An eight-member board of directors, with alternates, governs the FGUA, with representatives from Citrus, Flagler, Hendry, Lee, Marion, Nassau, Pasco, and Polk counties. These board members meet monthly to represent the member systems and establish policy and priorities on issues such as expansion, rates, environmental resource management and long-range planning. Each board member is a county employee appointed by their local government. Their expertise in water and sewer utility management makes the board a very important part of the FGUA structure. In addition, the board works hard to make sure the FGUA serves your best interests.
Chair, Polk County
Chair, Polk County
Tamara Richardson, P.E. has served as Director of Polk County Utilities since December 2017. Polk County owns and operates a full service utility. As director, Ms. Richardson and her team are responsible for all functions of the Utilities Division, including water production and distribution, wastewater collection and treatment, reclaimed water production and distribution, compliance and capacity, capital investments, maintenance and repairs, customer service and billing, and the financial management of these efforts.
Prior to Polk County, Ms. Richardson served as the City Engineer and Utilities Director for a medium-sized city with similar utility services in Central Florida for 15 years. Prior to that, she was a consulting engineer for a design firm specializing in municipal water and wastewater infrastructure.
Ms. Richardson graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor degree in Environmental Engineering in 1992.
Vice Chair, Lee County
Vice Chair, Lee County
Nathan Beals, PMP, CPM is the Planning and New Development Operations Manager with Lee County Utilities and has been with them since 2016. He became the designated alternate FGUA Board Member in 2024 and has since consistently participated in monthly Board meetings and annual work sessions. In 2026, Mr. Beals became the primary FGUA Board representative for Lee County. He is a Certified Public Manager from Florida State and has had his PMP (Project Management Professional) since 2009. Mr. Beals had also worked for a medium-sized utility in Southwest Florida prior to Lee County for almost nine years, totaling over 19 years of utility experience. He has a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management from Ohio State University.
Vice Chair, Hendry County
Vice Chair, Public Works Director, Hendry County
Mr. Parker began his career with Hendry County as its county engineer in 2006 after spending 11 years in the private sector, primarily in land development. He later was elected to public works director for the county, and directs Hendry County airports, special districts, Port LaBelle Utilities, GIS, engineering, and the road and bridge department.
Mr. Parker joined the FGUA board of directors in 2008. He received his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of South Florida in 1994.
Board Member, Citrus County
Board Member, Director of Water Resources, Citrus County
Mr. Cheek is a Florida Registered Professional Engineer with over 20 years of utility-related engineering experience. He has worked in Citrus County government since 1998, as the Water Quality Project Coordinator, County Engineer and Director of Water Resources.
Mr. Cheek also spent several years in private practice as a design engineer and project manager working on various water, wastewater, stormwater and roadway projects for numerous public and private clients. Mr. Cheek received his bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of South Florida in 1991.
Board Member, Pasco County
Board Member, Utilities Director for Pasco County.
Joseph Amoah, Ph.D., P.E. is the Utilities Director for Pasco County, with over two decades of experience in public infrastructure, water resources, and environmental systems. In his current role, he leads cross-functional teams in delivering potable water, wastewater, and reclaimed water services to residents and businesses throughout unincorporated Pasco County.
Dr. Amoah’s career spans leadership roles in both public and private sectors, including project management at Jones Edmunds, academic instruction in civil and environmental engineering at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, and advanced research and project oversight at the St. Johns River Water Management District.
He holds a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Florida A&M University.
Board Member, Flagler County
Board Member, Flagler County
Hamid Tabassian serves as the County Engineer for Flagler County, providing professional and technical leadership in the planning, design, funding, and delivery of capital infrastructure projects on behalf of the Flagler County Board of County Commissioners. He oversees a comprehensive infrastructure work program that includes the Road and Bridge Program, Road and Bridge Maintenance Program, Sidewalk and Trail Program, Vertical Capital Improvement Program (CIP), Stormwater Master Plan Program, and Beach Management Plan Program.
Under his leadership, the Engineering Department is responsible for implementing projects that enhance public safety, improve mobility, strengthen resiliency, protect natural resources, and enrich the quality of life for Flagler County residents and visitors. The department also administers and manages numerous state and federal grants supporting the County’s infrastructure initiatives.
Prior to joining Flagler County, Hamid dedicated 23 years to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA), where he served in a variety of engineering and leadership roles. During his tenure, he directed Design Engineering functions and played a key role in delivering major transportation and capital improvement projects throughout Northeast Florida.
Before his service with JTA, Hamid spent 12 years with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) in its Structures and Bridge Division, where he contributed to the design, analysis, and management of complex bridge and transportation infrastructure projects.
With nearly four decades of public-sector engineering experience, Hamid has built a distinguished career focused on infrastructure planning, project delivery, transportation systems, and organizational leadership. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Missouri and a Master of Science degree in Structural Engineering from the University of Virginia.
Board Member, Nassau County
Board Member, Nassau County
Colin Groff, P.E., is a Florida Registered Professional Engineer with over 35 years of utility-related engineering and management experience. He is currently the Executive Director of Nassau County Utility Authority and has held leadership positions in various utility agencies throughout Florida. He is a graduate of University of South Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering.
Board Member, Marion County
Board Member, Marion County
Mr. Josh Kramer, Deputy Director of Marion County Utilities, has over 23 years of experience in the construction and maintenance of water and wastewater systems. Josh Kramer began his municipal career with Marion County Utilities in November 2005 where he progressively moved through the ranks to serve as the Deputy Director in Marion County. As the Deputy Director of Utilities, Josh has provided a wide variety of experience in all aspects of Utilities from field maintenance and construction of water and wastewater to Plant operations and most recent in the responsibility for the oversight of capital improvement projects and operational goals and objectives established for the Utilities Department. Josh received his Bachelor’s of Science in Business Management in 2017 and is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Engineering Technology from Daytona State College.
Bernadine Flood Nichols, Citrus County
Adolfo Gonzales, P.E., LEED AP, Pasco County
Vacant, Hendry County
Tony Cunningham, Marion County
©2024 FGUA – All Rights Reserved.
