Justin Flancbaum
Executive Director

Since his appointment as Executive Director in 2009, Mr. Flancbaum has spearheaded numerous projects and expansions in order to reduce costs and improve customer service, in an effort to implement the long term vision of the Authority's Commissioners. Under his direction, the Authority has taken great steps toward modernization in areas such as technology and water treatment, and his streamlining of the organization has enabled the Authority to continue to provide water at some of the lowest costs in the State. Mr. Flancbaum is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the functioning of the Authority, as well as coordinating, when necessary, with the Township, County, and the State. Among his achievements have been expansion of the automated industrial control system, integration of operational security and the remote metering program.

Mr. Flancbaum distinguished himself in the community while serving as the Vice President of a Real Estate Development and Construction Company based in Lakewood for over 11 years. He is a member of several boards related to water purveyance as well as improving the Township of Lakewood.

• President-Lakewood Chamber of Commerce
• First Vice President-Association of Environmental Authorities
• Vice Chairman-Lakewood Industrial Commission 
• President-Municipal Utilities Authorities Association of Ocean County
• Member, Lakewood Township Planning Board
• Member, Water Environment Federation, National and New Jersey chapters
• Member, WaterISAC Federal Water Security Network

Robyn Gray
Office Administrator/QPA

Robyn Gray is the office administrator for the Lakewood Township Municipal Utilities Authority. She is responsible for overseeing all office coordination and daily activities. In addition, she oversees customer service, billing, personnel and vendors. In her time at the MUA, Mrs. Gray has helped to streamline office operations and introduce financial practices that have greatly benefited the MUA. In addition, her certification as a Qualified Purchasing Agent gives the MUA a great deal of flexibility in purchasing.

Mrs. Gray came to the Authority from the world of education, having previously taught grades 6 through 8 in her native Brooklyn, NY. For 17 years, she has also taught early childhood education classes through Kingsboro Community College.

• Bachelor of Arts, Brooklyn College, 1991
• Certified Qualified Purchasing Agent, State of New Jersey
• Licensed Notary Public
• Member, Water Environment Federation, National and New Jersey chapters

Bob Farina
Director, Operations

Robert Farina heads the Process and Technical Operations Department at the Lakewood Township Municipal Utilities Authority. In this capacity, he is responsible for overseeing both the water Treatment/Quality, Sewer Collections as well as the technological aspects of the functioning of the Authority. He is involved with the planning for future organizational growth and advancement. In addition, he is responsible for insuring that the Treatment and Collections licensed signees are maintaining compliance with the Authority’s NJDEP and PEOSH agencies which include health and safety activities. He oversees the troubleshooting, repair and calibration of system-wide process industrial control instrumentation, PLC programming, design and implementation of process and control/electrical panels, investigating and specifying all electrical and electronic equipment, and preparing and managing the departmental budgets.

Mr. Farina has over 36 years of experience in the electronic, electrical and instrumentation field including over 15 years of Sewer and Water Treatment processes, having worked in various capacities in the pharmaceutical, aerospace, industrial process instrumentation field service and water/wastewater industries. The range and variation of duties across these fields has given him a wealth of technical and field experience which he brings to the MUA.

• Certified T1 licensed Water Treatment Plant Operator
• Certified W2 licensed in Distribution Systems
• Certified C2 licensed in Collection Systems
• New State Certified licensed Journeyman Electrician
• Earned trade certificates Electronics Technology
• Member, Water Environmental Federation, National and New Jersey chapters
• Member, International Society of Automation
• Certified, ISO 9000

Adam Ponsi
Authority Engineer

Adam Ponsi is the Authority Engineer for the Lakewood Township Municipal Utilities Authority. In his capacity as Authority Engineer he is responsible for review and preparation of plans and specifications for water and sanitary sewer infrastructure, coordination of inspection services, review of inspection reports, creating request for proposals and request for qualifications and coordination with contractors and consulting engineers. Mr. Ponsi also assists in purchasing operations at the Authority with the review and creation of bid specifications, management of construction contracts, review of construction payment requests, and the review and creation of proposal requests.

Mr. Ponsi has over 10 years of experience in various civil engineering disciplines including stormwater/drainage, site, transportation, soil erosion, water and wastewater fields.

• Licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.) in the states of New Jersey and Delaware
• Licensed Operator for Water Treatment, Water Distribution and Sanitary Sewer Collection Systems (T1, W1, C1)
• Qualified Purchasing Agent (QPA) in the state of New Jersey
• Member of the Board of Directors for the Governmental Purchasing Association of New Jersey (GPANJ)
• Member of the Water Committee for the Association of Environmental Authorities (AEA)
• Member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
• Bachelor of Civil Engineering, University of Delaware, 2004

Harry Robbins
Operations Manager

Harry Robbins began his career with the LTMUA in 2001. He came to the LTMUA from the Middletown Sewage Authority. He has a combine 37 years of experience in the water / Wastewater treatment industry. He began at the LTMUA as an operator. He was named the Safety Coordinator for the LTMUA in 2009 and Operations Manager in 2017. Harry is the signing operator for the NJDEP for the distribution of water and the collection of wastewater. He also oversees capital improvements along with the Engineering department.

Mr. Robbins continues to attend work related courses and seminars accruing continuing education credits, both through the continuing education department of Rutgers University and within the Industry, in order to maintain all licenses and to keep up to date with the industry

In his spare time, he enjoys motorcycling, hunting and fishing and is the elected Mayor for the Borough of Lakehurst.

·         Certified, T-2 Water Treatment Operator

·         Certified, W-2 Water Distribution Operator

·         Certified, C-3 Wastewater Collection Operator

Fred Diaz
Assistant Operations Manager

Freddy Diaz has been with the LTMUA since October 1989 and has over 28 years experience in the municipal water tretment industry.  He was hired as a Field Service Representative and in time was trained to be more involved with the Operations Department at our Water Treatment Plants.  He became a License Operator soon after.

Freddy became the Assistant Field Supervisor in 2015 and then after two years, he was promoted to the Assistant Operational Manager where he was responsible in assisting with the overseeing of many aspects of the Operations Department, including water treatment, plant operations, and field staff.Mr. Diaz continues to attend work related courses and seminars accruing continuing education credits, both through the continuing education department of Rutgers University and within the industry in order to maintain all licenses and to keep up to date with the industry.

• Certified, T-2 Water Treatment Operator

• Certified, W-2 Water Distribution

• Certified, C-1 Waste Water Collection

Colin Farrell
Director of Engineering

Colin Farrell is Director of Engineering for the Lakewood Township Municipal Utilities Authority. In this capacity, he is responsible for overseeing the Authority Engineering department including sewer and water development and capital projects. Mr. Farrell is responsible for the efficient execution of engineering related functions within the Authority with a strong focus on cost efficiency and customer service.

Mr. Farrell is a Chartered Engineers with Engineers Ireland and has over 20 years of experience in various Civil & Structural engineering disciplines including Structural Design, Site development, Oil & Gas, water and wastewater fields. Mr. Farrell is a seasoned Project Manager in both traditional land development projects and a variety of linear Sewer and pipeline projects.

• Chartered Engineer (CEng) Engineers Ireland
• Chartered Engineer Assessment Interviewer (USA) for Engineers Ireland.
• Member of the Institute of Engineers of Ireland (MIEI)
• Certified Building Energy Rating assessor, with Sustainability Energy Ireland. (BER)
• Qualified Pipeline Engineering Construction and Operations.
• National Certificate in Civil Engineering, Letterkenny Institute of Technology, Ireland.
• Bachelor of Civil Engineering, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, Scotland.

Donald Sondak
CFO and Director of Human Resources

Don is the Chief Financial Officer and Director of Human Resources at Lakewood Township MUA.  In this role he works closely with the Board of Commissioners, the Executive Director and the Directors of Operations and Engineering.  He is responsible for Billing, Accounting Processes and Controls, Banking Relationships, Audit, Payroll and all Human Resources activities.

Don is a senior executive with international experience in strategic planning, finance, operations and general management.  Don’s career is one of leadership in financial and operational management and control, as well as increasing productivity by building, leading and motivating teams.

Prior to joining Lakewood MUA, Don was most recently the Vice President of Finance at Chelsea Lighting, the largest lighting and controls distributor in New York City.  In addition, he has held senior finance positions at Credit Suisse’s Private Bank, Merrill Lynch’s Private Investors and at JPMorgan Technology Finance.

Don holds a B.S. in Accounting and Finance from Rider University and earned his M.B.A. in Finance at Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Association of Environmental Authorities Human Resources Committee Member