Jim has been with the Agency since its inception, initially as Engineering Manager and then as Executive Director in 2002.

Jim was born in Stockton and attended local schools, graduating from Stagg High School. He graduated from San Joaquin Delta College and then attended San Jose State receiving a Bachelor of Science degree with honors in Civil Engineering.

Upon graduation, he began his career with Caltrans where his first assignment was inspecting the bridges on I-5 through Stockton. In 1972, with the downturn in highway construction, he went to work for the City of Lodi in the Public Works Department.

He continued his education by attending night school at Sacramento State and received a Masters degree in Business Administration in 1977.

In 1978 he left Lodi to become the Public Works Director/City Engineer for the City of Morgan Hill in Santa Clara County. In 1982 he returned to Stockton as the City Engineer and advanced to Public Works Director in 1989. He retired from that position in 2008 and continued on as Executive Director for the Agency.

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Roger Churchwell joined SJAFCA in October 2007 as the Director of Engineering. He was appointed Deputy Executive Director on May 20, 2009, by the SJAFCA Board. Roger oversees all functions of the Agency and acts for the Executive Director in his absence.

Prior to joining SJAFCA, Roger worked for San Joaquin County Public Works, the State Department of Water Resources, and Caltrans. Roger’s technical background includes geotechnical engineering, and hydraulics and hydrology. Roger has spent the last 8 years of his career in management.

Roger is a Professional Engineer and a Certified Floodplain Manager. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Arizona in 1988.

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Juan Neira has been with the Agency since its inception in 1996. He is familiar with the different aspects of the Agency including: finance, design, environmental, permitting, hydrology and hydraulics, and construction. Juan was also involved with State and Federal reimbursement issues of the Flood Protection Restoration Project (FPRP).

Juan is familiar with the day-to-day activities of the Agency's assessment district administration. During the construction phase of the SJAFCA FPRP, Juan acted as the Project Manager for some of the project reaches.

Currently, Juan is the Project Manager for the Smith Canal Closure Structure project. This project will provide flood protection and FEMA certification for the areas protected by the Smith Canal levees.

Juan graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the National University of Colombia, and obtained his Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering from San Jose State University of California in 1994.

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Gemma is a licensed engineer and has over 18 years of experience in project management, development engineering and construction. She joined SJAFCA in December 2008 from the City of Stockton Community Development Department as an Associate Civil Engineer where she reviewed master development plans, maps, environmental documents, use permits and various transportation planning projects.

Prior to her development review experience, Gemma was a Project Manager with the City of Stockton’s Public Works Department Capital Improvement Program (CIP). Gemma’s resume of projects include: Arch Road/State Route 99 (SR99) Interchange Reconstruction Project, Hammer Lane/SR99 Interchange Reconstruction and SR99 Widening Projects, Eight-Mile Road/Interstate 5, Aksland Avenue/Trinity Parkway Bridge over Bear Creek, Calaveras River Bike Path Extension and Bike-Pedestrian Bridge Projects, and a variety of minor CIP projects.

Gemma graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Geodetic Engineering from the University of the Philippines, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Western Philippine Colleges, Batangas, Philippines.

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Marlo joined SJAFCA in May 2007. She provides administrative support, grant coordination and fiscal support to the Agency. Marlo also participates in flood protection public outreach activities with several other agencies in San Joaquin County.

Marlo began employment with the City of Stockton in 1992 providing case management support to the City’s administrative appeals process. From 1997 to 2001 she worked for the City’s fire department providing administrative and payroll support. Prior to joining SJAFCA, Marlo worked in the Human Resources department providing benefit administration and retirement counseling to City employees.

Marlo graduated from Edison High School in Stockton and completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from the University of Phoenix.

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Thomas Gau attended the University of California - Davis Campus, and received a B.S. in Civil Engineering in December 1971.  Mr. Gau began his career in public works as a Civil Engineering Assistant with the Los Angeles County Road Department's Bridge Design Section.  He became a Registered Civil Engineer in 1976 and, in 1980, relocated to Alpine County, where he was employed by the Department of Public Works, initially, as an Associate Civil Engineer and, ultimately, the Director of Public Works.

In 1984, Mr. Gau became employed by San Joaquin County.  He currently serves as Director of the San Joaquin County Department of Public Works, which is responsible for planning, designing, constructing, operating, and maintaining public roads, bridges, water, wastewater systems, flood control, and solid waste systems within the County. 

Mr. Gau's vast experience regarding infrastructure development and solid understanding of land use and planning principles has allowed him to pursue his goals successfully. 

In addition to having served as President of the American Society of Civil Engineers' Central Valley Branch and Treasurer of the Sacramento Section, he is affiliated with the American Public Works Association, County Engineers Association of California, National Association of County Engineers, and the Association of County Water Agencies.

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John Maguire was hired by San Joaquin County in January 2011 to manage the Flood Management Division of the Public Works Department. He has an extensive background in the public works field having worked for several cities in Northern California dating back to the early 1980’s. During his career, Mr. Maguire served as the first City Engineer for the City of West Sacramento in the late 1980’s, and immediately prior to joining San Joaquin County he worked for the City of Folsom. 

Mr. Maguire holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, and possesses professional engineering licenses in civil and traffic engineering. He is originally from Paradise, California, a small community located in the foothills east of Chico. 

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Mr. Winkler has been with the San Joaquin County Public Works Department since 1985. He began his career with the County as a roadway and bridge design engineer. He later became a Senior Construction Engineer and is presently Deputy Director. As Deputy Director, Mr. Winkler oversees the department’s operations which consist of road maintenance, flood control engineering, channel maintenance, solid waste management, and utility district maintenance.

Mr. Winkler has 27 years of experience in public sector engineering and administration. Prior to his employment with San Joaquin County, he worked at Stanislaus County Public Works Department as a roadway and bridge design engineer, and later as a resident construction engineer.

Mr. Winkler received his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of the Pacific School of Engineering.

Mr. Winkler can be contacted at (209) 468-3000.

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Butch has been with San Joaquin County since January 5, 1987. Butch worked for the Road Maintenance Division for 16 years and the Channel Maintenance Division for 7 years. He filled a General Foreman position for 2 ½ years before becoming the Channel Maintenance Superintendent in April of 2005.

Butch has a background in heavy construction, commercial vehicles, and the transportation industry. He is a graduate of Galt High School and has acquired most of his working knowledge through on-the-job training at San Joaquin County.

Butch states, “I have been lucky enough to have employees who were willing to teach new people how to do the job. I enjoy my work and plan on being around for a while.”