Annual Virtual Event

Deb Haaland served from 2021 to 2025 as the United States Secretary of the Interior. She was the first Native American Cabinet secretary in US history. Deb is a 35th-generation New Mexican, a member of the Pueblo of Laguna, a small businesswoman, a working mother, and a former congresswoman. Deb brings her personal experience as a military kid, a single mom, and a Pueblo woman to stand up for working families, Native and underserved communities, and to address the climate crisis. 

Sara G. Larsen, CEO of Open ET, brings decade-long leadership in water data built on an extensive foundation in engineering and water resource management. After early roles with the State of Utah and the Provo River Water Users Association, she earned a Master’s in Civil Engineering and Water Resources from the University of Utah. She is steeped in the core issues and key partnership pathways to addressing water management pressures in the American West and beyond. From 2019 to 2024, she served as Deputy Director and Chief Engineer for the Upper Colorado River Commission, where she managed multidisciplinary teams on crucial Colorado River Basin initiatives, including modeling, consumptive use estimation, water conservation program implementation, data infrastructure development, and more.

Dr. Newsha Ajami is an internationally recognized expert in sustainable water resource management, smart cities, water policy, and finance. Currently, she serves as the Chief Strategic Development Officer for Research in the Earth and Environmental Sciences Area (EESA) at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBL) where she spearheads interdisciplinary and impact-driven research initiatives at the nexus of water, energy, and climate. Over the years, she has led groundbreaking research using data science principles to study the human and policy dimensions of resilient urban water and hydrologic systems, particularly in the context of a changing climate.

Christoph Lohr, P.E., IAPMO’s Vice President of Technical Services and Research, provides industry leadership by participating in strategic initiatives and offering technical support to all IAPMO business units. With over a decade of experience in designing plumbing systems, Christoph is a results-oriented expert, especially in the field of balancing waterborne pathogen prevention and water sustainability. His focused approach aims to identify long-term, holistic solutions that positively impact public health and safety. Christoph, a distinguished graduate from the Virginia Military Institute with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, actively shapes the industry through speaking engagements and writing.

Suzy Kummer, Group Category Manager, leads the Connected Leak Detection Category for Fortune Brands Innovation. She joined Fortune Brands and Moen in 2015 and is responsible for leading and growing the development of the smart water security platform across Moen and the rest of Fortune Brands. Prior to joining Fortune Brands Innovations, Suzy was at TTI Floorcare – where she spent time developing her love for product and category management working on various brands such as Hoover, Dirt Devil and Oreck vacuums.

Cindy is a Senior Government Affairs Regional Manager with the Southwest Florida Water Management. In that role, she works collaboratively with local governments and constituents addressing various water resource related issues, concerns and opportunities. Cindy works to engage local governments in the Florida Water Star program, which has resulted in significant water savings in one of the nation’s fastest growing geographic areas.  Recognizing that water conservation alone cannot wholly meet the incredible demand in such a high growth situation, Cindy also works with collaborators to deliver alternative water supplies projects.

As Lead Communications Strategist for the Southwest Florida Water Management District for 15+ years, Robin Grantham oversees water conservation education efforts. Robin administers the Florida Water Star℠ program, a chief water conservation effort that has led to nearly 3 billion gallons of water savings every year. Robin also manages social research programs that are used to design messages and education programs that lead to the conservation and protection of water resources. A few of the many campaigns resulting from this research include “My Home. My Springs”, “It’s my Life’s Work” and “One Water Florida”, as well as perception surveys and numerous other studies related to water resources.

Katherine Jashinski manages the Onsite Water Reuse & Reclaimed Water Development Program for the City of Austin. Her team is responsible for implementing the City’s onsite water reuse and reclaimed water initiatives through ordinance development, plan review and permitting, and regulatory oversight. Katherine has a Master of Science in Environmental and Water Resources Engineering from University to Texas at Austin and has held various water reuse planning and regulatory roles at Austin Water for the past 14 years. She is a member of the National Blue Ribbon Commission for Onsite Non-potable Water Systems which was created to advance the best practices of onsite water reuse systems in the U.S.

Joaquin Murrieta-Saldivar, PhD, is the Cultural Ecologist Director at Watershed Management Group (WMG) since 2013. WMG is a local nonprofit organization that develops community-based solutions to ensure the long-term prosperity of people and health in the environment. Joaquin is responsible for managing a variety of community-based projects, with an emphasis on the interface of water, people, and culture. Specifically, Dr. Murrieta looks at the role of urban-built environments in the overall management and health of watersheds and communities. Primary responsibilities of the job include managing the schoolyard and Faith Based Organizations program, international and U.S.-Mexico border region, expanding and coordinating activities with Native cultures of the Sonoran Desert, and leading rain water management project implementation and strategies.

Kevin is the Senior State Water Efficiency Specialist at the Colorado Water Conservation Board and has worked in this position since 2009. He provides technical and financial assistance to water providers across Colorado for water efficiency planning and implementation, assists local governments on land use and water efficiency integration, works on long range statewide water supply and demand forecasting and develops statewide water efficiency policy through research and projects.  Kevin received his Bachelor of Science from Colorado State University in Recreation Resources Management and an M.S. degree in Forest Ecology and Management from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In between he served in the Peace Corps in Honduras, Central America working in Pico Bonito National Park. During graduate school, he focused on social and cultural aspects of forest management and conducted his Master's thesis research in Colorado, surveying landowners on their knowledge of and orientation to wildfire mitigation education and practices. Kevin worked for Aurora Water for 7 years as the Water Conservation Supervisor overseeing all aspects of the water conservation division.

Amanda Hatherly is the CEO of the Building Performance Institute. Prior to joining BPI in 2024, she managed a workforce education and training energy efficiency and electrification program for a California utility. She has over 15 years’ experience in the home performance industry and, as Director of the EnergySmart Academy at Santa Fe Community College, helped develop WERS, commercial and restaurant training. She was also part of the original WERS development team in Santa Fe.

Mary Ann Dickinson is the Director of Land and Water Policy for the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, where she works on the better integration of land and water policy in the US and globally. Prior to joining the Lincoln Institute, she was the founder and President/CEO for 15 years of the Alliance for Water Efficiency, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the efficient and sustainable use of water in the United States and Canada. A graduate of the University of Connecticut with a degree in environmental planning and Master’s coursework in environmental management with over 50 years of professional experience in the water and land conservation fields, Mary Ann has served in numerous local, national, and international organizations. 

She is the past Chair of the Efficient Urban Water Management Specialist Group for the International Water Association, past Chair of the American Water Works Association National Water Conservation Division, past President of the California Irrigation Institute, past President of the Lake Arrowhead Community Services District, and past Treasurer of the Texas Water Foundation. She currently serves as Co-Chair of the Water and Planning Network at the American Planning Association, and as the Executive Director of the California Irrigation Institute.

Laura Allen is the co-founder of Greywater Action, where she educates about sustainable water solutions through trainings and online classes. She authored Greywater, Green Landscape and The Water-Wise Home: How to Capture, Conserve, and Reuse Water in Your Home and Landscape. Laura is a technical advisory committee member for the International Association of Mechanical and Plumbing Officials’ (IAPMO) Water Efficiency Standard (We-STAND).

Jacob Atalla is Vice President of Innovation and Sustainability at KB Home, where he works across the enterprise to deliver leading sustainability programs and initiatives, including building homes that can promote the health of their residents as well as the environment.

Educated as an architect, Jacob has over 35 years’ experience with technology and green building. He draws on this deep expertise to develop forward-looking ESG initiatives, and to lead the preparation of KB Home’s annual sustainability report. 

Jacob progressively developed a deep and dynamic portfolio of programs and initiatives that yielded the most ENERGY STAR certified and WaterSense labeled homes in the nation. 

Jacob serves on the board of directors for Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET).  Working with RESNET and other organizations, Jacob helped in the development of ANSI/RESNET/ICC 850-2020 Standard for the calculation of the water use performance of homes.

Jenice Montoya-Eades is a tenth generation native New Mexican.  She graduated from UNM’s Anderson School of Business and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and a Master Degree in Organizational Management.

Jenice has been a licensed contractor holding a GB-98 since 2001. Over the course of her 30-year career, she has worked with and for Local, Custom and National Builders in the Albuquerque Metro Area.  She has held many different positions within her Home Building career spanning from accounting to General Manager and VP of Construction.  Jenice keenly understands residential construction needs from all angles of the industry.

Jenice currently serves the New Mexico HBA in the capacity of President and actively supports the UNM Student Chapter, Lobo Builders.

Paula Kehoe is the Director of Water Resources for the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC). She is responsible for diversifying San Francisco’s local water supply portfolio through the development and implementation of conservation, groundwater, and recycled water programs. Paula spearheaded the landmark legislation allowing for the collection, treatment, and use of alternate water sources in buildings and districts within San Francisco. Paula also leads the National Blue Ribbon Comission for Onsite Water Systems, leading the industry in onsite non-potable water systems. Previously, she worked as the Assistant to the General Manager of the SFPUC and supported the utility’s $4.8 billion capital improvement program designed to rebuild and repair the third largest water delivery system in California. As Public Education Director for the SFPUC’s Water Pollution Prevention Program, Paula received six state and national awards. Paula holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Colorado, Boulder and a Master of Science from the University of San Francisco.

Alisha is co-founder and CEO of RainStick Shower, a clean technology company committed to cutting residential water usage in half. Rainstick is a high-flow shower system of 3GPM that saves 80% water and 80% energy through point-of-use recirculation and real-time cleansing. Alisha holds an MSc in Climate Change and Development and a Bachelor in International Business, majoring in Sustainability. In 2020, she came first place in the Communitech's Fierce Founder's Competition and is also the recipient of the Caldwell Partner's Future CEO Award, Royals Roads Leadership Award, and the TD Sustainability Award. She has spent time working, studying and living in Kenya, China, The Netherlands, the United States and Canada, where she currently lives today.

Alisha is co-founder and CEO of RainStick Shower, a clean technology company committed to cutting residential water usage in half. Rainstick is a high-flow shower system of 3GPM that saves 80% water and 80% energy through point-of-use recirculation and real-time cleansing. Alisha holds an MSc in Climate Change and Development and a Bachelor in International Business, majoring in Sustainability. In 2020, she came first place in the Communitech's Fierce Founder's Competition and is also the recipient of the Caldwell Partner's Future CEO Award, Royals Roads Leadership Award, and the TD Sustainability Award. She has spent time working, studying and living in Kenya, China, The Netherlands, the United States and Canada, where she currently lives today.

Katherine Jashinski manages the Onsite Water Reuse & Reclaimed Water Development Program for the City of Austin. Her team is responsible for implementing the City’s onsite water reuse and reclaimed water initiatives through ordinance development, plan review and permitting, and regulatory oversight. Katherine has a Master of Science in Environmental and Water Resources Engineering from University to Texas at Austin and has held various water reuse planning and regulatory roles at Austin Water for the past 14 years. She is a member of the National Blue Ribbon Commission for Onsite Non-potable Water Systems which was created to advance the best practices of onsite water reuse systems in the U.S.

For the past 18 years, Mr. Marcello has worked for the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) where he currently serves as the Senior Vice President of Training and Credential Services where he oversees all of the organization’s training and professional certification programs across several departments and subsidiaries. He also serves on several organizational committees and is the staff liaison for many of IAPMO’s volunteer committees. Additionally, he serves on the executive management committee for the International Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Foundation (IWSH), IAPMO’s charitable foundation.

Carlos is a Senior Water Resources Project Manager at Maddaus Water Management with 18 years of experience in water resources management and community development. He specializes in utility operations, environmental and social governance, demand management, water loss, CII conservation, non-functional turfgrass strategies, climate resiliency, policy, and strategic planning. His expertise includes conducting water loss audits, developing conservation plans, and managing integrated water resources and demand management strategies.

Before joining Maddaus, Carlos served as Water Conservation Manager for the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority (ABCWUA), where he managed conservation projects and developed policies. 

Jonah Schein is National Program Manager for Homes & Buildings for the EPA's WaterSense Program. Jonah is an experienced water efficiency professional working on national and international water issues. Jonah has sepnt over a decade leading the technical direction and development of WaterSense, the EPA's water efficiency program. He holds a Master's degree in Environmental Science & Policy from The Johns Hopkins University.

Glenn Schiffbauer, a native New Mexican, received his BBA from New Mexico State University and his MBA from the Robert O. Anderson School of Management at the University of New Mexico. In 2005, he was hired as liaison and project manager for Robert Redford in New Mexico working on a variety of projects in film, government and sustainable construction. In October of 2012, he became the Executive Director for the newly founded Santa Fe Green Chamber of Commerce (SFGCC). The Green Chamber has grown to 180 business members. Mr. Schiffbauer has co-chaired the organization to co-host the Next Generation Water Summit for 7 years, a conference dedicated to water conservation that attracts speakers and attendees from around the world. Arising from that conference came a partnership between the SFGCC and the City of Santa Fe to develop and institute the country’s only Restaurant Water Conservation Program, that expanded to other businesses in 2023. Mr. Schiffbauer was also appointed to the NM Economic Department Sustainable Economic Advisory Council.

Carol is serving in her second term on the Santa Fe City Council. Her maternal roots span generations in the Mora Valley of New Mexico. She has degrees from Colorado College, the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas in Austin, and the University of New Mexico Law School. For over thirty years, Carol has worked as a public policy consultant on water, environment, and sustainability issues. She has been active in the Santa Fe community serving on many non-profit boards. Carol and her husband, Peter, raised two children in Santa Fe and practice law together at The Wirth Law Firm, PC. Her City Committee Assignments include: Chair, Finance Committee; Chair, Water Conservation Committee; Vice Chair, Buckman Direct Diversion Board; Member of Public Works, and Public Utilities Committee, as well as Governing Body Parliamentarian.