All Speakers

Aaron Abel Water Services Manager of the Brazos River Authority

Aaron Abel joined the Brazos River Authority as a senior water resources planner in 2008 and was promoted to the position of water services manager in April 2018. He has more than 21 years of experience in water resources, private consulting, and research. Prior to joining the Authority, he worked as a hydrogeologist and research assistant with two private engineering firms. As water services manager, he and his staff oversee daily water supply operations and provide water resources planning support to the organization.

Newsha Ajami, Ph.D. Chief Development Officer of Research for the Earth and Environmental Sciences Area at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Dr. Newsha Ajami is the chief development officer for research in the Earth and Environmental Sciences Area at the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. A leading expert in sustainable water resource management, smart cities, and the water-energy-food nexus, her role focuses on developing interdisciplinary and impact-focused research initiatives across various domains. Newsha is a mayoral appointee to the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, serves on the National Academies Water Science and Technology Board, is a nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institute, and sits on several advisory boards. She received her Ph.D. in civil and environmental engineering from the University of California, Irvine.

Alyssa Azari Manager of Program Administration at the Texas Water Development Board

Alyssa Azari is the manager of the program administration team at the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB), which is responsible for the development and management of the TWDB’s infrastructure financing programs. She previously served as the state programs coordinator responsible for such state-funded programs as the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas and the Economically Distressed Areas Program, and as a project manager for the Panhandle/West Texas regional project implementation team. Prior to joining the TWDB, she held a wide range of public sector positions at the local, state, and federal levels. Alyssa holds a bachelor’s degree in civil and environmental engineering from the University of Colorado Boulder and a master’s of public health in environmental health and policy from the University of Minnesota.

Ernesto Ballesteros State Cybersecurity Coordinator at Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency

Ernesto serves as the state cybersecurity coordinator for Texas at the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency in Region 6. His role is to build strategic public and private sector relationships in Texas to facilitate the development and maintenance of secure and resilient infrastructure. Ernesto previously served at the Texas Department of Information Resources and the Texas Cybersecurity Council.

Natalie Ballew, P.G. Director of Groundwater at the Texas Water Development Board

Natalie Ballew is the director of the Groundwater Division at the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB), which collects, interprets, and provides accurate and objective information on the groundwater resources of Texas to citizens, groundwater resource managers, policy makers, and lawmakers. Natalie previously managed the agency’s Groundwater Technical Assistance team and worked as a hydrogeologist on both the Groundwater Technical Assistance and Groundwater Availability Modeling teams. Prior to joining the TWDB, Natalie spent some time at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality working on U.S.–Mexico water issues. Natalie is a licensed professional geoscientist, has a bachelor’s degree in geological sciences from the University of Southern California, and master’s degrees in energy and earth resources and public affairs from the University of Texas at Austin.

Austin Bleess City Manager for the City of Jersey Village

Austin Bleess was appointed city manager of Jersey Village in March 2017. In this role, he oversees all aspects of the day-to-day operations of the City, provides leadership and management to approximately 150 employees, and administers an operating budget of approximately $23 million. Previously, he served as city manager in Caribou, Maine, and city administrator in Winnebago, Minnesota. He brings proven abilities in comprehensive planning, budgeting, personnel management, project management, economic development, and grant writing.

Kristine Blickenstaff, P.E. Integrated Hydrology and Data Science Branch Chief of the U.S. Geological Survey

Kristine Blickenstaff serves as the integrated hydrology and data science branch chief for the U.S. Geological Survey at the Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center. She holds a master’s in civil engineering with an emphasis in environmental engineering from the University of Utah and is currently finishing her Ph.D. in water resources engineering. Prior to joining the U.S. Geological Survey, she worked for the Bureau of Reclamation for six years, starting in the Upper Colorado regional office before moving to Reclamation's Technical Service Center.

Joni Carswell Chief Executive Officer and President of Texan by Nature

Joni Carswell is the chief executive officer and president of Texan by Nature, where she leads the mission to advance conservation by bringing conservation and business together. Prior to Texan by Nature, Joni was the president and chief executive officer of LivingTree and held leadership roles in planning and strategy at Polycom and Dell. She holds a bachelor of science in industrial engineering from Texas A&M University and a master’s in engineering management from Northwestern McCormick School of Engineering. Joni is also a top graduate of the Kellogg School of Management where she earned a master’s in business administration.

Andrew Chastain-Howley Director at Black & Veatch

Andrew is a director in the Specialized Solutions Group at Black & Veatch with 30 years of experience in the fields of data analytics, software solutions, and monitoring and diagnostics for utility systems focusing on resource conservation. His focus is directed toward sustainability and non-revenue water management, working for utilities across North America, the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and Australia.

Glenn Clingenpeel Executive Manager at the Trinity River Authority of Texas

Glenn Clingenpeel is the executive manager of technical services and basin planning for the Trinity River Authority, where he has worked for 24 years. Glenn leads a team of scientists and engineers that work on everything from ecological surveys and water quality analyses to open channel hydraulic modeling and water supply accounting. He is also responsible for the Authority’s geographic information system group that directly supports water and wastewater operations. Throughout his career, Glenn has been active in numerous organizations, including the Texas Water Conservation Association, the North Central Texas Council of Governments, the Galveston Bay Council, and the Water Environment Association of Texas. He currently serves as the chair for the Region 3 Trinity Flood Planning Group that recently developed the first-ever flood plan for the Trinity River basin. He holds degrees in biology, ecology, environmental sciences, French language, and business administration.

Daniel Cornel, Ph.D. Senior Researcher at VRVis Center for Virtual Reality and Visualization Research

Dr. Cornel received a master’s degree in visual computing from the Vienna University of Technology in 2014. During his studies, he specialized in real-time rendering with a focus on the development of engines for video games. He completed his Ph.D. on Interactive Visualization of Simulation Data for Geospatial Decision Support in 2020. He joined the research institution, VRVis, in 2014, where he is a senior researcher in the integrated simulations group and the lead rendering engine developer of the decision support system, ‘Visdom.’

Jerry Cotter, P.E. Chief of the Water Resources Branch for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Jerry is the chief of water resources for the Fort Worth District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Water Resources Branch manages and conducts investigations for 25 flood control reservoirs, levee systems across the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and numerous flood damage reduction projects within the district. Jerry has a broad range of experience, including more than 25 years with the federal government and 10 years in the private sector. He has worked on a variety of infrastructure projects, including transportation, water, and wastewater as well as numerous studies within the region and nationally.

Lorrie Council, P.G. Water Policy and Underground Injection Control Manager at the Ground Water Protection Council

Lorrie is the water policy and underground injection control manager for the Ground Water Protection Council (GWPC), which is a non-profit association that supports state agency programs dealing with groundwater. Lorrie assists state agencies through education, conferences and workshops, networking, and coordination with federal agencies, like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Energy, on multiple issues affecting underground injection control and other groundwater programs. In her former roles with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), Lorrie was the underground injection control program liaison with the EPA, state, and local agencies, and she previously managed TCEQ’s underground injection control permitting program. Lorrie is a geologist with expertise in environmental regulation, aquifer management, waste disposal, and in-situ minerals mining.

Jenna Covington, P.E. Executive Director and General Manager for the North Texas Municipal Water District

Jenna Covington serves as executive director and general manager for the North Texas Municipal Water District. She oversees all aspects of water, wastewater, and solid waste services for 2 million people in one of the fastest growing regions in the United States. The District provides wholesale services for up to 80 communities across 2,200 square miles in 10 North Texas counties with an annual budget of about $590 million. Jenna is a professional engineer and holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in environmental engineering from Texas Tech University.

David Curtis, Ph.D. Senior Vice President of WEST Consultants

Dr. Curtis has been on the leading edge of hydro-meteorological and flood risk management services for 50 years. He has been involved in the design, development, and implementation of award-winning innovations in more than 50 automated environmental monitoring systems across the U.S. and in 18 countries abroad. Dr. Curtis has been applying new weather information technologies, such as radar-rainfall estimates, to hydrologic analysis and modeling. The results are leading to the development of new hydrologic design standards at locations across the U.S.

Neil Deeds, Ph.D., P.E., P.G. Principal Water Resources Engineer for INTERA, Inc.

Neil Deeds’ professional experience encompasses research and applied practice in modeling and analysis of hydrologic systems, including water availability, flow, and transport. His focus is innovative water supply technologies, including brackish groundwater resources and aquifer storage recovery.

John Dupnik, P.G. Deputy Executive Administrator of Water Science and Conservation at the Texas Water Development Board

John Dupnik joined the Texas Water Development Board in February 2018. He previously served as the general manager of the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District, where he was employed since 2005. He also has eight years of experience in state government, including tenure with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. John holds a bachelor's degree in environmental studies from Texas State University and a master's degree from the Jackson School of Geosciences at the University of Texas at Austin, where his research and thesis focused on Texas groundwater management. He is a Texas licensed professional geoscientist.

Brian Epperson Director of Environment, Health, and Safety at Hess Corporation

Brian has worked in the oil and gas industry for nearly 31 years and h has experience in the upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors with both domestic and international reach. He started as a front-line technician performing process engineering and environmental remediation tasks, and with the continuation of experience, education and certifications, Brian has now fulfilled numerous leadership positions at both Hess and other large integrated oil and gas organizations. His positions have ranged from environment and regulatory management roles to broader safety, health, and operational roles at both the asset and corporate function level, respectively. He now serves as the Director, EHS leading Hess’ central services supporting the Hess Enterprise.

Brianna Fuller Campaign Manager for the Texas Water Foundation

Brianna is the campaign manager for the Texas Water Foundation, leading the “Texas Runs on Water” efforts. She previously worked for “Keep Texas Beautiful” and brings experience from the environmental nonprofit sector, developing communications strategies for a vast affiliate network, and helping advance the “Don't Mess with Texas” campaign. A fourth-generation Texan, Brianna is passionate about representing the people and places of this great state and inspiring action that benefits future generations. She holds a bachelor of arts in rhetoric and writing from the University of Texas at Austin.

Salvador Gandara Environmental Engineer and Project Officer for the Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6

Salvador Gandara is a project officer with more than 19 years of experience with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 6 and over 28 years of experience with the U.S. federal government. He recently worked as a team member to publish the EPA Region 6 Climate Change Adaptation Implementation Plan. Salvador works with water and wastewater infrastructure grantees and is the project officer for the U.S.–Mexico Border Water Infrastructure Program. He received his bachelor of science in civil engineering from the University of Texas in El Paso.

Huilin Gao, Ph.D. Professor at Texas A&M University

Dr. Huilin Gao is an associate professor in the civil and environmental engineering department at Texas A&M University. She received her Ph.D. in water resources engineering from Princeton University, and her research interests include hydrologic monitoring and prediction, climate change, the study of land cover/land use changes, water resources management, and satellite remote sensing in hydrology. Huilin’s current research on remote sensing has focused on using multi-satellite observations to monitor storage variations and evaporation losses over global lakes and reservoirs.

Cayton Germany Operations Manager at Crystal Clear Special Utility District

Cayton has worked in the water and wastewater industry for eight years and is now part of the board of managers and the construction committee for Canyon Regional Water Authority. He found his way into the water industry straight out of high school. He is passionate about the water industry and enjoys the hands-on work in the field with his team. He currently holds a Class B groundwater license, a Class C wastewater license, and a customer service inspector license.

Carla G. Guthrie, Ph.D. Director of Surface Water at the Texas Water Development Board

Dr. Carla Guthrie serves to guide and support staff and programs working to understand the quantity and availability of surface water resources for Texans and the environment. She began her career with the Brazos River Authority before departing to study species interactions in tropical systems. In 2005, she joined the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) as a coastal ecologist. In 2019, she served as a lead author of the first State Flood Assessment for Texas and subsequently steered the initial development of the TWDB's new flood science programs. She holds degrees from Baylor University, Texas Tech University, and the University of Texas at Austin. She is a sixth-generation Texan and a certified senior ecologist.

Chris Harder, P.E. Water Director for the City of Fort Worth

Chris Harder joined the City of Fort Worth’s Water Department in 1999 as a project engineer and became the director in 2018. He earned a bachelor of science in civil engineering from Valparaiso University, a master of science in civil engineering from the University of Texas at San Antonio, a master of business administration from Texas Christian University, and he is a registered professional engineer in Texas.

Cody Harris State Representative, Texas House District 8

Cody Harris’ conservative values are deeply rooted in Texas House District 8. A graduate of Texas A&M University, Cody owns and operates Liberty Land & Ranch in Palestine, a statewide real estate brokerage firm. He is an active member of the Texas Association of Realtors, Texas Farm Bureau, and Texas Agricultural Lifetime Leadership Program. During the 87th legislative session, Representative Harris served on the House Calendars Committee and Transportation Committee, and as the vice-chair of the Natural Resources Committee. He is also the presiding officer on the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas Advisory Committee and was appointed by Governor Abbott to the Southwestern States Water Commission. Representative Harris and his wife, Taylor, are proud parents to three sons and a daughter.

Floyd Hartman Assistant City Manager for the City of Amarillo

Floyd Hartman has served as assistant city manager for development services for the City of Amarillo since 2018. He joined City of Amarillo Water Utilities in 2004 and has more than 27 years of service in municipal government with a focus on project management. During Floyd’s tenure with the City, he managed the day-to-day operations of the utilities, public works, engineering, planning, airport, and other departments. Floyd earned a bachelor of science in occupational education and a master’s in public administration from Wayland Baptist University. He holds a class A water operator’s license and wastewater collection III operator’s license from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and serves as a municipal representative on the Region A Water Planning Group.

Troy Hayes, P.E. Water Services Director for the City of Phoenix

Troy oversees one of the largest potable water utilities in the United States. With more than 1,400 dedicated employees, Phoenix Water Services treats and delivers high-quality tap water to 1.7 million customers throughout a 540-square-mile service area. Phoenix Water Services provides wastewater collection and treatment services for 2.9 million residents in the Valley. Troy has been with the City of Phoenix for over 20 years, serving in a broad range of roles and responsibilities. Troy is a registered professional engineer in Arizona and Colorado.

Sam Marie Hermitte Assistant Deputy Executive Administrator of Water Science and Conservation at the Texas Water Development Board

Sam Marie Hermitte’s responsibilities at the Texas Water Development Board include strategic planning, legislative analysis and implementation, water data, drought policy and project coordination, priority flood research projects, and such special initiatives as the development of the Texas Water Data Hub and TexasFlood.org. Additionally, Sam leads the Texas Water Data Initiative and serves as a member of the Internet of Water Coalition and the Texas Disaster Information System Advisory Committee. She holds a bachelor’s degree in public policy analysis from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a master’s degree in public affairs with a portfolio in integrated watershed studies from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin.

Damian Higham Recycled Water Program Lead at Denver Water

Damian Higham has more than 20 years of experience in the water sector and is currently managing Denver Water’s Recycled Water Program as a lead planner. His duties include regulatory development, permitting, capital planning, marketing, and compliance assurance, as well as One Water coordination and integration. He has a bachelor of science in chemical engineering, and he is a past president of WateReuse Colorado and chair of the joint reuse committee of the Rocky Mountain Section of American Water Works Association and the Rocky Mountain Water Environment Association.

John Honoré Section Chief at the Texas Division of Emergency Management

John is the meteorologist for the Texas Division of Emergency Management. One of his duties with the agency is serving as subject matter expert on the State Drought Preparedness Council. He holds a bachelor of science degree in meteorology from Florida State University.

Billy Howe Associate Director of Government Affairs at Texas Farm Bureau

Billy Howe is the associate director of government affairs for Texas Farm Bureau where he monitors environmental regulation and water policy issues and leads the Texas Farm Bureau state legislative staff in implementing the organization’s state legislative program. Billy’s involvement with water policy began in 1997 when he was the lead staffer for Representative Ron Lewis, the House sponsor on the major water policy legislation in Senate Bill 1. Billy has since served on multiple stakeholder groups concerning major water issues.

Scott Hubley, P.E. Stormwater Group Manager at Freese and Nichols, Inc.

Scott has 16 years of experience in planning and design of stormwater infrastructure. He is the North Texas Stormwater Group manager and a vice president with Freese and Nichols at its Fort Worth office. He is a registered professional engineer and certified floodplain manager and holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Texas A&M University. He also serves as the treasurer for the Texas Floodplain Management Association and is the project manager for the Region 1 Canadian Upper Red Flood Planning Group where he has been integral to the firm's regional flood planning efforts.

Will Jernigan, P.E. Director of Water Efficiency at Cavanaugh and Associates, P.A.

Will is the chief financial officer and director of water efficiency with Cavanaugh and has worked with more than 1,500 water systems across North America, where he is recognized as a leader in the water loss industry. Will is the chair and chief architect behind the American Water Works Association’s (AWWA’s) water audit software and the AWWA North American Water Loss Conference. He was also appointed as the U.S. expert to an international task force developing the ISO water loss standards. Will was co-principal investigator for the Water Research Foundation projects in 2016 and 2020, which codified the level 1 water audit validation methodology.

Tracy O. King State Representative, Texas House District 80

Tracy O. King graduated from Carrizo Springs High School, attended Southwest Texas Junior College, Sul Ross State University, and Texas A&M University, where he earned a bachelor of science in agricultural engineering. Representative King was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1994. He is the chairman of the Natural Resources Committee and serves as a member of the Energy Resources Committee, the Edwards Aquifer Legislative Oversight Committee, and the Energy Council. He previously served as the chairman of Border and International Affairs, Agriculture and Livestock, and the Licensing and Administrative Procedures committees. During his tenure, he has also served on other committees, including Natural Resources, Appropriations, and Environmental Regulation. Representative King is married to the former Cheryl Baker of Hondo, and they are the proud parents of two children.

Kris Lander, P.E. Development and Operations Hydrologist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Kris Lander is the development and operations hydrologist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Weather Service - West Gulf River Forecast Center in Fort Worth, Texas. In his current role, Kris serves as the technical director of flood forecasting operations for river systems throughout Texas. Kris holds a bachelor’s degree in biological and agricultural engineering from Kansas State University and a master’s degree in agricultural engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He is a registered professional engineer.

Jose Landeros Director of Capital Planning and Strategic Performance for El Paso County

Jose currently serves as the director of capital planning and performance management for El Paso County, where he manages the county’s American Rescue Plan Act portfolio, large capital funds, and the development of strategic funding priorities. Jose has served as the county’s director of planning and development as well as the interim director of economic development. He is a proud graduate of Texas A&M University and earned his master of public administration from the University of Texas at Arlington. Jose and his wife, Cindy, live in the greater El Paso area with their daughters, Luna and Sofía Emilia.

Sharlene Leurig Chief Executive Officer of Texas Water Trade

Sharlene Leurig is chief executive officer of Texas Water Trade, a nonprofit harnessing the power of markets and technological innovation to build a future of clean, flowing water for all Texans. She is a sustainable water finance expert with extensive experience in Texas on long-range water planning, infrastructure finance, and water transactions. She holds a bachelor of arts in physics and English from Washington University in St. Louis and a master’s degree in city planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she was a fellow in the MIT-USGS Science Impact Collaborative. She is board chair of Vida Water, a public benefit corporation created by the Texas Water Trade to close the clean water gap in Texas.

Dagmar Llewellyn Planning Group Supervisor at the Bureau of Reclamation

Dagmar joined the Bureau of Reclamation in 2010 after 25 years in environmental consulting. She has since worked as a civil engineer and hydrologist in the Water Management Division, currently serving as the Planning Group supervisor. Her work and the projects she manages focus on planning for future changes in water supply and demand, and the use of science to improve the ability of the Albuquerque area office—and the Bureau of Reclamation as a whole—to meet its mission related to water and power delivery in an environmentally and economically sound manner.

Robert Mace, Ph.D., P.G. Executive Director of the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment

Robert Mace is the executive director and chief water policy officer of the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment and a professor of practice in the Department of Geography at Texas State University. Robert has more than 30 years of experience in hydrology, hydrogeology, stakeholder processes, and water policy. Robert has a bachelor of science in geophysics, a master of science in hydrology from the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, and a Ph.D. in hydrogeology from the University of Texas at Austin.

David Maidment, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus at the University of Texas at Austin

David R. Maidment is professor emeritus of the Civil Engineering Department of the University of Texas at Austin where he served on the faculty for 38 years, specializing in surface water hydrology. He was born and educated in New Zealand and is familiar with water resources administration and water data exchange methods used there, which include the WaterML2 language, an international standard for the exchange of water resources time series data.

Mark Mann, P.E. Director of Engineering Services at the Sabine River Authority of Texas

Mark Mann has more than 20 years of experience in water and wastewater treatment facilities, pump station facilities, water and sanitary sewer utilities, roadway design, drainage, and bridge inspection. He holds a bachelor of science in civil engineering from Lamar University, and he is a licensed professional engineer in Texas and Louisiana.

Omar Martinez Grants and Strategic Initiatives Manager for the City of El Paso

Omar L. Martinez is a 2021 graduate of the Texas Water Leaders program, currently working for the City of El Paso, where his work is focused on transportation and sustainability infrastructure development. Previous civil service and consulting work includes projects in water conservation and reuse, flood mitigation, and water-front recreational trails projects. He also supports rural and small communities in Texas with project pre-development and by accessing funding for water infrastructure, economic development, and public health projects. He serves as chair of the Region 14 Upper Rio Grande Flood Planning Group and as the alternate to the chair of the Region E Far West Texas Water Planning Group.

Leah Martinsson Executive Director of Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts

Leah Martinsson joined the Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts as executive director in March 2019 where she provides strategic direction and guidance to the organization and administers and manages its overall activities. She serves as a primary point of contact for the membership, the legislature, state agencies, and related organizations across Texas. Leah works closely with policymakers, decision-makers, and water stakeholders to promote sustainable groundwater policies. She is an attorney licensed to practice law in Colorado, where she represented clients in all aspects of water law for more than 16 years before relocating to Texas.

Edith Marvin, P.E. Director of Environmental and Development for the North Central Texas Council of Governments

Edith Marvin serves as the director of environment and development for the North Central Texas Council of Governments. Membership of this council includes a 16-county area centered around the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Edith has more than 30 years of private and public sector experience in the field of engineering and development. She graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio in 1995 with a bachelor of science in civil engineering. Edith is a licensed professional engineer and certified floodplain manager.

Jason Modglin President of the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers

Jason Modglin serves as the president of the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers. The Alliance is an industry trade association representing more than 2,600 individuals and member companies committed to advancing independent operators and the standards of the Texas oil and gas industry. He previously worked for the Railroad Commission of Texas. A native of Houston, Jason holds a bachelor of arts degree from Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, and a master of public affairs degree from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin.

Jorge Morales, P.E. Director of the Watershed Protection Department for the City of Austin

Jorge Morales has more than 25 years of leadership experience and over 20 years as a civil engineer. As the director of the Watershed Protection Department, his mission is to protect lives, property, and the environment from the impacts of flooding, erosion, and water pollution. A former sergeant of communications for the U.S. Army, Jorge remains an active servant leader. He graduated with a civil engineering bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin and recently completed a master’s of public affairs with focus on public leadership from the LBJ School of Public Affairs.

Daniel Nix Utilities Operations Manager for the City of Wichita Falls

Daniel Nix is the utilities operations manager for the City of Wichita Falls where he has accumulated 36 years of experience in water and wastewater treatment. Daniel graduated from Midwestern State University with a bachelor of science in environmental sciences and holds licenses in both water and wastewater operations from the State of Texas. Daniel is very active within the American Water Works Association community, serving as the Texas section chair in 2017, as well as numerous state- and national-level committees related to water treatment, quality, and potable reuse.

Paula Paciorek Water Programs Division Manager at Houston Public Works

Paula joined Houston Public Works in February 2019 and has focused on strengthening and growing the City’s water conservation efforts by developing and implementing a wide range of programs, events, and campaigns, including the award-winning campaign, “Protect Our Pipes,” and the state-wide campaign, “Texas Runs on Water,” piloted in Houston with the slogan “Houston Runs on Water.” Most recently, she led the development and implementation of Houston’s first water conservation campaign, “Give Water A Break.” Paula has a bachelor of arts in psychology, a master of science in applied geography from the University of Louisville, and has more than 12 years of experience in water management, policy, and program development in the water sector.

Brooke T. Paup Chairwoman of the Texas Water Development Board

Brooke Paup was named Chairwoman of the Texas Water Development Board by Governor Greg Abbott in April 2021. She was appointed to the Board by Governor Abbott in February 2018. In the three years prior to her appointment, Brooke served as the director of legislative affairs for the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. She is formerly the deputy division chief of intergovernmental relations and former special assistant for policy and research for the Office of the Attorney General. In total, she has 16 years of state government experience. She is a member of the State Bar of Texas and earned a bachelor of arts from Texas A&M University and a juris doctor from Texas Tech School of Law.

Kelly Payne, P.E. Vice President of Water Operations at the Lower Colorado River Authority

As the vice president of water operations at the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA), Kelly Payne is responsible for leading the teams who operate six dams (known as the Highland Lakes) for water supply, hydroelectric power generation, and flood operations. The teams also manage LCRA’s water supplies; operate agricultural water delivery systems in the lower basin, where the primary crop is rice; and encourage lake safety, marina permitting, and private dock standards on the Highland Lakes. Kelly is a professional engineer in Texas with degrees from Texas A&M and Cornell Universities.

Brian Perkins, P.E. Deputy Executive Manager of Engineering at Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority

Brian Perkins is the deputy executive manager of engineering at the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority. His duties include strategic water supply planning, development and implementation of large-scale water infrastructure, analysis and implementation of environmental strategies, and negotiation of water supply agreements. Brian has more than 23 years of experience leading conceptual and feasibility water supply studies and water rights analyses in Texas and across the U.S. and Mexico. Brian holds a bachelor of science in civil engineering from the University of Kentucky.

Charles Perry State Senator, Texas Senate District 28

Charles Perry is a lifelong West Texan and a practicing certified public accountant from Lubbock. He was first elected to the Texas Senate in 2014 after serving two terms in the Texas House of Representatives. Senator Perry currently chairs the Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs and is the vice chair for the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. He serves on the Senate committees for Education, Finance, Transportation, and Redistricting, and is the co-chair of the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas Advisory Committee. Governor Abbott also appointed him to the Southwestern States Water Commission and the Western States Water Council. He earned his bachelor of business administration in accounting and management information systems from Texas Tech University. He and his wife, Jacklyn, have a daughter, Jordan, a son, Matthew, and five grandchildren.

George B. Peyton V Board Member of the Texas Water Development Board

George Peyton was appointed by Governor Greg Abbott as a Board member of the Texas Water Development Board in July 2022. Originally from Canadian, Texas, Peyton now lives in Austin and is president of River Valley Holdings, Inc., an investment holding company. He has a background in financial analysis and investment management, he previously led financing and strategic decisions as the president of two oil and gas exploration companies, and he is the founder and former managing director of Fifth Well Investment Management, LLC. Peyton received a bachelor of science in astrophysics and a bachelor of business administration in entrepreneurial management from Texas Christian University in addition to a master of business administration from Stanford University.

Suzanne Pierce, Ph.D. Director of the Texas Disaster Information System

Suzanne A. Pierce is the director of the Texas Disaster Information System and a research scientist with the Texas Advanced Computing Center at the University of Texas at Austin. Suzanne chairs a national community of researchers using artificial intelligence to understand the earth (IS-GEO.org). Her research aims to implement integrated modeling and intelligent decision support systems to improve resilience at regional scales. She uses sociotechnical and artificial intelligence approaches to connect community-defined problem frames with complex systems models. Additionally, she collaborates on a National Science Foundation “Navigating the New Arctic” project that aims to improve water infrastructure management by linking engineered systems with indigenous knowledge. She is also leading an initiative to apply AI-enabled models of compound and cascading hazards to coastal regions in the Gulf of Mexico.

Edwin Piñero President of EcoMetrics LLC

Edwin is president of EcoMetrics LLC, helping to disseminate a methodology that identifies, quantifies, and monetizes environmental, economic, and social co-benefits resulting from natural solutions and ecosystems services projects. He has worked in the private and public sectors as a consultant on sustainability, environment, and energy. He served as senior vice president for sustainability at Veolia North America, as well as the federal chief sustainability officer in the White House.

Russ Poppe, P.E. Federal Programs Consultant for HNTB Corporation

Russ Poppe joined HNTB in August 2021 as a federal programs consultant focusing on bringing effective and efficient solutions to water resource challenges. His background includes a mix of private and public service across projects ranging from green infrastructure and natural disaster resiliency to transportation and vertical construction. He has also served in leadership positions on multiple committees, including the Region 6 Regional Flood Planning Group, and currently serves as the resiliency chair for the SAME Houston/Galveston Post and is on the board of directors for Houston Wilderness.

Charles Porter, Ph.D.

Dr. Charles Porter is an award-winning author, speaker, and testifying real estate expert in more than 700 cases nationwide. He was elected chair of the Education Standards Advisory Committee of the Texas Real Estate Commission for 2022 and appointed chair of the Briscoe Center for American History Advisory Council at the University of Texas at Austin for 2021–2023.

Esteban Ramos Water Resources Manager for Corpus Christi Water

Esteban (Steve) Ramos is the City of Corpus Christi’s water resource manager. In this role, he is responsible for the development and implementation of water conservation activities and outreach projects to address water issues, including projected water demands, water supply availability, water use assessments, watershed management plans, and drought contingency plans. He also represents the City of Corpus Christi at local, regional, and state levels when it comes to water resource planning and conservation.

Manuel Razo Manager of the Flood Mapping Program at the Texas Water Development Board

Manuel “Manny” Razo is manager of the Flood Mapping Program at the Texas Water Development Board. Manny has worked in floodplain and stormwater management for 17 years in the public and private sectors, including as the Texas Water Development Board’s Cooperating Technical Partners Program coordinator, Community Assistance Program team lead, and National Flood Insurance Program state coordinator. He is a certified floodplain manager. Manny received a bachelor’s degree in geography from the University of Texas at Austin and a master’s degree in geospatial surveying engineering from Texas A&M - Corpus Christi.

Michele Risko Manager at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

Michele Risko is the acting deputy director of the Water Supply Division and current section manager of the Drinking Water Standards Section in the Office of Water at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). She has a bachelor of science in biochemistry from Texas Tech University, a master of business administration from Texas State University, and is a Class B licensed surface water and wastewater treatment plant operator. Michele has worked for the TCEQ since 2017 within the Public Water System Supervision Program and formerly managed the Drinking Water Special Functions Section.

Graciela Salinas Planning Coordinator for Cameron County

Graciela Salinas is an urban planner devoted to improving her community by bringing in funding for essential projects designed to help solve flooding, border security, and poverty issues that affect the low- and moderate-income residents of Cameron County. She has 23 years of experience developing projects for the county and is currently responsible for researching, planning, and managing grants, including funding from the Flood Infrastructure Fund through the Texas Water Development Board, hazard mitigation grants, criminal justice e-grants, and more.

Valerie Salinas-Davis Assistant Professor of Instruction at the University of Texas at Austin

Valerie is a social impact strategist, writer, and consultant specializing in change-related communications in the areas of environmental protection, health, public affairs, and diversity, equity, and inclusion issues. She is an assistant professor of instruction in the School of Advertising and Public Relations at The University of Texas at Austin, where she teaches environmental communication. Valerie is a board member for the Texas Water Foundation and received a bachelor of journalism in public relations from the University of Texas at Austin.

Bridget Scanlon, Ph.D., P.G. Senior Research Scientist at The University of Texas, Bureau of Economic Geology

Dr. Scanlon is a senior research scientist at the Bureau of Economic Geology in the Jackson School of Geosciences at the University of Texas at Austin. Her current research focuses on water issues related to unconventional oil and gas production, including historical and projected water volumes related to water scarcity, induced seismicity, and produced water management. Dr. Scanlon is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and has coauthored around 160 publications.

Suzanne Scott Texas State Director for The Nature Conservancy

As state director for the Nature Conservancy in Texas, Suzanne Scott establishes conservation strategy and public policy leadership to protect the state’s cherished landscapes and support ecology, economy, public health, and equity. Working closely with a talented and diverse staff, she oversees the execution of land conservation efforts, freshwater protection initiatives, and marine protection measures in the Gulf of Mexico, as well as the development of sound science, projects, and policy solutions that promote nature’s role in advancing community resiliency and protecting biodiversity.

Doug Short Chief Information Officer at Trinity River Authority of Texas

Doug Short is the chief information officer and chief information security officer for the Trinity River Authority of Texas. Doug chairs the Texas section of the American Water Works Association Resiliency and Cybersecurity Committee and serves on the Texas Cybersecurity Council and the Water Environment Association of Texas Security Committee . He served 28 years in the U.S. Air Force and led inspection teams for the National Security Agency and Air Intelligence Agency, led the Air Force Cyber Ops School, coordinated cyber-strategy across the Federal Government, and provided recommendations to national leaders on cyber issues and operations.

Rusty Smith Executive Director of the Texas Produced Water Consortium

Rusty Smith brings more than a decade of experience in both the private and public sectors to the direction of the Texas Produced Water Consortium. Rusty previously worked in public policy in the Texas House of Representatives and the Texas Senate, and externally in government relations, primarily focusing on natural resources, agriculture, and energy. Most notably, Rusty served as the committee director for the Texas Senate Committee on Agriculture, Water, and Rural Affairs during the 85th Texas Legislature.

Evan Smith Co-founder and Senior Adviser at the Texas Tribune

Evan Smith is a co-founder and senior adviser at The Texas Tribune, where he served as CEO from 2009 to 2022. He’s also a senior adviser at Emerson Collective, where he works closely with the leadership teams of nonprofit news organizations around the country. Previously he spent nearly 18 years at Texas Monthly, stepping down in August 2009 as the magazine’s president and editor in chief. Evan is also the host of “Overheard with Evan Smith,” a weekly half-hour interview program that airs on PBS stations around the country. A native of New York, he is a graduate of Hamilton College and Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.

Drew Springer State Senator, Texas Senate District 30

Senator Drew Springer was elected to the Texas House in 2013 and is the vice chair on the Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs. He also serves on the Senate committees for Administration, Higher Education, Local Government, and Nominations. Senator Springer grew up in Weatherford and attended University of North Texas where he received his accounting degree. For the last sixteen years he has worked in financial services specializing in agricultural futures and securities. Drew and his wife, Lydia, reside in Muenster and have three children and one grandson.

Stacey Allison Steinbach General Manager of the Texas Water Conservation Association

Stacey Allison Steinbach is the general manager of the Texas Water Conservation Association and the Texas Ground Water Association. Previously, she served as executive director of the Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts, as an attorney representing Texas water districts, and as a coastal and public lands lawyer at the General Land Office. Stacey holds a bachelor of science in biology and ecology from Baylor University, a master of science in wildlife and fisheries sciences from Texas A&M University, and a law degree from the University of Montana. She currently serves on the board of the National Water Resources Association.

Keri Stephens, Ph.D. Professor and Co-Director of the Technology & Information Policy Institute at The University of Texas at Austin

Dr. Keri Stephens is an expert in communicating during crises and disasters. She has authored more than 100 articles and book chapters, including the recent national-level, award-winning book, New Media in Times of Crisis (2019, Routledge). Her team authored the Texas Water Development Board’s Flood Resource Guide for Community Officials in 2022. She is a professor of organizational communication and technology, a co-director of the Technology & Information Policy Institute in the Moody College of Communication at the University of Texas at Austin, and has a bachelor of science in biochemistry from Texas A&M University.

L'Oreal Stepney, P.E. Board Member of the Texas Water Development Board

L’Oreal Stepney, was appointed by Governor Greg Abbott as a Board member of the Texas Water Development Board in December 2022 for a term beginning January 1, 2023. She previously served as the deputy executive director of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). In her 30 years with the TCEQ, she held various roles for the Air Permitting Division, Wastewater Permitting Section, Water Quality Division, and Office of Water—for which she was deputy director upon its creation in 2009. Stepney received a bachelor of science in aerospace engineering and a master of science in civil engineering from the University of Texas at Austin.

Maxwell Strickler Lead Hydrologist for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Max Strickler is the lead hydrologist in the water management section of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Fort Worth District. He has been with USACE for 12 years and manages the hydrologic operations of 25 USACE reservoirs for flood risk management and water supply. He has worked on hydrologic and reservoir system simulation models for the Trinity, Brazos, Guadalupe, and Sulphur River basins using HEC-HMS, HEC-ResSim, and Riverware. Max graduated from Texas A&M University with a master of water management and hydrologic science in 2010.

Audrey Templeton, P.E. Enterprise Risk Manager for Molson Coors Beverage Company

Audrey’s career at Molson Coors spans more than 25 years with work in sustainability, environmental health and safety, and enterprise risk management. She supports the Molson Coors team in understanding the organization’s significant risks and leads several strategic initiatives, including the renewable energy strategy. The primary focus of her work is driving improvements that reduce risk and embrace opportunities. Audrey is also a proud and dedicated member of the Molson Coors beer-tasting team. The quality taste panel is voluntary but a favorite aspect of her job. Audrey holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental science from the University of Oklahoma and a master’s in environmental engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology.

Lihy Teuerstein Chief Executive Officer at IDE Water Assets

Lihy Teuerstein joined IDE Technologies in 2011 and has led IDE Water Assets since 2018. With more than two decades of experience in infrastructure, she has a broad understanding of the global water market and international project development processes. Leading projects on nearly all continents, she has a vast understanding of water needs, boundaries, and challenges across the globe. Lihy has a combined degree in law and Far East studies from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and is a member of the Israel Bar Association. She also has an master of arts in sociology and anthropology from Tel Aviv University.

Christine Voudy Geologist with the Georgia Environmental Protection Division

Christine is a geologist with the Georgia Environmental Protection Division and has 21 years of experience working on the Water Supply Program of the Watershed Protection Branch. She manages all the water audits submitted to the State of Georgia as part of the Water Stewardship Act.

Richard Wade Deputy Executive Administrator of the Texas Natural Resources Information System at the Texas Water Development Board

Richard Wade provides direction and management for all Texas Natural Resources Information System (TNRIS) activities and programs and serves as the Geographic Information Officer for Texas. He has 35 years of experience in Geographic Information System (GIS) technology and computer mapping. Richard started his career as an intern with TNRIS in 1986 and helped establish one of the first statewide GIS programs at the TWDB. He later went into the private sector and co-founded the Windrose Data Corporation, which provided GIS data and services to environmental and energy firms across the country. He returned to the TWDB in 2005. He holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Texas State University.

Jennifer Walker Director for the Texas Coast and Water Program at the National Wildlife Federation

Jennifer Walker is the director for the Texas Coast and Water Program at the National Wildlife Federation. She has 20 years of experience focusing on statewide water policy issues with an emphasis on state and regional water planning, urban water management, and bay and estuary protection. Jennifer is the chair of Austin's Water Forward task force, serves on the Texas Water Conservation Advisory Council, and is a member of the board of directors of the Alliance for Water Efficiency. Jennifer has a bachelor of science in ecology, evolution, and conservation biology from the University of Texas at Austin.

Jeff Walker Executive Administrator of the Texas Water Development Board

Jeff Walker was named executive administrator of the Texas Water Development Board in May 2016. In his more than 30 years with the agency, he has served in various positions, including as agricultural conservation specialist, financial analyst, non-point source coordinator, director of project development, and deputy executive administrator of Water Supply and Infrastructure. Jeff holds a bachelor of science in agricultural economics from Texas A&M University and a master of business administration from Texas State University. He is the current treasurer and a member of the board of directors for the Council of Infrastructure Financing Authorities.

Gregory Waller Service Coordination Hydrologist for the National Weather Service West Gulf River Forecast Center

Greg Waller graduated from Texas A&M University in 1992 with a bachelor of science in meteorology. He joined the National Weather Service as an intern in May 1994 and the West Gulf River Forecast Center in December 2000. As of May 2015, Greg was promoted to service coordination hydrologist at the West Gulf River Forecast Center, where his duties include serving as the liaison to National Weather Service hydrologic services and leading the coordination efforts of the Gulf River Forecast Center into the future.

Jeff Ward President of Jeffrey S. Ward & Associates, Inc.

Jeff is an experienced project manager of large, complex mitigation projects funded under federal, state, and local programs. He has an unparalleled track record of successful mitigation project identification, grant application development, and grant administration and project management, including home elevation, home acquisition and demolition, minor flood control projects, and hazard mitigation plan development. He is a proven facilitator of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) mitigation plans for cities, counties, districts, and states, and his grant administration and project management has included projects funded under FEMA’s flood mitigation assistance program, hazard mitigation grant program, pre-disaster mitigation program, severe repetitive loss grant program, and repetitive flood claims grant program.

Gary Westbrook General Manager at Post Oak Savannah Groundwater Conservation District

Gary Westbrook has served as the general manager of the Post Oak Savannah Groundwater Conservation District since June 2003 and is currently a voting representative for Groundwater Management Areas 12 and 8 as well as the Brazos G Regional Water Planning Group. He was elected to the Texas Water Conservation Association board of directors in 2018 and is a past president of the Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts. Gary graduated from Sam Houston State University with a bachelor of science in agriculture education. He is a native of Milano, Texas, where he raised four children with his wife, Glenda, of 42 years and still owns Westbrook Angus Farms.

Jeremy Wilson Deputy Chief Information Security Officer at the Texas Department of Information Resources

Jeremy Wilson is the deputy chief information security officer for security operations at the Department of Information Resources and works in the Chief Information Security Office. He is responsible for establishing the pilot Regional Security Operations Center at a Texas university and overseeing the program once established. Jeremy will also establish and oversee the Texas cybersecurity incident response team, which will be responsible for responding to incidents, establishing playbooks, and coordinating cybersecurity exercises.

Lara Zent Executive Director and General Counsel at the Texas Rural Water Association

Lara Zent is the executive director and general counsel at the Texas Rural Water Association, which has more than 760 water and sewer utility members statewide. She leads a team of 35 staff who provide services including utility operator certification training, management training, onsite technical assistance, a trade magazine, legal counsel, and advocacy before the legislature and regulatory agencies. Before joining the Texas Rural Water Association, Lara was a staff attorney at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. She is a graduate of the Texas Tech University School of Law and the University of Texas at Austin.

Reem Zoun, P.E. Director of Flood Planning at the Texas Water Development Board

Reem is director of Flood Planning at the Texas Water Development Board. She has more than 20 years of experience in water resources and civil engineering, leadership, planning, and management in the public and private sectors. Previously, Reem served as the supervising engineer for the Local Flood Risk Reduction Section at the City of Austin’s Watershed Protection Department and worked at AECOM and Pasminco Elura mine in Australia. Reem has a bachelor of engineering with first class honors in environmental engineering from RMIT University in Australia and a master of science in environmental and water resources engineering from the University of Texas at Austin.