GM Finalists Announced
Posted Thursday, March 12, 2020
Skagit PUD's Board of Commissioners has selected five finalists to be interviewed for the open general manager position after conducting a national search process.
The following is a list of the candidates and their qualifications:
- James Burke has served the city of Port Angeles, Wash., since 2009 where he started as Assistant Civil Engineer, then became Water Superintendent, and he is currently the Assistant Deputy Director of Public Works & Utilities. Prior to working at the city of Port Angeles, he was a Civil Engineering Technician for Western Federal Lands Highway Division, Vancouver, Wash., and he worked in utilities for the city of Woodland, Wash. Burke has a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Seattle University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Wash. State University.
- Robert Hyde is currently the Community & Economic Development Director for the City of Mount Vernon, Wash. Prior to that, he was the Executive Director for the Port of Anacortes, Wash., from 2006-2014, and he was the Director of Public Works/Water System Manager at the city of Anacortes, Wash., from 2000-2006. Hyde also has many years of engineering management experience as a Navy civil engineer, including being Public Works Director at Naval Air Station, Whidbey Island, Wash., for four years. He has a bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Connecticut and a master's degree in Civil Engineering from Penn State University.
- Scott Sensanbaugher has been with the city of Rio Rancho, N.M., since 2001 and is currently Utilities Director/Acting Public Works Director. He had been Public Works Director/Utilities Director for five years prior. Before serving the city of Rio Rancho, he worked as a Project Engineer for Wilson & Company Consulting Engineers in New Mexico, and at Phelps Dodge Mining Company in New Mexico as a Land & Water Resources Coordinator for three years. Sensanbaugher has a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in Civil Engineering, both from Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah. He is also working on a Master of Public Administration degree at the University of New Mexico.
- David Siburg has been a Senior Program Manager for CH2M, a global engineering company that provides services for corporations and governments, assisting the National Water Company in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the past year. Prior to that he worked as the General Manager for Kitsap Public Utility District, Kitsap County, Wash., for 24 years and was a Program Manager at Kitsap PUD for three years prior to becoming General Manager. Siburg has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, Wash., and a master's degree in Planning from the University of Minnesota.
- George Sidhu has been the Interim General Manager for the Public Utility District No. 1 of Skagit County, Wash., since December 2015. He has been with Skagit PUD since 2011, serving as Engineering Manager. Prior to that, he was a Project Manager for HDR Engineering, Inc., from 2004-2011, and he was a Project Engineer for Economic & Engineering Services, Inc., for over five years. He also worked as Assistant Project Engineer for the Greater Vancouver Regional District in British Columbia, Canada, for three years. Sidhu has a bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from the University of British Columbia.
A reception will be held from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday, June 13 in the PUD’s Aqua Room, where the public will have an opportunity to meet the candidates. Formal panel interviews begin on Tuesday, June 14.
The interview process includes three separate facilitated panels. Skagit PUD’s Board of Commissioners will conduct candidate interviews in open sessions starting at 9 a.m. on Tuesday. Two additional panels, composed of community stakeholders and PUD staff, will hold interviews in private sessions throughout the day. Candidates will also receive a tour of the PUD’s facilities and operations.
The Prothman Company, which was hired to direct an executive search for a new general manager, will lead the process.