Recognizing the Next Generation of Water Leaders

On June 22, following the first day of AWWA’s Annual Conference and Exposition (ACE), we gathered at the Marriott Marquis to recognize recognize five outstanding Emerging Leaders whose work is helping shape the future of the water sector.

The evening featured an inspiring keynote from George Hawkins, CEO of Moonshot Missions and former General Manager of DC Water, who reflected on his experience as former General Manager of DC Water, the expanding role of water utilities as community partners, and the importance of leadership in creating transparent, forward-looking institutions.

One of the highlights of the evening was hearing directly from this year’s award recipients. Through short videos and heartfelt acceptance remarks, each Emerging Leader shared the work, partnerships, and personal experiences that have shaped their leadership journey. Their stories reflected the breadth of innovation happening across the water sector, from building community trust and advancing water affordability to strengthening the workforce and implementing innovative green infrastructure.

The following day, Emerging Leaders and water professionals from across the country gathered for WaterNow’s Emerging Leader Convening, an interactive workshop focused on building practical skills and lasting professional connections. The convening builds on the Emerging Leader Awards by creating opportunities for continued learning, peer exchange, and leadership development beyond the recognition itself.

This year’s convening centered on building trust-based relationships with internal and external stakeholders to build support for innovative water solutions. Through a panel discussion, facilitated conversations, and interactive exercises, participants explored strategies for building cross-departmental support, engaging communities, and fostering leadership support for sustainable water management. The workshop also provided ample opportunity for participants to connect with peers facing similar challenges at utilities across the country.

We are grateful to our panelists, Bre Plier (Director of Integrated Watershed Management, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District) and Jennyfer Vasquez (Principal Water Resources Specialist, Calleguas Municipal Water District), both past WaterNow Emerging Leader Award recipients, and our moderator, Mike Kasperzak (former Mayor and Councilmember, City of Mountain View, California), for generously sharing their experiences and insights. Their candid reflections sparked thoughtful conversations and practical ideas that participants can take back to their own organizations.

While the awards ceremony and convening have concluded, this year’s Emerging Leader cohort is just getting started. Over the coming months, award recipients and members of the Emerging Leader Network will continue connecting through peer learning sessions, sharing successes and challenges from their utilities, and supporting one another as they grow in their careers. We are excited to continue working with this year’s cohort and look forward to seeing the impact they will make in communities across the country.

Thank you to everyone who joined us in Washington D.C. to celebrate this year’s Emerging Leaders. We can’t wait to see what this remarkable group accomplishes next.