A transformative collaboration between WaterNow and AWWA.
The Transformative Water Leadership Academy (TWLA) is a 10-month training program for rising water utility professionals that focuses on the foundations of sustainable community leadership – how to integrate social, environmental, and financial concerns into water decisionmaking.
TWLA is a collaborative program between WaterNow and the American Water Works Association (AWWA) and accepts about 50 participants nationwide each year.
TWLA cultivates purpose-driven water leadership by:
Participants attend:
Learning experiences will include:
TWLA participants are encouraged to define their personal leadership objectives and turn them into action, honing their ability to lead with purpose.
Director of External Affairs and Sustainability, Walnut Valley Water District
“Through this Academy…we’re doing transformative work to help leaders all around the country emerge. I’m excited that the academy will provide me with the tools and resources to grow as a leader, and then to give that back to my community through our programs and resources, as well as to my colleagues who are young professionals, as well.”
Schedule
| TWLA Course Topic | Type of Session | *Details | Dates |
| Leadership vs Management | Virtual | 2 sessions (2.5 hours each) | January 14 and 21 |
| Small Group | Virtual | 1 Session (1.5 hours) | Week of February 2-6 |
| Advancing the Water Workforce: Individual, Organizational, and Community Leadership | In-Person Workshop | 2.5 days (not including travel time) | February 25-27 |
| Protecting Public Health | Virtual | 2 Sessions (2.5 hours each) | March 11 and 18 |
| Small Group | Virtual | 1 Session (1.5 hours) | Week of April 13-17 |
| Strengthening Public Trust | Virtual | 2 Sessions (2.5 hours each) | May 13 and 20 |
| Safeguarding The Environment | Virtual | 2 Sessions (2.5 hours each) | June 17 and 24 |
| Small Group | Virtual | 1 Sessions (1.5 hours) | Week of July 20-24 |
| Inspiring Innovation | Virtual | 2 Sessions (2.5 hours each) | August 19 and 26 |
| Capstone Presentations and Wrap-Up | Virtual | 1 Sessions (1.5 hours) | Week of September 21-25 |
| Climate Resiliency: Think Global, Act Local | Virtual | 2 Sessions (2.5 hours each) | September 30 and October 7 |
| Graduation: Bringing It All Together | In-Person Workshop | 2.5 days (not including travel time) | October 21-23 |
Eligibility Criteria & Program Requirements
TWLA Tuition Levels
| Utility Size | Tuition Level | Non-Profit Entity |
| <3,300 | $250 | $1,500 |
| 3,300 – 10,000 | $500 | |
| 10,000 – 50,000 | $1,000 | |
| 50,000 – 100,000 | $1,500 | |
| 100,000 – 500,000 | $2,000 | |
| 500,000 – 1,000,000 | $2,500 | |
| >1,000,000 | $3,000 |
Deliverables
TWLA participants are expected to cohort deliver the following by the end of the Academy:
Capstone project. You will design and complete a project based on sustainable community leadership principles learned at TWLA. This project should address a problem, need, or opportunity in your organization or community. Estimated work time: 40-60 hours.
Presentation. Each participant must present what they learned from TWLA. This can happen at an event/conference, or by writing an article for a publication. Your presentation or article need not focus on TWLA, but it should clarify the value of what you learned from the TWLA experience.
Application Requirements
Acceptance into TWLA is based on competitive criteria to ensure a robust learning experience for all participants. Applicants must be ready to engage deeply in the program, and prioritize their commitment to attending all program sessions. The following application information is required:
Sponsorship
Become a TWLA Sponsor
Help us keep the TWLA mission alive. Your generous contributions will support essential TWLA programming and allow the expansion of this unique program.
By contributing to TWLA, you will signal a firm commitment to the positive evolution of the water community. TWLA sponsorship also offers opportunities to showcase your organization’s thought leadership on achieving a sustainable, community-focused water future. This can directly support your organization’s environmental, social, and governance goals and commitments.
TWLA sponsorships:
Travel and per diem scholarships for program participants who may lack resources to attend required in-person events.
Stipends for keynote speakers to build the strength of the program in leadership, environment, business, community engagement, and workforce development
Expanding networking opportunities for a robust program for both participants and TWLA graduates
Technology, connectivity, and software to support the interaction, instruction, exchange of ideas, and information gathering/analysis that are essential to TWLA
Volunteers
Volunteers are essential to the success of TWLA, and we offer many volunteer opportunities:
Identify potential TWLA applicants on your staff and in your community. You may already know some future leaders or key talent for the water community.
Instruction. Do you have special expertise in a core topic of TWLA? Volunteer to teach a virtual or in-person lesson.
Mentor or coach TWLA participants. Help guide tomorrow’s water leaders via direct engagement.
Fill out the Volunteer Request Form here!
150 TWLA
Graduates to date
128 UTILITIES
Represented
2026
Adam Lynn
Suburban Plant Operations Manager, Lehigh County Authority
PA
Alannah Irwin
Sustainability & Resiliency Administrator, City of Boynton Beach
FL
Alex Bonfiglio
Assistant Chief Operator, Veolia North America
NJ
Alexander Massara
Engineer, City of Fort Collins
CO
Alison Scully
Administrator, Todd Creek Village Metro District
CO
Alyssa Liddle
Laboratory Analyst, Beaver Water District
AR
Amanda Lo
T4 Water Treatment Plant Operator Trainee, City of Havre de Grace
MD
Amber Sturdivant
Senior Program Manager, DC Water
DC
Amber Whisner
Business Development Director, City of Dallas, GA
GA
Bradley Babb
Lead Wastewater Operator, Gasparilla Island Water Association
FL
Brendan McCarthy
Senior Management Analyst, City of Santa Clara
CA
Brian Richey
Water/Wastewater Services Engineering Supervisor, Holland Board of Public Works
MI
Byron Livingstone
Utility Technician, WSSC Water
MD
Caitlin Mitchell
Program & Outreach Coordinator, Watersheds of South Pittsburgh
PA
Curtis Burris-White
Creative Services Manager, Great Lakes Water Authority
MI
Eduardo Munoz
Water/Wastewater Technician, Fort Sill Apache Tribe
OK
Elena Fletcher
Program Assistant, City of Mesa
AZ
Elizabeth Heiles
Senior Engineer, Central Arkansas Water
AR
Ellen Parker
Associated Attorney, WaterOne
KS
Gwen Oliver
Assistant Administrator, Cleveland Water Division
OH
Isaac Hayashi
Civil Engineer, Honolulu Board of Water Supply
HI
Jacqueline Bragayrac
Business Operations Analyst, Prince William Water
VA
Jannine Rojo
Pr. Public Affairs Representative, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
CA
Jill Greiner
Water Efficiency Program Coordinator, City of Charlottesville
VA
Jonathan Torres
Water Operator 2, City of Denton
TX
Jordan Doll
Utilities Superintendent, City of Obetz, OH
OH
Jordan Vennes
Civil Engineer, City of Bloomington
MN
Joseph Cribb
Assistant Supervisor, Prince William Water
VA
Josh Shrewsbury
Treatment Plant Supervisor, Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District
UT
Kallie Doeden
Civil Engineer – Utilities, City of Bloomington
MN
Katrina Boteler
Environmental Compliance Specialist, City of Norman
OK
Kayla Golliday
Analytical Chemist, Atlantic City Utility Authority
NJ
Kevin Kappers
Principal Engineer, Greater Cincinnati Water Works
OH
Kimberly Brackett
Laboratory Analyst II, WSSC Water
MD
Lidia Duarte
Lead Customer Care Specialist, City of Corona
CA
Lindsay Strole
Senior Project Manager, The Metropolitan District
MA
Marina Shenoda
Principal Engineer, City of Newark, NJ
NJ
Megan Muramatsu
Budget Program Specialist I, Honolulu Board of Water Supply
HI
Misty Smith
Executive Assistant, Immokalee Water & Sewer District
FL
Miyah Bayless
Water Treatment Technical Supervisor, City of Dayton
OH
Nicholas Poff
Senior Plant Operator, City of Bonner Springs
KS
Parag Kalaria
Director of Water Resources, Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District
CA
Stephanie Fu
Senior External Affairs & Sustainability Coordinator, Walnut Valley Water District
CA
Stephanie Vogel
Water Quality Supervisor, San Jose Water Company
CA
Sultan Winn
Management Analyst II, City of Houston
TX
Tamala Bailey
Compliance Specialist, City of Monroe, LA
LA
Trevor Cook
Water Operator/Water Quality, South Fork Water Board
OR
2025
Adib Altallal
Water & Sewer Programs Manager, City of Tukwila
WA
Alex Kostik
Assistant Director, City of Anderson
CA
Andrew King
Senior Planning Engineer, American Water
NJ
Anthony Asbach
Field Manager, Portland Water Bureau
OR
Arturo Ceja
Director of Finance, Mission Springs Water District
CA
Blake Oleson
Director of Tribal Water Works, Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation
CA
Blen Jimma
Principal Materials Engineer, WSSC Water
MD
Brenda Williams
Laboratory Director, Water and Sewer Department, Town of Manchester
CT
Brianna Baxter
Engineering Project Manager, Loudon Utilities
TN
Brook Bourgeois
Engineering Manager, Baton Rouge Water Company
LA
Cashea Weathers
Central Arkansas Water
AR
Cassandra Banting
Manager of Environmental Services, City of Port Colborne
Ontario
Conor Allen
Water Distribution Foreperson, City of Blaine
MN
Corinne Thurlow
Water Treatment Operator IV, City of Barrie
Ontario
Dylan King
Sustainability and Water Conservation Specliast 2, Town of Erie, CO
CO
Elisabeth English
Environmental & Conservation Manager, City of Pflugerville
TX
Erica Walker
Strategic Planning Manager, Greater Cincinnati Water Works
OH
Erick Velazquez
Manager, City of Altamonte Springs
FL
Evita Parks
Management Professional, Great Lakes Water Authority
MI
Gerardo Racioppi
Customer Service Supervisor, Cape Fear Public Utility Authority
NC
Grant Selby
Maintenance Worker 1, City of Johnston, IA
IA
Hannah Swearsky
Planning Engineer, Aquarion Water Company
CT
Jaclyn Langella
GIS Supervisor, Veolia North America
NJ
Jonathan Duhaney
Pollution Control Monitor Supervisor, Watershed Management, City of Atlanta
GA
Joyce Zhu
Asset Management Program Manager, Western Virginia Water Authority
VA
Kaylin Lohman
Human Resources Generalist, WaterOne
KS
Kelly Good
Community Engagement Department Manager, Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District
UT
Lance Ackerman
Senior Water Conservation Specialist, City of Colorado Springs
CO
Larissa Ogora
Engineering Supervisor, Philadelphia Water Department
PA
Laureena Ssali
Program Manager Water Demand Analysis and Programs, York Region
AL
Lizanne Pharand
Technical Services Supervisor, Regional Municipality of Halton
Ontario
Logan Hartle
General Manager and Operator in Responsible Charge, Elbert Creek Water Company
CO
Mackenzie Schultz
Manager of W/WW Tech Services, Oxford County
AK
Madeline Chen
Management Analyst, Central Basin Municipal Water District
CA
Marius Eugenio
Principal Engineer, Sammamish Plateau Water and Sewer District
WA
Matthew Watts
Treatment Planner, Middlesex Water Company
NJ
Melissa Walker
Communications and Outreach Manager, Des Moines Water Works
IA
Natalie Monacelli
Sr. Water Quality Analyst, City and County of Broomfield
CO
Nathan Borjas
Utility Systems Operator, Village of Elk Grove, IL
IL
Nikki Ingram
Project Engineer, City of Tyler
TX
Noelani Leal
Management Analyst, City of Westminster
CO
Olivia Lopatofsky
Project Engineer, Lycoming County Water and Sewer Authority
PA
Parul Baranwal
Assistant Director, City of Ames
IA
Roger Yankton
Water operator, City of Warwick, ND
ND
Sonali Patel
Public Affairs, Detroit Water & Sewerage Department
MI
Stephen Meadows
Customer Service Field Rep III, Central Arkansas Water
AR
Tami Madsen
Executive Director, Central Iowa Water Works
IA
Ty Bereskie
Public Works & Utilities Director, City of Evans
CO
Willie Reed
Water Plant Operator, City of Riviera Beach
FL
Yaolin Fennell
Principle CIvil Engineer, City of Rockville
MD
Christian Lopez
Utility Engineer, City of Newport
RI
2024
Andrew Southern
Engineer 2, Metro Water Services
TN
Angela Sims-Ceja
WTOS, Aurora Water
CO
Ashley Faurote
Program Manager, Fort Wayne City Utilities
IN
Ben Crawford
Superintendent, City of Laconia, NH
NH
Corwin Washington
Sr. Environmental Project Manager, Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans
LA
Dani Morgutia
Senior Programs Manager, California Water Efficiency Partnership
CA
Darren Nowels
Senior Water Efficiency Planner, Northern Water
CO
Eagle Jones
Director of Water Operations, Pechanga Water Department
CA
Jessica Micco
Manager, Greenville Municipal Water Authority
PA
Meghan Post
Education Coordinator, Beaver Water District
AR
Ora Smith
Utility Plant Operator, City of Meridian
MS
Ronald Pena
Chief of Operations, Hillview Reservoir, NYC Department of Environmental Protection
NY
Tiffany Diaz
Regulatory & Conservation Manager, City of Georgetown
TX
Tiffany Mars
Customer Care Specialist, City of Corona
CA
Tonya Howard
Safety Engineer, LADWP
CA
2023
Abbigayle Dyke
Water Regulatory Compliance Coordinator, City of Denton
TX
Adam Steurer
Utilities Director, City of Hendersonville, NC
NC
Alexandra Sitar
Associate Engineer, Union County Water
NC
Ali Polda
Principal Engineer, Water, City of Tacoma
WA
Bethel Abate
Program Manager, DC Water
DC
Brittany Schacht
Deputy Director of Customer Service, Pittsburgh Water
PA
Chelsea Radcliff
Asset Management Project Manager, City of Charlotte, NC
NC
Daniel Klune
Water Treatment Operator, Connecticut Water Company
CT
Daniel Koge
Civil Engineer, Honolulu Board of Water Supply
HI
David Ridgeway
PIRM Manager, Water and Sewerage Department, City of Detroit
MI
Diane Moreau
Manager of Water Operations, City of Barrie
Ontario
Diego Ulibarri
Associate Level Water System Operator, City of Arvada
CO
Dom Bennett
Assistant Director, City of Lee’s Summit
MO
Emily Stahl
Manager, Technical Services, City of Guelph, ON
ON
Esther Baptiste
Management Professional Systems Planning, Great Lakes Water Authority
MI
Gregory Williams
Deputy Operating Officer, Valley Water
CA
Gwen Henry
Operations Performance Coordinator, Toho Water Authority
FL
Jenyffer Vasquez
Principal Water Resources Specialist, Calleguas Municipal Water District
CA
Jillian Croci
Infrastructure Project Manager, Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans
LA
Karyn Rittenhouse
Water Systems Manager, City of West Allis
WI
Kayla Durham
Assistant Superintendent, City of Franklin, TN
TN
Kelly Bourque
Senior Project Engineer, City of Santa Barbara
CA
Kyle Delaney
Reclamation Operator III, City of Corona
CA
Lily Lopez
Director of External Affairs & Sustainability, Walnut Valley Water District
CA
Lisa Pace
Senior Water Conservation Specialist Conservation, City of Colorado Springs
CO
Mark Theiler
Assistant Director of Production Operations and Maintenance, Middlesex Water Company
NJ
Matt Silverman
Environmental Manager, City of Littleton, MA
MA
Melissa Gray
Utility Operations Manager, City of Tulsa
OK
Michelle Bouchard
Community Outreach Supervisor, Prince William County Service Authority
VA
Nathan Hodges
SCADA Administrator, Northern Kentucky Water District
KY
NiChelle White
Public Works Department – Water Division Administrative Technical Specialist, City of El Segundo
CA
Patricia Dennis
CFO, City of Greenville, SC
SC
Philip Mendoza
Finance Manager, City of Lakewood, CO
CO
Poonam Kalkat
Utility Director, City of Boynton Beach
FL
Rainier Garcia
Water Treatment Superintendent, City of Benicia
CA
Sandra Stack
Administrative Manager, City of Cleveland, OH
OH
Sarah Trejo
Water Quality Compliance Coordinator, Aquarion Water Company
CT
Shukwia Tajik
Project Engineer, City of Saskatoon
Saskatchewan
Shunda Boykins
Lead Billing Specialist, Central Arkansas Water
AR
Skylar Reed
Environmental Engineer II, Department of Water & Sewer, City of Newark, NJ
NJ
Tim Johnson
Field Foreman Operations and Maintenance Wednesday, King County Water District No. 90
WA
Tony Searls
Commercial Services Superintendent, Greater Cincinnati Water Works
OH
