TCPUD Director of Strategic Affairs Kim Boyd has been honored as the 2026 Staff Member of the Year by the California Special Districts Association. Photo courtesy of Tahoe City Public Utility District

TAHOE CITY, CA (MPG) — Tahoe City Public Utility District’s (TCPUD) Director of Strategic Affairs, Kim Boyd, has been named the 2026 Staff Member of the Year by the California Special Districts Association (CSDA), recognizing her leadership, initiative and commitment to public service at TCPUD and throughout California’s special district community.

CSDA’s annual awards recognize individuals and organizations whose leadership, innovation, advocacy and commitment to public service strengthen special districts and the communities they serve across California.

“Kim’s initiative, strategic thinking and deep commitment to serving our community have made her an invaluable leader within our organization, and I couldn’t be more pleased to see her recognized with this well-deserved honor,” said TCPUD General Manager Sean Barclay. “Kim is a quiet leader who doesn’t seek recognition or the spotlight. Instead, she focuses on doing the work with excellence, supporting her colleagues and making sure we deliver the best possible outcomes for our community.”

Boyd joined TCPUD in 2017 as a senior management analyst and was promoted to director of strategic affairs in 2024. During her tenure, she has helped secure more than $15.6 million in grant funding for critical district initiatives, including infrastructure improvements, environmental stewardship, multi-use trail reconstruction and cybersecurity investments.

Kim has also stepped forward to lead efforts to secure financing for the Tahoe Cedars and Madden Creek Water System Reconstruction Projects, two of the largest and most complex infrastructure investments in TCPUD history. This includes significant work to establish a public financing authority, positioning TCPUD to pursue low-interest financing for approximately $75 million in infrastructure investments. These projects will modernize aging water systems, improve drinking water reliability and significantly increase water availability for fire suppression in Tahoe’s high-fire-risk communities.

Boyd has also played a leading role in advocating for wildfire resilience and infrastructure investment throughout the Tahoe Basin. Through the Tahoe Water for Fire Suppression Partnership, she has helped bring state and federal attention to the challenges facing rural water providers in high-fire-severity areas, including organizing on-the-ground tours that allow policymakers to see firsthand the region’s unique water infrastructure and wildfire resilience needs.

Her statewide involvement also includes service on CSDA’s legislative and professional development committees and active participation in the Association of California Water Agencies, where she has served as a conference panelist and shared TCPUD’s experiences with water professionals from throughout California.

Within TCPUD, Kim is a trusted advisor, collaborator, and mentor whose influence reaches across departments. Her willingness to step forward, take on complex challenges and support those around her reflects the leadership and commitment to public service recognized by the Staff Member of the Year Award.