General Manager - Harris-Galveston Subsidence District
Mike Turco leads a community-focused team that supports the District’s mission of preventing further subsidence through groundwater regulation and award-winning water conservation programs, protecting lives and property within Harris and Galveston counties. He obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Geology and a Master of Science in Geology (Hydrogeology Focus) from the University of Nebraska. His career in water resources and groundwater data collection spans over 30 years, beginning with the U.S. Geological Survey, where he worked on numerous surface water, groundwater data collection, and research projects. In 2013, Mr. Turco became the General Manager of the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District, with the goal of supporting the region’s growth by protecting groundwater resources through reasonable and effective regulation backed by the best available science. He is involved in several influential water groups, including the Region H planning group, the Region 6 Flood Planning Group, and the Texas Water Association.

Harris County Commissioner - Precinct 3
Commissioner Tom Ramsey holds over 45 years of experience as a Professional Engineer. He served as the Mayor of Spring Valley Village for 8 years and is now on his second term as County Commissioner for Precinct 3. As County Commissioner, he’s responsible for 75% of unincorporated Harris County, which has more residents than the City of Houston. His office is responsible for the maintenance of 6,800 miles of roads, 72 parks, and 10 Community and Nature Centers. In 2023, he was named Engineer of the Year by Houston area engineering societies and received the Distinguished Graduate Award from Zachry Department of Civil and Environment Engineering at Texas A&M University. He was also named the 2024 Public Official of the Year by ASCE National.

Project Director - Black & Veatch
Chris Munson, P.E., is responsible for leading Black & Veatch’s water team in Houston. He has over 25 years of experience in the evaluation and design of water and wastewater treatment facilities and is well-versed in managing large, multi-disciplinary project teams to successfully execute complicated water and wastewater projects throughout both design and construction. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering in 1997 and a Master’s Degree in Environmental Engineering in 1998, both from Penn State, and is a registered Professional Engineer in Texas and Louisiana.

District Engineer - Gulf Coast Water Authority
As the District Engineer at the Gulf Coast Water Authority, Robert D. Upton, P.E., oversees Engineering, Development Plan Review, and the Capital Improvement Program. Before GCWA, as the Director of Engineering and Public Works for the City of Pearland, he guided the Engineering, Capital Projects, Water and Wastewater Utility Services, and Internal Services Divisions. His experience includes water and wastewater design and construction, alternative contract procurement, project management, policy development, and implementation. He received a Civil Engineering degree from Northern Arizona University in 1996 and is a registered Professional Engineer in Texas and Arizona.

Water Conservation Program Coordinator - Harris-Galveston Subsidence District
Denise earned her Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from St. Mary’s University and her Master of Arts in Education from Relay Graduate School of Education. She began her career as a high school Biology and AP Environmental Science teacher. Wanting to make a bigger impact in conservation and environmental sustainability, Denise joined the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District in 2023, where she supports the District's award-winning water conservation programs.

Chief Operating Officer - City of Corpus Christi
Drew Molly obtained his Civil Engineering degree from Texas A&M University and is a licensed engineer in the state of Texas who maintains a Class A water license and Class D wastewater operations license. Drew has dedicated his career to ensuring safe and sustainable water resources which has earned him the American Water Works Association’s George Warren Fuller Award and Engineering News-Record’s Top 25 Newsmaker.

Project Manager - BGE | North Fort Bend Water Authority
Julia has over a decade of engineering experience encompassing a variety of projects from planning to design. Her primary focus is water planning for North Fort Bend Water Authority with an emphasis on reducing groundwater consumption through surface water delivery and promotion of reclaimed water use and water conservation to the northern Fort Bend County area.

Project Manager - BGE | North Fort Bend Water Authority
Whitney primarily serves as the conservation and communications manager for the Authority. Her quest for over two decades has been to help educate the industry and community about actual plant water needs versus common perception. She also serves as the State’s Landscape, Irrigation, and Horticultural representative for the Texas Water Development Board’s Water Conservation Advisory Council.

CEO & Principal Scientist - Simfero
Matthew Berg is the CEO & Principal Scientist of Simfero, a science-based research and strategy firm located in Houston. He has over 20 years of experience working on numerous water resources issues in agency, academic, and private sectors. Dr. Berg enjoys leading conversations with elected officials and also teaching bilingual kindergarten classes how to dance out the hydrologic cycle. In addition to several national awards, he has been named to Houston Business Journal's 40 Under 40.

Attorney - Johnson Petrov LLP
Zachary Petrov practices water law and has been involved in water issues for over a decade. As a law student, Zach worked for the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation working on a variety of environmental legislation. He received his undergraduate degree in financial consulting from Sothern Methodist University and juris doctorate from the University of Tennessee College of Law. After graduating from law school, he moved back to Houston and regularly provides counsel to local governments throughout the State of Texas on water issues and funding of water infrastructure.

Program Manager - US Water Alliance
Sarah Gossett Robinson is a Program Manager at the US Water Alliance, a national nonprofit organization advancing policies and programs that build a sustainable water future for all. Sarah has a decade of experience working in water management. Prior to joining the Alliance, Sarah worked at Houston Water, where she developed and provided community programs aimed at improving Houston’s water infrastructure and resiliency. She also worked at Galveston Bay Foundation, serving as the Water Programs Manager. Sarah graduated with a master’s in natural resource management and a BS in environmental geosciences, both from Texas A&M University. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, reading, hiking, and any activity that is on or near a body of water.

President & General Counsel - Galveston Bay Foundation
Bob Stokes is President and General Counsel of the Galveston Bay Foundation in Kemah, Texas. He has served in that role since June, 2004. Bob had served on the board of the Foundation for five years prior to taking over as President and had served as the board’s chair for the previous two years. Prior to that, Bob practiced law for 10 years, most recently in the Environmental Division of the Harris County Attorney’s Office. Bob is a 1990 graduate of Yale University and a 1994 graduate of the University of Texas School of Law.

Director of the Texas Coast and Water Program - National Wildlife Federation
Jennifer Walker is the Director of the Texas Coast and Water Program at National Wildlife Federation. She focuses on water policy with an emphasis on water planning, infrastructure funding, and urban water management. She has helped develop and inform strategic action by utilizing scientific and technical expertise, engaging stakeholders, and approaching resource management challenges with a solutions- oriented perspective. In 2021, she was appointed by the Texas Water Development Board to represent Environmental Interests on the Texas Water Conservation Advisory Council and she serves as Chair of Austin’s Water Forward Task Force. Jennifer has a BS in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology from the University of Texas at Austin.

Water Resource Manager - City of Sugar Land
Margo graduated from Texas Tech University in May 2020 with a B.S. in Geosciences. Navigating the workforce during the pandemic presented unique challenges, but through her work with FEMA and the private sector, she developed the skills and resilience needed to thrive. Today, she serves as the Water Resources Manager for the City of Sugar Land, where she helps oversee the city’s diverse water supplies. This includes managing the Groundwater Reduction Plan through groundwater wells, surface water, and reclaimed water systems. Additionally, Margo manage initiatives to promote water conservation, ensuring the sustainable use of our resources for future generations.

Extension Program Specialist II Landscape Irrigation - Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service
Charles Swanson is a TCEQ Licensed Landscape Irrigator and conducts training programs to support the Irrigation Industry. Based at Texas A&M University in the Biological & Agricultural Engineering Department, Charles coordinates the Texas A&M School of Irrigation and manages the daily operation of the Texas Evapotranspiration Network and the WaterMyYard Programs. He also manages the Smart Irrigation Laboratory where he performs testing and evaluation of smart irrigation controllers, soil moisture sensors and irrigation sprinklers.

Senior Staff Analyst - City of Houston | Houston Public Works
Tanzeem Chowdhury is a Senior Staff Analyst at the City of Houston. He started his career as a Civil Engineer in the Energy sector and worked in 4 different states. He was an engineer and a construction project manager prior to his current role. He started working for Houston Public Work’s Stormwater team right after Hurricane Harvey and took part in the rebuild effort. Tanzeem is a proud graduate of University of Houston.

Project Manager  - Halff, Inc.
Rachel has worked on a range of multi-disciplinary civil engineering projects for both public and private clients. She specializes in water resource engineering, post-construction stormwater management, water quality best management practices (BMPs), low-impact design, and hydraulic/hydrologic modeling and design. Rachel’s roles have included project management, designing site plan layouts and performing stormwater facility design, applying modeling software, compiling permit applications and engineering design for clients ranging from private companies to state, county and local agencies.