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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Donna joined SJAFCA in July 2012. She provides secretarial and office support to the Agency. Prior to joining SJAFCA, Donna worked with the City of Stockton's Community services Department as an Office Assistant II and Recording Secretary for the Stockton Arts Commission. She has extensive public service experience as a Legal Secretary/Paralegal with the City of Emeryville and the Town of Danville.

Donna received her Paralegal Certificate from Cal State University in Hayward (which is now called Cal State East Bay), Associates of Liberal Arts degree from Las Positas Jr. College in Livermore, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Behavior from University of San Francisco.

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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Jim Stone studied Civil Engineering at the United States Military Academy at West Point and received a B.S. Degree. He also attended Stanford University and received a M.S. in Civil Engineering with a focus in Construction Management.

Jim served in the United States Army for 22 years, working as a Combat Engineer Officer, an instructor, and a project manager. Jim was the project manager for construction of a base camp in Kuwait during Operation Desert Storm, and also supervised U.S. military humanitarian, counterdrug, and disaster relief construction in the 22 nations of the Caribbean. While working in the Caribbean, Jim attended FEMA disaster response training, and was part of FEMA's response to a hurricane in Puerto Rico.

Jim retired from the Army in 2002 and went to work for the City of Manteca as a Deputy Public Works Director, supervising the water, wastewater, streets, fleet, facility, and solid waste field operations. Jim was also Floodplain Administrator for the City of Manteca and represented Manteca on the Flood Control TAC.

In 2013, Jim joined San Joaquin County Public Works as the Deputy Director for Operations.

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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. 

Mr. Cook has worked for the San Joaquin County Department of Public Works’ Road Maintenance Division for 25 years, five of which were as a General Foreman handling road, bridge, and storm water related maintenance, and the Road Restoration Program.   Mr. Cook was appointed Channel Maintenance Superintendent on July 30, 2012.  Prior to his employment with San Joaquin County, he worked for the Port of Stockton for 15 years, importing and exporting bulk materials.  His background includes heavy equipment operation and construction, and commercial vehicle training.  Mr. Cook attended Amos Alonzo Stagg High School, and is lifelong resident of Stockton.