VCPWA welcomes Jeff Palmer and Anastasia Seims to the agency’s leadership team of directors
VENTURA — Ventura County Public Works Agency (VCPWA) is pleased to announce the addition of two new Department Directors to its leadership team. Now a few months into their respective roles, Jeff Palmer oversees the Watershed Protection District and Anastasia Seims leads Engineering Services, both bringing a variety of professional experience and expertise that will enable the agency to continue providing preventative and proactive support —as well as emergency response — to help keep Ventura County safe.
After 13 years with the Ojai Valley Sanitary District, Palmer originally joined the agency in the Roads and Transportation department as the Deputy Director for Operations and Maintenance managing field crews. Now, he has the opportunity to bring his love for the environment and water resources to his role as Director of Watershed Protection. His passion for all things outdoor, such as traveling, deep sea fishing and hiking along the Ventura River Watershed, combined with his 35-year professional career built on experience in both the private and public sectors in engineering and consulting, has made the transition a smooth one.
“The people at the County are wonderful — really energizing and full of enthusiasm,” Palmer said. “The agency offers great pathways here to start a career, find your interest and use your expertise to make a difference. In my role, ensuring that we are communicating to the public through an easy-to-understand approach is paramount to the work we do. This job is about great customer service and quality of life, and I truly enjoy that we are making a difference helping folks navigate government processes to build a house, launch a business or have access to clean water.”
Seims brings a vast set of professional experience to Engineering Services, having public works services experience in regulatory agencies, private consulting and public agencies from Orange County through Monterey County, in roles ranging from City Public Works Director, Assistant City Engineer, Senior Civil Engineer, Project Manager and Construction Manager. She has extensive experience creating, maintaining and executing projects and agencywide budgets. She also has experience with coastal projects and maintenance that are adjacent to or above the ocean, performing land development and plan check services, horizontal and vertical design and construction, and in bringing public works projects from the initial concept or request through design, construction and maintenance.
Seims’ love for engineering can be traced back to two key events in her teenage years while in Girl Scouts of America. First, when earning her Dreams to Reality patch, she had the opportunity to meet with a female civil engineer whose explanation of triangle support structures kicked off Seims’ interest in engineering. Then, after attending an engineering camp through Girl Scouts, she happened to be seated next to an owner of an engineering company on the flight home and he became her first mentor.
“I like seeing what things can become and there’s no place that fosters that more than Public Works,” Seims said. “Everything we do, we do for the community and the public, and it’s a really rewarding experience to be able to take my civil engineering passion and tie it to community benefit. It’s fulfilling to see how we all work together, even with all of our different styles, to visibly change the way we live.”
“The Public Works team is thrilled to have Jeff and Anastasia as part of our leadership team,” said Gregg Strakaluse, VCPWA’s director. “Each bring fresh energy and perspective, and well-rounded experience that is so critical in helping the agency act as a responsive partner to the community’s needs. We look forward to seeing the respective departments continue to flourish under their leadership, and welcome both Jeff and Anastasia to the PWA family.”
About Ventura County Public Works Agency
VCPWA strives to deliver innovative, efficient and cost-effective regional services that are essential to the health, safety, natural resources protection and economic vitality of Ventura County and its residents. Established in 1954, VCPWA employs approximately 410 employees and comprises five departments: Central Services, Engineering Services, Roads & Transportation, Water & Sanitation, and Watershed Protection. VCPWA continues to receive nationwide attention for its effective operations in improving, innovating, and ensuring projects for Ventura County’s unincorporated 542 miles of centerline roads, watersheds, levees, bridges, infrastructures, water and sanitation facilities, and billing services. To learn more about VCPWA, visit https://www.vcpublicworks.org/