1NEW CHALLENGES, NEW BEGINNINGS
NEW CHALLENGES, NEW BEGINNINGSCWA 2019
California Water Association Annual Conference | Monterey, California
NOVEMBER 13 - 15, 2019Monterey Plaza Hotel, 400 Cannery Row
WWW.CALWATERASSN.COM/EVENT/2019-ANNUAL-CONFERENCE
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 201911:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.CWA Water Quality Committee Meeting (Members Only)Location: John Steinbeck
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Buffet LunchLocation: Monterey Bay
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.CWA-Cal PA-WD Regulatory/Public Policy Seminar (Members Only)Location: Carmel 2
3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.CWA Small Company Seminar (Members Only)Location: Carmel 1
3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.CWA Public Information Committee Meeting (Members Only)Location: John Steinbeck
6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.Opening DinnerLocation: The Chart House, 444 Cannery Row
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2019All Thursday sessions will take place in the Monterey Bay room unless otherwise noted
7:45 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.Registration/Meet and Greet Breakfast (Sponsored by Meruelo Enterprises and Doty Bros. Construction Company)
8:45 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.Opening RemarksEvan Jacobs, CWA First Vice President, Director of Regulatory Policy and Case Management, California American Water
9:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.CWA’s Year in ReviewKeith Switzer, CWA President; Vice President, Golden State Water
9:15 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.A New Beginning for the Right to Human WaterHonorable Bill Monning, California State Senate (D-Monterey; 17th District)
9:45 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. New Priorities for the Metropolitan Water DistrictGloria Gray, Chairwoman, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (Keynote Speaker Sponsored by Cerrell Associates)
10:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.Networking Break (Sponsored by Subsurface Technologies, Inc. and Layne, A Granite Company)
10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.Lessons Learned for the Administrator ProgramRuss Bryden, Principal Engineer, Los Angeles County Public Works
Martha Guzman Aceves was appointed Commissioner at the CPUC by Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. on Dec. 28, 2016. She has focused on issues related to fuel switching, broadband access, water affordability, access to distributed solar and various other energy
and telecommunications issues. She previously served as deputy legislative affairs secretary in the Office of the Governor since 2011, focusing on natural resources, environmental protection, energy and food and agriculture. She was sustainable communities program director for the California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation from 2005 to 2011. From 2006 to 2008, she worked with Swanton Berry Farm on human resources issues including a new employee-stock ownership program. She was legislative coordinator for United Farm Workers from 1999 to 2005, working on labor and environmental issues. In 2010, she co-founded Communities for a New California, a charitable organization promoting increased civic engagement of underrepresented communities. Guzman Aceves earned a Master of Science degree in agricultural and resource economics from the University of California, Davis, and a Bachelor of Science in International Economics from Georgetown University.
Jeanne Boyce is the Director of the Government Segment at SCE. She leads a team of managers whose teams support Federal, State, City, County, hospital, agriculture and water customers served by SCE. These customers include some of Southern California’s largest agencies and
businesses including military bases, correctional institutions, universities and colleges, acute care hospitals, water and sanitation districts, farms and dairies. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from University California San Diego in Communications, MBA from the University of Redlands and a Certificate in Innovation from M.I.T.
Russ Bryden is a Principal Engineer with Los Angeles County Public Works. He currently serves as the State-appointed Administrator for the former Sativa Water District where he oversees their day-to-day operations as well as their consolidation with a permanent water service provider. Since joining Public Works in
2000, Russ has held a variety of leadership positions dealing with both transportation and water resources planning and policy. Russ led the Public Works team that developed the County’s “Measure W,” a parcel tax approved by voters in 2018 that generates $300M annually to capture, clean, and conserve stormwater. Prior to that, he oversaw integrated, long-term planning related to water resources management. A native of Southern California, Russ attended California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering, and then later attended Cal State Long Beach where he received a Master’s Degree in Public Administration. He is a licensed civil engineer in the State of California.
Chris Catania is Co-Founder, President & CEO of Subsurface Technologies, Inc. Since 1987, Subsurface Technologies Incorporated has specialized in developing and providing 100% environmentally sound well rehabilitation methods and solutions through its operating
division, as well as with select Technology Licensees in the US and
abroad. During that period, STI has participated in more than 7,000 well rehabilitation projects worldwide. Beginning in 2001, STI further realigned its focus to preventive well maintenance, shifting much of STI’s attention to preventive, rather than reactive, well maintenance practices. This successful shift established STI as the leader in “preventive well maintenance”, through the development of Aqua Gard® preventive well maintenance systems. Chris is responsible for STI’s intellectual property portfolio, IOU relations, Business Development and Technology Licensing Agreements.
Shannon Dean, APR, Vice President of Corporate Communications and Community Relations at California Water Service, Shannon Dean is responsible for enhancing relationships and building brand loyalty with customers, community leaders, employees, and
stockholders. She oversees a dynamic team of communications, conservation, and government relations professionals who help ensure that the company communicates effectively and is responsive to the concerns of key stakeholder groups. Dean was accredited by the Public Relations Society of America in 2002. She holds a Master’s Degree in English and a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism/Public Relations from California State University, Long Beach.
Heike Doerr is a Principal Analyst with Regulatory Research Associates, a group within S&P Global Market Intelligence, where she spearheads the firm’s coverage of the water sector from both an industry and regulatory perspective. Previously, Ms. Doerr had been
Principal of Doerr Utility Strategies, a strategic consulting firm, which provided advisory services for companies and investors in the water sector. Ms. Doerr has been following the utility sector since 2002, spending time on the sell-side for more than 12 years at Robert W. Baird and Janney Montgomery Scott. In May 2009, she completed NARUC Utility Rate School to acquire a deeper understanding of rate case filings and regulatory accounting. In 2010, she received The Financial Times/Starmine Award for Top Stock Picker within the Water Utilities Space. Ms. Doerr has been quoted in numerous industry publications and regularly presents at events geared towards institutional clients, utility regulators, and utility executives. Ms. Doerr graduated from Dickinson College. She currently resides in Philadelphia with her three boys and is an active member of The Junior League of Philadelphia, Inc.
Rebekah Eggers has responsibility for IBM Global Market’s Transformation Initiatives for Energy, Environment, & Utilities and is a trusted utility industry professional based in Los Angeles with a 20-year track record of strong solution leadership. She mobilizes the IBM global and
partner ecosystem capabilities to create business value leveraging experiences managing complex initiative design while operating in intense, results focused environments. Rebekah is known for creating sustainable go-to-market and portfolio leadership for solutions that leverage data and analytics, improve operational efficiencies, and deliver customer satisfaction, ultimately enabling high performance teams. She is sought out as a strategic advisor, keynote speaker, and for engaging dialogue at industry events across the globe.
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.New Innovations in Water Utility Operations and SafetyChris Catania, President & CEO, Subsurface Technologies, Inc.Tricia Zacharisen, Vice President, San Jose Water CompanyRebekah Eggers, Business Partnerships and Transformation Executive, IBM Global Markets, Energy, Environment & UtilitiesModerator: Craig Gott, General Manager, Suburban Water Systems
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.Luncheon Session: New Challenges in the Age of Disruption(Sponsored by Blair, Church & Flynn Consulting Engineers)Introduction by Shannon Dean, Vice President of Corporate Communications and Community Relations, California Water ServiceBruce Mehlman, Founder, Mehlman Castagnetti Rosen & Thomas (Luncheon Keynote Speaker Sponsored by California Water Service Company)
1:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.Supplier Diversity UpdateJose Espinoza, CPSM, CPSD, MBA; Supplier Diversity Program Manager, California Water Service
2:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.New Challenges for California Utilities and Their Customers: The Public Safety Power Shutoff ProgramJeanne Boyce, Director of Government, Institutions & Agriculture, Southern California Edison, Business Customer Division
2:45 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.Networking Break (Sponsored by AAC Utility Partners, LLC)
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.New Risks for California’s Water UtilitiesDavid Sosa, Ph.D; Principal, Analysis GroupHeike Doerr, Principal Analyst, Standard & Poor’sTom Smegal, California Water ServiceDawn White; Water Quality Manager, Golden State Water CompanyModerator: Jack Hawks; CWA Executive Director
4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.New Directions for the California PUCMartha Guzman Aceves, Commissioner, California Public Utilities Commission
4:30 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.Closing Remarks Evan Jacobs, CWA First Vice President, Director of Regulatory Policy and Case Management, California American Water
6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.Reception (Sponsored by Nossaman LLP)Location: Carmel
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.Dinner (Sponsored by Winston & Strawn)Location: Monterey Bay
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2019All Friday sessions will take place in the Point Lobos room unless otherwise noted
7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. CWA Executive Committee Meeting & Breakfast (Members Only)
8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.CWA Annual Meeting (Members Only)
NEW CHALLENGES, NEW BEGINNINGS SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIESCWA 2019 CWA 2019
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Jose Espinoza is responsible for California Water Service’s supplier diversity goal. That is, 21.5% of all procurement sourced from minority-, woman-, disabled veteran-, and LGBT-owned businesses. He holds certificates in Leading Successful Programs, Building Diverse
Organizations - Harvard Kennedy School, Grade 2 Water Distribution Operator - California State Water Resources Control Board, and Global Logistics - Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences. Previously, a buyer in the Marine Corps, he supported military exercises in Okinawa as well as diplomatic activities in Nouakchott, Valletta, Tel Aviv and Frankfurt. Jose is fluent in French and Spanish.
Craig Gott graduated from University of Wollongong (wool-on-gong) in Australia in 2000 with a Bachelor of Civil Engineering, and University of La Verne in 2012 with an MBA.He worked for Sydney Water before moving to Los Angeles in 2001. He started with Suburban
Water Systems in 2002 working in the Engineering department. He led departments as the Vice President of Engineering, and Vice President of Field Operations. Craig has been the General Manager at Suburban since August 2018.Craig holds California P.E., D3 and T2 certifications, and is a long standing member of American Water Works Association, and American Society of Civil Engineers. He has served as the President of the San Gabriel Valley Water Association and Southern California Water Utilities Association, and as director for Main San Gabriel Watermaster, Central Basin Water Association, and San Gabriel Protective Association. Craig lives in Pasadena with his wife Heidi and two sons Lindsay and Will.
Gloria Gray took office as chairwoman of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California Board of Directors on January 1, 2019. She is the first African-American to lead the board and only the second woman to do so in the district’s 90-year history. Gray began her
career in water in 2006 when she was elected to the West Basin Municipal Water District Board of Directors. She was the first African-American woman elected to that board in its 65 years and served as board president in 2010. She represents the Division II cities of Inglewood, South Ladera Heights, Lennox and the areas of Athens, Howard and Ross-Sexton. In 2009, Gray was appointed to Metropolitan’s board of directors to serve as one of two West Basin representatives. In 2017, Gray was appointed chair of the Water Planning and Stewardship Committee which focuses on Metropolitan water projects, program and forward-looking planning for the region. While at Metropolitan, she has also served on the Executive Committee, Organization, Personnel and Technology Committee, Special Committee on Bay-Delta, and as vice chair of Communication and Legislative Committee. In April 2010, Gray was appointed by former Assembly Speaker Karen Bass to the Delta Stewardship Council, where she served a four-year term. During her tenure, she helped gain broader public input on key issues in order to develop a comprehensive Delta Plan. Before she began her work in water, Gray, an Inglewood resident, was elected to the Inglewood Unified School District Board of Education in 1995 and served as president for two terms. Gray has also served on the Association of California Water Agencies Region 8, the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission, and the Oversight Commission for the dissolution of the City of
Carson Redevelopment Agency. She was also appointed by the L.A. County Board of Supervisors to serve on a Water Quality Community Task Force, which is part of the County’s Clean Water, Clean Beaches initiative to address pollution in local waterways. Gray has been honored with various awards and distinctions over the past decade, including the “Honorable Harriett Wieder” award for leadership in water from the Southern California Water Committee, the Visionary of the Year award by Playa Vista Jobs for her work in the water industry and Leadership California’s 2019 Legacy of Service Award for her extraordinary leadership in the public sector. Gray earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in the Business Administration Program at the University of Redlands and her Health Services Management Certificate from the University of California Los Angeles. She retired as a Health Care Administrator from the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services and has been a proud union member of SEIU Local 721 for more than 30 years.
Jack Hawks is executive director of the California Water Association, which comprises investor-owned and privately owned water utilities throughout California that are regulated by the California Public Utilities Commission. Jack manages CWA’s regulatory, legislative
and communications programs, and represents the Association before the California Public Utilities Commission, the California State Legislature, the Governor’s Office, and the numerous state agencies overseeing water quality, water supply and water policy. He is currently Secretary-Treasurer of the California Urban Water Conservation Council and was a member of the Advisory Committee for the California Water Plan Update – 2009 and 2013. Prior to joining CWA, Jack worked in the natural gas pipeline and distribution utility industry, and for a national energy company, specializing in power plant siting, permitting and development, energy marketing and energy regulatory affairs. During that time, he was Board Chair of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, a voting representative on the Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Maryland Interconnection Members Committee, and an active participant in the North American Electric Reliability Corporation and the North American Energy Standards Board. Jack owns his own utility consulting firm, J.K. Hawks & Associates, Inc., which assists water utilities and competitive power producers with regulatory and legislative affairs. He attended the College of William & Mary, majoring in Political Science, and holds B.S. and MBA degrees from the University of Kansas and George Mason University.
Evan Jacobs got his start in the water industry in 2003 when he began consulting for American Water on local public policy issues. He has served as the external affairs manager for California American Water in Northern California since 2007. During the most recent
drought, Evan managed California American Water’s state drought response team and lead successful efforts to achieve a 26 percent reduction in water use. He was recently appointed to the board of the Sacramento Central Groundwater Authority. Prior to joining American Water, Evan graduated from Trinity College in Hartford, CT with a B.A. in Political Science and worked in the California Assembly and for a US Congresswoman.
Bruce Mehlman has more than two decades experience in public policy, business and the law, Bruce helps leaders understand, anticipate and navigate the public policy environment through the bipartisan public affairs company he founded, Mehlman Castagnetti. Bruce is widely-
regarded as an expert in running coalitions, quarterbacking issue campaigns and managing C-suite associations, bringing innovative approaches and relentless execution to achieve impactful outcomes. Bruce is a frequent op-ed writer and highly sought-after speaker on policy and political trends, regularly keynoting business conferences and strategic planning sessions. His quarterly infographics updates are regularly covered by national media & downloaded by tens of thousands of readers. Bruce concurrently runs the Technology CEO Council and serves as founding co-chairman of the Internet Innovation Alliance. Bruce previously served as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Technology Policy, having been nominated by President Bush and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in May 2001. He also worked as a senior leadership aide in the House of Representatives and as general counsel to a national political party committee. Recognized as one of Washington’s “top lobbyists” by Washingtonian Magazine and The Hill newspaper, Bruce also serves on the advisory boards of start-up companies FiscalNote, iHealth Engines and Virtru. An Adjunct Professor and Board Member of The Washington Campus, Bruce lectures MBA candidates on “effective business-government relations.” Bruce received a BA degree from Princeton University and a JD from the University of Virginia Law School where he served on the Virginia Law Review.
Honorable Bill Monning was elected in November of 2012 and reelected in 2016 to represent the 17th Senate District, which includes all of San Luis Obispo and Santa Cruz counties, and portions of Monterey and Santa Clara counties. Prior to that, he represented the 27th
Assembly District from 2008 to 2012, which included portions of Monterey, Santa Cruz, and Santa Clara counties. From 2015 through 2018, Senator Monning served as the Senate Majority Leader. Currently, he serves as Vice Chair of the Joint Committee on Rules, and is a member of the Senate Committees on Budget; Budget Subcommittee #2 on Resources, Environmental Protection, Energy and Transportation; Health; Joint Legislative Audit Committee; Joint Legislative Budget Committee; Judiciary; Natural Resources and Water; and Rules. He has also been appointed by the President pro Tempore of the California State Senate to represent the Senate on the California Air Resources Board. Last session, Senator Monning introduced Senate Bill 623, to provide short- and long-term drinking water solutions to Californians who lack access to safe and affordable drinking water. Approximately 300 water systems in California currently have pollutant violations that have been linked to cancer, reduced mental functioning in children, nervous system decline, miscarriages, and numerous other health issues.
Thomas F. Smegal, III is Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer of California Water Service Group, the third-largest publicly traded water and wastewater utility in the United States. Mr. Smegal joined the Group in 1997 where he has held multiple positions including,
Vice President, Regulatory Matters and Corporate Relations (2008-2012), Manager of Rates (2002-2008), and Regulatory Analyst (1997-2002). He has also served as Utilities Engineer at the California Public Utilities Commission (1990-1997). Mr. Smegal holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Stanford University
in Civil Engineering. Mr. Smegal is a member of the American Water Works Association and National Association of Water Companies.
Dr. David Sosa, Principal, Analysis Group specializes in the application of economic and statistical principles to firms, industries and markets. He is an expert in the economics of regulated industries. He has testified on a wide range of economic and regulatory issues
and provided clients with damages and valuation analyses in a broad range of litigation matters including antitrust, intellectual property, securities fraud, employment, and commercial contracts. Dr. Sosa also has conducted numerous studies of the economic impact of regulation, policy and investment on local and regional economies. Prior to joining Analysis Group, Dr. Sosa consulted to the California Energy Commission and Telcordia. He also taught financial management and microeconomics for several years at the University of California, Davis.
Keith Switzer, Vice President of the Regulatory Affairs Department at Golden State Water Company (GSWC). In his position as Regulatory Affairs Vice President he is responsible for all GSWC regulatory filings, including those for GSWC’s water operations
and its electric operations (Bear Valley Electric Service). As Vice President, he oversees the preparation of testimony and supporting materials for regulatory proceedings. He has held his current position since September 2004. Keith was initially employed by GSWC as the Special Projects/Tariff Manager in the Regulatory Affairs Department and held that position from October 2000 to September 2004. Keith Switzer earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics from California State University, Fullerton, a Master of Arts Degree in Economics from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a Masters Degree in Public Administration from the University of Southern California. In addition to his experience with GSWC, he has almost 20 year’s experience working in the area of utility regulation/rate design. Prior to joining GSWC, Keith held positions with a number of companies in the utility industry. He was employed by Southern California Edison for five years as a member of the Economics Division in the Treasurer’s Department. After leaving SCE, he worked for four years at National Economic Research Associates in the utility consulting practice. In 1991, Keith left NERA and joined the Rate Department at Southern California Gas Company. In 1998, he accepted the position of Rate Department Manager for San Gabriel Valley Water Company, where he worked for 18 months. Immediately prior to joining SCWC, he worked at the now-defunct California Power Exchange as a Project Manager in the Settlements Department.
Dawn White, Water Quality Manager, Golden State Water Co., CWA Water Quality Chair, has 33 years of experience working on drinking water quality programs. She started out analyzing water samples in a water quality laboratory and is currently the Water
Quality Manager for Golden State Water Company. Her current responsibilities include managing water quality sampling and reporting, cross connection control, water treatment studies, and tracking and preparing for new regulatory requirements. White is a past Chair of the California–Nevada Section of the American Water Works Association, past Director on the American Water Works Association Board and a 2011 recipient of the George Warren Fuller Award. White chairs the Water Quality Committee for the California Water Association.
SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIESCWA 2019
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THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
CWA’S 77TH SPRING CONFERENCE
JUNE 1-3, 2020THE SAWYER, SACRAMENTO, CA
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CWA 2019
2019 CWA 78TH ANNUAL CONFERENCEThursday Night - Celebrating Jack Hawks
Don your golf or country club attire and head to the Carmel room for a cocktail reception before a deli-cious dinner in the Monterey Bay room to celebrate not only the CWA Conference but also the retirement
of Jack Hawks, CWA’s Executive Director for 15 years!
Prior to joining CWA, Jack worked in the natural gas pipeline and distribution utility industry, and for a national energy company, specializing in power plant siting, permitting and development, energy mar-keting and energy regulatory affairs. Jack owns his own utility consulting firm, J.K. Hawks & Associates, Inc. He attended the College of William & Mary, majoring in Political Science, and holds B.S. and MBA
degrees from the University of Kansas and George Mason University.
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