7:00 AM
Registration Open & Breakfast at Fritz Knoebel Events Center at University of Denver
9:00 AM
Tour of Denver Water’s Operation’s Complex (Optional)
Take a behind-the-scenes tour of Denver Water’s Operations Complex. Located just west of downtown Denver, the 34-acre campus serves as Denver Water’s headquarters and operational hub, supporting water service across 10 counties. Attendees will get a firsthand look at the facilities and infrastructure that keep one of the nation’s leading water utilities running efficiently every day. The tour is included in the conference but is limited to 20 participants per tour, with two tours scheduled (40 total participants.)
Course registration is required to attend the tour.
12:00 PM
Networking Luncheon at Fritz Knoebel Events Center at University of Denver
1:00 PM
Opening Keynote: Implementing AWWA’s Water2050 Initiatives, Drought Contingency Financing & More
David LaFrance, Chief Executive Officer, American Water Works Association (AWWA)
1:30 PM
Assessing AWWA’s ‘Beyond the Replacement Era’ Report: What the Findings Mean for Your System
Greg Baird, MPA, Principal Utility Financial Consultant, Black & Veatch
2:00 PM
Rent Due: Implementing a Capacity Rental Charge to Curb Overuse and Protect Future Supply
Elizabeth Gillitzer-Gallardo, Manager of Rates and Charges, Aurora Water
Jason Mumm, Sr. Director of Infrastructure Finance, Brown and Caldwell
2:30 PM
Break
3:00 PM
Enhancing Affordability and Customer Assistance Program Access in the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District
Ken Duplay, Chief Financial Officer, Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District
3:30 PM
From Spreadsheet Chaos to Financial Clarity: How Laguna Beach Transformed Capital Program Management
Heather Rhee, Manager of Engineering, Laguna Beach County Water District (CA)
4:00-5:00 PM
Panel Discussion: Balancing Customer Affordability & Evolving Regional Water Challenges
Moderated by: Todd Cristiano, Vice President, Raftelis
- Angela Bricmont, Chief Financial Officer, Denver Water
- Ken Duplay, Chief Financial Officer, Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District
- Mandy Lemig, Budget & Policy Coordinator, City of Westminster, CO
- Pieter Van Ry, Director, South Platte Renew and City of Englewood Utilities
5:00-6:30 PM
Evening Reception
Wednesday August 5, 2026
7:00 AM
Registration Open & Breakfast
8:00-9:00
Morning Panel – Data Centers & Municipal Water: Challenge or Huge Opportunity?
- Lauren Barbir, Associate Vice President & Business Development Director, HDR
- David Hyder, Senior Principal, Management & Technology Consulting: Financial Management, Stantec
- Brenton McCloskey, Director of Strategic Development and Communications, The Water Center, University of Pennsylvania
9:00-9:30
A.I. Primer
Tacoma Zach, Co-founder & CEO, MentorAPM
9:30-10:00
Break
10:00-10:30
Advanced Metering Infrastructure in Tucson
Silvia Amparano, Deputy Director, Tucson Water
10:30-11:00
The AMI Project Planning Illusion
Jacob Jasperson, Senior Advisor, UMS
11:00-11:30
Update on Federal Funding, Spending Authorizations, and Inflation Impacts
Presented by the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA)
11:30-12:15
Panel – Federal Funding Discussion: Status of Federal Programs & Overcoming Local Implementation Hurdles
Moderated by: Cole Sullivan, Consultant, Stantec
- Keith McLaughlin, Executive Director, Colorado Water Resources and Power Development Authority
- Ryan Patton, AVP-Analyst, Global Project and Infrastructure Finance, Moody’s Ratings
- Sarah Stone, Deputy Director – Business Solutions and Engineering, City of Englewood, CO
12:15-1:00
Networking Luncheon at Fritz Knoebel Events Center at University of Denver
1:00-1:30
Targeted Wastewater Affordability Programs at Louisville MSD
Yozette Borges, Revenue and Collections Manager, Louisville MSD
Debra Johnson, Customer Assistance Program Administrator, Louisville MSD
1:30-2:00
How to Increase Revenue Without Raising Rates
Gary Sanders, Utility Billing Consultant
2:00-2:30
The Future of Water Reuse: Short and Long-Term Outlook
Erik Jorgensen, P.E., Water Resource Project Manager, Parker Water & Sanitation District and Past President, WateReuse Colorado
2:30-3:00
Conference Wrap-Up: Thoughts on Current Potential for Consolidation/Regionalization/Privatization & Open Discussion
Greg Baird, MPA, Principal Utility Financial Consultant, Black & Veatch