General Manager/CEO
The Brazos River Authority Board of Directors appointed David Collinsworth to the position of General Manager/CEO effective April 1, 2018. Mr. Collinsworth is the eighth general manager since its establishment by the Texas Legislature in 1929. He is a career BRA employee, with almost 25-years of service with the organization. Before his appointment to GM/CEO, Mr. Collinsworth worked in or managed nearly all aspects of the BRA, serving as regional manager for the Central and Lower Basins, business manager for the Central Basin and earlier managing water quality projects, laboratory management, and field operations.
As general manager, Mr. Collinsworth oversees more than 275 employees in multiple locations throughout the Brazos River Basin, while managing the System’s water supply, water treatment projects, and water quality initiatives under the direction of the 21-member Board of Directors.
Mr. Collinsworth holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Aquatic Biology and Chemistry from Southwest Texas State University. He currently serves on the Texas State University’s Advisory Council for the School of Science and Engineering and on the Texas Water Conservation Association Board of Directors. He has served on the Texas Utility Council of the American Water Works Association and the Inland Fisheries Advisory Committee of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
His wife, Tara, is a retired elementary school teacher. Mr. Collinsworth’s oldest daughter is an attorney and his youngest daughter works as an operating room nurse.
Water Services Manager
Aaron Abel joined the Brazos River Authority as a Senior Water Resources Planner in 2008. He was promoted to the position of Water Services Manager in April 2018.
Mr. Abel has 24 years experience in water resources, private consulting and research. Prior to joining the BRA, he worked as a hydrogeologist with two private engineering firms and as a research assistant. As Water Services Manager, he and his staff oversee the BRA’s daily water supply operations, provide water resources planning support to the organization, customer relations, contractual management of water supply agreements, and project management.
Mr. Abel received a Bachelor of Science degree from The University of Texas at Austin and a Master’s of Science in Hydrology from the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. He lives in Waco with wife, Katy and their two daughters.
Chief Operations Officer
Brad Brunett joined the Brazos River Authority as a Hydrologist/Planner in 1997.
During his career with the BRA, Mr. Brunett has served in several different positions including Water Services Manager, Hydrologist/Planner, Regional Business Development Manager, Hydrologist, and Senior Hydrologist, and Regional Manager for the Central/Lower Basins. He was promoted to Chief Operations Officer in 2024.
He manages a staff of more than 80 employees and is responsible for reservoir/dam operations, water & wastewater treatment, and project development.
Mr. Brunett received a Bachelor of Science degree in Hydrology and Water Resources from Tarleton State University in 1994.
He and wife, Angie, live in Whitney and have three grown children: daughter Kaley and husband AJ Buck, son Cole and wife Sarah, and son Brock. They have two granddaughters: Layke and Livvy Buck.
Legislative & Government Affairs Manager
Leah Clark joined the Brazos River Authority in January 2026. She will oversee legislation affecting the BRA at the Texas Legislature and the U.S. Congress and share the BRA’s story of how we’re working to fulfill our mission with elected officials at all levels of government.
This includes watching legislative hearings, tracking bills, discussing with elected officials how bills impact the BRA and our customers, and observing state agencies with purview over the BRA for any new rules or funding that would help us fulfill our mission.
Prior to joining the BRA, she worked for the City of Georgetown as the Intergovernmental Relations Manager and spent 14 years at the Texas Capitol on staff for members of the Texas House and Texas Senate.
Mrs. Clark earned a Bachelor of Science in Advertising and Public Relations from the University of Central Florida and a Master's in Public Service and Administration from the Bush School of Government at Texas A&M University.
Mrs. Clark grew up in Georgetown and now resides in Round Rock. She is married and has an 8-year-old son.
Chief Technology Officer
Luke Collins joined the Brazos River Authority in 2020 as Cybersecurity Manager. He was promoted to his current position as Chief Technology Officer in 2022. Before joining the BRA, Luke served as a system engineer and co-founder of Katana global Technologies in Houston, training clients in cyber security awareness and security mitigation and prevention. He also served as system administrator for Data Stream Technologies. Luke received his Bachelor of Business Administration in Management Information Systems from Baylor University.
Chief Financial Officer
Michele Giroir joined the Brazos River Authority in 2001 as the Accounting Manager and was named Budget Manager in 2003. Prior to that, she was the Accounting Manager for the City of Cedar Park.
As Chief Financial Officer, she oversees a staff of 16 charged with budgeting, general accounting, accounts receivable/payable, purchasing, cash & investments, and auditing,
She received a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, home of the Ragin’ Cajuns. She has been married to her husband, Scott, for 36 years and they have two children, Justin and Natalie, a son-in-law, Joshua, a grandson, Clive, and a second grandbaby on the way.
Chief Planning Officer
Blake Kettler joined the Brazos River Authority in 2013. He has held the positions of Regional Customer Relations Business Manager for the Upper Basin, Reservoir Manager of Possum Kingdom Lake, Technical Services Manager, and recently he was promoted to Chief Planning Officer in 2025.
Mr. Kettler has 17 years of experience in water resources and dam operations. Prior to joining the Brazos River Authority, he worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Fort Worth District in the Programs and Project Management Division and the Three Rivers Region. As Chief Planning Officer, he oversees capital improvement planning, project and program management, and engineering services for the Brazos River Authority.
Mr. Kettler received his Bachelor of Applied Arts & Science Degree in Industrial Occupations from Tarleton State University. He and his wife Amanda have one son, Hannon.
Chief Strategic Officer
Jon King joined the Brazos River Authority in 2016 and currently serves as the Chief Strategic Officer. He is responsible for managing strategic initiatives to ensure the long-term success of the organization. Prior to being promoted to Chief Strategic Officer in 2024, he provided leadership in both operational and strategic functions for BRA.
He brings over 12 years of prior experience in regulatory compliance and industrial operations. Before joining the Brazos River Authority, he managed system projects and oversaw federal and state regulatory compliance programs for Luminant Power.
Mr. King received his Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems from the University of Texas at Arlington. He and his wife, Robin, live in Waco with their two sons.
Chief Environmental Officer
Tiffany Malzahn began her association with the Brazos River Authority in 1996 as an intern while still a student at Baylor University. Following graduation, she was hired as an aquatic scientist doing field sampling through the basin. During her career with the BRA, Tiffany has also served as a Volunteer Monitoring Coordinator, Quality Assurance Officer, Clean Rivers Program Manager, and Upper Basin Environmental Planner.
In her current position, she serves as the Environmental and Compliance Manager directing regulatory compliance, environmental programs, and laboratory staff. Mrs. Malzahn also assists in the development and coordination of regional water supply projects.
She serves on the Senate Bill 3 Brazos Basin Expert Science Team and Stakeholder Committee, the Bell and Coryell Counties Regional Habitat Conservation Plan Steering Committee and represents the BRA on numerous state environmental and regulatory advisory committees. Mrs. Malzahn collaborated with Texas Parks and Wildlife staff on a reservoir fishery project that won the American Fisheries Society's 2014 Sport Fish Restoration Outstanding Project award.
She obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Ecology and a Master of Science in Biology from Baylor University. She also received a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Texas at Arlington. She is the author of six scholarly articles published in state and national publications.
Chief Projects Officer
Mike McClendon has managed the Upper Basin of the Brazos River Authority since August 2010, previously serving as the Customer Relations Business Manager. He was promoted to Chief Projects Officer in 2024.
As Upper Basin Manager, Mr. McClendon was responsible for operations and maintenance of Morris Sheppard Dam at Possum Kingdom Lake and DeCordova Bend Dam at Lake Granbury; two of the three water supply reservoirs owned by the Brazos River Authority.
He has been responsible for business development and community relations efforts in the Upper Basin Region including property administration and conveyance, asset transfers and acquisitions, treatment plant operations, planning and development, and flood control projects.
Mr. McClendon holds a Master of Science degree in Environmental Science and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Baylor University. He also holds an Associate's Degree in Hazardous Materials Management from Texas State Technical College.
He and his wife, Gayla, live just outside Waco and have two children. Grayson is a graduate of Texas A&M and Grant is a student-athlete at Vernon Junior College, playing baseball.
Deputy General Manager
Matt Phillips joined the BRA in 2009, serving as Legislative and Government Affairs Manager for the BRA for 15 years before being named Deputy General Manager in 2024.
He joined the Brazos River Authority after working for several years as a legislative aide for former State Senator Steve Ogden. Matt also served as an assistant clerk for the Senate Finance Committee under the chairmanship of former State Senator Rodney Ellis.
Matt has a long history with the BRA. Before beginning his professional career, he grew up living on Lake Limestone, where he worked for the BRA as a part-time maintenance worker.
He received his Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree in Government from The University of Texas. Matt and his wife, Kari, live in Liberty Hill with their children, Sadler, Parker and Whitton.
Public Information Officer
Judi Pierce joined the BRA in 2001 as the organization's first public information officer. Before joining the BRA, she worked in public relations and marketing for the healthcare industry and chambers of commerce as well as in radio broadcast and production. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Texas at Arlington.
During her years with the BRA, Ms. Pierce has directed the organization's water education efforts through the development of the BRA website and award-winning social media programs. She has won national recognition for the BRA via awards from the Public Relations Society of America and the Government Social Media Professional Association. She is a member of both organizations, the Central Texas Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America and the National Public Information Officers Association. Ms. Pierce lives in the Waco area and is the mother of four grown sons.
General Counsel
Lauralee Vallon joined the Brazos River Authority from the city of Hillsboro where she served as City Attorney. Her position included a wide range of responsibilities including the administration of all civil litigation for the city. She also served as advisor to the City Council.
Prior to her employment with the city of Hillsboro, Vallon worked for Clay Dugas and Associates, the top-rated plaintiff’s firm in Beaumont/Orange and for the Orange County District and County Attorney’s office.
Mrs. Vallon received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Texas Christian University and her doctor of Jurisprudence from South Texas College of Law. She and husband Jeff have four children.
Chief Human Resources Officer
Crystal Wilde joined the Brazos River Authority in 2008 as Human Resources Assistant. She was promoted to HR Coordinator in 2014 and has been responsible for recruiting and hiring, compensation and job analysis, employee development, and employee relations programs for over 10 years. She was promoted to Chief Human Resources Officer in 2024.
Mrs. Wilde graduated from Tarleton State University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management in 2013 and a Master of Science in Human Resources Management in 2021. She earned her SHRM-Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) certification in 2019 and currently serves as president of the local Heart of Texas – Society for Human Resource Management (HOT-SHRM) Chapter.
Though she lives in Westphalia, Mrs. Wilde has worked in Waco for over 20 years. She enjoys spending time with friends and family, chasing after her two young children, Mallory and Myles, and helping her husband, Eric, with their small cattle operation.