Join Brown and Caldwell at the 2026 Utility Management Conference, where industry experts present best practices and innovative approaches to help utilities meet the future of water for our communities and the environment. Whether your organization wants to leverage risk proactively and advantageously, implement technology to improve long-term O&M and asset management outcomes, or increase emergency readiness in preparation for an uncertain future, our expert sessions will help you to make the most of what you have while sharing how utilities are becoming more resilient for tomorrow.
Tuesday, March 24
1:30 – 5:00 PM
Workshop F: From Siloes to Strategy: Advancing Holistic Enterprise Risk Management for Water Utilities
Meet fellow utility leaders at our pre-conference workshop and rethink risk – not as a compliance exercise, but as a strategic discipline that moves beyond siloed risk management and toward an integrated, enterprise-wide approach that strengthens creditworthiness, insurability and public trust. Through hands-on exercises, peer discussion, and realistic scenarios, participants will explore how financial, operational, regulatory and reputational risks intersect. Brown and Caldwell’s speakers will equip you with practical tools and templates to identify vulnerabilities, uncover opportunities, and connect daily decisions to your long-term strategy.
Karri Ving, Manon Fisher, Pam Elardo, Jennifer Myers, and Kirk Olds, Speakers/Facilitators
Who should attend: Utility leaders who want to transform risk management from a defensive function into a proactive system-wide practice for the future, strengthening creditworthiness and community resilience.
Wednesday, March 25
1:30-5:00 PM
Session 06: NC WaterWARN: Lessons Learned from Restoring Water and Wastewater Service in Western North Carolina
Eileen Navarrete, Speaker and Facilitator
Who should attend: Utility leaders who want to learn from water and wastewater utilities impacted by Hurricane Helene and wish to apply lessons learned to advance their own actions plans as well as support their neighbors during all types of emergencies (not just hurricanes).
Thursday, March 26
8:30 – 10:00 AM
Session 16: Reducing Risk and Improving Outcomes Through More Effective Asset Onboarding Practices — Developing and Implementing Improved Processes and Tools
Kirk Olds and Hansa Keswani, Facilitators
Who should attend: Utility leaders who are eager to enhance their long-term O&M and asset management outcomes through the implementation of more effective and streamlined asset data management practices leveraging technology, improved processes, and cross-functional collaboration.
Friday, March 27
Session 30: From Strategy to Resilience: Operationalizing Vision, Measuring Performance, and Planning for Climate Uncertainty
Who should attend: Utility leaders who want tools, frameworks, and a clear roadmap to turn strategy into measured results, connecting operational decisions, performance metrics, and aligning capital investment with community values and climate risk for scalable, integrated, climate-informed planning.
8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Flow State: Aligning Utility Vision, Drivers, and Delivery
Elizabeth Lowell, Tiffany Torres, Speakers
9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Strategic Planning for a Climate Resilient Future: Honolulu’s One Water Approach
Teresa Sprague, Speaker
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