Though we're not gathering in person this year, the Pumps & Systems team is looking forward to the great lineup of speakers for WEFTEC Connect. Here are five of the can't-miss speakers you need to put on your schedule:
1. René Rodriguez
René Rodriguez is leading the opening general session for WEFTEC Connect. Rodriguez is a keynote speaker and CEO of Volentum. Rodriguez applies behavioral neuroscience and psychology to his philosophies on leadership and business strategy. He’s advised leadership teams at 3M, Microsoft, Coca-Cola and more.
Opening General Session
October 5 at 11 a.m. EST
2. Andrew Wheeler
The administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Andrew Wheeler is leading a keynote address on the EPA's priorities for the water sector. Wheeler began his career in the EPA Pollution Prevention and Toxics office, and he was the principal and team leader of the Energy and Environment Practice Group at FaegreBD Consulting.
Keynote Address by U.S. EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler
October 5 at 2:30 p.m. EST
3. Anna Maria Chávez
Anna Maria Chávez is leading a keynote session on Oct. 7 on workforce development and diversity. Chavez was the first woman of color to lead the Girl Scouts of the USA, and she was chosen as one of Fortune Magazine’s World’s 50 Greatest Leaders. Chavez is currently the executive vice president and chief growth officer for the National Council on Aging (NCOA). Throughout her career, she has helped leaders build a more inclusive workplace and create lasting change within their organizations.
W.O.W.: Workforce on Wednesday
October 7 at 3:00 p.m. EST
4. Per Henrik Nielsen
The 2020 WEFTEC Master Lecturer is Per Henrik Neilsen. Neilsen is the project director for VandCenter Syd (VCS), the oldest and one of the largest water utilities in Denmark. WEF and the Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors (AEESP) selected Nielsen for his contributions to the water sector. He will be speaking on water sector trends and the learnings from his many years in the industry. His presentation for WEFTEC Connect is titled "A Utility's Journey in the Development and Implementation of Innovation Programs in Alignment with UN SDGs."
Master Lecture: Per Henrik Nielsen
October 5 at 3:30 p.m. EST
5. Francis De Los Reyes & Dan Gerrity
We couldn't separate the last two speakers on the list. COVID-19 will of course be a big topic at this year's WEFTEC, and these two presenters have been making strides in identifying the coronavirus in wastewater to help researchers and communities across the country. Professor Francis De Los Reyes is an award-winning professor of civil, construction and environmental engineering at North Carolina State University. He is a TED fellow, and his talk on sanitation has more than 750,000 views. De Los Reyes will speak on an NSF funded project that works to monitor wastewater for the SARS-CoV-2 virus in four U.S. cities. Dan Gerrity is a principal research scientist at the Southern Nevada Water Authority and is on the board of trustees for WateReuse Nevada. Gerrity has a doctorate in civil and environmental engineering from Arizona State University. Gerrity is currently working on a research project to indicate the level of the coronavirus present in a community and provide an early warning system.
Fate of COVID-19 in Water and Wastewater Systems and Implications
October 6 at 11:00 a.m. EST