Association of California Water Agencies Fall Conference:
McPeak, FBI Special Agent Set for ACWA Conference Keynotes
Sunne Wright McPeak, president of the Delta Vision Foundation and CEO of the California Emerging Technology Fund, is slated to provide keynote remarks at a luncheon program Dec. 5 at ACWA’s 2012 Fall Conference & Exhibition in San Diego.
A veteran of the water policy arena and a former secretary of the California Business, Transportation and Housing Agency, McPeak will discuss emerging consensus on near-term Delta projects, the need for the “BDCP Plus” and opportunities for breakthroughs on California water.
Also confirmed for keynote remarks is FBI Special Agent in Charge Herbert Brown, head of the FBI’s Sacramento Division and member of the Sacramento chapter of InfraGard. Brown will outline the next generation of threats facing water systems and describe how an alliance between government and the private sector is sharing intelligence and resources to protect the nation’s infrastructure and critical information systems.
ACWA’s 2012 Fall Conference & Exhibition, set for Dec. 4-7 at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego, will tackle some of the most important challenges and opportunities surrounding California’s water landscape. Themed “California Water … The Next Generation,” the conference is focusing attention on issues that are sure to impact the state in the years and decades ahead. Here are some highlights of the program sessions that are on the conference agenda:
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5
Millennial Momentum – Author Morley Winograd describes how the country’s largest and most socially driven demographic is changing the way we work, learn and communicate.
Working With the Next Generation of News Media — Scott Lewis, CEO of nonprofit news organization Voice of San Diego, is joined by a panel of media professionals who are working in a changing industry. Learn how your agency or organization can work with bloggers, community-generated news and other emerging types of media to get your message out to the public.
New Faces, Changing Places … Leadership Evolves —This roundtable discussion looks at the changing roster of leaders as key state agencies who will shape California’s water future.
Show Me the Money … Finding State and Federal Dollars for Your Water Infrastructure Project —This valuable session will take a look at where finance experts are seeing grants and other funding sources in today’s world of tight budgets.
The Next 50 Years of the State Water Project —State officials join a representative of the State Water Contractors in a conversation about the future of the State Water Project, the sprawling conveyance and storage system that delivers water to urban and agricultural users.
Climate Change —A panel of experts talks about how climate change is altering how the state manages its water system.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6
New Crop of Farm Leaders Plows Different Path —Panelists discuss how a new generation of leaders is addressing the changing needs and interests of agricultural water users.
‘Deltanomics’ —ACWA Executive Director Tim Quinn moderates this panel on the economics of the Delta and the region’s water issues with two prominent university thinkers: Jeffrey Michael, director of The University of the Pacific’s Eberhardt School of Business; and David Sunding, professor in the UC-Berkeley College of Natural Resources.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7
Hans Doe Forum Breakfast – Washington insiders discuss the election outcome, new players on the scene and what it all means.
This is only a partial lineup of the many sessions that are scheduled for ACWA’s 2012 fall conference and exhibition. This year’s program also features new program sessions that are specific to ACWA’s 10 regions. To view the full agenda, download the conference brochure HERE.
To register online to attend ACWA’s 2012 Fall Conference & Exhibition at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego Bay, CLICK HERE. The deadline to register is Nov. 16.
