Global Buried Asset Management Congress 2024

Meet Our Thought Leaders

speakers subject to change

Glenn Barnes is the Director of Water Finance Assistance, a training and technical assistance organization dedicated to building the financial and managerial skills of drinking water and wastewater utility employees. He has worked for more than 15 years with utilities of all sizes across the country. Glenn’s work focuses on rate setting, asset management, affordability, increasing bill payments, accessing infrastructure funding, water loss and conservation, and workforce retention. All the work of Water Finance Assistance is rooted in data analysis, allowing utility staff to make informed and objective decisions to improve their sustainability and to serve their communities for years to come. Glenn is based in North Carolina.

Heather Himmelberger, P.E. is a registered professional engineer with over 35 years of experience working with water and wastewater utilities all across the U.S. She has a BS from Penn State University and an MS from Johns Hopkins University both in Environmental Engineering. As Director of the SW EFC, Heather has been a staunch advocate and promoter of asset management practice for over 20 years. She has provided hundreds of asset management trainings and directly assisted systems of all sizes and types with understanding and implementing asset management. She has presented asset management presentations at regional, national, and international conferences. She has created guidance materials and documents

George has 46 years of experience as a government and private engineering consultant focused on improving effectiveness and efficiency in municipal sewer systems. He believes that I/I is the most significant problem facing most operators, but that the true magnitude of the problem is underestimated and has been largely overlooked. He is a specialist in detecting, measuring, and stopping I/I in sewage collection systems. George developed standard methods for measuring effectiveness of rehabilitation using flow monitoring and existing treatment plant data.

Justin Nolan is a project director for the UNC Environmental Finance Center. He has been with the organization for going on two years now doing work on a variety of projects including EPA P2, the 2024 Appalachian Regional Commission study, C2 Technical Assistance for Communities, and providing learning opportunities for water utility staff across the EPA Region 4.

Justin graduated from UNC with his master’s degree in City and Regional Planning and immediately went to work with the Environmental Finance Center. He continues to apply the skills from his origins in the NC education system to the work he does engaging with NC citizens around the state.

Calvin Levy, the Chief Technology Officer at Mahjee, is a visionary leader with an exceptional track record in the realm of digital transformation and technology innovation. Holding a wealth of experience in integrating cutting-edge digital solutions within critical infrastructure sectors, Calvin has played a pivotal role in steering Mahjee's mission to revolutionize the water industry. His career is marked by a relentless pursuit of excellence in harnessing the power of data, real-time monitoring, and predictive analytics to significantly enhance operational efficiency, resilience, and sustainability within the water sector.
At Mahjee, Calvin has spearheaded numerous initiatives that leverage advanced digital technologies to address some of the most pressing challenges faced by the industry today. These challenges include the deterioration of aging infrastructure, the impacts of climate change, and the imperative for decarbonization. Under his leadership, Mahjee is developing and implementing innovative solutions that not only optimize asset performance but also preempt potential failures, thereby ensuring a more adaptive and responsive water management system.
Calvin's approach is deeply rooted in the belief that actionable data and advanced analytics are key to informed decision-making. By fostering a culture of data-driven excellence, he is enabling utilities to conduct thorough evaluations and optimizations of their operations. His work extends to various applications, such as quality monitoring, infrastructure management, and compliance with evolving regulatory standards. This holistic approach not only enhances the operational capabilities of water utilities but also contributes to the overall well-being and safety of communities and the environment.
In addition to his technical prowess, Calvin is known for his forward-thinking vision and strategic mindset. He consistently advocates for the adoption of digital water technologies as a means to create a more sustainable and resilient future. His dedication to leveraging technology for societal benefit, coupled with his ability to inspire and lead teams, makes him a pivotal force in Mahjee's ongoing quest for excellence in water management.
Calvin Levy's contributions to the field of digital water intelligence are a testament to his commitment to innovation and sustainability. As Mahjee's CTO, he continues to drive progress and set new standards for the industry, ensuring that the company remains at the forefront of technological advancements and continues to make significant strides in creating a resilient and adaptive water management system.

Boston started his municipal utility career in 2008 performing construction on sewer systems. He worked construction for a few years before taking a role in 2014 where he focused primarily on geographic information systems and construction inspection. After joining the Goshen team in 2022, he assumed the role as the city’s first Asset Manager in March of 2024. He is currently enrolled at Indiana University – South Bend where he is obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Business with a concentration in Management Information Systems and a minor in Business Analytics where he is set to graduate in 2024.

Adam has a background in water and wastewater operations management, including treatment, distribution and collection systems. He currently holds WT4, DSM, and Wastewater Class II certifications along with having a Loss Audit Validator Adam spent time as a Utility Asset Management Consultant prior to joining the Alliance in August 2023.

Savanna Speciale is an expert at managing commodity origination and cross-trade finance transactions across the supply chain for refined products, crude oil, hydrogen, hydrogen vectors, CCUS, RNG, waste circularity and decarbonization solutions. Savanna has over 13 years of experience in trading, operations, analytics, risk management, structured transactions and origination across energy markets at industry majors. Early career highlights include building supply chain logistics and trading at Motiva, the largest refinery in the United States for jet fuel and later crude oil. More recently, Savanna worked at bp as Director of Low Carbon and Cross-Commodity Origination identified project development and partnership opportunities to acquire assets, originate supply and offtake opportunities, and pilots within hard-to-abate sectors, utilities, and the maritime industry seeking to decarbonize. Savanna is currently the Principal of Carbon Solutions, LLC, where she works to bridge commercial gaps between traditional oil and gas and decarbonization in the evolving energy landscape. Savanna holds a Bachelor of Management in Legal Studies and Finance and Master of Energy Trading and Finance from Tulane University and her career spans roles at ConocoPhillips, Motiva Enterprises, bp and Gasology.

John joined the WV Regional Planning and Development Councils in Oct. 2013 after spending 27 yrs as a Consultant Engineer, primarily in the water and wastewater infrastructure sector. He is a licensed PE in WV,OH, and VA. Virtually all of his prior years as a consultant were spent working closely with State and local government entities to improve the infrastructure needed to support the health and well being of the citizenry in West Virginia and surrounding States. He has experienced the creation and evolution of existing State and Federal funding programs over the years and developed the relationships with those agencies necessary to facilitate successful infrastructure improvements of all types. John has been a key player with GIS corporate decision-making process in both Public and Private Sector scenarios for over 20 yrs. His focus has been to research and develop ways to improve basic utility and government operations with the efficiencies and cost effectiveness that GIS means and methods bring to bear.John manages a superb staff of project administration personnel at Region 4 as well as co-manage the Fayette Raleigh Metropolitan Planning Organization.John is very proud to be a lifelong West Virginian. He has a wonderful wife, Romona, three grown and very successful children, and five grandchildren he adores.

Mr. Zoeller plays a key role in building partnerships at local, state, national, and international levels. He has served as Chairman of the World Trade Center Indianapolis since 2017, where he connects Indiana leaders with the World Trade Centers Association. Previously, he was the Attorney General of Indiana from 2009 to 2017.Greg's background includes working in the U.S. Senate and White House with Senator and then Vice President Dan Quayle. He has over a decade of experience in private practice, providing legal and strategic counsel to national and international companies, and leading World Trade Center initiatives. Greg earned his law degree from Indiana University Maurer School of Law and has been an adjunct professor at I.U. McKinney School of Law.