Austin, Texas, February 17 - American Water Works Association involved/young... · Austin, Texas, February 17 The Bigger Picture ... will assist your table in discerning an answer(s)

2015

Austin, Texas, February 17

The Bigger Picture in the Water Industry: A YP’s Professional Role Now and in the Future

AWWA/WEF 2015 YP summit

Welcome

Alvin and I welcome you to Austin and encourage you to fill your souvenir cowboy hats with the experiences, challenges, and takeaways of the 2015 YP Summit. We’re honored that you made the time and arrangements to be here. We’re looking forward to sharing with you the perspectives and skills of our selected speakers and your fellow AWWA and WEF Young Professionals, who are also present. We designed this year’s event with YOU in mind, whether your career is traditional or a bit more Austin-weird!

While you are here today, we ask you to keep your minds open, your expectations high, and your own investment growing. You should leave here energized and even more ready to take on the ever-changing world of our industry. Inspire others, and be inspired. Take the chance, ask the question, make the connection.

Jeanne Jensen and Alvin Pilobello

AWWA/WEF YP Summit Planning Co-Chairs

2015AWWA/WEF YP Summit at UMC


Hyatt Regency Austin | 208 Barton Springs | Austin, TX 78704


AWWA/WEF YP Summit at UMC


Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Texas Ballroom I

8:30 a.m. Welcome to the AWWA/WEF YP Summit • Jeanne Jensen, AWWA/WEF YP Summit Planning Committee Co-Chair • Alvin Pilobello, AWWA/WEF YP Summit Planning Committee Co-Chair • Theresa Hlavinka, AWWA/WEF YP Summit Local Host • Gene Koontz, Incoming American Water Works Association President • Ed McCormick, Water Environment Federation President

9:15 a.m. Beyond Your Local Water System: The Water Industry Connects Everywhere George Hawkins, General Manager, District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority

10:00 a.m. What Would You Do? Question by George Hawkins Session host poses a question. Table moderators will assist your table in discerning an answer(s).

10:15 a.m. What Would You Do? Report Outs Session host will ask for volunteers from the tables to report how their tables answered the question.

10:30 a.m. Break

10:45 a.m. Keys to Success in Public Water Sector Management: Lessons Learned in the Trenches … Kurt Vause, Engineering Division Director, Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utility Presentation development assistance by Mark C. Premo, PE, Premo Consulting

11:30 a.m. What Would You Do? Question from Kurt Vause, Engineering Division Director, Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utility Session host poses a question. Table moderators will assist your table in discerning an answer(s).

11:45 a.m. What Would You Do? Report Outs Session host will ask for volunteers from the tables to report how their tables answered the question.

Noon—Lunch

Texas Ballroom III

1:00 p.m. Utility Management—Making the Tough Decisions Doug Bean, Director of Utility Services, Raftelis

1:45 p.m. What Would You Do? Question from Doug Bean, Director of Utility Services, Raftelis Session host poses a question. Table moderators will assist your table in discerning an answer(s).


AWWA/WEF YP Summit at UMC

The Bigger Picture in the Water Industry: A YP’s Professional Role Now and in the FutureTuesday, February 17, 2015

Texas Ballroom III (continued)

2:00 p.m. What Would You Do? Report Outs Session host will ask for volunteers from the tables to report how their tables answered the question.

2:15 p.m. Regardless of Job Title, We Are All Professionals: What Being a Professional Means and How Professionalism Helps Your Career Glenda Dunn, City of Waco, former AWWA Vice-President

3:00 p.m. What Would You Do? Question from Glenda Dunn, City of Waco, former AWWA Vice-President Session host poses a question. Table moderators will assist your table in discerning an answer(s).

3:15 p.m. What Would You Do? Report Outs Session host will ask for volunteers from the tables to report how their tables answered the question.

3:30 p.m. Break

3:45 p.m. Careers Exposure—Operations, Regulation and Politics Moderator: Christianne Castleberry, Castleberry Engineering & Consulting Panelists: • Doug Bean, Director of Utility Services, Raftelis • Glenda Dunn, City of Waco, former AWWA Vice-President • Gene Koontz, Incoming AWWA President • Ed McCormick, Water Environment Federation President

4:30 p.m. Moving Forward—How Your Experience Today Affects Your Career

4:50 p.m. Reflections on the Day • Jeanne Jensen, AWWA/WEF YP Summit Planning Committee Co-Chair • Alvin Pilobello, AWWA/WEF YP Summit Planning Committee Co-Chair

5:00 p.m. Adjourn

5:30 p.m. AWWA/WEF YP Summit Reception

Marker 10 (level 1)


Doug BeanMr. Bean joined RFC after more than 35 years of management experience with public utilities and local government. Before joining RFC, Mr. Bean served as Director of Charlotte–Mecklenburg Utilities for 16 years. His service in this position was marked by implementation of a major capital improvements program, financial modeling that led to AAA credit ratings from three rating agen-cies, technology advancements that improved efficiency, implementation of sustainable strate-gies in buildings and operations, and cham-pioning employee involvement and mentoring throughout the organization. He has also served as City Manager in two cities that provided a full range of public services, including water, sewer, electricity, and stormwater. A frequent lecturer at professional associations and academic institu-tions, Mr. Bean has been an avid promoter of the value of public service and the ability of public organizations to operate using state-of-the-art business practices. Since joining RFC, he has provided a variety of services for financial and management consulting engagements, including facilitating stakeholder and public involvement, workshop facilitation, strategic plan development, organizational assessment (related to governance, finance, management, and operations). Mr. Bean also co-authored a chapter entitled, “The First Step: Establishing a Strong Utility Management Foundation,” for the fourth edition of the industry guidebook, Water and Wastewater Finance and Pricing: The Changing Landscape.

Christianne CastleberryChristianne Castleberry is Principal of Castleberry Engineering & Consulting and is licensed to practice engineering in the states of Texas and California. She received her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of California at Davis.

Christianne has more than 20 years of consulting engineering experience, providing project management, planning, and design services for public works and water resource projects throughout Northern California and Central Texas. Her experience includes water supply planning; design of water, wastewater, and reuse facilities; modeling of hydrology and hydraulics; water utility optimization, and other water utility and resources issues.

Christianne is currently Past-Chair of the Texas Section of the American Water Works Associa-tion. Recently, she served on the Austin Water Resource Planning Task Force created by Austin City Council in 2014 to evaluate the city’s water needs and make recommendations regarding future water planning and also evaluate potential water resource management scenarios for Coun-cil consideration. She currently serves as a City of Austin Water and Wastewater Commissioner on an appointed board established to review and make recommendations to the Austin City Council on Austin Water Utility’s policies and activities.

Glenda DunnGlenda is the Chair of the Texas Section Water Utility Council and Awards Committee. She was an AWWA Vice-President, 2006–2008, and chaired the Diversity and Member Involvement Committee, 2007–2008. Ms. Dunn currently chairs the American/Canadian/Mexican Water Landmarks Award Committee and serves on AWWA’s Workforce Strategies Committee.

She is also past president of the Texas Water Utilities Association and a founding member of Women of Water. She is a charter board member of the Texas Water Research Foundation and a board member of the Texas Water Conservation Association.

She joined AWWA in 1994 and has served at the chapter level as president, vice-president, and secretary-treasurer. At the Texas Section level, she’s been membership committee chair, customer service committee chair, deputy trustee, trustee, vice-chair, chair-elect, chair, and director. Her expertise in utility management, customer service, and communications has helped her lead section educational programs. She was an initiator of Waco’s high school water education and Meter Madness Junior Programs.

When Ms. Dunn served as public works director for Robinson, Texas, Waco water utility leaders recruited her to help form the first chapter for the Texas Section of AWWA.

Glenda is a former utilities director and certified water utility operator, so she understands technical needs and challenges. Through management of customer service and public relations, she understands and values keeping lines of communication open and delivering effective customer service.

Speaker Bios


A certified public manager and business man-ager, she’s part of a leadership team responsible for a $65 million budget and financial operational needs of a large organization.

She received AWWA’s Honorary member in 2013 and the Fuller award in 2006. Glenda was awarded honorary member award in the Texas Water Conservation Association in 2014 and received the Texas Water Utilities Association’s highest award, the W.T. “Doc” Ballard award, in 2010. She was honored as TWUA Customer Service Professional of the Year in 1994–95 and 1998–99. She received the Exemplary Service Award in Education and Training in 1998, and the President’s and Distinguished Service awards in 2001.

Ms. Dunn has degrees in business management and public management from McLennan College and Texas State University. She and her husband, Ricky, live in Waco, Texas.

George HawkinsGeorge Hawkins serves as General Manager of the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water). On his arrival in 2009, Mr. Hawkins launched an ambitious agenda to transform DC Water into a customer-oriented enterprise that drives innovation and delivers improved value to its ratepayers. The core goal is to improve aging infrastructure while complying with stringent regulatory requirements. DC Water is implementing the $2.6 billion Clean Rivers Project to nearly eliminate overflows of sewage and stormwater to the Anacostia and Potomac rivers and Rock Creek. DC Water is also nearing completion of a $470 million waste-to-energy program to help manage solids being removed from reclaimed water while generating 13 mega-watts of green power. DC Water is also driving industry-leading efforts in customer engagement, including a vibrant social media presence, in science and engineering research and develop-ment, and in product development and licensing. DC Water is designing a social media program to encourage innovative ideas from staff and to support a utility-driven business incubator for businesses and local jobs. In 2014, DC Water devised a creative solution to better match the financing of its $2.6 billion Clean Rivers Project with the project’s life-expectancy. The Authority became the first US water/wastewater utility to is-sue century bonds with a 100-year final maturity.

This issuance enables DC Water to spread the costs of the project over the minimum expected life of the tunnels and be supported by future ratepayers who will also benefit. The $350 million sale was also the first “green” bond issue in the US debt capital markets certified by a third party.

Mr. Hawkins began his career practicing law for the Boston firm Ropes & Gray and is a member of the Bar in Massachusetts and the District of Columbia. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from Princeton University and Cum Laude from Harvard Law School. Since 1999, Mr. Hawkins has taught Environmental Law and Policy for the Princeton Environment Institute at Princeton University.

Gene KoontzGene Koontz has been with Gannett Fleming Inc. for 39 years. He currently serves as Senior Vice President and member of the board of directors, overseeing the firm’s water and natural resources markets.

Gene has been a member of AWWA since 1982 and has been a very active volunteer and leader in the Pennsylvania Section. He has held many previous positions, including Section Chair, Director, Chair of the Water Quality, Program, and Strategic Planning committees and member of the Water Utility Council. For the Associa-tion, Gene has served as Vice President, on the Finance, Pension, and Governing Documents committees, and as liaison to the Canadian Affairs and Young Professionals committees.

Outside of the professional organizations that Gene has been actively involved in, he has also served in many community capabilities. He has held a multitude of roles in youth sports, from coach to board chair for various baseball, softball, and basketball programs. He is currently completing a six-year term on the Harrisburg Regional Chamber Board of Directors.

Gene received his BS from Lehigh University. Gene lives in Lemoyne, Pennsylvania, with his wife, Barbara. They are the proud parents of Adam and Sarah.

Speaker Bios


Ed McCormickEd McCormick is President of the Board of Trustees of the Water Environment Federation (WEF), an international organization of over 35,000 water quality professionals headquartered near Washington D.C. Each year, WEF convenes the largest technical water quality conference in the world.

Ed holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Engineering from the University of California at Berkeley, a Master’s degree in Public Administration (MPA) from JFK University, and a BS in Civil Engineering from the University of Massachusetts.

He is a recognized expert in recovering valuable resources from wastewater to produce useful products for society, including renewable energy, recycled water, fertilizer, soil amendment and transportation fuel. Ed managed Wastewater Engineering and Recycled Water for EBMUD, an internationally known public water and water resource recovery utility in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Under Ed’s leadership, EBMUD became the first water resource recovery utility in North America to be a net producer of renewable energy.

Ed began his professional association “volunteer career” in 1980 as a new member of the California Water Environment Association. Ed’s wife, Debbie, is a former environmental engineer turned midwife for Kaiser Permanente, where she has delivered nearly 5000 babies. Ed and Debbie have two children–Zack, a Sports and Spine resident in Chicago, and Lindsay, a global public health professional who works for the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) in Washington D.C.

Ed’s outside interests include playing guitar in a rock’n roll band (the “Beat Riders”), mountaineering and other outdoor sports, songwriting and travel.

Kurt Vause, PESince 1998, Mr. Vause has been Engineering Division Director of Anchorage Water Wastewater Utility. He has been responsible for AWWU’s capital construction program, its Grants & Loans section, and the utility’s Strategic Asset Services and Planning sections. Mr. Vause currently serves on American Water Works Association’s Water Utility Council and is at present the chair of the Council’s Regulatory Subcommittee. In addition, he is a member of AWWA’s Asset Manage-ment Committee. He also served on the 2012 International Water Association–Water Supply Association of Australia Asset Management Best Practices Benchmarking Project Steering Com-mittee. He is co-founder of StreamlineAM, LLC, an Alaskan-based consulting service dedicated to utility management, asset management, and engineering for the water sector.

Speaker Bios

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!AWWA/WEF 2016 YP SummitWednesday February 24, 2016San Diego, California

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THANK YOU

TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS

YP Networker:Black & Veatch Corporation

CDM Smith

Carollo Engineers

Gannett & Fleming

Hazen and Sawyer

Municipal Valve & Equipment Co Inc.

YP Mentor:American Ductile Iron Pipe

Kennedy/Jenks

Raftelis Financial Consultants

T & M Associates

Texas Section AWWA