Laurel – June 21, 2017: – Thomasina Rogers is the new chair of WSSC’s Board of Commissioners. Rogers, a commissioner representing Prince George’s County since June 2016, was elected to the position during Wednesday’s Commission meeting. Her term as chair lasts until June 2018.
Rogers succeeds Fausto Bayonet, who will continue on as a commissioner representing Montgomery County. T. Eloise Foster, also a commissioner from Montgomery County, was elected vice chair at today’s meeting.
In remarks at today’s meeting, Rogers stated, “These are exciting times for WSSC. With [General Manager] Carla Reid’s leadership, a team of dedicated employees and all of us committed to improving customer service, we are on a solid path to world class. As chair, and on behalf of all the commissioners, thank you to all who make WSSC a great place to work, thrive and serve.”
Rogers is the former chair of two Federal agencies: the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, to which she was first appointed in 1998, and the Administrative Conference of the United States. She also headed the Office of Legal Counsel, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. She received her undergraduate degree in journalism from Northwestern University and her law degree from Columbia University School of Law.
When Foster was appointed as the Secretary of Budget & Management in 2000, she became the first African-American woman in the nation to hold this statewide office. She returned to this role under then-Governor Martin O’Malley, serving from 2007-2015. She also served as Deputy Secretary of Budget & Management and Assistant Secretary of Budget & Fiscal Planning prior to that. Foster earned her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Howard University and her MBA from American University’s Kogod School of Business.
Six commissioners govern WSSC, which has an annual $1.4 billion operating and capital budget. Three commissioners are residents of Montgomery County and three are residents of Prince George’s County. The commissioners are appointed to four-year terms by their respective county executives and are confirmed by their county councils.
WSSC Water is the proud provider of safe, seamless and satisfying water services, making the essential possible every day for our neighbors in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties. We work to deliver our best because it’s what our customers expect and deserve.