A native of New Orleans, Louisiana, Melita Caldwell-Betties' career history spans a diverse spectrum: police services, postal operations, and water resource management. In 1989, Ms. Caldwell-Betties accepted a part-time position with the Eastern Municipal Water District as a Relief Operations Dispatcher. When the District was recruiting women in its field operations, she then embarked on a dramatic career change as a Water Reclamation Department operator-in-training. Acquiring a background in science through pre-med courses undertaken while in college, Ms. Caldwell-Betties was a prime candidate. After a series of promotions to Plant Operator I, II, III, and Lead Operator, Melita Caldwell-Betties retired after twenty–three years of dedicated service with the job title of Water Reclamation Plant Manager for the Temecula Valley Water Reclamation Facility.


As a Water Reclamation Plant Manager, Ms. Caldwell-Betties was responsible for the management and direction of wastewater treatment plant operations along with service delivery of reclaimed water to off-site users, as well as providing reliable uninterrupted sewer service to the community. The position required initiative and dependability with a willingness to be original in approach, adaptable and to provide decisive leadership. With minimal oversight, her career with Eastern Municipal Water District was marked by a history of demonstrated success in the delivery of superior public services and dissemination of public policy pertinent to water resources through vocational training.


Taking an active role in the development of top caliber individuals within the water industry, Ms. Caldwell-Betties has been putting her expertise to work teaching water supply operations as an Associate Professor for the Water Supply Technology Program at San Bernardino Valley College. Ms. Caldwell-Betties holds both a bachelor's degree in business management from University of Redlands and a master's degree in public administration with an emphasis in Water Resources Management from California State University, San Bernardino. One of her most professionally-satisfying accomplishments can be best described as the recognition given in a news article that appeared in the North County Times entitled “Woman Thrives in an Unusual Job,” which exemplified her abilities to work with a diverse staff, community and student body.