reese has been a resident of Villa Park since 1998 and has been married to his wife Lisa for over 35 years. Brad and Lisa have three adult daughters.

District Represented: 1