Laura Nomura recently retired from Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) as the Deputy General Manager and Treasurer overseeing all administrative functions including finance, human resources, information systems, customer service, purchasing and contract management and fleet services. EMWD is the water, wastewater service and recycled water provider for more than 855,000 people living and working within a 555-square mile service area in western Riverside County. EMWD is a recognized leader in the water industry throughout California and nationally.
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Prior to joining EMWD in November 2018, Laura served as the Assistant General Manager for Finance & Administration at Riverside Public Utilities (RPU). Her areas of responsibility included overseeing all utility financial-related activities, as well as, Business Information Systems and Customer Service. Before serving in her role at RPU, she served as the Finance Director for the California cities of Hemet and Irwindale and Controller for the City of Riverside. Prior to her career in municipal government, Laura worked in public accounting serving municipal government clients and is a Certified Public Accountant. Laura holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in accounting from California State University, Fullerton, and a Masters in Organizational Leadership from the University of Redlands. Laura has served as past president and board member of the California Society of Municipal Finance Officers. She currently serves as the Senior Advisor for the Program Committee for their annual conference She also currently serves on the Board of the Association of Women in Water, Energy and Environment.

Laura supports JGA clients through organizational development assessments, governance policy updates, and executive recruitment that strengthen leadership and operational effectiveness. Her favorite JGA value is Humility, which shapes her approach to meeting organizations where they are and offering practical, achievable solutions. Outside of work, Laura enjoys life with her two dogs—Noah and Miso—whose personalities bring joy, humor, and grounding to her days.