Day 1 – August 17, 2022
7:00 a.m. Registration Open & Continental Breakfast
Morning Session: Update on Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act Fund Distribution; Other Federal Water/Sewer Funding Sources
8:00-8:30 Opening Remarks (Water Finance & Management) & Keynote – Kirsten B. Williams, Esq., Chief Communications & Stakeholder Engagement Officer and Executive Vice President, DC Water
8:30-9:00 Accessing IIJA and BIL Funds, Grant and Loan Programs and Building Financial Resilience – Timothy Burns, P.E., National Funding Expert, State Revolving Fund & Principal Water Engineer, Arcadis
9:00-9:30 Navigating the Challenges of IIJA Implementation: GFOA’s Perspective – Galen McDonald, Policy Associate, Government Finance Officers Association
9:30-10:00 Charlotte Water’s Approach to Leveraging Clean/Drinking Water SRF Loans – So Easy, An Intern Can Do It! – William Rice, Project Manager, Charlotte Water
10:00-10:30 What Unprecedented Federal Water Investments Mean Now and For the Future – Wayne Hofmann, Client Funding Manager, Wade Trim
10:30-11:45 Panel Discussion: IIJA Fund Distribution – Moderated by Mae Stevens, Senior Vice President, Banner Public Affairs
- William Rice, Project Manager, Charlotte Water
- Michael Deane, Chief, Clean Water State Revolving Fund, U.S. EPA
- Zack Perconti, Principal, Government Affairs, National Utility Contractors Association
11:45 – 1:00 Lunch – Featuring welcome remarks from Ashley Campbell, SL Environmental Law (Lunch Sponsor)
Afternoon Session: Revenue, Rates, Affordability
1:00-1:30 Cash Reserve Strategies and Policies – Doug Baldessari, CPA, Partner, Baker Tilly Municipal Advisors, LLC & Nick Dragisich, P.E., Managing Director, Baker Tilly Municipal Advisors, LLC
1:30-2:00 An Alternative Water Pricing Model for Equity & Resilience – Andrew Burnham, Vice President, Management & Technology Consulting, Stantec
2:00-2:30 How to Gain Buy-In for Rate Increases – Samantha Villegas, APR, Director of Strategic Communication Services, Raftelis
2:30-3:00 WIFIA Program Update/How WIFIA Can Mitigate Funding Constraints – Mia Billetdeaux, Financial Analyst, WIFIA Program, U.S. EPA
3:00-3:30 Networking Break
3:30-5:00 Panel Discussion: Inflation and Impact of Economy on Local Water Infrastructure – Moderated by Andrew Burnham, Vice President, Management & Technology Consulting, Stantec
- Calvin Farr, Jr., P.E., General Manager & CEO, Prince William County Service Authority
- Wayne Hofmann, Client Funding Manager, Wade Trim
- Karen Pallansch, General Manager & CEO, Alexandria Renew Enterprises
- Lola Oyeyemi, Director, Budget, DC Water
5:00-6:30 Evening Reception
Day 2 – August 18, 2022
Morning Session: Financial Readiness Amid Regulatory Compliance; Water Quality Issues
*Note new 8:30 a.m. start time
8:30-9:00 Financial Considerations Related to Lead and Copper Rule Communications – Mike McGill, President, WaterPIO/LeadCopperRule.com
9:00-9:30 PFAS & Emerging Contaminants: How Polluters Are Paying Municipalities for Water Remediation Costs – Ashley Campbell, Attorney, SL Environmental Law Group
9:30-10:00 Trends in 10-K Reporting of Environmental Liabilities and ESG Metrics – Frances Schlosstein, President, The TBLS Group & Robin Kelliher, Esq., Group Counsel, USI
10:00-10:30 Networking Break
10:30–11:45 Panel Discussion: Survival Strategies for Water/Sewer Utilities: Compliance, Funding, Workforce – Moderated by Andrew Farr, Managing Editor, Water Finance & Management
- Erica Brown, Chief Strategy and Sustainability Officer, Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies
- G. Tracy Mehan III, Executive Director of Government Affairs, American Water Works Association
- Mike McGill, President, WaterPIO/LeadCopperRule.com
11:45-1:00 Lunch
Afternoon Session: Addressing Current Challenges through Finance & Technology
1:00-1:30 Financing Sewer Extensions for Customers in Unserved and Underserved Communities – Joe Beach, Deputy General Manager for Administration, Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission
1:30-2:00 How Infrequent Issuers Can Benefit from Enhanced Investor Transparency – Ted Damutz, Regional Director, BondLink
2:00 Closing Remarks