Archives: People

 Mr. Brown was appointed the Director of the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) in October 2015 by Mayor Mike Duggan. Under his leadership, DWSD has been transformed to a customer-centric, fiscally responsible organization implanting a robust a capital improvement program to upgrade Detroit’s local water and sewer systems, with 425 miles of water main and 15,722 lead service lines replaced, 95 miles of sewer lines installed or replaced, and 20 stormwater projects installed since 2018. Even before the COVID-19 Pandemic, Mr. Brown began shifting the department from an in-person customer service model to an efficient, responsive and technologically driven, cashless operation. Further, he has spearheaded water affordability efforts, launching the DWSD Lifeline Plan to provide a fixed bill amount for low-income residents using regional, state and federal funds.  Mr. Brown serves on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Local Government Advisory Council and has co-chaired committees since his appointment in August 2021. Previously, he was the City of Detroit’s Group Executive for Operations and Chief Operating Officer under Duggan, charged with ensuring continued improvement of city services. Mr. Brown has served the City of Detroit in several leadership roles over the past four decades.

Mr. Munfakh has more than 30 years of experience in civil engineering, with experience in water supply and distribution projects; wastewater system projects, including sewer construction, pumping and treatment; and road, street, and bridge design and reconstruction. He has also overseen implementation of multiple infrastructure projects across Southeast Michigan, including water treatment plant expansions, water and sewer system expansions, sewer replacement design and more. Mr. Munfakh is a registered professional engineer in the states of Michigan, Louisiana and Indiana, and currently serves as the Founder and CEO of Munfakh & Associates, LLC in Plymouth, MI.

Mr. Munfakh serves as Chairman for the Arab American and Chaldean Council, in addition to serving as a trustee of the foundation board of Henry Ford College. He formerly served on the Plymouth Township Planning Commission and the Plymouth Township Board of Trustees, as well as the Michigan Board of Professional Engineers. In addition, Mr. Munfakh previously served as President, Chairman of the Board and Principal-in-Charge at Ayers, Lewis Norris & May Inc., in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Mr. Munfakh is a graduate of Louisiana State University with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and has completed graduate work in Civil Engineering at the University of Michigan.

Mr. Baker is the Chief Deputy for the Macomb County Public Works Commissioner, Candice Miller, where he oversees a staff of 60 storm water and waste water professionals. He formerly served as the Finance and Budget Director for the City of Sterling Heights for more than 30 years. In that capacity, he directed the City’s financing, procurement and debt management initiatives, and worked extensively on water and sewer rate setting process, which has resulted in Sterling Heights achieving efficiencies and lowering costs, as well as on pension administration. In addition, Mr. Baker has worked regionally serving in numerous capacities, including on a municipal revenue task force established by the Governor’s Office to address ongoing problems. He has also worked closely with the Southeastern Michigan Council of Governments in similar capacities. Mr. Baker earned a Master of Business Administration from Wayne State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Political Science from the University of Michigan.

Mr. Hendrix has extensive experience in municipal government, finance and real estate, having served as Deputy Mayor and Chief of Staff for former Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer. During his tenure with the City, Mr. Hendrix led strategic policy development and planning and assisted the City in achieving its first balanced budget in decades, as well as an unprecedented and continuous upgrading of the City’s national bond rating.  He is a member of the Southeastern Michigan Regional Transit Authority Board of Directors, and a long-time community activist who co-founded the Rosedale-Grandmont Little League Baseball Program.