Mike Stoup

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 southeastern United States and beyond. His team supports projects from early conceptual planning and master planning through detailed design and specification development, specializing in motor controls, power distribution, communications networks, intelligent I/O systems, instrumentation, and PLC and HMI platforms.

Prior to joining McKim & Creed, Mike served as Vice President at DcR Engineering Services, Inc., where he held senior executive responsibility for company profitability and operations across multiple divisions and offices. During his tenure, he played a key role in strengthening safety practices, improving operational processes, and guiding the organization from financial losses to sustained profitability while overseeing dozens of projects simultaneously across industries including municipal utilities, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and power.

Earlier in his career, Mike worked as a Senior Process Control Engineer at Ciba Specialty Chemicals, where he contributed to global initiatives advancing water treatment technologies and telemetry systems. His experience also includes engineering and automation roles with Electro Design Engineering and Reimelt Corporation, where he developed expertise in PLC, HMI, and DCS programming, electrical design, and industrial system integration.

Mike holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from University of South Florida and is a licensed Professional Engineer. Throughout his career, he has built a reputation for combining deep technical knowledge with strong leadership to deliver complex infrastructure and automation solutions that improve efficiency, reliability, and safety.Ads do not influence the answers you get from ChatGPT. Your chats stay private. Learn about ads and personalization

Kathryn Sorensen

Director of Research, Kyl Center for Water Policy at the Morrison Institute for Public Policy | Phoenix, Arizona

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 long-term resource planning.

Prior to joining ASU, Kathryn served for more than a decade in executive municipal leadership, including as Director of Phoenix Water Services for the City of Phoenix and Director of the Water Resources Department for the City of Mesa. In these roles, she was responsible for delivering safe, reliable water services to millions of Arizonans while strengthening water stewardship across Arizona and the Colorado River Basin.

At Arizona State University, Kathryn also serves as a Professor of Practice in the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions and as a Senior Global Futures Scientist with the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory. She is an active member of the Colorado River Research Group and serves on the board of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council.

Kathryn earned her PhD in Agricultural and Resource Economics from Texas A&M University and her Bachelor of Arts in Economics from University of Michigan. Her career reflects a deep commitment to sound water policy, evidence-based research, and collaborative leadership in one of the most water-challenged regions of the United States.

Allyson Mauck

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 Surveys (SSES), asset management, capital improvement planning, and regulatory coordination, helping utilities navigate evolving compliance landscapes while maintaining fiscal responsibility.

At McKim & Creed, Inc., Allyson serves as a Project Manager in Clearwater, FL, where she leads large-scale municipal programs focused on system resiliency, regulatory compliance, and data-driven infrastructure investment. She currently manages a 10-year, $60 million SSES program for the City of Fort Myers, overseeing flow monitoring, CCTV inspections, smoke and dye testing, manhole assessments, and rehabilitation planning for approximately 27,000 customers. Her leadership integrates trenchless technologies, contractor coordination, and GIS-based decision support to prioritize rehabilitation and reduce inflow and infiltration (I/I).

Allyson has played a pivotal role in regional potable water planning and condition assessment initiatives, including a comprehensive risk-based analysis of 2,199 miles of water mains for Manatee County Utilities. Through predictive analytics and GIS/CMMS integration, she implemented automated risk scoring that identified 50 priority replacements and informed multi-year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) planning focused on reliability, fire flow capacity, and water quality improvements.

A recognized leader in LCRR/LCRI compliance, Allyson managed the inventory and classification of more than 140,000 service lines for Manatee County Utilities. Her approach combined predictive modeling, GIS analysis, and targeted field verification to minimize unnecessary excavation while maintaining regulatory transparency. She also led the compliance initiative for the City of Palmetto, overseeing service line inventory reconciliation, stakeholder communication, and development of a public-facing dashboard to track compliance progress. Her funding strategy secured approximately $1 million in Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) support with 49% principal forgiveness, reducing financial impact on ratepayers.

In addition to compliance and collection system programs, Allyson has supported advanced treatment solutions, including funding and preliminary engineering efforts for a Reverse Osmosis Water Treatment Plant addressing emerging contaminants for the Town of Belleair. She successfully secured $3.25 million in FDEP SRF Emerging Contaminants grant funding, delivering a fully grant-funded design.

Her expertise spans program and project management, SSES and I/I investigations, asset management and condition assessment, SRF funding strategy (DWSRF/CWSRF), regulatory coordination with EPA and FDEP, GIS/CMMS integration, predictive analytics, and public outreach.

Allyson holds a B.S. in Physics from the University of South Florida and is currently pursuing an M.S. in Civil Engineering (Water Resources) at the University of Central Florida. She is a NASSCO Certified Inspector (PACP, MACP, LACP) and serves as Chair of the FSAWWA Region IV Collegiate Committee.

Allyson is driven by a commitment to resilient infrastructure, transparent governance, and data-informed decision-making that strengthens communities and protects public health.

Joel Weber

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 relentless curiosity as competitive advantages in business. With a strong foundation in vocational drafting and engineering, he began his career at SAMSON Engineering, where he advanced from junior CAD technician to Computer Aided Design Manager. There, he led multidisciplinary project teams and worked on large-scale commercial, industrial, and civil developments across Western Canada.

Joel later returned to his agricultural roots, building a commercial hay and straw operation that serviced customers across Canada and the United States. After a life-altering tractor accident ended his conventional farming career, he pivoted — transforming adversity into innovation.

In 2017, Joel founded Fresh Forage Farms Ltd., a vertical farming company that has achieved consistent annual growth of 130–150%. Under his leadership, the company supplies microgreens, edible flowers, and specialty crops to major grocery chains including Loblaws, Sobeys, Save-On-Foods, CO-OP, and premium restaurants. Joel built the company from the ground up — overseeing production systems, regulatory compliance, packaging, business strategy, and team development.

His passion for environmental solutions led him to found Lakewater Nutrient Capture Ltd. in 2024, focused on addressing phosphorus pollution in Lake Winnipeg. The company has completed advanced startup programming through North Forge, filed Canadian and U.S. patents for its filtration technology, and won the Audience Choice Award at the 2024 MEIA Cleantech Conference Green Dragons’ Lair Pitch Competition. Joel is actively collaborating with industry leaders, Indigenous communities, and policymakers to bring scalable water remediation solutions to market.

Known for his ability to solve complex problems with practical, engineered solutions, Joel thrives in high-pressure environments and excels at building resilient, adaptable businesses. Whether in agriculture, engineering, or cleantech innovation, he approaches every challenge with strategic vision and relentless execution.

Alan Roberson

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 management.

Alan currently serves as a Water Policy Advisor, providing senior-level guidance to utilities, government agencies, consulting firms, and nonprofit organizations on federal and state drinking water policy. Throughout his career, he has played a critical role in shaping regulatory frameworks, evaluating public health impacts, and developing cost-effective compliance strategies. He has also served as an expert witness in international water regulatory matters.

From 2017 to 2025, Alan served as Executive Director of the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators (ASDWA), where he led national efforts to address emerging contaminants, including PFAS, oversaw revisions to the Lead and Copper Rule, and strengthened coordination among state and federal drinking water programs. Prior to ASDWA, he spent 25 years with the American Water Works Association (AWWA) as Director of Federal Relations, directing national regulatory and water security initiatives, leading research programs, and serving as a key spokesperson on drinking water policy.

Alan has also contributed extensively to academia and professional development. He is an instructor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, teaching drinking water policy and regulatory risk management. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications, book chapters, and technical research studies addressing drinking water regulations, contaminant risk assessment, and utility management strategies.

He currently serves on the Fairfax Water Board of Directors, where he has held leadership roles including Treasurer and Chair of the Water Quality & Supply Committee. His contributions to the water industry have been recognized with numerous honors, including the AWWA Fuller Award, ASDWA Career Achievement Award, and induction into the Water Industry Hall of Fame.

Alan holds a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from Virginia Tech and a Bachelor of Civil Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Manny Teodoro

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 rigorous empirical research with applied scholarship, and he works directly with governments and water sector leaders across the United States to address pressing policy and management challenges.

Teodoro is the editor of Safe Drinking Water Act: The Next Fifty Years (Palgrave Macmillan, forthcoming 2026), which examines the future of federal drinking water policy. He is also the author, with Samantha Zuhlke and David Switzer, of The Profits of Distrust: Citizen-Consumers, Drinking Water, and the Crisis of Confidence in American Government (Cambridge University Press, 2022). This award-winning book argues that reliable basic services are foundational to government legitimacy and links the rise of the bottled water industry to declining trust in American democracy. His first book, Bureaucratic Ambition: Careers, Motives, and the Innovative Administrator (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2011), advances a theory of administrative ambition, demonstrating how career motivations shape innovation, political engagement, and democratic governance within public organizations.

In addition to his theoretical contributions, Teodoro pursues an extensive program of applied research on utility management, rate design, affordability, and equity. He has developed novel methods for analyzing utility rate equity and affordability and regularly collaborates with public officials, regulators, and utility leaders to inform policy design and operational decision-making. His work on public management and bureaucratic politics emphasizes labor markets as political phenomena and as predictors of organizational performance.

Teodoro’s scholarship and teaching have received numerous honors. His awards include the Donald R. Boyd Award from the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies and the Hydro 20 Award from WaterLoop and Sciens Water in 2025; the Lynton Keith Caldwell Prize from the American Political Science Association for The Profits of Distrust in 2024; the Robert F. and Sylvia T. Wagner Distinguished Faculty Award from the University of Wisconsin–Madison College of Letters & Sciences in 2023; the Evan Ringquist Best Paper Award from the APSA Science, Technology, and Environmental Politics Section in 2022; multiple Best Paper Awards from the American Water Works Association Management & Leadership Division (2017, 2019, 2020, and 2021); the Herbert Simon Book Award from the American Political Science Association for Bureaucratic Ambition in 2016; the Best Book Award from the American Society for Public Administration’s Section on Public Administration Research in 2013; the Norton Long Young Scholar Award from the APSA Urban Politics Section in 2010; the Fredric Jablin Dissertation Award from the International Leadership Association and the NASPAA Dissertation Award in 2007; and the Lurie Teaching Prize from the University of Michigan Honors Program in 2003.

Gary C. Ganzi and Peter Lando

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 respected for his ability to bridge legal, technical, and business domains, Gary provides comprehensive guidance in IP portfolio management and strategic IP and technology development to drive profitable growth. His background spans startup environments through large multinational corporations, enabling him to align IP strategy with technology maturity, budget constraints, and long-term business objectives.

Gary’s signature IP approach integrates patent filing and prosecution strategy, IP valuation and licensing, risk mitigation, and freedom-to-operate analysis with broader business and R&D strategy. His work routinely includes contract review; website, product, and technical literature analysis; protection of know-how and trade secrets; and strategic guidance to support commercialization and competitive positioning.

Peter Lando practices across all areas of intellectual property law and related business transactions, advising clients on the strategic development, protection, and commercialization of IP assets. He is routinely engaged in intellectual property due diligence for acquisitions and divestitures, representing clients ranging from early-stage ventures to companies valued in excess of $1 billion. Peter has served as primary negotiator or lead counsel in dozens of licensing, collaboration, and technology-driven business transactions.

Peter frequently prepares patentability and freedom-to-operate opinions and has prosecuted a substantial portfolio of patents that have been successfully enforced in court and/or licensed. His practice also includes providing creative and strategic trademark counsel, resulting in distinctive registration and enforcement approaches, as well as drafting comprehensive trade secret policies and protection strategies to safeguard clients’ proprietary information.

Recognized by clients as a “big-picture thinker” and “talented portfolio developer,” Peter is valued for his ability to move beyond traditional patent prosecution to address the real-world challenges companies face as they grow, scale, and expand into new markets. His counsel integrates legal rigor with commercial insight to help clients build resilient, high-value IP portfolios.

Peter has extensive technical experience across the chemical process industries, water and wastewater treatment technologies, medical devices, polymers, particulate materials, specialty metals and ceramics, and mechanical and industrial designs. He is widely regarded as one of the nation’s leading intellectual property attorneys in clean and green technologies, making him a trusted advisor to investors and companies in these sectors both nationally and internationally.

Active in the intellectual property community, Peter regularly speaks to industry groups, clients, and students on a wide range of IP topics, including portfolio strategy, emerging technologies, and innovation-driven growth.

Elliot Stand

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 $1.75M in non-dilutive funding, serves as Principal Investigator on NSF and Colorado OEDIT grants, and has grown the company from two to seven employees.

Elliot earned his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Colorado Boulder, completing the program in four years with a 4.0 GPA and receiving the MDPI Sensors 2023 Best PhD Thesis Award. His research focuses on fully printed electrochemical and organic electronic sensors for plant health, nutrient monitoring, and environmental sensing, resulting in multiple patents, high-impact journal publications, and invited talks at international conferences. Prior to his doctorate, he earned a B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he also conducted machine-learning–driven materials research and held multiple engineering internships in semiconductor manufacturing, nuclear materials, and medical isotopes.

Beyond research and startups, Elliot is deeply committed to mentorship, STEM outreach, and inclusive leadership, having founded the MSE & Beyond Mentorship Program and volunteered for over a decade with organizations such as Best Buddies International. His work sits at the intersection of advanced materials, sustainability, and real-world deployment, with the goal of enabling smarter, more resilient environmental systems.

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 across the UK, Europe, and North America, and led the development of patented sensing technologies now deployed by organisations such as Toronto Water, Network Rail, EBMUD, and the Cities of Phoenix and Windsor.

Will is a Royal Academy of Engineering Enterprise Fellow and a recipient of numerous competitive national awards, including Mayor’s Entrepreneur of the Year (Tech), Innovate UK funding, and grants from the Citibank Foundation and Cranfield University, where ManholeMetrics delivered a £50k research project. He has built the business from the ground up—driving early customer traction, managing a multidisciplinary team, overseeing product certification and IP (five patents filed), and representing the company in media, accelerators, and global pilot programmes.

He holds a First Class MEng in Civil Engineering from Imperial College London, graduating with exceptional distinction and multiple honours from the City and Guilds Institute, including the Medal for Excellence and President’s Award. During his studies, Will worked on major infrastructure projects with Vinci Construction, Balfour Beatty–Vinci, Arup, and Bechtel/Crossrail, gaining hands-on experience in site engineering, project controls, and large-scale delivery. He was also a finalist for UK Construction & Engineering Undergraduate of the Year and has spoken by invitation at the Institution of Structural Engineers’ Annual Academics Conference.

Beyond industry, Will has founded and led high-impact student and professional initiatives, including the Intercollegiate Engineering Alliance, connecting over 25,000 engineering students globally. He is fluent in French, proficient in Spanish, and brings a strong blend of technical depth, commercial execution, and leadership to the future of resilient urban infrastructure.

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 innovators, and regulatory agencies. Her expertise centers on helping farms optimize water resources, improve irrigation efficiency, and meet evolving compliance requirements through data-driven tools and sustainable practices.

In her role at HotSpot AG, Cassie partners with growers to deploy automated irrigation, fertigation, pump control, and remote monitoring systems designed to enhance crop performance and reduce water use. She provides on-site consultations, technology demonstrations, and hands-on software training to ensure seamless adoption. Working closely with engineering teams, she analyzes water-use data to develop performance metrics that highlight ROI and long-term sustainability outcomes. Cassie also leads initiatives that integrate groundwater well, reservoir, and storage tank monitoring to support statewide water regulations.

Previously, Cassie served as Assistant Branch Manager and Customer Service Manager at Watersavers Irrigation, Inc., where she managed B2B and B2C sales, coordinated drought-related grant opportunities, and expanded the company’s digital presence—contributing to a 20% annual sales increase. Her career also includes operational and customer-facing roles at Keller Estate Winery and VinoPro, where she supported DTC sales programs, streamlined operations, and developed training systems for one of Inc. 500’s fastest-growing companies.

Cassie holds an MBA from the University of Phoenix, a B.A. in Art Studio from Sonoma State University, and an A.A. in Art Studio from College of the Sequoias.

Her areas of expertise include irrigation and water resource management, pump control and fertigation automation, data analytics, groundwater monitoring and regulatory compliance, project management, and customer success leadership.

Cassie frequently collaborates with growers, conservation districts, and groundwater sustainability agencies to advance responsible water use across the region. She also participates in educational outreach, speaking to university and community college students about the role of technology in modern agriculture and inspiring the next generation of innovators committed to protecting natural resources and strengthening agricultural resilience.