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 is fostering a more inclusive workplace. This presentation will highlight WRD’s journey of turning their Gender and Racial Equity study into reality.

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: https://www.acwajpia.com/membershipsummit/

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 balancing security with user experience, focusing on initiatives like cloud integration to enhance the organization's cybersecurity posture.

Resources:

Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency

https://www.cisa.gov/

Industry Defenders

https://industrydefenders.com/

Hacker News

https://news.ycombinator.com/

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 a reception honoring C2E's 10th Anniversary . Leadership Development Program alumni are also invited to a networking mixer. Finally, Laura gives an update on the new digital voting system.

Tune in to learn more about the schedule and additional event changes!

In this episode of JPIA Five, host Kevin Phillip (ACWA JPIA Director of Member Outreach) and guests hosts Cassie Crittenden, JPIA HR Specialist, and Molly Quirk, JPIA Communication and Outreach Specialist, explore the impact of AI, specifically ChatGPT, on decision-making & communication in the water industry. The podcast provides valuable insights into AI's benefits and challenges, urging responsible use and collaboration with human expertise for the benefit of water agencies. The guests discuss concerns such when working with AI platforms including handling confidential information, plagiarism, fact-checking, and being wary of more advanced cyber and phishing attacks.

Join us for the 3rd Season premiere of JPIA Five as ACWA JPIA General Counsel Robert Greenfield discusses new 2024 laws that may be pertinent to your agency.

In the Season 2 JPIA Five finale, ACWA JPIA's Communication and Outreach Specialist, Molly Quirk, introduces Jennifer Jobe, ACWA JPIA Director of Pooled Programs. With nearly two decades of risk management experience, Jennifer emphasizes her role in overseeing coverage programs and alternative risk financing at the JPIA. Jennifer also covers her background, FAQs, and current water industry trends, highlighting the importance of ACWA JPIA member education and service utilization, and addressing recent member challenges such as catastrophic property losses and cyber threats.

ACWA JPIA Risk Control Manager Robin Flint announces the 48th H.R. LaBounty Safety Award Winners!

The ACWA JPIA & ACWA Conferences are headed to Indian Wells, CA! Listen to this "Know Before You Go" episode for details about each conference's key events, locations, reminders, and more!

ACWA JPIA's Fall Conference is November 27-28, 2023. For more info, visit: https://www.acwajpia.com/conference/

ACWA's Fall Conference is November 28-30, 2023. For more info, visit: https://www.acwa.com/events/2023-fall-conference-expo/

Remember to use the hashtags #acwajpia for ACWA JPIA's conference and #acwaconf for ACWA's!