AZ Water Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization founded in 1928 with a membership of 2,100 water/wastewater professionals dedicated to preserving and enhancing Arizona's water environment. Although AZ Water is an independent organization, it also serves as the Arizona section of the American Water Works Association (AWWA) and the Arizona member association of the Water Environment Federation (WEF).
During our annual conference AZ Water provides value to our members by offering a three-day program designed to provide professional development, continuing education, and technology transfer to support our vision of “a vibrant Arizona through safe, reliable water.” Attendees at our conference have the following opportunities:
Olympic Gold Medalist Tuesday, April 14, 2020
Olympic gold medalist Misty Hyman, M.B.A., won a stunning upset victory at the 2000 Sydney games when she came from behind to break the American record and win the 200-meter butterfly. Recognized as a pioneer in the sport for her innovative underwater dolphin kick, the Stanford graduate is a 28-time All-American who won 13 U.S. and five NCAA national titles including 1998 NCAA Swimmer of the Year.
Misty’s knowledge of the sport, gained from two decades of competitive swimming for two of America’s top swim coaches, coupled with her friendly and encouraging personality, have made her one of the country’s leading swim instructors. Fodor’s named Misty’s private swim lessons at Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain Resort and Spa one of the world’s top 15 most exclusive hotel experiences.
She served as the senior assistant coach for the Arizona State University swimming program and hosts clinics and camps throughout the United States. As an inspirational speaker, she helps athletes, students and corporations alike set and reach seemingly unattainable goals. Az Business Magazine named Misty one of Arizona’s Most Influential Women in 2018.
Olympic gold medalist, Misty Hyman knows a thing or two about water! After spending the majority of her life swimming in Arizona's waters she has earned an impressive list of swimming titles. Misty won a stunning upset victory at the 2000 Sydney games when she came from behind to break the American record and win the 200-meter butterfly. Recognized as a pioneer in the sport for her innovative underwater dolphin kick, the Stanford graduate is a 28-time All-American who won 13 U.S. and five NCAA national titles including 1998 NCAA Swimmer of the Year.
Misty’s knowledge of the sport, gained from two decades of competitive swimming for two of America’s top swim coaches, coupled with her friendly and encouraging personality, have made her one of the country’s leading swim instructors. As an inspirational speaker, she helps athletes, students and corporations alike set and reach seemingly unattainable goals. Az Business Magazine named Misty one of Arizona’s Most Influential Women in 2018.
Mayor, City of Phoenix Welcome Remarks Tuesday, April 14th at 8 AM
Mayor, City of Phoenix
Mayor Kate Gallego has spent her career working to find solutions to complex problems. Prior to being elected as Mayor, she served for five years as the City Councilwoman for District 8, a large district covering much of South Phoenix. Her record of proven results includes leading the campaign to pass Phoenix’s citywide transportation plan through 2050 and working to ensure equal pay for equal work. While on the council, Mayor Gallego helped make Phoenix a leader in job creation, and worked with police and firefighters to improve public safety and make neighborhoods more secure.
In March 2019, Mayor Gallego became the second elected female Mayor in Phoenix history and the youngest big city Mayor in the United States. Mayor Gallego is passionate about building a Phoenix that works for everyone, including her two year old son, Michael, and she led the effort to partner with AARP to make Phoenix a city where seniors can thrive. She believes everyone should have access to cutting edge medical care, and has led on expanding Phoenix's biomedical campus. Mayor Gallego is working to grow the city’s economy, create jobs, and stand up for the city’s core values.
Prior to being elected Mayor to the city that she loves, Mayor Gallego worked on Strategic Planning and Economic Development for the utility company, Salt River Project. She worked to attract new companies and jobs to Phoenix. Mayor Gallego graduated from Harvard University and earned an MBA from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.
Senior Fellow, Kyl Center for Water Policy at Morrison Institute Thursday, April 16th at 12 PM
In 1977, at the age of 28, Kathy was appointed Executive Director of the Arizona Groundwater Management Study Commission. Her work with the Commission and Governor Bruce Babbitt culminated in the passage of the 1980 Arizona Groundwater Management Act, which continues to be one of the nation's most visionary laws for managing groundwater.
For over four decades Kathy has championed wise water management in the desert. She has served as Director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources and as Executive Director of the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association. Currently a lawyer in private practice, she is a Senior Fellow at the Morrison Institute for Public Policy at Arizona State University, where she consults with the Kyl Center for Water Policy. She recently co-authored with Kyl Center Director Sarah Porter The Elusive Concept of an Assured Water Supply - The Role of CAGRD and Replenishment.
In 2015, along with Michael Schiffer, she produced the documentary Groundwater - to enact a law for the common good.
AWWA Technical & Educational Council Chair Thursday, April 16th at 12 PM
Technical & Educational Council Chair American Water Works Association
Dr. Chi Ho Sham is a Vice President and Chief Scientist for Eastern Research Group, Inc. in Lexington, Massachusetts. Chi Ho has worked on drinking and source water protection, water quality assessment, watershed management, underground injection control, and natural resources conservation issues for over three decades. In his current role, he is developing a “total water solutions” platform that integrates practice areas including wastewater management, water conservation, water resource planning, drinking water protection, and water quality restoration. He provides technical leadership and advice on scientific research and policy development issues, with current projects in source water protection, premise plumbing, and water quality assessment. He has been an active member of AWWA since joining in 1990.
Chi Ho volunteers for not only AWWA, but the University of Buffalo College of Arts and Sciences, Dean’s Advisory Council, the Urban Watershed Research Institute, and the Conservation Law Foundation as well. He received the Volunteer of the Year Award in 2016, and now serves as chair of the Technical and Educational Council.
Chi Ho holds a B.A. in geography (with a focus on planning) from the University of Regina in Saskatchewan, Canada. He received his M.A. and Ph.D., both in geography (with focus on fluvial geomorphology and hydrology), from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Currently, he is an adjunct professor at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts, teaching a course on natural resources management. When not at work, Chi Ho enjoys visiting national parks and spending time with family and friends.
WEF Immediate Past President Thursday, April 16th at 12 PM
Immediate Past President Water Environment Federation
Thomas E. Kunetz is the immediate past president of the Water Environment Federation (WEF), an international organization of water quality professionals headquartered in Alexandria, Va.
Tom is the assistant director of monitoring and research for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago. He has more than 30 years of experience in the field of environmental engineering in both the public and private sectors, focusing on design of wastewater treatment facilities.
A WEF member since 1992, Tom is the past chair of the Municipal Wastewater Treatment Symposium, and served on the Municipal Water Resource Recovery Design Committee. He was a member of the Chicago WEFMAX organizing committee and served on the Stockholm Junior Water Prize organizing committee with the Illinois Water Environment Association.
Tom is a registered professional engineer in the state of Illinois. He is a graduate of the WEF-sponsored Water and Wastewater Leadership Center at the University of North Carolina, the 2012 recipient of the Charles Walter Nichols Award for Environmental Excellence from the American Public Works Association and a WEF Fellow.
Tom earned his B.S. in environmental engineering from the Pennsylvania State University and an M.S. in water resources engineering from Villanova University.
Phoenix Convention Center, South Building 33 South 3rd Street, Phoenix, AZ 85004
All conference technical sessions and exhibits will be held at the South Building of the Phoenix Convention Center. The South Building offers a single level, self-contained experience for our conference participants, which translates to no need for elevators or long walkways between sessions or events. The Phoenix Convention Center is located in the heart of downtown where you can enjoy the 93rd Annual AZ Water Conference & Exhibition and explore the city. Whether you are new to Phoenix or perhaps in your own backyard, you can enjoy new sights, new sounds and new culinary delights within a short walk or quick ride from the conference venue. The METRO Light Rail is an easy and convenient way to travel to and from the Phoenix Convention Center, airport and many areas of the valley. Conference parking is available at the East Parking Garage and AZ Water has made arrangements for each attendee to receive a FREE parking voucher with conference registration.
Tuesday, April 14, 2020 - Thursday, April 16, 2020 8:00 AM - 5:00 PMUS Mountain Time
Phoenix Convention Center, South Building33 South Third StreetPhoenix, Arizona 85004602.262.7272
AZ Water Conference