Meet the Commissioners
The National Blue Ribbon Commission for Onsite Water Systems is comprised of 30 representatives from municipalities, public health agencies, water utilities, and national organizations who are leading the industry in onsite non-potable water systems.
Paula Kehoe (Chair)
Director of Water Resources, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
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. 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.
Anita Anderson
Principal Engineer, Minnesota Department of Health
Anita Anderson has 20 years of experience as a water supply engineer with the Minnesota Department of Health. Her primary area of expertise is surface water treatment, specializing in small systems. Currently she is working on special projects to implement water reuse in Minnesota in a safe and sustainable way and to predict the vulnerability of groundwater drinking water sources to microbial pathogens. She holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Engineering from the University of Minnesota and is a registered professional engineer in Minnesota.
Julienne Bautista
Environmental Engineer, District of Colombia Department of Energy & Environment
Julienne Bautista is an environmental engineer for the District of Columbia’s Watershed Protection Division. She is the project manager leading the updates to the 2013 Stormwater Guidebook where rainwater harvesting is an instrumental best management practice to meet the District’s retention obligations and Municipal Separate Storm Sewer (MS4) permit requirements. She received a Master’s degree in Environmental Engineering from Stanford University and a Master’s in Community and Regional Planning from The University of Texas in Austin, giving her the technical and community-based skills to pursue her passion for water. Specifically, her primary interests lie in the promotion and development of sustainable water systems for urban communities.
Scott Berry
Director of Policy and Government Affairs, U.S. Water Alliance
Scott Berry is the Director of Policy and Government Affairs at the US Water Alliance, a national nonprofit organization advancing policies and programs that build a sustainable water future for all. He leads the Alliance’s engagement on policy issues. Previously, he was Director of the Utility Infrastructure Division, Environment, and Trade at the Associated General Contractors of America. There, he spent nine years as their head lobbyist on water infrastructure and water policy issues, and was the member services lead for water, sewer, power, telecommunications, and underground construction. He has served in the leadership of the Water Infrastructure Network, the Sustainable Water Infrastructure Coalition, the Common Ground Alliance, and the Waters Advocacy Coalition. He has a BA in political science and geography from the University of Mary Washington.
Carrie Bohan
Facilities Program Manager, Division of Water, Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation
Carrie Bohan is the Facilities Programs Manager for the Alaska Department of Conservation, where she is responsible for oversight of the state’s Operator Certification and Capacity Development, Remote Maintenance Worker (circuit rider), State Revolving Fund, and Village Safe Water programs. Since 2001, Carrie’s career has focused primarily on provision of safe drinking water. In her current position, she is responsible for administering more than $100 million per year in grants and loans to water and wastewater utilities for infrastructure improvements. A significant portion of these resources are dedicated to improving sanitation in rural Alaskan communities that face significant barriers including geography, climate, economics and capacity. Carrie is excited to inherit the responsibility of maintaining momentum on the Alaska Water and Sewer Challenge’s efforts to develop a water reuse system for rural Alaskan homes that still rely on hauled water and honey buckets for waste disposal. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural Resource Ecology and Conservation from the University of Idaho.
Michael Broussard
Environmental Health Inspector, New Mexico Environment Department
Michael Broussard is the Environmental Health Bureau Liquid Waste Program Manager for New Mexico. He has worked in the NMED Environmental Health Bureau for 14 years. Michael served as the president and board member of the New Mexico Environmental Health Association for 3 years. He currently serves on the SORA (State Onsite Regulator’s Association) board as the treasurer, and he is a member of the NOWRA affiliate POWRANM (Professional Onsite Wastewater Reuse Association of New Mexico). He is also a technical committee member of the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officers (IAPMO) and the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM). Michael graduated from Lamar University in Beaumont Texas with a BS in Chemistry and minor in Biochemistry. He served in the US Army for 10 years in the Nuclear-Biological and Chemical Officer and Quartermaster Corp’s. Michael has worked for 25 years in the private sector quality assurance departments for General-Mills, Georgia Pacific, Exxon-Mobil, Cardinal Health and Johnson and Johnson as well as being a small business owner in the metal finishing industry and currently for an indoor air quality company for 16 years. Michael provides technical assistance and training for the state’s environmental health professionals, homeowners, realtors, and installers.
Alan Cohn
Managing Director of Integrated Water Management, NYC Department of Environmental Protection
Alan Cohn is Managing Director of Integrated Water Management at the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, where he leads initiatives to prepare water systems for climate change and population growth. His team develops programs, partnerships, and financial incentives to conserve and recycle drinking water and protect communities and infrastructure from flooding. These initiatives include a Water Demand Management Program, Water Conservation and Reuse Grant Program, and a Cloudburst Program and partnership with the City of Copenhagen focused on flood mitigation for extreme rain events. He served as a senior policy advisor for water, wastewater, and solid waste on the Mayor’s Special Initiative for Rebuilding following Superstorm Sandy, managed development of the NYC Wastewater Resiliency Plan, and is currently working to implement the New York City Stormwater Resiliency Plan and initiatives to mitigate future flooding following Tropical Storm Ida. Alan represents New York City on the Water Utility Climate Alliance, a group of 12 large utilities which provide leadership and collaboration on climate change issues affecting the country’s water agencies.
Anthony Creech
Environmental Technical Programs Manager, Virginia Department of Health
Mr. Anthony W. Creech, P.G. has over 30 years’ experience in regulatory program oversight, environmental health management, and risk management. In his role as Environmental Technical Programs Manager for the VDH Office of Environmental Health Services, Division of Water and Wastewater Services, Mr. Creech leads efforts for training of Environmental Health Specialists in Virginia’s onsite sewage and private well programs; leads stakeholder workgroups responsible for regulatory development (e.g., Private Well Regulations update, Rainwater Harvesting Regulations); participates in the Virginia legislative processes; and partakes in a wide variety of waste, wastewater, and drinking water initiatives. Prior to VDH, he worked for several decades as a geologic and environmental consultant. Over his career, Mr. Creech has provided general environmental consultation and project management in solid, hazardous, and medical waste; environmental due diligence, petroleum storage and management; groundwater/surface water management and conservation; and groundwater withdrawal permitting. Mr. Creech has a B.S., in Geology from the College of William and Mary.
Stephen Deem
Regional Engineer, Washington State Department of Health (Retired)
Steve Deem is a professional engineer representing the Washington State Department of Health drinking water program. Deem is also a consultant for Water 1st International, a non-profit water and sanitation development organization. His more than 25 years of experience in water and sanitation issues encompasses a myriad of settings–from the Kurdish refugee camps in Northern Iraq to post-war rehabilitation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and from simple pipe networks in the slums of Dhaka, Bangladesh, to research efforts on ultraviolet disinfection with the Water Research Foundation. He received his Master of Science degree in environmental engineering from the University of Washington in Seattle and his Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from Marquette University.
Ron Doughten
Water Quality Permit Program Manager, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
Ron Doughten has over 17 years of regulatory experience with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. He currently manages Oregon’s Water Quality Permit Program, which includes National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting, stormwater management, water reuse, land treatment, and underground injection control. He previously coordinated implementation of Oregon’s water reuse program that encouraged the beneficial use of graywater, recycled water, and industrial wastewater. In 2009, he developed implementation policies for recycled water; in 2011 he led the adoption of Oregon administrative rules for graywater reuse which was followed in 2012 by development of Oregon’s graywater permitting program.
Mamdouh El-Aarag
Environmental Engineer, Wastewater Management Section, Washington State Department of Health
Mamdouh El-Aarag is a registered professional Civil Engineer in the State of Washington. He has worked as an Environmental/Reclaimed Water Engineer in the Wastewater Management program with the Washington State Department of Health in Spokane since 2002. Prior to working for the Department of Health he worked as a consulting engineer for 14 years specializing in site utilities, municipal sewer and water distribution design, and land use. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Gonzaga University.
Jay Garland
Division Director, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency
Dr. Jay L. Garland joined the EPA in 2011 as a Division Director within the Office of Research and Development. His work is committed to the development of sustainable systems using sound ecological principles and innovative technology. He received a Ph.D. in Environment Science from the University of Virginia and spent over 20 years working on NASA’s efforts to develop closed, bioregenerative life support systems for extended human spaceflight. NASA recognized him for creative technology innovation on 4 separate occasions. He has authored over 100 scientific papers on a range of topics, including methods for microbial community analysis, factors affecting survival of human associated pathogens, and various biological approaches for recycling wastes.
Brian D. Good
Chief Administrative Officer, Denver Water
Brian D. Good serves as Chief Administrative Officer for Denver Water. In this role, Brian leads a diverse team whose primary focus is to provide excellent internal service to the organization. Areas of focus include safety, security, emergency management, environmental compliance, sustainability, purchasing, contract control records and printing, and recreation at Denver Water facilities. His previous roles at Denver Water include Director of Operations and Maintenance, Deputy Manager of Organizational Improvement, Water Recycling Plant Supervisor, and Assistant Supervisor of the Marston Water Treatment Plant. Prior to joining Denver Water, Brian managed source of supply, water treatment, and distribution operations for the Champaign, IL Division of Illinois American Water Corporation. Since 2012, he has also been a lecturer on water utility management for the University of Colorado, for which he co-authored a companion textbook titled The Effective Water Professional.
Kim Gupta
Director of Operations, Portland Water Bureau
Kimberly Gupta is the Director of Operations for the Portland Water Bureau. She is responsible for operating and maintaining the surface and groundwater systems, specifically the infrastructure related to water supply, treatment, transmission, and distribution facilities; ensuring compliance with drinking water regulations; operating an accredited drinking water laboratory; and managing the Bureau’s Security and Technology Groups. Prior roles at the Bureau include Water Supply and Treatment Manager, where she managed the supply and treatment operations for the Bull Run system and oversaw the Bureau’s cross connection program and hydraulic modeling groups; and Senior Engineer, where she implemented and oversaw projects related to nitrification, DBP formation, and corrosion control. Prior to joining the Water Bureau, she was an engineer at the East Bay Municipal Utility District for over 8 years. Kim has a master’s degree in Civil/Environmental Engineering from the University of Nevada, Reno, and is a registered professional civil engineer in both Oregon and California. She is a certified water distribution and treatment operator in Oregon, holding D4 and T3 certifications, and serves as the Bureau’s Direct Responsible Charge.
Chris Hilton
Business Resilience and Risk Advisor, Seattle Public Utilities (SPU)
Chris Hilton (she/her) is the Business Resilience and Risk Advisor at Seattle Public Utilities (SPU). Chris brings over twenty years of experience working on environmental policy and conservation issues in the Puget Sound region. Prior to joining SPU, Chris was the Urban Partnerships Director at The Nature Conservancy’s Puget Sound program where she and her team worked to advance nature-based solutions – such as green stormwater infrastructure, urban tree canopy protection and enhancement, and floodplain reconnection – to improve water quality, create community co-benefits, and enhance climate resilience in the region. She has also worked on agency partnerships, public funding advocacy, strategic planning, and land conservation strategy and implementation.
Gary Hirschtick
Branch Director of the Environmental Protection Branch, LA County
Dr. Andy Hur
Civil Engineer, US Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Construction Engineering Research Laboratory
Andy Hur is a Research Civil Engineer in Operational Water Team within Emergency and Operational Support Branch. He obtained his Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering in 2013 at Illinois Institute of Technology. He received his Master in 2015 and Ph.D. in 2023 in Civil and Environmental Engineering from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign while he was working full-time at ERDC-CERL. At ERDC-CERL, he leads research on developing water treatment and reuse for military applications through system design, prototype, demonstration/validation, and performance assessment. Additionally, he is investigating economic aspects of water sustainment for investment to demonstrate cost effectiveness of water reuse systems for resilient Army operation.
Michael Jahne
Environmental Engineer, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development
Michael Jahne is an Environmental Engineer with the U.S. EPA Office of Research and Development, Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response, where he specializes in quantitative microbial risk assessment and fit-for-purpose water reuse. His current research interests include decentralized water reuse applications, antimicrobial resistance in built and natural environments, and SARS-CoV-2 monitoring in community wastewaters. A major focus of his work is the development of risk-based treatment guidance for onsite non-potable water systems. He holds an M.S. and Ph.D. in Environmental Science and Engineering from Clarkson University’s Institute for a Sustainable Environment in Potsdam, NY.
Katherine Jashinski
Supervising Engineer, Onsite Water Reuse Program, Austin Water Utility
Katherine has worked for Austin Water Utility for over nine years as both a regulator and a planner of decentralized reuse systems. She has designed & installed a number of residential rainwater, graywater, & condensate reuse systems around Texas. In her current role at the utility she is working on the implementation of building-scale and district-scale reuse projects as part of Austin’s overall plan to diversify its water supply portfolio. She is a licensed professional engineer in the State of Texas and she received her Master of Science degree in environmental and water resources engineering and her Bachelor of Science degree in geosystems engineering and hydrogeology from the University of Texas at Austin.
Andrew Jones
LOSS and Reclaimed Water Programs Supervisor, Office of Environmental Health and Safety, Washington State Department of Health
Andrew is an Environmental Engineer with 5+ years of experience regulating onsite sewage systems, a BS from Gonzaga and MS from University of Washington. He is currently the LOSS and Reclaimed Water Program’s supervisor, and is working on regulations to expand onsite sewage treatment options and raise the bar for operations and maintenance. Andrew and his team are responsible for regulating over 700 large onsite sewage systems across Washington, giving him a unique perspective on the challenges and needs of implementing onsite water reuse for everyday users.
Jocelyn W. Jones
Reclaimed Water Policy Lead, Office of Drinking Water, Washington Department of Health
Jocelyn holds a BA in Social Science and Sustainable Development from the University of Arizona. She began her public service career at the Arizona Senate as a nonpartisan Assistant Policy Research Analyst. After relocating to Washington, Jocelyn worked at the Washington State House of Representatives and later at the Department of Ecology for over 13 years. Her roles included Environmental Writer, Clean Water Act and NPDES Water Quality Education and Outreach Coordinator, and Senior Rule Writer focusing on Washington’s Reclaimed Water rule. In 2019, Jocelyn joined the Department of Health as a Project Manager and Rule Writer. Here she project managed a rulemaking setting State Action Levels for PFAS and helped develop rules for on-site nonpotable water systems.
Jocelyn’s current role as Reclaimed Water Policy Lead allows her to pursue her passion for advancing water reuse and enabling and promoting a Washington One Water approach to planning and water resource management.
Tiffani Kavalec
Chief of Staff, US Environmental Protection Agency, Region V
Tiffani currently serves as the Chief of Staff for the U.S. EPA’s Region V office out of Columbus, Ohio. Prior to that, she served as Policy Director at Ohio EPA and Chief of the Division of Surface Water. Surface Water issues permits to regulate wastewater treatment plants, factories, and storm water to reduce the impact of pollutants, develops comprehensive watershed plans aimed at improving polluted streams, and sample streams, lakes, and wetlands, including chemistry, fish, and aquatic insects, to determine the health of Ohio’s surface waters.
Tiffani started with Ohio EPA in 1995 and spent most of her time in the Division of Environmental Response and Revitalization (DERR) overseeing the Superfund, Enforcement, Federal Facilities, Natural Resource Damages, and Voluntary Action Programs. Tiffani graduated from Indiana University’s School of Public and Environmental Affairs with a B.S. in Environmental Science and Public Policy. She also has several master’s credits from the University of Findlay’s Environmental Management Program.
John Kmiec
Deputy Director, Tucson Water
John Kmiec is the Deputy Director of Tucson Water. Prior to re-joining Tucson Water in 2019, John was the Director of Water and Wastewater for the Town of Marana (2012-2019). From 1999-2012, John was a member of the Tucson Water team assisting in advancing programs such as Central Arizona Project (CAP) recharge and recovery, effluent recharge and recovery, potable and reclaimed water distribution, and backflow prevention programs.
John is currently the Vice President of the Southern Arizona Water Users Association, and previously served as president from 2015-2017. He holds an appointed position on Governor Ducey’s Water Augmentation Council where he is also the Recycled Water Committee Chair for that Council. John represented the City of Tucson on Governor Brewer’s Blue Ribbon Panel on Water Sustainability in 2010 and he is the Chemical Committee Chairman for the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality’s Advisory Panel on Emerging Contaminants. He is also the co-chair of the Steering Committee on Arizona Potable Reuse (SCAPR). John has been on the board of trustees of Watereuse AZ, the state chapter of the Watereuse Association, since 2005, serving as the section president from 2009-2011 and is the current president (2017-2019). John has a B.S. in geological sciences from Michigan State University, a Master of Public Administration from Troy University, and is a Certified Public Manager (Arizona State University).
Ernst Lau
Manager and Chief Engineer, Honolulu Board of Water Supply
Justin Mattingly
Senior Advisor for Resource Recovery, Water Environment Federation
Justin Mattingly is a Senior Advisor for Resource Recovery at the Water Environment Federation. Justin previously served with the Water Reuse Program in the Office of Water at the United States Environmental Protection Agency working on coordinating water reuse activity across EPA and the implementation of the National Water Reuse Action Plan. Justin has over a decade of experience working in the water sector on a variety of issues in water reuse including treatment and monitoring systems for reuse, risk assessment, and policy and regulatory development for different water reuse applications including aquifer recharge. Justin has a BA in Biology from the University of Delaware, MS in Environmental Science from American University, and is a Board-Certified Environmental Scientist.
Lusi Mkhitaryan
Manager of the Environmental Protection Branch, Environmental Health Division of the County of Los Angeles, Department of Public Health
Ms. Lusi Mkhitaryan is the Manager of the Environmental Protection Branch where she is responsible for overseeing the Cross Connection and Water Pollution Control Program, the Drinking Water Program, the Recreational Waters Program, and the Onsite Wastewater Treatment Program. Lusi has worked for the Environmental Health Division of the County of Los Angeles, Department of Public Health for 22 years. She is a graduate of the University of California Los Angeles where she earned a master’s degree in public health and Yerevan State Medical University where she obtained her Medical Doctor degree. Lusi is a Registered Environmental Health Specialist with the State of California.
Sharon Nappier
National Program Leader for Water Reuse, Office of Water, EPA
Sharon Nappier is the National Program Leader for Water Reuse with the U.S. EPA. She specializes in environmental health microbiology and quantitative microbial risk assessment. Major projects at the EPA include chairing the 2012 Recreational Water Quality Criteria team; leading efforts to develop coliphage-based Recreational Water Quality Criteria; and assessing the microbial risks associated with water reuse. Sharon holds a BS degree in Biology and Environmental Science from The George Washington University; a MSPH degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Environmental Sciences and Engineering; and a PhD from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Environmental Health Engineering.
Tressa Nicholas
Wastewater Analyst, Idaho Department of Environmental Quality’s State Water Quality Division Wastewater Program
Tressa Nicholas serves as the Wastewater Analyst for the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality’s State Water Quality Division Wastewater Program. In her role, she provides technical support in wastewater and water reuse, serves as the State Biosolids Coordinator and organizes many trainings for wastewater professionals. Tressa has a Master’s of Science in Civil Engineering and a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry. She has over 15 years of experience working with recycled water and wastewater projects. She promotes water reuse and has been coordinating the Idaho Water Reuse Conference since 2008. She also participated in forming the first multi-state regional chapter of the WateReuse Association, the WateReuse Pacific Northwest Section that was chartered in December 2012. She has served on the board of the WateReuse Pacific Northwest Section and is an active member. In 2015, at the 30th annual WateReuse Symposium, she received the David Requa Presidents award for her outstanding leadership and initiative as a champion for WateReuse.
Taylor Nokhoudian
Water Resources Analyst, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
Taylor Nokhoudian manages the Onsite Water Reuse Program, which allows buildings in San Francisco to collect, treat, and reuse water onsite for non-potable applications. She focuses on policy development and providing technical assistance for developing onsite water reuse projects. In addition, Taylor works on special projects to further diversify San Francisco’s water supply portfolio. Taylor has her undergraduate degree from UC Berkeley in Environmental Studies, and a Masters in Public Administration from the University of San Francisco.
Doug Obana
Sr. Environmental Health Inspector, San Francisco Department of Public Health
Douglas Obana is a Senior Environmental Health Inspector with the San Francisco Department of Public Health’s Environmental Health Branch. He has been with the Department since 2010 and has overseen the permitting of onsite nonpotable water treatment projects off and on since 2015. He graduated with a BS in Biological Sciences from the University of California at Riverside and obtained a Masters Degree in Public Health from The University of Montana.
Fatima Ochante
Program Coordinator, Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Water
Fatima manages the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation’s (ADEC) Water and Sewer Challenge, a research and development effort to find decentralized, innovative, cost-effective water and sewer solutions. ‘The Alaska Challenge’ was launched in 2013 primarily as a design-thinking competition to develop an in-home reuse system for non-potable purposes. The program’s goal is to significantly reduce capital and operating costs of running water in remote homes across rural Alaska. Previously at ADEC, she was in charge of evaluating utility business plans, coordinating the panel review of preliminary engineering reports for water projects, and organizing an international (water-themed) conference in conjunction with the U.S. Chairmanship of the Arctic Council. Other organizations she has worked for include the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and the U.S. Arctic Research Commission. After receiving a bachelor’s degree in language translation and cross-cultural communication from Universidad Ricardo Palma, she worked as a conference interpreter and certified licensed translator. Her master’s degree from the University of Alaska Fairbanks focused on environmental policy and the provision of water service in Alaska Native villages.
Martin Page
Research Program Manager, US Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Construction Engineering Research Laboratory
Martin Page has served as a researcher and program manager within the US Army Engineer Research and Development Center since 2010. He has provided technical leadership on technology development programs focused on gray water recycling; direct potable reuse technology integration; validation methods for water reuse systems; and new materials and methods for water treatment. Martin has received several awards for his research efforts, including two Army Achievement Medals, the Commander’s Award for Civilian Service, and ERDC CERL’s Researcher of the Year (2016). Martin is an active member of the Interagency Water Treatment Working Group (WaTr) and the National Science and Technology Council’s Subcommittee on Water Availability and Quality. Martin received his Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign in 2009.
Bill Platten
Environmental Engineer, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Bill Platten is an Environmental Engineer in US EPA’s Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water, where he helps drinking water systems monitor for and respond to drinking water contamination. His current focus is on response, decontamination, and recovery for contamination in both drinking water distribution systems and premise plumbing. He also has research experience in premise plumbing hydraulic/water quality modeling, municipal/industrial wastewater treatment, and water reuse. He holds an M.S. and Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from the University of Cincinnati.
Chris Radziminski
Building Policy Engineer, Office of the Chief Building Official, City of Vancouver (Canada)
Non-potable water systems, cooling towers and other building mechanical systems have been addressed by Chris and his colleagues through legislation aimed to improve public health protection and to achieve sustainability goals (vancouver.ca/operating-permit). He is a registered Professional Biologist, a registered Professional Engineer and a certified Small Water System Operator. His background includes a B.Sc. in Microbiology, an M.A.Sc. in Civil Engineering with research on Cryptosporidium parvum and chlorine dioxide, and a Certificate in Power Equipment Mechanics. Chris is part of the BC Centre for Disease Control working group updating provincial public health guidelines for Legionella outbreak management and the IAPMO working group for “Best Practices for the Safe Shutdown and Startup of Building Water Systems,” and is also a member of Vancouver’s Heavy Urban Search and Rescue team CAN-TF1. In the winter he also works as a backcountry snowshoe guide, and has volunteered for over a decade with the Ryan’s Well Foundation.
Nancy Rice
Research Scientist, Minnesota Department of Health
Nancy Rice works on health risk assessment at the Minnesota Department of Health. For the past several years, she has been using techniques learned at the Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment Interdisciplinary Instructional Institute (QMRA III) to assess potential human health risks related to microbes in water reuse systems and in groundwater. She holds a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Minnesota.
Matt Ries
Vice President, Strategy and Performance, DC Water
Matt Ries is the Vice President of Strategy & Performance at DC Water where he leads functions that align enterprise-level programs to the organization’s strategy, including the Sustainability Program, Strategic Management, Enterprise Risk Management, Enterprise Performance Management Office, and the Innovation Program. He has also held roles at DC Water in watershed management, sustainability, and strategic leadership. Previously, he was the Chief Technical Officer at the Water Environment Federation and oversaw the WEFTEC technical program, specialty conferences, committees, and webinars along with the creation of the WEF Stormwater Institute and initiatives focused on sustainability, innovation, and nutrient management, among others. He was also a consultant in the municipal and industrial water sector and has served on multiple utility and NGO Boards. He is a registered Professional Engineer and has a BS, MS, and PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering. His dissertation developed a framework to quickly and quantitatively assess practices and key organizational attributes for sustainable, US urban water utilities.
Yvette Rincon
Chief of Staff, Department of Utilities, City of Sacramento
Yvette Rincon is the Chief of Staff for the Department of Utilities in Sacramento, CA. She has a Masters Degree in Public Administration and Policy and has 15 years of city government experience. She started her career in legislative affairs and later moved on to lead citywide sustainability planning and implementation efforts for 7 years, focusing on building efficiency. In her current role, she oversees the sustainability program, strategic planning, media and communications, and security and emergency preparedness for the Utilities Department. The Department is currently studying the feasibility of an onsite water reuse program for new commercial buildings.
Sherly Rosilela
Water Resource Control Engineer, Division of Drinking Water, California State Water Resources Control Board
Grace Silver
Water Reuse Program Developer, Oregon DEQ
Grace Silver is the Water Reuse Program Developer for the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, focusing on expanding and advancing water reuse across the state. She previously worked at a nonprofit addressing global water scarcity and managing international water projects. Grace has expertise in water scarcity, provision, quality, and environmental protection. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Management and Hydrology from California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo. Grace is passionate about improving access to clean water and sustainable water solutions through innovative water management strategies.
Robert Stefani
Conservation Program Specialist, Austin Water Utility
Robert is a Conservation Program Specialist employed at Austin Water. He has worked on numerous disparate projects, including auxiliary water and intergovernmental issues, over the last eight years as a member of Austin Water’s Conservation Division Research and Special Projects team. Robert received a Bachelor of Science in Geography, specializing in Resource and Environmental Studies, from Texas State University.
Barry Usagawa
Program Administrator, Water Resources Division, Honolulu Board of Water Supply
Barry Usagawa is the Program Administrator for the Water Resources Division of the Honolulu Board of Water Supply. Barry has lead the development of Oahu’s 8 regional Watershed Management Plans for resource protection and water use and development. Barry is a member of the Hawaii Community Foundation’s Freshwater Council which developed the State Freshwater Blueprint for water conservation, reuse and recharge targets to ensure 100 mgd of resilient water by 2030.
Sunny Wang
Water Resources Manager, Santa Monica, CA
Mr. Sunny Wang is currently the Water Resources Manager at the City of Santa Monica, where he leads the City’s water and wastewater utility. Sunny holds a B.S. and M.S. in Environmental Engineering from the University of California, Riverside. He has over 20 years of experience in design and implementation of conventional and advanced water treatment technologies over a wide range of applications including desalination and potable reuse. He is currently leading the City’s efforts to diversify its water supply portfolio through implementing innovative projects for potable reuse and desalination, including the first MBR system permitted for potable reuse in California and the first municipal Flow Reversal RO system in the United States.
Emily Wong
Senior Review Engineer, Water Quality Control Division, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
Emily Wong is a Senior Review Engineer for the Water Quality Control Division at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. In her role, she performs design reviews and provides assistance to water and wastewater systems as they comply with Colorado’s regulations. One area of focus for Emily is Colorado’s reclaim water regulations, where she has worked with localized systems implementing reclaim water reuse for indoor toilet flushing, and is the project lead for development of implementation policy and guidance for Colorado reuse program. Emily is a licensed professional engineer in Colorado and holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Colorado.
Emily Zegers
Senior Engineer in Toronto Water’s Process, Innovation and Energy Group
Emily Zegers is a Senior Engineer in Toronto Water’s Process, Innovation and Energy Group with a wastewater treatment process focus and 19 years of water industry experience. Emily’s responsibilities at Toronto include optimization initiatives, process-driven facility capital planning, and building and fostering relationships with research organizations. She also leads projects that require cross-departmental collaboration, such as development of an onsite water systems program for Toronto, and implementation of Toronto Water’s new data management platform. She holds a degree in Civil Engineering from Queen’s University.
Harry Zhang
Research Program Manager on Integrated Water and Stormwater, Water Research Foundation
Dr. Harry Zhang is the Research Program Manager on Integrated Water and Stormwater at The Water Research Foundation (WRF) where he directs the research portfolios on Sustainable Integrated Water Management (SIWM) and Stormwater, which includes topics on decentralized and onsite systems as well. In addition, Harry is WRF’s topic lead for climate change, which covers climate adaptation, mitigation, and risk assessment. Furthermore, Harry is the subject editor on water sustainability for Journal of Water Supply and was the subject editor on water sustainability for Journal of Water Science & Technology by International Water Association. Harry has extensive publications including books, book chapters, and peer-reviewed journal papers. He holds a Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering (Water Resources) with minor research field in Systems Engineering from the University of Virginia and is a registered professional engineer.