Washington County, Oregon—The Clean Water Services (CWS) Board of Directors appointed Rick Shanley as Acting Chief Executive Officer/General Manager on Thursday, May 29. Shanley is stepping into the acting role as CEO Diane Taniguchi-Dennis resigned effective June 6, 2025.
Shanley currently serves as Chief Engineer & Water Technology Officer, an executive-level position with a portfolio that includes the four operational departments: Water & Engineering Technology, Natural Systems Enhancement & Stewardship, Utility Operations & Services/Field Operations, and Water Resource Recovery Operations & Services. Shanley joined CWS as Treatment Plant Services manager in 2013 and has held leadership roles in regulatory compliance strategies, conveyance engineering, and facilities and asset management engineering.
Shanley has over 30 years of experience as an environmental engineer, including experience with research, planning, design, and construction of infrastructure for wastewater conveyance and treatment.
“Rick’s wealth of experience in the water sector paired with the wide array of employees and groups he’s worked with during his years at Clean Water Services made him the clear choice for Acting CEO/General Manager,” said Board Chair Kathryn Harrington. “The Board is grateful to Rick for stepping into this role to provide stability for this essential services agency, its staff, and ratepayers as we begin the process of recruiting a new executive leader.”
The CWS Board of Directors will announce plans for a national recruitment for a new top executive in the coming weeks.
Clean Water Services is a county services district organized under Oregon Revised Statute 451. CWS works with Washington County and 12 partner cities to provide sewer and stormwater services in the urban areas of the Tualatin River Watershed to more than 610,000 customers and businesses. The conveyance and treatment of wastewater by CWS produces billions of gallons of clean water that are returned to the sensitive Tualatin River. CWS employs more than 450 people, who are committed to successful, uninterrupted operations 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year that protect public health and the environment. The CWS Board of Directors is made up of elected officials who also serve as Washington County Commissioners.
