Location
Bank of NH Stage

April 15, 2025

8:00 AM – 4:00 PM

$100 for NHWWA Member, $120 for Non-members

Bank of NH Stage, 16 S. Main Street, Concord, NH

5 TCHs 

Plan to join us for a great line-up of presentations.

AGENDA

8:00-8:30 AM Registration

8:30-8:45 AM Intro and Welcome

8:45-9:30 AM Technical Session – Kirsten King (She/Her), NEWWA – The New England Work for Water Collaborative
The New England Work for Water Collaborative has made significant progress over the past year with a governing board and membership structure established. Learn how the collaborative is working toward ensuring a sustainable workforce into the future, next steps it is taking, and how you can participate and reap the benefits.
Kirsten King (She/Her) is the CEO of the New England Water Works Association, Inc. She is a career-long water professional who began her adventures at the Boston Water and Sewer Commission in Massachusetts. From there she worked as a communications specialist for CDM before moving to NEWWA in 2005. Over her 20 years at NEWWA she has developed and taught multiple courses on both public and crisis communications and social media as well as technical courses on lead and sampling. She is a recipient of NEWWA’s Distinguished Public Involvement Award and is a member of all six New England drinking water state associations, NEWEA, and AWWA. She holds a bachelor of science in biology from Westfield State College in Mass., and a master’s in communications from Boston University.

9:30-10:15 AM Technical Session – Sarah Jakositz, PE (She/Her), CDM Smith – Let’s Talk: How Embracing Change Can Transform the Workplace
Change can be intimidating. Cultivating environments where every voice is valued and collaboration thrives is a daunting task. By integrating mentorship programs, companies empower employees to navigate their career paths with guidance and support, fostering a culture of mutual growth. Additionally, a focus on the holistic development of employees as individuals—acknowledging their unique aspirations and talents—leads to heightened engagement, innovation, and satisfaction. Together, these pillars not only enhance organizational success but also create workplaces where people feel inspired, respected, and fulfilled. This presentation explores how embracing these transformative strategies can shape a better future for the water industry.
Sarah Jakositz, PE (She/Her) is currently the Chair of the NHWWA Young Professionals Committee and also sits as a Director on the NHWWA Board of Directors. Sarah is a UNH alum and has been working at CDM Smith as an Environmental Engineer since 2020. A co-creator of this event, Sarah strives to foster collaborative environments, personal growth, and “big brain” thinking in all of the teams she is a part of.

10:15-10:30 AM Break

10:30 AM -12:00 PM Roundtable Discussion

• Jim Malley (He/Him), UNH – Jim is Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of New Hampshire (UNH) and also serves as a private consulting engineer to state, federal, public, and private entities working to resolve societal, economic and environmental challenges. Jim has a BS Degree in Environmental Chemistry from Rutgers University and a second BS Degree in Civil Engineering while receiving his MS and PhD Degrees in Civil/ Environmental Engineering from UMASS/Amherst.  He has more than 40 years of experience in the environmental engineering field working on 200 projects in 12 countries. Jim serves the profession as a peer review editor and with his students has co-authored over 350 publications. Jim has been principal investigator directing about $7M in research funding provided by USEPA, NOAA, WRF, and Industrial sponsors Academy of Environmental Engineering and Science’s Grand Research Prize in 2005. Jim served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Water Quality and Technology Division of AWWA from 2007-2010 and Chairman of the AWWA Technical and Education Council (2013-2017).  Jim received the 2013 UNH Excellence in Public Service Award and the AWWA-NEWWA Fuller Award for Professional Service in 2018.
• Lisa Damiano, PE (She/Her), UNH – Lisa is a lecturer and the Undergraduate Coordinator in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of New Hampshire. She got her B.S. in Environmental Engineering from the University of New Hampshire (UNH) in 2007 and completed her M.S. in Civil Engineering from UNH in 2009. Her research focused on electricity production from landfill leachate using microbial fuel cell technology. Before becoming a lecturer at UNH, Lisa was a Senior Project Manager at Sanborn Head & Associates, Inc. and has over 12 years of experience as an engineering consultant. Lisa specializes in air permitting, landfill related air emissions compliance, greenhouse gas emissions estimates, and solid waste engineering and permitting. She has been involved with multiple landfill gas-to-energy facility, renewable natural gas (RNG), solid waste facility design/operations, stormwater, and civil engineering projects in New England.
• Lauren Moylan (She/Her), Pennichuck Water Works – Lauren is the Learning and Development Manager at Pennichuck Water in Nashua, NH. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Education from Rivier University and a master’s degree in Instructional Design from Capella University. At Pennichuck, Lauren creates eLearning courses and assessments to support onboarding, introduce new programs, and help employees strengthen work-related skills. She develops training plans, facilitates live sessions, organizes professional development opportunities, tracks training through various systems, and collaborates with departments to ensure smooth operations. Lauren recently helped establish the IDEAL Committee at Pennichuck, which fosters an inclusive, equitable, and accessible work environment where every employee feels valued and respected.
• Michele Gillen, MWRA (See below)
• Kevin Desjardins, DN Tanks – Kevin Desjardins (he/him) is a civil engineer and the New England Regional Manager for DN Tanks, based in Wakefield, MA. After graduating from UMass Lowell in 2015, he spent the first few years of his career in commercial and industrial land development in Denver, Colorado before moving back to Massachusetts to become a professional engineer and start working in water resources. Kevin joined DN Tanks in 2021 where he works with utilities and consultants to provide liquid storage solutions across New England. He currently serves as the chair of the Massachusetts Water Works Association’s Emerging Water Professionals Committee and is the outgoing chair of the New England Water Works Association’s University Outreach Committee.

12:00-1:00 PM Lunch (included)

1:00-2:15 PM Technical Session – Nora Sinno (She/Her), Hazen and Sawyer – LCRR: Breaking Down Barriers to Meet Compliance
The implementation of the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) presents significant barriers in ensuring compliance. While the rule itself offers regulatory guidance, successful implementation depends on effective communication and collaboration. This presentation will focus on the strategies used by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) and Hazen & Sawyer to engage with a wide range of audiences to ensure a clear understanding of LCRR compliance requirements. Attendees will gain insights into communication strategies used to aid over 200 utilities with meeting compliance deadlines.
Nora Sinno (She/Her) is currently the Treasurer of the NHWWA Young Professionals Committee and a UNH alum. Nora has been working at Hazen & Sawyer as an environmental engineer since interning during her time at UNH in 2022. Through her professional efforts, Nora continues to explore a variety of project topics from regulatory compliance programs to construction management.

2:15-3:00 PM Technical Session – Dr. Matthew Ferby (He/Him), Postdoctoral Diversity and Innovation Scholar at UNH – Electricity and Water DO Mix: Electrified Water/Wastewater Treatment Systems and Beyond
Conventional water and wastewater treatment systems have proven to be effective at removing common pollutants for decades. However, issues surrounding treatment processes are becoming more urgent due to increasing population, waste production, presence of emerging contaminants, and demand of resources. This presentation will explore how the integration of electrochemical systems into water and wastewater treatment processes may address the anticipated challenges that will come with these issues. Additionally, advanced methods for assessing treatment facilities and technologies will be discussed.
Dr. Matthew Ferby (He/Him) is currently a Postdoctoral Diversity and Innovation Scholar in the Civil and Environmental Engineering department at the University of New Hampshire. His research seeks to answer the question: “Are conventional and advanced technologies robust enough to efficiently treat and recover resources from complex water and wastewater compositions?” Specifically, his projects explore the integration of electrochemistry into treatment processes, data modeling and analytics, and the fate and transport of emerging contaminants.

3:00-3:15 PM Break

3:15-4:00 PM Technical Session – Michele Gillen (She/Her) and Danille Calvo (She/Her), Massachusetts Water Resource Authority (MWRA) – 2024 NEWWA Organizational Diversity Award Recipient – Unity in Action: Bridging Workforce Development, DEI, and Environmental Justice
This workshop explores how integrating workforce development, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) with environmental justice can create equitable and sustainable workplaces. We will discuss how fostering an inclusive workforce can address systemic inequities while advancing a sustainable future.
CO-PRESENTERS
Michele Gillen (She/Her): Prior to her appointment, Ms. Gillen had served as the Deputy Director of Administration and Finance since 2009. She has been with the MWRA since 1993, serving in a number of roles. In her current role, Ms. Gillen is responsible for Human Resources, MIS, Procurement, Occupational Health and Safety, Real Property and Fleet Services. She also serves as the co-chair of the MWRA Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Workgroup and is a member of the MWRA Environmental Justice Task Force. Ms. Gillen holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Fordham University and a Master of Science degree in Public Affairs from the University of Massachusetts, Boston.
Danille Calvo (She/Her): Since 2023, Ms. Calvo has been working with Public Affairs and MWRA staff to implement public awareness programs for MWRA Capital Improvement Projects, focusing on Environmental Justice (EJ) Communities and individuals with limited English proficiency. She also coordinates diversity, equity, inclusion, environmental justice, and accessibility initiatives across MWRA, fostering meaningful community engagement and promoting equity. She also serves as a co-chair of the MWRA Environmental Justice Task Force and is a member of EEA’s EJ Liaison Task Force.

Moderator – Sarah Jakositz (she/her), CDM Smith

REGISTRATION: Complete the form below and pay with a credit card via PayPal (PayPal membership not required) or mail payment to NHWWA, 18 N. Main St., Suite 308, Concord, NH 03301. If you need an invoice, please email info@nhwwa.org.

Questions? Contact info@nhwwa.org

TESTIMONIALS

This has become one of my favorites, not to miss, annual events.  The opportunity this program has provided to me to learn about, and better understand other perspectives has helped me become a better leader, coach, and mentor.  I have always felt energized leaving the event knowing I/we have opportunity to be better.

– John Boisvert, CEO, Pennichuck Water Works

The NHWWA Diversity Symposiums are such a positive experience for all! Diversity has become such a “buzzword” however organizations that simply look at diversity as a trend are missing out on the depth and value that a diverse organization can bring. Diverse organizations are inherently happier, more productive, and more competitive. Concord has taken this to heart throughout all divisions, we are practicing what we are preaching.  

– Marco Philippon, Water Treatment Superintendent at the City of Concord

I am a close-to-retirement white male professional and have never given much thought to the topic of diversity and inclusion until I attended the 2022 and 2023 NHWWA events.  The presenters opened my eyes and helped me understand the issues and obstacles faced by people whose personal life and background are not like my own.  I’m so glad I attended these events!

– David Miller, Deputy Director, Water Treatment & Supply at the City of Manchester

Attending the first two NHWWA Diversity Symposia (2022 and 2023) have provided insights and were very thought provoking for me and my four students who joined me (two each year). These symposia have provided ideas which when applied have allowed me to be a more effective ally and advocate for all of my students and my co-workers. It is clear to me that the time spent has provide excellent return on investment as I have seen a strong response from the students including increased productivity on our projects and passion for our profession as each is current working with firms in NH on water projects.

– Dr. Jim Malley, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of New Hampshire

Registration