Kevin R. Larsen, Chief Deputy Water Resources Commissioner
Chief Deputy Water Resources Commissioner Kevin R. Larsen was appointed to his current position in 2001. A Michigan State University graduate with a degree in advertising communications, Kevin serves as chairman of the Oakland County Information Technology and Leadership group. In that role, he is oversees all countywide master planning and technology-related projects and initiatives.
Additionally, as chief deputy, Kevin provides supervisory responsibilities for more than 250 employees in the Water Resources Commissioner’s office and oversees its annual budget of nearly $200 million. He also assumes all the duties and statutory obligations of the water resources commissioner in his absence.
A past board member of the Clinton River Watershed Council, Kevin is an advisor for the non-profit Great Lakes Guardians, an organization that provides public education to school children throughout southeastern Michigan to promote watershed stewardship.
Douglas A. Buchholz, P.E., Director of Operations
Douglas A. Buchholz has worked for Oakland County since 1974. He started in the Department of Public Works, which was consolidated with the Drain Commissioner’s Office in 1994. The office was renamed the Water Resources Commissioner’s (WRC) office in 2008. Doug became Manager of Operations and Maintenance in 1998 and was promoted to Director of Operations in 2009.
Doug directs the overall operations and maintenance of the WRC field and office staff for water supply, wastewater and storm water disposal, lake level control, permits and inspections and customer service and billings.
He is a 1970 graduate of General Motors Institute with a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering degree. He earned a Master of Science: Civil Engineering degree from the University of Michigan in 1973. Doug also is a:
State of Michigan Registered Professional Engineer
State of Michigan Certified Wastewater Operator Classification: A, B, C or D
Member of American Water Works Association
Member of Michigan Water Environment Association
Currently, Doug focuses on regional water and wastewater issues for WRC. He also represents WRC and Oakland County cities, villages and townships on Detroit Water and Sewage Department (DWSD) committees and work groups as a:
• Co-chair of the DWSD Water Technical Advisory Committee (TAC)
• DWSD Sewer Steering Committee member
Suzanne R. Coffey is responsible for supervising engineers, field staff members, administrative and technical support personnel totaling 111 employees. Her areas of responsibility include the operations and maintenance of wastewater interceptor systems, local municipal wastewater conveyance systems, drains and lake level control structures as well as oversight of staff members who perform construction project management and construction inspection.
Sue joined the Water Resources Commissioner (WRC) staff as a Civil Engineer III in 2003. Since that time she has filled the roles of Assistant Chief Engineer and Chief Engineer overseeing operations that include wastewater and retention treatment facilities, municipal pump stations, electrical services and sewer and drain maintenance services. She was s selected to fill a position of Manager in 2009.
Sue graduated Cum Laude from Lawrence Technological University in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering and was named Young Engineer of the Year by the Northern Chapter of the Michigan Society of Professional Engineers in 1996.
She is a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Michigan and has held positions with engineering consulting firms before joining the WRC. She has had extensive experience in design and construction of remedial systems for contaminated soil and groundwater, design of municipal watermain and sewer extensions and site civil engineering for commercial, residential and industrial developments.
Steven Korth, P.E., Manager
Steven Korth is responsible for supervising engineers, field staff, administrative and technical support personnel totaling more than 100 employees. His areas of responsibility include the operations and maintenance of two wastewater treatment plants, four municipal combined sewer overflow retention treatment basins and numerous other wastewater treatment facilities including septic systems and sewage lift stations. Steve also is responsible for water system operations and maintenance for 22 local community water systems within 15 municipalities. In addition, Steve oversees Oakland County’s environmental program that addresses water quality issues with various subwatershed groups and communities within the five major watersheds in Oakland County. Other areas of responsibility include the administration of a Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control program for 46 local communities and a Plan Review and Permitting program.
Steve joined the WRC staff as a Civil Engineer II in 1994. Since that time he has filled the roles of Assistant Chief Engineer and Chief Engineer with extensive experience in construction project management, lake levels and drain operations and maintenance, and lake improvement boards. He was selected to fill a position of Manager in 2009.
Steve graduated Cum Laude from Michigan State University in 1988 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering. Steve also earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Oakland University in 2001. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Michigan and has more than 20 years of experience in municipal engineering.
Sherri Gee, Chief Administrative Services
WRC Administrative Services Chief Sherri Gee oversees GIS mapping services, water and sewer billing operations and supervises all administrative staff members. She also is responsible for ISO and environmental management systems, safety and employee training programs, purchasing support, Web and community liaison services as well as time and labor management systems.
A graduate of the University of Michigan – Dearborn with a degree in communications, Sherri served as ISO coordinator for the Water Resources Commissioner’s office since 2002 before being promoted in 2006 to her current position.
During her stint as ISO coordinator, Sherri spearheaded the successful effort to introduce an environmental management system to the organization.
Chief Deputy Water Resources Commissioner Kevin R. Larsen was appointed to his current position in 2001. A Michigan State University graduate with a degree in advertising communications, Kevin serves as chairman of the Oakland County Information Technology and Leadership group. In that role, he is oversees all countywide master planning and technology-related projects and initiatives.
Douglas A. Buchholz has worked for Oakland County since 1974. He started in the Department of Public Works, which was consolidated with the Drain Commissioner’s Office in 1994. The office was renamed the Water Resources Commissioner’s (WRC) office in 2008. Doug became Manager of Operations and Maintenance in 1998 and was promoted to Director of Operations in 2009.
Suzanne R. Coffey is responsible for supervising engineers, field staff members, administrative and technical support personnel totaling 111 employees. Her areas of responsibility include the operations and maintenance of wastewater interceptor systems, local municipal wastewater conveyance systems, drains and lake level control structures as well as oversight of staff members who perform construction project management and construction inspection.
Steven Korth is responsible for supervising engineers, field staff, administrative and technical support personnel totaling more than 100 employees. His areas of responsibility include the operations and maintenance of two wastewater treatment plants, four municipal combined sewer overflow retention treatment basins and numerous other wastewater treatment facilities including septic systems and sewage lift stations. Steve also is responsible for water system operations and maintenance for 22 local community water systems within 15 municipalities. In addition, Steve oversees Oakland County’s environmental program that addresses water quality issues with various subwatershed groups and communities within the five major watersheds in Oakland County. Other areas of responsibility include the administration of a Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control program for 46 local communities and a Plan Review and Permitting program.
WRC Administrative Services Chief Sherri Gee oversees GIS mapping services, water and sewer billing operations and supervises all administrative staff members. She also is responsible for ISO and environmental management systems, safety and employee training programs, purchasing support, Web and community liaison services as well as time and labor management systems.