7:00 AM
Registration Open & Continental Breakfast
8:15 AM
Welcome Remarks / Introductions
8:30 AM
Opening Keynote: Revenue Stability – Yes, It’s Achievable!
Joseph Olsen, P.E., General Manager, Metropolitan Domestic Water Improvement District (Tucson)
9:00 AM
Financing Water Projects, Affordability Programs & Enhancing the Customer Experience in Phoenix
Holly Rosenthal, Assistant Water Services Director, City of Phoenix
9:30 AM
Implementing A Differential Rate Structure in Tucson
Amber Kerwin, General Service Deputy Director, Tucson Water
Colin Jones, Business and Organizational Development Services Administrator, Tucson Water
10:00 AM
Break
10:15 AM
Groundwater Management, Affordability & Financial Sustainability Planning in Soquel Creek Water District (CA)
Kevin Kostiuk, Senior Manager, Raftelis
10:45 AM
Panel 1: Western Water Challenges & How to Solve Them
- Moderated by: Greg Baird, MPA, Principal Consultant, Black & Veatch Management Consulting
- Brian Biesemeyer, Interim Executive Director, WateReuse Association
- Thomas Cain, Executive Chairman, Sustainability Partners
- Holly Rosenthal, Assistant Water Services Director, City of Phoenix
12:00 AM
Networking Luncheon at SkySong featuring Paul Brierley, Director, Arizona Department of Agriculture
1:30 PM
Arizona’s Long-Term Water Augmentation Fund & Water Conservation Grant Funds
Chelsea McGuire, Director, Water Infrastructure Finance Authority of Arizona
2:00 PM
Effects of Drought on Urban Water Utility Finances
Hope Hauptman, Ph.D., Project Scientist, California Institute for Water Resources
2:30 PM
Financing Water in the West Amid Supply Challenges & Non-Revenue Water
Heather Himmelberger, Director, Southwest Environmental Finance Center-University of New Mexico
3:00 PM
Central Arizona Project Rates & Local Level Financial Implications of Colorado River Cutbacks
Douglas Dunlap, CPA, Finance and Accounting Manager, Central Arizona Project
3:30 PM
Break
4:00 PM
Panel 2: Affordability and Rate Planning in the West
- Moderated by: Marc Pitcher, Director of Sales, Synario
- Eric Braun, Deputy Town Manager, Gilbert, Arizona
- Heather Himmelberger, Director, Southwest Environmental Finance Center-University of New Mexico
- Joseph Olsen, P.E., General Manager, Metropolitan Domestic Water Improvement District (Tucson)
5:00 PM
Evening Reception, Element Scottsdale at SkySong
August 6, 2025
7:00 AM
Registration Open & Continental Breakfast
8:00 AM
Financial Strategies for Utility CFOs Navigating Change Management: AMI Focus
Jacob Jasperson, Senior Advisor, Utility Metering Solutions, LLC
8:30 AM
Dealing with Increasing Costs; Positive Vendor Relations and Getting Multiple Bids
Nicolette N. Bateson, CPA, Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer, Great Lakes Water Authority
9:00 AM
Understanding & Managing Assets from a Business View
Tacoma Zach, CEO, MentorAPM
9:30 AM
Break
10:00 AM
Federal Funding Update; Status of SRFs, BIL Funding, etc.
Wayne Hofmann, Client Funding Director, Wade Trim
10:30 AM
Panel 3: Overcoming Hurdles in Applying for/Obtaining Federal Funding
- Wayne Hofmann, Client Funding Director, Wade Trim
12:00 AM
Networking Luncheon at SkySong
1:00 PM
Rate Scenarios & How to Test the Effect on Forecasts
Marc Pitcher, Director of Sales, Synario
1:30 PM
Doing More with Your Data: Scaling the Impact of Smart Water for Utilities & Customers
Dr. Ellie Graeden, Chief Data and Product Officer, Metron
2:00 PM
Panel 4: De-Mystifying Asset Management & Bridging the Gap with Finance
- Tacoma Zach, CEO, MentorAPM
- Greg Baird, MPA, Principal Consultant, Black & Veatch Management Consulting
3:00 PM
Q&A & Conference Wrap Up Session