Board of Directors
The Providence Water Supply Board of Directors consists of seven dedicated public officials and private citizens who are committed to fair and equitable service for all customers within our service area. Four members are appointed by the Mayor of Providence, two members are appointed by the Providence City Council and the City of Providence Director of Finance is an ex-officio member. It is the mission of the Board to ensure that consumers receive a safe, reliable, high-quality, sustainable water supply for drinking and fire protection services.
Board Members
Ateesh S. Chanda
Chairperson
Ateesh S. Chanda has served as Chairman of the Providence Water Supply Board since 2022. He is General Counsel of an investment banking firm and has practiced law for more than 15 years. Chairman Chanda is a graduate of the Georgetown University Law Center and Brown University. He lives in Providence with his wife and their twins.
Cristen L. Raucci
Vice Chairperson
Cristen L. Raucci was appointed as a member of the Providence Water Supply Board in 2016. Ms. Raucci is Corporate Counsel for a general merchandise retailer and has practiced law for over fifteen years. She is actively involved in various professional organizations and serves on the Board of Directors for the Rhode Island Bar Foundation and Grow Smart RI.
Juan M. Pichardo
Council President Pro Tempore
Providence City Council President Pro Tempore Juan Pichardo represents Ward 9, which includes the Elmwood and South Elmwood neighborhoods. He also served as a state senator from 2003 until 2017 and as a member of the RI Air National Guard from 1988 until 2010, retiring at the rank of Master Sergeant. Councilperson Pichardo is now a self-employed realtor with Exp Realty. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Rhode Island College, as well as associates degrees in audiovisual from the Community College of the Air Force and in liberal arts from the Community College of Rhode Island. Council President Pro Tempore Pichardo is a member of several Providence City Council Committees, Claims and Pending Suits, Urban Redevelopment Renewal and Planning, Board of Parks and Commissioners and the Rules Committee. He has been a member of the Providence Water Supply Board since January 2023.
Oscar O. Vargas
Board Member (City Councilperson)
Councilperson Oscar O. Vargas represents Ward 15, which includes parts of the Silver Lake, Olneyville, Manton and Valley neighborhoods. A resident of Providence for more than 20 years, Councilperson Vargas was born in Zacapa, Guatemala and immigrated to Providence in 1989. He has worked at the Citizens Bank Corporation Office and later opened his own jewelry shop. In 2016, he received an auto mechanic certificate from MTTI. Councilperson Vargas is a long-time staff member of the Rhode Island State Senate, helping officials connect with the needs of the people in Providence. He currently serves on the Providence City Council Committees on Public Works and on Ordinances. Councilperson Vargas has been a member of the Providence Water Supply Board since January 2023.
Sara Silveria
Ex-Officio
Sara Silveria was appointed Director of Finance for the City of Providence and became a member of the Providence Water Supply Board in 2019. In her capacity as Finance Director, she has primary responsibility for the City’s municipal budget, as well as developing executive-level budget strategies and solutions to complex budgetary issues. Ms. Silveria participates in all major policy undertakings and decisions within the Finance Department and is highly regarded among government leaders, colleagues, and elected officials. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Rhode Island College.
Dr. Alma M. Guerrero Bready
Board Member
Dr. Alma M. Guerrero Bready was appointed as a member of the Providence Water Supply Board in 2020. Dr. Guerrero Bready currently serves as an Attending Physician at Rhode Island Hospital. She is actively involved within the community, providing mentoring support to first-year medical students, volunteering physician services at local area health clinics, and serving on the Planned Parenthood of Southern New England Board of Directors as both a Board member and a Board Governance Committee member.
Raphael O. Okelola
Board Member
Raphael Olawale Okelola was appointed as a member of the Providence Water Supply Board in 2024. Mr. Okelola has more than 20 years of experience in corporate America in a progressive career that includes consultancy and various information technology positions. He holds the position of President at Roplab IT Solutions LLC in the USA and Roplab IT Solutions Limited in Nigeria. Mr. Okelola presently serves as the President of the Nigerian Community of Rhode Island and in 2020 was elected to the position of Representative District Committee Member for District 5 in Rhode Island.
William E. O'Gara, Esq.
Legal Advisor
William E. O'Gara, Esq. was appointed as Legal Advisor to the Providence Water Supply Board in 2012. A partner in the firm of Pannone Lopes Devereaux & O’Gara LLC, Attorney O’Gara is a well-respected labor and employment law practitioner who also possesses a Masters Degree in Industrial Relations. In addition to his decades of professional experience, Attorney O’Gara has a history of pro bono involvement with various community organizations.