A board of five trustees is elected by the members of Parkland Light & Water Co. for overall direction of the business and affairs of the company. These trustees are members of the company and live within the service area.

Each trustee is elected to serve a five-year term, with one term coming due at each annual meeting. Annual meetings are held the fourth Tuesday in March and the trustee is elected by a simple majority of members present and voting at that meeting.

The trustees appoint a General Manager and meet with her/him monthly throughout the year to receive reports on the company’s business. They vote on budgets and expenditures, set rates for water and power and make decisions to join into contracts with power providers. The trustees adopt billing and collection policies of the company and appoint a CPA to audit the company’s records. The board also takes part in the company labor union negotiations for a contract to serve PL&W when each contract comes due.

Trustees are encouraged to attend classes sponsored by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association and the Northwest Public Power Association that are designed specifically for trustees of electric companies. They also attend meetings of the local Pierce County Cooperative Power Association and the Regional Water Association. These classes and meetings keep your board informed of the most recent governing issues for the company as well as educate your board about the industry.

Gary Hauenstein was appointed to the Board August 2001 and voted in on March 26, 2002. Gary has had an enriching career in firefighting, serving 30 years at Parkland’s Station #6 before retiring as Fire Chief. Gary’s professional knowledge of Parkland’s water system and community involvement makes Gary a great asset to the Board.

Elaine Walter was voted onto the Board March 23, 1993 and is the first woman to be a PL&W Trustee. She has lived in the Parkland area all of her life and received her bachelor’s degree in business education at Pacific Lutheran University (PLU) before receiving her master’s in business at Oregon State University. Elaine taught at Fife High School for 30 years. With her establishment in the community and educational background, Elaine brings a wealth of ideas and information to the Board.

Gary Grazzini was appointed to the Board on October 25, 2007 and was voted in March 2008. Gary has a well-known history of the Parkland area and community, having been a resident his entire life. He attended Western Washington University and achieved a successful career in sales for 25 plus years. With his professional experience, knowledge in business, and the local community, Gary brings a positive well-grounded background to the PL&W board.

Dr. Mark Mulder was appointed to the Board May 29, 2019. He serves as the Dean of the School of Business and as a Professor of Business Administration (Marketing) at Pacific Lutheran University. Professor Mulder teaches in the MBA, Master of Science in Marketing Analytics, and undergraduate business programs. Professor Mulder has been recognized as Professor of the year and a recipient of teaching and research awards. He also volunteers as a business and marketing consultant with local and global nonprofits and business organizations. As an advocate for clean water, he has served to collaborate with communities while completing clean-water well projects in eight remote locations in Nicaragua and Honduras. His 20+ years of experience in Parkland as well as business, research and marketing expertise provides a great resource for the Board.

Paul Jones was voted to the Board on March 24, 2026. A lifelong member of the Parkland/ Spanaway community, Paul grew up attending Parkland and Brookdale Elementary, St. Leo’s Catholic School in Tacoma, Keithley Jr. High, and Washington High School. He went on to pursue his passion for aviation, earning degrees in Avionics Repair and Computer Programming, along with his A&P (Airframe & Powerplant) license. Paul dedicated 30 years to aeronautical repair before retiring from a career he truly enjoyed.

Paul and his wife made their home in Spanaway, where they raised their two children. They remain active in their local church and enjoy helping lead a weekly senior group. These days, Paul especially treasures time with his four grandchildren and great grandchildren.