Program Committee

Greg Baird, MPA, is principal consultant, Global Advisory – Strategic Advisory/Rates & Regulatory, Black & Veatch Management Consulting, LLC. He specializes in long-term utility planning, infrastructure asset management and capital funding strategies for municipal utilities in the United States. He has served as a municipal finance officer in California with rate design and implementation experience and as the CFO of Colorado’s third-largest utility. He is widely published and presents on utility infrastructure asset management and integrated water finance issues. He is also a frequent contributor to Water Finance & Management.

Nicolette N. Bateson, CPA, is the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Treasurer for the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA). She previously served as CFO of the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department, beginning in February 2013. In that role, she led the Financial Services Group through a significant transformation effort engaging cross-functional teams to achieve sustainable change. The result was a professionalized department with an unprecedented demonstration of transparency to all stakeholders. This pivotal effort supported intensive, collaborative discussions that were essential to forming the regional authority.

Andrew Burnham is a vice president and director of management and technology consulting at Stantec, where he helps lead operations and business development activities for the group. Burnham and his team provide financial planning, cost allocation, fee development and feasibility studies necessary to support the funding of local government services. Burnham has assisted with utility rate-related regulatory proceedings in multiple states and territories.

Joe Crea serves as senior manager in Raftelis’ Cincinnati office and his work focuses on helping municipal utilities manage the myriad financial and managerial efforts required to maintain sustainable and effective service delivery. With more than 10 years of experience in the utility industry, Crea has developed a thorough understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing water and wastewater utilities.

As Wade Trim’s client funding director, Wayne Hofmann assists his clients to position for and pursue emerging funding sources to meet infrastructure needs. His understanding of federal, state, and private funding sources includes both civil infrastructure and commercial construction in his 15-year career. This varied experience has enabled a unique understanding of how governmental programs, philanthropic funding sources, tax credits and loans can be leveraged.

Chris Hornback joined NACWA in 2001 and is currently the Deputy CEO, responsible for tracking relevant regulatory issues and formulating NACWA regulatory policy. He oversees the Association’s efforts related to water quality, wet weather, biosolids, and utility management. Hornback coordinates the activities of six standing committees and workgroups and manages the Association’s Targeted Action Fund. Prior to joining NACWA, Hornback worked as a Senior Associate with Booz/Allen/Hamilton, a multinational management consulting firm.

Robert Ryall leads Arcadis’ Financial Services Practice. He is responsible for national financial services program development, expansion of business development capabilities, supervising a team of consulting colleagues, managing project teams, leading business development efforts and providing consulting excellence.

Sophia Skoda is director of finance for the East Bay Municipal Utility District, which provides high-quality drinking water for 1.4 million customers in Alameda and Contra Costa counties in California. The district also provides wastewater treatment service to the San Francisco Bay area, serving 740,000 customers. Skoda has been with East Bay MUD since 2006 when she was a senior civil engineer. She then served as treasury manager until her current role as finance director since 2015.