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-Editorial
The Imperial Irrigation District Board of Directors voted to hire Jamie Asbury as the new General Manager that will take the reigns of the agency replacing Henry Martinez who retired early this year. It was a historic moment as she will be the first woman to lead IID in its more than 100-year history.
In January 2023, the board of directors began an extensive recruitment process to identify and hire a new General Manager. The recruitment process took over the Spring and Summer months. Numerous applications were received and highly qualified people were interviewed by the board.
“It was and extensive and rigorous process where you competed against the best nationwide and you were #1 because you showed your determination and love for the IID,” Board President Alex Cardenas said.
IID Director Karin Eugenio said that when this process started gender was not under consideration but the way Asbury conducted herself on the interviews showed that she was the right choice.
“When she put her name in the application pool I began to look at her closely and was impressed with her knowledge,” Eugenio said. “I have no doubt that you will guide us through the next few years. As I woman and a mother, I thank you for making women more proud. For the first time in more than 100 years, I’m happy to help break this glass ceiling and put you in that wall exhibiting only men thus far.”
After this extensive recruitment process, the board identified Jamie Asbury as the most qualified candidate to lead the District and directed the general council to negotiate an agreement.
Jamie Asbury plans and directs the essential functions of IIDs
Energy Department. She oversees administration, regulatory policy, customer programs, operations, energy maintenance and construction infrastructure, resource planning, engineering, system and trading operations, and generation to meet the district’s strategic plan and the department’s goals and objectives.
Several initiatives at the local, regional, and international levels are on a critical path, and Asbury, under her skill set and standing in the energy industry, was tasked with guiding them to successful outcomes on IID’s behalf.
Asbury has been with IID since 2007 and has held several different positions within the energy department, general services, and general counsel’s office.
Asbury studied at Imperial Valley College and has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management with an emphasis in Public Administration from the University of Phoenix and a Juris Doctor degree from the Concord Law School at Purdue University. She is a member of the California State Bar.
