WAPA Adds To Senior Staff With Two Appointments

Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority Executive Director Lawrence J. Kupfer today announced the appointments of the authority’s chief financial officer and human resources director, filling two vacancies on the company’s senior management team, according to a release WAPA issued late Friday.

Named to the CFO position is Debra E. Gottlieb, and Sabrina King Leonce will serve as director of human resources, WAPA said. Both will begin their tenure this month.

“Ms. Gottlieb brings extensive finance and budget administration experience to the CFO position at a time when WAPA is facing difficult financial times in the aftermath of the 2017 hurricanes,” Mr. Kupfer said. Ms. Gottlieb’s far-reaching experience in government finances will be called on to steer WAPA through this challenging period. the authority said. “Our new CFO will also be tasked with developing the financing mechanisms needed to track federal funding being afforded WAPA for mitigation and restoration projects,” Mr. Kupfer added.

Ms. Gottlieb was most recently the executive director of the V.I. Board of Education and prior to that, deputy commissioner for fiscal and administrative services at the Department of Education. She served as Office of Management and Budget director for eight years beginning in 2007. She holds a master’s degree in public administration and a bachelor of arts degree in history. Her professional career also spanned eight years of service at the V.I. Legislature, two of them as director of administration within the Post Audit Division.

Ms. King Leonce comes to WAPA with over ten years of experience leading corporate and field human resource operations, with specific focus on employee relations, labor law, change management, conflict management, training, and employee development. “Ms. King Leonce has served as director of human resources at The Westin St. John Resort and Villas, a position she has held since 2012. Prior to that, she held key leadership positions in the resort’s HR department,” Mr. Kupfer said. Ms. King Leonce holds a Master of Science degree in human resource management and a bachelor of arts degree in behavioral science. She has also worked with major corporations on the U.S. mainland.

“I look to her leadership to modernize many of our HR functions, and she will play a key role in developing programs aimed at advancing training and opportunity for our employees,” he said.

Mr. Kupfer, on behalf of the men and women of WAPA, welcomed Ms. Gottlieb and Ms. King Leonce to WAPA and thanked them for their willingness to serve at a critical time in WAPA’s history. “I expect that these outstanding leaders will put their experiences to work for WAPA, its employees and customers. I welcome them both to our family,” Mr. Kupfer said.