Thursday, Apr 07

1. 7:00 am — 5:30 pm

   Summit Check-In & Registration

   Grand Hall Foyer
2. 7:30 am — 8:45 am

   P3 101 Breakfast Workshop (Open to Public Agency Attendees Only | Advanced Registration Required)

   Grand Hall C

   Join industry leaders and AIAI members for breakfast and an interactive conversation specifically tailored to the needs of water agencies. This pre-Summit session is designed for those beginning to explore P3s to gain a better understanding of where they can be applicable. Learn about when P3s do and do not make sense to advance, the major considerations that need to be made when choosing this route, how the model can save money and time when dealing with system repairs and maintenance, and some crucial first steps.

   Click here to register.

   Presenters:

   Brian Shell, Assistant Vice President, Service Area Manager, Water & Energy Alternative Delivery Advisory Services, WSP

   Henry Patel, Vice President, Asset Development, Kiewit

   Jennifer Bales Drake, Shareholder, Becker & Poliakoff

   Mark Moore, Business Development Director, Invesis

   Stephen Auton-Smith, Senior Managing Director, Ernst & Young Infrastructure Advisors, LLC

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3. 9:00 am — 9:15 am

   Summit Start: Welcome & Opening Remarks

   Grand Hall A

   Summit attendees will be welcomed by Mayor Todd Gloria, the 37th and current mayor of our host city, San Diego. 
4. 9:15 am — 10:00 am

   Opening Plenary: Water Infrastructure – State of the Nation: Post-COVID, ARP and IIJA

   Grand Hall A

   As the country seeks to turn the corner on the worst public health crisis in a century, there has been a renewed focus on the value of water and wastewater infrastructure and services, both as a long-term driver of public health, environmental quality, and climate resilience, but also as an important part of a socially equitable economic recovery – reflected in the prominence of water in both ARP and IIJA (Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act).

   This panel brings together luminaries from across the sector to share their thoughts on what this new landscape means for municipal utilities, the challenges that remain, and the actions that should be considered to make the most of this once in a generation opportunity.

   Moderator:

   Stephen Auton-Smith, Senior Managing Director, Ernst & Young Infrastructure Advisors, LLC

   Panelists:

   Adam Krantz, CEO, National Association of Clean Water Agencies

   Adel Hagekhalil, CEO & General Manager, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California

   Ken Lykens, General Manager, Meridian Metropolitan District

   Mohsen Mortada, CEO, 3i Strategies

   Renee Willette, Vice President, Programs and Strategy, US Water Alliance
5. 10:00 am — 10:45 am

   Opening Fireside Chat: Cybersecurity and What It Means for You – A Conversation with Dr. David Mussington, CISA

   Grand Hall A

   Dr. David Mussington, Executive Assistant Director of Infrastructure Security at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), is charged by President Biden with devising policies and procedures to protect our nation’s critical infrastructure from cyber attacks. In our fireside chat, Dr. Mussington will outline what steps the Administration is taking and how the Federal Government can work with the private sector to prevent infiltration by international actors and rogue elements. Lucian Niemeyer, former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations and Environment, is one of the nation’s leading cybersecurity experts. He will lead the conversation with Dr. Mussington as they explore a variety of topics including the impact of President Biden’s Executive Order to improve U.S. cybersecurity and whether or not local water utilities have the resources they need to protect their infrastructure. In order to be successful, utilities must first understand the threat and the range of possible solutions. What is the Federal role and how can the private sector be a resource to improve the capabilities of local water systems. How do water utilities obtain the latest technology and do they have the staff to implement it? 

   Presenters:

   Dr. David Mussington, Executive Assistant, Director of Infrastructure Security at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, US Department of Homeland Security

   Lucian Niemeyer, Founder/Principal, The Niemeyer Group
6. 10:45 am — 11:00 am

   Networking Coffee Break

   Expo Hall - Grand Hall B
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7. 11:00 am — 12:00 pm

   Cybersecurity: Implications and Guidance from the Front Lines

   Grand Hall A

   This panel will feature several practitioners working on the tough topic of cybersecurity in water and wastewater utilities. The conversation will be focused around what key utilities are doing to address the topic, how utilities can wisely go beyond the minimum and realize real value from proactive and intentional cybersecurity planning, and offers views on what’s to come in the cybersecurity regulatory arena. This session also will include an overview from AWWA of their Cybersecurity Guidance and Assessment Tool.  

   Moderator:

   Juan H. Diaz-Carreras, VP, Southern California, Nevada Water Business Line Leader, WSP

   Panelists:

   Chris Moody, MEng, PE, Regulatory Technical Manager, American Water Works Association

   Ken Lykens, General Manager, Meridian Metropolitan District
8. 11:00 am — 12:00 pm

   Modernizing America’s (Stormwater) Infrastructure: Focusing on People and Procurement

   Grand Hall D

   The 2021 infrastructure bill contains an historic investment of over $50 billion for the national water infrastructure. In an era of dramatic climatic challenges and focus on social equity, building transformative infrastructure projects needs to include emphasis on modernizing workforce development systems and procurement techniques. In this panel, we will discuss the opportunities contained within the infrastructure bill for stormwater infrastructure and public private partnerships, discuss procurement techniques and workforce development aspects of newer delivery/financing models.

   Moderator:

   Sanjiv K. Sinha, Ph.D., Chief Sustainability Officer, Environmental Consulting & Technology, Inc. (ECT)

   Panelists:

   Ellory Monks, Co-Founder, The Atlas

   Kevin Shafer, Executive Director, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District

   Michael Deane, Chief, Clean Water State Revolving Fund, U.S. EPA
9. 11:00 am — 12:15 pm

   P3Direct Bootcamp: Finance (Open to Public Agency Attendees Only | Advanced Registration Required)

   Grand Hall C

   One of three P3Direct boot camps, this conversation will focus on the use of WIFIA, taxable debt, and other financing tools.

   Click here to register.

   Presenters:

   Brandon Yeh, Senior Consultant, WSP

   Frederic Brassard, President, Alma Global Infrastructure

   Henry Patel, Vice President, Asset Development, Kiewit

   • 
10. 12:00 pm — 1:00 pm

    Networking Lunch

    Expo Hall - Grand Hall B
    • 
11. 1:00 pm — 2:00 pm

    Let WIFIA Financing Work for You!

    Grand Hall A

    Looking ahead at an expansive funding landscape for infrastructure projects, how can WIFIA financing work for you? This panel will feature a mix of borrowers, consultants, and project sponsors intimately involved with WIFIA financing for their projects. They represent utilities that leveraged multi-community partnerships, unique organizational structures, and collaborative delivery approaches, as well as innovative WIFIA financing structures, to achieve the mission of affordable clean and safe water. The panel members will share their stories, what made WIFIA financing desirable, and their experiences working with the WIFIA team. 

    Moderator:

    Francesca McCann, Business Development Director, iMG (a Black & Veatch Company)

    Panelists:

    John Shockley, General Counsel, Ohnstad Law (Metro Flood Diversion Authority)

    Jorianne Jernberg, WIFIA Program Director, U.S. EPA

    Karen Jassoy, CFO, Padre Dam Municipal Water District (East County Advanced Water Purification Joint Powers Authority)

    Matt Anderson, CFO, SVCW - Silicon Valley Clean Water

    Vyto Kaunelis, Principal, OHM Advisors (System Manager, Downriver Utility Water Authority (DUWA)
12. 1:00 pm — 2:00 pm

    Surf’s Up – Is It Time to Ride the Progressive Wave?

    Grand Hall C

    The “progressive” project delivery model has become the predominant delivery method in the design-build sector and is becoming increasingly popular for use in the PPP sector as well.  This panel will consist of a leading design-build company representative and an owner’s legal advisor who will provide their unique perspectives on the drivers for the groundswell in favor of this collaborative delivery model, as well as the advantages and challenges of such delivery method as compared to more traditional fixed price design-build and PPP project delivery.  The panel members will draw upon their project experiences to illustrate many of the significant issues that should be considered by project owners as they plan future capital projects.

    Presenters:

    Michelle Green, PE, DBIA, VP, Design-Build Lead, Jacobs

    Rick Sapir, Partner, Hawkins Delafield & Wood LLP
13. 1:00 pm — 2:00 pm

    Changing the Game: How P3 Supports the Water-ESG Nexus

    Grand Hall D

    Beyond just carbon, water and resource recovery are increasingly important components of corporate ESG and decarbonization strategies. Water utilities and Resource Recovery Facilities have been leaders in the environmental movement for decades. But, how do P3 arrangements further the water-ESG nexus? This panel will identify how water and wastewater projects align with and potentially satisfy the needs of other ESG-seeking industries, identify pathways for key strategic alignment for projects that tackle climate issues, and open the door to investment and funding through market partnerships. Primary opportunity areas include:

    • De-risking Renewables (especially digester gas) 
    • Leveraging improved analytics to reduce the cost of Collection System Overflows (CSOs) compliance 
    • Nutrient Recovery, Nature Positive & Green Infrastructure 
    • Net Water Positive & Scarcity Solutions, including Non-Revenue Water Strategies

    Moderator:

    Mandy Sheposh, P.E., BCEE, Business Development Leader, Wastewater and BioEnergy, Johnson Controls

    Panelists:

    Andy Prindle, Co-Portfolio Manager and Head of Origination, Foundation Infrastructure Opportunities

    Joel Knight, P.E., Chief Revenue Officer, Optimatics

    Karri Ving, Business Strategy and Performance Manager, Wastewater Enterprise, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission

    Phillip Lowery, Executive Director, Water Resiliency & BioEnergy, Johnson Controls
14. 2:00 pm — 3:00 pm

    Federal Water Infrastructure Panel

    Grand Hall A

    With the November 2021 passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal (BID), significant funding is being made available, in addition to federal agencies annual budget appropriations, for use in water infrastructure planning and construction. Water infrastructure programs at the Bureau of Reclamation, US EPA and the US Army Corps of Engineers all are focusing on providing financing for specific types of water infrastructure. WIFIA, Title XVI, and the WINN Act will be discussed along with asset management for federally supported water infrastructure. Representatives from each of the three federal water infrastructure agencies will participate on the panel and be available to answer questions.

    Moderator:

    Dave Wegner, Senior Strategic Consultant, Woolpert

    Panelists:

    Aaron Snyder, P3 Program Director, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

    Jack Simes, Acting Area Manager, Bureau of Reclamation

    Jorianne Jernberg, WIFIA Program Director, U.S. EPA
15. 2:00 pm — 3:00 pm

    Mixing Blue and Green: P3 Water Finance and ESG

    Grand Hall C

    The water sector faces ongoing risks related to natural resource scarcity, climate change, protection of public health and the environment, balancing rising affordability constraints against necessary long-term investments, and securing its workforce. Using a P3 or alternative delivery approach, project owners and sponsors can implement projects with long-term environmental and equity benefits, but managing ESG is not always that simple. This panel will explore the intersections of water P3s, project finance, and ESG, and how those intersections will shape future project development.

    Moderator:

    Wes Strickland, Partner, Ashurst

    Panelists:

    Brian Renehan, Senior Vice President, Project Development, Energy and Social Infrastructure Practice Leader, WSP

    David Bird, VP - Project Finance & Development, Garney Construction

    Malcolm McGregor, Vice President, Goldman Sachs
16. 2:00 pm — 3:00 pm

    Delivering Environmental Justice and Building an Equitable Future through Community-Based P3s: A Case Study of Chester, PA

    Grand Hall D

    In 2018, the Chester Stormwater Authority partnered with Corvias Infrastructure Solutions (CIS) to develop a community-based public private partnership (CBP3) to address urban stormwater management. The program is designed to develop and implement social and economic development programs that foster local job growth and address chronic flooding as a result of aging infrastructure. To date, over $23M has been invested in green stormwater retrofits and upgrades with over 50 percent of the work being awarded to women and minority business entities. In 2021, Tropical Storm Ida hit the Philadelphia region causing major flooding damage. However, in the City of Chester water damage experienced elsewhere in the region was prevented as a result of the CBP3 that provided targeted investment in critical system upgrades and an enhanced maintenance program. 

    Moderator:

    Elizabeth Wheaton, ESG Director, Corvias

    Panelists:

    Dominique Lueckenhoff, VP of Corporate Sustainability, CBP3 Center for Excellence

    Pete Littleton, Partnerships & Production Management, Corvias
17. 3:00 pm — 3:30 pm

    Networking Coffee Break

    Expo Hall - Grand Hall B
    • 
18. 3:30 pm — 4:30 pm

    Successfully Implementing the Nation’s First USACE Split Delivery P3 Flood Risk Management Project

    Grand Hall A

    The Fargo-Moorhead Metropolitan Area Flood Risk Management Project successfully reached financial close on the $870 M diversion channel and associated infrastructure component of the overall $3B program in 2021, marking the first successful USACE split deliver P3 program under construction in the United States.  Panelists will share the advantages and value realized from the perspective of the USACE, the Metro Flood Diversion Authority (non-federal sponsor) and the Red River Valley Alliance (P3 Developer) as well as key lessons learned, what’s needed for success and their thoughts on the future of P3s in the US.

    Moderator:

    John Shockley, Attorney, Ohnstad Twichell Attorneys

    Panelists:

    Aaron Snyder, P3 Program Director, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

    Esther Madrigal Diez, Project Manager, Red River Valley Alliance

    Joel Paulsen, Executive Director, Metro Flood Diversion Authority
19. 3:30 pm — 4:30 pm

    P3 Water Projects: Where is the Opportunity for the Private Sector Now that the Federal Government Has Allocated Billions of Dollars to the Water Sector?

    Grand Hall C

    P3s have long been discussed as a potential solution to the underfunding of U.S. water infrastructure needs. The recently approved infrastructure law encourages the use of P3s as well as authorizes billions of dollars for water infrastructure projects. In this session we will discuss how P3 financing models are evolving and how a traditional project finance program compares to other P3 tools. Panelists will explore what we can we expect regarding future market activity. We will look at opportunities in water supply and water treatment, privatization of existing water systems, roll-ups to aggregate smaller projects, and funding of capital improvement programs to remedy deferred maintenance.

    Moderator:

    Hala Titus, Senior Vice President, CDM Smith

    Panelists:

    Charles Renner, Partner, Husch Blackwell

    Seth Lehman, Senior Director, Global Infrastructure & Project Finance, Fitch Ratings

    Stacy Barna, North America Funding Discipline Leader, CDM Smith

    Stephen Auton-Smith, Senior Managing Director, Ernst & Young Infrastructure Advisors, LLC
20. 3:30 pm — 4:30 pm

    Market Trends and Growth in the Public Water Sector (Part 1)

    Grand Hall D

    The public sector water market has been flat for several years even though the demand for new and or upgraded water infrastructure has continued to grow. Underground utility repair and replacement programs are substantially underfunded with many large water and wastewater utilities operating on an “as -needed basis” in the face of impending 50 year-100-year replacement cycles. 

    Wastewater treatment facilities have reached their useful life, having been constructed in the late 1970’s through the 1980’s with the support of the Clean Water Act Construction Grants program. Water quality standards have increased substantially, adding to the need for upgrades. Similarly, many water treatment facilities have reached their useful life and new regulatory requirements and increased public focus on the quality of drinking water.  The demand for new and upgraded treatment facilities will continue for the foreseeable future.

    Given the high demand for upgraded water infrastructure throughout the US, the use of new delivery methods for capital projects has never been more critical. Over the last 10-15 years, what was initially termed “Alterative Project Delivery or APD” has now become the norm for publicly owned water and wastewater utilities. The “norm” is now termed “Collaborative Delivery.” Collaborative Delivery methods include Construction Management at Risk (CMAR); Design-Build – both Progressive Design Build and Fixed Price Design-Build; and Design-Build-Operate. These collaborative delivery methods are being used by virtually all public water utilities in the US. 

    Presenter:

    Leofwin Clark, Consultant, Water Collaborative Delivery Association
21. 4:30 pm — 5:30 pm

    Using Innovative Technology to Bring Savings to the Water-Energy Nexus

    Grand Hall A

    The California Energy Commission (CEC) published a final report entitled, “Demonstrating Innovative Water Leakage Reduction Strategies” in June 2021. The project team installed and evaluated the latest advances in leak detection technology, including satellite imagery leak detection. Because of the embedded energy in water pumping and treatment, reduced water loss directly correlates with reduced energy loss. Evaluation was a cooperative effort with the vendors to improve the developing tools. During the project, the team also evaluated the financial and water/energy savings benefits associated with the technologies and provided guidance for utilities to evaluate the technologies for applicability to other systems. This session will discuss the results of this study in relation to the need for innovative new technologies in the public water sector.

    Moderator:

    Ben Stanford, Associate Vice President, Hazen and Sawyer

    Panelists:

    Ellie Barker, Program Manager, Imagine H2O

    James Perry, Executive Vice President, Asterra

    Martin Coghill, Manager, San Diego County Water Authority
22. 4:30 pm — 5:30 pm

    Private Investment in Public Infrastructure

    Grand Hall C

    As cities and states look to the private sector for investment, development, and alternative delivery in the water sector, deal flow has been difficult and sparse as investment objectives and needs have not necessarily aligned.  With the water sector being a target allocation from the beginning of the infrastructure investment trend, funds have found a way to find investments within their profile. This includes projects, privatizations, water utilities, operators, and other service providers in the expanded water sector that includes wastewater, biosolids, and industrial treatment. The panelists from several infrastructure funds discuss the growing involvement from the private capital, investment criteria (assets vs. services), deal originations strategy, target returns, and investment horizon.

    Moderator:

    Edward Fanter, Managing Director, National Bank Financial

    Panelists:

    Julius Bedford, Vice President, Bernhard Capital Partners

    Lee Ward, Senior Manager, Project Development, EPCOR USA Inc.

    Paul Kauffman, President, Triton Utilities
23. 4:30 pm — 5:30 pm

    Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and Water Infrastructure: Unpacking 2021’s Historic Investment

    Grand Hall D

    The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, now known alternately as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, was signed by President Biden on November 15, 2021. With one pen stroke, the outlook for US water infrastructure changed significantly – the State Revolving Funds saw an effective tripling in funding and new, large streams of investment were created to address lead service lines and emerging contaminants, among other items.

    Now water advocates must shift their focus towards two things:  equitable and effective implementation of IIJA’s programs and emphasizing the value of these investments so that funding levels never dip back to their wholly inadequate pre-2021 levels.

    Moderator:

    Mae Stevens, Executive Vice President, Signal Group

    Panelists:

    Chris Moody, MEng, PE, Regulatory Technical Manager, American Water Works Association

    Jennifer Bales Drake, Shareholder, Becker & Poliakoff

    Michael Deane, Chief, Clean Water State Revolving Fund, U.S. EPA

    Renee Willette, Vice President, Programs and Strategy, US Water Alliance
24. 5:30 pm — 7:00 pm

    Opening Night Welcome Reception

    Expo Hall - Grand Hall B

    Join us at this special evening networking receptions for all Summit attendees. Enjoy drinks and light fare while meeting with speakers, exhibitors, and Summit delegates.