The agenda has been set for the inaugural Water Finance Conference which will be held in Cleveland, OH at the Great Lakes Science Center September 1-2, 2015. Attendees will learn innovative strategies for funding, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure with ample networking opportunities through panel discussions, interactive breaks and one memorable reception.
This two-day conference will take place at one of the most stimulating venues in the emerging city of Cleveland, OH: the Great Lakes Science Center. UIM: Water Utility Infrastructure Management, the leading journal of finance and management for water and wastewater professionals, will be hosting the conference and providing Continuing Education Credits (CEUs) upon successful completion of the conference.
The agenda will feature presentations and panel discussions covering three main topic areas: rate setting and affordability; private financing and private capital investment for public utilities; and trends in public utility financing. The conference is targeted toward municipal finance directors and water district CFOs in the fields of water, wastewater and stormwater in those three areas.
Agenda
| Tuesday, September 1 | Rate Increases, Affordability and Building Political Support |
| 1:00 – 1:45 pm | Standard and Poor’s New Utility Rating Criteria – Scott Garrigan, Director-U.S. Public Finance Infrastructure Group, Standard and Poor’s |
| 1:45 – 2:30 pm | Financial Challenges of Utilities – Jennifer Demmerle, CFO, Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD); Joe Crea, Manager, Raftelis Financial Consultants |
| 2:30 – 3:00 pm | Affordability Issues: Funding Akron’s Combined Sewer Overflow Long-Term Control Plan – Phil Montgomery, Deputy Director of Public Service, City of Akron |
| 3:00 – 3:45 pm | Networking Break |
| 3:45 – 4:00 pm | Communicating the Value of Water – Radhika Fox, Director-Value of Water Coalition |
| 4:00 – 5:45 pm |
Panel – Rate Increases, Affordability and Building Political Support
|
| 5:45 – 7:00 pm | Reception with Keynote |
| Wednesday, September 2 | Private Financing/Private Capital Investment for Public Utilities |
| 8:00 – 8:30 am | Trends in Infrastructure Financing – Michael Deane, Executive Director, National Association of Water Companies |
| 8:30 – 9:15 am | Case Study: Bayonne, NJ – Patrick Cairo, Senior Vice President-Corporate Development, United Water |
| 9:15 – 9:45 am | Case Study: Rialto, CA – Harald Jensen, Senior Vice President-Development & Acquisitions, Veolia North America; and Deborah Robertson, Mayor, City of Rialto |
| 9:45 – 10:15 am | Networking Break |
| 10:15 – Noon |
Panel – Private Financing/Private Capital Investment for Public Utilities
|
| Noon – 1:00 pm | Lunch |
| Trends in Public Utility Financing | |
| 1:00 1:45 pm | EPA Presentations: Water Infrastructure and Resiliency Finance Center – Holly Galavotti, Environmental Scientist-Office of Wastewater Management, U.S. EPA Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act – Jordan Dorfman, Attorney-Advisor-Clean Water State Revolving Fund, U.S. EPA |
| 1:45 – 2:15 pm | Opportunities for Private Investment in Wastewater and Stormwater Reuse Using SRFs – Justin Mattingly, Research Manager, WateReuse Research Foundation |
| 2:15 – 2:45 pm | A Comparison of the Cost of Service from Private vs. Public Infrastructure Finance – Rick Adcock, Managing Director, MWH Global |
| 2:45 – 3:15 pm | Break |
| 3:15 – 5:00 pm |
Panel – Trends in Public Utility Financing
|
| 5:00 – 5:15 pm | Developing Your Utility Funding Roadmap – Greg Baird, Utility Financial Management and Infrastructure Asset Management Principal, Hawksley Consulting |
Attendees can earn CEUs upon successful completion of the conference. Seating is limited and registration discounts are available. Save $100 by registering before July 31, 2015. Members of supporting associations will save an additional $75 upon registering.
Register today by visiting waterfinanceconference.com/registration.
For more information, please visit waterfinanceconference.com or call 330-467-7588.