Rick serves on the Friant Water Authority Board of Directors representing Tulare Irrigation District, where he serves as vice-chair of the board. He previously served as a director for the Friant Water Users Authority, Friant’s predecessor. He serves as an alternate on the Executive Committee and chairs the O&M committee. Rick is a fourth generation farmer in Tulare. He started farming in 1986, became a partner in Borges Farms in1990, and currently continues in that partnership and farms separately as R S Borges Farming. Rick is married to his wife Susie and they have two children, Greg and Breann. Greg is the fifth generation working on the farm. Rick represents the TID board as a Director for the Tulare Irrigation Company, and Kaweah and St. Johns Rivers Association, and is a Director for Kaweah Basin Water Quality Association.
Josh Pitigliano serves on the Friant Water Authority Board of Directors representing Lower Tule River Irrigation District. He is a fourth-generation farmer and works alongside his father and two brothers. Their diversified farm and farm management business is spread across multiple irrigation districts. Josh attended Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo majoring in Agribusiness with an emphasis in Farm and Ranch management. He served as chairman of the Tulare County Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee and later sat on the Tulare County Farm Bureau board as a director. Josh is married to his wife, Jennifer, for 14 years and counting and have two wonderful boys, Wes and Ike.
Kelley Hampton was appointed to the Friant Water Authority Board of Directors in 2023 and has served as Board Member for Delano-Earlimart Irrigation District since 2004 and serves as its current President. He farms 160 acres of almonds, the same property that his father has farmed since 1955. He is the current president of the Board of Directors.
Scott Spitzer serves as Ranch Manager for Opal Fry and Son, where he oversees approximately 3,000 acres of diversified agriculture with a strong emphasis on irrigation management, water efficiency, and responsible agricultural practices. The ranch produces table grapes, citrus, tomatoes, onions, and carrots, requiring careful water management and operational planning across a variety of permanent and annual crops. Raised on a family farm, Scott developed an appreciation for agriculture and water management at an early age, values that continue to guide his work today.
Scott earned a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Business from Colorado State University and has dedicated over 20 years in agriculture. His experience spans crop production, irrigation management, operational leadership, and the practical challenges growers face in managing California’s limited water resources.
Since 2022, Scott has served as a Board Member for the Arvin-Edison Water Storage District, where he contributes to policies and initiatives that support reliable water supplies for agriculture and the communities they serve. He also serves on the California Tomato Research Institute Board and the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Broomrape Board, helping advance research, innovation, and responsible resource management within California agriculture.
Scott and his wife, Amy, live in Bakersfield, California. Outside of work, he enjoys hunting, fishing, golf, and traveling. He is passionate about preserving California agriculture through sound water management, practical innovation, and long-term planning that benefits both today’s growers and future generations.
Cliff joined the Friant Water Authority Board of Directors in March 2014. As a director, he sits on the Finance, Human Resources, and O&M Committees. He also serves as alternate director in the Executive Committee. Cliff and his family have farmed in Lindsay-Strathmore Irrigation District since the 1970s. He was appointed to the LSID board in 2013. As the LSID representative, he also represents the District on the East Kaweah Groundwater Sustainability (EKGSA) board of directors He also serves on a local packing house board of directors and has been active in the local community during his adult life. Cliff holds a Bachelor of Arts from California State University, Bakersfield, with concentrations in History and Psychology.
Chris has served on the Friant Water Authority Board of Directors since 2015 and also serves on the Board’s Executive Committee. He represents Kaweah Delta Water Conservation District, where he has served since 2001. He is also the chairman for the Kaweah River Power Authority and Vice-Chairman for the Greater Kaweah Groundwater Sustainability Agency. Chris is a diversified farmer of deciduous fruit, Citrus and nut crops across the districts of three Friant Division contractors. He is also the General Manager of Venida Packing Co., an Exeter packer, specializing in the packing of plums, persimmons and kiwifruit. Previous to farming, Chris spent 10 years as the general manager of the Consolidated Peoples Ditch Company, a mutual water company on the Kaweah River. Outside of water, Chris has served on the Board of Foodlink for Tulare County, Exeter Union School Board and Tulare County Farm Bureau. He lives in Exeter with his wife; they have 4 children and 3 grandchildren. Chris holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado.
Matt is a fifth-generation California citrus farmer and a Second-generation Teapot Dome Water District director, where he has served the growers for 10 years and currently serves as Chairman. Matt has represented Teapot Dome at Friant for 6 years.
Matt lives in the Teapot Dome area with his family.
E W Merritt Farms in Porterville, CA
Kent first became a director for the Friant Water Users Authority, the predecessor of the Friant Water Authority in 1998 representing Kern Tulare Water District as its President. He also serves as chair of the Board’s Executive Committee. He became a director of the Kern Tulare Water District board in 1987. As a young boy, he first irrigated on the family farm in the Modesto Irrigation District. Following graduation from Brigham Young University in 1973 with a B.S. in Accounting Kent joined the accounting firm Arthur Andersen & Co., San Jose, California Office Tax Division servicing various agricultural clients in the state and nation including the Salinas and San Joaquin Valleys. He obtained his CPA certificate in 1976. Kent joined with Marko Zaninovich, Inc., in 1977, currently serving as Director, Corporate Secretary and Chief Financial Officer. Marko Zaninovich, Inc., a fourth-generation farming family and affiliated entities farm in several Friant and state water districts.
Michael Brownfield joined Friant Water Authority Board of Directors in 2018, representing Lindmore Irrigation District. Michael was born and raised in Lindsay and primarily farms citrus in the Lindsay/Strathmore/Exeter area. He currently also serves as an alternate for East Kaweah Groundwater Sustainability Agency. Michael obtained a degree in Agribusiness-Marketing from Cal Poly University – San Luis Obispo, CA.
Brett McCowan joined Friant Water Authority’s Board of Directors in 2024, representing Porterville Irrigation District, where he has served as a Board Member since 2014. He is President of Brett McCowan Farms, Inc. and Mustachio Harvest Company, Inc. He and his spouse Allison have three children.
Loren serves on the Friant Water Authority Board of Directors representing Hills Valley Irrigation District, where she is board chair. She is a member of the East Kings River groundwater Coalition and a past chair of the California Ag Leadership Program. She also serves on the Ann Reimers Foundation, the Otis Booth Foundation, Children's Institute Board of Trustees and the Reining Horse Foundation. When not spending time with grandchildren or showing reining horses, she loves to fly fish and enjoy the beauty and serenity of nature. Loren grew up in Southern California and moved to the San Joaquin Valley in 1975, working in her family's cow/calf operation. After graduating from the California Agricultural Program, she became more involved in the family citrus operation working closely with her dad Otis Booth. Today Booth Ranches is a vertically integrated citrus operation growing, packing and marketing their products all over the world. Loren also enjoys raising and showing world-class reining horses. She has two children, her son Jake Sill and daughter-in-law Chiara, live in Visalia with their darling children, Sinclair and Charles Ensign Sill. Her daughter, Blair and son-in-law Bubba Moffett, live in Scottsdale, Arizona with their darling children, Eloise and Duke Moffett. Loren attended Cal Poly State University, Pomona, and Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo.
George serves on the Friant Water Authority Board of Directors representing Fresno Irrigation District. He lives in the Kerman area on his 154-acre grape vineyard where he grows Thompsons, Barbera, and Chardonnay grapes. George is a graduate of Fresno State College where he received his B.S. in Animal Science. He previously served on the board of the Raisin Bargaining Association and is currently a board member with the Fresno County Farm Bureau.
Bill De Groot Dairy in Pixley, CA
President, Chowchilla Water District; and President, Madera-Chowchilla Water and Power Authority.
Arlen Miller is a third-generation citrus farmer who has served on the Friant Water Authority Board of Directors for over 20 years. Representing the Orange Cove Irrigation District, Arlen holds the position of Vice Chair. In 1986, Arlen obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Fruit Industries from Cal Poly State University, Pomona. His expertise extends beyond citrus farming; he also cultivates kiwis, almonds, and cherries. In addition to his professional endeavors, Arlen shares his life with his wife, Katy, and their two children. Arlen has also served on the Board of Directors for Tulare County Farm Bureau and Immanuel Schools.
Parsons & Sons in Ducor (Tulare County), CA
Craig Fulwyler joined the Friant Water Authority Board of Directors in 2022, representing the Shafter-Wasco Irrigation District. Craig was born and raised in Wasco, where he operates a third-generation family farm. He previously served as a director for Semitropic Coop Cotton Gin & Almond Huller director. He also served as a Director/Trustee for Northwest Kern Resource Conservation District Director, Wasco Union High School Board of Trustees, and Shafter-Wasco Irrigation District since 2012. Craig obtained a degree in Agribusiness Management from Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo. He and his wife, Karen, have three sons.
Doug Phillips, a Central Valley native, joined Friant Water Authority’s Board of Directors in 2019, representing Ivanhoe Irrigation District. He is the Owner/President of Phillips Farma and Universal Produce Corporation. Doug obtained a Geology degree from Stanford University and is actively involved in various community organizations. He currently serves as a Board Member for the Kiwifruit Administrative Committee, Klink Orange Cove Citrus, and formally with Tri-District Water Agency. Doug and his wife, Caralee, enjoy wildlife photography and scuba diving.
Dario Dominguez is a seasoned municipal executive with over twenty years of experience in city administration, public works management, and civil engineering. Before joining the City of Lindsay, he served as Interim City Manager for the City of Orange Cove, overseeing daily operations, implementing financial controls, preparing the city’s first comprehensive capital improvement plan, and securing major federal infrastructure funding. He previously served as Interim City Manager, Assistant City Manager/Public Works Director for Orange Cove and as Public Works Director for the City of Fowler, following more than a decade of engineering work with the County of Madera and regional firms.
Nicholas Mascia has served on the Friant Water Authority Board of Directors since 2025 also serves on the North Kings Groundwater Sustainability Agency and Fresno Council of Governments (COG) and the Fresno Council of Government Policy Advisory Committee.
Nick Mascia is a Michigan native, where he developed an early interest in civil engineering and public infrastructure. He is passionate about sustainable urban development, public transportation and utility systems, and mentoring future engineers.
Nick Mascia received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering and a Master of Science Degree in Civil Engineering with an emphasis on Transportation from Michigan State University. A strong advocate for efficient public infrastructure, transparent governance, and community-centered planning, he involves himself in projects that improve city operations, transportation systems, and public utilities. In addition, he serves as Assistant City Manager for the City of Fresno and is a member of professional engineering organizations including American Public Works Association and the Institute of Transportation Engineers.
