JPIA Five

Earthquakes are an inevitable reality for California public agencies, making immediate access to recovery funds critical. In this episode of JPIA Five, Deputy Executive Officer Jennifer Jobe sits down with Alex Tokar, Managing Director at Aon Risk and Insurance, to break down ACWA JPIA’s new parametric earthquake coverage program. Learn how this innovative, data-driven model bypasses the tradition...

This special episode of the JPIA 5 podcast features a live session from the 2026 ACWA JPIA Spring Membership Summit focused on hazard mitigation planning and federal funding opportunities. Hear practical insights and lessons learned from water agency leaders and emergency planning professionals as they discuss resilience, infrastructure protection, grant funding pathways, and the importance of lon...

In this episode of JPIA Five, CEO Adrienne Beatty speaks with Ernie Avila, President of the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) and Board President of Contra Costa Water District, about leadership, partnership, and the critical role risk pools play in supporting California water agencies. Ernie shares insights from his time serving on both the ACWA and ACWA JPIA leadership teams, explo...

Cybersecurity can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. In this episode, ACWA JPIA's Director of Pooled Programs Jennifer Jobe sits down with our very own Cybersecurity Risk Specialist, Hunter Sargent to break down what cyber risk really means for water agencies. Drawing from his experience in the U.S. Air Force and National Security Agency, Hunter explains how today’s threats to public in...

Join Jennifer Jobe, Director of Pooled Programs at ACWA JPIA, as she sits down with Alex Tokar, Managing Director at Aon, for an insightful conversation on the current state of California’s property insurance market. They’ll explore the latest trends in property insurance availability and pricing, challenges facing the industry, and how ACWA JPIA is strategically navigating this evolving landscape...

Discover how an irrigation district is transforming workplace culture from the inside out. In this episode, we sit down with September Singh, Assistant General Manager, and Donaday Chapman, SPHR/SHRM-SCP, Human Resources Business Partner at Fresno Irrigation District, to explore their innovative in-house training initiative: CORE. Learn how this multi-dimensional core values training program is dr...

Join ACWA JPIA Employee Benefits Manager, Adam Dedmon, as he explores the Carrum Health program benefit with Laures Stiles (Director of HR & Administration, San Louis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority) and Anjanette Shadley (Assistant General Manager, Western Canal Water District). The conversation explores the Carrum Heath member benefit from the perspective of a program administrator and user, off...

In this episode, join ACWA JPIA Member Education Manager, Sarah Crawford, as she interviews three senior JPIA member water agency leaders, Stephen Lang, Betsy Miller, and Kevin Phillips, to learn about their senior leadership journeys and experience in the ACWA JPIA Leadership Essentials for the Water Industry Program.

In this episode, Member Education Manager Sarah Crawford discusses the 10th anniversary of the ACWA JPIA Leadership Essentials for the Water Industry Program, a transformative, year-long experience to develop strong, self-aware leaders in the water industry. She’s joined by Clint Camac, an experienced leadership and development trainer, to explore how the program’s small cohort model fosters deep...

In this episode, we sit down with David Drake, a dedicated leader with over 11 years of service to ACWA JPIA, including his role as Vice President of the Executive Committee. David reflects on his impactful journey in water agency governance and risk management, starting from his time at Rincon del Diablo Water District. He shares pivotal moments in the development of the California Water Insuranc...

In the latest episode of the podcast, hosted by Adam Dedmon, Employee Benefits Manager at ACWA JPIA, guest Katie Wilcox, Client Success Manager from Progyny, discusses the transformative role of fertility benefits in employee health plans. Progyny offers specialized, comprehensive services for fertility and family planning. Offering innovative features like "smart cycles," Progyny provides members...

In this episode of JPIA Five, ACWA JPIA's Sr. Risk Advisor Jesse Cota interviews Edward Castaneda, General Manager of Orchard Dale Water District, who shares valuable insights into the district’s operations and recent initiatives. He discusses their successful application for the ACWA JPIA Risk Control Grant and how it has helped improve efficiency and safety. With a small but dedicated team of ni...

Join host Sarah Crawford, ACWA JPIA's Member Education Manager, as she sits down with Soren Nelson, ACWA's Senior State Relations Advocate to explore the vital partnership between ACWA and ACWA JPIA, a collaboration that has shaped California water policy advocacy since 1979. In this insightful discussion, Soren breaks down the structure of ACWA's dedicated advocacy team and their mission to tackl...

Join Kristen Bennett, ACWA JPIA Training Specialist, as she discusses how to engage your team in a solution-focused mindset while working within the realities of organizational constraints

In this episode, a rebroadcast of a recent Hot Java webinar, we dive into the essential practices and legal requirements surrounding Form 5020, the Employer’s Report of Occupational Injury and Illness. This educational session covers the critical importance of timely and accurate reporting, including the five-day submission requirement and the 24-hour deadline for providing the DWC1 form to injure...

In this episode, interviewer Nidia Watkins, ACWA JPIA's Member Services Representative II, speaks with guest Walt E. Wendelstein, Managing Partner of Wendelstein Law Group, P.C. Discussing the vital topic of risk transfer, Nidia shares her expertise in risk management, while Walt provides legal insights specific to water agencies. Together, they unpack the importance of updating risk transfer prov...

In this episode of JPIA Five, we introduce Kristen Bennett, ACWA JPIA's new Training Specialist, who brings 15 years of expertise in public sector training and curriculum development. Kristen shares her holistic approach to employee training, emphasizing the importance of understanding organizational context, tailoring sessions to specific needs, and fostering active participation. This episode al...

In the Season 4 premiere of the JPIA Five podcast, we introduce Elisa Sabatini, ACWA JPIA's newly appointed Director of Member Outreach, who shares her vibrant perspective on her evolving role for member agencies. She brings humor and insight, reflecting on her professional journey and recent successes in community flood control efforts. Tune in to explore how ACWA JPIA and Elisa are fostering a c...

In this episode of JPIA Five, ACWA JPIA General Counsel Robert Greenfield along with Litigation Manager Kayla Villa and HR Manager Tony Waterford discuss new statutes for 2025 and significant case law from 2024. This episode focuses on pivotal HR laws and regulations coming in 2025, and also delves into Supreme Court decisions on free speech, hostile work environments, and whistleblower protection...

On this episode, a repeat of a recent Hot Java, Nicole Reed and Dina Hidalgo from the Water Replenishment District discuss how effectively managing a multigenerational workforce supports employee engagement.

This is a special episode of JPIA Five. This is a rebroadcast of our monthly Hot Java, Hot HR Topics webinar. This episode is a discussion with Nicole Reed. Ms Reed is the DEI coordinator at the Water Replenishment District (WRD). WRD embarked on a journey to ingrain diversity, equity, and inclusion into their culture. What began with an equity study, transformed into a participatory paradigm that...

In this episode of the JPIA Five podcast, we share key details about the upcoming ACWA JPIA Fall Summit in Palm Desert on Dec 2-3, covering educational sessions, networking events, and the digital voting process for the Board meeting. The episode also spotlights fun activities like the Leadership Mixer and the 'Vote for the Goat' mascot naming campaign. To register for the ACWA JPIA Summit visit:...

In this episode for Cybersecurity Awareness Month, new ACWA JPIA IT Manager Erik Kowalewski shares insights from his 21-year career in IT, highlighting the evolving challenges in cybersecurity. He delves into major threats like phishing and ransomware and emphasizes proactive strategies such as multifactor authentication, user training, and cutting-edge firewalls. Kowalewski advocates for balancin...

Join ACWA JPIA Director of Pooled Programs Jennifer Jobe as she introduces JPIA's new Employee Benefits Manager Adam Dedman who, along with Tom Sher, Sr. Vice President of Alliant Insurance Services, discuss managing health benefits, personal insights, the future of health benefits focusing on preventative care, & healthcare impacts.

ACWA JPIA Communication & Outreach Specialist Molly Quirk is joined by JPIA Event Planner Laura Baryak as she unveils the recently renamed JPIA Membership Summit. Laura takes us through the jam-packed agenda, featuring meetings, a celebration of the Commitment to Excellence (C2E) program, a live podcast recording & more. The summit which "Celebrate{s) a Commitment to Excellence,' will also feature...