All Speakers

Speaker Robert Allen

Robert Allen President of the Fort Worth Economic Development Partnership

Robert Allen is the president and chief executive officer of the Fort Worth Economic Development Partnership (EDP). Robert joined the Fort Worth EDP at the organization’s formation in 2023. In his role, he is responsible for board governance, organizational strategy, and financial and operational efforts for the Fort Worth EDP. Previously, Robert served as deputy chief of staff to Texas Governor Greg Abbott, and he most recently served as president and chief executive officer of the Texas Economic Development Corporation.

Speaker Stephen Auton-Smith

Stephen Auton-Smith Senior Managing Director at Ernst & Young Infrastructure Advisors, LLC

Stephen leads Ernst & Young’s environmental infrastructure team and has more than 20 years of experience advising owners and developers on infrastructure projects in the water, sanitation, and energy sectors. He has a strong record in financial and commercial structuring, procurement, public-private partnerships, and project finance in the United States and globally.

Speaker Natalie Ballew

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, 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 Modeling teams. 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.

Speaker Emily Beagle

Emily Beagle, Ph.D. Research Associate at the University of Texas at Austin

Dr. Emily Beagle is a research associate in the Webber Energy Group at the University of Texas at Austin. She is currently working on energy policy and pathways to decarbonization of the global energy system with a focus on the deployment and use of hydrogen to reduce emissions in the hardest-to-abate sectors. She is interested in using technical and engineering analyses to inform energy policy development. She holds bachelor’s degrees in energy systems engineering and mechanical engineering, as well as a master’s and Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the University of Wyoming.

Speaker Matthew Berg

Matthew Berg, Ph.D. Chief Executive Officer and Principal Scientist at Simfero

Dr. Matthew Berg leads Simfero, a science-based research and strategy firm. For more than 20 years, he has worked on diverse water issues across public, private, and academic sectors. Matthew has briefed U.S. Congress delegations, had his work cited in reports guiding key legislation, and advised countless cooperative programs. He is a partner of the Network for Engineering with Nature and was selected as an honoree in Houston Business Journal’s 40 Under 40. Matthew completed his doctorate at Texas A&M University through a U.S. Department of Agriculture program to train the next generation of science leaders.

Speaker Krista Bethune Melnar

Krista Bethune Melnar, P.E. Stormwater Practice Leader at Freese and Nichols, Inc.

Krista Bethune Melnar serves as the stormwater practice leader at Freese and Nichols, where she is responsible for advancing a portfolio of stormwater and flood resilience solutions across the country. She has 25 years of experience addressing water resource challenges and implementing low-impact development, green infrastructure, stream restoration, and flood resilience solutions for clients spanning the southeastern United States. She lives in Austin and has a bachelor of science in biological resources engineering from the University of Maryland.

Speaker Robert Bornhofen

Robert Bornhofen, Ph.D. Director of Innovation at DC Water

As the innovation leader for DC Water, Dr. Robert Bornhofen is tasked with formulating and executing a comprehensive strategy across the entire organization. As an academic, Robert teaches innovation strategy at Cornell University and the master of business administration graduate degree program capstone course at the University of Maryland. His past industry experience includes working with such companies as IBM, Citibank, and Delta Air Lines. Robert holds two U.S. patents for original and patentable technologies.

Speaker Marisa Bruno

Marisa Bruno Water Program Manager at Hill Country Alliance

Marisa Bruno is the water program manager at Hill Country Alliance, where she works with local partners, including city and county officials, groundwater conservation districts, and grassroots water advocacy groups, to promote policies and projects that advance water supply resilience and protect groundwater and surface water flows in the Hill Country. She currently serves as an alternate for the Water Conservation Advisory Council and Region L regional water planning group. Marisa received her master of environmental management from the Yale School of the Environment, where she specialized in water resource management.

Speaker Taylor Christian

Taylor Christian Water Data Scientist and Coordinator at the Texas Water Development Board

Taylor Christian is a water data scientist and the data lead for the development of the Texas Water Data Hub, an intuitive website designed to index, document, search, and access water data in Texas. Taylor guides and supports programs across the state to implement FAIR (findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable) water data principles. She joined the Texas Water Development Board in 2014 and in previous roles administered the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and developed population and water demand projections for the state water plan. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in geography from Texas State University and is a proud sixth-generation Texan.

Speaker Jason Coleman

Jason Coleman, P.E. General Manager at High Plains Underground Water Conservation District #1

Jason has worked in groundwater management for more than 25 years and has served as manager of the High Plains Water District since 2013. He is supported by an elected board of directors and excellent staff at the organization. Jason has a bachelor of science in agricultural engineering from Texas A&M University and is a licensed professional engineer in Texas.

Speaker Margaret Cook

Margaret Cook, Ph.D. Deputy Director of Climate, Equity, and Resilience at Houston Advanced Research Center

Dr. Margaret Cook is the deputy director of climate, equity, and resilience at Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC). In this role, she develops and manages HARC’s climate equity initiative and supports community engagement and community benefits priorities within HARC projects. Margaret earned her doctorate in civil engineering from the University of Texas at Austin’s Cockrell School of Engineering with a certificate in engineering education in 2018. She also has dual master’s degrees in public affairs and environmental and water resources engineering, and a bachelor of science in civil engineering.

Speaker Lorrie Council

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

Lorrie Council joined the Ground Water Protection Council in 2022 as the water policy and underground injection control (UIC) manager, with a national focus on water and underground injection control regulatory programs. Lorrie works to support state agency regulatory programs nationwide that have the tenet of preserving groundwater quality and availability. Lorrie previously served as the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s underground injection control program permits manager and UIC liaison. She also previously managed the coastal erosion response program for the Texas General Land Office, and she began her career as an environmental consultant in groundwater remediation.

Speaker Andrea Croskrey

Andrea Croskrey Geoscientist, Aquifer Storage and Recovery Discipline Lead at the Texas Water Development Board

Andrea Croskrey is a licensed professional geologist in the Innovative Water Technologies group at the Texas Water Development Board. She has been with the agency since 2013 and was promoted in 2019 to serve as the aquifer storage and recovery discipline lead, establishing the current program and implementing legislative directives.

Speaker Jonathan Cuppett

Jonathan Cuppett Director of Water Quality Compliance at 120Water

Jonathan Cuppett is the director of water quality compliance for 120Water. With more than two decades of experience in the water sector, Jonathan works to ensure that the solutions offered by 120Water comply with various regulatory requirements. He has been active in research and policy related to lead and copper rule issues for over 10 years, and he is a collaborator on various national lead and copper rule-related initiatives. He holds a master’s degree from Virginia Tech, and a bachelor’s degree from Penn State.

Speaker Alan Day

Alan Day General Manager of the Brazos Valley Groundwater Conservation District

Alan was born and raised in Brownwood, Texas and has been a proud agriculturalist his entire life. He has served as the general manager of the Brazos Valley Groundwater Conservation District since 2012. He has a master of science in animal science from Texas A&M University, and was the ranch manager at Whiskey Canyon Ranch in Bosque County, Texas for 27 years. He served as the county extension agent in both Navarro and Borden counties, was president of the Bosque County Farm Bureau for 19 years, and is currently the vice president of the Robertson County Farm Bureau.

Speaker Kelley Dearing-Smith

Kelley Dearing-Smith Vice President of Strategic Communications and Marketing at Louisville Water

With a focus on visionary leadership and storytelling, Kelley Dearing-Smith is Louisville Water Company’s vice president of communications and marketing and past chair of the American Water Works Association’s public affairs council. In her 25-year career at Louisville Water, Kelley has developed strategic partnerships and communications efforts that built Louisville Water’s brand and highlight the value of water. Kelley is a member of Louisville Water’s executive leadership team and directs all communications and content marketing, brand development, education and outreach, public affairs, and economic development. Kelley has authored a book highlighting Louisville Water’s history and helped create the “WaterWorks Museum” at the company’s 1860 original pumping station. Kelley has a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism and prior to Louisville Water, she worked in television news.

Speaker Natalie DeRoock

Natalie DeRoock Public Affairs Administrator at Tucson Water

Natalie DeRoock leads the Public Affairs Division at Tucson Water, where she serves as a senior advisor and champions innovative and sustainable strategies for water quality and resource management through her work in government affairs and strategic communications. She is a former policy researcher at the University of Arizona, where she was a co-recipient of a National Science Foundation award. Natalie proudly served overseas as a lead public affairs strategist for the U.S. Department of State. Her work amplifies positive, innovative, and culturally relevant approaches to water management domestically and abroad, ensuring a safe, secure, and sustainable water future for all.

Speaker John T. Dupnik

John T. 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 2018 and oversees programs responsible for providing water science and data to support water supply and flood planning in Texas. He holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental science and geology from Texas State University and a master’s degree from the Jackson School of Geosciences at the University of Texas at Austin, where his thesis focused on groundwater management in Texas. John has prior experience serving as general manager of the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District and working for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. He has also served as the coordinator of Groundwater Management Area 10 and as a voting member for the Region K planning group.

Speaker Ben Eldredge

Ben Eldredge Executive Director of the Cibolo Conservancy

Ben Eldredge serves as the executive director of the Cibolo Conservancy, which emphasizes preservation of natural resources through conservation policy and conservation easements. Ben also serves on the board of directors for the Cow Creek Groundwater Conservation District. As a public servant, Ben has also served on the Boerne Unified Development Code Committee, the Kendall County Water Committee, and collaborated with the Texas Bureau of Economic Geology and Duke University to create the first municipal "internet of water" data hub for the City of Boerne.

Speaker Michael Esparza

Michael Esparza City Manager for the City of Alice

Michael Esparza has served as the city manager of Alice since 2018. His experience in public administration includes more than 11 years as an elected city council member, including four years serving as mayor pro tem. He also has business experience in such industries as insurance, real estate, and healthcare administration. As city manager, Michael oversees public private partnerships, such as the YMCA of the Coastal Bend’s partnership with Alice to reopen and manage the natatorium facility as well as the Seven Seas Water Group’s partnership for a brackish desalination plant. Michael holds a bachelor of arts in business and master of business administration from Concordia University Texas in Austin.

Speaker Greg Eyerly

Greg Eyerly Houston Water Director for Houston Public Works

Greg Eyerly assumed leadership of Houston Water in November 2023. After serving in the Army, Greg graduated from Portland State University with an undergraduate degree in general science and has a master’s in business from Washington State University. He has over 30 years of water and wastewater experience, evenly divided between the public and private sectors. He started as an entry-level operator in training and has held the positions of operator, shift supervisor, plant manager, regional manager, and director.

Speaker Karl Flocke

Karl Flocke Water Resources Program Leader at the Texas A&M Forest Service

Karl Flocke serves as the water resources and ecosystem services program leader for the Texas A&M Forest Service. In this capacity, he and his team promote healthy forest and woodland ecosystems and the countless benefits that they provide. He has a bachelor of science in renewable natural resources from Texas A&M University and a master of science in forest resources conservation from the University of Florida. He has worked in conservation for well over a decade and possesses numerous licenses and qualifications in this field, including certified arborist and certified associate ecologist.

Speaker Scott Galaway

Scott Galaway Financial Assistance Outreach Specialist at the Texas Water Development Board

Scott is an outreach specialist with the Texas Water Development Board who is responsible for promoting the agency’s state and federal financial assistance programs and helping utilities and communities learn about funding options for water-related infrastructure projects. Scott has over three decades of experience with utility infrastructure operations and management, including water resources planning, capital improvement plans, construction, and project management. He holds a bachelor of science from Texas State University and is a licensed water and wastewater operator.

Speaker Kyle Garmany

Kyle Garmany Chief Strategy Officer at Texas Water Trade

Kyle Garmany is the chief strategy officer for Texas Water Trade (TWT). Kyle has more than 15 years of experience working on environmental flow science, policy, and water market strategies in Texas. His work with TWT includes the development of partnerships and advancing science and strategies to address the challenge of water scarcity. Prior to his role with TWT, Kyle led the water and agriculture program at The Nature Conservancy - Texas, where he worked to design and implement water transactions to improve freshwater conservation outcomes for both people and nature.

Speaker John Gonzalez

John Gonzalez Senior Manager of Communications at the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District

John Gonzalez has more than 24 years of experience serving the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District in Cleveland, 15 of which managing all @neorsd social media accounts. John contributes to the utility’s public outreach strategy and oversees its internal communications programs. The Sewer District has been actively engaged in social media since 2009, building reliable followings across popular platforms to share updates, answer questions, and promote often-overlooked aspects of clean-water work. Find all @neorsd social accounts at neorsd.org/social.

Speaker Mami Hara

Mami Hara Chief Executive Officer of the US Water Alliance

Mami Hara is the chief executive officer of the US Water Alliance, a national nonprofit advancing policies and programs that build a sustainable water future for all. Mami’s experience was earned in public sector, private practice, and nonprofit roles in which she guided award-winning green infrastructure, sustainability, utility, and community investment programs. Prior to serving at the Alliance, Mami was the general manager and chief executive officer of Seattle Public Utilities, where she shepherded affordability, customer service, One Water, zero waste, and anti-displacement programs. Mami is also leading the development of the Alliance as a national environmental finance center.

Speaker Heather Harward

Heather Harward

Heather Harward represents the Texas Water Supply Partners, a group of like-minded entities who share a commitment to advancing policy related to development of water supplies throughout the state, including implementation of the state water plan. She is the founder of the H2O4TEXAS coalition, a diverse partnership committed to securing a dedicated source of revenue for water infrastructure projects. Previously, Heather served as chief of staff for former State Senator and Chairman of the Natural Resources Committee, Kip Averitt. She holds a bachelor of art from the University of Texas at Austin and a master of art from Texas State University.

Speaker Sam Marie Hermitte

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 legislative implementation, drought policy, flood priority research projects, strategic planning, 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.

Speaker Myron Hess

Myron Hess Attorney at the Law Office of Myron Hess PLLC

Myron Hess is a consultant and attorney in private practice working primarily on issues related to water. Myron has a long history of working on water-related issues in Texas on behalf of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the National Wildlife Federation, as well as various individual clients. His current work focuses primarily on protecting spring flows and environmental flows in Texas rivers and into Texas bays and estuaries. Myron has an undergraduate degree in wildlife and fisheries sciences from Texas A&M University and a law degree from the University of Texas.

Speaker Laura Higgins

Laura Higgins Manager at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

Laura is serving as the manager for the drinking water standards section within the water supply division at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Her section ensures safe water for the people of Texas by determining public water system compliance with federal and state standards, which limit the levels of contaminants in drinking water.

Speaker Jonathan Holley

Jonathan Holley Environmental Services Department Manager for the Harris County Flood Control District

Jonathan Holley has worked at the Harris County Flood Control District since 2009 in several positions related to stormwater quality and environmental regulatory compliance. His current responsibilities include managing the district’s environmental services and mitigation banking programs.

Speaker Keisuke Ikehata

Keisuke Ikehata, Ph.D., P.E. Assistant Professor at Texas State University

Dr. Keisuke Ikehata is an assistant professor in the Ingram School of Engineering at Texas State University in San Marcos. He joined Texas State in July 2019 as one of the four founding faculty members of the new civil engineering program. Dr. Ikehata earned his Ph.D. in civil and environmental engineering from the University of Alberta, Canada, in 2003. Before transitioning to academia, he spent eight years working at a water resources engineering firm in southern California. Dr. Ikehata has authored more than 230 technical publications, including over 60 peer-reviewed articles.

Speaker Michael Irlbeck

Michael Irlbeck Director of Business Development at EPCOR

Since 2015, Michael has been responsible for developing private investment opportunities for EPCOR in the United States. Most recently, Michael originated the state-of-the-art industrial water supply and water reclamation projects serving Samsung’s new $45 billion semiconductor fabrication facility in Taylor, Texas. Before EPCOR, Michael served seven years with the Spanish multinational firm Abengoa and 16 years in federal service with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. A native Texan, Michael grew up in the Texas High Plains and earned a bachelor of science in wildlife fisheries sciences from Texas A&M University in 1991.

Speaker Leslie Jansen

Leslie Jansen Interim Chief Information Officer for Austin Water

Leslie is the interim chief information officer for Austin Water. She has been with the utility since June 2016 serving in a variety of capacities including Audit, Finance, Information Technology, and Operations. Before joining Austin Water, Leslie held positions at the Lower Colorado River Authority, Texas Department of Public Safety, and served over a decade in private tech companies focusing on continuous improvement and risk mitigation.

Speaker Marty Kelly

Marty Kelly Water Resources Program Coordinator at the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

Marty Kelly has worked for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in the water resources program since 2015 and has served as the program coordinator since June 2022. He has been involved in several water resource projects including recently overseeing dedications to the Texas Water Trust. He previously worked for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for 16 years in the Houston field office conducting environmental investigations and monitoring surface water quality in the Galveston Bay area. He earned a bachelor’s degree in marine biology and marine fisheries from Texas A&M University at Galveston and a masters in environmental biology from the University of Houston at Clear Lake.

Speaker Jay Kleberg

Jay Kleberg Executive Director of the Gulf of Mexico Trust

Jay Kleberg is the executive director of the Gulf of Mexico Trust. He previously served as director of conservation initiatives for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, was a strategic consultant to the National Park Service, and was a film producer for the Texas nature documentary Deep in the Heart. In October 2023, he and his wife walked Texas’ 370-mile coastline with a team of cinematographers to produce the documentary series Chasing the Tide. He earned a bachelor of arts from Williams College and a master’s in business administration from the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas.

Speaker Jason Knobloch

Jason Knobloch Deputy Executive Director at the Texas Rural Water Association

Jason Knobloch is the deputy executive director at the Texas Rural Water Association (TRWA). He has been in the water industry since 2003, served as general manager of three rural utilities, and started in 2017 as the environmental services director at TRWA, where he continues his passion to help utilities across the state. Jason holds a bachelor’s degree in management and an associate in information technology.

Speaker Baukje 'Bee' Kothuis

Baukje 'Bee' Kothuis, Ph.D. Chief Representative at the Netherlands Business Support Office, Texas

Bee Kothuis is a design anthropologist serving as the Netherlands Business Support Office chief representative for the Netherlands, which is based in Houston. Before moving to Texas in 2021, Bee facilitated multidisciplinary collaborative projects focusing on water management, hydraulic structures, flood risk reduction, resilience strategies, and sustainable port design. Since then, she’s broadened her focus to include several other sectors that are often closely related to water management and resilience: energy and transition, life sciences and health, port development, and sports-tech.

Speaker Jack Krolikowski

Jack Krolikowski Flood Planning Director for the American Flood Coalition

Jack Krolikowski is the flood planning director for the American Flood Coalition, where he works to promote risk-informed flood planning at all levels of government. Jack was previously the deputy state hazard mitigation officer in Georgia, where he coordinated natural hazard mitigation planning and risk reduction projects with other state agencies and across Georgia’s 159 counties. He also previously worked in the Georgia National Flood Insurance Program Office and for a community development nonprofit in Nicaragua. Jack holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Speaker Sharlene Leurig

Sharlene Leurig Managing Partner at Fluid Advisors

Sharlene Leurig is the founder and managing partner of Fluid Advisors. She was the founding chief executive officer of Texas Water Trade, a nonprofit that works to catalyze water transactions for people and nature. She served as board chair and interim chief executive officer of Vida Water, a public benefit corporation driven by the belief that all Texans deserve trusted water. Sharlene has been a Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation Entrepreneur and an MIT-USGS Science Impact Collaborative Fellow. 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.

Speaker Barry Liner

Barry Liner, Ph.D., P.E. Chief Technology Officer at The Water Council

Dr. Barry Liner has been fueling his passion for water innovation by mentoring young global entrepreneurs at UNLEASH Innovation Lab, promoting startups at the Water Council, and having the good fortune to work with some of the best water minds during his time as chief technology officer for the Water Environment Federation until 2024. At The Water Council, Barry sought to drive the transition towards water circularity through digital solutions and artificial intelligence. In his 30-year career, he also spent time in academia as an environmental engineering professor at George Mason University and as a consulting engineer at Black & Veatch and the World Bank.

Speaker Richard Loeffler

Richard Loeffler Client Solutions Manager at Xylem

Rich Loeffler has worked in the water sector for 17 years and currently serves as a client solutions manager for Xylem's data and intelligence offerings. He's responsible for collaborating with utility partners and clients to develop wide ranging solutions to provide operational data and insights for water and sewer system managers and ensuring these provide value across all utility teams. He holds a degree in biosystems engineering from Clemson University.

Speaker Robert Mace

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, mostly in Texas. 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.

Speaker Natasha Martin

Natasha Martin Attorney at Graves Dougherty Hearon & Moody, PC

Natasha’s practice focuses on administrative and regulatory litigation with an emphasis in environmental and utility law. She has experience counseling clients on regulatory permitting and enforcement on air, water, and waste issues. Natasha has represented clients obtaining electric, water, and wastewater certificates of convenience and necessity. She also serves as general counsel to several water supply corporations and groundwater conservation districts in Texas. Prior to law school, Natasha worked as a technical air permit reviewer at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, where she reviewed mechanical and agricultural air permit applications in accordance with state and federal laws.

Speaker Ben Masters

Ben Masters Director and Founder of Fin and Fur Films

Ben Masters is a filmmaker and writer specializing in wildlife and adventure stories. He is most known for directing and producing 'Deep in the Heart: A Texas Wildlife Story,' 'The River and The Wall,' and 'Unbranded.' Ben studied wildlife biology at Texas A&M University and founded Fin and Fur Films in 2012. He has ridden a horse across the country twice, travelled the Rio Grande from El Paso to the Gulf, and loves Texas rivers.

Speaker Jeremy Mazur

Jeremy Mazur Director of Natural Resources and Infrastructure Policy at Texas 2036

Jeremy serves as the director of infrastructure and natural resources policy for Texas 2036. Before joining Texas 2036, Jeremy’s legislative career began in the late 20th century as a policy analyst with the Sunset Advisory Commission. From there, he served as chief of staff for State Representative Bill Callegari and as deputy chief of staff and legislative director for State Senator Van Taylor. He also served as director of governmental relations for two state agencies essential to Texas’ future: the Texas Water Development Board and, more recently, the Railroad Commission.

Speaker Ellen McDonald

Ellen McDonald, Ph.D., P.E. Vice President of Operations at Plummer

Ellen serves as the vice president of operations and the water planning practice leader at Plummer. She has more than 35 years of experience in the areas of water reuse and water supply planning. In addition to her involvement in the planning and implementation of numerous reuse projects across the state, Ellen led the Texas Water Development Board project that resulted in the Direct Potable Reuse Resource Document and has helped guide reuse policy and regulatory development as a technical expert and advisor to a number of professional organizations and policy committees.

Speaker Bryan McMath

Bryan McMath Executive Administrator of the Texas Water Development Board

Bryan McMath was named executive administrator of the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) in September 2024. He joined the TWDB in 2018 as director of government relations, where he coordinated and led communications on legislative and policy matters affecting the agency. Bryan worked for nearly 15 years at the Texas State Capitol supporting public policy areas including natural resources and water issues, the state budget, energy, ethics, financial institutions, government organization, regulated industries, and transportation. Bryan holds a bachelor of arts degree in English from Vanderbilt University and a bachelor of fine arts degree from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He is currently pursuing a master of business administration at Texas State University.

Speaker Jeffrey Meadows

Jeffrey Meadows, P.E. Water Facility Lead at Garver

Jeff Meadows serves as Garver’s Central Texas water facility lead, managing municipal water and wastewater facility projects in the region. He holds a bachelor of science in civil engineering from Texas A&M University and a master of science in environmental engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Jeff has more than 10 years of experience in the water and wastewater industry and extensive experience in piloting, water treatment plant design and construction, and water treatment plant operations.

Speaker Michael Milczarek

Michael Milczarek Program Director at GeoSystems Analysis, Inc.

Mike Milczarek has more than 30 years of experience in developing, implementing, and managing vadose zone, hydrogeologic, and geochemical studies. His technical expertise includes groundwater recharge processes, large scale field instrumentation and monitoring, modeling surface water-groundwater interactions in riparian habitat areas, and designing and implementing stormwater capture and recharge investigations. He has managed or participated in over 60 groundwater recharge feasibility studies.

Speaker Tonya Miller

Tonya Miller Board Member of the Texas Water Development Board

Tonya Miller was appointed by Governor Greg Abbott to the Texas Water Development Board in September 2024. She has more than 20 years of experience in Texas state government focused on energy and environmental issues. She previously served as the chief executive officer and public utility counsel of the Office of Public Utility Counsel, director of the Office of Air at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, attorney and assistant director for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Radioactive Materials Division, and attorney for the Public Utility Commission. Prior to joining the Board, Miller served as vice president of wholesale power strategic projects and optimization at the Lower Colorado River Authority. She received a bachelor's degree in business administration and law degree from the University of South Dakota and is a member of the State Bar of Texas.

Speaker Scott Norman

Scott Norman Chief Executive Officer at the Texas Association of Builders

Scott Norman serves as chief executive officer for the Texas Association of Builders, comprised of nearly 10,000 members representing home builders, remodelers, developers, and their companies from across the state. In addition to managing the association, which is the second largest of its type in the nation, he leads the government relations and political activities. Scott has been actively involved in state government for more than 28 years as a Texas Capitol staffer, association executive, and as a registered lobbyist.

Speaker Charles Ortiz

Charles Ortiz, P.E. District Engineer at the Laguna Madre Water District

Charles Ortiz is the district engineer for the Laguna Madre Water District, implementing water and sewer system improvements since 2011. Job duties have included capital planning, design, and construction management for water treatment and distribution as well as wastewater treatment and collection services for South Padre Island, Port Isabel, and Laguna Vista, Texas. He also monitors the District's limited water rights from the Rio Grande and is developing a seawater supply alternative. Charles holds a bachelor of science in civil engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and a master of business administration specializing in project management.

Speaker Keith Owens

Keith Owens Commercial Director at Fugro

Keith Owens is the commercial director of remote sensing and mapping at Fugro. He has more than 28 years of experience acquiring, processing, and delivering geodata for three-dimensional mapping solutions.

Speaker Joshua Oyer

Joshua Oyer Coastal Resiliency Program Manager at the Texas General Land Office

Josh is the coastal resiliency program manager at the Texas General Land Office with 17 years of experience in stakeholder engagement and outreach. He has worked for several agencies throughout his career including the Texas Water Development Board, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, and the Texas stream team at the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment at Texas State University. In his work on the Texas Coastal Resiliency Master Plan, he draws connections between habitat restoration, hazard mitigation, and watershed management communities to support important coastal initiatives in Texas.

Speaker Tom Pankratz

Tom Pankratz Editor and Consultant at Global Water Intelligence

Tom Pankratz is a Houston-based independent consultant and the editor of Global Water Intelligence’s weekly water desalination report. Formerly a vice president of CH2M Hill (now Jacobs), and a director with U.S. Filter/Veolia Water, he has been a desalter since 1980 and has served as an expert advisor on some of the world’s largest and most technically advanced desalination projects. Tom has also been appointed to serve on committees by the National Academy of Sciences, World Health Organization, Middle East Desal Research Center, and Australia’s National Center of Excellence in Desalination.

Speaker Brooke T. Paup

Brooke T. Paup Chairwoman of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

Brooke Paup was appointed by Governor Greg Abbott as chairwoman of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality on January 7, 2025. She has 19 years of state government experience. Prior to joining the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, she served as chairwoman of the Texas Water Development Board. Previously, she was the director of legislative affairs for the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts and spent several years at the Office of the Attorney General. Brooke 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.

Speaker Charles Perry

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 co-chairs the advisory committees for the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas and the Texas Infrastructure Resiliency Fund. 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.

Speaker Tina Petersen

Tina Petersen, Ph.D., P.E. Executive Director for the Harris County Flood Control District

Dr. Tina Petersen is the executive director for the Harris County Flood Control District, serving the nation's third-largest county with a population of more than 4.5 million residents. She has served in this role since January 2022, when she was unanimously appointed to the position by Harris County’s Commissioners Court. Under Tina’s direction, the Flood Control District carries out its mission to plan, implement and maintain projects that reduce the risk of flooding, ultimately improving the quality of life for Harris County residents. She also dedicates her time serving on the executive committee of the Region 6 flood planning group.

Speaker Suzanne Pierce

Suzanne Pierce, Ph.D. Research Scientist and Manager for the Decision Support Office at Texas Advanced Computing Center at the University of Texas at Austin

Dr. Suzanne A. Pierce leads the Decision Support Office at Texas Advanced Computing Center. She focuses on environmental research and technology, leading the integration of data- and model-driven decision support systems. Notable contributions include National Science Foundation-funded projects on artificial intelligence in geosciences and integrated water resource management. Suzanne’s research group is developing open science applications to make earth resource information accessible and streamline analytical workflows for use in participatory processes. Current research includes interdisciplinary projects with partners in Alaska and Texas.

Speaker Lloyd B. Potter

Lloyd B. Potter, Ph.D. Texas State Demographer

Dr. Lloyd Potter was appointed as the Texas State Demographer in 2010. He is a professor of sociology and demography at the University of Texas at San Antonio, where he also serves as the director of the Texas Demographic Center and the Institute for Demographic and Socioeconomic Research. Lloyd holds a bachelor of science in sociology from Texas A&M University, a master of science in education from the University of Houston at Clear Lake, a Ph.D. in demography and sociology from the University of Texas at Austin, and a master of public health from Emory University. His current work focuses on understanding and communicating demographic processes in Texas and conducting demographic research on general policy-related issues.

Speaker Travis Pruski

Travis Pruski Chief Operations Officer at the Nueces River Authority

Travis Pruski has experience as a public official and a public administrator. After graduating with a bachelor of arts in economics from the University of Texas in 2002, Travis returned home to Poth, Texas, where he served as mayor from 2004 to 2013. In 2017, he was appointed by the governor for a six-year term as a member of the Nueces River Authority’s (NRA) board of directors. In 2020, he became the Authority’s first director of planning. Travis was recently named NRA’s chief operating officer and serves as the political sponsor for the Region N water planning group and the Region 13 flood planning group.

Speaker Vanessa Puig-Williams

Vanessa Puig-Williams Senior Director of Climate Resilient Water Systems at the Environmental Defense Fund

Vanessa Puig-Williams is a senior director on the climate resilient water systems team at the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), where she leads EDF’s efforts to advance sustainable groundwater management across the southwest. Before joining EDF, Vanessa served as executive director and general counsel of the Trinity Edwards Springs Protection Association, a nonprofit focused on legal and policy initiatives to protect groundwater resources in the Hill Country. Vanessa is also a board director on the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District.

Speaker Shay Ralls Roalson

Shay Ralls Roalson, P.E. Director at Austin Water

Shay Ralls Roalson became the director of Austin Water in January 2023. She leads a team of 1,400 employees committed to providing high-quality drinking water, wastewater, and reclaimed water services to more than 1 million people in the Austin metropolitan area.

Speaker Tanja Rauch-Williams

Tanja Rauch-Williams, Ph.D., P.E. Chief Innovation Officer at Metro Water Recovery

Dr. Tanja Rauch-Williams serves as the chief innovation officer for Metro Water Recovery, which provides wholesale wastewater services to approximately 2.2 million people in the Denver metropolitan area. Tanja brings more than 20 years of experience in process engineering, modeling, design, applied research, and strategic planning for water resource recovery facilities. She is serving on the steering board of the Rocky Mountain Water Environment Association’s innovative water technologies committee and co-chairs the Water Environment Federation’s municipal resource recovery design committee.

Speaker Kelley Rich

Kelley Rich, P.E. Senior Water Resources Engineer at the Texas Water Development Board

Kelley is a water resources engineer with the Flood Science and Community Assistance Division at the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB). She has worked on flood modeling and mapping efforts, flood risk reduction studies, and stream restoration projects in both the private and public sectors since 2014. She is currently working on TWDB’s flood priority research project to develop a guidance manual on the use of nature-based solutions for flood mitigation in Texas. She is passionate about improving flood risk data, communication, and mitigation alternatives.

Speaker Nancy Richards

Nancy Richards Regional Water Project Development Manager at the Texas Water Development Board

Nancy Richards is a regional team manager in the Water Supply and Infrastructure Division at the Texas Water Development Board, which provides financial assistance for water, wastewater, and stormwater projects to Texas entities. Nancy has been with the agency for more than 25 years, serving previously as a project manager on the state and federal funding programs. Nancy has a bachelor’s degree in agricultural engineering from Texas A&M University.

Speaker Zac Rosenbaum

Zac Rosenbaum, P.E. Senior Director of Facilities at Samsung Austin Semiconductor

Zac Rosenbaum is a senior director of facilities at Samsung, where he leads an extensive team responsible for the electrical infrastructure for the Austin manufacturing site that operates around the clock. With the buildout of Samsung’s next advanced semiconductor fabrication facility in the U.S.—a $17 billion investment in Taylor, Texas—Zac’s expertise extends to support the growth of this new site. On behalf of Samsung Austin Semiconductor, Zac was awarded the 2022 Governor's Texas Environmental Excellence Award and the 2022 Evoqua Water Sustainability Award, and the facility has received the City of Austin’s Excellence in Pretreatment Award for 11 consecutive years. Zac holds a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering from Texas A&M University and is a licensed professional engineer.

Speaker Carlos Rubinstein

Carlos Rubinstein Principal at RSAH2O, LLC

Carlos Rubinstein is the principal member of RSAH2O, LLC, an environmental consulting firm with a strong emphasis on water issues. He has served as an expert witness on various environmental cases and has published several peer-reviewed articles on Texas water regulatory and policy matters. Rubinstein served as chairman of the Texas Water Development Board from 2013 to 2015. During his tenure, he oversaw the implementation of the $2 billion State Water Infrastructure Fund for Texas. He also served as a commissioner of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality from 2009 to 2013.

Speaker Art Ruiz

Art Ruiz Chief Plant Manager at El Paso Water

Art has over 43 years of experience in water treatment and operations, including eight years in shipboard water operations with the U.S. Navy, 20 years in surface water treatment, and 15 years in reverse osmosis and well operations. He has an associate degree in water technology from New Mexico State University and an associate degree in multidisciplinary studies from El Paso Community College.

Speaker Shannon Rutherford

Shannon Rutherford Partner at Terrill & Waldrop

Shannon S. (Shan) Rutherford is a partner at Terrill & Waldrop, where his practice focuses on groundwater supply project development and permitting. Shan also serves as general and special counsel for numerous special utility districts and nonprofit water supply corporations, representing their interests in litigation and regulatory proceedings, and advising on public entity governance, regulatory compliance, open government, eminent domain, water supply acquisition, and project finance. He earned a bachelor of arts in history from Northwestern University and a juris doctor from the University of Texas.

Speaker Elizabeth Savage

Elizabeth Savage, P.E. Project Director for the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension – Texas Community Watershed Partners Project Office

Elizabeth Savage is the project director for the online Community Health and Resource Management (CHARM) digital platform development with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. CHARM is a mapping application that provides data, tools, and the digital environment to map and analyze growth with real-time feedback. CHARM is supported with a library of mapping data about urbanization, storm surges, conservation, public facilities, and coastal resources. Elizabeth supports expanding the availability and reach of these resources to further the in-person experience on the web.

Speaker Sarah Rountree Schlessinger

Sarah Rountree Schlessinger Chief Executive Officer of the Texas Water Foundation

Sarah Rountree Schlessinger is the chief executive officer of the Texas Water Foundation, a statewide nonpartisan nonprofit that works in water policy, workforce and leadership initiatives, and a statewide water campaign called Texas Runs on Water. She previously worked in groundwater policy and regulation and has experience with international nonprofits and disaster response. Sarah currently serves as an appointed member of the Water Conservation Advisory Council and as a board member for the Texas Water Trade and OpenET nonprofits.

Speaker Susan Shifflett

Susan Shifflett Executive Director of the Texas Hydrogen Alliance

Susan M. Shifflett is the executive director of the Texas Hydrogen Alliance and has worked in clean fuel markets for more than 25 years. The Texas Hydrogen Alliance crafts strategic relationships with policy makers and regulators and utilizes its members’ expertise, networks, and assets to lead Texas’ energy expansion. Previously, she served as president of the Texas Clean Fuels Alliance, president of the Texas Natural Gas Vehicle Alliance, and marketing coordinator of the alternative fuels research and education division of the Texas Railroad Commission. Susan holds a bachelor of science and a master of science in environmental science from Texas Christian University.

Speaker Stacey Allison Steinbach

Stacey Allison Steinbach Executive Director of the Texas Water Association

Stacey Allison Steinbach is the executive director of the Texas Water Association. Previously, she served as executive director of the Texas Groundwater Association and the Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts. Stacey is a licensed attorney who has also worked in private practice and at the Texas General Land Office. She 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 juris doctor with honors from the University of Montana School of Law, where she developed her love for both water policy and fly fishing.

Speaker L'Oreal Stepney

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

L’Oreal Stepney, P.E., was named Chairwoman of the Texas Water Development Board by Governor Greg Abbott on January 8, 2025. She was appointed to the Board by Governor Abbott 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. L’Oreal received a bachelor of science in aerospace engineering and a master of science in civil engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. She is a Registered Professional Engineer.

Speaker Allison Strube

Allison Strube, P.E. Engineering Services Manager at the Colorado River Municipal Water District

Allison Strube joined the Colorado River Municipal Water District in September 2022. She began her career as a project engineer for the City of San Angelo in 2012, then became the assistant director of utilities, and in 2018 she was promoted to the director of water utilities. Allison also serves as the chairwoman for Region 9 Upper Colorado Regional Flood Planning Group. She holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Texas Tech University and is a licensed professional engineer.

Speaker Stacy Timmons

Stacy Timmons Associate Director of Hydrogeology at the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources

Stacy Timmons is an associate director of hydrogeology programs at the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, the state geologic survey. As a hydrogeologist working with the Bureau since 2004, she has helped build the aquifer mapping and monitoring program, launched the implementation of the New Mexico Water Data Initiative in 2019, and has been developing an education program for new water leaders since 2022.

Speaker Gilbert Trejo

Gilbert Trejo, P.E. Vice President of Operations and Technical Services at El Paso Water

Gilbert Trejo oversees engineering, operations, and technical services at El Paso Water. He previously served as chief technical officer and chief operations officer for treatment and production. Trejo is also a past chair and former board member for the WateReuse Association and Water Research Foundation. Licensed as a professional engineer in Texas, Trejo earned a bachelor of science from the University of Texas at El Paso and a master of science from the University of Texas at Austin.

Speaker Samantha Villegas

Samantha Villegas Principal Consultant at Raftelis

Sam is an award-winning communications and outreach executive with more than 30 years of experience in the areas of water, energy, solid waste, and recycling. She is a member of Raftelis’ strategic communications practice, helping utilities and local governments develop relationships and engage equitably with their stakeholders around critical topics like affordability, public health, and environmental protection. Sam has a master’s in environmental policy from Johns Hopkins University, she is accredited in public relations from the Public Relations Society of America, and she holds certificates in public participation from the International Association for Public Participation.

Speaker Alia Vinson

Alia Vinson Partner at Allen Boone Humphries Robinson, LLP

Alia Vinson is a partner with Allen Boone Humphries Robinson in Houston, and her practice focuses on public finance and local government regulation. She works with special purpose districts, municipal utility districts, water authorities, local government corporations, management districts, tax increment reinvestment zones, and redevelopment authorities, both in the role of general counsel and bond counsel. She has an interest in long-term water supply planning, water infrastructure development, water conservation and reuse projects, flood control infrastructure and flood planning, and the development of parks and recreational facilities.

Speaker Richard Wade

Richard Wade Deputy Executive Administrator of the Texas Geographic Information Office at the Texas Water Development Board

Richard provides direction and management for all Texas Geographic Information Office (TxGIO) activities and programs and serves as the Geographic Information Officer for Texas. Richard is also the current president of the National States Geographic Information Council, an organization committed to fostering efficient and effective government through the adoption of geospatial information technologies. He has more than 35 years of experience in Geographic Information System (GIS) technology and computer mapping. Richard started his career as an intern with TxGIO (formally TNRIS) in 1986 and helped establish the first modern GIS program at the TWDB. He later co-founded the Windrose Data Corporation, which provided GIS data and services to environmental and energy firms across the country before returning to the TWDB in 2005.

Speaker Shane Walker

Shane Walker, Ph.D., P.E. Professor at Texas Tech University

Dr. Walker is a professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering at Texas Tech University, and he serves as the director of the Water and the Environment Research (WATER) Center and the director of the Texas Produced Water Consortium. Shane teaches courses on the topics of physical/chemical treatment processes and the design of advanced water treatment systems. His research focuses on advanced water treatment, especially high recovery inland desalination, potable reuse, and treatment of produced water for beneficial uses.

Speaker Jennifer Walker

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 more than 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, and serves on the Texas Water Conservation Advisory Council. Jennifer has a bachelor of science in ecology, evolution, and conservation biology from the University of Texas at Austin.

Speaker Jenna Walker

Jenna Walker Director of Watershed Services at the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment

Jenna Walker is the director of the watershed services division of the Meadows Center at Texas State University. She currently manages several grant-funded programs, including the Clean Coast Texas initiative, the Blanco/Cypress Creek Watershed Protection Plan, and the Texas Stream Team. Her interest in One Water stems from her experience working in different realms of the water sector, including the Texas Senate, the Cibolo Nature Center, the Nature Conservancy, Global Wildlife Federation, City of Waco Water Utility, the Bosque River Coalition, Shield Ranch, and the Meadows Center. Jenna is a seventh-generation native of the Texas Hill Country. She earned a master of applied geography degree in resource and environmental studies from Texas State University and a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University.

Speaker Gregory Waller

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 transferred to the West Gulf River Forecast Center in December 2000. 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.

Speaker Charriss York

Charriss York Program Director at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

Charriss York is a program director at Texas Community Watershed Partners (TCWP), a program of the Texas A&M University AgriLife Extension Disaster Assessment and Recovery Unit. Charriss leads the Green Infrastructure for Texas team working with communities to find nature-based solutions to manage stormwater for flooding and water quality benefit. Charriss joined TCWP in 2006 and became a program director in 2020. She holds a bachelor of science from Truman State and a master of science from Oklahoma State.

Speaker Lara Zent

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 900 water and wastewater utility members. She leads a team of 42 staff members who provide such services as operator certification, management training, technical assistance, legal counsel, and advocacy before the legislature and regulatory agencies. Previously, Lara was a staff attorney at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Last year, she served as the chair of the public utility law section council of the State Bar of Texas. She is a graduate of the Texas Tech University School of Law and the University of Texas at Austin.

Speaker Reem Zoun

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

Reem is the assistant deputy executive administrator of the office of planning at the Texas Water Development Board, and she led the effort to develop Texas’ first state flood plan that was adopted in August 2024. She has more than 23 years of private and public sector experience in engineering, flood risk reduction projects, modeling, mapping, and capital improvement project portfolio management and delivery. Prior to joining the TWDB in 2019, Reem worked for the City of Austin, AECOM, the University of Texas at Austin, and Pasminco Elura Mine and Victoria Department of Natural Resources and Environment in Australia. Reem has a master of science in civil engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and a bachelor of engineering with first class honors from RMIT University in Australia.