Ali Reza Ghasemi
Air Pollution Control Officer
The Air Pollution Control Board unanimously chose Ghasemi to serve as the Air Pollution Control Officer/Executive Officer in 2022. Ghasemi makes policy recommendations to the board and implements its decisions in addition to directing district staff.
Ghasemi began working for the district in 2018 and served as division manager for both Engineering and Planning, Rules & Incentives. Prior to joining the district, he spent 28 years with South Coast Air Quality Management District. During his public sector career, he has held several professional leadership positions. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering from University of Southern California and holds a Professional Engineer license in the subject.
Deanna Weik
Administrative Services Director
Weik brought more than 25 years of leadership experience across the public and private sectors when she joined VCAPCD in 2026. Her broad human resources background encompasses organizational development, labor relations, recruitment and selection, learning and development, employee engagement, performance management, and policy administration, as well as advising on complex workforce matters. She previously served as Human Resources Director for the County of Ventura Human Services Agency and in other HR management roles locally and administrative positions in Los Angeles. Weik earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Davis, and holds an MBA with a human resources management concentration.
Juli Cromer
Information Systems Division Manager
Cromer began serving the district in 1991 with a mission to lead the newly formed Information Systems Division. She guided the district from its first personal computer to the current robust environment running over 25 virtual servers, along with deploying permitting and compliance management software and remote monitoring network capabilities. In her early career, Cromer pioneered shipyard technology enhancements used in building Navy guided missile frigates, along with serving a project management role in construction of what was then the world's largest Syncrolift shiplift.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering at California State University, Long Beach.
Karin Grennan
Public Information Officer
Grennan became the district’s Public Information Officer in 2023, bringing more than three decades of wide-ranging communication experience to the position. Previously, she worked at California State University Channel Islands and California Lutheran University for a combined 16 years. Her duties at the universities included media relations, strategic communication, social media and writing for a variety of audiences and platforms. During her first career as a reporter, she wrote for newspapers including the Ventura County Star and the Ventura County Edition of the Los Angeles Times. She earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.
Tyler Harris
Planning, Rules & Incentives Division Manager
Harris joined the district in 2013 as an Air Quality Engineer, focusing on rule development and planning. He transitioned to the role of Incentives Programs Administrator in 2016 and was promoted to Supervising Air Quality Engineer in 2019. Harris became Planning, Rules & Incentives Division Manager in 2022. His air quality experience started in 2003 when he joined the City of St. Louis Air Pollution Control Program as an inspector. Four years later, he moved into air quality permitting as the engineer supervisor for the program. He left the City of St. Louis in 2011 to join Sage Environmental Consulting and moved to Ventura County in 2012. Harris has a bachelor's degree in biological sciences from the University of Missouri.
John Henkelman
Compliance Division Manager
Henkelman joined VCAPCD in 2021 and worked in the Planning, Rules & Incentives and Engineering divisions before moving to the Compliance Division as manager. His previous work in air quality and environmental compliance includes 13 years as an air quality consultant with SCS Engineers and two years as a chemist with TEG Northern California. He has worked on greenhouse gas verification, compliance reporting, monitoring, air permitting and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Henkelman has developed reporting procedures and tools for both federal and California programs. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from the University of Nevada.
Leonie Macaraeg
Fiscal Officer
Macaraeg has happily served with dedication since she joined the district’s staff and took the helm of financial operations in 2007. She has more than 30 years of professional accounting and auditing experience. She is skilled in all areas of financial operations including reporting, strategy, budgeting, grants and cost accounting, and internal, external and single audits. Macaraeg has a degree in accounting and a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license. Outside of work, she enjoys baking, painting, hiking and putting her financial skills to use as a volunteer for organizations.
Nancy Mendoza
Fiscal & Administrative Services Manager
Mendoza began her district career in 2004 and has held the position of Fiscal & Administrative Services Manager since 2007. Her more than 35 years of work experience goes beyond accounting and auditing. She previously held positions as a college instructor and in procurement, real estate, and supply management. Mendoza is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM) and was awarded the County Certified Project Manager designation by the Ventura County Board of Supervisors. She holds a master’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in finance and a bachelor’s degree with majors in management and accounting. Mendoza also has extensive training, education and experience in human resources management.
Sam Michie
Monitoring Division Manager
Michie joined the district in 2019 and moved into his current position in 2023. With over 15 years of experience in air quality, Michie is a seasoned professional committed to environmental management and policy. Holding a Bachelor of Science from the University of Maine, he has excelled in both the private and public sectors. His expertise spans emissions testing, ambient air monitoring, air quality permitting compliance and policy. Michie is dedicated to ensuring a healthier environment for all. Based in beautiful Ventura County, he enjoys the vibrant outdoors and finds inspiration in the natural surroundings.
Charanya Varadarajan
Engineering Division Manager
Varadarajan has spent more than two decades conducting and directing technical and policy work in a broad range of air quality areas including permitting, toxics, health risk assessment, emission inventory, planning, technology evaluation, and investment in disadvantaged communities. She worked for the California Air Resources Board (CARB) in Sacramento from 2009 until joining the district in 2025. An innovative thinker and collaborative leader, Varadarajan oversaw several complex projects for CARB and engaged extensively with community members, advocacy groups, industry, and federal, state and local agencies. She has a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and a master’s and doctorate in environmental engineering.