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