Every mutual water company runs on the dedication of volunteers who step up in ways they never planned. At Bellflower Home Garden Mutual Water Company, two of its longest-serving leaders. General Manager Don Kotas and Board Member & Operator Juan Becerra both found their way to the company through chance encounters that turned into decades of service.
Don Kotas: An Answered Prayer
Don’s journey with Bellflower Home Garden began in August 2001, when he was looking for part-time work. With no experience or special skills to point to, he says he simply prayed for whatever job God wanted to give him. After spotting Lakewood City Water crews flushing a hydrant outside his window, he even joked that he’d take a job flushing hydrants if it came knocking on his door.
Two days later, it did. A Bellflower Home Garden Board member showed up at his house looking for candidates for an open Board position and invited him to the next meeting. Don showed up without a resume, sat across from two more experienced applicants with plumbing and water system backgrounds, and told the Board honestly that the other candidates were more qualified than he was.
A week later, he learned he’d been voted in unanimously. His first job with the company was flushing hydrants. Nearly 25 years later, Don now serves as President of Bellflower Home Garden.
Juan Becerra: From Shareholder to State-Certified Operator
Juan’s path started even closer to home. A longtime resident within the Bellflower Home Garden service territory, Juan recalls that his contact with the company began many years ago when he called for help with a water issue at his house. The operator on the job asked him to clear the area around the valve to prepare for the repair. When the operator returned, he was impressed enough with Juan’s handiwork that he asked if Juan might want to get more involved with the water company.
That conversation set Juan on a path that led to a State D1 Operator certification and his current role as Board member and operator. By day, Juan teaches history at a continuation school in Lawndale, balancing that work with his water company responsibilities thanks to steady support from his son, John, who is studying history at California State University, Long Beach.
Juan’s technical know-how and steady hand were especially valuable during Bellflower Home Garden’s meter installation project, where he served as the point person coordinating with the contractor and shareholders alike — troubleshooting issues as they came up, tracking installation progress, logging meter and endpoint serial numbers, and helping get the system’s automated monitoring up and running.
A Shared Thread
Neither Don nor Juan set out to lead a water company, but they both said “yes” when the opportunity presented itself on their doorsteps. Both have grown into roles that keep Bellflower Home Garden running smoothly for its shareholders today.
See photos and original post at calmutuals.org