Industrial Water Reuse Conference:
Meet the Speakers
Moderators and Keynote Speakers
Bart Weiss, Chief Officer, Innovation and Resiliency, Hillsborough County Public Utilities
Bart Weiss has over 30 years of experience in water supply resiliency where he is a leader in potable reuse in Florida and the nation. In 2016 he directed the state’s first DPR Pilot Project and helped spearhead Florida’s Potable Reuse Commission. In 2018 Weiss was appointed to create the Office of Innovation, Resiliency and Sustainability, for Hillsborough County, Florida which spans climate change, sea level rise, disaster management and One Water initiatives. Weiss has created multiple innovative and resilient programs for Hillsborough County, including SHARP (the coastal reclaimed water aquifer recharge & saltwater intrusion barrier program) now approaching 11 Billion Gallons stored, that will allow Hillsborough County to successfully meet Florida’s SB-64 mandates ahead of schedule.
Greta Zornes, Water Reuse Practice Leader, CDM Smith
Dr. Greta Zornes serves as CDM Smith’s Practice Leader for Water Reuse. She is an environmental engineer and scientist with over 25 years of experience in engineering and project management for planning, design, and commissioning of water reuse and treatment facilities. Dr. Zornes has start-up (commissioning / validation / optimization) experience with a variety of technologies, including RO, MBRs, and thermal evaporation. Dr. Zornes is currently the Chair of AWWA’s Water Reuse Committee and the Chair of the WateReuse Association’s Industrial Reuse Committee.
Will Hewes, Global Leader, Water Sustainability, Amazon Web Services
Will Hewes leads Amazon Web Services’ (AWS) Water Positive program, which commits AWS to returning more water to communities than the company uses in operations by 2030. In that role he has primary responsibility for delivering water savings across AWS’s global data center infrastructure and investing in community projects that build long-term resilience through efforts to restore watersheds, expand access to clean water, and eliminate water waste. In addition to AWS, Will has worked in finance and policy roles across the water sector for the past two decades. Will holds an MBA from the University of California, Berkeley and a BA from Brown University.
Elizabeth Fazio Hale, CEO, Gulf Coast Authority
Liz Fazio Hale is the CEO/General Manager of the Gulf Coast Authority (GCA), which manages wastewater and water reuse systems across the State of Texas. Liz has an extensive background in politics and funding water infrastructure. She is a dual-degree graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and holds her J.D. and LL.M. in Taxation from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law. Liz serves on numerous Boards including the Water Environment Association of Texas (WEAT); the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), Texas Water Foundation, Texas Water Conservation Association (TWCA), the TWCA Risk Management Fund, the Economic Alliance for Houston Port Region, and the Texas Lyceum.
Bruno Pigott, Acting Assistant Administrator, Office of Water, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Bruno Pigott is Acting Assistant Administrator for the Office of Water. Prior to joining EPA, Bruno held multiple roles at the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, serving most recently as the Commissioner, Agency Chief of Staff, and Assistant Commissioner in the Office of Water Quality. He started his state service as chief of the State Revolving Loan Fund Program in Indiana. Bruno holds a bachelor’s degree in political theory and economics from James Madison College at Michigan State University and a master’s degree in public and environmental affairs from Indiana University’s School of Public and Environmental Affairs.
Panel | Sustainable Industrial Water Use: A Global Challenge
Eric Rosenblum, Water Resource Consultant
Eric Rosenblum is a consulting engineer who helps public agencies and companies use water more responsibly through water reuse. He was lead author of Multi-Agency Water Reuse Projects: Lessons for Successful Collaboration (USEPA, 2022) which outlined an approach to interagency collaboration used to engage agencies is select regions of the United State. He co-edited (with Cheryl Davis) Sustainable Industrial Water Use: Perspectives, Incentives, and Tools (IWA Publishing, 2021) and is working on the sequel, “Guidelines for Responsible Industrial Water Use in a Changing Climate.” With Bob Raucher and Mark Millan, Eric has been developing a framework for prioritizing water reuse research for the US-based Water Research Foundation. Prior to his consulting work, for 25 years Eric worked as a public utility engineer manager, including nearly two decades as director of South Bay Water Recycling, Silicon Valley’s first non-potable water reuse program.
Clovis Sarmento-Leite, Enterprise Account Management, DuPont Water Solutions
Clovis Sarmento-Leite is responsible for the implementation of Global Corporate Accounts at DuPont Water Solutions, developing multiyear plans for retention and growth of strategic clients matching circular water technologies and customer’s sustainability targets. He leads enterprise-wide engagements, from field pilot tests to master commercial agreements. Clovis has over 30 years of experience, having lived and worked in several countries, and his job resume includes SUEZ, General Electric (GE Water), and Hercules. Clovis has held positions in Marketing, Business Development, Sales, Operations and General Management.
Michael Skovgaard Jensen, Business Development Director, Grundfos
Dr. Michael Skovgaard Jensen leads the Business Development at Grundfos – Industry division. With a Ph.D. in Physics specializing in chaos mathematics and fluid dynamics, he has been a pivotal figure in organizations like Vestas, Danfoss, Continental, Guldmann, and Grundfos. Michael’s expertise spans technical management, product strategy, and supply chain management. Prior to leading Business Development in Industrial Water Treatment, focusing on the Americas, he has held significant roles such as CTO at Grundfos Industry and CTO and Grundfos NoNOX A/S. Jensen’s dedication to excellence and innovation continues to drive Grundfos as the world’s leading water solutions company, offering unparalleled services, solutions, and components.
Christopher Simoglou, Senior Director, PBNA Sustainability Strategy, PepsiCo
Chris Simoglou is a Senior Director of Sustainability for PepsiCo Beverages North America
(PBNA). PBNA is PepsiCo’s $27 billion beverage business in North America with an iconic
portfolio of beverages including Pepsi, Gatorade, bubly, Mountain Dew, Starbucks ready-to-drink
coffees, Lipton teas, LifeWtr, and Rockstar Energy Drink. Chris has held multiple roles with increasing levels of responsibility over his 13 years at Pepsico. In his current mandate as Senior Director of Sustainability, Chris is responsible for Winning with PepsiCo Positive (pep+) in the company’s North American beverage sector. pep+ is PepsiCo’s strategic end-to-end transformation that puts sustainability at the center of how the company will create value and growth by operating within planetary boundaries and inspiring positive change for both planet and people.
Panel | Leveraging Partnerships to Accelerate Industrial Water Reuse in Ohio
Krystal Perez, Industrial Water National Practice Leader, Brown and Caldwell
Krystal Perez is the National Practice Leader for the Industrial Water Technical Practice at Brown and Caldwell, where she guides the industrial water practice vision and strategy to align with business goals. For over 20 years, Krystal has supported facilities in evaluating their water and wastewater management, treatment, reuse, and compliance strategies. She is a professional chemical engineer with a focus in water chemistry, physical/chemical treatment, and minimal and zero liquid discharge.
Anthony Giovannone, Manager of Infrastructure Strategy, Google
Anthony leads Google Data Center’s Utility Infrastructure Strategy team. Anthony’s team develops solutions in partnership with water and wastewater utilities to meet Google’s goal of 120% water replenishment by 2030. He currently sits on the WEF Board DEI sub committee and holds degrees in Engineering Physics and Civil Engineering.
Will Hewes, Global Leader for Water Sustainability, Amazon Web Services
Will Hewes leads Amazon Web Services’ (AWS) Water Positive program, which commits AWS to returning more water to communities than the company uses in operations by 2030. In that role he has primary responsibility for delivering water savings across AWS’s global data center infrastructure and investing in community projects that build long-term resilience through efforts to restore watersheds, expand access to clean water, and eliminate water waste. In addition to AWS, Will has worked in finance and policy roles across the water sector for the past two decades. Will holds an MBA from the University of California, Berkeley and a BA from Brown University.
Tiffani Kavalec, Policy Director, Director’s Office, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
Tiffani currently serves as Policy Director at Ohio EPA. Prior to that, she served as the Chief of the Division of Surface Water from 2015-2023 which ensures the compliance with the federal Clean Water Act. Tiffani started with Ohio EPA in 1995 and spent the first half of her career in the Division of Environmental Response and Revitalization (DERR) overseeing the Superfund, Enforcement, Federal Facilities, Natural Resource Damages, and Brownfield 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 G. Newsome, Division of Water, Administrator, City of Columbus (OH)
John is the Division of Water Administrator for the City of Columbus and has over 25 years experience working in the fields of water, sewer, and stormwater. John is a PE in the state of Ohio.
Mahjabeen Qadir, Strategy Lead, Honda Motor Company
Mahjabeen Qadir leads strategy for sustainability and decarbonization at Honda’s North American plants. She is dedicated to reducing water consumption and advancing water recycling initiatives to achieve Honda’s goal of zero industrial water intake by 2050. Central to her work is developing policies that foster and maintain positive relationships within Honda’s communities as the company transitions to more sustainable practices. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from The Ohio State University and a Juris Doctor from Capital University Law School.
Panel | Advancements in Food & Beverage Reuse
Paul Bowen, Senior Water Consultant, GHD and Founding Member, Beverage Industry Environmental Roundtable (BIER)
Paul is a water industry and beverage industry recognized thought leader on water strategy, conservation, efficiency and innovation. Paul currently serves in several advisory roles. As Emeritus Chair of BIER’s Steering Committee he continues to add value to the beverage sector. He recently joined the Board of Directors for The Water Tower, an innovation center for water technologies. Paul also serves on the Environmental Engineering Professional Advisory Board for Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences at Clemson University. During his career he has been an AWWA and NSF researcher at the University of Oklahoma, a Technical Advisory Team lead for design of over 10 large wastewater reclamation facilities for Metcalf & Eddy (AECOM) and led global water sustainability initiatives and projects for The Coca-Cola Company.
Peter Capponi, North American Industrial and Manufacturing Sector Leader and Principal, GHD
Peter Capponi has over 30 years of experience solving client’s environmental, wastewater, CAPEX and infrastructure challenges. His expertise includes execution and management of environmental, health and safety services, remediation, wastewater conveyance and industrial wastewater treatment, sustainability, water reuse and PFAS risk management services. He has led projects through various delivery models (including alternate delivery) of critical infrastructure, including fast-track delivery. With a Masters of Science of Civil Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania, Peter leads GHD’s Industrial Water/Wastewater and the Industrial & Manufacturing Sector in GHD within the Americas.
Michael Waitek, Director of Sustainability – Engineering, PepsiCo
Michael has been working in Corporate Sustainability at PepsiCo for over 3 years and led Engineering, Maintenance, and Resource Conservation at a PepsiCo Manufacturing facility for 10 years prior to his current role. Michael and his team drive results in water and energy conservation by developing and implementing capital projects, and process improvements and driving a culture that prioritizes water efficiency and sustainability at manufacturing sites across North America. Michael has a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology from Purdue University.
David Whitman, Senior SME, Beverage Branch, U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Panel | The Water Behind the Power: Reuse in the Energy Sector
Rob Simm, Senior Vice President, Water, Stantec
Dr. Rob Simm is a Senior Vice President at Stantec. He has over 30 years’ experience in municipal and industrial treatment, including process evaluation and design, project management, facility planning and optimization, pilot testing, operators training, and contract administration. Dr. Simm has worked in multiple industries including semiconductor, power, mining, food & beverage, pharmaceutical, automotive, solar panel manufacturing, aquaculture, and agribusiness.
Fernando Almada Calvo, Environmental Engineer, Chevron
Fernando Almada Calvo obtained his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Universidad Iberoamericana. He holds a PhD in Environmental and Water Resources Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin, where he also earned his M.S. in the same field. His industry experience includes roles at CH2M Hill and the National Institute of Ecology in Mexico City. Fernando has been working at Chevron since January 2018, where he has managed downstream water technology development projects. He is heavily involved in assessing innovative technologies and projects to reduce Chevron’s water withdrawals across all business areas, as well as managing water sustainability metrics for internal and external publications. Fernando has also contributed to academic research, mentoring students, and presenting at various conferences.
Brad Berles, Senior Director of Water Strategy, Palo Verde Generating Station
Brad Berles is Senior Director, Palo Verde Water Strategy for Arizona Public Service Company (APS), Arizona’s largest electric company. Based in Phoenix, APS serves nearly 1.3 million customers. Berles is responsible for identifying and executing important water strategies that are needed for the continued long-term success of Palo Verde. Berles joined APS in 2008 and has held Manager and Director positions in Plant Engineering, Nuclear Fuels Management and Work Management.
Jason Monnell, Principal Technical Leader, Electric Power Research Institute
Jason D. Monnell is a Principal Technical Leader at the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) for water treatment technologies. Amongst his responsibilities, Dr. Monnell evaluates innovative treatment technologies and looks at ways to derisk their implementation in the energy sector. He provides expertise in the areas of water and soil chemistry as well as engineering for energy infrastructure.
Cynthia Wagener, Principal Water Resources Engineer, ExxonMobil
Cynthia Wagener has over 20 years of environmental engineering experience, including technical, supervision, and regulatory. She has expertise in industrial wastewater and on-site multimedia environmental support and supervision. Ms. Wagener represents ExxonMobil on water issues with various trade organizations, supports US sites with water regulatory issues, and she is the Focus Area Coordinator for Water within ExxonMobil’s Sustainability Organization.
Panel | Technology Companies and the Push for Water Positivity
TJ Filippino, Vice President, Global Data Center, Technology & Logistics, AECOM
Michael Lesniak, Vice President Global Partnerships | Net Zero Water, Aquatech
Michael Lesniak is the VP of Net Positive Water Impact at Aquatech International, a company he joined in March 2023 and has co-executed mega water projects with for over 25 years. Aquatech is a leader in water and process technology, focusing on solutions such as desalination, water recycling, and zero liquid discharge (ZLD). Lesniak’s role involves forming strategic partnerships to promote water sustainability and resilience, particularly in sectors like microelectronics and data centers. He is also involved with Angeles Equity Partners, where he advises on operational transformation in diverse industries including Data Centers. Lesniak also Chairs the Water Standards Committee for the International Data Center Authority in Washington D.C., and leads academic and NGO collaborations, including with the United Nations CEO Water Resilience Coalition and Water Center at Penn.
Kelly Osborne, Senior Staff Engineer, Intel
Kelly Osborne is a senior staff engineer at Intel Corporation. Her focus is water conservation through optimizing water use, wastewater treatment, and reclaim. She holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of New Mexico and has been with Intel for 23 years. During her time at Intel, she has held engineering positions is wet etch, diffusion, and yield prior to moving to the Corporate Services Fab Facilities Operations organization to support the industrial waste systems group then on to her current role.
Suzie Shin, Water Sustainability Lead for Data Centers, Google
Suzie Shin is the Sustainability Programs Manager for the Google Data Center team. In addition to leading the water risk and replenishment program, Suzie manages a team delivering net zero initiatives and sustainability metrics. In her previous role, she spent over a decade acquiring and developing data center campuses in North America and APAC. Prior to Google, Suzie was a resource planner at Alameda Municipal Power, where she was responsible for load forecasting, power cost modeling, and rate analysis. Suzie holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University and an MS in Energy and Resources from UC Berkeley.
Panel | Navigating Regulatory and Policy Challenges in Industrial Reuse
Jon Freedman, Global Head, Policy & Stakeholder Engagement – Water Quality, Veralto
Jon Freedman is based in Washington, DC, where he leads Policy & Stakeholder Engagement for Veralto’s Water Quality Segment. Previously, Jon led Global Government Affairs & Policy for GE, SUEZ, and Veolia business units. Before taking on the government affairs roles, he was a director in GE’s Corporate Marketing Initiatives Group, where he helped lead the creation of GE’s global environmental sustainability initiative called Ecomagination. He also serves on the Boards of the WateReuse Association and International Desalination & Reuse Association. Until May 2024, he taught a course called “The Business and Governance of Water” at The Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania.
Chris Hogan, Director, Public Affairs, Grundfos Americas
Chris Hogan is the Director of Public Affairs, USA with Grundfos, the world’s largest pump manufacturer and an innovative global leader in energy-efficient water solutions for use in homes, buildings, industries, utilities and agriculture. Grundfos pioneers solutions to the world’s water and climate challenges and improves quality of life for people. By creating efficiency and saving energy, we are leading the way for a more sustainable tomorrow. Previously, Chris ran his own public affairs consultancy and was an Executive Vice President and Managing Director at BCW/Burson, a global communications and public relations firm. Chris has worked in communications, public affairs, and media relations for more than 25 years, with expertise in issues management, advocacy and corporate communications, narrative and message development, reputation and crisis management, and policy communications.
Eric Sapirstein, Founder & President, ENS Resources
After leadership positions at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Washington-based consulting firms, Eric Sapirstein founded ENS Resources, Inc., in 1986. For more than 35 years, his firm has focused on legislative and regulatory advocacy, and strategic planning, supporting the policy interests of private sector, local and regional governments and national organizations that serve the public’s interests. In this role, he leads a team of professionals schooled in water supply, water quality, innovative water technology, infrastructure financing, transportation, alternative energy production, and ecosystem protection and restoration, and forestry health issues.
Rick Warner, Water Market Strategic Growth Leader, Jacobs
Rick Warner is a Water Market Strategic Growth Leader at Jacobs. Warner’s passion is collaborating with innovative clients and colleagues to achieve extraordinary results. The foundation of his strategic leadership role is obtained from decades of experiences delivering complex capital projects, forming inter-agency collaborations, and creating engaging community partnerships. Warner’s technical expertise spans drinking water, wastewater treatment, and water recycling. He has essential experience in water recycling systems for municipal and industrial uses, and recently served as Program Manager for OneWater Nevada, a regional initiative implementing municipal-scale potable reuse.
Erica Spitzig, Partner, Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP
Erica focuses her practice on environmental matters. Prior to joining Taft, she served as deputy general counsel for the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) in Washington, D.C., where she worked to advance NACWA’s legal and regulatory advocacy on behalf of publicly owned wastewater and stormwater utilities nationwide. Erica has significant experience representing clients on Clean Water Act matters, and has worked extensively with municipalities on clean water legal and regulatory issues. Her work includes counseling clients on NPDES permitting, compliance and appeals; stormwater permitting; and enforcement defense. She has also represented state and national associations as amici curiae in cases involving the Clean Water Act in the Ohio Supreme Court and the United States Supreme Court.
Panel | Navigating Regulatory and Policy Challenges in Industrial Reuse
Greta Zornes, Water Reuse Practice Leader, CDM Smith
Dr. Greta Zornes serves as CDM Smith’s Practice Leader for Water Reuse. She is an environmental engineer and scientist with over 25 years of experience in engineering and project management for planning, design, and commissioning of water reuse and treatment facilities. Dr. Zornes has start-up (commissioning / validation / optimization) experience with a variety of technologies, including RO, MBRs, and thermal evaporation. Dr. Zornes is currently the Chair of AWWA’s Water Reuse Committee and the Chair of the WateReuse Association’s Industrial Reuse Committee.
Sandy Fabritz, Director of Water Strategy, Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold|
Sandy Fabritz has served as the Director of Water Strategy for Freeport-McMoRan for the past eleven years, and is responsible for the company’s water supplies, water rights, water acquisition, conservation, and water supply sustainability across its portfolio. Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) is a leading international mining company with headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona. Freeport’s portfolio of assets includes the Grasberg minerals district in Indonesia, one of the world’s largest copper and gold deposits; and significant mining operations in the Americas, including the large-scale Morenci minerals district in North America and the Cerro Verde operation in South America. Sandy is a former Director for the Arizona Department of Water Resources and has been in water management for over 30 years including work in water regulation and water resources planning for the State of Arizona and Freeport
Eric Owens, Assistant General Manager, West Basin Municipal Water District
Eric Owens serves as Assistant General Manager at West Basin Municipal Water District (West Basin). Eric has over 24 years of experience in municipal and private-sector water resources, focusing on membrane technology and advanced water treatment. His previous roles include Manager of Engineering and Operations at the Water Replenishment District (WRD) and Technical Resource Manager also with West Basin. Before that, he spent 14 years at Separation Processes Inc., contributing to more than 40 projects by providing specialized engineering consulting services for water and wastewater treatment facilities. Eric holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, and is a registered professional engineer. Before attending UC Berkeley, he served as a Cavalry Scout in the United States Army.
Tyler Farrow, Standards Manager, Alliance for Water Stewardship
Tyler Farrow is the Standards Manager with the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS). He holds a Master’s Degree in Water Security and International Development and has a strong track record of delivering water stewardship programs with partners in business, government, and civil society. Having previously served on the AWS Technical Committee, Tyler has an in-depth understanding of the AWS Standard and system, as well as extensive practical experience in delivering water stewardship training and capacity building.
John Rydzewski, Private Sector Sustainability Lead, Carollo
John Rydzewski is Vice President and Private Sector Sustainability/Resilience Lead for Carollo Engineers. He has 30 years of experience with the design, construction, and operations of water and wastewater treatment systems for the semiconductor and textile industries. In addition to high tech, John spent seven years as the Director of Water Programs at Nike World Headquarters where he built and led Nike’s global water sustainability team that set corporate policy and achieved public sustainability commitments. John received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Chemical Engineering from Clarkson University and is a licensed professional engineer.