Subject Matter Experts
Please contact Matt Williams, CMUA Communications Director, at [email protected] to request an interview with an expert listed below.
Daniel (Dan) Beans
CEO/Director
Roseville Electric Utility
Key Subject Areas:
Wildfire Mitigation and Recovery
State and Federal Energy Policy
Electrification “Realities”
Cybersecurity
Supply Chain & Threats to Infrastructure Investment
Affordability
Utility Operations
Electrical Engineering
Clifford Chan
General Manager
East Bay Municipal District (EBMUD)
Key Subject Areas:
Water Supply Reliability and Affordability (+Adapting to Climate Change)
Environmental Stewardship & Balancing Needs
Achieving Carbon Neutrality / Public Agency Electrification
Aging Water Infrastructure / Infrastructure Investment
Wildfire Resilience
Water Policy and Regulation
Workforce Development
Intersection of Water and Energy/Electricity
Benefits from Publicly Owned Utilities
Paul Cook
General Manager
Irvine Water District
Key Subject Areas:
Balancing Water Rates with Needs
Drought Planning and Response
Energy’s Vital Role in Water Reliability
Fighting Wildfires: Realities of the Water System
Infrastructure Financing
Urban Runoff – Risks and Mitigation
Water “Banking,” Conservation, and Efficiency
Wastewater Treatment and Recycling
Workforce Development
Shivaji Deshmukh
General Manager-Designate
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
Key Subject Areas:
Climate Adaptation
Desalination
Groundwater Management and Wastewater Operations
Recycled Water / Potable Reuse
Biosolids Optimization
Workforce Development
Nick Dominguez
General Manager
Lassen Municipal Utility District
Key Subject Areas:
Balancing Affordability with Regulations
Cybersecurity Threats & Mitigation in Rural Areas
Energy Markets – How They Work
Net Metering
Renewables and Grid Integration
Wildfire Mitigation, Risk and Liability
Andrew Fecko
General Manager
Placer County Water Agency
Key Subject Areas:
Affordability & Water/Energy Reliability
Affordability & Environmental Sustainability
Bay/Delta Watershed Planning
California’s Energy Market
Forestry/Watershed Connection To Water Supplies
Hydroelectric Energy Generation
Public Funding for Small Water Systems
River System Health & Species Recovery
Safe Drinking Water
Water Supply Infrastructure Needs for Growing Communities
Wildfire Mitigation and Management
Miguel Guerrero
General Manager
San Bernardino Municipal Water Department
Key Subject Areas:
Artificial Intelligence & Cybersecurity
Drought Resilience & “Generational” Water Reliability
Emerging Chemicals & Water Quality
Infrastructure Investment, Design & Construction
Public Education
Wastewater Water Reclamation & Reuse
Wildfire Response & Recovery
Jason Martin
General Manager
Rancho Water
Key Subject Areas:
Agriculture/Urban Water Use Balance
Cybersecurity
Leadership Development
Regulatory Issues & Challenges (Affordability)
Water Use Efficiency & Innovation
Craig Miller
General Manager
Western Municipal Water District
Key Subject Areas:
Benefits of Publicly-owned Water Utilities
California Water Plan (SB 72)
Infrastructure Needs as Population Grows
Regional Water Agency Cooperation
Safe/Reliable Water Supply
Water and California’s Economy (State and Local)
Water Recycling
Water Supply/Diversity
Joe Mouawad
General Manager
Eastern Municipal Water District
Key Subject Areas:
Climate Change Impacts on Water Supply / Sustainability
Conservation / Public Education
Desalinization
Disaster Response
Public Financing
Modernizing the Water System / Infrastructure
Water “Banking”
Water Recycling/Reuse & Supply Diversity
Rachel Murphy
General Manager
Contra Costa Water District
Key Subject Areas:
Design, Construction, Operations, and Maintenance of Water Systems
Project and Program Management regarding water district initiatives
Regional and Local Partnerships
Water Education and Policy
Janisse Quiñones
CEO and Chief Engineer
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
Key Subject Areas:
Artificial Intelligence & Utilities
Critical Infrastructure
Cybersecurity Threats and Mitigation
Electrification(+Equity & Affordability)
Emergency Management
Wildfire Mitigation
Workforce Development
Jim Shetler
General Manager and CEO
Balancing Authority of Northern California
Key Subject Areas:
Energy Reliability – Ensuring Energy Loads are Being Properly Supplied
Contractor and Vendor Management
Federal Standards and Compliance
Market Engagement and Monitoring Real-Time Energy Flow
Regional Collaboration on Energy Priorities
Diana Tang
Assistant General Manager
Long Beach Utilities
Key Subject Areas:
Incident Command and Emergency Response
Urban Energy Reliability
Infrastructure Financing / Public-Private Partnerships
Workforce Development
Local, State, and Federal Public Policy, Legislation and Regulation
CMUA Staff
Danielle Blacet
Executive Director
California Municipal Utilities Association (CMUA)
Key Subject Areas:
Achieving California’s Climate Change Goals
Affordability of Water and Power
California Water & Energy Policy/Implications
Water and Energy Resiliency (Capture, Storage, Conveyance)
Weather Extremes
Wildfire Liability for Utilities
Utility Infrastructure – Aging & Investment
Andrea Abergel
Director of Water
California Municipal Utilities Association (CMUA)
Key Subject Areas:
Water Affordability & Reliability
Climate Resiliency – Flooding and Drought
Diversifying California’s Water Supply Portfolio
Infrastructure – Aging Systems, Dam Safety & New Tech
Wastewater & Public Health
Water Quality / Chemicals of Concern
Water Rights
Water’s Role in California’s Energy Future
Derek Dolfie
Director of Energy
California Municipal Utilities Association (CMUA)
Key Subject Areas:
Balancing Climate Goals with Energy Rates
Cap and Trade (Cap and Invest)
Creating a Western Region Energy Grid
Energy Affordability, Reliability & Resilience
Future Energy Policy – Strategies
Local Government
Public vs. Investor-Owned Energy
Wildfire Liability & Mitigation