DETAILS
Dates: September 28-29, 2023
Location: Badger Meter’s US Headquarters,
4545 W. Brown Deer Rd. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Organiser: SWAN Americas Alliance
Sponsor: Badger Meter
Accommodation: View recommended hotels
*We recommend staying in downtown Milwaukee for close proximity to happy hour venue and morning study tour. *Buses to and from Workshop venue will be provided.
PROGRAM
Theme: “Rising Above the Noise”
The first day will feature a full-day Workshop with a keynote, insightful panels, interactive roundtable discussions, and a networking happy hour. The second day will feature an organized morning study tour of Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, followed by a tour of their Jones Island WRF, and ending with a Q&A session.
September 28th: Bus transportation will be provided between Cambria Hotel Milwaukee Downtown (503 N Plankinton Ave, Milwaukee, WI) and event venue at Badger Meter, and will bring all attendees to the networking happy hour at the Global Water Center (247 W Freshwater Way, Milwaukee) upon Workshop conclusion.
September 29th: Bus transportation will be provided from MMSD Corporate Office (260 West Seeboth, Milwaukee) to Jones Island WRF, with drop-off at Cambria Hotel Milwaukee Downtown (503 N Plankinton Ave, Milwaukee) at ~noon ET.
4th SWAN Americas Alliance Workshop Agenda
“Rising Above the Noise”
September 28, 2023 (Day 1) – Workshop Day
*All times in Central Time
7:45–8:15 AM Bus travel from Cambria Hotel Milwaukee Downtown to Badger Meter venue (*Buses leave at 7:45 am sharp)
8:15–9:00 AM Registration Check-In, Coffee & Pastries
9:00–9:05 AM Workshop Welcome
- Shirley Ben-Dak, Senior Advisor (SWAN Forum)
9:05–9:15 AM Opening Remarks & Setting the Smart Water Agenda
- Ken Bockhorst, CEO (Badger Meter)
9:15–9:30 AM Keynote Presentation on “People Before Tech: Making Meaningful Connections”
- Steven Solano, EOS Implementer® (EOS Worldwide)
9:30–10:30 AM Panel 1: “Getting Comfortable Being Uncomfortable: The Foundations of a Smart Water Journey”
Moderator: Jennifer M. Morales, P.E., PWKs Asset Manager General Services Division (City of Omaha Public Works, NE)
- Matt Magruder, Environmental Research Manager (MMSD)
- Tanya Dady, Smart Water Strategy Manager (SES Water, UK)
- Melinda Tam, Digital Water Growth Leader and National Automation Practice Lead (Tetra Tech) feat. Louisville MSD case study
- Chris Sosnowski, CEO & Co-Founder (Waterly) feat. Village of Mukwonago, WI case study
10:30–11:00 AM Coffee and Networking Break
11:00–12:00 PM Panel 2: “From Cloud to Proud: Making Data Work For You”
Moderator: Celia Gould, Consultant (EMA Inc.)
- Javad Roostaei, PhD, Director of Data Science (Hazen & Sawyer)
- Leon Downing, Global Practice and Technology Leader – Nutrient Removal & Recovery (Black & Veatch) feat. Fond du Lac Wastewater Treatment and Resource Recovery Facility case study
- Matt Rolls, VP Business Development (Specific Energy)
- Maria Wünsch de Alvarenga, Business Developer Lead – Americas (Royal HaskoningDHV) feat. Water Authority Vallei en Veluwe case study
12:00–1:00 Lunch Sponsored by Badger Meter
1:10–2:00 PM Interactive Roundtable Session
“Embracing Innovation through Expanded Data Capabilities“ Led by Erin Sandos, PE, Engineer II (South Platte Renew, CO) & Alan Tucker, Technology Planning Lead (Brown & Caldwell)
“Smart One Water: How to Drive Integrated Innovation?” Led by Chantelle Kuchma, Senior Manager, Situational Awareness (EPCOR Water Services, CA)
“Is the pressure getting to you? Smart ways you’re managing pressure in the network” Led by Matt Stephenson, Director Software Marketing (Badger Meter)
“GIS Journey Towards a Smarter Collection System” Led by Isaac T. Crabtree, PE, Assistant Director of Operations & Maintenance (Johnson County Wastewater, KS)
“From ‘Hardware’ to ‘Softcare’: Initial Steps to Embedding Digital Tools Across CIPs” Led by Rick Niederstadt, Capital Program Support Manager (Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District – MMSD)
“Incremental Change or Rapid Evolution: What is going to take smart water to the next level?” Led by Richard Hake, Innovation Leader (Stantec)
2:00–2:20 PM Roundtable Rapid Fire Recap
2:20–3:20 PM Panel 3: “No Fluff Zone: When Technologies Reduce Risk To Create Impact”
Moderator: Jennifer Suttles, Division Director, Water and Sewer Technical Services (Gwinnett County, GA) & SWAN Americas Research Lead
- Joe Shuttleworth, Digital Market Lead – Water (Arup)
- Sandae Tait, Assistant Program Manager (DC Water) feat. Syrinix case study
- Sabrina Dodos, Engineer II Department of Utility Services (City of Henderson, NV) feat. Asterra case study
- Mason Throneberg, CEO (Confluency) feat. MSDGC case study
3:20–3:50 PM Coffee and Networking Break
3:50–4:00 PM SWAN Americas Update
- Mirana Rideout, SWAN Americas Manager
- Jennifer Suttles, Division Director, Water and Sewer Technical Services (Gwinnett County) & SWAN Americas Research Lead
4:00–4:50 PM Panel 4: “Magic Wand – What’s Needed Across People, Processes & Technologies?”
Moderator: Delph Mak, Vice President of Digital Solutions (Gradiant)
- Eric Bindler, Senior Research Director (Bluefield Research)
- Jennifer M. Morales, P.E., PWKs Asset Manager General Services Division (City of Omaha Public Works, NE)
- Anne-li Steutel-Maron, Marketing Strategist (Kando) feat. El Paso Water case study
4:50–5:00 PM Workshop Summary
Shirley Ben-Dak, Senior Advisor (SWAN Forum)
5:45–7:00 PM Drinks Reception at the Global Water Center (In partnership with The Water Council & Badger Meter)
September 29, 2023 (Day 2) – MMSD Study Tour
The study tour availability will be based on a first come, first-served basis. Pre-registration is required.
9:00–12:00 PM Metro Milwaukee Sewerage District Site Tour
- MMSD Commission Room for Presentations on their Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) Building Information Model (BIM) and Wet Weather Flow Management System/Strategy (*Independent arrival) – feat. Emily Champagne, Geospatial Solutions Supervisor & Pat Obenauf, Manager of Contract Compliance
- Bus Travel to Jones Island for Bus Tour
- Q&A at Jones Island
- Return to Cambria Hotel Milwaukee Downtown
Thank You to Our Hosts!
