Location
Southern NH University Hospitality Center

SAVE-THE-DATE

May 12, 2026

8:00 AM – 4:00 PM

5 TCHs (anticipated)

Southern New Hampshire University,

2500 N River Rd, Manchester, NH

Plan to join us for this annual event presented by our Young Professionals Committee.

AGENDA

8:00-8:30 AM Registration

8:30-8:45 AM Intro and Welcome

8:45-9:30 AM Technical Session – Hussein Dayib (He/Him), Boston Water Sewer Commission (BWSC) – Advancing Diversity and Inclusion at Boston Water and Sewer Commission (BWSC)
BWSC was awarded the NEWWA’s Diversity Award. The award is granted to an individual or organization that has made significant contribution in advancing diversity and inclusion within the water works profession. The presentation will address the accomplishments that resulted in BWSC receiving the award. These achievements include:

• Significant progress in the diversification of the Commission’s workforce
• Increase in the utilization of Minority Owned Business Enterprise (MBE), Women owned Business Enterprise (WBE) and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE)
• The Commission nurtured in the workspace a culture where everyone feels welcome

Hussein Dayib (He/Him) is currently Chief Diversity Officer for BWSC. In this capacity, Mr. Dayib has day-to-day responsibility for the development, coordination and monitoring of the Commission’s Affirmative Action Program to ensure that equal employment opportunity was provided to all persons as well as full participation by Minority, Women owned and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (MBE WBE &DBE) in all Commission contracts. Mr. Dayib also provides Leadership, Personnel Development and Diversity Training to Commission Staff. Prior to being promoted to this position, Mr. Dayib was the Internal Auditor, where he had responsibilities for reviewing all commission books, records, operations to ensure that the Commission’s policies and procedures were being followed. Prior to joining the Commission, Mr. Dayib was an entrepreneur. He also served as an Adjunct Faculty, at Southern New Hampshire University, Manchester, NH. Mr. Dayib holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics and Finance as well as an MBA from Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester, NH. Mr. Dayib is a member of Association for Talent Development (ATD) and holds certifications in Instructional Design, Development, and Delivery.

9:30-10:15 AM Technical Session – Nick Ellis (He/Him), Hazen and Sawyer – Revitalizing a Historic Waterworks Asset: Modern Rehabilitation of the Wachusett Lower Gatehouse
The MWRA’s Wachusett Dam Lower Gatehouse was constructed in the early 1900’s as part of the creation of the Wachusett Reservoir and Aqueduct System. The facility originally conveyed water from the Wachusett Reservoir, through electrical generators and to the Wachusett Aqueduct to supply drinking water to various parts of eastern Massachusetts and also served as a means to release water from the reservoir to the Nashua River. As part of the work that constructed the Carroll Water Treatment Plant, upgrades were completed in the Lower Gatehouse in the early 2000’s to replace aging pipe and valves, and update controls. With the construction and startup of the Wachusett Aqueduct Pump Station in 2018, the Lower Gatehouse was brought back online for the first time in several years. This operation brought several issues with the remaining aged pipe at the gatehouse to light, as well as the MWRA’s ability to control releases to the Nashua River. As part of this completed project, Hazen designed upgrades to the lower gatehouse that included installation of new isolation and control valves, new main and remote SCADA cabinets, and included CFRP lining of the remaining 130 year old cast iron pipes between the base of the dam and the LGH structure. This presentation will focus on the details of the upgrades, as well as the challenges faced working in a facility of this age, size and complexity, and will demonstrate the innovative approach to pipe rehabilitation and flow control completed to bring this historic facility back to full operation.
Nick Ellis (He/Him) is Hazen and Sawyers New Hampshire operations manager, and has 20+ years of experience in the design, construction, startup and operation of water and wastewater treatment and conveyance facilities. He has BS in Civil Engineering from Northeastern University, and is a licensed PE.

10:15-10:30 AM Break

10:30 AM -12:00 PM Activity – Nora Sinno, EIT (She/Her), Hazen and Sawyer – Leadership in Practice: Building the Next Generation of Water Professionals
Leadership in the water industry is not confined to titles or tenure; leadership emerges across roles, generations, and career stages. Leadership in Practice: Building the Next Generation of Water Professionals is an interactive session designed to explore what effective leadership looks like in today’s evolving workforce and how it can be developed, sustained, and supported over time. Participants will leave with shared insights, actionable strategies, and a renewed understanding that leadership development is an ongoing, collective effort. This collective effort is critical to navigating workforce transitions, retaining institutional knowledge, and strengthening the future of the water profession.
Nora Sinno, EIT (She/Her) is an environmental engineer at Hazen & Sawyer and serves as Treasurer of the Young Professionals Committee for the New Hampshire Water Works Association. She joined Hazen & Sawyer in Manchester, NH as an intern in 2022 while completing her undergraduate studies at the University of New Hampshire. Her work includes drinking water treatment design, process evaluation, and construction-phase services. Nora is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering through the Johns Hopkins University. Through her professional and academic efforts, she is particularly interested in advancing resilient drinking water treatment systems.

12:00-1:00 PM Lunch (included)

1:00-1:45 PM Technical Session – Fatima Hanif (She/Her) and Jingyan Huang  (She/Her), UNH – From Statewide Data to Monitoring Priorities: PFAS Risk in New Hampshire Groundwater
Fatima and Jingyan will present recent research on predicting PFAS contamination risk in New Hampshire groundwater, with a focus on how modeling can support more effective monitoring and risk identification. Using statewide PFAS records, the study examines where contamination is most likely across the state, compares cost-conscious sampling approaches, and finds that a geographically balanced strategy can reach similar statewide performance (macro-F1 about 0.7 to 0.75) with far fewer samples (about 5,000 to 5,500 instead of about 17,000 to 17,500), suggesting roughly a 60% reduction in sampling and lab analysis effort. The work also produces 1 km risk maps highlighting higher predicted risk in parts of southern and coastal New Hampshire, explores likely drivers linked to human activity and how PFAS can move through soil and groundwater, and evaluates where predicted risk overlaps with social vulnerability (about 38.7% of residents live in high-risk areas). This presentation will highlight the main findings and discuss how the results can inform more targeted PFAS monitoring, fairer resource allocation, and groundwater management decisions in New Hampshire.
CO-PRESENTERS
Fatima Hanif (She/Her) is a PhD student at the University of New Hampshire studying machine learning and PFAS contamination prediction.
Jingyan Huang  (She/Her) is a postdoctoral research associate at the University of New Hampshire whose research focuses on water emergency preparedness and response.

1:45-2:30 PM Technical Session – Lauren Moylan (She/Her), Pennichuck Water Works – Striving for the IDEAL Workplace: Building a Culture of Belonging
Almost two years ago, Pennichuck Water Works began an initiative to create the IDEAL Committee, focused on Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility, Leading to belonging, to strengthen workplace culture and support workforce development. Attendees will learn how the committee was formed, including the initial vision, steps taken to build organizational support, and how participation was structured across departments. The session will also highlight key challenges encountered along the way, such as gaining buy-in and addressing misconceptions, and the strategies used to overcome them. Finally, the presentation will offer practical recommendations for organizations interested in starting similar initiatives, demonstrating how employee-driven committees can foster belonging, strengthen engagement, and contribute to a more collaborative and resilient workplace culture.
Lauren Moylan (She/Her) 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 leads the company’s learning and development initiatives, designing and facilitating internal training programs, coordinating guest facilitators, and partnering with departments to support employee growth. She also manages internal and external corporate communications, serves as the program administrator for the organization’s learning and performance management systems, and oversees workforce development and career awareness initiatives. Lauren helped establish Pennichuck’s IDEAL Committee and now serves as its Chair, supporting efforts to foster an inclusive, equitable, and accessible workplace where every employee feels valued and respected.

2:30-2:45 PM Break

2:45-3:30 PM Technical Session – Kaylee Molan (She/Her), CDM Smith, and Dave Miller (He/Him), Manchester Water Works – Building Resilience in the Water Industry: A Case Study Conversation
What does resilience really look like in the water industry? This session invites attendees into a candid conversation between a young engineer and a seasoned utility leader (now retired), using a real-world case study of a water source transition in Manchester, NH. Together, they’ll explore the technical, regulatory, and human challenges of designing a new treatment plant on the Merrimack River—and how resilience helped navigate the unknowns. With space for audience reflection and shared stories, this session offers practical tools and a reminder that resilience is a skill we build together.
CO-PRESENTERS
Kaylee Molan (She/Her) is an Environmental Engineer at CDM Smith and currently serves as Secretary of the NHWWA Young Professionals Committee. She is a University of New Hampshire alum, having earned her B.S. in Environmental Engineering in May 2023. Since joining CDM Smith in June 2024, Kaylee has worked on a range of projects involving water and wastewater design, data modeling and analytics, and the fate and transport of emerging contaminants, including PFAS. She enjoys networking and getting involved with fellow water industry professionals.
Dave Miller (He/Him) held the position of Manchester Water Works Deputy Director-Water Supply & Treatment from 2013 to 2025 before retiring in August 2025 after nearly 29 years in Manchester.  As Deputy Director, Dave was responsible for managing daily water supply division operations including fiscal and budgetary issues, construction projects, organizational structure, personnel, waterworks emergencies, and operation and maintenance activities;  Participated in planning and policy development activities to ensure effectiveness, reduce costs, and improve customer service; Managed, directed, and oversaw all aspects of the Water Supply Division including the laboratory, remote pumping stations, remote water supply storage tanks and reservoirs, systems maintenance, and water treatment processes.  Dave remains actively involved in local (NHWWA), regional (NEWWA), and national (AWWA) associations to promote the value of water and provide education and guidance to fellow water professionals and the public.

3:30-3:45 PM Concluding Remarks

Co-Facilitators – Sarah Jakositz, P.E. (She/Her), CDM Smith, and Nora Sinno, EIT (She/Her), Hazen and Sawyer

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