Seventh EWT Symposium keynoters announced
Dr. Richard Thorsten, Chief Impact Officer for Water.org and Robert Puente, President and CEO of the San Antonio Water System, will deliver the keynote addresses at the seventh Emerging Water Technology Symposium (EWTS), scheduled for May 10-11 in San Antonio, TX. Thorsten oversees collaboration and innovation across the Global Impact department to generate a credible evidence 
base to advance insights, influence action and contribute to thought leadership. Puente was appointed San Antonio Water System’s president and CEO in May 2008. As Chief Executive of one of the nation’s largest utilities, he provides leadership in delivering water and wastewater services to more than 1.7 million consumers, developing new water resources, continuing infrastructure upgrades throughout the community, and building regional partnerships.
Calkins certification announced
NGWA VP of Finance Becca Calkins, CPA, recently earned the Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation from the American Society of Association Executives. ASAE states the CAE designation is the marker of a committed association professional who has demonstrated the wide range of knowledge essential to manage an association in today’s challenging environment. Calkins joined NGWA in December 2019. Prior, she was the CFO of the Ohio Insurance Agents Association for nearly 10 years. She earned her CPA in 2011. Calkins’ recently earned designation gives NGWA three CAEs on its staff. NGWA CEO Terry S. Morse earned the designation in 2019 and David Evener, NGWA’s VP of Operations, earned it in 2014.
Hansen Elected to AWE Board of Directors
Dain Hansen, IAPMO’s Executive VP of Government Relations, has been elected to the Alliance for Water Efficiency’s (AWE) Board of Directors. He will serve a three-year term with North America’s leading non-profit dedicated to the efficient and sustainable use of water. A four-time winner of the US EPA’s Water Excellence Award for Strategic Collaboration (2012, 2017-19), AWE’s network of members includes more than 500 stakeholders representing manufacturers, water and wastewater utilities, government agencies, water conservation professionals, planners and consumers working together to ensure communities, businesses and ecosystems have the water they need to thrive.
Watson named IAPMO VP
IAPMO announced that John Watson has joined the organization as VP of Industry Relations and Business Development. He has more than 30 years of plumbing industry experience in product development and compliance management. Prior to joining IAPMO, Watson was the Senior Manager of Compliance & Sustainability for Elkay Manufacturing. Before that he was the Director of Water Efficiency & Technical Services for Sloan Valve. Watson also held several positions at Chicago Faucet, where he started in engineering and completed his tenure in operations. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in business administration and management from Elmhurst University and an Associate of Applied Science degree in engineering design/drafting from Triton College. Watson is involved in multiple professional volunteer associations, serving on the ASME A112 Main Committee, the ASME/CSA Joint Harmonization Task Group (JHTG) for plumbing products and several ASME working groups. He is a member at large of the KCMA A161.1 Standards Committee, a past board member of Plumbing Manufacturers International (PMI) and also served on several Water Quality Association (WQA) committees when he was active in the WQA.
Two earn NGWA certification
NGWA announced that Kevin Uffmann and Mike Pedersen have successfully completed NGWA’s certification examination and met the other requirements leading to the status of Certified Well Driller (CWD). Since February 1988, Uffmann has been a field supervisor for Layne Christensen, a Granite Company. Pedersen is Senior Driller for Inberg-Miller Engineers.
Zurbuchen to be ACE22 Keynote speaker
The American Water Works Association announced that Dr. Thomas Zurbuchen, NASA’s Associate Administrator of Science, will be the Opening General Session Keynote speaker at ACE22 in June. Dr. Zurbuchen is responsible for NASA’s Science program, helping to answer some of humanity’s biggest questions. He will share his perspectives on water as a vital resource – whether on this planet or elsewhere.