Water In Real Life

Nashelley Kaplan-Dailey directs Imagine H2O’s Policy efforts, a suite of initiatives identifying and advancing policies leading to the broader deployment of water innovation. Nashelley joined Imagine H2O from WaterNow Alliance where she was Senior Project Manager working with government, NGO’s and the private sector to design and implement programs and policies supporting sustainable water management at the local level. Nashelley is a member of the California Bar and graduated from the University of San Diego School of Law in 2013. There, she focused on Resource Management and Water Law and was an active member of the Environmental Law Clinic. Before and during law school she worked in various roles, including for the San Diego Mayor’s Office under Jerry Sanders, in environmental compliance, and in litigation support.

Tom Ferguson is the  Vice President of Programming for Imagine H2O, charged with developing the accelerator model as well as building out the policy and leadership capabilities as they scale. Tom comes to Imagine H2O from strategy roles at Project Frog (a San Francisco green buildings company) and Tamar Energy (an AD network developed in London). Prior to business school, he spent three and a half years with ERM, the sustainability consultancy, where he was an engagement manager. Tom holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, and an MA in Politics from Edinburgh University.

Top Takeaways:

“The power of a learning organization comes down to compounding expertise. The more informed and the more diversity of the information that is hitting your employees, the better and more imaginative they are going to be at solving the problems in front of them.”

“The older generation is getting accustomed to using technology, the current and rising generation likes technology and innovation, and the next generation will expect it.”— Clifford Chan, East Bay Municipal Utility District

The culture of your organization is what people in your organization do when no one is watching. It defines the environment in which people work. It’s difficult to build. It requires a relentless drumbeat. The mission statement should be the prism through which all things are run.

Treat your employees like customers. You are selling them a product all the way through. They are buying something from you. They are spending their most valuable commodity with you—their time.

Show Notes:

[8:02] We talk some of the (troubling) statistics related to workforce and succession in the water industry. At its root, succession planning is about saving the aggregated expertise of our retiring water professionals so that we retain that knowledge and wisdom when they leave.

[13:44] Talking points for managers and directors seeking to save and grow their travel/training budget line item.

[16:27] “The power of a learning organization comes down to compounding expertise. The more informed and the more diversity of the information that is hitting your employees, the better and more imaginative they are going to be at solving the problems in front of them.”

[19:44] How does Imagine H2O ensure diversity in their programming?

[23:16] Sometimes you don’t know what’s going to come out of bringing a diverse group of people together, but that’s ok. The key is to create the conditions to have conversations that are differentiated and honest and emergent in the moment because that’s where the excitement happens.

“Let’s see where the rabbit hole goes because that’s how you get to the new stuff.”

[24:10] What are some ways we can ensure we’re sending the right people and they’re bringing back value to the organization?

[29:48] Tom and Nashelley share some examples of organizations that do a good job at cultivating talent from within. Just collecting a pay check is no longer enough. The reason people stay at a job is beyond just the money. It’s about engagement, meaning, adding to their skillset, do they feel fulfilled, etc.

[32:47] We discuss how demonstrating trust in your people is way to retain them.

[35:53] Innovation on a budget. Even a small amount of money can help remove the friction from the deployment of innovation.

[36:43] How do we maximize the human capital and technology nexus?

[41:52] Catch future water nerds while they’re young. Get them interested and aware while they are still in their academic career. Offer opportunities to work in real world situations and not just in academic theory.

[43:24] The culture of your organization is what people in your organization do when no one is watching. It defines the environment in which people work. It’s difficult to build. It requires a relentless drumbeat. The mission statement should be the prism through which all things are run.

[46:20] The technology isn’t the point. The machine of change are the people themselves and we need to be taking care of the people.

[47:30] The importance of the intrapreneur—the innovators within the organization.

[53:15] We talk communication’s role in solving the workforce issue.  It’s important for utilities to put themselves in the shoes of audience they are trying to attract and make those touch points reflect the desires of that audience.

[58:02] Treat your employees like customers. You are selling them a product all the way through. They are buying something from you. They are spending their most valuable commodity with you—their time.

Resources:

The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker

Rogue Water Recap of the 2018 Imagine H2O Summit and Gala Part 1

Rogue Water Recap of the 2018 Imagine H2O Summit and Gala Part 2

From Apple to H2O: One entrepreneur’s quest to digitize water in India’s second-tier cities

Sponsor:

This episode is powered by Imagine H2O. Imagine H2O is a water technology accelerator, so why are we laser focused on NextGen issues? Because innovation is a mindset, not a technical accomplishment. You can be innovative about anything, from your hiring process to the way your organization deals with hexavalent chromium contamination. What matters is that you’re constantly trying to improve the way you’re doing things, and the better you are at innovation, the better you are at everything. Join Imagine H2O and Water Environment Federation in San Francisco March 21st to get better at everything.

Please consider rating the podcast with 5 stars and leaving a one- or two-sentence review in iTunes or on Stitcher.  This helps tremendously in bringing the podcast to the attention of others. We give a shoutout to everyone who rates the podcast with 5 stars in future episodes.

Give us some love on Twitter by tagging us @THE_H2duO or by using the #WaterInRealLifePodcast

If you know someone you think would benefit, please spread the word by using the share buttons on this page.

Thank you for sharing some of your time with us. We know how precious those minutes are. Share your story, you never know who needs to hear it and remember, “Those who tell the stories, rule the world.”

Jorge Rodriguez is a passionate (obsessive?) water guy. He is a Zillenial that refuses to acknowledge he’s a millennial. Jorge was born and raised in Puerto Rico and is a professional civil engineer and program manager with 14 years of experience in water and sewer infrastructure projects. Over the last 11 years, he’s been working with a company called Pure Technologies, a Xylem company. He’s enjoyed working with water and wastewater utilities all over the U.S. and some other countries. His role is to help them understand the condition of their large pressurized transmission systems and make decisions on renewing or replacing such assets.

Top Takeaways:

Use your excitement and passion for the industry to be what attracts and retains the next generation of water professionals.

Good ideas come from everywhere. You may be an engineer and not a communicator on paper, but your ideas can help communicate the value of water. Share them.

We all take water for granted, even those of us who work in the industry. Internal communication is just as important as your external outreach program. Remind your people the vital role they play in delivering the most important services directly impacting public health.

Show Notes:

[5:30] Jorge, like many of us, just fell into the water industry. Hear this story.

[9:20] Hear some of the ways Jorge is engaging with the young professionals on his team.

[14:50] Jorge talks about why it is so important to spend the time to make connections with our customers and to put ourselves in their shoes.

[16:55] How they work with underserved communities.

[22:00] Jorge talks about attracting and retaining the next gen.

[26:10] Jorge talks about partnering with utilities in their communication and outreach efforts. He gives some examples of their informal education program including a hydraulic model and quizzing people on their water source.

[32:38] This one is for all the water nerd spouses out there. Thank you for putting up with our water nerdness.

[35:24] Jorge gives us his personal take on what it was like going through Hurricane Maria with family on the island.

[40:58] We ask Jorge about his favorite conference experience in 2018. Hear why he chose a non-water conference and the power of being a water nerd amongst non-water folks.

Resources:

Alone Together: Sailing Solo to Hawaii and Beyond by Christian Williams

Sponsor:

This episode is powered by Rogue Water, the public communication company founded by the H2duO, Stephanie Zavala and Arianne Shipley. Rogue Water is dedicated to revolutionizing the water industry—one person, one story, one experience at a time. We are award-winning communication professionals with a decade of experience working in water utilities moving the needle forward in communication, outreach, and education to build stronger relationships between the water sector and the public it serves. These relationships serve as the foundation needed to make the necessary changes that create a sustainable water future for all. Are you ready to go Rogue?

Please consider rating the podcast with 5 stars and leaving a one- or two-sentence review in iTunes or on Stitcher.  This helps tremendously in bringing the podcast to the attention of others. We give a shoutout to everyone who rates the podcast with 5 stars in future episodes.

Give us some love on Twitter by tagging us @THE_H2duO or by using the #WaterInRealLifePodcast

If you know someone you think would benefit, please spread the word by using the share buttons on this page.

Thank you for sharing some of your time with us. We know how precious those minutes are. Share your story, you never know who needs to hear it and remember, “Those who tell the stories, rule the world.”

Chanin Bays is the Administrative Services Manager for Clackamas County Water Environment Services.  She began her career with Clackamas County in 2007 in the Elections Division, before joining Water Environment Services (WES) in 2010.  As the Administrative Services Manager she supports business activities of Department leaders and technical staff, manages administrative support staff, policy analysts, and customer service specialists.  Oversees coordination of human resource activities and leads development and implementation of performance measure methods and tracking procedures. She also manages the department’s procurement and records management activities. Chanin is currently the Chair of the Utility Management Committee and was recently awarded Woman of the Year from PNCWA. She holds an MBA from George Fox University.

Top Takeaways:

You don’t need support from everyone to start strategic planning. Some people may want to wait and see and that’s fine. But don’t let it stop you from starting. “Waiting for 100% buy-in is a recipe for disaster.”

“I think as a leader it’s my job to talk to my team about what their dreams are.” This is awkward for some people. But it’s about what’s the big idea? If I had “this” I would feel successful in my job, in life, in career, etc? How can we connect that nugget of passion to your daily job? That’s how we stay young…to continually stay motivated.

“What we need as a nation is for women to begin dreaming again and to step up and start claiming those moments. We have to find a way to connect to our communities and I really believe that getting more women into the water industry is the game changing idea.”

Show Notes:

[5:28] “When you can throw your passion behind your work, it has an amplifying effect.” Chanin’s rise at Clackamas County Water Environment Services.

[6:57] NASA had the janitor. Clackamas has Harvey Clark, the plant operator. So what do you do? “I save lives.”

[9:50] Chanin talks about how Clackamas handles their strategic planning efforts.

[13:50] How do you overcome the naysayers? Why it’s important not to let them stall your efforts.

[17:15] Learn how informational interviews are important not only when changing careers but also to continually grow in your career. They are also the secret weapon for the introverted networker.

[21:38] Find out why sharing dreams and sharing stories are essential to effective leadership. “As leaders we need to allow ourselves to dream and share those dreams because that’s what inspires others to do the same. This also translates over to storytelling and idea sharing. We need people to share their story or their ideas because you never know who needs to hear it. You never know the next idea that could be a break through if we don’t voice those ideas.”

[28:20] Listen how Chanin and her team are using the value of water narrative to engage with the community.

[36:40] Chanin was recognized as the 2018 Woman of the Year by the Pacific Northwest Clean Water Association. Hear her advice for the rising female water professionals in the industry. “We need you. What we need as a nation is for women to begin dreaming again and to step up and start claiming those moments.”

Resources:

Courage by Gus Lee

National Opinion Survey About Water by Blue Drop

Sponsor:

This episode is powered by Rogue Water, the public communication company founded by the H2duO, Stephanie Zavala and Arianne Shipley. Rogue Water is dedicated to revolutionizing the water industry—one person, one story, one experience at a time. We are award-winning communication professionals with a decade of experience working in water utilities moving the needle forward in communication, outreach, and education to build stronger relationships between the water sector and the public it serves. These relationships serve as the foundation needed to make the necessary changes that create a sustainable water future for all. Are you ready to go Rogue?

Please consider rating the podcast with 5 stars and leaving a one- or two-sentence review in iTunes or on Stitcher.  This helps tremendously in bringing the podcast to the attention of others. We give a shoutout to everyone who rates the podcast with 5 stars in future episodes.

Give us some love on Twitter by tagging us @THE_H2duO or by using the #WaterInRealLifePodcast

If you know someone you think would benefit, please spread the word by using the share buttons on this page.

Thank you for sharing some of your time with us. We know how precious those minutes are. Share your story, you never know who needs to hear it and remember, “Those who tell the stories, rule the world.”

The founder and CEO of Thirst, Mina Guli is a global leader, entrepreneur and adventurer passionate and committed to making a difference in the world. Following a 15-year career as a world leader in climate change that started with law, but progressed quickly to the World Bank and to co-founding boutique investment firm Peony Capital, Mina established Thirst  – a non-profit that is solving the water crisis by changing the way we think about water.

Since its launch in 2012, Thirst has educated more than 2 million students in China, has had more than 600,000 participants in its innovation competitions and now works with more than 1000 qualified volunteers and has the support of the Chinese Government.

To highlight the global water crisis, in 2016 Mina completed the 7 Deserts Run — running the equivalent of 40 marathons across 7 deserts on 7 continents in 7 weeks. A self-confessed “non-runner”, Mina told the stories of some of those affected by the crisis during the run. The success of the expedition encouraged Mina to undertake the 6 River Run in support of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 6. She ran 40 marathons in 40 days down 6 of the world’s great rivers on 6 continents. With media coverage around the world, including on CNN, BBC, ITV, ABC and CCTV, Mina’s messages about water have reached more than 4 billion people, inspiring a generation of water heroes.

Mina has been recognised for her leadership: she has been named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, one of Australia’s most influential women, and by Fortune Magazine in 2016 alongside Angela Merkel, Jeff Bezos, Tim Cook and the Pope as one of the 50 greatest leaders in the world.

On November 4, 2018, Mina began her next challenge: #RunningDry, which will see her run 100 marathons in 100 days around the world for 1 reason — water.

Top Takeaways:

A research study that Mina participated in showed that 80% of Millennials changed their behavior once they learned more about the water crisis and the changes they could make to positively impact the problem.

Three out of four Millennials wanted to amplify their impact by telling their friends, family, and community.

“We’ve been so barraged by advertising, by corporate communication, that we no longer listen. I think the only way for us to convey messages is through the power of people, through the power of word, and the power of different, innovate messaging.”

Show Notes:

[3:42] Mina tells us how a lawyer and banker became a woman on a mission to solve the global water crisis.

[8:55] Learn more about the origin story of the #RunningDry movement and the 100 Marathons in 100 Days.

[11:11] Mina talks about her time in Israel with the creators of drip irrigation at Netafim.

[12:50] Mina shares the powerful story of how the seemingly darkest moment in her life actually shifted the #RunningDry movement from one woman’s crusade to a global movement.

[23:06] What can we learn from tying water to activities people already enjoy and are engaged in such as running?

[27:20] “We need to communicate differently. We need to communicate in a way that encourages people to listen, to connect, and to act.”

[29:10] How can subject matter experts in water tell water’s story better?

[32:15] Global water issues impact women and children on a far greater scale. Mina talks what it means for her to be a woman fighting for his cause amidst the Matt Damons (Water.org) and Scott Harrisons (Charity:Water) of the world.

[35:30] Unlike other campaigns focused on the global water crisis, Mina’s is centered around building awareness and education efforts that promote behavior change. She talks about why companies like Colgate and Reebox have rallied behind this idea.

[37:46] What does success look like?

[40:25] How can you get involved in the #RunningDry movement and what’s next for Mina?

Resources:

www.minaguli.com

Sponsor:

This episode is powered by Rogue Water, the public communication company founded by the H2duO, Stephanie Zavala and Arianne Shipley. Rogue Water is dedicated to revolutionizing the water industry—one person, one story, one experience at a time. We are award-winning communication professionals with a decade of experience working in water utilities moving the needle forward in communication, outreach, and education to build stronger relationships between the water sector and the public it serves. These relationships serve as the foundation needed to make the necessary changes that create a sustainable water future for all. Are you ready to go Rogue?

Please consider rating the podcast with 5 stars and leaving a one- or two-sentence review in iTunes or on Stitcher.  This helps tremendously in bringing the podcast to the attention of others. We give a shoutout to everyone who rates the podcast with 5 stars in future episodes.

Give us some love on Twitter by tagging us @THE_H2duO or by using the #WaterInRealLifePodcast

If you know someone you think would benefit, please spread the word by using the share buttons on this page.

Thank you for sharing some of your time with us. We know how precious those minutes are. Share your story, you never know who needs to hear it and remember, “Those who tell the stories, rule the world.”

Steve Drangsholt is an Infrastructure Market Sales Leader with Brown and Caldwell in Boise, ID.  Steve has a background working both as a consultant and for a public utility in the pacific northwest. He’s an engineer and project manager with a knack for bringing strong teams together to solve complex problems for communities dealing with intense wet weather and dense urban environments. His innovative and disciplined approach has led to reductions in CSOs and SSOs throughout the Puget Sound in Washington State. Steve is Pacific Northwest through and through having grown up in the Portland Oregon area, attending the University of Washington and beginning his career in Seattle. He has a strong passion for water and wastewater and is heavily involved with the Water Environment Federation and his member association the Pacific Northwest Clean Water Association. Outside his day job, he enjoys cycling, paddleboarding and spending time around the Boise River.

Top Takeaways:

There are so many benefits to being involved with water industry associations such as WEF and AWWA. They offer valuable mentoring opportunities, professional development, and the ability to network and learn from other professionals you may not have met otherwise.

Young professionals should measure their success by the impact they’re making and not the title on their business card.

The water industry is massive and yet still feels like a tight-knit family. Therefore, it’s best to have a mindset of competing on ideas versus competing against people.

Show Notes:

[4:00] Check out Steve’s water journey. Does it sound familiar at all?

[11:05] Steve explains the numerous benefits of being involved in WEF.

[20:09] Steve explains the value he gained by working for both a public water utility and private engineering consulting firms.

[28:20] What can we do as an industry to really remember our “why”? How can engaging with the public in events like Waterpalooza help create empathy in the industry?

[35:12] Why is cultivating the young professional community so important to the next generation of water nerds?

[42:42] Steve talks why it’s important in such a tight-knit industry to compete on ideas, not people.

[48:20] When it comes to the public’s perception of the value of water, how will we know when we’ve made it? What does success look like?

Resources:

EP015 The Long Run: Seth Godin Podcast (Akimbo)

Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor

Drive by Daniel Pink

Start with Why by Simon Sinek

Sponsor:

This episode is powered by Rogue Water, the public communication company founded by the H2duO, Stephanie Zavala and Arianne Shipley. Rogue Water is dedicated to revolutionizing the water industry—one person, one story, one experience at a time. We are award-winning communication professionals with a decade of experience working in water utilities moving the needle forward in communication, outreach, and education to build stronger relationships between the water sector and the public it serves. These relationships serve as the foundation needed to make the necessary changes that create a sustainable water future for all. Are you ready to go Rogue?

Please consider rating the podcast with 5 stars and leaving a one- or two-sentence review in iTunes or on Stitcher.  This helps tremendously in bringing the podcast to the attention of others. We give a shoutout to everyone who rates the podcast with 5 stars in future episodes.

Give us some love on Twitter by tagging us @THE_H2duO or by using the #WaterInRealLifePodcast

If you know someone you think would benefit, please spread the word by using the share buttons on this page.

Thank you for sharing some of your time with us. We know how precious those minutes are. Share your story, you never know who needs to hear it and remember, “Those who tell the stories, rule the world.”

George Hawkins is the Harvard educated Founder of Moonshot LLC and just recently, Moonshot Partners, a Professor of Practice at American University and former head of DC Water. He facilitated the transformation of DC Water and Sewer Authority to DC Water and oversaw taking DC Water from some very challenging times to the national and international reputation it now enjoys. George wants to help other enterprises tell their story, create replicable roadmaps and reach their dreams.

Top Takeaways:

As water nerds passionate about communication, obviously, our chat with George Hawkins is ripe with takeaways:

Show Notes:

[4:15] Life after DC Water: how entrepreneurial life has treated George Hawkins this past year.

[8:21] George shares how his perspective of the industry has changed given his new role in it this past year.

[12:46] George gives us examples from his experiences that made him an advocate for communication in the water industry.

[22:23] In his own words: advice on how water educators and communicators can win over upper management.

[28:56] Why it’s so important for an organization, especially in the water industry, to not only believe in the mission but more importantly, act on it.

[35:58] George shares how can utilities earn back their communities trust, given the fact that people are sort of wary, of us but we need their trust to move forward with new infrastructure and technology.

[44:06] Hear George’s take on why customer service is so vital to utilities today, especially related to adopting new technology and addressing funding needs.

[57:00] With all he has seen and been introduced to, hear what has THE George Hawkins the most excited about the future of water.

[1:05:12]  George speaks directly to all you men and women in the field, braving all conditions, and working tirelessly in a thankless job. He shares with you why what you do matters so much.

Resources:

The Ghost Map: The Story of London’s Most Terrifying Epidemic–and How It Changed Science, Cities, and the Modern World by Steven Johnson

Sponsor:

The Alliance for Water Efficiency is a non-profit organization and North America’s authoritative resource for water efficiency. Their mission is to promote the efficient use of water to achieve more resilient communities, businesses, and ecosystems.

Learn more and join the network by visiting www.allianceforwaterefficiency.org or emailing [email protected].

Please consider rating the podcast with 5 stars and leaving a one- or two-sentence review in iTunes or on Stitcher.  This helps tremendously in bringing the podcast to the attention of others. We give a shoutout to everyone who rates the podcast with 5 stars in future episodes.

Give us some love on Twitter by tagging us @THE_H2duO or by using the #WaterInRealLifePodcast

If you know someone you think would benefit, please spread the word by using the share buttons on this page.

Thank you for sharing some of your time with us. We know how precious those minutes are. Share your story, you never know who needs to hear it and remember, “Those who tell the stories, rule the world.”

Catalyst is more than a conference. It’s an experience meant to educate, collaborate, and invigorate water educators and communicators. Catalyst is structured around the Rogue Water ABCS of water communication: assessment, branding, content, and strategy plus our favorite subject: tribal collaboration. In this episode, we talk assessment with Dr. Rudi Thompson, director of the environmental education initiative for the City of Dallas Water Conservation. She shares with us how her program has been able to quantify savings through education. Jennifer Henderson, founder of J.O. a marketing agency and our suite neighbor in Fort Worth talks the power of branding through earned media. And we wrap up with Megan Yoo Schneider, founder of Seven Management and Consulting Inc, about brain-based learning and how we have to be strategic about how we present our content. The conferences of tomorrow don’t need to nor should look like the conferences of the past.

Catalyst:

You can register at www.roguewatergroup.com/catalyst.

Catalyst takes place June 19-21, 2019 in San Antonio, Texas on the San Antonio Riverwalk.

Due to the logistics of this unique summit, we can only accommodate up to 70 people. We have less than 50 spots left so sign up today!

Shout out to our incredible Catalyst2019 sponsors: Texas AWWA, Water Environment Association of Texas, Lower Colorado River Authority, Alliance for Water Efficiency, 120WaterAudit, and Dallas Water Conservation. If you’d like to sponsor the most ROGUE water summit around, visit the Catalyst website for more information.

Sponsor:

This episode is powered by Rogue Water, the public communication company founded by the H2duO, Stephanie Zavala and Arianne Shipley. Rogue Water is dedicated to revolutionizing the water industry—one person, one story, one experience at a time. We are award-winning communication professionals with a decade of experience working in water utilities moving the needle forward in communication, outreach, and education to build stronger relationships between the water sector and the public it serves. These relationships serve as the foundation needed to make the necessary changes that create a sustainable water future for all. Are you ready to go Rogue?

Please consider rating the podcast with 5 stars and leaving a one- or two-sentence review in iTunes or on Stitcher.  This helps tremendously in bringing the podcast to the attention of others. We give a shoutout to everyone who rates the podcast with 5 stars in future episodes.

Give us some love on Twitter by tagging us @THE_H2duO or by using the #WaterInRealLifePodcast

If you know someone you think would benefit, please spread the word by using the share buttons on this page.

Thank you for sharing some of your time with us. We know how precious those minutes are. Share your story, you never know who needs to hear it and remember, “Those who tell the stories, rule the world.

Takeaways:

Catalyst is more than a conference. It’s an experience meant to educate, collaborate, and invigorate water educators and communicators. Catalyst is structured around the Rogue Water A.B.C.S. of water communication: Assessment, Branding, Content, and Strategy plus the added bonus of Tribal Collaboration. In this episode, we talk a little strategy, a little branding, and some collaboration too. In EP003 with Greg Wukasch, External Affairs Manager at the San Antonio Water System, he explained why it’s so vital that we break down silos internally and rally around the truth—that first and foremost water utilities exist to serve the customer. In EP004, we spoke with Duke Greenhill, marketing guru and Chair of Advertising, Branding, and Graphic Design at Savannah College of Art and Design, about the power of branding. There are a lot of misperceptions about what branding is and isn’t but the bottom line is that branding helps build the connections between customers and the utility that are needed to move forward. Finally, in EP005, Ryan Beltran, filmmaker and founder of elequa and the Make Water project tells us his story of a filmmaker turned water innovator. Hear how he’s partnering with the San Antonio Water System’s high school program, Impact, to use his love of film, water innovation, and maker spaces to teach the next generation of water nerds how they can make a difference in the global water crisis.

Catalyst:

Registration for Catalyst 2019 goes live at 8am CST on Jan 14, 2019. You can register at www.roguewatergroup.com/catalyst.

Catalyst takes place June 19-21, 2019 in San Antonio, Texas on the San Antonio Riverwalk.

Due to the logistics of this unique summit spots are limited. We can only accommodate up to 70 people, so sign up today!

Shout out to our incredible Catalyst2019 sponsors: Texas AWWA, Water Environment Association of Texas, Lower Colorado River Authority, Alliance for Water Efficiency, 120WaterAudit, and Dallas Water Conservation. If you’d like to sponsor the most ROGUE water summit around, visit the Catalyst website for more information.

Sponsor:

This episode is powered by Rogue Water, the public communication company founded by the H2duO, Stephanie Zavala and Arianne Shipley. Rogue Water is dedicated to revolutionizing the water industry—one person, one story, one experience at a time. We are award-winning communication professionals with a decade of experience working in water utilities moving the needle forward in communication, outreach, and education to build stronger relationships between the water sector and the public it serves. These relationships serve as the foundation needed to make the necessary changes that create a sustainable water future for all. Are you ready to go Rogue?

Please consider rating the podcast with 5 stars and leaving a one- or two-sentence review in iTunes or on Stitcher.  This helps tremendously in bringing the podcast to the attention of others. We give a shoutout to everyone who rates the podcast with 5 stars in future episodes.

Give us some love on Twitter by tagging us @THE_H2duO or by using the #WaterInRealLifePodcast

If you know someone you think would benefit, please spread the word by using the share buttons on this page.

Thank you for sharing some of your time with us. We know how precious those minutes are. Share your story, you never know who needs to hear it and remember, “Those who tell the stories, rule the world.”

Takeaways:

In early 2018, Greg Wukasch, External Affairs manager at the San Antonio Water System asked Stephanie and Arianne if they would partner with them to create a summit built for water educators and communicators by water educators and communicators.

They said yes before he finished the question. Catalyst follows the Rogue Water ABCS of water communication which are assessment, branding, content, and strategy. We believe that nailing these core basics directly impacts your ability to move the needle forward for your education programs, your communication campaigns and your organization.

At Catalyst 2018, we ended with a section called Tribal Collaboration, where we had three industry rock stars talk about the power of collaboration in our industry from a local, national, and global perspective. These are snippets from our podcast interviews with them leading up to Catalyst.

EP011: Tom Ferguson, VP of Programming at ImagineH2O, talks the incredible importance of communication to the water sector from his global and entrepreneurial perspective.

EP002 Travis Loop, Director of Communication and Outreach, Water Environment Federation, talks the importance of understanding your audience when it comes to effective communication.

EP008 Lynne Christopher, Education Coordinator, San Antonio Water System tells us about their CORE program for San Antonio ISD teachers and the ripples that program is already making. So without further ado, let’s get to the show.

Catalyst:

Registration for Catalyst 2019 goes live on Jan 14.

Catalyst takes place June 19-21, 2019 in San Antonio, Texas on the San Antonio Riverwalk.

Due to the logistics of this unique summit spots are limited. We can only accommodate up to 70-75 people. Sign up for the Water Nerd newsletter here to be the first to register.

Shout out to our incredible Catalyst2019 sponsors: Texas AWWA, Water Environment Association of Texas, Lower Colorado River Authority, Alliance for Water Efficiency, 120WaterAudit, and Dallas Water Conservation. If you’d like to sponsor the most ROGUE water summit around, visit the Catalyst website for more information.

Sponsor:

This episode is powered by Rogue Water, the public communication company founded by the H2duO, Stephanie Zavala and Arianne Shipley. Rogue Water is dedicated to revolutionizing the water industry—one person, one story, one experience at a time. We are award-winning communication professionals with a decade of experience working in water utilities moving the needle forward in communication, outreach, and education to build stronger relationships between the water sector and the public it serves. These relationships serve as the foundation needed to make the necessary changes that create a sustainable water future for all. Are you ready to go Rogue?

Please consider rating the podcast with 5 stars and leaving a one- or two-sentence review in iTunes or on Stitcher.  This helps tremendously in bringing the podcast to the attention of others. We give a shoutout to everyone who rates the podcast with 5 stars in future episodes.

Give us some love on Twitter by tagging us @THE_H2duO or by using the #WaterInRealLifePodcast

If you know someone you think would benefit, please spread the word by using the share buttons on this page.

Thank you for sharing some of your time with us. We know how precious those minutes are. Share your story, you never know who needs to hear it and remember, “Those who tell the stories, rule the world.”

Season One’s Call to Actions:

We asked every single person we interviewed what the call to action most important to them was and, boy, did they answer. Here are some things to ponder as we leave behind 2018 and kick off 2019 to face new dreams, new challenges, and new trails to blaze.

EP002 Travis Loop, Director of Communication and Outreach, Water Environment Federation

EP003 & EP023 Greg Wukasch, External Affairs Manager, San Antonio Water System

EP004 Duke Greenhill, Chair of Advertising, Branding, and Graphic Design at Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Georgia

EP005 Ryan Beltran, President and Founder, Elequa

EP006 Jennifer Henderson, President, J.O. Agency

EP007 Megan Yoo Schneider, President, Seven Management and Consulting, Inc.

EP008 Lynne Christopher, Education Coordinator, San Antonio Water System

EP009 Dr. Rudi Thompson, Director of Environmental Education Initiative, University of North Texas

EP013 Alan Heymann, President, Blue Drop

EP014 Samantha Villegas, President and Founder, SaviPR

EP015 Erin Ruszkowski, Environmental Engineer Major and the Best Rogue Water Intern Ever, University of Alabama

EP016 Mike McGill, President and Founder, WaterPIO

EP017 Chris Long, Dean of the College of Arts and Letters, Michigan State University

EP018 & EP019 Tom Hickmann, Director of Planning and Engineering, Bend, OR

EP020 Todd Danielson, Chief Utilities Executive, Avon Lake Regional Water

EP022 Robb Barnitt, CEO and Founder, Dropcountr

EP024 Chris Wolff, President and Founder, Adventure Hydrology

EP025 Kendall Haven, Story Researcher and Author

EP026 Sarah Zink, President and Founder, Sarah Zink Business Training

EP028 Tia Lebherz, Director of Outreach and Special Projects, California Water Efficiency Partnership

EP029 Khun Khunaraksa, Portfolio Manager for SE Asia, Water.org

EP030 Jon Acuff, New York Times Bestselling Author

EP001 & EP011 Tom Ferguson, VP of Programming for Imagine H2O

Sponsor:

This episode is powered by Rogue Water, the public communication company founded by the H2duO, Stephanie Zavala and Arianne Shipley. Rogue Water is dedicated to revolutionizing the water industry—one person, one story, one experience at a time. We are award-winning communication professionals with a decade of experience working in water utilities moving the needle forward in communication, outreach, and education to build stronger relationships between the water sector and the public it serves. These relationships serve as the foundation needed to make the necessary changes that create a sustainable water future for all. Are you ready to go Rogue?

Please consider rating the podcast with 5 stars and leaving a one- or two-sentence review in iTunes or on Stitcher.  This helps tremendously in bringing the podcast to the attention of others. We give a shoutout to everyone who rates the podcast with 5 stars in future episodes.

Give us some love on Twitter by tagging us @THE_H2duO or by using the #WaterInRealLifePodcast

If you know someone you think would benefit, please spread the word by using the share buttons on this page.

Thank you for sharing some of your time with us. We know how precious those minutes are. Share your story, you never know who needs to hear it and remember, “Those who tell the stories, rule the world.”