Author Archives: thewaterentrepreneur

Jen Millard

Jennifer Millard is the CEO and Co-Founder of mainelove, an independent water brand made in Maine that is helping drive innovation within the state’s growing water economy. Drawing on decades of experience in consumer goods, retail, technology, revenue growth, and business development, Jennifer is focused on creating new approaches that connect sustainability with economic opportunity.

At mainelove, Jennifer has helped pioneer a unique water-in-cans model built around distributed manufacturing. By working with Maine brewers and utilizing existing production capabilities, mainelove creates opportunities for local businesses to participate in the water economy while supporting a more innovative and sustainable approach to manufacturing and distribution. Her work reflects a broader vision of positioning Maine as a leader in water innovation while creating meaningful economic opportunities within local communities.

Prior to co-founding mainelove, Jennifer served as Managing Director and Digital and Technology Practice Lead at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, where she advised enterprises, private equity firms, venture capital firms, and investors on growth strategies, digital transformation, M&A, and portfolio development.

Her career also includes executive leadership roles across technology, commerce, loyalty, and consumer-facing businesses. Jennifer served as Chief Revenue Officer at Dosh prior to its acquisition by Cardlytics and as Chief Revenue Officer at Upside, where she worked at the intersection of machine learning, artificial intelligence, brick-and-mortar commerce, and consumer engagement. Earlier, she served as an Entrepreneur in Residence at Sutter Hill Ventures and held global business development leadership roles at Mastercard following its acquisition of Truaxis, where she had served as Chief Revenue Officer.

Jennifer’s extensive retail and consumer experience includes leadership positions with Zoom Systems, McMillan Doolittle, Saks Fifth Avenue, Brown Shoe International, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Sears. Across these roles, she has developed deep expertise in go-to-market strategy, revenue generation, retail operations, innovation, organizational growth, and building businesses at different stages of development.

Jennifer earned her B.A. in American Studies from Colby College and participated in Stanford University’s d.school Innovation Program, with a focus on innovation and entrepreneurship. She has also studied business and finance at the Wisconsin School of Business and received an honorary master’s degree from Colby College.

Today, Jennifer brings her diverse background in consumer products, technology, innovation, and business strategy to the water sector, where she is focused on demonstrating how entrepreneurship and creative business models can strengthen local economies while advancing a more sustainable future for water.

Alysen Africano-Nila

Alysen Africano-Nila is a business development strategist, consultant, educator, and municipal leader with more than two decades of experience spanning transportation, energy, water, real estate, banking, and public service.

Since 2020, Alysen has worked as a Business Development Strategist and Consultant, advising organizations across the transportation, energy, and water sectors. Her work focuses on developing strategic opportunities, building relationships, and connecting organizations with the people and resources needed to move initiatives forward.

Alysen has also served the community of Highland Beach, Florida, as Vice Mayor since 2018, bringing her professional experience and community-focused leadership to local government.

Prior to her work in consulting and public service, Alysen spent more than a decade as an educator with the Palm Beach County School District. She also worked as a real estate broker and instructor, specializing in oceanfront and Intracoastal properties throughout Boca Raton, Delray Beach, and Highland Beach.

Earlier in her career, Alysen held leadership positions in residential lending and underwriting with NCB Bank and Citibank Private Bank in New York, including roles as Vice President of Residential Lending and Assistant Vice President of Residential Lending Underwriting.

Alysen earned her Bachelor’s Degree, summa cum laude, from Dowling College. Her diverse background across business, education, finance, real estate, infrastructure, and public service gives her a unique perspective on building partnerships and advancing initiatives that serve both organizations and communities.

Justin Roush

Justin Roush is an Associate Professor of Economics at Xavier University’s Williams College of Business and the founding Program Director of Xavier’s Master of Science in Water Utilities Management, known as MS H2O. The program is the nation’s first master’s degree specifically focused on water utilities management and was created to equip current and future water professionals with the leadership, management, business, and analytical skills needed to navigate the increasingly complex challenges facing the water sector.

Roush brings an interdisciplinary perspective to the water industry, combining his background in economics with a deep interest in environmental issues, sustainability, risk, and public policy. Through his work at Xavier, he operates at the intersection of academia and practice, helping connect emerging water utility leaders with the economic tools, analytical rigor, professional networks, and industry knowledge necessary to make informed decisions about one of the most essential and consequential sectors of the 21st century.

As Director of MS H2O, Roush has been instrumental in designing and developing a graduate program specifically tailored to the needs of today’s water utility professionals. The program focuses on the management and leadership challenges unique to water utilities while providing students with a broader understanding of the economic, operational, financial, regulatory, and strategic forces shaping the industry. His work reflects a recognition that the future of water depends not only on engineering and technological innovation, but also on strong leadership, sound economic decision-making, effective management, and the ability to understand and communicate the value of water infrastructure.

Roush’s research spans environmental economics, behavioral economics, and public economics, with his recent work increasingly focused on the economic dimensions of water utility risk. His interests include insurance, risk mitigation, and consumer preferences surrounding water. He is particularly interested in understanding how economic incentives, risk, and human behavior influence decisions related to water and infrastructure. His broader research background includes work examining risk-taking, insurance, and social preferences from a behavioral economics perspective, as well as research into the environmental decisions of firms, including emissions decisions.

In addition to his leadership of MS H2O, Roush serves as Director of Xavier University’s Economics, Sustainability, and Society (ECOS) Program. The ECOS program prepares students for careers in corporate, nonprofit, and public-sector sustainability by bringing together economics, environmental issues, policy, and practical business applications. As director, Roush advises students, develops enrichment and networking opportunities, and maintains relationships with the business community. The program prepares students to contribute to data management and reporting, economic decision-making, cost-benefit analysis, and sustainability operations while developing a strong understanding of environmental issues and policy.

Roush joined Xavier University in 2019 as an Assistant Professor of Economics and became an Associate Professor in 2026. Prior to Xavier, he served as an Assistant Professor of Economics at Georgia College from 2015 to 2019 and as a Visiting Instructor of Economics at Centre College. His academic career began at the University of Tennessee, where he served as both a Graduate Teaching Assistant and Graduate Research Assistant. As a teaching assistant, he taught Intermediate Microeconomics and Principles of Economics, while his research work included projects with the National Defense Business Institute and research conducted under Dr. Marianne Wannamaker.

Roush earned his Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Tennessee–Knoxville in 2015, with fields of specialization in Environmental Economics, Public Economics, and Experimental Economics. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Economics from Centre College in 2010.

Throughout his career, Roush has focused on using economics to better understand complex real-world challenges. His work in water represents a natural extension of that approach: water utilities face decisions involving infrastructure investment, financial sustainability, risk management, public policy, consumer behavior, and long-term resource planning. By bringing economic analysis and business leadership into conversations about water, Roush works to help utilities and the professionals who lead them better understand the risks and opportunities shaping the future of the industry.

His work through MS H2O also reflects a broader commitment to building bridges between higher education and the water sector. Rather than preparing students solely for academic careers, the program is designed around the realities of the water profession and the needs of the people responsible for managing critical water systems. Through education, industry engagement, and professional networking, Roush is helping develop a new generation of leaders equipped to address the economic, organizational, and sustainability challenges facing water utilities.

Roush’s combination of economics expertise, academic leadership, sustainability experience, and commitment to the water sector positions him at an important intersection of water, economics, infrastructure, leadership, and public policy. His work is helping advance the conversation around how water utilities can better manage risk, make strategic investments, build organizational capacity, and prepare for the challenges of the future.

Congressman Mike Levin

Congressman Mike Levin is proud to represent California’s 49th Congressional District, which includes North County San Diego and South Orange County.

Currently serving his fourth term in the House of Representatives, Mike is a member of the powerful House Committee on Appropriations, where he serves on the Subcommittees on Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies and Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies. Throughout his time in Congress, more than thirty-two of his bills have been signed into law by presidents of both parties. 

Mike was raised in South Orange County and attended local elementary and junior high schools. He spent his high school years at Loyola High in Los Angeles, and went on to study at Stanford University, where he served as the Student Body President. Upon graduation from Stanford, Mike served as a Coro Fellow and then attended Duke University School of Law.

Prior to being elected to Congress in 2018, Mike fought for climate action while working as an environmental attorney. He also served on the board of the Center for Sustainable Energy and co-founded Sustain OC, helping accelerate the transition toward more sustainable power generation and transportation alternatives.

As a Member of Congress, some of Mike’s top priorities are combating climate change, protecting our natural resources, and capitalizing on the economic benefits of a sustainable energy future. He has led legislation to transition the United States to zero emission vehicles, ban new offshore drilling along the coast of Southern California, responsibly develop renewable energy on public lands, and much more. He is a Vice Chair of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC), the leading House caucus focused on issues related to environmental protection, climate change, and clean energy.

Throughout his career, Levin has been a passionate leader on environmental protection, clean energy, and combating climate change.

Shannon Knee is the Founder and CEO of Cetos Water, overseeing the commercialization of the TSSE technology.

Shannon brings deep expertise in commercializing products and technologies through her career as a private and public markets investor at Goldman Sachs’s Principal Investment Area, Glenview Capital and Cornell Capital. Through these roles, she was responsible for deploying over $1.5bn of capital across the industrials, healthcare, and media and telecom landscapes, driving significant value creation through active collaboration with management teams. Prior to Cetos, she operated an independent consulting firm helping growth companies commercialize their best-in-class products across the tech, consumer, and health & wellness landscapes. Shannon also worked as an investment banker at Goldman Sachs, advising large institutional clients on mergers and acquisitions, capital raising, and strategic financial planning strategies.

Shannon has a BSE with concentrations in finance and management from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania where she held distinctions as a Joseph Wharton Scholar and Benjamin Franklin Scholar.

Congressman Jim Costa represents California’s 21st Congressional District, encompassing Fresno and Tulare counties. A senior member of the House Agriculture Committee, he has played an instrumental role in shaping the 2008, 2014, and 2018 Farm Bills, forging bipartisan partnerships to strengthen food security, support agricultural producers, and invest in rural communities.

A dedicated advocate for the San Joaquin Valley, Congressman Costa has led efforts to secure reliable water resources and advance critical infrastructure investments, including projects such as the B.F. Sisk Dam, Friant-Kern Canal, and Sites Reservoir.

As a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Costa is committed to promoting democratic values and advancing U.S. interests abroad. His extensive international engagement has included visits to Ukraine, Armenia, and the Middle East, where he has worked to strengthen diplomatic relationships and support global stability.

Prior to his service in Congress, Costa spent 24 years in the California State Legislature, representing the San Joaquin Valley in both the California State Senate (1994–2002) and California State Assembly (1978–1994), building a distinguished record of public service focused on agriculture, water policy, economic development, and infrastructure.

Jennifer Pierre 

Jennifer Pierre
General Manager, State Water Contractors

Jennifer Pierre serves as General Manager of the State Water Contractors (SWC), a statewide nonprofit association representing 27 public water agencies that receive water from California’s State Water Project. Collectively, these agencies provide water to more than 27 million Californians and irrigate approximately 750,000 acres of farmland.

With more than 20 years of experience in California water policy, Delta management, and water supply planning, Jennifer leads the SWC’s efforts to advance reliable, sustainable, and affordable water supplies for communities throughout the state. She is recognized for her commitment to collaboration, science-based decision-making, and balancing water management objectives with environmental stewardship.

Prior to joining SWC in 2017, Jennifer spent 14 years with ICF International, where she served as a Principal and led complex water supply, restoration, and planning projects throughout the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and its tributaries. Her expertise includes State Water Project and Central Valley Project operations, environmental compliance, ecosystem management, regulatory policy, and stakeholder engagement. Throughout her career, she has successfully guided multidisciplinary teams of engineers, hydrologists, biologists, and policy experts in developing technical analyses, environmental documentation, and water resource solutions.

Jennifer earned a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Biology and Management, with an emphasis in Conservation Biology, from the University of California, Davis.

Dave Stuckenberg

David J. Stuckenberg, PhD, MPS Co-founder, President, COO, and Vice Chairman of the Board

Dr. David Stuckenberg is a globally recognized
strategist, technologist, and American industrialist
shaping the future of national security, critical
infrastructure, and innovation. Named a “Young
Disruptor” by NATO and described by senior U.S.
military leaders as “the George Kennan of this
century,” he has also been called “a National Treasure”
by the Director of the CIA. He is recognized a U.S.
leading water industry executive and advises local,
state, and federal governments on water security and
infrastructure resilience.

Dr. Stuckenberg’s career bridges government, industry,
and academia. He has managed nuclear treaties,
advised senior policymakers, and founded deep-tech
startups that influence defense, sustainability, and
infrastructure modernization on five continents. His
research and strategies have directly shaped U.S.
defense policy, military basing, and critical infrastructure initiatives. A sought-after speaker, he has delivered keynotes at the UN, NATO, NASDAQ, Chatham House, King’s College London, The White House, and CES.

As a National Security Advisor at the U.S. Department of State, he helped establish global peacekeeping frameworks. Prior to this, he led and directed a Joint Chiefs of Staff Task Force that unified more than 150 organizations—research leading to a Presidential Executive Order. He is regarded as a leading authority on compound risks, gray zone conflict,
and hybrid warfare.

A Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab, he advanced decentralized water technologies and served as a U.S. Air Force Strategic Policy Fellow—representing the top 0.001% of officers. Today, he is Chairman
of the American Leadership & Policy Foundation and a Council Member at the Council on Global Competition and Innovation.

An accomplished inventor and entrepreneur, Dr. Stuckenberg has co-founded multiple technology ventures and served as President, CEO, and COO. His strategies have been adopted by organizations including Deloitte, Citi, and BP, and recognized by Oracle and leading international universities. He has judged NATO’s Innovation Hub and mentors founders in defense and emerging tech ecosystems.

With over 90 patents to his name, TIME Magazine named three of his inventions the “Best of 2025.” A decorated combat pilot with over 150 special operations missions, he continues his service as a Colonel in the Air National Guard.

Dr. Stuckenberg holds a Ph.D. in International Affairs and Strategy from King’s College London, an M.S. in Politics from The George Washington University, and a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Central Missouri.

Janet Anderson

Janet Anderson, PhD, DABT
Principal Scientist & Practice Director, Health Sciences
Board-Certified Toxicologist | Austin, Texas

Dr. Janet Anderson is a board-certified toxicologist and human health risk assessor with over 15 years of experience advising federal agencies, municipalities, and private industry. As a Diplomate of the American Board of Toxicology, she specializes in chemical risk management, site-specific risk assessments, public health policy analysis, regulatory compliance, and advancing corporate environmental and public health stewardship.

Dr. Anderson is internationally recognized for her expertise in unregulated and emerging contaminants, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), 1,4-dioxane, and microplastics. With a strong foundation in evaluating both emerging and legacy chemicals, she ensures that scientifically robust, defensible methodologies inform regulatory and corporate decision-making processes.

A sought-after speaker, Dr. Anderson regularly presents at scientific conferences, trade association events, regulatory forums, technical webinars, and community stakeholder meetings. She is also an experienced testifying expert in litigation matters involving toxicology and human health risk.

Currently, Dr. Anderson serves as Principal Scientist and Practice Director for Health Sciences at Exponent, where she leads toxicology and human health risk assessment initiatives, drives strategic growth, mentors the next generation of health scientists, and collaborates across disciplines to deliver high-impact solutions to clients.

In addition to her consulting work, she serves on the Board of the Water & Health Advisory Council. Prior to joining Exponent, Dr. Anderson held leadership roles at GSI Environmental Inc. and Integral Consulting Inc. She began her career in public service, working as a toxicologist for the United States Air Force and as a biologist and postdoctoral fellow with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, where she contributed to chemical toxicity assessments and managed emerging contaminant programs.

Dr. Anderson earned her Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from the University of Cincinnati and her B.A. in Biology from Wittenberg University.

Rob Kursinski

Rob Kursinski is a distinguished atmospheric and space science expert with over four decades of experience spanning academia, government research, and private industry. He currently serves as Chief Scientist at PlanetiQ, where he leads scientific strategy and innovation in satellite-based atmospheric sensing and weather intelligence.

Prior to joining PlanetiQ in 2015, Kursinski was Chief Scientist at Moog/BroadReach Engineering, where he advanced remote sensing technologies and atmospheric measurement systems. His work builds on a long and impactful tenure at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where he spent 20 years as a Research Scientist contributing to pioneering developments in GPS radio occultation and atmospheric science.

Kursinski also held a joint professorship at the University of Arizona in Atmospheric Sciences and Planetary Sciences, mentoring the next generation of scientists while conducting influential research from 2000 to 2011.

He holds a Ph.D. in Planetary Science from the California Institute of Technology, a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Southern California, and a Bachelor’s degree in Physics and Music Theory. He also completed specialized studies in microprocessor hardware, software, and digital signal processing through UCLA Extension.

Known for bridging scientific research with real-world applications, Kursinski has played a key role in advancing satellite-based weather observation technologies that improve forecasting accuracy and global climate understanding.

Laura Ramos

Laura Ramos is a highly respected water professional with more than two decades of experience dedicated to advancing water resource management through education, collaboration, and applied research. As the Director of Research and Education at the California Water Institute at California State University, Fresno, Laura leads strategic initiatives that bridge the gap between academic research and real-world implementation—helping communities across California, particularly in the San Joaquin Valley, navigate complex and evolving water challenges.

In her current role, Laura oversees a diverse portfolio of programs focused on sustainable water management solutions for agricultural, urban, environmental, and disadvantaged community interests. Her work centers on engaging a wide range of stakeholders—including faculty, students, public agencies, water managers, and community leaders—to collaboratively address pressing water issues such as infrastructure reliability, water use efficiency, system consolidation, and long-term resource planning. With a strong belief that informed communities are empowered communities, Laura is deeply committed to “elevating the water IQ” through accessible education, outreach, and knowledge-sharing initiatives.

Laura’s leadership is defined by her ability to translate complex technical research into practical, actionable strategies. She has successfully facilitated partnerships between university researchers and local communities, forming multidisciplinary teams that deliver innovative, data-driven solutions. Her efforts have supported feasibility studies for consolidating small and disadvantaged water systems, advanced stakeholder engagement around critical infrastructure needs, and expanded access to technical assistance and training programs throughout the region.

Prior to her current role, Laura served in several key leadership positions within the California Water Institute, including Interim Director and Associate Director of Research and Education, as well as Programs Manager. In these roles, she managed multiple large-scale programs and grants, while also overseeing marketing, operations, and strategic communications. Her ability to align programmatic goals with community needs has made her a trusted connector between academia and industry.

Laura’s career began at the Center for Irrigation Technology at Fresno State, where she spent over 18 years as a Program Coordinator. There, she managed staff and mentored students, helping to prepare the next generation of water professionals for successful careers in the field. She also played a key role in organizing and executing dozens of national and international conferences, workshops, and training programs each year—building platforms for knowledge exchange and industry advancement.

Her program experience spans a wide array of initiatives, including water use efficiency for specialty crops, fertigation training, watershed management education, disadvantaged communities technical assistance, and long-standing water policy and technology programs. Laura has also been instrumental in maintaining outreach channels, managing communications platforms, and representing her organization at industry events worldwide.

At the core of Laura’s work is a passion for collaboration, education, and impact. She is continually seeking opportunities to identify water management challenges that can benefit from academic partnership and is driven by the belief that solutions are most effective when they are co-developed with the communities they serve.

Laura holds a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science in International Business from California State University, Fresno.

Nick Schexnayder and Alex Foreman

Nicolas Schexnayder, P.E. is a Project Engineer with McKim & Creed specializing in drainage infrastructure, hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, and municipal water and wastewater systems. Since beginning his engineering career in 2020, he has contributed to the planning, design, and implementation of critical infrastructure projects across Louisiana that improve flood resilience, stormwater management, and community recreation.
Nicolas has led and supported numerous drainage and infrastructure initiatives, including regional detention pond design, municipal drainage trunkline improvements, and multimodal trail redevelopment. His work has helped secure more than $60 million in state and federal funding through programs such as the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development Statewide Flood Control Program and the Louisiana Watershed Initiative. He also supports municipalities in grant development, engineering reports, cost estimating, and stakeholder coordination for complex infrastructure upgrades.
In addition to his engineering work, Nicolas is actively involved in professional and community organizations. He serves as President of the Ascension Parks Foundation and contributes to the Women in Transportation Seminar Greater Baton Rouge Chapter as Scholarship Chair. Nicolas earned his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Louisiana State University and is a licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Louisiana.

Alex Foreman, E.I., CFM is an Engineering Designer with McKim & Creed, Inc., based in Gonzales, Louisiana. He specializes in water resources engineering, supporting the design and analysis of infrastructure projects that improve stormwater management, drainage systems, and flood resilience for communities across Louisiana.
Before joining McKim & Creed, Alex worked as a Water Resources Design Specialist with DDG, where he contributed to hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, drainage design, and infrastructure planning for municipal and regional projects. Earlier in his career, he served as a student intern with Royal Engineers & Consultants in Baton Rouge, gaining hands-on experience in civil engineering design and project support.
Alex earned his Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering from Louisiana State University. He holds Engineer-in-Training (E.I.) and Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM) credentials and is focused on developing resilient water infrastructure solutions that support sustainable community growth.
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Mike Stoup

Mike Stoup, P.E. is the Vice President and E&I Group Manager at McKim & Creed in Clearwater, Florida. With more than 30 years of experience in electrical engineering, automation, and process control, Mike leads a highly skilled electrical and instrumentation team delivering advanced design, programming, and commissioning services for the water and wastewater industry across the southeastern United States and beyond. His team supports projects from early conceptual planning and master planning through detailed design and specification development, specializing in motor controls, power distribution, communications networks, intelligent I/O systems, instrumentation, and PLC and HMI platforms.

Prior to joining McKim & Creed, Mike served as Vice President at DcR Engineering Services, Inc., where he held senior executive responsibility for company profitability and operations across multiple divisions and offices. During his tenure, he played a key role in strengthening safety practices, improving operational processes, and guiding the organization from financial losses to sustained profitability while overseeing dozens of projects simultaneously across industries including municipal utilities, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and power.

Earlier in his career, Mike worked as a Senior Process Control Engineer at Ciba Specialty Chemicals, where he contributed to global initiatives advancing water treatment technologies and telemetry systems. His experience also includes engineering and automation roles with Electro Design Engineering and Reimelt Corporation, where he developed expertise in PLC, HMI, and DCS programming, electrical design, and industrial system integration.

Mike holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from University of South Florida and is a licensed Professional Engineer. Throughout his career, he has built a reputation for combining deep technical knowledge with strong leadership to deliver complex infrastructure and automation solutions that improve efficiency, reliability, and safety.

Kathryn Sorensen

Director of Research, Kyl Center for Water Policy at the Morrison Institute for Public Policy | Phoenix, Arizona

Kathryn Sorensen is a nationally recognized water policy leader and researcher with decades of experience advancing sustainable water management in Arizona and across the Colorado River Basin. She currently serves as Director of Research at the Kyl Center for Water Policy at Arizona State University, where she oversees strategic research initiatives focused on water resilience, governance, and long-term resource planning.

Prior to joining ASU, Kathryn served for more than a decade in executive municipal leadership, including as Director of Phoenix Water Services for the City of Phoenix and Director of the Water Resources Department for the City of Mesa. In these roles, she was responsible for delivering safe, reliable water services to millions of Arizonans while strengthening water stewardship across Arizona and the Colorado River Basin.

At Arizona State University, Kathryn also serves as a Professor of Practice in the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions and as a Senior Global Futures Scientist with the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory. She is an active member of the Colorado River Research Group and serves on the board of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council.

Kathryn earned her PhD in Agricultural and Resource Economics from Texas A&M University and her Bachelor of Arts in Economics from University of Michigan. Her career reflects a deep commitment to sound water policy, evidence-based research, and collaborative leadership in one of the most water-challenged regions of the United States.

Allyson Mauck

Allyson Mauck is a Project and Client Manager with eight years of experience delivering complex water, wastewater, and process infrastructure programs across Florida. She is nationally recognized for her leadership in drinking water compliance, particularly in implementation of the EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule Revisions and Improvements (LCRR/LCRI). Allyson specializes in Sanitary Sewer Evaluation Surveys (SSES), asset management, capital improvement planning, and regulatory coordination, helping utilities navigate evolving compliance landscapes while maintaining fiscal responsibility.

At McKim & Creed, Inc., Allyson serves as a Project Manager in Clearwater, FL, where she leads large-scale municipal programs focused on system resiliency, regulatory compliance, and data-driven infrastructure investment. She currently manages a 10-year, $60 million SSES program for the City of Fort Myers, overseeing flow monitoring, CCTV inspections, smoke and dye testing, manhole assessments, and rehabilitation planning for approximately 27,000 customers. Her leadership integrates trenchless technologies, contractor coordination, and GIS-based decision support to prioritize rehabilitation and reduce inflow and infiltration (I/I).

Allyson has played a pivotal role in regional potable water planning and condition assessment initiatives, including a comprehensive risk-based analysis of 2,199 miles of water mains for Manatee County Utilities. Through predictive analytics and GIS/CMMS integration, she implemented automated risk scoring that identified 50 priority replacements and informed multi-year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) planning focused on reliability, fire flow capacity, and water quality improvements.

A recognized leader in LCRR/LCRI compliance, Allyson managed the inventory and classification of more than 140,000 service lines for Manatee County Utilities. Her approach combined predictive modeling, GIS analysis, and targeted field verification to minimize unnecessary excavation while maintaining regulatory transparency. She also led the compliance initiative for the City of Palmetto, overseeing service line inventory reconciliation, stakeholder communication, and development of a public-facing dashboard to track compliance progress. Her funding strategy secured approximately $1 million in Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) support with 49% principal forgiveness, reducing financial impact on ratepayers.

In addition to compliance and collection system programs, Allyson has supported advanced treatment solutions, including funding and preliminary engineering efforts for a Reverse Osmosis Water Treatment Plant addressing emerging contaminants for the Town of Belleair. She successfully secured $3.25 million in FDEP SRF Emerging Contaminants grant funding, delivering a fully grant-funded design.

Her expertise spans program and project management, SSES and I/I investigations, asset management and condition assessment, SRF funding strategy (DWSRF/CWSRF), regulatory coordination with EPA and FDEP, GIS/CMMS integration, predictive analytics, and public outreach.

Allyson holds a B.S. in Physics from the University of South Florida and is currently pursuing an M.S. in Civil Engineering (Water Resources) at the University of Central Florida. She is a NASSCO Certified Inspector (PACP, MACP, LACP) and serves as Chair of the FSAWWA Region IV Collegiate Committee.

Allyson is driven by a commitment to resilient infrastructure, transparent governance, and data-informed decision-making that strengthens communities and protects public health.

Joel Weber

Joel Weber is a driven entrepreneur known for his perseverance, adaptability, and ability to anticipate industry shifts before they happen. Raised on a family farm in Manitoba, Joel developed an early work ethic baling hay, repairing equipment, and learning firsthand the value of resilience and problem-solving.

Neurodivergent and proudly ADHD, Joel leverages hyperfocus, pattern recognition, and relentless curiosity as competitive advantages in business. With a strong foundation in vocational drafting and engineering, he began his career at SAMSON Engineering, where he advanced from junior CAD technician to Computer Aided Design Manager. There, he led multidisciplinary project teams and worked on large-scale commercial, industrial, and civil developments across Western Canada.

Joel later returned to his agricultural roots, building a commercial hay and straw operation that serviced customers across Canada and the United States. After a life-altering tractor accident ended his conventional farming career, he pivoted — transforming adversity into innovation.

In 2017, Joel founded Fresh Forage Farms Ltd., a vertical farming company that has achieved consistent annual growth of 130–150%. Under his leadership, the company supplies microgreens, edible flowers, and specialty crops to major grocery chains including Loblaws, Sobeys, Save-On-Foods, CO-OP, and premium restaurants. Joel built the company from the ground up — overseeing production systems, regulatory compliance, packaging, business strategy, and team development.

His passion for environmental solutions led him to found Lakewater Nutrient Capture Ltd. in 2024, focused on addressing phosphorus pollution in Lake Winnipeg. The company has completed advanced startup programming through North Forge, filed Canadian and U.S. patents for its filtration technology, and won the Audience Choice Award at the 2024 MEIA Cleantech Conference Green Dragons’ Lair Pitch Competition. Joel is actively collaborating with industry leaders, Indigenous communities, and policymakers to bring scalable water remediation solutions to market.

Known for his ability to solve complex problems with practical, engineered solutions, Joel thrives in high-pressure environments and excels at building resilient, adaptable businesses. Whether in agriculture, engineering, or cleantech innovation, he approaches every challenge with strategic vision and relentless execution.

Alan Roberson

Alan Roberson, P.E. is a nationally recognized leader in drinking water policy, regulatory strategy, and public health protection with more than 46 years of experience spanning engineering, government affairs, association leadership, and water quality research. He is widely regarded as an expert in Safe Drinking Water Act implementation, water security, regulatory compliance, and utility risk management.

Alan currently serves as a Water Policy Advisor, providing senior-level guidance to utilities, government agencies, consulting firms, and nonprofit organizations on federal and state drinking water policy. Throughout his career, he has played a critical role in shaping regulatory frameworks, evaluating public health impacts, and developing cost-effective compliance strategies. He has also served as an expert witness in international water regulatory matters.

From 2017 to 2025, Alan served as Executive Director of the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators (ASDWA), where he led national efforts to address emerging contaminants, including PFAS, oversaw revisions to the Lead and Copper Rule, and strengthened coordination among state and federal drinking water programs. Prior to ASDWA, he spent 25 years with the American Water Works Association (AWWA) as Director of Federal Relations, directing national regulatory and water security initiatives, leading research programs, and serving as a key spokesperson on drinking water policy.

Alan has also contributed extensively to academia and professional development. He is an instructor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, teaching drinking water policy and regulatory risk management. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications, book chapters, and technical research studies addressing drinking water regulations, contaminant risk assessment, and utility management strategies.

He currently serves on the Fairfax Water Board of Directors, where he has held leadership roles including Treasurer and Chair of the Water Quality & Supply Committee. His contributions to the water industry have been recognized with numerous honors, including the AWWA Fuller Award, ASDWA Career Achievement Award, and induction into the Water Industry Hall of Fame.

Alan holds a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from Virginia Tech and a Bachelor of Civil Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Manny Teodoro

Manuel (Manny) Teodoro is a Professor of Public Affairs whose work lies at the intersection of politics, public policy, and public management. His research focuses on U.S. environmental policy and implementation, with particular emphasis on drinking water governance, environmental justice, and the management, policy, and finance of public utilities. Teodoro is widely recognized for combining rigorous empirical research with applied scholarship, and he works directly with governments and water sector leaders across the United States to address pressing policy and management challenges.

Teodoro is the editor of Safe Drinking Water Act: The Next Fifty Years (Palgrave Macmillan, forthcoming 2026), which examines the future of federal drinking water policy. He is also the author, with Samantha Zuhlke and David Switzer, of The Profits of Distrust: Citizen-Consumers, Drinking Water, and the Crisis of Confidence in American Government (Cambridge University Press, 2022). This award-winning book argues that reliable basic services are foundational to government legitimacy and links the rise of the bottled water industry to declining trust in American democracy. His first book, Bureaucratic Ambition: Careers, Motives, and the Innovative Administrator (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2011), advances a theory of administrative ambition, demonstrating how career motivations shape innovation, political engagement, and democratic governance within public organizations.

In addition to his theoretical contributions, Teodoro pursues an extensive program of applied research on utility management, rate design, affordability, and equity. He has developed novel methods for analyzing utility rate equity and affordability and regularly collaborates with public officials, regulators, and utility leaders to inform policy design and operational decision-making. His work on public management and bureaucratic politics emphasizes labor markets as political phenomena and as predictors of organizational performance.

Teodoro’s scholarship and teaching have received numerous honors. His awards include the Donald R. Boyd Award from the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies and the Hydro 20 Award from WaterLoop and Sciens Water in 2025; the Lynton Keith Caldwell Prize from the American Political Science Association for The Profits of Distrust in 2024; the Robert F. and Sylvia T. Wagner Distinguished Faculty Award from the University of Wisconsin–Madison College of Letters & Sciences in 2023; the Evan Ringquist Best Paper Award from the APSA Science, Technology, and Environmental Politics Section in 2022; multiple Best Paper Awards from the American Water Works Association Management & Leadership Division (2017, 2019, 2020, and 2021); the Herbert Simon Book Award from the American Political Science Association for Bureaucratic Ambition in 2016; the Best Book Award from the American Society for Public Administration’s Section on Public Administration Research in 2013; the Norton Long Young Scholar Award from the APSA Urban Politics Section in 2010; the Fredric Jablin Dissertation Award from the International Leadership Association and the NASPAA Dissertation Award in 2007; and the Lurie Teaching Prize from the University of Michigan Honors Program in 2003.

Gary C. Ganzi and Peter Lando

Gary C. Ganziis an Intellectual Property Attorney and Professional Engineer with extensive experience in corporate IP and technology management. He brings to his legal practice a rare combination of executive-level business insight and deep applied technical expertise across chemical engineering, materials science, polymers, electrochemistry, and water and wastewater treatment and reuse.

Widely respected for his ability to bridge legal, technical, and business domains, Gary provides comprehensive guidance in IP portfolio management and strategic IP and technology development to drive profitable growth. His background spans startup environments through large multinational corporations, enabling him to align IP strategy with technology maturity, budget constraints, and long-term business objectives.

Gary’s signature IP approach integrates patent filing and prosecution strategy, IP valuation and licensing, risk mitigation, and freedom-to-operate analysis with broader business and R&D strategy. His work routinely includes contract review; website, product, and technical literature analysis; protection of know-how and trade secrets; and strategic guidance to support commercialization and competitive positioning.

Peter Lando practices across all areas of intellectual property law and related business transactions, advising clients on the strategic development, protection, and commercialization of IP assets. He is routinely engaged in intellectual property due diligence for acquisitions and divestitures, representing clients ranging from early-stage ventures to companies valued in excess of $1 billion. Peter has served as primary negotiator or lead counsel in dozens of licensing, collaboration, and technology-driven business transactions.

Peter frequently prepares patentability and freedom-to-operate opinions and has prosecuted a substantial portfolio of patents that have been successfully enforced in court and/or licensed. His practice also includes providing creative and strategic trademark counsel, resulting in distinctive registration and enforcement approaches, as well as drafting comprehensive trade secret policies and protection strategies to safeguard clients’ proprietary information.

Recognized by clients as a “big-picture thinker” and “talented portfolio developer,” Peter is valued for his ability to move beyond traditional patent prosecution to address the real-world challenges companies face as they grow, scale, and expand into new markets. His counsel integrates legal rigor with commercial insight to help clients build resilient, high-value IP portfolios.

Peter has extensive technical experience across the chemical process industries, water and wastewater treatment technologies, medical devices, polymers, particulate materials, specialty metals and ceramics, and mechanical and industrial designs. He is widely regarded as one of the nation’s leading intellectual property attorneys in clean and green technologies, making him a trusted advisor to investors and companies in these sectors both nationally and internationally.

Active in the intellectual property community, Peter regularly speaks to industry groups, clients, and students on a wide range of IP topics, including portfolio strategy, emerging technologies, and innovation-driven growth.

Elliot Stand

Elliot Strand, Ph.D. is a materials scientist, entrepreneur, and climate-tech innovator specializing in printed electronics, sensors, and precision agriculture. He is the Co-Founder and CEO of PAGE Technologies, where he leads the commercialization of scalable, low-cost printed sensor platforms to transform soil and water quality management. Since founding PAGE in 2023, Elliot has secured over $1.75M in non-dilutive funding, serves as Principal Investigator on NSF and Colorado OEDIT grants, and has grown the company from two to seven employees.

Elliot earned his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Colorado Boulder, completing the program in four years with a 4.0 GPA and receiving the MDPI Sensors 2023 Best PhD Thesis Award. His research focuses on fully printed electrochemical and organic electronic sensors for plant health, nutrient monitoring, and environmental sensing, resulting in multiple patents, high-impact journal publications, and invited talks at international conferences. Prior to his doctorate, he earned a B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he also conducted machine-learning–driven materials research and held multiple engineering internships in semiconductor manufacturing, nuclear materials, and medical isotopes.

Beyond research and startups, Elliot is deeply committed to mentorship, STEM outreach, and inclusive leadership, having founded the MSE & Beyond Mentorship Program and volunteered for over a decade with organizations such as Best Buddies International. His work sits at the intersection of advanced materials, sustainability, and real-world deployment, with the goal of enabling smarter, more resilient environmental systems.

Will Dubin

Will Dubin is the Founder & CEO of ManholeMetrics, a venture-backed, multi-award-winning wastewater sensor and analytics company transforming how cities monitor and manage sewer networks. Since founding the company in 2021, Will has raised £878k from leading investors including Ascension, BDF, and prominent industry angels, secured projects with utilities and infrastructure owners across the UK, Europe, and North America, and led the development of patented sensing technologies now deployed by organisations such as Toronto Water, Network Rail, EBMUD, and the Cities of Phoenix and Windsor.

Will is a Royal Academy of Engineering Enterprise Fellow and a recipient of numerous competitive national awards, including Mayor’s Entrepreneur of the Year (Tech), Innovate UK funding, and grants from the Citibank Foundation and Cranfield University, where ManholeMetrics delivered a £50k research project. He has built the business from the ground up—driving early customer traction, managing a multidisciplinary team, overseeing product certification and IP (five patents filed), and representing the company in media, accelerators, and global pilot programmes.

He holds a First Class MEng in Civil Engineering from Imperial College London, graduating with exceptional distinction and multiple honours from the City and Guilds Institute, including the Medal for Excellence and President’s Award. During his studies, Will worked on major infrastructure projects with Vinci Construction, Balfour Beatty–Vinci, Arup, and Bechtel/Crossrail, gaining hands-on experience in site engineering, project controls, and large-scale delivery. He was also a finalist for UK Construction & Engineering Undergraduate of the Year and has spoken by invitation at the Institution of Structural Engineers’ Annual Academics Conference.

Beyond industry, Will has founded and led high-impact student and professional initiatives, including the Intercollegiate Engineering Alliance, connecting over 25,000 engineering students globally. He is fluent in French, proficient in Spanish, and brings a strong blend of technical depth, commercial execution, and leadership to the future of resilient urban infrastructure.

Cassie Braswell

Cassie Braswell is a Customer Success Manager in agricultural technology, specializing in advanced water management solutions for vineyards and specialty crops across Northern California. With more than a decade of experience spanning irrigation systems, agri-business operations, and customer relationship management, Cassie serves as a key connector between growers, technology innovators, and regulatory agencies. Her expertise centers on helping farms optimize water resources, improve irrigation efficiency, and meet evolving compliance requirements through data-driven tools and sustainable practices.

In her role at HotSpot AG, Cassie partners with growers to deploy automated irrigation, fertigation, pump control, and remote monitoring systems designed to enhance crop performance and reduce water use. She provides on-site consultations, technology demonstrations, and hands-on software training to ensure seamless adoption. Working closely with engineering teams, she analyzes water-use data to develop performance metrics that highlight ROI and long-term sustainability outcomes. Cassie also leads initiatives that integrate groundwater well, reservoir, and storage tank monitoring to support statewide water regulations.

Previously, Cassie served as Assistant Branch Manager and Customer Service Manager at Watersavers Irrigation, Inc., where she managed B2B and B2C sales, coordinated drought-related grant opportunities, and expanded the company’s digital presence—contributing to a 20% annual sales increase. Her career also includes operational and customer-facing roles at Keller Estate Winery and VinoPro, where she supported DTC sales programs, streamlined operations, and developed training systems for one of Inc. 500’s fastest-growing companies.

Cassie holds an MBA from the University of Phoenix, a B.A. in Art Studio from Sonoma State University, and an A.A. in Art Studio from College of the Sequoias.

Her areas of expertise include irrigation and water resource management, pump control and fertigation automation, data analytics, groundwater monitoring and regulatory compliance, project management, and customer success leadership.

Cassie frequently collaborates with growers, conservation districts, and groundwater sustainability agencies to advance responsible water use across the region. She also participates in educational outreach, speaking to university and community college students about the role of technology in modern agriculture and inspiring the next generation of innovators committed to protecting natural resources and strengthening agricultural resilience.

Kerry Hoffman

Kerry Hoffman
Director – Utility Technology Solutions | Ferguson Enterprises

Kerry is an experienced technology leader with over 15 years in the water and utility technology sectors. As Director of Utility Technology Solutions at Ferguson, Kerry leads strategic initiatives that bring cutting-edge municipal and utility technologies to communities across the U.S., helping utilities modernize operations, enhance asset performance, and build smarter infrastructure.

Before joining Ferguson, Kerry spent eight years at Trimble Utilities, serving as Regional Business Director and Business Manager for the Northeast, where he led sales, channel development, and strategic partnerships across key markets. His work focused on delivering Smart Water Network solutions that improved operational efficiency and data-driven decision-making for utility customers.

Earlier in his career, Kerry held leadership positions at Telog Instruments, where he managed regional growth and business development for nearly six years, helping utilities deploy advanced monitoring and data acquisition systems.

Kerry holds a Master of Science in Business Leadership from Walden University and a Bachelor of Science from Roberts Wesleyan University. He is passionate about leveraging technology to create sustainable, resilient, and intelligent water systems for the future.

Bruce Alderman

CEO, ROTEC USA | Water Industry Leader | Expert in Commercialization, Sales, and Process Innovation Bruce J. Alderman is a passionate, process-driven leader with a proven record of bringing disruptive water technologies to global industrial and municipal markets. Over his 25+ year career, Bruce has combined technical expertise with commercial insight to drive growth, innovation, and successful market penetration across the water and wastewater industry.

As CEO of ROTEC USA, Bruce is leading the company’s expansion in the United States, building on a legacy of leadership that includes his tenure as North American Industrial Sales Director at DuPont Water Solutions and Vice President of Sales at Desalitech. At Desalitech, he built and led a team of sales, process, and product specialists, achieving more than 200 system sales to over 50 major companies—including Coca-Cola, Pepsi, ADM, Cargill, Tesla, Ford, and Southern California Edison—and successfully entering the municipal market with a 16 MGD system. Bruce also led the process that culminated in Desalitech’s sale to DuPont in 2020 and guided its seamless integration.

Known for his ability to unite technical rigor with strategic decision-making, Bruce has excelled in roles spanning R&D, commercialization, marketing, sales, product management, process engineering, and field services. His leadership has consistently delivered revenue growth, with DuPont’s industrial sales under his direction rising more than 20% between 2020 and 2022.

Core Skills:
Coaching & Motivating • Strategic Decision-Making • Technical Expertise • Process Optimization • Communication & Team Leadership • Market Expansion

Education:

• M.S., Applied Physics – Princeton University
• M.S., Environmental Engineering – Clarkson University
• B.S., Mechanical Engineering – Trenton State College

Accolades:

• Desalitech – Hunter Crown “Best Place to Work in the Water Industry” Award (2017)
• Desalitech – GWI “Breakthrough Water Company” Global Water Award (2016)

Megan Glover

Megan Glover is the Co-Founder and CEO of 120Water, a leading provider of cloud-based software and services that help government agencies, public water systems, and facilities execute safe and compliant drinking water programs. Since launching the company in 2016, Megan has guided 120Water into becoming a trusted end-to-end platform that empowers clients to protect public health by managing complex water quality initiatives with efficiency and accuracy.

With more than two decades of experience in marketing, business development, and executive leadership, Megan has built a career at the intersection of technology, public health, and innovation. Prior to founding 120Water, she served in senior leadership roles at hc1.com, RICS Software, Delivra, Compendium Blogware, and DyKnow, where she drove revenue growth, spearheaded demand generation strategies, and positioned companies for long-term market success. She also founded 3 Dots Marketing, a consultancy focused on delivering high-impact B2B marketing and lead generation strategies.

Megan began her career at DePauw University, where she served as Assistant Director of the Annual Fund, and later held roles in brand enforcement, online marketing, and advertising at Angie’s List. Throughout her career, she has been recognized for her ability to scale organizations, navigate new markets, and inspire teams to achieve ambitious growth targets.

Passionate about using technology to solve real-world challenges, Megan continues to lead 120Water in advancing the future of water program management, ensuring communities across the country have access to safe, reliable drinking water.

Jennifer Zach

Jennifer Zach – Marketing & Asset Management Leader

Jennifer Zach is a seasoned marketer and communicator who has evolved into a respected advocate for asset management and water infrastructure. As Chief Marketing Officer at MentorAPM, she drives strategy and messaging for a leading enterprise asset management software provider, helping utilities and critical infrastructure organizations improve reliability and performance.

With more than 20 years of experience, Jennifer blends creative storytelling with deep technical understanding. She also serves as COO/CMO of Uberlytics, guiding asset risk management initiatives, and sits on the Asset Leadership Network Board, where she champions best practices in asset management across industries.

Before focusing on infrastructure, Jennifer built a successful career in marketing and communications—founding Fresh Words, Ink, contributing to regional magazines, and working as a corporate ghostwriter for subject-matter experts in complex technical fields. Her early career included extensive adult education and curriculum development, reflecting her passion for making complex ideas accessible.

Based in Phoenix, Arizona, Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from the University of Toronto’s Trinity College. She continues to bridge the gap between technology, infrastructure, and human stories, helping organizations convey their impact and advance sustainable asset management.

Chad Seidel

Dr. Chad Seidel, P.E. is the President of Corona Environmental Consulting, LLC and a
Research Affiliate at the University of Colorado Boulder. Chad has focused his entire
career on technical and policy issues to address public health concerns within the
water community at Federal, state, and local levels. He has more than 25 years of
consulting experience serving the water community by providing small and large
water utilities with process engineering services, from optimization of existing
conventional treatment processes to the application of advanced treatment
processes for controlling emerging contaminants. In his role at the University of Colorado Boulder Environmental Engineering department, he has overseen EPA-
funded research by graduate students regarding building water quality concerns and small water utility challenges.

Chad has been researching and solving contaminant occurrence and treatment
challenges within the water community dating back to his master’s degree
research that supported the EPA Stage 2 Disinfection Byproduct Rule
development. He has been involved in numerous projects supporting water
community organizations including quantifying uncertainty of technology
selection predictions, regulatory development, and potential revision efforts
regarding arsenic, perchlorate, hexavalent chromium, carcinogenic VOCs,
opportunistic pathogens, and disinfectant residuals. He recently directed the
technical response to the largest Legionnaires’ Disease outbreak of 2024 in
Grand Rapids, MN by implementing a monitoring program and disinfection
practices. Chad directed Corona’s efforts supporting AWWA’s stakeholder
efforts with current EPA consideration of microbial and DBP rule revisions and
was privileged to represent the practitioner and water utility perspective in the
EPA M/DBP stakeholder meetings serving as a Technical Analyst for the National
Drinking Water Advisory Council’s MDBP Rule Revisions Working Group. Chad
was Co-Principal Investigator on California-funded projects with UC Davis,
“Consolidated Management of Nitrate Treatment: Implementation,
Demonstration and Affordability Study”, and UCLA, “Assessing California’s
Vulnerable Drinking Water Systems for Risks and Solutions (Statewide Needs
Assessment)”.

In the wake of rising public concerns about drinking water contamination and
health risks, Chad was a part of and a contributing author for the President’s
Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) report (Science and
Technology to Ensure the Safety of the Nation’s Drinking Water, December
2016) acknowledging the need to compare magnitude of different
environmental risks with each other, as well as against absolute values to make
sensible decisions about risk management and regulation. Chad is a registered Professional Engineer in several states. He holds a B.S. in Environmental Engineering from Montana Tech and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Colorado Boulder.

Joe Wolfel

Joe Wolfel is co-founder and the CEO of Terradepth, leading the company’s mission to unlock the potential of subsea data for industries such as energy, environmental science, and defense. Prior to his leadership role at Terradepth, Joe was the Managing Partner at Exbellum, a boutique consulting firm specializing in complex human capital solutions, where he focused on advancing client problem-solving, strategic planning, and agile execution. Previously, Joe held leadership roles at the McChrystal Group and Synexxus Inc., where he led classified projects with the U.S. Army Research Labs and the Special Operations community on data distribution and digitization.

A former Navy SEAL, Joe completed multiple deployments across the Middle East and Africa, serving in both combat and strategic roles. He graduated with Honors from the U.S. Naval Academy as a Secretary of the Navy Distinguished Scholar, ranking 8th in his class.

Ramon Rubio de Castro

Ramon Castro is an innovative water-sector professional with more than a decade of international experience spanning engineering, desalination, and strategic consulting. He is the Founder and Host of The Water MBA, a global knowledge platform and community empowering water professionals through interviews, insights, and audiovisual content. Since launching in 2023, Ramon has produced over 80 expert-led episodes and articles, grown a 13,000+ member LinkedIn community, and developed a subscription-based learning service that delivers fresh knowledge monthly.

Alongside his role with The Water MBA, Ramon serves as an Advisor and Consultant with Aquasory, providing strategic guidance and third-eye analysis to clients navigating critical project decisions.

Ramon also leads on the corporate front at Innovative Water Applications Co. (IWAC), where he has held multiple leadership roles across engineering and project management. He currently heads both the Civil Engineering and Technical Office departments, after previously serving as Proposal Manager and Engineering Coordinator for large-scale desalination and water infrastructure projects in the MENA region—including the 600,000 m³/day Rabigh 4 IWP in Saudi Arabia.

Earlier in his career, Ramon spent nearly a decade at Abengoa, managing cost estimation, tendering, and engineering coordination for multi-billion-dollar desalination and water treatment plants worldwide. He contributed to landmark projects such as the 900 MLD Taweelah RO in Abu Dhabi, the Shuaibah III RO Expansion in Saudi Arabia, and the Jebel Ali RO in Dubai.

His expertise covers the full project lifecycle—tendering, engineering, and delivery—across desalination, wastewater treatment, potable water, industrial effluent, and large-scale transmission and distribution systems. He has worked on projects across the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, Asia, and Europe, serving government entities, EPC contractors, developers, concessionaires, and international financial institutions.

Blending deep technical knowledge with communication, advisory, and storytelling skills, Ramon is passionate about driving education, innovation, and sustainability in the global water industry.

Richard Brown and Brian Cummings 

Richard Brown earned his BSEE and MSEE degrees from Brigham Young University and, after six years in industry, completed his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering at the University of Utah in 1985. His doctoral research produced one of the first smart sensors—an array of miniature ion-selective electrodes with integrated electronics.

He began his academic career at the University of Michigan, where he developed the VLSI program and conducted pioneering research in microprocessor design, silicon-based chemical sensors, and brain probes. While at Michigan, he was awarded an Arthur F. Thurnau Endowed Professorship and the Distinguished Faculty Award from the Michigan Association of Governing Boards.

From 2004 to 2024, Dr. Brown served as Dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Utah, overseeing transformative growth: degrees granted increased from 484 to 1,394 annually, research expenditures rose from $30M to $107M per year, and over 100 companies were spun out. Notable milestones during his tenure include the 2022 endowment of the Kahlert School of Computing and a $50M gift in 2023 that endowed and named the John and Marcia Price College of Engineering.

Dr. Brown holds 25 U.S. patents, has authored over 225 peer-reviewed publications, and co-founded multiple technology companies, including Sensicore, i-SENS, Mobius Microsystems, and e-SENS. He is a Life Fellow of the IEEE, a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, recipient of the Utah Governor’s Medal for Excellence in Science and Technology, and winner of the University of Utah’s highest faculty honor, the Rosenblatt Prize. In 2020, he became the inaugural H. E. Thomas Presidential Endowed Dean of Engineering, and in 2023, he was named Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and of the Kahlert School of Computing.

Brian Cummings is the President and COO of e-SENS, Inc., a disruptive water technology company developing simple, scalable hardware and software solutions to improve water quality worldwide. A serial entrepreneur, he has founded more than 30 deep technology companies over his career, driven by a passion for bringing transformative innovations to market.

Previously, Cummings served as Vice President of Technology Commercialization at The Ohio State University and President of the Ohio State Innovation Foundation, where he managed all campus intellectual property and innovation assets. He launched more than 30 entrepreneurial programs for faculty, undergraduates, and graduate students, guiding over 3,000 students through commercialization curricula. He also held Director of Technology Commercialization roles at the University of Texas and the University of Utah, where he co-founded the Kickstart Seed Fund—now one of the most active and successful venture funds in the western United States.

Cummings was a founding partner in Alta Ventures, a Salt Lake City-based venture capital fund, and a member of The Innovation Institute, a think tank dedicated to teaching the lean canvas model for startup innovation and growth. He has held executive roles in multiple technology and biotech companies, holds advanced degrees in business and molecular biology, and has served on more than 30 boards. With deep expertise in intellectual property strategy, technology transfer, and company building, Cummings has a proven record of developing high-impact teams and guiding ventures from concept to success.

Tony Searls

Anthony V. “Tony” Searls is an accomplished public utility leader with over a decade of experience driving operational excellence, customer service innovation, and strategic financial management within government and utility sectors. Currently serving as the Commercial Services Superintendent at Greater Cincinnati Water Works, Tony oversees a $480M revenue stream and leads a 115-member team managing over 242,000 customer accounts across billing, field services, customer service, and revenue collection.

With dual master’s degrees in Business Administration and Human Resource Management, and a passion for equitable service delivery, Tony has implemented transformative initiatives such as customer debt relief programs, payment flexibility portals, and data-informed service shutoff processes. His leadership has resulted in improved customer satisfaction ratings (4.8/5), enhanced revenue recovery, and strengthened regional partnerships.

Tony’s career includes impactful roles at the City of Huntington, the West Virginia Offices of the Insurance Commissioner, and the Kanawha County Commission, where he led budgeting, audits, and cost-saving initiatives, including reducing jail costs by over $500K in one year. A recognized industry voice and 2025 WaterNow Alliance Emerging Leader Award recipient, Tony actively contributes to the sector through leadership in the Diversity in Water Speaker Series and the Ohio Section of the American Water Works Association.

He is a graduate of the Transformative Water Leadership Academy, where he now serves as a Small Group Coach, helping shape the next generation of water utility leaders.

James Perry

James Perry
Chief Executive Officer | ASTERRA
San Diego, California, United States

James Perry is a seasoned executive and innovation leader with over two decades of experience driving strategic growth, business development, and market transformation across multiple industries. As CEO of ASTERRA, James leads a pioneering team at the forefront of Earth monitoring, leveraging Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) analytics to deliver actionable insights that conserve critical resources and promote global sustainability.

Under his leadership, ASTERRA has revolutionized how water utilities and infrastructure operators detect and address subsurface issues. The company’s patented remote-sensing technology pinpoints freshwater leaks with exceptional accuracy, enabling smarter deployment of field crews and significantly reducing non-revenue water (NRW). Beyond utilities, ASTERRA’s solutions are rapidly expanding into critical infrastructure sectors—including dams, levees, canals, roads, railways, mining, and property monitoring—empowering organizations to manage risk, optimize operations, and protect natural resources.

Before taking the helm at ASTERRA, James held multiple leadership roles within the organization, including Executive Vice President and Vice President of Business Development. Prior to ASTERRA, he founded Perry Consultancy Group, and spent nearly 16 years in strategic leadership roles at HP, where he helped guide the transformation of analog to digital printing technologies.

James holds degrees in International Business and Psychology and is passionate about fostering innovation that delivers measurable impact on both people and the planet.

Ed Rudberg

Ed Rudberg, Ph.D.
Chief Executive Officer, Nucleic Sensing Systems | CEO, CD3 General Benefit Corporation

Dr. Ed Rudberg is a mission-driven executive and environmental innovator with over 20 years of leadership experience across the sustainability and water technology sectors. He currently serves as CEO of Nucleic Sensing Systems, where he leads the development of Tracker—the world’s first autonomous, in-field device for continuous environmental DNA, RNA, and biomolecule monitoring.

He is also the CEO and founder of CD3 General Benefit Corporation, a company pioneering internet-connected boat cleaning infrastructure to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species, combining behavioral science, data collection, and scalable technology.

Ed has successfully led multiple organizations from concept to profitability, consistently bridging science, strategy, and innovation. His expertise spans sustainable product development, conservation behavior change, environmental communications, and applied technology.

He holds a Ph.D. in Natural Resources Science and Management from the University of Minnesota and a Master’s in Marine Affairs and Policy from the University of Miami.

Craig Beckman

Craig Beckman is a dynamic and results-driven executive with over 30 years of experience leading teams, scaling businesses, and transforming organizations in the water technology, industrial systems, and cleantech sectors. From his early days as a sales engineer to his tenure as a CEO, Craig has built a career on integrity, strategic acumen, and a consistent ability to deliver measurable results. He has successfully led high-growth startups, executed complex M&A transactions, managed large global teams, and guided companies through critical transitions and turnarounds.

Currently serving as CEO of Aqua Membranes, Craig has helped position the company as a global innovator in water treatment technology. Under his leadership, Aqua Membranes has closed over $29 million in funding, expanded its intellectual property portfolio by 8x, and achieved an 11x valuation increase from its seed round through Series B. He negotiated a licensing agreement that delivered $4.6 million in pre-production revenue and helped the company earn prestigious accolades such as inclusion in the 2025 Global Cleantech 100 and GWI Breakthrough Technology of 2024. Craig’s visionary leadership has been instrumental in commercializing emerging technologies and building sustainable value.

Before Aqua Membranes, Craig was President and CEO of MIOX, where he spearheaded a 300% increase in revenue, reduced expenses by 32%, and generated a 400% return on equity for investors. His tenure culminated in a successful exit, leading MIOX’s acquisition by Johnson Matthey, where Craig stayed on to guide the integration and develop a long-term growth strategy. His ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments—ranging from global corporates to private equity partners—demonstrates his capacity for leadership under pressure and his talent for balancing strategic vision with tactical execution.

Craig’s broader career includes executive roles at GE Water and Osmonics, where he managed large-scale global sales teams, negotiated licensing and channel partnerships, and consistently outperformed revenue and margin targets. He has a reputation for fostering inclusive, empowered teams and for bringing calm, clarity, and accountability to high-stakes business environments. His leadership philosophy centers around transparency, ethical decision-making, and motivating individuals through recognition and shared purpose.

Craig holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and has completed executive education through GE’s Crotonville Leadership Institute, the Carlson School of Management, and the University of Wisconsin School of Business. In addition to his operating roles, Craig serves as a board advisor and consultant to companies in the cleantech, water treatment, and specialty chemical sectors. His advisory work includes roles with Phase Two Chemicals, Amane Advisors, and Aqua Research, among others.

A respected voice in the industry and a trusted leader across organizations, Craig Beckman combines operational excellence with visionary leadership, making him a valuable asset to any business aiming to scale, evolve, or reinvent itself for the future.

Scott Jauch

Scott Jauch I Condition Assessment Regional Practice Lead, Black & Veatch
Phoenix, Arizona, USA

Scott Jauch is the Condition Assessment Regional Practice Lead at Black & Veatch, based in Phoenix, Arizona. With 8 years of experience in the water sector, Scott specializes in the condition assessment and rehabilitation of buried infrastructure, particularly large-diameter water transmission mains. His expertise spans the planning, execution, and management of infrastructure assessment programs across the United States.

Scott currently serves as Vice Chair of the American Water Works Association (AWWA) Water Main Condition Assessment Committee and is Chair of the AWWA Manual of Practice for Condition Assessment of Water Mains revision. His work has advanced industry standards through a combination of technical leadership, innovation, and collaborative project delivery.

Before joining Black & Veatch, Scott held key roles in major condition assessment programs nationwide, including for the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission, Great Lakes Water Authority, and City of Ann Arbor. His project experience includes overseeing field evaluations, performing structural analyses, and delivering actionable insights for long-term asset management strategies.

Scott holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Arizona. He is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the American Water Works Association. He is fluent in English and is based in Black & Veatch’s Phoenix office.

Erin K. Rothman

Climate Scientist | Urban Planner | Entrepreneur
Innovating at the intersection of data, design, and resilience

With over 20 years of experience at the nexus of climate science, urban planning, and entrepreneurship, Erin Rothman has built a career solving some of the most complex environmental and social challenges facing communities today. Her work spans leading-edge research, technology development, and strategy across public and private sectors.

Erin is currently the Managing Director at Manzana City Inc. and Co-Founder and Chief Scientist at Mērak Labs, where she leads multidisciplinary teams focused on resilience analytics, flood risk mapping, water quality, and climate adaptation. Her leadership is marked by the integration of smart sensor networks, advanced data analytics, and nature-based infrastructure planning to support climate-resilient communities across North America.

Previously, Erin was the founder and CEO of StormSensor, Inc., a climate tech company that revolutionized how cities monitor and respond to stormwater and coastal systems. There, she led innovation across product development, fundraising, strategy, and governance, raising $16M in investment and scaling a national presence.

Earlier in her career, Erin served as a Principal Scientist and Managing Principal at leading environmental consultancies including SLR Consulting, SoundEarth Strategies, and Rothman & Associates. She has advised city governments, developers, and nonprofits on environmental remediation, regulatory compliance, and sustainable redevelopment, bringing a unique blend of scientific insight and strategic oversight.

Erin holds an MSc in Natural Resources and Wetland Ecology from The Ohio State University and a BA in Technical and Scientific Communication from Miami University. She is known for translating complex data into actionable, equitable solutions—bridging ecosystems, infrastructure, and communities for long-term impact.

Matt Boczkowski

Matt Boczkowski has a diverse work experience in various industries and roles. Matt is currently the CEO of Aquaporin A/S, a company focused on water filtration through biotechnology. Before that, he held multiple roles at SUEZ, including Vice President Industrial Strategy, Growth, Market Development, and Global Director of Marketing and Growth Initiatives. Matt also worked at GE Water & Process Technologies, where he served as a Market Leader and Key Account Executive – Oil & Gas, Senior Business Development Manager, and Sales and Marketing Manager. Earlier in his career, Matt worked at Air Liquide as a Project Engineer and GEA Group as a Field Service Engineer – Biofuels. Matt started his career at Pall Corporation as an Applications Specialist – Pharma and F&B.

Matt Boczkowski’s education history includes several academic achievements in various fields. In 2001, he obtained his Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) degree in Microbiology and Immunology from McGill University. Moving forward, Matt pursued his passion for Chemical Engineering and completed his Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng) degree from McGill University in 2006.

In 2008, Matt furthered his education by pursuing an MBA degree in Strategy and Marketing from HEC Montréal, which he completed in 2009. That same year, Matt also acquired a Certificate in Energy Management from Hydro-Québec, specializing in Renewable Energy.

In 2017, Matt attended Crotonville Alumni, where he earned a certificate in the Manager Development Course, focusing on Organizational Leadership. Finally, in 2019, he enrolled in the IESE Business School and successfully completed a Certificate program in Executive Leadership, emphasizing Business Administration and Management.

Throughout his education journey, Matt has consistently expanded their knowledge and expertise across diverse domains, including Microbiology, Engineering, Marketing, Energy Management, Leadership, and Business Administration.

Brian Richter

Brian Richter
President, Sustainable Waters | Adjunct Professor, University of Virginia

Brian Richter is a globally recognized authority on water science and conservation, with over 30 years of experience advancing sustainable water management practices. He is the President of Sustainable Waters, an international education and advisory organization that supports communities, governments, and industries in addressing water scarcity and promoting responsible water use. He also serves as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Virginia, where he teaches upper-level courses on water sustainability and mentors graduate research.

Previously, Brian spent three decades with The Nature Conservancy, where he led the Global Water Program and directed high-impact freshwater initiatives spanning the Americas, Asia, and the Pacific. He has worked on more than 170 river and water projects across six continents and regularly advises major global corporations, investment banks, and international organizations such as the United Nations.

Brian has developed foundational tools for hydrologic analysis and ecosystem restoration, including the widely used Indicators of Hydrologic Alteration (IHA) software. His scientific publications place him in the top 10% of researchers worldwide by impact, and his thought leadership has been featured in global media, including a BBC documentary with Sir David Attenborough.

He is the co-author of Rivers for Life: Managing Water for People and Nature, and the author of Chasing Water: A Guide for Moving from Scarcity to Sustainability, now available in six languages.

Jack Schmidt

Jack Schmidt is a Professor at Utah State University and Director of the Center for Colorado River Studies within the Quinney College of Natural Resources. With nearly four decades of experience, he is a leading expert in river science, focusing primarily on the Colorado River, its tributaries, and the Grand Canyon. His research explores the complex relationship between ecosystem health and the impacts of dams, reservoirs, and water diversions.

A former chief of the U.S. Geological Survey’s Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center, Dr. Schmidt has played a pivotal role in shaping our understanding of river management in the American Southwest. Under his leadership, the Center for Colorado River Studies advances innovative research, education, and outreach to support informed decision-making and sustainable management of major river systems.

To learn more about Jack and his work, please visit: https://www.colorado.edu/center/gwc/john-jack-schmidt.

Anne Castle

Anne Castle is a senior fellow at the Getches-Wilkinson Center for Natural Resources, Energy, and the Environment at the University of Colorado Law School, focusing on western water issues, including Colorado River policy and Tribal water rights.  Castle was appointed by President Biden in 2022 as the U.S. Commissioner and Chair of the Upper Colorado River Commission, a position she held until January 2025.  She is a founding member of the Water Policy Group.

From 2009 to 2014, Castle was the Assistant Secretary for Water and Science at the U.S. Department of the Interior where she oversaw water and science policy for the Department and had responsibility for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Geological Survey.  While at Interior, Castle spearheaded the Department’s WaterSMART program, which provides federal leadership and funding to support sustainable water supplies, and launched the federal Open Water Data Initiative.

Castle practiced water law for 28 years in Denver, Colorado with the Rocky Mountain based law firm of Holland & Hart LLP.  She chaired the law firm’s management committee and its natural resources law department. She currently serves on the boards of the Colorado Water Trust, Colorado Legal Services, and Stanford University’s Water in the West program. She is the co-founder of and senior advisor to the nationwide initiative on Universal Access to Clean Water in Tribal Communities.

James Roberts

Founder & CEO | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States

James Roberts is the Founder and CEO of WaiHome, a company dedicated to modernizing backyard wastewater treatment. Under his leadership, WaiHome focuses on passive, aboveground treatment systems that are easy to install and provide high-quality, reusable effluent—helping homeowners create sustainable outdoor spaces. Learn more at www.waihome.com.

Experience

WaiHome LLC
Principal Investigator (Aug 2021 – Present | 3+ years)

• Leads the design and testing of alternative water and waste management systems to reduce the cost of onsite wastewater treatment in the U.S.
• Secured over $2 million in non-dilutive funding for product research and development.

Limtiaco Consulting Group
Staff Engineer (Sep 2020 – Jul 2021 | 11 months)

• Developed a homeowner guide for cesspool replacement on behalf of the Hawaii Department of Health.
• Led an EPA-mandated audit of wastewater infrastructure for the Hawaii State Public Library System.
• Designed stormwater and wastewater systems using AutoCAD and Civil3D.

The University of British Columbia
M.A.Sc. Researcher & Academic Consultant (Sep 2016 – Jul 2019 | 3 years)

• Conducted research on microscreen pretreatment and biofilm photobioreactors to improve decentralized wastewater treatment.
• Led a post-mortem analysis of the Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability (CIRS) wastewater system.

Additional Engineering & Research Roles

• Kamanu Composites – Product & Environmental Engineer
• ECO-TEK Ecological Technologies Inc. – Researcher & Operator
• Arup – Electrical Industrial Designer
• Mantra Energy Alternatives – Reactor Operator
• Laser Zentrum e.V. – Assistant Researcher

Education

• M.A.Sc. in Environmental Engineering | The University of British Columbia (2016–2019)
• B.A.Sc. in Integrated Engineering | The University of British Columbia (2010–2015)

Skills & Expertise

• Customer Service | Sales | Project Management

📍 Connect on LinkedIn: James Roberts

 Nathaniel Banks

Nathaniel Banks
Co-founder & CTO, PolyGone Systems | Forbes 30 Under 30 Fellow

Nathaniel is a pioneering innovator in environmental technology, specializing in microplastic monitoring and filtration solutions. As the Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of PolyGone Systems, he leads the company’s engineering, research, and product development, driving advancements in sustainable water treatment solutions. His expertise in design, prototyping, and engineering spans over a decade, having worked with some of the world’s most renowned design offices and institutions.

Under Nathaniel’s leadership, PolyGone Systems has secured approximately $2.8 million in funding from federal agencies such as NOAA and the NSF, state organizations including NJCSIT and NJEDA, and private venture capital investors. His work has positioned PolyGone as a leader in cutting-edge environmental solutions, with several large-scale pilot projects, including:

The Atlantic County Utilities Authority Wastewater Treatment Pilot (Under Construction)

The West County Wastewater District Treatment Pilot (Detailed Design Phase)

The IISD Experimental Lakes Area Microplastic Monitoring Station (Completed 2023)

Nathaniel’s passion for sustainability and technological innovation is rooted in his architectural and environmental design background. He holds a Master’s in Architecture from Princeton University, where his thesis project, Plastic Plastic, proposed groundbreaking systems for plastic recycling and microplastic collection—earning Best Presentation at the 2021 Princeton Research Day Awards. He also completed his Bachelor’s in Architecture at Syracuse University, where he received the James A. Britton Award for Faculty Favorite Thesis for his work on adaptive building systems. His academic pursuits also led him to University College London, where he studied urban geography and circular development models.

Beyond his technical contributions, Nathaniel is a recognized thought leader in clean technology. He has been invited as a keynote speaker and panelist at numerous prestigious conferences, including:

US-China Cleantech Trade Delegation (2023) – Delivered keynote presentations to government officials and industry leaders across Shanghai, Nanjing, Suzhou, Guangzhou, and Changzhou.

World Water-Tech North America Showcase (2023) – Presented PolyGone’s innovations to an audience of water utility managers and technology suppliers.

California Water Board Subcommittee on Microplastics (2023) – Shared findings from PolyGone’s research on microplastic pollution.

TMA Blu-Tech Blue Week Conference (2023) – Panelist alongside California water authorities and industry experts.

Circular City Week NYC (2022) – Presented microplastic research and pilot studies.

Nathaniel’s contributions to clean technology have earned him widespread recognition, including being named a Forbes 30 Under 30 Fellow in Social Impact (2024), winning the World Water-Tech Startup Competition (2023), and securing finalist spots in prestigious competitions like the QBE AcceliCITY Resilience Challenge and Harvard Business School Startup Showcase.

He is also a named inventor on multiple patents pending, including:

Method, Apparatus, and System for Aquatic Microplastic Removal (2021)

Aquatic Microplastics Removal Apparatus (2023)

Modular Floatation System (2023)

With a relentless focus on innovation, environmental impact, and scalable solutions, Nathaniel Banks continues to drive the future of water technology and sustainability.

🔗 Website: http://www.polygonesystems.com
📩 Email: nathanielb@projectplastic.site

Dragan Tutic

Dragan Tutic is a mechanical engineer by training and entrepreneur by nature. He is propelled
by a distinctive mix of empathy, curiosity, and determination. Demonstrating an inventive flair
even before entering university, Tutic accomplished the remarkable feat of constructing a fully
operational electric motorcycle, showcasing his ingenuity and passion for sustainable solutions.

Tutic’s journey as an entrepreneur began in high school when he launched a sticker and
signage company. His business acumen and innovative approach allowed the company to
expand its reach to clients in over 30 countries, marking his first foray into the global market.
In his first year of university, Tutic embarked on another ambitious project by launching a racing electric cycle motorcycle team. This venture not only demonstrated his technical skills but also highlighted his leadership qualities, as he discovered the power of assembling a team to achieve goals far beyond individual capabilities.

Tutic’s worldview was profoundly shaped by his travels across the globe, spanning three years.
During this period, he witnessed firsthand the stark inequalities and challenges posed by water scarcity. These experiences ignited a desire to create solutions that would positively impact society and the environment. With a new understanding of global challenges and a curiosity to delve into the ocean environment, Tutic founded Oneka in 2015. His vision was to harness the ocean’s power by combining seawater and waves to produce freshwater, an innovative approach to addressing water scarcity.

Tutic’s involvement in Oneka has been hands-on and multifaceted. In the early years, he was
deeply involved in market exploration, traveling to regions like the Caribbean, the Maldives, and Southeast Asia to meet clients and understand their needs.

He played a critical role in technology development, including ideation, designing and machining to bench testing and ocean deployments. Tutic even took part in diving operations, underscoring his commitment to making the technology work.

With the help of his team, he raised over $50M over four funding rounds, enabling further
development and expansion. Tutic assembled a team of industry veterans specializing in
finance, impact, manufacturing, ocean product development, desalination, and operations.

With over 40 employees, Oneka is now entering a new phase. The company is poised to realize ambitious projects in California, Chile, and the Caribbean, reflecting Tutic’s vision of combining entrepreneurship and engineering to create impactful solutions for society and the environment.

Tia Cavender

Tia A. Cavender, MA I CEO & Founder, Dig Deep Research, LLC

Tia A. Cavender is a dynamic and results-driven executive with over 24 years of experience in strategic grants planning, capital funding, and public-private partnerships. As the CEO and Founder of Dig Deep Research, LLC, she has built a nationally recognized consulting firm that helps municipalities, utilities, and public-sector organizations secure funding for critical infrastructure projects. Under her leadership, Dig Deep has secured over $49 million in competitive grants and low-interest financing, ensuring communities have access to sustainable resources for water, wastewater, parks, and public works improvements.

With a strong background in qualitative and quantitative data analysis, Tia specializes in helping organizations develop long-term financial strategies that align with their goals while maximizing external funding opportunities. She has successfully worked with city councils, mayors, public works directors, and finance officials to secure funding for essential infrastructure, ensuring financial stability and strategic growth for local governments. Her expertise extends to forging partnerships between municipalities and funding agencies, helping clients navigate complex grant application processes, and advocating for their projects at the state and federal levels.

Professional Experience

Tia founded Dig Deep Research in 2010 (formerly Chase Park Grants) to address the increasing need for municipalities and utilities to secure reliable funding for capital improvement projects. Since its inception, Dig Deep has helped cities across the U.S. develop strategic grant plans, build relationships with funding agencies, and secure vital financial resources. The firm’s successes include:

• Achieving an average 6:1 return on investment (ROI) for government grants over a decade.
• Securing $49M+ in private, state, and federal grants and low-interest financing for municipalities.
• Winning 18 state and federal grants from 11 different agencies, strengthening local infrastructure and sustainability.
• Actively pursuing over $176M in government grants, low-interest loans, and principal forgiveness funding.

Prior to founding Dig Deep, Tia gained extensive experience in grants management, program evaluation, and public sector funding strategies. She served as:

• Program Evaluator at the University of Colorado (2008-2010), leading a statewide study to measure the impact of community-based outreach programs for Medicaid and CHP+. She managed an $1M budget, supervised an 8-member evaluation team, and advanced fundraising efforts for research initiatives.
• Director of Grants at Metro Health Hospital Foundation (2004-2008), where she developed and led a successful grants program for an osteopathic teaching hospital, securing funding for healthcare initiatives and capital improvements. She also worked closely with board members and hospital leadership to cultivate donor relationships and align funding strategies with institutional goals.
• Senior Project Manager at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center (2000-2004), where she managed federally funded research studies, handled grant administration, and conducted in-depth data analysis to support national healthcare initiatives.

Industry Leadership & Community Involvement

Beyond her consulting work, Tia is an active leader in municipal governance, public policy, and infrastructure finance. She is a member of the Colorado Municipal League, the City & County Managers Association of Colorado, and the American Water Works Association. She previously held Certified Grant Professional (GPC) status from 2007-2013, demonstrating her expertise in securing and managing grants for public sector organizations.

Her passion for community engagement is evident through her volunteer work and board leadership roles, including:

• Arapahoe County Citizens Advisory Board Member (since 2021)
• Board Member, Energy Efficiency Citizens Advisory Board, City & County of Denver (2017-2021)
• Board Member, Stapleton Development Citizen Advisory Board (2013-2017)

Education & Expertise

Tia holds two Master’s degrees from the University of Colorado: one in Industrial/Organizational Psychology (2004) and another in Clinical Psychology (2000). She also earned a Bachelor’s in Psychology (1998) from the same institution. Her academic background, combined with decades of hands-on experience, has shaped her ability to analyze complex funding landscapes, create strategic financial roadmaps, and drive measurable results for her clients.

Key Areas of Expertise:

–Capital Planning & Infrastructure Finance
–Grants Strategy & Public Funding
–Municipal & Utility Finance
–Public-Private Partnerships
–Government Relations & Policy Advocacy
–Data-Driven Decision-Making

Tia continues to be a sought-after advisor, speaker, and strategist for municipalities and public agencies looking to navigate the evolving landscape of public sector funding. Her leadership at Dig Deep Research has transformed the way cities and utilities approach financial sustainability, ensuring that vital community projects receive the funding they need to thrive.

Susan Fortner

Susan Fortner is a dynamic communications and public relations expert with extensive experience in strategic brand development, media relations, crisis management, and corporate growth. As the driving force behind BPR International in Columbus, OH, she oversees company operations, staff development, and event coordination while managing high-level media strategies, social media campaigns, and advertising initiatives.

With a strong background in business and communications, Susan holds degrees from Malone University and Kent State University, along with legal studies from the University of Richmond Law School. Her leadership extends beyond business, as she plays a vital role in numerous professional organizations and committees. She has served as President of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Committees since 2008 and has held key positions in the National PRSA Technology and Marketing Committees.

A dedicated advocate for community involvement, Susan is an active board member of Innovate New Albany, NAWN, the Franklin Park Conservatory Women’s Board, and the Pleasure Guild of Nationwide Children’s Hospital. She is also a member of the Junior League and the Childhood League, working to support charitable causes.

Recognized for her expertise, Susan holds the prestigious APR Certification from PRSA and continues to influence the public relations landscape with her innovative strategies and leadership.

Windi Muziasari

Windi Muziasari is an Indonesian-born global citizen based in Helsinki, Finland, since 2010. She is the founder and CEO of Resistomap, a pioneering company specializing in end-to-end laboratory services for monitoring antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes and pathogens in the environment. By integrating molecular genetics and data science, Windi and her team provide critical insights to help mitigate the spread of antibiotic resistance, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

Under her leadership, Resistomap has expanded with the launch of the Resistomap Platform, a water biosecurity intelligence tool that tracks AMR levels across time and locations. The platform offers an antibiotic resistance genes index, gene removal values, and comparative risk assessment scores, serving as a valuable resource for health monitoring, pollution tracking, and process performance evaluation.

With over 14 years of experience in environmental AMR research, Windi has been at the forefront of advocating for global AMR monitoring, especially in sewage, wastewater, rivers, lakes, seawater, drinking water reservoirs, soil, manure, and stool. Recognizing the urgent need for real-world solutions, she transitioned from academia to entrepreneurship to bridge the gap between research and application. Today, Resistomap empowers universities, research institutes, governmental agencies, water utilities, cities, hospitals, food producers, and antibiotic manufacturers to monitor environmental AMR genes efficiently and comprehensively.

Beyond her work in AMR surveillance, Windi is passionate about science communication, believing it is essential for amplifying the impact of research and driving meaningful change in public health and environmental sustainability.

Chelsea Boozer

Chelsea Boozer is a dynamic leader and strategic communicator with a proven track record in public policy, government affairs, and nonprofit management. As the Executive Director of Rogue Water Lab, she is spearheading efforts to sustain and expand programming, securing additional sponsors, and managing a $350,000 budget while overseeing key initiatives such as the Catalyst Summit and Convergence accelerator.

In addition to her executive role, Chelsea serves as an Executive Committee and Board Advisor for the American Water Works Association (AWWA), where she champions emerging leaders in the water sector. She has played a pivotal role in initiatives such as the establishment of a young professionals’ scholarship program, the creation of young adult advisory positions on the AWWA board, and the successful campaign to designate a board seat for professionals aged 35 and younger.

With over five years at Central Arkansas Water, Chelsea has excelled as the Government Affairs & Regionalism Manager, advocating for sustainable water policies, securing $25 million in federal and state grants, and leading public outreach efforts. Her strategic influence extends beyond utilities—she has been instrumental in workforce development, regional partnerships, and legislative affairs.

Chelsea is also the Co-Founder of the Arkansas Water Young Professionals Network, which has grown into a statewide organization dedicated to supporting and retaining early-career professionals in the water industry.

Before transitioning into public affairs, Chelsea built a distinguished journalism career, reporting on government, utilities, and policy for publications such as the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and The Commercial Appeal. Her investigative work earned numerous accolades, including the Arkansas Press Association’s Journalist of the Year and the Great Plains Award for Best Beat Reporter.

An Executive Master of Public Administration graduate from Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship & Public Affairs, Chelsea completed her studies with high honors, focusing her capstone project on the future of the U.S. water sector. She also holds a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Memphis, where she graduated summa cum laude and served as Editor-in-Chief of the student newspaper.

Her extensive contributions to public service, policy, and communications have earned her numerous industry recognitions, including WaterNow Alliance Emerging Leader (2023), American Water Works Association’s 5 Under 35 (2022), and Arkansas Business 20 In Their 20s (2020).

Chelsea’s expertise in public policy, stakeholder engagement, and strategic communication continues to drive impactful change in the water sector and beyond.

Emily Lewis

Emily assists clients in navigating and solving complex water problems.
She has 14 years of experience advising individual water right owners, water wholesalers, municipalities, mining companies, developers, mutual shareholder irrigation companies, and other water users. Her strategic projects practice extends to innovative policy work and specialty water project management. For example, she recently acted as the Utah Statewide Water Marketing Strategies Project Manager, produced a comprehensive Water Law Policy Inventory and Assessment to inform the Great Salt Lake Strategic Plan, and hosts a weekly
water podcast Ripple Effect – A Podcast Putting Water in Context.

Emily is quickly becoming known as an innovative thought leader in the water space. She is adept at using humor, candor, and creativity to come to workable water solutions. Her breadth of knowledge allows her to quickly identify the issues, make connections between information silos, and engage the right people. She is developing a niche expertise that combines knowledge of technical solutions, such as telemetry and modeling, market tools, legal and policy recommendations, and collaborative voluntary arrangements for water sharing.

This expertise allows her to craft practical solutions that meet the moment and are adaptive to a changing world. Emily is fortunate to be working on some of the Western United States most pressing water problems, including:
– Compliance with the Colorado River Compact and Colorado River issues and Demand Management
-Promoting and building water markets in Utah and surrounding states
-Engaging in policy and legislative initiatives to modernize western Water Law
-Preparing legal strategies to bring water to the Great Salt Lake, a waterbody of international importance
-Working with large agricultural producers to implement water conservation practices and contemporary
operations
-Navigating complex federal water contracts and federal water projects
-Designing drought and climate resiliency action plans
-Advising on complicated issues of conjunctive management between competing surface and ground water rights.

As an ancillary part of her practice, Emily hosts a well-regarded weekly podcast, Ripple Effect
(clydesnow.com/podcasts/), discussing hot water issues with water experts around the world. She is also a frequent guests on other national podcasts discusses water law and water policy. She is working on expanding her media efforts to create water education videos that explain complicated legal concepts with engaging visuals.

She is also an Adjunct Professor of Water Law at the SJ Quinney College of Law, at the University of Utah and serves as a mentor to young law students.

Kevin Gast

Kevin Gast is the Co-Founder, CEO, & Chairman of VVater, a
pioneering next-generation water treatment company dedicated
to leveraging advanced technologies to address global water
challenges across numerous industries. With over 20+ years of executive leadership experience, Kevin has managed cross-functional and international teams in more than 30 countries,bringing innovative solutions to sectors such as real estate, utilities,
wastewater, oil & gas, food & beverage, defense, and beyond.

Kevin has also held various executive positions in the
pharmaceutical, hotel, and property development industries,
expanding his expertise across multiple sectors. As the Chairman
of another international conglomerate operating in construction,
civil engineering, property development, hospitality, real estate,
and pharmaceuticals—he was involved with thousands of projects
spanning the globe, from mechanical engineering, geosynthetics,
civil engineering, aquatic facilities and construction to industrial
design.

Kevin is an entrepreneur at heart, an avid investor, philanthropist,
technologist, and futurist committed to providing humankind with
sustainable and innovative solutions while delivering exceptional
value to customers, partners, and investors.

George Hawkins

George Hawkins launched his innovation-focused non-profit enterprise Moonshot Missions after stepping down as CEO of DC Water, where he served for eleven years. George helps agencies identify and adopt strategies to deliver better service and lower cost, with a focus on small and under-resourced communities and water utilities.

In 2023, Moonshot was selected by USEPA to serve as one of four national Environmental Finance Centers to help disadvantaged communities access federal funding. Moonshot in 2023 assisted 79 communities of every size and demographic in 28 states, 2 territories and 4 Tribal Reservations.

George transformed DC Water into an innovative enterprise while tripling its investment in clean water. DC Water’s innovations ranged from Green Infrastructure to a $500 million investment in clean energy. DC Water issued the first century bond, first environmental impact bond, and spearheaded programs to support low-income customers and provide for local workforce development.

George served for six years on the National Infrastructure Advisory Council, which advises the White House. George is an advisor to Xylem, Inc., is an Executive in Residence for the private equity firm XPV Water Partners and serves on the Board of the North American Electric Reliability Corporation. George has served as a Senior Lecturer at Princeton University and an Executive in Residence for American University.

Mr. Hawkins also served as Director of the DC Department of the Environment and served as Director of non-profit organizations and held positions with the USEPA and the firm Ropes & Gray.

George is a popular speaker on water and environmental issues.  He has been the recipient of many awards, including Global Water Intelligence’s list of top 20 transformational leaders in the water industry, the AWWA’s Fuller Award, Governing Magazine’s Public Official of the Year in 2015, WEF Public Official of the Year in 2016, and the Water Leader of the Year Prize in 2017. DC Water was awarded the US Water Prize in 2016.

He graduated from Princeton University (Summa Cum Laude) and from Harvard Law School (Cum Laude).

Moonshot Missions: http://www.moonshotmissions.org
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-hawkins-68899619/
X: https://twitter.com/GeorgeHawkinsDC

Win Cowgar

Dr. Win Cowger (AKA Dr. Trash) is an accomplished environmental scientist specializing in plastic pollution, sustainable resource management, and conservation strategies. Win holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Science from the University of California, Riverside, a B.S. in Environmental Science from Iowa State University , and an Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts from Hawkeye Community College.

Currently, Dr. Win Cowger serves as the Research Director at the Moore Institute for Plastic Pollution Research, where they lead cutting-edge investigations, publish peer-reviewed studies, secure research grants, and mentor emerging scientists. They are also a Visiting Scholar at the University of California, Riverside, contributing to student mentorship and laboratory innovations.

Dr. Cowger has a robust professional history that includes roles such as Contract Data Scientist for 5 Gyres, Founding Member of Plant Prudent, Senior GIS Analyst at Prudenterra, and Crew Leader for the Conservation Corps of Minnesota and Iowa. Their experience encompasses GIS research, conservation leadership, field data collection, and development of process-based models addressing fluvial transport dynamics and mismanaged waste.

As an active community contributor, Dr. Cowger advises several nonprofit organizations, including Recycle My Battery, National Cleanup Day, and 5 Gyres. They are a board member of the Moore Institute for Plastic Pollution Research and have provided expertise to global initiatives like Let’s Do It World and the Longest Swim.

A passionate advocate for environmental education and outreach, Dr. Cowger has served in leadership and advisory capacities at universities, professional organizations, and global conservation projects, furthering the mission of sustainable development and environmental stewardship.

José Castro

Jose Segura’s mission is to improve the world’s water quality by lowering barriers to monitoring. Across geographies and industries, there is a common thread: water quality testing is too expensive, slow and inconvenient. By leveraging technologies used in the glucose monitoring industry, we offer near-lab quality results in less than five minutes, on-site, with minimal training, and with a price/test up to 90% lower than traditional methods.

University of Oxford graduate with an Water Science, Policy & Management MSc. Background in Mathematics and Chemistry with experience in Analytical and Environmental Chemistry with particular interests in applied Electrochemistry, AI and Environmental Data Science. Internationally-minded with studies and working experience in Guatemala, India, United States, Brazil, Sri Lanka, Sweden and currently based in the U.K.

Interested in interdisciplinary and entrepreneurial solutions to environmental problems with particular focus on decentralized water quality monitoring, and heavy metal, PFAs and E. coli detection, mapping and remediation. Have recently transitioned scientific work to policy and governance topics, working with utilities in their water quality investment strategies and alignment with (UK) policy, as well as engaging with Citizen Science as a mechanism for water management.

Lauren Enright

Lauren Enright, Program Manager, Water Services, SCS Global

She leads the growing water stewardship practice at SCS Global where she works with organizations on validation, verification, and certification of water metrics, shedding transparency to investors, stakeholders and the general public. She understands where the value lies in going beyond measuring and monitoring water metrics. Due to client demand in the water and climate adaptation space, she developed in tandem with SCS Standards a new Certification Standard for Water Resiliency. Lauren has worked on water risk assessments for water utilities, water supply and climate adaptation measures for the ski industry to wastewater and sewage inspections data in conjunction with America’s aging infrastructure. She is versed in the water/climate adaptation tech community and has traced the financial and regulatory barriers to market. Lauren graduated with a master’s degree in International Relations and Maritime Trade from Regent’s University London in 2010 with a focus on risk management and water-related technologies. Her startup, Axiom Climate connects people with the value of water and ice through their lived experience; both growing the sport of ice climbing and building more resilient and adaptable communities. 

Lauren founded Axiom Climate in early 2020. Her background is in climate security and network building, corporate risk management, maritime security, ski instruction, sales strategies and water risks are what form Axiom Climate’s foundation. She has worked alongside intelligence agencies, law enforcement, scientists, farmers, CEO’s, and academic institutions such as Columbia Climate School, Stanford University and the Center for Climate and Security. She is a certified professional consultant through the Alliance of Water Stewardship, trained Close Protection for HNWI, recreational ice and rock climber, professional ski instructor (PSIA) and part of the Coast Guard Auxiliary.

Elevating the intersection of ice and water through smart water and climate technology, outdoor gear and equipment and education

David Lloyd

David Lloyd is the CEO and Co-Founder of FREDsense Technologies, a pioneer in
biotechnology-driven water quality solutions. An alumnus of the University of Calgary,
David’s passion for synthetic biology was solidified through his award-winning
involvement in the iGEM (international Genetically Engineered Machines) competition,
where he honed his skills in biosensor innovation as a competitor, judge and committee
member. This early success laid the foundation for FREDsense, which under his
guidance, developed portable biosensors capable of detecting a wide range of water
contaminants, a technology recognized globally for its environmental impact. Today
FREDsense is focused on solving the problem of “Forever Chemicals” or PFAS and
introducing the industry’s first rapid PFAS solution to market. 

David has been recognized by various groups for his contributions to clean technology.
He has served on the boards of various initiatives in the biotechnology space,
contributing his expertise in synthetic biology and environmental solutions to foster
innovation in the sector. His leadership has propelled FREDsense to collaborations with
global water utilities and governments, addressing critical issues in water sustainability.
Beyond his role at FREDsense, David is a speaker on topics such as biosensor
technology, sustainable entrepreneurship, and the future of synthetic biology. His work
continues to inspire advancements at the intersection of biology, technology, and
environmental stewardship.

Arian Edalat, Co-Founder & CEO at Active Membranes

Arian Edalat is a chemical engineer and an award winning water tech entrepreneur. He has a Ph.D. from University of Bradford in UK and two decades of experience in design, engineering, construction, operations, maintenance, troubleshooting and optimization of industrial and municipal membrane-based water treatment processes as well as technology development and commercialization. 

His unique and diversified experience expands from developing a concept from bench scale through field pilot and large-scale commercialization and deployment. 

He has delivered over 60 cutting-edge and challenging water treatment solutions across the globe. 

Arian is also a graduate of UCLA’s Anderson School of Management’s Executive Management Program. 

His personal interests include landscape and street photography, hiking, and translation of cross-cultural literary work. 

Arian speaks, read, and writes in English, Persian, and Arabic.

Dave Russell

Dave Russell’s career has been in the non-destructive testing field since leaving school in the U.K. (grad 1964 with 3 A-levels). Dave holds CGSB Level-III Radiography, Level-II Ultrasonic and Level-1 Eddy Current, plus ASNT Level-III in the same disciplines. In 2017 I achieved MBA degree, Export award and Business Leadership award.
Dave currently owns and manages the following companies:

1) Russell NDT Holdings Ltd.
2) Russell NDE Systems Inc.

Dave is primary owner, founder, and chairman of the following companies:

3) PICA: Pipeline Inspection and Condition Analysis Corp.
4) PICA: Pipeline Inspection and Condition Analysis (USA) Corp.

Specialities: Provision of NDT equipment and services in Eddy Current, Remote Field Technology, Ultrasonic, CUI Bracelet Probe, Smart pigging, VertiScan and other NDT specialities. Dave is also a Level-III auditor for industrial radiography.

To learn more about Pica, please visit picacorp.com.

Michael Connett

Michael Connett is a partner at Siri & Glimstad LLP with extensive civil litigation experience
in both the personal injury and regulatory arenas.Mr. Connett’s civil practice is focused on obtaining justice for individuals harmed by corporate negligence, misguided medical practices, and overreaching government mandates. He has successfully represented individuals and families who have suffered catastrophic injuries as a result of toxic substances, and has spearheaded groundbreaking litigation to challenge outdated chemical safety standards under the Toxic Substances Control Act. Mr. Connett received his J.D., magna cum laude from Temple Law School, in 2011, where he received numerous academic honors and served as Editor-in-Chief of the Temple Law Review.

-Mr. Connett served as a law clerk to the Honorable Judge Michael M.
Baylson of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and the Honorable
Judge Franklin Van Antwerpen of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
Recent Representative Matters

-Served as lead attorney for environmental health groups in precedent-setting case
(Food & Water Watch v. EPA) that resulted in a federal court ordering the EPA to
eliminate the “unreasonable risk” posed by fluoridation of drinking water.

-Represented families of mesothelioma victims against a manufacturer of asbestos-
contaminated talc, which resulted in over $50 million in settlements.

-Successfully obtained over $20 million in settlements for two families in lawsuit
against a global aerospace company for birth defects caused by occupational chemical
exposures.

-Spearheaded dozens of FOIA requests which unearthed emails documenting that
federal health officials had suppressed a long-awaited government review on the
health effects of fluoride.

Chris Miller, Founder and CEO, Fontus Blue

Dr. Miller is an accomplished academic and experienced consultant
and business owner founder (Fontus Blue) with technical expertise in drinking water operations integration including treatment plant-treatment process optimization, water quality modeling (plant and distribution system), distribution system optimization, and decision support system development, and water technology evaluation.
Recent projects have focused on simultaneous water quality compliance challenges associated with Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs), Disinfection By-products (DBPs), and Lead-Copper and Corrosion Control.

Paul O’Callaghan

Paul O’Callaghan is a aater scientist, sustainability thought leader and documentary producer, who believes the global water crisis can be solved in his lifetime and he is on a mission to help
make it happen.
After being awarded a bio-chemistry degree, Paul’s first role was for the Body Shop working
alongside the pioneering environmentalist Anita Roddick. Paul then volunteered for the
World Wildlife Fund in Malaysia, and after completing a Master’s degree he later returned
to research the effects that deforestation was having on water quality. Paul’s next role was
with Atkins, one of the globally leading engineering management consultancies who are
pioneering in their approaches to projects. It was while working as an engineering
consultant, that Paul first noticed how extraordinarily long it took to get water technologies
to market, which gave him the initial idea for BlueTech Research.
BlueTech Research was co-founded by Paul in 2011, to support technological advancements
in water management and help find the solutions needed to provide clean water and safe
sanitation. The Intelligence Platform was created to improve the intelligence available on
water technologies and their markets, making it easier to identify commercially viable
innovation options.
Paul acted as the executive producer for the award-winning documentary ‘Brave Blue
World’. The documentary was designed to create more awareness about the solutions that
already exist to solve the water crisis and has attracted the involvement on screen of A-list
celebrities Matt Damon and Liam Neeson, as well as activist Jaden Smith. Since its launch on
Netflix, Brave Blue World has been translated to 29 languages and is accessible to over 200
million viewers. Paul is now set to co-produce a new ground-breaking feature documentary;
Our Blue World – A Water Odyssey. This film will explore humanity’s profound relationship
with water and reveal how human agency can help rebalance the planet’s water systems.
Paul now divides his time between the BlueTech Research offices in Vancouver and Cork. He
works with global Fortune 500 corporates including L’Oréal, Microsoft and PepsiCo on their
water strategy policies. He has also recently guest lectured at Harvard and Cambridge
Universities.
Paul recently completed a PhD in Water Innovation from Wageningen University. In his free
time, he is a keen pianist and enjoys kayaking, ocean swimming and free diving.

Thomas Fudge

Dr. Thomas Fudge is the CEO & Founder at WASE:

I specialize in strategic sustainable development and water management for new and existing infrastructure. I founded WASE in 2017 to tackle the global sanitation crisis where we are developing containerized wastewater treatment systems to create biogas, clean water and fertilizer for agriculture. The foundation of WASE is linked to my PhD research at Brunel University into Microbial Electrolysis Cells and their application for wastewater treatment in developed and developing communities.

I have extensive experience in the environmental and social effects on different stakeholders, using a variety of tools to design and implement sustainable strategies into all aspects of an organization, Previously studied Sustainability, Entrepreneurship and Design MSc at Brunel University and Product Design BSc at Bournemouth University.

To learn more, please visit https://wase.co.uk

Lauren Roth Venu

3Rwater, Inc. was formed in 2019 to increase access to water management solutions. Founder Lauren Roth Venu is an ecopreneur, a TEDx speaker, and a published author, who is passionate about developing innovative, nature-based solutions to build climate resiliency. While doing her undergraduate at the University of Colorado at Boulder in water resources, she became more aware and concerned about the human footprint on the earth’s resources and the pollution entering into the planet’s water and food systems. During her last year, she underwent a research project where she discovered nature-based solutions- the power of sunflowers in their capacity to break down radioactive materials. This was a breakthrough moment and after graduation, she went on to work for the Bioneer, Dr. John Todd, inventor of the Living Machine technology – an engineered natural treatment system that treats polluted water and produces clean water. Later in 2006, after further study in indigenous Hawaiian water management practices, taking a deeper dive into climate science and receiving her MSc in Oceanography from the University of Hawaii at Manoa she formed Roth Ecological Design International (REDI). REDI develops water resource and climate adaptation strategies, green infrastructure design, and delivery of innovative solutions for onsite water reuse for new and redevelopments. While at REDI, she worked with a diverse array of clients from developers, educational institutions and the public sector where it became apparent that there needed to be a more efficient way to identify stormwater capture opportunities, collect data to measure the value of distributed infrastructure and use metrics to support meeting water management goals, funding and policy development. From there 3Rwater was born and Follow the Drop emerged as a multi-faceted stormwater tool and data center to help both utilities and their communities build climate resiliency. She deeply believes that activating local communities in stormwater management practices and regenerating natural systems in urban spaces will be critical for climate adaptation and mitigating the effects of increased urbanization and climate change.

Russell Schindler

ALBERT “RUSSELL” SCHINDLER, P.G.

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Over 37 years of experience developing, implementing and managing a wide variety of environmental projects and programs including; soil and groundwater remediation projects using various types of remediation, implementation of chemical, liquid waste, hazardous waste, and solid waste management programs and procedures, hydrogeological investigations, industrial regulatory compliance audit programs, sewer and water system needs evaluations, level I and II environmental (ASTM) property assessments, asbestos inspections and remediation, and mold inspections and remediation.
Developed and patented the money saving Enhanced Dissolved Oxygen Technology (E-DOT®) System, a ground water remediation/treatment system, which is becoming widely used across the country.
Developed and patented the Multi-Arrayed Vacuum (MAV®) System, which is an effective and
revolutionary free product recovery system. Also has a patent pending on the Per-Petual® System, a simple and effective hydrogen peroxide injection system for soil and ground water
remediation/treatment and most recently developed the SampleServe.com data management and reporting software application.
CERTIFICATIONS
Professional Geologist #PG-000309-G, Pennsylvania
Certified Underground Storage Tank Professional #103, Michigan

EDUCATION
B.S. Earth Science, 1987, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan
ALBERT

Peter Yolles

Peter Yolles is the managing partner at Echo River Capital, a venture capital firm that he founded in 2021 to invest in software-enabled water and wastewater technologies that improve human health, the environment, and climate resilience. With an MBA from Yale School of Management and a Master’s Degree in Water Science, Management and Policy from Yale School of the Environment, Peter has over 30 years of experience in the water industry as an impact investor, entrepreneur, operator, and advisor.

Peter’s mission is to support founders and entrepreneurs who are developing innovative solutions for the water sector, such as data analytics, AI, IIoT, wastewater treatment and reuse, and decarbonization of the water cycle. Peter shares his strategic and operational expertise with emerging companies to help them achieve ambitious growth and impact. Echo River Capital is a certified B Corporation and is recognized by ImpactAssets 50 as a preferred Emerging Manager.

With 30 years of experience in the water industry, Peter is a passionate impact investor, entrepreneur, operator, and advisor. Peter founded and led Echo River Capital (www.echorivercap.com), a venture capital firm that invests in software-enabled water and wastewater technologies that improve human health, the environment, and climate resilience. Echo River Capital is a certified B Corporation and is recognized as an ImpactAssets 50 Impact Fund.

Some of Peter’s talks, panels and presentations include: SXSW, Sustainable Water Investment Summit, WaterSmart Innovations Conference, American Water Works Association, UN Climate Summit, UC Berkeley Haas, UCSB Bren School, Dominican University, Stanford GSB, University of San Francisco, and Yale School of the Environment.

Max Spanier

Former Marketo AE turned GTM Recruiter – Helping Hiring Managers Achieve Pipeline Goals #𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗠𝗮𝘅

Max Spanier is the owner of Sloane Staffing.

Max started his business because his former customers struggled to find talent. While working for Adobe, during his meetings with potential new clients, and every one of his customers asked the same question: “This product is great, but do you have anyone in your network that can manage the platform? We’re not sure if we’ll be able to effectively run your software.” It was then that he discovered one of his biggest challenges in my field: the actual recruitment and hiring of people with a marketing technology background.

Sloane Staffing is now a white glove recruitment service that specializes in making the perfect match between companies who are having challenges finding talent and candidates who aren’t necessarily looking for jobs. Max works with many clients nationwide that leverage Marketo, which are roles can be tough to fill and are in high demand (over 600 new Marketo positions were posted to LinkedIn last month alone.) Some of the roles he places include Directors of Marketo Practice, Directors of Digital Marketing/Demand Gen (with emphasis on Marketo), Marketing Operations Managers, Marketo Architects, etc. At Sloane Staffing, Max and his team are more than just a hiring agency, they are partners.

Inês Lousinha Ribeiro Breda

Inês is the Host of Finding Water Podcast and the Senior Manager of Global Partnerships and Alliances at GRUNDFOS.

Inês is passionate about all things water and on a mission to make a splash in the industry.
She has a strong background in water treatment and a focus on building strategic partnerships.
Inês Lousinha Ribeiro Breda’s professional profile:

🎙️ Finding Water Podcast Host
In the Finding Water Podcast, Inês explores various water-related topics, from treatment innovations to climate challenges, through insightful conversations with water industry experts.

🌐 Senior Manager of Global Water and Climate Partnerships and Alliances at GRUNDFOS
Currently based in Denmark, Inês is responsible for cultivating strategic partnerships and alliances at GRUNDFOS, a prominent player in the water sector.

💧 Water Advocacy
Secretary of the Young Water Professionals Steering Committee, Inês actively supports the development of young water professionals on a global scale. She worked on creating a sponsorship program to enhance the YWP network’s long-term strategy in Denmark as treasurer of the national board.

🌊 Water Treatment Expert
In my previous role as Product and Process Manager at Silhorko-Eurowater A/S, Inês drove innovation in water filtration technology and provided support to subsidiaries worldwide. In addition, she holds a Ph.D. in Manganese removal in drinking water biofilters, complemented by a specialization in Data Science from Johns Hopkins University.

Whether you’re interested in water treatment, climate resilience, or simply curious about the Finding Water Podcast, feel free to reach out! 💧🌊🌍

Tom Kennedy

Tom Kennedy has been working in the public and private areas of water and wastewater since the late ’80s in various capacities. His primary experience is in the management of water and wastewater agencies with detailed experience in all aspects of these organizations. If you ask around, you will learn that Tom is focused on innovative solutions to tough problems. In California, Tom has a great deal of experience in matters regarding Local Agency Formation Commissions. He has served on the San Diego LAFCO Special District Advisory Committee since 2015 and has successfully managed several reorganizations.

Kennedy Water Consulting provides a wide range of services to a diverse group of clients. Work is focused in California but also spans around the world through engagements with the Asian Development Bank and United States Trade and Development Agency with projects in Samoa, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Uzbekistan. KWC is an affiliate member of the San Diego Chapter of the California Special Districts Association as well as CALAFCO. Work focuses on all aspects of water and wastewater management with emphasis on information systems, water treatment, water operations, and non-revenue water.

Specialties include: Water and Wastewater operations, water system and employee performance management, organizational development, non-revenue water management, LAFCO matters, membrane treatment plant design and operation, management information systems design and implementation, GIS , public policy development, and most importantly delivering value to my customers.

Robbert Lodewijks

Robbert is an enthusiastic entrepreneur, who is cheerful, social, and gets excited about challenges related to managing innovations and people. He loves to use his mechanical engineering background and interest in innovations within a more people-orientated leadership role. With a Masters degree in Business Administration, a lot of learning experience at Acquaint, the chance of starting my own business (HULO) together with companions has been a great step in my carreer. 

Thanks to a targeted way of working within teams, he can achieve good results. He is always taking responsibility and is not afraid of a challenge. He has a passion for organizing and (working with) people, where my communication skills come in handy. Besides that, managing innovations and thinking on a strategic level and converting this to more tactical and operational approaches is one of his skills. The chance to show these aspects in reality at Acquaint is fantastic. This fast-growing young and innovative company offers fun and interesting challenges. 

With his experience at Acquaint, Robbert founded the company HULO together with three companions. Its mission is to make a big impact in the water industry by doing things differently and saving 10,000,000,000,000,000 Liters of clean drinking water by detecting leakages.

Since knowledge is becoming more and more important for water companies, HULO tries to convert knowledge to those water companies. With innovative research-backed algorithms we detect, localize and quantify leakages based on real-time flow and pressure data. 

We don’t like black-box software solutions, HULO is ‘giving water knowledge’.

To learn more, please visit https://hulo.ai/

Andrew and Teisha Vandekop

Andrew Vandekop, Inventor | CEO 

Andrew began his career in robotics engineering and sold his first patent at age 29. He’s been in new product development his entire career and has applied these skills to three additional patents. During the time he spent field testing the Well Water Finders prototype, he served as a founding team member of a telecom start-up that went public on the NYSE in 2006.

Teisha Vandekop, Founder | COO

Teisha created Well Water Finders as a way to share the technology with landowners – to help them determine if they have sufficient groundwater under their property to drill a water well and then giving that information to a water well driller. She has spent the last two years working with commercial developers, water well drillers and landowners to determine the groundwater potential for properties. Prior to this, she spent several years as an executive vice president at one of the world’s top PR agencies, executing new product introductions for Fortune 100 companies.

Well Water Finders is a portfolio member of Austin Technology Incubator – the deep tech incubator at The University of Texas at Austin. ATI is the longest active technology incubator in the United States and has helped numerous entrepreneurs effectively commercialize their breakthrough innovations and compete in the global marketplace. Notable achievements:

• Well Water Finders has been named a Semi-Finalist for the Climate Tech Prize at the EarthX E-Capital Summit taking place April 23-25, 2024.
• Well Water Finders was recognized as a Land Tech Accelerator by Realtors Land Institute at their National Land Conference in March, 2024.
• The Well Water Finders technology was recognized as a Featured Start-Up at World Water-Tech North America in Los Angeles in October, 2023

Steve Cavanaugh and Drew Blackwell

Steve Cavanaugh, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cavanaugh & Associates, P.A.

When it comes to engineering, Steve Cavanaugh believes building a solid, firm foundation is critical to the long-term success of both people and infrastructures. A creative visionary with an unshakeable dedication to environmental stewardship and preservation, Steve combines the principles of an entrepreneur and innovator, with those of faithful servant to others. 

“The preservation of our natural resources is critical for future generations, whether in North Carolina or elsewhere in the world. At Cavanaugh, we are not just engineers simply building for the sake of growth. We are stewards of innovation—for our children and the children of the world,” says Steve. “Whether it’s finding a better way to build massive water distribution systems, or simply finding a leak in a town’s water line, it’s our privilege, not just a job.” 

From its founding in 1995, to today’s full-service engineering, surveying and utilities service company with headquarters in Winston-Salem and full service offices in Asheville and Wilmington, Cavanaugh & Associates, P.A. is a company where everyone looks to achieve the highest possible standards and solutions.

Specialties: NC State Water Infrastructure Commission, Water Audit Taskforce Chair, Asset Management Taskforce Chair, US Congressional assistant for Superfund Reauthorization Review , Program Manager for NC Rural Economic Center’s Water 2030 O&M Task Force 

Experience includes: AWWA Water Audit and Leak Detection, dams, and animal waste management systems

Drew Blackwell, Director of Water Efficiency at Cavanaugh & Associates, P.A.

With more than 18 years experience in water resource management, Drew’s focus and passion continues to grow in helping water utilities save water and reduce costs through water loss control programs. During this time, Drew has had the opportunity to work one-on-one with utilities to design their non-revenue water management programs to administering state and regional water loss control training and technical assistance programs based on the American Water Works Association (AWWA) M36 methodology. 

Drew has been fortunate to work with more than 15 states and provinces; with an appreciation that just like every water system is different, so are the drivers, state policies, and requirements where they are located.

Drew is the Secretary of the AWWA Water Loss Control Committee.

Asaf Pras

Asaf Pras is the co-founder and CTO of DataPond. He leads the development of AI-based water quality sensors to monitor e fecal coliforms and other pollutants in drinking water sources. DataPond’s sensors use a novel method that applies a deep neural network model to give a binary answer for the presence or absence of fecal coliforms, using a minimum of water quality and geographical parameters that can be measured in real time with low-cost and in-situ equipment. This method can reduce the time gaps between routine lab testing and improve drinking water quality and safety, addressing the SDG 6 targets.

Asaf Pras is a Ph.D. candidate in Environmental Engineering at Tel Aviv University, where he conducts research on water quality modeling and analysis under the supervision of Prof. Hadas Mamane. Asaf has a strong background in data science, machine learning, and deep neural networks, as well as a double major in Mechanical Engineering and Earth Sciences, with an emphasis on Environmental Studies. Asaf’s goal is to find, develop, and test innovative ways to better and quickly understand what is in the water, except for H2O.

Chris Macdonald

Chris MacDonald is the President and CEO of CPM Pipelines.

He has 25 years of experience providing specification and design support for consultants and clients.

Recent partnerships include Acquaint Technologies from the Netherlands and BulletLiner System^TM for trenchless pipe rehabilitation.

CPM’s mission is to deliver innovative, best in class products and services while prioritizing integrity, safety, loyalty and environmental stewardship. Employees are empowered to pioneer new technologies, and deliver solutions that transform how asset managers navigate complex issues. Our safety and sustainability focus ensures responsible operations that protect employees, clients, and the environment. We are solution-driven, working closely with our partners to understand their unique needs related to extending the useful life of critical assets while protecting our natural resources.

To learn more, please visit CPMpipelines.com.

Veronika Zhiteneva

Dr. Veronika Zhiteneva is an environmental engineer specializing in water and wastewater treatment. She obtained her BS from the University of Maryland, College Park, and her MS from at the Colorado School of Mines. In 2016 she began her doctorate work in the risk assessment of water reuse systems under the supervision of Prof. Jörg Drewes at the Technical University of Munich. Since obtaining her doctorate in 2020, she has been working as a research scientist and project manager in the Process Innovation team of the Kompetenzzentrum Wasser Berlin.

Dr. Zhiteneva’s background is working on and interested in (non)potable water reuse, removal of chemicals of emerging concern & PFAS using nature based solutions and advanced treatment technologies, microbial and chemical risk assessment, probabilistic modelling, decentralized (waste)water treatment, the intersection of sanitation and public health, and communication – to the public, popsci, you name it.

Fred Adjarian

Fred Adjarian was appointed to the Board of Directors of the El Toro Water District (ETWD) in September 2023 and is currently serving as a Director. Mr. Adjarian was previously elected to the ETWD Board of Directors in 2014 and served through 2018.

Mr. Adjarian’s educational accomplishments include a Bachelor of Arts degree in Geography-Ecosystems with an emphasis in water resources from the University of California at Los Angeles, and a Master’s degree with honors from California State University at Long Beach in Public Policy and Administration with an emphasis in Water Policy Analysis.

Mr. Adjarian’s professional background includes 44 years managing and advising public and private water utilities in central and southern California. His experience includes overseeing the rehabilitation of aging water infrastructure, working with decision-makers to achieve utility goals and objectives, implementing proactive public outreach and water use efficiency programs, curating positive professional relationships with legislators and regulatory agencies, and fostering effective business community partnerships.

Mr. Adjarian received a gubernatorial appointment to the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board from 1996 – 1999. The agency is responsible for local compliance with the Federal Clean Water Act in San Diego, Riverside and southern Orange Counties. He also served as an adjunct faculty member and lecturer at university, college and high school campuses throughout central and southern California.

Mr. Adjarian is a passionate bibliophile, enjoys learning foreign languages and follows UCLA Football. He has lived in Orange County for 39 years and has resided in Laguna Hills for the last 18 years. Fred is honored to be back on the Board of Directors, serving the customers of the El Toro Water District as a proud citizen leader.

Fabio Hüther

Fabio Hüther, founder of Umuntu and Evodrop, contracted bone cancer at the age of eight with a 50% survival probability. The positive development of his recovery strengthened his desire to contribute to society and environment.

As a teenager, at the age of fourteen, Fabio founded his first NGO, Bee The Change, in order to bring this cause to life and positively influence as many people as possible. A second defining moment was the loss of his African godchild to cholera, caused by contaminated drinking water. That’s when “Bee The Change” became “Umuntu”. Umuntu’s motto – “I am, because we are” – emphasizes the WE rather than the I.

Fabio started to set up the first aid projects, mainly in Africa, where he could rely on a large local network. The objective was to help people in need to purify drinking water. Other aid projects soon followed, offering help to become self-sufficient in the areas of “clean water”, “clean air”, “organic food” and ” meaningful education”.

The first steps
In parallel with the aid projects, Fabio carried on his engineering studies and worked with geologists on a completely new filter technology. The result was the Umuntu membrane, which can filter out foreign substances and pollutants from water. It is the centerpiece for implementing Umuntu’s vision: “Clean water is a human right”.

When the first tests in Africa turned out to be successful, the first water filter was developed to remove all foreign and polluting substances from the water. Other products were quickly added and the knowledge about water quickly increased. In 2020, Evodrop AG was founded.

A mission for sustainability
Evodrop’s innovative water treatment technologies are the core of its business model. They enable people to have access to clean, healthy and fresh water and can be optimized for every use.

Vision is a priority
Beyond the success of our business, we are also committed to maintaining an intact planet and a sustainable society. We live by the principles of social ecology and this is reflected in our products. We use sustainable materials and choose quality over quantity.

In order to inspire and empower others with our internally applied socio-ecology, we have set up our non-profit association, the Umuntu Movement e.V.. The Umuntu Movement initiates social-ecological aid projects under the motto “help to help yourself”. We empower people in Third World countries in the fields of water, environment, education and agriculture.

Rebecca Shanahan

Rebecca Shanahan is the Interim Executive Director of WaterStart. Prior to joining WaterStart in 2013, Rebecca spent 14 years working on water resources management issues for the Southern Nevada Water Authority gaining an intimate perspective of the challenges in obtaining, treating, and delivering consistently high-quality water to a growing community. While at SNWA, she developed and managed the evaporation data collection and analysis program to support groundwater-basin hydrologic budgets and water-right appropriations, scientific studies for species protected by the Endangered Species Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, Nevada Revised statutes, and other federal policies, and negotiations for contractual third-party agreements.

WaterStart is a cluster of globally recognized leaders in the implementation of water innovation. Founded in 2013, the WaterStart business model is demand driven, prioritizing the needs of large water management agencies and consumers, and created to accelerate the adoption of innovation that results in more, safer, and cheaper water. Structured as a membership organization, each member brings critical resources that will lead to the commercialization of high-valued technology solutions and delivered to a broad range of public and private sector clients.

To expand participation in its mission, WaterStart founded Channels for Water Innovation (Channels) to engage philanthropic foundations and the impact investing community in supporting viable technology solutions. Channels provides a platform for evaluating, educating, and promoting viable solutions through events and an on-line member-only portal for member engagement and knowledge sharing. Channels further provides an educational resource for a growing membership of small and at-risk water agencies in need of innovative solutions.

As the success of the demand-driven model has expanded, so has WaterStart’s mission, membership structure, and reach from a Nevada-centric initiative to one of global impact. WaterStart has historically been a joint venture between academic, public, and private sectors with economic diversification as its core metric for evaluating success. WaterStart and Channels, through diversified funding sources, is now becoming globally recognized.

To learn more, please visit waterstart.com

Priyanca Ford

Priyanca Ford is the Founder and CEO of Kronos Fusion Energy.

Kronos Fusion Energy is dedicated to pioneering the commercialization of fusion energy, and Priyanca Ford has been instrumental in designing the fusion energy simulation and algorithm tools to help expedite global fusion energy timelines. In this whitepaper, we explore Priyanca Ford’s contributions to the field of fusion energy, her background in mathematics and innovative technology, and her experience across diverse industries. We examine the specific simulation tools designed by Kronos Fusion Energy and how they have advanced the field of fusion energy, including MagnetSim, PlasmaSim, IgnSim, FuelSim, HeliSim, SafeSim, MilSim, DriveSim, TokaSim, QuantumSim, SpaceSim, and RuggSim. Introduction Fusion energy has the potential to revolutionize the world’s energy landscape, offering an almost limitless supply of clean energy with minimal environmental impact. However, the complexities and technical challenges involved in realizing controlled fusion have prevented its widespread commercialization. Priyanca Ford, as the founder and executive board member of Kronos Fusion Energy, recognized the importance of designing and utilizing advanced simulation and algorithm tools to overcome these hurdles and bring fusion energy to market.

Priyanca Ford’s background in mathematics, product management, and innovative technology has shaped her approach to tackling complex challenges in fusion energy. Her experience spans over 17 years across diverse industries, working with renowned companies and applying game theory concepts, market positioning, and strategic executive decision-making. Priyanca Ford’s expertise, combined with the team’s deep understanding of the fundamental processes involved in fusion reactions, has allowed Kronos Fusion Energy to design sophisticated simulation tools to model and analyze confinement magnets, plasma density and dynamics, ignition and transition, fueling, fuel cycle system and tritium breeding, aneutronic fuel systems, safety and security, magnetohydrodynamics and gyrokinetics simulations, tokamak reactors, and materials properties.

Kronos Fusion Energy’s suite of simulation tools has advanced the field of fusion energy, including MagnetSim, PlasmaSim, IgnSim, FuelSim, HeliSim, SafeSim, MilSim, DriveSim, TokaSim, QuantumSim, SpaceSim, and RuggSim. These simulation tools allow Kronos Fusion Energy to explore innovative approaches to confinement, heating, and control of plasma, optimize the geometry, strength, and configuration of confinement magnets, model the intricate processes underlying ignition and the transition to aneutronic operation, analyze plasma fueling and tritium breeding, specialize in aneutronic fuel systems and military and defense applications, perform magnetohydrodynamics and gyrokinetics simulations, model tokamak reactor performance, simulate complex quantum phenomena and interactions, model operation in space and rugged environments, and analyze materials performance and suitability.

Shane Snyder

Dr. Shane Snyder is a Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering and is the Executive Director of the Nanyang Environment & Water Research Institute (NEWRI) at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore. For over 20 years, Dr. Snyder’s research has focused on water quality, treatment, and sustainability, which resulted in over 300 published manuscripts with nearly 30,000 citations. He serves as the Editor-in-Chief for the American Chemical Society journal, Environmental Science & Technology Water and is a Fellow of the International Water Association. Prof. Snyder was featured among the top 25 leading water researchers globally by Lux Research and was featured in 2021 as one of the top scientists in the field of Environmental Engineering (#55 out of 42,482) in a report by Stanford University. Professor Snyder was awarded the Dr. Pankaj Parekh Research Innovation Award from the Water Research Foundation, the Agilent Thought Leader Award, and the Nanyang Humanitarian Award for he and his team’s philanthropic work in water and sanitation, which has benefited over two million people in underserved communities in Asia. Recently, Prof. Snyder was awarded the 2021 Clarke Prize, broadly considered as one of the most prestigious awards for outstanding achievements in water science and technology.

Patrick Keaney

Patrick Keaney’s work experience includes being the CEO of Subeca, a company that uses emerging technology to disrupt the water space and provides simple and easy water technology solutions. Prior to that, Patrick was the Worldwide Head of Development for AWS Water at Amazon Web Services, where they led the global vertical market for water and worked with customers to explore cloud technologies for solving water challenges. Patrick also served as a board member on the Digital Twin Advisory Board at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Earlier in his career, Keaney worked at Arcadis as an Executive Vice President, managing clients and programs globally, and at BBL, Inc as a Senior Vice President.

Patrick Keaney’s education history begins with completing their Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Amherst from 1986 to 1990. Following that, he pursued a Master’s degree in Urban and Environmental Planning at Boston University from 1991 to 1993. In 2001, Patrick attended Harvard Business School, where they obtained an Executive Certificate in Leading Professional Service Firms in 2002.

Shane Trussell, President and CEO of Trussell Technologies, Inc.

Shane Trussell is back on the podcast, this time to discuss direct potable reuse. Dr. Trussell is a registered Civil Engineer in the State of California with more than 20 years of hands-on experience with the processes used to treat water, wastewater, and potable reuse. Dr. Trussell has extensive involvement in numerous potable reuse projects throughout the state, ranging from feasibility studies and pilot testing to design and regulatory permitting. Dr. Trussell led two major research efforts funded by the WateReuse Research Foundation (now Water Research Foundation): WRRF 11-02 (Equivalency of Advanced Treatment Trains for Potable Reuse) and WRRF 14-12 (Demonstrating Redundancy and Monitoring to Achieve Reliable Potable Reuse), with a combined project budget total of $3.4 million, to advance the implementation of potable reuse in California. Recently, the State Water Board selected Dr. Trussell to co-lead a state-funded project to evaluate strategies for dealing with peaks of chemical contaminants. The State Board is now using the findings from this research to develop statewide regulations for DPR. Dr. Trussell is an industry leader in potable reuse and developing water supplies, leading innovative, effective engineering and research projects throughout California.

Darrin Polhemus

Darrin Polhemus is a Deputy Director for the State Water Board and in charge of the Division of Drinking Water since 2016.  The Division of Drinking Water administers the federal and California Safe Drinking Water Acts, regulating over 7,200 public water systems throughout the State to assure the delivery of pure and wholesome drinking water to all Californians. The Division is also a key part of implementing the Safe Affordable Funding for Equity and Resilience (SAFER) program which is designed to ensure Californians who lack safe, adequate, and affordable drinking water receive it as quickly as possible, and that the water systems serving them establish sustainable solutions. In addition, the Division permits recycled water usage, manages the Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program, oversees the work of county health departments that have been delegated the authority to regulate small water systems, and develops regulations pertaining to drinking water.

Darrin has also served as Deputy Director for the Division of Water Quality, Division of Administrative Services, and Division of Financial Assistance.  In addition, he has led technical teams on special assignments such as the Drinking Water Arrearage program; leading a cross-organization, multi-discipline team to develop the Water Quality Control Policy for Siting, Design, Operation, and Maintenance of Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems; as well as working on several assignments related to nitrates in groundwater and regulation of irrigated lands.

Peter Annin

A veteran conflict and environmental journalist, Peter Annin spent more than a decade reporting on a wide variety of issues for Newsweek. For many years he specialized in coverage of domestic terrorism and other conflicts, including the bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City and the Branch Davidian standoff outside Waco, Texas. He has also spent many years writing about the environment, including droughts in the Southwest, hurricanes in the Southeast, wind power on the Great Plains, and the causes and consequences of the “dead zone” in the Gulf of Mexico.

After his time at Newsweek, Annin became associate director of the Institute for Journalism and Natural Resources, a nonpartisan national nonprofit that organizes educational fellowships for midcareer environmental journalists. In September 2006 he published his first book, The Great Lakes Water Wars, which has been called the definitive work on the Great Lakes water diversion controversy, and received the Great Lakes Book Award for nonfiction in 2007. From 2010 to 2015 Annin served as managing director of the University of Notre Dame’s Environmental Change Initiative, which targets the interrelated problems of invasive species, land use, and climate change, focusing on their synergistic impacts on water resources.

In 2018, Annin published an extensively revised and updated edition of Water Wars which was recognized with a Great Lakes Leadership Award in Communication Excellence from the Great Lakes Protection Fund in 2020.

He currently serves as director of the Mary Griggs Burke Center for Freshwater Innovation at Northland College in Ashland, Wisconsin. He has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Wisconsin and a master’s in international affairs from Columbia University in New York.

In 2000, a transformative climate-driven “megadrought” swept over the Colorado River watershed. By the early 2020s, levels on the river’s two largest reservoirs were hitting record lows and threatening the water supply for forty million people. Outside the West, water stocks are stressed even in states with bountiful rainfall such as Florida. From coast to coast, conventional measures to sustain the most fundamental natural resource on earth—drinking water—are coming up short. Recycled water could help close that gap.

In Purified: How Recycled Sewage Is Transforming Our Water, veteran journalist Peter Annin shows that wastewater has become a surprising weapon in America’s war against water scarcity. Annin probes deep into the water reuse movement in five water-strapped states—California, Texas, Virginia, Nevada, and Florida. He drinks beer made from purified sewage, visits communities where purified sewage came to the rescue, and examines how one of the nation’s largest wastewater plants hopes to recycle one hundred percent of its wastewater by 2035. At each stop, readers come face to face with the people who are struggling for, and against, recycled water. While the current filtration technology transforms sewage into something akin to distilled water—free of chemicals and safe to drink—water recycling’s challenge isn’t technology. It’s terminology. Concerns about communities being used as “guinea pigs,” sensationalist media coverage, and taglines like “toilet to tap” have repeatedly crippled water recycling efforts. Potable water recycling has become the hottest frontier in the race for expanded water supply options. But can public opinion turn in time to avoid the worst consequences?

Purified’s fast-paced narrative cuts through the fearmongering and misinformation to make the case that recycled water is direly needed in the climate-change era. Water cannot be taken for granted anymore—and that includes sewage.

David Sedlak

Author of Water for Water for All: Global Solutions for a Changing Climate 

David Sedlak is the Plato Malozemoff Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley, and director of the Berkeley Water Center. He is the author of the award-winning Water 4.0: The Past, Present, and Future of the World’s Most Vital Resource. He has written for, or been interviewed or covered by, media outlets including The Wall Street Journal, Nature, the San Francisco Chronicle, the New York Review of Books, National Public Radio’s All Things Considered, Marketplace and Living on Earth.  His TEDx talk on this subject has had over a million views. He lives in Berkeley, CA.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

A fresh look at the world’s water crises, and the existing and emerging solutions that can be used to solve them

It is not your imagination: water crises are more frequent. Our twentieth-century systems for providing the water that grows food, sustains cities, and supports healthy ecosystems are failing to meet the demands of growing population and the challenges brought on by climate change. But the grim news reports—of empty reservoirs, withering crops, failing ecosystems—need not be cause for despair, argues award-winning author David Sedlak.

Communities on the front lines of previous water crises have pioneered approaches that are ready to be applied elsewhere. Some have resolved shortages by enhancing water-use efficiency, and others have used moments of crisis to resolve historic disagreements over water rights. Still others have employed treatment technologies that unlock vast quantities of untapped water resources.

Sedlak identifies the challenges that society faces, including ineffective policies and outdated infrastructure, and the myriad of tools at our disposal—from emerging technologies in desalination to innovations for recycling wastewater and capturing more of the water that falls on fields and cities. He offers an informed and hopeful approach for rethinking our assumptions about the way that water is managed. With this knowledge we can create a future with clean, abundant, and affordable water for all.

Paul Egan

Paul Egan is the VP of Sales at 8power Limited.

Based in Cambridge UK, Paul is an Experienced Chief Executive Officer with a demonstrated history of delivering results in high-technology growth companies. His skillset lies in business development and sales with technical expertise including industrial Internet of things (IIoT), next-generation wireless networks, sensing as a service, LPWAN, semiconductor design, Consumer Electronics, Management, Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASIC), WiFi and Bluetooth.

8power is a Cambridge, UK based innovative technology company specialising in remote condition monitoring of rotating equipment. They offer condition monitoring at lower cost and easy installation for water/waste treatment, manufacturing industries and oil and gas industries. The 8power solution uses machine learning algorithms to spot developing reliability and failure issues coupled with multimodal wireless sensors with a10-year service life delivering high resolution data every hour.

To learn more, please visit https://8power.com

Louise Parlons Bentata

An accomplished marketing, brand and sustainability specialist, Louise is the co-founder and CEO of Bluemethane, a renewable energy company unlocking a new source of energy from hydropower. 

Louise is on a mission to expedite the renewable energy transition and reduce greenhouse emissions. Her approach is to stop 30 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions being released from water around the world by 2030. How? By capturing valuable methane from water and generating a new source of energy from these captured emissions.

Prior to Bluemethane, Louise launched Aberdare Consulting, providing strategic and operational expertise to clients across industries, primarily CPG, manufacturing, software, medical devices and the service sectors, with engagements including brand development, business integration, acquisitions, market and industry expansion, new product development, sustainability planning, marketing, customer experience, customer conversion, market sizing and pricing. Louise’s formative career focused on global brand development and marketing for L’Oréal and Johnson & Johnson, where she delivered major brand management, marketing execution, new product and innovation pipelines. In addition, Louise led the UK operations of an international fitness wear brand, Running Bare.

Juan Bravin

Juan Bravin is the CEO and Co-Founder of Kairospace Technologies. Originally from Mendoza, Argentina, Juan considers himself a generalist, embodying the qualities of a systemic thinker and a visionary with a compelling goal – to make the world a better place. His life mission is to develop transformative technologies and products across vital sectors: energy, water treatment, food production, health, and construction.  

Kairospace Technologies offers groundbreaking and innovative solutions leverage fundamental principles of physics, including plasma, electromagnetism, frequency induction, resonance, ultra fine bubbles, cavitation and fluid dynamics to enhance the physicochemical properties and structure of water without harmful chemicals. Kairospace Technologies optimizes industrial processes that use water, including agriculture and mining, and provide integrated solutions to issues related to sanitation, potability, desalination, river/lake pollution and wastewater.

To learn more about Juan and his work, please visit: https://kairospacetech.com/

Camilo Huneeus

Camilo Huneeus is an Industrial Chemical Engineer from Santiago, Chile with international experience in water engineering, public policy, and emergency response. He is the CEO of AInwater: the go-to platform for optimizing and controlling wastewater treatment systems, for both industries and utilities. Ainwater focuses on energy optimization in the water treatment sector. The company offers a software-based solution that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to monitor and optimize water treatment systems, ensuring regulatory compliance and energy efficiency. 

EDUCATION
Yale University, School of Forestry & Environmental Studies New Haven, CT, USA
Master of Environmental Management, specialization in water resource management 2018, Honors
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Santiago, Chile
Licentiate in Engineering Science, 2012, GPA: A+
Industrial Chemical Engineer, 2013 (Professional Degree, Equivalent to a UK master’s in engineering), GPA: A+

LEADERSHIP, PUBLICATIONS AND AWARDS
Leadership:

• COP22 and COP25, delegate and negotiator for Chile
• Rumbo Colectivo (Think-tank), water and environment lead for the 2021 Constitutional Convention
• Environmental Council of the Pontificia Universidad Católica, President
• Cooperatives working group of the Chilean Ministry of Economy, Advisor
• Sustainable Development in Latin America Conference at Yale, Co-Chair
  Publications:
• Turning the Tide: Improving Water Security for Recovery and Sustainable Growth in Colombia, The World Bank, 2020 (co-
  author).
• Cooperative companies start up and management Manual. Huneeus, CJ., Huneeus S., Urbani, P., Chilean Ministry of
  Economics, 2016
• Feasibility of creation of Farmer’s Cooperative for Energy Production from sustainably managed forest in southern Chile,
  Camilo Huneeus. Thesis, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Available in Biblioteca TUC 2013 H934a
• Creating Evidence for Resilience: A Case of Monsoon Flood-affected Communities Living in the Gangetic Plains of South
  Asia. Alark Saxena and Camilo Huneeus. Publication under review.

To learn more about Camilo and AInwater, please visit https://ainwater.com/en/inicio-english/