Wednesday, October 26
12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Registration – Monterey Bay Foyer
12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Grab and Go Lunch - Monterey Bay
All Committee Meetings are open to CWA Members Only
1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
CPUC Regulatory Seminar - Carmel
1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Safety, Security & Emergency Management Committee Meeting - Steinbeck Boardroom
3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Small Company Seminar - Carmel
3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Public Information Committee Meeting - Steinbeck Boardroom
CPUC Regulatory and Small Company Seminars Sponsored By HomeServe
5:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Opening Reception and Dinner – Sardine Factory
Opening Reception Sponsored By Blair, Church, & Flynn
Opening Dinner Sponsored By Coastal Paving & Excavating Inc.
Thursday, October 27
All sessions will be held in the Cypress Ballroom unless other noted.
7:00a.m. – 5:00p.m.
Registration
7:00 – 8:00 a.m.
Hosted Breakfast – Sponsored By Doty Bros/Meruelo Enterprises
8:00 a.m.
Welcome Remarks Annual
Conference Host: Ed Jackson, President, Liberty Utilities (California), Incoming President of California Water Association
8:05 a.m.
CWA Year in Review: Evan Jacobs, Director of External Affairs, California American Water, President of California Water Association
8:15-8:45 a.m.
Complejidades Emergentes Del Agua En California/ Growing Complexities of Water in CaliforniaBarton “Buzz” Thompson, Jr., JD/MBA, Robert E. Paradise Professor of Natural Resources Law, Stanford Law School – Sponsored By Lumos & Associates
8:45-10:00 a.m.
Contabilizando Cada Gota de Agua – Accounting for Every Water Drop Moderator: Jack Hawks, Executive Director, California Water Association (ret.)
Panelists:
• Kateline Lin, Senior Associate Engineer, San Jose Water
• Tricia Anklan, Director, Water Utility Consulting, West Monroe
• Joseph Ball, Director, Global Smart Metering Practice, Jacobs
• Ed Cooney, Program Manager, City of Hillsborough
10:00-10:15 a.m.
Networking Break – Sponsored By Western Nevada Supply
10:15 - 10:25 a.m.
Actualización de Diversidad de Proveedores –
Supplier Diversity Update – Holley Joy, Program Manager for Supplier Diversity, Liberty Utilities (California) and Chair of the Supplier Diversity Committee for California Water Association
10:25 - 11:45 a.m.
Ser Un Mejor Aliado – Be a Better Ally
Moderators: Ed Simon, Director of Business Performance, Inclusion and Diversity Officer, California American Water; Tim Guster, Vice President and General Counsel, Great Oaks Water
• What is Allyship? How do you put Allyship into action?
Case Examples:
• San Jose Water: John Tang Vice President of Regulatory Affairs & Government Relations and Gil Rivas, Director of Distribution Systems
• San Gabriel Valley Water: Matt Yucelen, Vice President of Engineering and Jeanette Diaz, Supplier Diversity and Procurement Manager
12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Soluciones Para Sistemas Pequeños Que Están
Fallando – Solutions for Small Failing Systems
Moderator: Jennifer Lukins, Manager, Lukins Brother Water
Panelists:
• Michelle Frederick, P.E., Northern California Consolidation Coordinator, State Water Resources Control Board
• Maureen Kerner, Research Engineer, Office of Water Programs, California State University, Sacramento
• Jessi Snyder, Director of Community Development, Self Help Enterprises
3:00 - 3:15 p.m.
Networking Break – Sponsored By HDR
3:15 - 4:30 p.m.
Priorizando La Calidad Del Agua – Prioritizing Water Quality
Moderator: Sophie James, Chief Water Quality Officer, California Water Service Company
• Edgar Dymally, Senior Environmental Specialist, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
• Eric Miguelino, M.D., Research Scientist, State Water Resources Control Board
CalSierra Construction,Inc.
Luncheon Presentation: Actualización de la Comisión de Servicios Públicos/Update from the Public Utilities Commission - John Reynolds, Commissioner, CPUC – Monterey Bay – Sponsored By Cal Sierra Construction
1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Mejorar Las Comunicaciones Con Los Clientes –Improve Customer Communications
Moderator: Shannon Dean, Vice President of Customer Service and Chief Citizenship Officer, California Water Service Company Panelists:
• Lee Weissmann, Client Partner for Public Agencies & Utilities, Nextdoor
• Marci McFadden, Chief of Staff and Chief of Communications & Community Engagement, Monterey Peninsula Unified School District
• Amy Thoma Tan, Director of Public Affairs and Issues, Sutter Health Services
• Lorene Miller, Vice President of Customer Service Operations, Southern California Edison
• Chad Seidel, President, Corona Environmental Consulting
4:30 - 5:00 p.m.
Resiliencia Climática En California/Climate Resiliency in California - Cindy Messer, Lead Deputy Director, California Department of Water Resources 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Networking Reception and Dance
Lessons! – Plaza – Sponsored By Sheppard Mullin
6:00 – 8:30 p.m. Dinner and Dancing with your CWA colleagues – Plaza –Sponsored By Nossaman
Friday on next page
All of Friday’s Events are will take place in Carmel and are open to CWA members only.
7:30 – 8:30 a.m.
Buffet Breakfast
8:30 – 9:00 a.m.
CWA Annual Meeting
9:00 – 11:30 a.m.
CWA Board Meeting
Speakers and Moderators
Tricia Anklan
Tricia leads West Monroe’s water consulting team, working with some of the largest municipal and investor-owned water utilities in the country on AMI strategy and implementation, technology assessments, operational efficiency, and customer experience projects. Tricia is passionate about helping the water industry modernize to address challenges such as water scarcity, rate pressure, affordability, aging infrastructure, and changing customer expectations.
Tricia served as a witness for San Jose Water’s AMI application with the California Public Utilities Commission – helping San Jose Water become the first-ever investor owned water utility in California to receive approval for systemwide deployment of AMI.
Joseph Ball
Joe currently serves as Jacobs’ global director of smart metering and is our resident technology subject matter expert. With more than 20 years of experience, Joe is an AMI expert, and he’s worked with water utilities around the world to design and deploy technology that improves their operational efficiency and reduces costs. He helps water utilities understand the technology options available to solve their business challenges. He is vendor-independent and dedicated to helping clients make decisions that positively impact their operational needs both today and in the future. He works with utility personnel to select the right technology through procurement, vendor evaluation, and negotiations.
Edmund Cooney
Ed Cooney currently works as the Program Manager to the City o Hillsborough. With over 20 years as an experienced, handson, and problem-solving leader in the local government and private sectors; Ed Cooney has demonstrated the ability to manage and deliver exceptional results. His unique blend of talents and skills in environmental and public policy development and implementation; are on full display in his public works city government operations; human resources management; and new business acquisition and account management. As a Program Manager, he acquired new business and provide ongoing customer service to ensure client satisfaction. As a consultant to city government, he overcame and adapted to all obstacles while working with a board spectrum of personnel, including contract and city employees, city councils, department heads, city managers, field employees and city attorneys.
Shannon Dean
As Vice President, Customer Service and Chief Citizenship Officer at California Water Service, Shannon Dean is responsible for corporate communications, government and community relations, customer service, water resource sustainability, and Environmental, Social, and Governance strategy.
Prior to this role, she served as Vice President of Corporate Communications and Community Relations, leading efforts to strengthen relationships and build brand loyalty with customers, community leaders, employees, and stockholders.
During her 30-year career in the water industry, she has held various volunteer positions, including chair of the National Association of Water Companies Communications Committee and chair of the California Water Association’s Public Information Committee.
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, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. She is also a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
Jeanette Diaz
Jeanette Diaz joined San Gabriel Valley Water Company (“San Gabriel”) in July 2016 in the role of Engineering Administrative Assistant. Today she manages San Gabriel’s Supplier Diversity Program and Procurement Department. She is responsible to develop, budget, implement, monitor, and report on San Gabriel’s Utility Supplier Diversity Program (“USDP”) and manage the day to day activities of San Gabriel’s Los Angeles and Fontana Water Company division procurement processes. Additionally, Jeanette serves as a member of California Water Association’s (“CWA”) USDP Committee, and CWA’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee. Jeanette graduated from California Polytechnic University, Pomona, where she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology. In her spare time, Jeanette enjoys spending time with her family and friends, shopping, and traveling.
Edgar Dymally
Since 1992, Edgar G. Dymally has been with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. He is currently employed as a Senior Environmental Specialist with the Metropolitan Water Quality Section where his duties include coordination of legislative and regulatory affairs on drinking water quality issues. Prior to working with Metropolitan, Edgar was a staff engineer with the State of California’s Department of Health Services, Office of Drinking Water in the Los Angeles area. He is a graduate of Long Beach State University with a Bachelors of Science degree in Civil Engineering. Edgar is an active member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, the American Water Works Association, the Association of California Water Agencies, where he serves on their Board of Directors, the Water and Power Associates and the Los Angeles based TreePeople. Edgar’s duties at Metropolitan have involved legislative and regulatory efforts through both the federal and State Safe Drinking Water Act at maintaining and improving drinking water quality for its 26 member agencies that represent over 19 million consumers.
Michelle Frederick, P.E.
Michelle holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from UC Berkeley and a master’s degree from Georgia Tech in environmental engineering. She is a California registered professional civil engineer. After several years in environmental consulting and 2 years in the Peace Corps in West Africa, she started working for the State drinking water program in 2005. She has worked in various positions in the drinking water program including as a field engineer, the Mendocino District Engineer, and the consolidation coordinator for Northern California. Michelle currently is the Section Supervisor for the State Water Board’s SAFER Section. This section focuses on ensuring safe and affordable drinking water to all Californians, particularly through water partnerships and analysis of at-risk water system needs.
Timothy Guster
Tim Guster has been Great Oaks Water Company’s Vice President and General Counsel since 2007 and is responsible for all legal and regulatory affairs for Great Oaks, along with other assorted duties ranging from Conservation to Emergency Response Management to Public Relations. Tim is CWA’s Second Vice President.
Prior to joining Great Oaks, Tim served as General Counsel for both publicly traded and privately-owned companies, including The Scott Fetzer Company, a $1 Billion-dollar subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway that has more than 20 different operating divisions doing business all around the world. Tim is also a trial and appellate attorney, with experience handling cases in federal courts and in all 50 states, as well as in many foreign jurisdictions.
Tim is married to Elaine and together they have four children, two grandchildren, and two cats. When he’s not in the office, you might find Tim skiing at Jackson Hole, running down the street in a vain effort to stay fit, or playing golf with his buddies. In 2011, Elaine and Tim founded the Far Out Adventure Society®, a travel group of family and friends that, so far, has visited Scotland, Italy, France, Costa Rica, New Zealand, and Indonesia, with more adventures to come starting in 2023.
John K. (Jack) Hawks
Before his retirement in February 2020, Jack Hawks was Executive Director of the California Water Association (CWA), whose members comprise investorowned water utilities. From 2005-2020, he managed CWA’s regulatory, legislative and public information programs, and he represented CWA before the California Public Utilities Commission, the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB), the California State Legislature, the Governor’s Office and a variety of other state agencies overseeing water policy. He served as CWA’s chief spokesperson and was responsible for planning and outreach to other industry sectors.
Hawks was a member of the Public Advisory Committee for the California State Water Plan Update for the 2009, 2013 and 2018 versions. He served as Secretary-Treasurer of the California Water Efficiency Partnership from 2014 to 2019. Additionally, he served on the SWRCB’s Division of Drinking Water Advisory Group from 2015-2020 and was a member of the state’s Drinking Water Infrastructure Funding Stakeholders Committee from 2006-2015.
Hawks has testified before numerous state regulatory commissions and Canadian provincial energy boards, and has addressed dozens of industry conferences, seminars, and workshops. He has also participated in numerous water policy conferences and regulatory proceedings since moving to California in 2005.
Prior to joining CWA, Jack worked in the natural gas and electric utility industries for 30 years, in positions encompassing regulatory, legislative affairs and public affairs activities associated with power plant development, construction and operations, and with natural gas pipeline and distribution utility operations.
During his electric utility career, Hawks was a member of the Board of Directors of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), serving as both chair and vice-chair. Also, he was a member of the Pennsylvania-New JerseyMaryland (PJM) ISO Members Committee and the chair of its Governance Committee. Hawks has resumed his activity in the electric utility industry and is currently the Board Chair of Bear Valley Electric Service (BVES), Inc., an investor-owned electric utility serving the City of Big Bear Lake, CA.
Hawks attended the College of William & Mary, where he majored in political science. He holds B.S. and MBA degrees from the University of Kansas and George Mason University. Aside from his duties with BVES, he is now happily retired and living in Palm Desert, CA.
Ed Jackson
Edward Jackson is the President for Liberty, California. In his position, he is responsible for all operations in California which includes water and electric facilities. He is also a founding member of the Company’s Diversity, Inclusion and Equity Council.
With 32 years of experience in a variety of utility fields, Edward has extensive knowledge of all the different aspects of the utility industry. He began working for Liberty (then known as Park Water Company) in 1993 as a Utilities Engineer and later as the Director of Rates and Regulatory Affairs. Prior to joining Liberty, he worked at the California Public Utilities Commission as a Utilities Engineer from 1990 - 1992. Edward earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from California State University, Los Angeles. He is a Grade 2 Water Distribution Operator in the State of California.
Evan Jacobs
Evan got his start in the water industry in 2003 when he began consulting for American Water on local public policy issues. His current role is Director of Communications and External Affairs for California and Hawaii American Water. Previously Evan served as an external affairs manager for American Water in Northern California, New Mexico and Texas and as the director of government affairs for California American Water. During the last 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 serves on the boards of several Groundwater Sustainability Agencies in Yolo, Sacramento, and Sonoma Counties and is the President of the California Water Association. Evan met his wife when they attended Trinity College in Hartford, CT and now lives in Davis, CA.
Holley Joy
Holley Joy is a Program Manager for Supplier Diversity with Liberty Utilities. She’s also responsible for compliance with California Public Utility Commission (CPUC) General Order 156 supplier diversity program guidelines. Before joining the San Dimas-based water utility in 2019, she served three years as a Project Manager with Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and also served on its diversity, equity and inclusion educational committee. Prior to that, she was Supplier Diversity Manager at California American Water Company and Contract Manager at The Supplier Clearinghouse, which certifies diverse-owned firms for California-based utilities.
Holley is a member of the Asian Business Advisory Council and California Water Association’s Utility Supplier Diversity Program Committee. She volunteers as a women’s ministry event planner at Trinity Baptist Church in the Southern California community of Moreno Valley.
Holley earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of La Verne. She is a National Diversity Council DiversityFIRST™ Certified Diversity Professional and holds a Prosci certification as a Change Management Facilitator.
A native of Perris, California, Holley has a teenage son and an adult daughter and enjoys spending quality family time as much as she can.
Maureen Kerner, OWP
Maureen is a Research Engineer at the Office of Water Programs (OWP) at California State University, Sacramento (Sac State). Maureen also serves as the Associate Director of the Sacramento State Environmental Finance Center (EFC), one of 10 centers partially funded by EPA to support communities and federal and state agencies in developing technical, managerial, and financial capacity for long-term sustainable operation of drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater programs. She holds a BS and MS in Civil and Environmental Engineering from University of WI, Madison and Oregon State University, respectively.
Kateline Lin
Kateline Lin is a Capital Budgeting Supervisor in the Capital Planning and Asset Management department at San Jose Water, where she is responsible for water supply planning, infrastructure planning, and capital budgeting efforts. She has been actively involved in San Jose Water’s pursuit of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) since 2018, from building a business case for the program to supporting the ongoing deployment.
Kateline obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering and a Master of Science degree in Environmental Engineering and Science from Stanford University. She is registered as a Professional Civil Engineer in California.
Jennifer Lukins
Jennifer Lukins, co-owner and General Manager of Lukins Brothers Water Company in South Lake Tahoe. She has over 15 years of water system management, leadership, and strategic knowledge. As a fourth-generation South Lake Tahoe resident, Ms. Lukins took over management of the water company in 2009, and is the third generation of the Lukins family to operate the company.
Ms. Lukins is a 2004 graduate from California State University, Chico. She holds State of California Distribution 3 and Treatment 2 Operator Certifications, as well as a Water Treatment Plant Operation Specialist Certificate from California State University, Sacramento, Office of Water Programs. Ms. Lukins is the chair of the CWA Small Water Committee, President of South Tahoe High School Alumni Foundation, and past President of Soroptimist International of South Lake Tahoe. In 2019 Jennifer was awarded the Lake Tahoe’s Most Remarkable Women, Women to Watch Award.
Marci McFadden
Marci McFadden is the chief of communications and engagement for the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District, where she oversees the district’s internal and external communications. She also serves as chief of staff to the superintendent and Cabinet leadership team.
She brings extensive experience in advertising, marketing, media and public relations from the education and nonprofit fields. Her expertise and experience is not typical of the traditional public information officer. Not only does she support the district’s 12 elementary, three middle, three comprehensive high schools, one alternative high school, Early Childhood Education and Adult School on their communication efforts, she is responsible for the district’s Local Control Accountability Plan and works closely with school sites and departments on various projects and initiatives, including School Accountability Report Cards, Open Enrollment (Intra and Inter District Transfers), school safety and messaging.
She serves as member-at-large for Region 10 of the Association of California School Administrators, and has served on the Region 10 board as president, presidentelect, and communications officer, as well as president of the Monterey ACSA charter.
Prior to serving at MPUSD, she was the communications officer for the Monterey County Office of Education for three years. Before relocating to the Central Coast, McFadden served seven years as marketing director for the California School Boards Association. She teaches statewide on communications to members of the California Association of School Business Officials and the Association of California School Administrators.
A product of the California State University system, McFadden holds her bachelor’s degree in speech communication and a master’s degree in public policy and administration from CSU, Long Beach. She and her husband Brett, deputy superintendent of the Monterey County Office of Education, have two sons - Jack (24) and Ryan (21) – products of the public school system.
Cindy Messer
Cindy Messer was appointed as Lead Deputy Director in February 2017. Prior to her appointment, Messer served as a subject matter expert and policy advisor to the director and former chief deputy director on a broad range of issues impacting statewide water management. She briefly served as acting director in the summer of 2017 after Mark Cowin retired and prior to Grant Davis’ appointment.
Messer was the deputy director of the Planning, Performance, and Technology Division at the Delta Stewardship Council from 2012 until her appointment with DWR. As deputy director, she coordinated the preparation and implementation of the Delta Plan. Prior to this position, Messer served as the assistant executive officer for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy where she provided oversight for development of the Delta Conservancy’s Interim Strategic Plan. Messer also worked for more than 10 years in various technical and managerial roles in DWR’s Division of Environmental Services.
Messer is a graduate of the University of California, Davis, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in environmental policy analysis and planning. She also earned a Master of Science degree in conservation biology from California State University, Sacramento.
Dr. Eric Miguelino
Dr. Eric Miguelino received his B.S degree from the University of California, Davis and his M.D. from Fatima College of Medicine, Philippines. He served as a postdoctoral fellow in Department of Medical Pathology and the Department of Internal
Medicine at the University of California, Davis Medical Center. He joined the State of California in 2009. He has served as a toxicologist and risk assessor for the Department of Pesticide Regulation and the Food and Drug Branch in the Department of Public Health.
Currently, he works within the Regulatory Development Unit in the Division of Drinking Water. He serves as a technical advisor to staff and management on scientific and public health matters associated with drinking water contaminants and assists in the development of standards in accordance with the federal and California Safe Drinking Water Acts.
Lorene Miller
Lorene Miller is vice president, Customer Service Operations at Southern California Edison (SCE), with responsibilities for the company’s contact center, billing, payment, credit and program services operations. She also oversees technology investments, governance, training and safety functions for the Customer Service department. Miller recently led the implementation of a new Customer Information System to more effectively serve SCE’s 5 million customers.
Since first joining SCE’s Information Technology department as an intern over 30 years ago, Miller has held several management and executive positions in IT and Customer Service. Miller has driven the integration of business processes and technology throughout her career, from the company’s early advancement of e-commerce to more recent expansion of Digital customer self-service interactions.
Miller holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from California State University at Los Angeles and a Master of Science degree in Leadership and Management from the University of La Verne.
Commissioner John Reynolds
Commissioner John Reynolds was appointed to the CPUC by Governor Gavin Newsom on Dec. 23, 2021.
Commissioner Reynolds had previously served as Managing Counsel at Cruise LLC since 2019. Prior to that, he held multiple positions at the CPUC, including Interim Chief of Staff to Commissioner Genevieve Shiroma in 2018, Advisor to former Commissioner Carla J. Peterman from 2015 to 2018, and Public Utilities Counsel from 2013 to 2015. He was Associate at De la Pena & Holiday LLP in 2012. Commissioner Reynolds earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Hastings College of Law.
Department head of largest operating department in SJW. This includes an administrate staff of six and 68 union colleagues in Local UWUA 259. Responsible for formulating and implementing operating policies and procedures. Manage and implementing safety and job skills training for the department. Plan, organize, direct and control activities in construction and maintenance of underground pipeline activities. Analyze complex maintenance problems and implement solutions.
Collaborate on organizational teams and implement change management processes. Manage annual operating budget and support Capital Improvement Program initiatives. Overall, responsibility for efficient ongoing repair of company water distribution system and service to customers. Coordinate inter-departmental activities and collaboration with other entities of the organization. Responsible for Sarbanes-Oxley Act compliance. Facilitate development of team members through servant leadership approach. Responsible Managing Employee (RME), responsible for contract service work. Maintain relationships with agencies we serve and foster a collective working environment.
Chad Seidel, Ph.D.
Chad Seidel is President of Corona Environmental Consulting and a Research Affiliate at the University of Colorado Boulder. He obtained his Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from CUBoulder and is a registered engineer in several states. Chad and the Corona Environmental team are helping water utilities, regulatory agencies, and research entities in California and across the U.S. addressing the most challenging public health concerns in drinking water. Chad has devoted his career to researching and improving how drinking water is regulated and implementedincluding the MDBP Rule package, arsenic, nitrate, hexavalent chromium, TCP, lead, PFAS and more. He and his team particularly focus on addressing small water systems challenges.
Edward Simon II Ed Simon currently serves as California American Water’s Director of Business Performance and Supplier Diversity and Inclusion and Diversity Officers. Under his leadership, California American Water’s supplier diversity strategies/efforts has consistently met and exceeded the California Public Utilities Commission 21.5% spend goal with diverse suppliers. Their strategies and efforts have led to a five-year average spend of 53.99% with 2021 being their highest year at 47.82%.
Ed’s tenure with American Water began in February 2001. He has held several positions with American Water from frontline supervisors to middle management to senior leadership roles. As the director of customer relations, he developed and implemented the Central States Customer Relations Team, which is the model used across American Water today. Ed moved to California in 2010 to join the team as the operations vice president. His is a member of the California American Water Board.
He earned a Bachelor of Art’s Degree in Organization Studies from Fontbonne University in Saint Louis, Missouri and in 2017 earned a Master’s Degree in Executive Leadership from University of San Diego.
Jessi Snyder
Jessi Snyder is Director of Community Development at Self-Help Enterprises (SHE), leading SHE’s technical assistance and support program to rural community drinking water and wastewater systems in the San Joaquin Valley. The work is inspiring and fascinating and attracts the most wonderful people to the team. Ms. Snyder has over 15 years’ experience in rural drinking water and wastewater infrastructure planning, development, funding, and implementation. She also serves on the board of the Rural Community Assistance Corporation, a national network providing similar services nationwide. Ms. Snyder is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Malawi, 2003-2005) and loves to travel and explore. She never has surplus vacation time left over at the end of the year.
John Tang
John Tang is Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and Government Relations for San Jose Water. With more than 27 years of experience in the areas of environmental engineering and public affairs, he currently leads the company’s regulatory affairs, corporate communications, and government relations programs. As San Jose Water’s chief representative to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), John is responsible for developing and executing the company’s regulatory policy and strategy. He is also responsible for stewarding relationships with community groups and organizations, business leaders, and governmental representatives.
John was previously employed by FMC Corporation as an environmental engineer and managed the remediation of a diverse portfolio of contaminated industrial facilities, including State and Federal Superfund sites, in the United States and Canada.
Active in the community and industry, he serves on the Boards of the Cupertino Chamber of Commerce and the California Water Association, and chairs the National Association of Water Companies’ Regulatory and Legislative Committee. John is also a member of the CPUC’s Low Income Oversight Board and the American Water Works Association’s Public Affairs Council.
John holds BS and MS degrees in Civil Engineering from San Jose State University and an MBA from Columbia University. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in California and an adjunct professor in the College of Engineering at his alma mater.
Amy Thoma Tan
Amy Thoma Tan is a communications leader with nearly 20 years of experience at the intersection of communications, politics and public affairs. She has created strategic communications and advocacy campaigns for individuals and organizations large and small, leveraging traditional and digital media, advertising, grassroots and other tools.
Amy is now Sutter Health’s Director of Public Affairs and Reputation Management, a role in which she serves as a senior counselor in the areas of public affairs, issues and crisis management and corporate reputation. Previously, she led advocacy and public affairs at Kaiser Permanente, where she engaged and connected employees, clinicians and patients.
Amy spent the first 10 years of her career in California politics, where she led communications, media relations and social media for a variety of state and local campaigns for candidates and issues. She has also worked in senior communications roles in California government.
Amy lives in Sacramento with her husband Chris and two active toddlers. She serves on the board of the Sacramento Children’s Home and is an avid runner and baker.
Buzz Thompson
A global expert on water policy and management, Barton “Buzz” Thompson is the Robert E. Paradise Professor of Natural Resources Law at Stanford University and a professor of environmental behavioral sciences at Stanford’s new Doerr School of Sustainability. He also is a senior fellow in the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, which he co-founded in 2004 and directed for over a dozen years. He serves of counsel to
the international law firm of O’Melveny & Myers and is a member of the Technical Advisory Committee of the Sustainable Water Impact Fund (a joint business venture between the Renewable Resources Group and The Nature Conservancy). From 2008 to 2018, he served as Special Master for the United States Supreme Court in Montana v. Wyoming, an interstate water dispute involving the Yellowstone River System. He also is a former member of the Science Advisory Board of the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
Professor Thompson is the author of multiple articles and books on water, including Managing California’s Water (2011) and Legal Control of Water Resources (6th ed. 2018). His recent research focuses on the growing importance of private companies in water management. His new book on The Business of Water will be published in 2023.
Lee Weissman
Lee Weissmann, EMBA is a Client Partner at Nextdoor working with public agencies, private utilities, and non-profits on advertising campaigns that help educate, inform, and promote important messages to Nextdoor users. Before joining Nextdoor, Lee worked for publishers and media companies including the Los Angeles Times and The Walt Disney Company. While at The Walt Disney Company, he worked on public agency campaigns including First 5 California’s “Talk. Read. Sing. It changes everything” campaigns. Lee studied Political Science and Communication at the University of California, Davis, received his EMBA from Quantic School of Business and Technology, and proudly serves as HOA Board President in his community. He lives in the Los Angeles area with his family.
Matt Yucelen
Matt Y. Yucelen joined San Gabriel Valley Water Company (“San Gabriel”) in April 2004 and has advanced through several positions within the company including Engineer, Chief Engineer, Director of Engineering, and his current role as Vice PresidentEngineering. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from California State University, Fullerton and a Master of Business Administration degree with an emphasis in Finance from the University of Redlands. Matt is a licensed Professional Civil Engineer in California and has over 26 years of engineering and management experience with various engineering consulting, construction, and utility companies. In Matt’s current role as Vice President - Engineering, he oversees San Gabriel’s Engineering, Procurement and Planning
Departments and San Gabriel’s Supplier Diversity Program. These responsibilities include preparation and implementation of San Gabriel’s annual capital improvement budgets for all three divisions, including planning, design, procurement and construction of all San Gabriel’s utility plant facilities. In his spare time, Matt enjoys traveling, sailing and spending quality time with his wife and two daughters.
Sophie James grew up in Liberia, on the west coast of Africa. In 1988, during the political instability leading up to civil war in Liberia, James left to attend an allgirls college in Nevada, Mo., as recipient of an international peace scholarship awarded by the Philanthropic Educational Organization. James holds a Master of Science degree in analytical chemistry from San Jose State University and a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry with a minor in math from Missouri Western State University. She holds Grade IV Laboratory Analyst Certification from the California Water Environment Association and Grade 2 Water Treatment and Distribution Certifications from the California State Water Resources Control Board. She is also a recipient of the American Water Works Association Kenneth J. Miller Founders Water for People Award and was recognized as a 2021 Volunteer by the California-Nevada Section. James lives with her husband, Oscar, and they have been married for 26 years. They have three children and enjoy camping, hiking, traveling, music and movies.
MEETING/BANQUET ROOMS
Cypress Ballroom
Big
Robert
John
Carmel
Ocean
Dolphins
Vista
The
Schooners
Tidal
