Brendan Thompson, General Manager, has a Bachelor of Civil Engineering from Georgia Tech and a Juris Doctorate from Mercer University, Walter F. George School of Law. He is a licensed Professional Engineer and a Licensed Attorney in the State of Georgia as well a member of the Georgia Association of Water Professionals. His previous work experience includes such internationally recognized corporations as Mobil Oil and Jacobs Engineering, where he managed a wide array of projects from planning and financing various types of facilities and infrastructure to overseeing the construction and implementation of those projects. As a Rabun County native, Brendan brings his skills and experience home to benefit the community in which he grew up.

Traci Jacobs Adams is the Finance Manager of Rabun County Water & Sewer Authority.  She has 25 years’ experience in the accounting profession as well as office management and customer service.  Her duties include the day-to-day financial operations of the Authority, managing the Authority office, billing and customer service. On January 23rd, 2020, Traci also passed her certified exam to become a Qualified Water Loss Auditor in the state of Georgia.

Traci graduated from Rabun County High School and Piedmont College where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and Business Administration.  She is a member of the Georgia Association of Water Professionals. Traci and her husband, Sam, have 5 children and two grandchildren.

Shawn has been working with the RCWSA since he was a sophomore honor student at Rabun County High School, helping out and learning the system during his summer breaks and in between football practices. After high school, Shawn attended Mars Hill University in North Carolina, where he earned his Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Chemistry with an intention to return to Rabun County and continue lending his education and experience to the efforts of the Authority. As a home grown professional, Shawn is happy to be able to serve his native community and help provide quality water and water services to the people who have always been his friends and family.

Christian Lovell is the Construction & Maintenance Manager. With a personal mission to serve the citizens of Rabun County, Christian joined the Water Authority in 2015 to assist with day-to-day operations involving new projects, maintenance, and construction. After twenty years in the textile business and commercial grading industry, Christian is pleased to serve the Water Authority in this capacity. In this role, he examines situations carefully, offers solutions, and helps with preventative maintenance on systems and equipment. Since 2015, Christian has held certification as a Licensed Water Treatment Plant Operator in Georgia and has completed training on water systems maintenance. Christian analyzes flow monitoring, completes inspections, operates or repairs heavy equipment, and provides technical guidance. With a focus to maintain and improve systems, he evaluates pipes, draining systems and processes. Christian is a native of Rabun County and is a resident of Tiger. He enjoys the outdoors, football, and spending time with his family.

Tricia is the Water System Manager and holds a Class 1 Water, Class 3 Wastewater, and a Distribution license. She is certified in Pump Efficiency, Optimizing of Coagulation/Filtration, Corrosion Control, Filter Optimization, Emergency Management, Surface Water Rules, Chlorination/Dechlorination, and Fluoridiazation. Her responsibilities are managing, organizing, directing and planning the operations of the Lake Rabun and the Little Tennessee River water treatment facilities. Tricia works closely with local, state and Federal environmental officials to ensure the facilities stay in compliance with rules and regulations. She supervises the water operators, develops schedules, procedures and methods for the operation and maintenance of the facilities. She keeps all records and prepares concise reports for the GA DNR and the GA Public Health Department. Tricia also performs operators work, laboratory analyses and maintains a safe work environment for working operations. She is a member of the American Water Works Association, the Georgia Rural Water Association and the Georgia Association of Water Professionals. She has worked in Water/Wastewater since 1997.

Hi! My name is Davis Speed and I live in Otto, NC. I was born and raised in Rabun County and graduated from Rabun Gap Nacoochee School. I attended 3 different colleges and acquired an AS Degree in Medical Laboratory Technology and a BS Degree in Chemistry and Biology. I have been involved in the environmental field since 1987 starting as an Environmental Health Scientist in Macon County, NC. I progressed from there to being the Plant Chemist at the Fruit of the Loom manufacturing facility in 1993. Later that same year I was promoted to being the Environmental Manager and supervisor of the wastewater treatment facility. The Rabun County Board of Commissioners acquired the process water treatment and wastewater facilities in 2008 where I became manager of both. In July 2016 the Rabun County Water and Sewer Authority took over the wastewater facility thereby making me the Wastewater Systems Manager. I offer educational tours of the facility for local high school students that have an interest in science and the environment.