CONNECT. LEARN. LEAD.

The Ohio Young Professionals Summit is designed for:

• Operators and operations staff
• Engineers
• Utility personnel
• Consultants
• Regulators
• Researchers and academics
• Students preparing to enter the profession
• Young professionals and emerging leaders from all corners of the water industry

Whether you work in drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, or a supporting discipline, the Summit is designed to broaden your perspective and help prepare you for future leadership opportunities within the water sector.

Wednesday, November 18 (Up to 2.5 contact hours anticipated)

• 2:00 PM-4:30 PM
  Olentangy Environmental Control Center (OECC) Tour. Go behind the scenes at OECC for an operator-focused look at modern wastewater operations, recent facility upgrades, laboratory operations, SCADA systems, sampling programs, permitting considerations, and environmental stewardship. Capacity is limited and advance registration is required.
• 5:30 PM-7:00 PM
  Welcome Reception | Embassy Suites Dublin. Kick off the Summit with appetizers, beverages, and networking with fellow attendees and water professionals from around the state.

Thursday, November 19 (Up to 6.0 contact hours anticipated)

Theme: Communicating with Impact

• 7:30 AM-8:00 AM
  Registration
• 8:00 AM-8:30 AM
  Opening Remarks & Table Introductions. Meet fellow attendees, learn what to expect throughout the Summit, and begin building connections that will continue throughout the day.
• 8:30 AM-9:15 AM
  Career Path Panel. Young and experienced professionals share career turning points, leadership lessons, challenges, and practical advice for building a meaningful career in the water sector.
• Panelists: Andre Eddy [City of Middletown], Jake Logan [Aqua Ohio], John Bui [City of Springboro], Mary Ann Driscoll [Burgess & Niple]
• Moderator: Tyler York [Black & Veatch]
• 9:15 AM-9:30 AM
  Meeting Break
• 9:30 AM-10:45 AM
  YP Power Hour. A fast-paced series of short presentations from young professionals focused on communication, uncertainty, client needs, utility decision-making, and lessons learned in the field.
  Featured Presentations:
• Allison Yohanan [Black & Veatch] - "I Don't Know, But...": Transforming Uncertainty into Action
• Farboud Khatami [Arcadis] - Adventures in Being Understood (Sometimes)
• Jamie Sturgill [City of Middletown] - Foundation of Communication
• Amanda Gilliland [Brown and Caldwell] - From 200 MGD to One Operator: Bridging Design and Client Needs
• Delaney Ridgley [Raftelis] - Building the Case for a Rate Increase: From Cost-of-Service to Council Approval
• 10:45 AM-11:30 AM
  Hands-On Humanity: Engineers and Operators Without Borders. Explore project experiences from Engineers Without Borders and Operators Without Borders while learning how communication, collaboration, and cultural awareness influence successful outcomes across communities and countries.
• Todd Saums [Operators without Borders], Tom McGrain [Operators without Borders], and Matt Kushuk [Engineers without Borders]
• 11:30 AM-12:30 PM
  Lunch & Water Taste Test. Continue the conversation over lunch.

Theme: Inheriting Aging Infrastructure

• 12:30 PM-2:10 PM
  Infrastructure Challenge: Aging Infrastructure. Begin with a technical overview of the forces shaping infrastructure renewal, then work through realistic wastewater, drinking water, and stormwater infrastructure scenarios from multiple stakeholder perspectives. Teams must balance reliability, compliance, affordability, constructability, environmental protection, and community priorities while navigating changing conditions and unexpected obstacles.
• Technical Lead-In: Jon Bernstein, Chief, Division of Environmental and Financial Assistance [Ohio EPA]
• 2:10 PM-2:25 PM
  Networking Break
• 2:25 PM-4:00 PM
  Water Circuit Challenge. Rotate through six practical, interactive stations featuring water-sector equipment, technology, infrastructure, operations, and safety. Planned activities include stormwater solutions, PLC/HMI controls, pump operations, hydrant demonstrations, hazard identification, and SCADA troubleshooting.
• 4:00 PM-4:30 PM
  Closing Remarks

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