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.
Transformative Water Leadership Academy
A transformative collaboration between WaterNow and AWWA.
TWLA cultivates purpose-driven water leadership by:
TWLA cultivates purpose-driven water leadership by:
- Fostering “Community-First” utilities
- Demonstrating how to build trust
- Providing the skills to be innovative change agents
- Instilling an abiding commitment to a healthy environment
- Building a long-term peer network of Next Gen water leaders
- Providing a clear path to professional advancement
The TWLA Experience
Participants attend:
- 12 virtual sessions (2.5 hours each)
- Two in-person workshops, each lasting three days
- Four virtual small group sessions (1.5 hours each)
Learning experiences will include:
- Lectures and instructor-led discussion
- Small-group discussion and sharing
- A capstone project or activity implementation
- 1-on-1 and peer mentoring
TWLA participants are encouraged to define their personal leadership objectives and turn them into action, honing their ability to lead with purpose.
Lily Lopez
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.”
What is the Future of Water?
Play videoKey TWLA Info
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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
- 3-10 years of full-time work experience, including at least two years of water-related work, preferably at a water utility.
- Supervisory and/or Management Experience. Past experience supervising people in your current professional, volunteer, or community work. Your experience may include management of projects, programs, committees, and contractors.
- Availability to attend all TWLA sessions and events.
- Access to a computer and broadband internet. TWLA includes online sessions and online coursework that require a reliable, robust broadband connection.
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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.
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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:
- Resume with the following information:
- Indicate degrees, or certificates received. (Note: a college degree is not required to participate in TWLA. Online education programs should be included.)
- Work experience. Please include full-time jobs as well as temporary or internship positions. You must demonstrate a minimum of 3 years, but no more than 10 years of full-time work experience, including at least two years doing work related to the water sector.
- Volunteer/community experience. List work you have done on a volunteer basis, either for a nonprofit or community organization or program, or informally.
- Leadership experience. For your current job or volunteer/community work, describe your responsibilities for supervising or leading people. You may also describe other life experiences where you’ve led or supervised others.
- Personal Statement: You’ll be asked to answer several short answer questions to share more about your leadership and why you are applying for the TWLA.
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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
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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!
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150 TWLA
Graduates to date
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128 UTILITIES
Represented
TWLA COHORTS
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2026
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Adam Lynn
Suburban Plant Operations Manager, Lehigh County Authority
PA
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Alannah Irwin
Sustainability & Resiliency Administrator, City of Boynton Beach
FL
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Alex Bonfiglio
Assistant Chief Operator, Veolia North America
NJ
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Alexander Massara
Engineer, City of Fort Collins
CO
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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
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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
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Elizabeth Heiles
Senior Engineer, Central Arkansas Water
AR
-
Ellen Parker
Associated Attorney, WaterOne
KS
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Gwen Oliver
Assistant Administrator, Cleveland Water Division
OH
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Isaac Hayashi
Civil Engineer, Honolulu Board of Water Supply
HI
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Jacqueline Bragayrac
Business Operations Analyst, Prince William Water
VA
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Jannine Rojo
Pr. Public Affairs Representative, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
CA
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Jill Greiner
Water Efficiency Program Coordinator, City of Charlottesville
VA
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Jonathan Torres
Water Operator 2, City of Denton
TX
-
Jordan Doll
Utilities Superintendent, City of Obetz, OH
OH
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Jordan Vennes
Civil Engineer, City of Bloomington
MN
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Joseph Cribb
Assistant Supervisor, Prince William Water
VA
-
Josh Shrewsbury
Treatment Plant Supervisor, Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District
UT
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Kallie Doeden
Civil Engineer – Utilities, City of Bloomington
MN
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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
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Marina Shenoda
Principal Engineer, City of Newark, NJ
NJ
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Megan Muramatsu
Budget Program Specialist I, Honolulu Board of Water Supply
HI
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Misty Smith
Executive Assistant, Immokalee Water & Sewer District
FL
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Miyah Bayless
Water Treatment Technical Supervisor, City of Dayton
OH
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Nicholas Poff
Senior Plant Operator, City of Bonner Springs
KS
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Parag Kalaria
Director of Water Resources, Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District
CA
-
Stephanie Fu
Senior External Affairs & Sustainability Coordinator, Walnut Valley Water District
CA
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Stephanie Vogel
Water Quality Supervisor, San Jose Water Company
CA
-
Sultan Winn
Management Analyst II, City of Houston
TX
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Tamala Bailey
Compliance Specialist, City of Monroe, LA
LA
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Trevor Cook
Water Operator/Water Quality, South Fork Water Board
OR
-
-
2025
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Adib Altallal
Water & Sewer Programs Manager, City of Tukwila
WA
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Alex Kostik
Assistant Director, City of Anderson
CA
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Andrew King
Senior Planning Engineer, American Water
NJ
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Anthony Asbach
Field Manager, Portland Water Bureau
OR
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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
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Cassandra Banting
Manager of Environmental Services, City of Port Colborne
Ontario
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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
-
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2024
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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
-
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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
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Tim Johnson
Field Foreman Operations and Maintenance Wednesday, King County Water District No. 90
WA
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Tony Searls
Commercial Services Superintendent, Greater Cincinnati Water Works
OH
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What are they saying about TWLA?
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