The Water Entrepreneur

Shannon Knee is the Founder and CEO of Cetos Water, overseeing the commercialization of the TSSE technology. Shannon brings deep expertise in commercializing products and technologies through her career as a private and public markets investor at Goldman Sachs’s Principal Investment Area, Glenview Capital and Cornell Capital. Through these roles, she was responsible for deploying… More

Congressman Jim Costa represents California’s 21st Congressional District, encompassing Fresno and Tulare counties. A senior member of the House Agriculture Committee, he has played an instrumental role in shaping the 2008, 2014, and 2018 Farm Bills, forging bipartisan partnerships to strengthen food security, support agricultural producers, and invest in rural communities. A dedicated advocate fo...

Jennifer Pierre serves as General Manager of the State Water Contractors (SWC), a statewide nonprofit association representing 27 public water agencies that receive water from California’s State Water Project. Collectively, these agencies provide water to more than 27 million Californians and irrigate approximately 750,000 acres of farmland. With more than 20 years of experience in California wate...

Dr. David J. Stuckenberg is an influential strategist and technologist in national security and infrastructure. Recognized for his leadership, he has shaped U.S. defense policy and advised on water security. With extensive experience across government, industry, and academia, he holds over 90 patents and serves as a Colonel in the Air National Guard. More

Dr. Janet Anderson is a board-certified toxicologist and human health risk assessor with over 15 years of experience. Currently a Principal Scientist at Exponent, she specializes in chemical risk management, focusing on emerging contaminants like PFAS and microplastics. Noted for her expertise, she also engages in public speaking and mentoring within the field. More

Rob Kursinski is a leading atmospheric and space science expert with over 40 years of experience. He is currently the Chief Scientist at PlanetiQ, focusing on satellite atmospheric sensing. Formerly with NASA and a joint professor at the University of Arizona, he has significantly advanced weather observation technologies and atmospheric research. More

Laura Ramos is a highly respected water professional with more than two decades of experience dedicated to advancing water resource management through education, collaboration, and applied research. As the Director of Research and Education at the California Water Institute at California State University, Fresno, Laura leads strategic initiatives that bridge the gap between academic research and r...

Nicolas Schexnayder, P.E. is a Project Engineer with McKim & Creed specializing in drainage infrastructure, hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, and municipal water and wastewater systems. Since beginning his engineering career in 2020, he has contributed to the planning, design, and implementation of critical infrastructure projects across Louisiana that improve flood resilience, stormwater ma...

Mike Stoup, P.E. is the Vice President and E&I Group Manager at McKim & Creed in Clearwater, Florida. With more than 30 years of experience in electrical engineering, automation, and process control, Mike leads a highly skilled electrical and instrumentation team delivering advanced design, programming, and commissioning services for the water and wastewater industry across the southeast...

Kathryn Sorensen is a nationally recognized water policy leader and researcher with decades of experience advancing sustainable water management in Arizona and across the Colorado River Basin. She currently serves as Director of Research at the Kyl Center for Water Policy at Arizona State University, where she oversees strategic research initiatives focused on water resilience, governance, and lon...

Allyson Mauck is a Project and Client Manager with eight years of experience delivering complex water, wastewater, and process infrastructure programs across Florida. She is nationally recognized for her leadership in drinking water compliance, particularly in implementation of the EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule Revisions and Improvements (LCRR/LCRI). Allyson specializes in Sanitary Sewer Evaluation S...

Joel Weber is a driven entrepreneur known for his perseverance, adaptability, and ability to anticipate industry shifts before they happen. Raised on a family farm in Manitoba, Joel developed an early work ethic baling hay, repairing equipment, and learning firsthand the value of resilience and problem-solving. Neurodivergent and proudly ADHD, Joel leverages hyperfocus, pattern recognition, and re...

Alan Roberson, P.E. is a nationally recognized leader in drinking water policy, regulatory strategy, and public health protection with more than 46 years of experience spanning engineering, government affairs, association leadership, and water quality research. He is widely regarded as an expert in Safe Drinking Water Act implementation, water security, regulatory compliance, and utility risk mana...

Manuel (Manny) Teodoro is a Professor of Public Affairs whose work lies at the intersection of politics, public policy, and public management. His research focuses on U.S. environmental policy and implementation, with particular emphasis on drinking water governance, environmental justice, and the management, policy, and finance of public utilities. Teodoro is widely recognized for combining rigor...

Gary C. Ganziis an Intellectual Property Attorney and Professional Engineer with extensive experience in corporate IP and technology management. He brings to his legal practice a rare combination of executive-level business insight and deep applied technical expertise across chemical engineering, materials science, polymers, electrochemistry, and water and wastewater treatment and reuse. Widely re...

Elliot Strand, Ph. D. is a materials scientist, entrepreneur, and climate-tech innovator specializing in printed electronics, sensors, and precision agriculture. He is the Co-Founder and CEO of PAGE Technologies, where he leads the commercialization of scalable, low-cost printed sensor platforms to transform soil and water quality management. Since founding PAGE in 2023, Elliot has secured over $1...

Will Dubin Will Dubin is the Founder & CEO of ManholeMetrics, a venture-backed, multi-award-winning wastewater sensor and analytics company transforming how cities monitor and manage sewer networks. Since founding the company in 2021, Will has raised £878k from leading investors including Ascension, BDF, and prominent industry angels, secured projects with utilities and infrastructure owners a...

Cassie Braswell Cassie Braswell is a Customer Success Manager in agricultural technology, specializing in advanced water management solutions for vineyards and specialty crops across Northern California. With more than a decade of experience spanning irrigation systems, agri-business operations, and customer relationship management, Cassie serves as a key connector between growers, technology inno...

Kerry Hoffman Kerry HoffmanDirector – Utility Technology Solutions | Ferguson Enterprises Kerry is an experienced technology leader with over 15 years in the water and utility technology sectors. As Director of Utility Technology Solutions at Ferguson, Kerry leads strategic initiatives that bring cutting-edge municipal and utility technologies to communities across the U.S., helping utilities...

Bruce Alderman CEO, ROTEC USA | Water Industry Leader | Expert in Commercialization, Sales, and Process Innovation Bruce J. Alderman is a passionate, process-driven leader with a proven record of bringing disruptive water technologies to global industrial and municipal markets. Over his 25+ year career, Bruce has combined technical expertise with commercial insight to drive… More

Megan Glover Megan Glover is the Co-Founder and CEO of 120Water, a leading provider of cloud-based software and services that help government agencies, public water systems, and facilities execute safe and compliant drinking water programs. Since launching the company in 2016, Megan has guided 120Water into becoming a trusted end-to-end platform that empowers clients to… More

Jennifer Zach Jennifer Zach – Marketing & Asset Management Leader Jennifer Zach is a seasoned marketer and communicator who has evolved into a respected advocate for asset management and water infrastructure. As Chief Marketing Officer at MentorAPM, she drives strategy and messaging for a leading enterprise asset management software provider, helping utilities and critical infrastructure&#8230...

Chad Seidel Dr. Chad Seidel, P.E. is the President of Corona Environmental Consulting, LLC and aResearch Affiliate at the University of Colorado Boulder. Chad has focused his entirecareer on technical and policy issues to address public health concerns within thewater community at Federal, state, and local levels. He has more than 25 years ofconsulting experience… More

Joe Wolfel Joe Wolfel is co-founder and the CEO of Terradepth, leading the company’s mission to unlock the potential of subsea data for industries such as energy, environmental science, and defense. Prior to his leadership role at Terradepth, Joe was the Managing Partner at Exbellum, a boutique consulting firm specializing in complex human capital solutions,… More

Ramon Rubio de Castro Ramon Castro is an innovative water-sector professional with more than a decade of international experience spanning engineering, desalination, and strategic consulting. He is the Founder and Host of The Water MBA, a global knowledge platform and community empowering water professionals through interviews, insights, and audiovisual content. Since launching in 2023, Ramon&#823...