City of American Canyon Welcomes New Public Works Director
AMERICAN CANYON, Calif., February 23, 2021 – American Canyon is proud to announce its new incoming Public Works Director, Erica Ahmann Smithies. Smithies will begin her new position on March 15, 2021, and brings more than two decades of professional engineering experience to American Canyon.
|
“During this recruitment process, the City attracted several highly-qualified candidates,” said American Canyon City Manager Jason Holley. “With her extensive experience on high-profile projects and a strong background with other jurisdictions in the North Bay, Erica is well-positioned to hit the ground running. I look forward to her joining Team AC.”
During her four-year tenure as St. Helena’s Public Works Director/City Engineer, Erica worked on the City’s Upper York Creek Ecosystem Restoration and Aquatic Habitat Enhancement Project: a highly-complex dam removal project that took nearly three decades to complete. She also led the design phases for two projects slated to begin construction this year: the Downtown Sidewalk Improvement Project on Highway 29 and the Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvement Project.
|
|
 |
While at the City of Petaluma from 2007 to 2016, Erica worked on multiple bicycle and pedestrian improvement projects, including installing a new bridge over the Petaluma River. She was also the lead city liaison for three major Caltrans interchange projects on Highway 101: East Washington, Old Redwood Highway, and Lakeville Highway.
“I’m looking forward to my new position with the City of American Canyon,” said Smithies. “The City already has an excellent group of people working on exciting projects, and I’m eager to contribute. With my experience getting public works projects to the finish line, I hope we can take American Canyon’s efforts in this area to the next level.”
A Napa native, Erica graduated from Napa High School and received her Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Engineering from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Post-graduation, she worked at a private engineering consulting firm in Orlando, Florida, while pursuing a spot on the 2000 Olympic team as a discus thrower. Erica, her husband, and their two daughters currently live on her family’s ranch in Napa, raising cattle.
To learn more about the Public Works Department, visit the City’s Virtual City Hall at www.cityofamericancanyon.org.
|
