After a several months-long search, previous Valley-Wide employee Dean Wetter will take on the position.
Over 40 applicants applied for the job and were reviewed by Valley-Wide President Nick Schouten and the Valley-Wide board of directors before Wetter was chosen.
"I have spent most of my life here," Wetter said. "I know all of the great features of this area. I am completely dedicated to the valley."
After high school, Wetter attended California State University San Bernardino where he earned a B.A. in business administration and a Masters in public administration.
His professional career began in 1991 at Valley-Wide where he worked in park development, maintenance, and budget preparation. He left the position in 1994 for a job at the Eastern Municipal Water District.
"I feel like I never truly left Valley-Wide," Wetter said. "It was always in the back of my mind that I would come back here."
At EMWD, Wetter worked in contract administration, maintenance service planning, and water operations. In 2001 he took his skills to Rainbow Municipal Water District where he was the department head overseeing operation, maintenance, and engineering functions. His final position before making the switch to Valley-Wide was as a public works manager and administrator for the City of Corona. There, Wetter managed day-to-day operation, finance, and personnel.
"I have been providing service to the public since the beginning of my career," Wetter said. "That is what I will continue to do. I have a high level of service and dedication to this community."
Wetter said he plans to address the public needs and be very hands-on in his work.
"I will be out there, in the field, at all of our locations. My immediate challenge will be learning all the details I need to about operations and identifying areas that need attention," Wetter said.
Wetter said he is used to working in high-pressure environments and that he is thrilled to work with such a great staff. Currently, Valley-Wide has a full-time staff of 27 including the general manager position.
Valley-Wide has 76 parks and six gymnasiums throughout the region. The district offers everything from youth and adult sports to special classes to community events.
"It will be very important to me to be actively involved with all of the things happening at Valley-Wide," Wetter said. "I have always kept a connection here since I left in 1994. It has been an overwhelming process, but I feel like I am coming home."
Wetter said Valley-Wide will continue to revolve around enhancing the quality of life of the people in the community and providing local recreation opportunities with the support of a strong staff and a loyal group of volunteers.
"This community is a pleasure to serve," Wetter said. "I am thrilled to be back."