Bellevue WA – Cascade Water Alliance named John Taylor as its new Chief Executive Officer at its Board Meeting on Wednesday, May 6. Taylor succeeds Ray Hoffman, who retired last year, and takes the helm from Melina Thung, who has served as Interim CEO since Hoffman’s retirement. Taylor will begin his duties with the regional water supply organization on May 29, 2026.
Taylor brings more than 26 years of leadership experience protecting and restoring the region’s natural environment, most recently as Director of King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks. He is a seasoned leader with extensive experience working on challenging regional policy issues, large capital programs, and complex financial matters.
“I am pleased to welcome John Taylor to our growing organization as he leads Cascade forward in its advocacy for regional water sustainability and resilience,” said Redmond Mayor and Cascade Water Alliance Board Chair Angela Birney. “Cascade is embarking on an historic undertaking to transform the region’s approach to drinking water through a partnership with Tacoma Public Utilities, connecting Cascade’s members to Tacoma’s water system. John’s leadership experience and regional relationships will be instrumental in guiding Cascade through this change. I also want to thank Melina Thung who helped steer Cascade over the last year as Interim Chief Executive Officer.”
At King County, prior to leading the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks, Taylor served as the inaugural Director of the Department of Local Services, a new agency created to better serve unincorporated communities. He also previously served as Assistant Director of the Water and Land Resources Division, where he led a community-driven effort to restore salmon habitat, strengthen the local agricultural economy, and reduce flood risks.
Cascade Water Alliance is a municipal corporation comprised of seven member agencies that collaborate to ensure a reliable and sustainable water supply for its members’ approximately 400,000 residents in King County. Established in 1999, Cascade’s members include five cities (Bellevue, Issaquah, Kirkland, Redmond, and Tukwila) and two water and sewer districts (Sammamish Plateau Water and Skyway Water and Sewer District). Cascade’s mission is to provide safe, clean, and reliable water to its members in a cost-effective and environmentally responsible way through regional leadership and strong relationships.