WAPA honors 2024 ESA winner Colin Marquez 

The Exceptional Service Award, WAPA’s highest honor, recognizes employees who consistently go above and beyond, contribute to critical projects or committees and advance WAPA’s strategic plan through exceptional performance and external activities. This year’s winners exemplify these qualities, showcasing remarkable dedication, innovation and leadership that have profoundly impacted WAPA and its communities. Their contributions reflect WAPA’s core values and help drive the organization’s mission forward, ensuring reliable, affordable power for millions across the western United States.  

Colin Marquez: Leading a strategic approach to budget management

Colin Marquez has been a valued member of WAPA since 2010, advancing through various leadership roles that reflect his dedication and expertise. Starting out as a Power System Accountant, Marquez became a Financial Reporting Lead in 2012, and after three years, was promoted to a Supervisory Budget Analyst in 2015. Since 2016, Marquez has served as Vice President of Budget and Analysis, overseeing budget functions and managing 17 staff members, while also providing functional oversight for 18 regional budget personnel. 

Marquez collaborates with WAPA’s Senior Leadership Team and external entities on pivotal financial issues, including the Department of Energy, the Office of Management and Budget and the Department of Treasury. His exceptional capacity was showcased throughout 2019 when he served as Acting Chief Financial Officer. 

Marquez has led significant financial initiatives, guiding finance through the IT reorganization in 2015 and playing a crucial role in the 2018 Joint Partnership Agreement with the Desert Southwest customer base. Since 2019, Marquez has transformed budgeting and financial systems, enhancing program management. 

In 2020, he implemented standardized budgeting and reporting for the fiscal year 2023 cycle, promoting consistency and predictability. Under his leadership, WAPA has strengthened its financial resilience by improving reserve strategies for power purchases, wheeling, annual expenses, capital investments and appropriated funding. 

Marquez’s leadership extends to key committees, such as serving as Vice-Chair of the Total Capital Committee and being a long-standing member of the Financial Leadership Council. His consistently outstanding performance testifies to his dedication and significant contributions to advancing WAPA’s strategic goals.