From Rules to Solutions: LCRI, PFAS, and Community Impact

Kareem Adeem is the Director of the City of Newark’s Department of Water & Sewer Utilities who led the City’s nationally-recognized LSLR program to replace over 23,000 LSLs in over 3 years. Director Adeem has a BA in Construction Management from Thomas Edison University and is a NJ licensed operator. Director Adeem is a Newark native who began working for the City in 1991 as a laborer and worked his way up to Superintendent of Maintenance Operations, Assistant Director and became Director of the department in 2019.

Dr. Almanzar has more than 25 years of experience in designing water and wastewater treatment plants and associated infrastructure. He has extensive knowledge of design-build (DB) projects, including risk management, contract compliance, regulations, and conflict resolution, along with leading large multi-disciplinary teams and helping clients achieve their budget and schedule goals.Dr. Almanzar has experience leveraging a variety of technologies and modeling techniques for both conventional and advanced water treatment systems, including biological nutrient removal (BNR), ozonation, membranes, UV disinfection, high strength waste digestion, activated carbon, and ion exchange (IX) PFAS removal, among others.

Rick Callender is the Chief Executive Officer of Valley Water. Appointed CEO by the Board on May 26, 2020, Mr. Callender oversees an integrated water resources system that includes the supply of clean, safe water; flood protection; and environmental stewardship of waterways for Santa Clara County’s 1.9 million residents.

Mr. Callender has worked for Valley Water since 1996, serving most recently as the Chief of External Affairs. As the CEA, he led Valley Water’s efforts in strategic external communications to the media, community, and the public. Mr. Callender also oversaw all government relations efforts on local, regional, state, and federal levels, as well as public policies that directly affect Valley Water.

Prior to joining the district, Mr. Callender worked as a Special Assistant to former City of San Jose Mayor Susan Hammer, as a Field Campaign Organizer for the California Democratic Party, as a Congressional Fellow for the United States House of Representatives, Subcommittee on Energy, and as a Congressional Fellow to Congressman Ronald V. Dellums. He also served as president of the San Jose-Silicon Valley NAACP from 2000 to 2008.

Mr. Callender earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering and Technology with an emphasis in electronic and computer technology from California State University, Chico, completed all coursework for his Master of Arts in Public Administration from San Jose State University, earned his Juris Doctorate from Northwestern California University School of Law, and is a member of the California State Bar. He has also attended and graduated from eight executive leadership programs at different universities throughout the nation.

Randy Conner is the Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Water Management (DWM) appointed by Mayor Brandon Johnson. No newcomer to the field, he is returning to the role after previously serving as the DWM Commissioner from 2017 to the end of 2020.

Commissioner Conner brings more than two decades of experience in urban engineering and infrastructure to the department. He formerly served as the First Deputy Commissioner at both the Chicago Department of Transportation and the Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation.

At the Department of Water Management, Commissioner Conner oversees a system that delivers high-quality drinking water to more than 42% of Illinois residents daily. This system includes over 4,300 miles of water mains, 4,450 miles of sewer mains, two of the world’s largest water treatment facilities, and over 2,100 employees. He manages an annual operating budget of approximately $1.4 billion and a capital budget of approximately 750 million dollars annually.

When he previously held the position, Commissioner Conner created a Division of Performance Management to elevate professionalism in the department; established mandatory EEO training for all employees to improve the department’s culture; and oversaw the implementation of the ambitious 10-year “Building a New Chicago” capital plan which represented a $6 billion investment in water infrastructure to support the city’s future growth.

He is a licensed minister and has logged thousands of service hours with many community and civic service organizations. A recipient of the Man of Honor Award from the Chicago Defender, he attended Purdue University, where he studied Engineering and Construction Principles, and is certified in Emergency Action Planning by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. A lifelong Chicago resident, he resides in the West Pullman neighborhood and is the father of one daughter.

Kelley Dearing Smith’s brand focuses on visionary leadership and storytelling. Kelley is Louisville Water Company’s Vice President of Communications and Marketing and Past Chair of AWWA’s Public Affairs Council. In her 25-year career at Louisville Water, Kelley has developed strategic partnerships and communication efforts that build Louisville Water’s brand and highlight the value of water.

Kelley is a member of Louisville Water’s Executive Leadership Team and directs all communications and content marketing, brand development, education and outreach, public affairs, and economic development.

Kelley has authored a book highlighting Louisville Water’s history and oversaw the development of the “WaterWorks Museum” at the company’s 1860 original pumping station.

Kelley frequently speaks to utilities and businesses on best practices for branding and communication. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Journalism from Eastern Kentucky University and prior to Louisville Water, Kelley worked in television news.

Jake Hester is the Water Engineering Manager for Anaheim Public Utilities.  He has over 20 years of engineering experience in both the public and private sectors, with emphasis in water, wastewater, recycled water, and storm water. As the capital manager at Anaheim, I oversee the repair and replacement of the City’s water system, which consists of large groundwater wells, a raw water treatment plant, booster and pressure regulating stations, reservoirs, large valves, and transmission and distribution mains.

In 2021, Mr. Hester initiated a design-build program for nine groundwater treatment plants, with a budget of $150M and a design flow of approximately 70MGD.

Darrell has worked in the water treatment industry since 1997. Darrell earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Grambling State University, a Master of Science degree from Rosalind Franklin University School of Medicine and Science and holds an IEPA Class A Water Operator’s License.

During his tenure he has served the City of North Chicago, Village of Oak Park and currently the City of Evanston as its Water Production Bureau Chief.

Sandra Kutzing is a professional engineer and Senior Vice President at CDM Smith in New Jersey with 22 years of experience in drinking water. She has a B.S. from the University of Illinois and an M.S. from the University of Washington. Ms. Kutzing is CDM Smith’s Lead and Copper Strategy Leader, assisting utilities with meeting the Lead and Copper Rule and implementing lead service line replacement programs.

Mr. LaFrance leads American Water Works Association, the world’s largest and oldest association of water professionals, with 50,000 members worldwide. Overseeing a staff of approximately 150 in Denver and Washington D.C., LaFrance guides AWWA’s extensive scientific, educational, and public policy work to build a better world through better water.

Prior to joining AWWA, he was the CFO for Denver Water.

Jorianne is the Director of the WIFIA Management Division at the US EPA. Since 2016, she has managed the implementation of this new Federal lending program at EPA as well as overseeing the origination, underwriting, negotiation, and monitoring of water and wastewater infrastructure projects around the country. Prior to joining EPA, Jorianne served as the head of risk management and financial operations at the TIFIA program within the Department of Transportation where she was responsible for a team conducting a wide range of financial, programmatic, and credit functions.

Jorianne has a BA and MPA from Cleveland State University.

John Lisle serves DC Water as Vice President, Marketing and Communications. He is a leader in the Office of Marketing and Communications which is responsible for all of the Authority’s internal and external communications through numerous channels — including publications, web, social media, traditional media, public outreach, graphic design, special events and emergency response. In this role, John helps manage DC Water’s relationships with customers, the media, and various other internal and external stakeholders. Mr. Lisle also advises members of the Senior Executive Team on crisis management and communications strategy.

Before joining DC Water in February 2013, Mr. Lisle was Communications Director for the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) in Washington DC. He brings more than two decades of communications experience to his current role, including 10 years as an award-winning reporter for NewsChannel 8 and WJLA-TV and a stint as Public Information Officer for the Arlington County Police Department.

John Lisle has a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the University of Maryland and is a Certified Public Manager after graduating from the Center for Excellence in Public Leadership at George Washington University.

Mr. Liu is a Managing Director and Manager of BofA Securities’ Water and Wastewater/State Revolving Fund Group – top-ranked in both the water/wastewater and the SRF industry. In addition to serving as a member of the Municipal Department’s management team, he specializes in water and wastewater financings – serving many of the nation’s largest water utilities – as well as State Revolving Fund financings – a highly leveraged form of water/wastewater pooled financings. Mr. Liu is very active in the industry and has served as a board member and/or advisor to U.S. EPA’s Environmental Financial Advisory Board, the Council of Infrastructure Financing Authorities and the American Water Works Association.

Mr. Liu received his MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business in Finance and Economics and his B.S. from the University of Maryland in Accounting and Economics. He is also a Certified Public Accountant (inactive status) and holds the FINRA Series 7, 63 and 52 licenses.

Tracy is Executive Director, Government Affairs, for the American Water Works Association (AWWA).  He was an independent consultant and served as Interim President of the U.S. Water Alliance and national Source Water Protection Coordinator for the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities.  He is also an Adjunct Professor at George Mason University School of Law and Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College.  He was Principal with The Cadmus Group, Inc., an environmental consulting firm, from 2004 to 2014.  Mehan served as Assistant Administrator for Water at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from 2001-2003.  He served as Environmental Stewardship Counselor to the 2004 G-8 Summit Planning Organization (2004).  Mehan also served as director of the Michigan Office of the Great Lakes (1993-2001) and as Associate Deputy Administrator of EPA in 1992.  He was director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources from 1989 to 1992.  Mehan is a graduate of Saint Louis University and its School of Law.  Mehan served on the Water Science and Technology Board and now the Committee on the Mississippi River and the Clean Water Act for the National Research Council of the National Academies.  He was also an independent expert judge for the City Water Conservation Achievement Award program (2006 & 2011) sponsored by The U.S. Conference of Mayors and its Urban Water Council.

Mehan is a member of the Environmental Law Institute (ELI) and a regular book reviewer for ELI’s flagship publication, The Environmental Forum.

Mehan serves on EPA’s Environmental Financial Advisory Board as well as the boards of the U.S. Water Alliance and the Great Lakes Observing System.  He is also a member of the Advisory Board of the Center for Environmental Policy, School of Public Affairs, American University and a past member of the board of the Potomac Conservancy (2006-2014).

Traci Minamide joined CDM Smith in 2024 as Principal Civil Engineer after serving the City of Los Angeles, California at LA Sanitation and Environment (LASAN) as Chief Operating Officer. In that role, Minamide provided executive leadership over the operations and management of various LASAN programs including wastewater treatment, conveyance, water recycling, watershed protection and solid resources. Her broad portfolio of experience includes supporting the expansion of Los Angeles’s Recycled Water Program. Her contributions included the $4.5 billion Hyperion 2035, a plan that initiates the mayor’s goal to recycle 100% of the city’s wastewater by 2035 to create a local water supply.

Minamide has a bachelor’s in civil engineering from California State Polytechnic University–Pomona and a master’s in civil engineering from Loyola Marymount University. She is a former President of the California Association of Sanitation Agencies (CASA) and a former Chair in the CASA Legislative Committee. She served on the California Advisory Panel for Direct Potable Reuse (DPR), working with treatment agencies, water purveyors, NGOs and the public to advise the State Water Resources Control Board on advance treatment of wastewater for DPR. For all her accomplishments, Minamide was recognized with the Asian American Architects and Engineers Leadership Award.

Mr. Chris Moody is the Chief of Water Supply & Treatment Programs for Fairfax Water and a licensed professional engineer in the state of Virginia. He holds a Master of Engineering and Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering from the University of Florida.

Chris has a career spanning over 10 years in the environmental engineering field and including the planning, design, construction, and operation of waste management, industrial and municipal wastewater, drinking water infrastructure. At Fairfax Water, he is responsible for the planning, design, and construction efforts for water supply and treatment initiatives including compliance with PFAS regulations.

Prior to his role at Fairfax Water, he worked with the AWWA Government Affairs team tracking and analyzing new water policies under the Safe Drinking Water Act.

Davonna holds B.S. In Geography from Missouri State University and a Master of Urban Planning from the University of Kansas. With over 20 years of experience in project and program management, Mrs. Moore-Edeh has led some of the nation’s prominent freight and planning initiatives in the public sector. She possesses extensive expertise in complex multimodal and long-range planning, skillfully balancing organizational policy with public interests while identifying opportunities for operational improvements.

As a rising leader in equity, Mrs. Moore-Edeh spearheads the development and implementation of CDM Smith’s Equity Integration Strategic Plan, which provides concrete solutions to key challenges in achieving equitable change. She has also served as an Equity Integration Specialist on various projects, offering guidance on project execution through the alignment of policy and technology that highlight equity in project and program delivery.

Craig Parker has over 30 years of engineering experience in private and public organizations, including water, wastewater, recycled water, stormwater, and groundwater. He has been involved in capital, energy, asset management, water resources, and water conservation programs.

Mr. Parker has a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Cal Poly Pomona and an M.S. in Civil Engineering (Emphasis in Water Resources) from U.C. Berkeley. He is a registered Civil Engineer with the State of California and a Board Certified Environmental Engineer with the Association of Environmental Engineers and Scientists.

Superintendent Patrick Pauly oversees all operations of the utility and the work of 350 professionals in its Business, Distribution, Engineering, Plants, Technology, and Water Quality sections.  Milwaukee Water Works is the largest public utility in Wisconsin and provides drinking water from Lake Michigan to over 860,000 people in 16 communities in Milwaukee, Ozaukee, and Waukesha Counties.

After receiving his Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from UW-Milwaukee in 1990, Pat joined the Water Works as a civil engineer in 1991, where he worked on water main projects. In 2013, Pat became the manager of the Mains Design Section, and in 2016 was promoted to Chief Design Engineer, where he led the Water Works’ program to replace lead service lines. In 2019, Pat became the Administration Manager, where he oversaw day-to-day operations of the utility, and became the Interim Superintendent in December 2021.

Mayor Cavalier Johnson nominated Pauly to be Superintendent in July, 2022. The Common Council unanimously approved the appointment on July 28, 2022.

Ruben Rodriguez is the Senior Director of External Communications for American Water. With nearly 15 years of utility experience, he works with executive leadership in developing and leading the implementation of an integrated strategic communications program for American Water consistent with overall company strategy and positioning in the U.S. water industry and the marketplace. He is responsible for developing and overseeing communications programs, procedures, strategies and practices to help ensure functional excellence in the areas of corporate communications, customer experience/service, investor relations, media relations, community relations and engagement, water quality and emerging contaminant messaging as well as corporate social responsibility throughout American Water’s national footprint, in local communities and at the corporate level.

Jamie Rott is an accomplished civil engineer and dedicated public servant with extensive experience in engineering, project management and water operations. Throughout her career with the City of Rockford, Jamie has held progressively responsible roles, including Project Manager, Senior Project Manager, Water Engineer and Deputy Superintendent, culminating in her current position as Water Superintendent. In her leadership role, Jamie oversees the delivery of safe, high-quality drinking water to the citizens of Rockford while spearheading initiatives to modernize and maintain the city’s aging water infrastructure. Her work has included managing major water main replacement efforts, overseeing reservoir rehabilitation projects and leading treatment plant expansions. Jamie has been instrumental in administering the City’s water capital improvement program, identifying critical needs and implementing impactful design and construction projects.

A steadfast advocate for community education, Jamie is passionate about raising awareness regarding the value of water and its role in everyday life. Under her leadership, the City of Rockford has taken bold steps to address lead service line replacements at no cost to residents, making Rockford a state leader in these efforts.

 Jamie holds a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and is a licensed Professional Engineer. She also holds a Class B Illinois Public Water Supply Operator License. A dedicated leader in the water industry, Jamie currently serves as the Past Chair for the Illinois Section of the American Water Works Association (ISAWWA), where she previously served as Chair. Her work with ISAWWA reflects her commitment to advancing the water industry through collaboration, education and advocacy.

 Jamie’s leadership and expertise continue to have a lasting impact on both the Rockford community and the broader water industry. Her innovative approach and dedication to excellence make her an inspiring leader and a trusted steward of one of our most vital resources.

Michael Scaduto is a Principal Engineer with the City of Los Angeles, Department of Public Works, LA Sanitation and Environment (LASAN) with over 24 years of stormwater experience. Michael is a graduate of California State Polytechnic University Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona) and is a registered professional civil engineer, active member in the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and certified as an envision sustainability practitioner.  Within LASAN he is responsible for managing the City’s Safe Clean Water Program and oversees the delivery of $500M in Flood Protection and Water Quality Capital Improvement Projects over the next 5 years.

Prior to his career in engineering he taught at Don Bosco Technical Institute where he taught courses in mathematics, surveying and International Building Code.

Ed Sniffen was appointed Director of the Hawaii Department of Transportation on December 5, 2022. As Director, Ed is responsible for State Transportation Infrastructure – – Airports, Commercial Harbors, and Highways. As the Chief Executive for the Department, Ed’s goals are improving safety, preservation and upgrade of Hawaiian transportation systems; ensuring efficiency and transparency in Departmental Operations, and pursuing opportunities and innovative strategies to leverage DOT resources and private partnerships to positively impact the highest goals of the State.

Previously, Ed Sniffen served as the Hawaii Department of Transportation’s Deputy Director for Highways. Sniffen was previously executive assistant to Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell. He also served as DOT Highways Division administrator and as technical design engineer in the Highways Division Design Branch.

He is a civil engineer, having received his B.S. in Civil Engineering from Santa Clara University.

With a strong background in litigation challenging or defending federal regulations, advising on regulatory compliance, internal investigations, and defense against government investigations and enforcement actions, Corinne provides clients with practical advice on how to prepare for and shape new regulations, how to distill and effectively communicate legal requirements within an organization, and how to manage communications with regulators.

Corinne draws on wide experience at the U.S. Department of Justice where she most recently served as Counsel and Chief of Staff in the Environment and Natural Resources Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, where she assisted in managing a 600-person division that included 400 lawyers. In this role she helped manage the Division’s civil and criminal litigation arising under more than 150 environmental and natural resources laws. She also worked closely with the General Counsel’s Offices for multiple federal agencies, including the EPA, Departments of Interior, Defense, Energy, Commerce, and Agriculture, as well as the White House and Counsel on Environmental Quality to advise high-ranking officials on policy and litigation risks associated with the environmental and natural resource laws and regulations. She also served as Senior Counsel in the Office of the Associate Attorney General, which oversees all civil litigation on behalf of the United States, and as Counselor in the Office of the Attorney General. Her roles in government have given her a unique perspective into the decision-making processes in the federal government.

In the private sector, Corinne counsels clients on environmental compliance across a variety of industries, including the energy and mining sectors, water utilities, and trade groups. In the transactional context, she assists in the drafting and negotiating of the environmental terms in purchase and sale agreements, lease agreements, credit agreements, and disclosures for debt and equity offerings and public filings. Corinne also helps clients understand how their environmental and climate disclosures will interact with existing and forthcoming regulatory requirements and how to limit legal liability risks related to those disclosures. She also advises clients on preparing for regulatory changes, including by drafting comments on rules proposed by federal agencies such as EPA, the SEC, FERC, and Interior. She also advises on issues related to emerging contaminants and is a member of the firm’s PFAS task force.

Mark Theiler is the Director of Production at Middlesex Water Company, an investor-owned water utility in New Jersey. Mark graduated from Rutgers University with a degree in Chemical Engineering and worked for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection prior to joining Middlesex Water Company in 2016. He also currently serves as a Trustee of the New Jersey Section of AWWA.

Ms. Titus, a professional engineer, is President of CDM Smith’s North America Unit (NAU) where she leads the firm’s regional sales and delivery teams and NAU corporate functions while collaborating to develop and execute firm-wide growth strategies. She champions the delivery of innovative and cost-effective solutions to help cities, states, and utilities manage their environment and infrastructure needs.

Ms. Titus has more than 30 years of diverse technical, project management, construction, and leadership experience in the United States, Canada, Egypt, Sweden, Taiwan, and Thailand. Most notably, she has led and successfully delivered landmark projects for some of the largest utilities in the world, including the City of Los Angeles’ award-winning Echo Park Lake Rehabilitation Project and the Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant (HWRP) – Bioenergy Facility as well as the City of Santa Monica’s Charnock Well Field Restoration Project.

Along with her global perspective, Ms. Titus has an in-depth understanding of the water industry and the challenges faced by municipalities in delivering safe, clean, and reliable water supplies.

Steve Via is Director of Federal Relations for the American Water Works Association working in AWWA’s Washington, D.C., office. Mr. Via’s primary responsibilities are two-fold. First, working with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other federal agencies on the development of policy and regulations that affect the water sector, and communicating the basis and substance of federal policy and regulations to the water sector.

Mr. Via has 31 years’ professional experience in environmental regulatory compliance assistance related to federal and state drinking water, wastewater, and solid/hazardous waste regulations. His work experience includes supporting communities engaged in planning, financing, and managing infrastructure improvements.

Mark White first discovered his passion for water treatment while serving in the Peace Corps in Malawi, where he was inspired to make a difference by witnessing firsthand the struggles that come with a lack of safe drinking water. Since then, he has become a registered professional engineer and Board-Certified Engineer with about 30 years of international experience in the planning, design, operations, maintenance, and construction of water treatment facilities.

He has evaluated and designed improvements to over 40 water treatment plants totaling more than one-billion-gallons-per-day of capacity. In addition, Mark is well-versed in membrane technology, and has served as project manager or membrane design for membrane filtration treatment capacity of over 400-million-gallons-per-day, including some of the largest membrane projects in the U.S.

As a water treatment industry leader, Mark serves on a variety of state and national committees, including the American Water Works Association’s (AWWA) Water Treatment Facilities Design and Construction Committee and the AWWA Membrane Process Committee, and he is also the former chair of the AWWA Membrane Systems Subcommittee.