Local Events

Local Events

Financing Workshop

Thursday, June 5
1:00pm to 4:00pm MT
Location TBD

Funding for anything environmental has all but been stripped away at the federal level. The ramifications are about to be felt at the state and local level. How will water infrastructure projects continue?

The panel will share information on what funding and technical assistance resources still exist, and answer your questions regarding how to access the money and ensure your water system (drinking water, wastewater, stormwater) can meet public and environmental health regulations and provide reliable, sustainable service to your customers.

Panelists will include:

Ryan Mast
Ryan Mast Infrastructure Partner and Senior Advisor, Sustainability Partners LLC

Ryan Mast serves as SP’s Infrastructure Partner in New Mexico and southwest region. Mr. Mast has over 15 years of experience in the public sector developing and implementing forward-leaning projects that improve outcomes in the communities for which he served.Prior to joining SP, he was the Director of the Environmental Health Department for the City of Albuquerque where he led the city’s Sustainability, Air Quality and Environmental Health Science and Engineering programs. Through his efforts, he strengthened the city’s resilience to environmental hazards and enhanced sustainability practices throughout all city programs.

Lia Clark
Community Engagement Manager at Water Finance Exchange (WFX)

Lia currently works as the Community Engagement Manager for the Texas Water Infrastructure Fund at Water Finance Exchange. She combines her engineering expertise with her passion for social justice to work with underserved and overburdened communities improving their ability to obtain equitable, affordable, and safe water and sanitation services. She utilizes her background in community-based research and locally-led development to integrate ethics and empathy into the engineering practice.

Glenn Schiffbauer, Chair
Executive Director at Santa Fe Green Chamber of Commerce

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.

Sydney Lienemann
NM Environment Department

Sydney Lienemann has over ten years of scientific research and policy experience with a focus on clean energy, energy security, and climate resiliance. In addition, she has extensive experience in clean energy strategic planning and policy development as well as leading the development of and managing clean energy projects promoting climate-friendly investment.

Ramon Lucero, Jr.
Regional Field Manager – RCAC
President, El Valle Water Alliance

Ramon Lucero joined RCAC in 2020. He supervises, supports, and coordinates field staff and their activities in Arizona and New Mexico; manages relationships with funders; and conducts outreach to philanthropic partners and state and federal agencies to maintain positive working relationships. His responsibilities include working with the Grants and Contracts Administration (GCA) department and other regional managers to optimize service delivery and program growth and provide quality control and oversight of activities.

Mr. Lucero has more than 20 years of experience managing the funding, planning, design, implementation, and operation and management of water and wastewater system infrastructure improvement projects for municipalities and rural communities in the state of New Mexico.
Rebecca Roose
Senior Infrastructure Advisor, Office of Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham

Rebecca Roose (she/her) has over 18 years of experience in water policy and infrastructure and currently provides consulting services to the Thornburg Foundation on water policy initiatives. In 2022, Rebecca served on the Executive Committee of the New Mexico Water Policy and Infrastructure Task Force. As Deputy Cabinet Secretary of Program Administration at the New Mexico Environment Department (2021-2022), Rebecca guided key policy and regulatory priorities, including state and federal public health and environmental initiatives, and served as the Department’s lead on infrastructure investments. Previously, Rebecca served two years as the Department’s Water Protection Division Director, where she led surface and groundwater quality, drinking water protection, and wastewater infrastructure finance programs for the State. Prior to joining NMED, Rebecca worked for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for over 13 years. At EPA Headquarters, she devoted 11 years to supporting EPA, states, and Tribes with implementation of the Clean Water Act and other federal programs. During her last two years at EPA, she served as Senior Advisor for Tribal Capacity Development in the American Indian Environmental Office. Rebecca earned her law degree and natural resources law certificate from the University of New Mexico and her bachelor’s degree in Geography from Valparaiso University.
Dr. Patricia Sullivan
Moderator NMSU SCERC

WERS Multifamily Course
Tuesday, June 3 – Wednesday, June 4
10:00am to 4:00pm MT – Tuesday – Classroom Session
Santa Fe Area Homebuilders Association office
2520 Camino Entrada, Santa Fe, NM 87507
3:00pm to 6:00pm MT – Wednesday – Field Training
Location: TBD

Open to existing water auditors and WERS Verifiers, this course is ideal for those who would like to conduct WERS verifications on multifamily projects, or assist in the decision-making process alongside builders, developers and architects.

This training is FREE with a paid, on-site Summit registration and is offered in conjunction with Triconic, the NGWS’ Education Partner.

Please note that transportation will be needed to both sites. Lunch is provided on Tuesday. For more information on this class, please click here.

Thursday, June 5
5:30 to 7:30 pm MT
Annual Reception
Governor’s Mansion, 1 Mansion Dr., Santa Fe, NM 87501

Summit registrants are welcome, but you must RSVP via the event registration form in order to enter. Hors d’oeuvres will be served. The NGWS Organizing Committee will present the 2025 water conservation awards.

All Tours Will Take Place on Saturday, June 7
9:00am to 11:00pm MT
The New Waterwise Garden Tour
Water Conservation Office
801 W. San Mateo Rd. (next to sidewalk in front of Public Utilities Building) in Santa Fe

Join us for The New Waterwise Garden Tour, launching at 801 W San Mateo (next to the sidewalk in front of the Public Utilities building). This self-guided tour highlights a series of native plant and pollinator-friendly gardens, with staff and community partners on-site to answer questions and share expertise. Giveaways include shut-off nozzles, native seeds, and planting guides to help implement water-wise practices at home.

For more information on the City’s efforts, visit www.savewatersantafe.com


11:30pm to 1:00pm MT
Drip Irrigation Workshop
The Firebird
1808 Espinacitas St., Santa Fe, NM 87505

Firebird Santa Fe will host a Drip Irrigation Workshop, led by Firebird’s expert staff. Participants will learn how to install and maintain DIY drip irrigation systems—an essential technique for efficient outdoor watering in Santa Fe’s arid climate. Attendees will receive a free drip irrigation guide to support continued success in their gardens.


2:00pm to 3:00pm MT
Plant and Tree Selection Workshop
Plants of the Southwest
3095 Agua Fria St., Santa Fe, NM 87507

The Plant & Tree Selection Workshop at Plants of the Southwest will wrap up the day. This session will explore how to choose the right trees and plants for Santa Fe’s changing climate, with giveaways including a Tree Selection Guide and a Native Plant Guide. Attendees will also receive 10% off for participating in the workshop.


In addition to various giveaways, event participants will be entered to win a rain barrel. For each stop they make on Saturday, June 7, participants will receive a raffle ticket, increasing their chances of winning the rain barrel.