How do water agencies and the industry, in general, better promote a more diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the needs and aspirations of the society it serves? And, how do we ensure that the water sector embraces the values and issues faced by under-represented groups with whom it interacts? Join us for an engaging panel discussion around these issues.

• Date: 3/30/22
• Time:
  • 12:30pm: Complimentary sandwich bar
  • 1:00pm: Panel discussion
  • 2:30 – 5:00pm: Catered beer and wine networking reception
• Requirements: Vaccination required (please bring your vaccine card to present at the venue entrance)
• Address: UCI Beall Applied Innovation – 5270 California Avenue Irvine, California 92697-7700 (free parking available onsite)

Director Scott Houston
West Basin Municipal Water District, Vice President, Division IV

Scott Houston is an elected member of the Board of Directors of West Basin Municipal Water District representing Division 4 that includes the cities of Culver City, El Segundo, Malibu and West Hollywood, and the unincorporated Los Angeles County areas of Del Aire, Marina del Rey, North Ladera Heights, Topanga, View Park, Windsor Hills, Wiseburn and a portion of Lennox. He also serves on the Board of Trustees of the Southern California Water Coalition and previously on the Consumer Affairs Advisory Commission of the County of Los Angeles.

Director Houston frequently speaks about the challenges facing our global water supplies and has authored articles on topics including leadership in California water governance; water safety in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic; and the increased public acceptance of recycled water to meet our supply needs.

Joone Kim-Lopez
General Manager, Moulton Niguel Water District

Joone Kim-Lopez is the General Manager of the Moulton Niguel Water District, which provides water, wastewater, and recycled water services to six cities in South Orange County.  Before joining Moulton Niguel, she served as the General Manager of Calaveras County Water District located in Northern California.  Joone’s prior experience includes working for Apple Valley Ranchos Water Company as its Assistant General Manager and serving as the Deputy General Manager of Central Basin Municipal Water District.

Joone is a Board Member for California WateReuse Association, California Water Data Consortium, Southern California Water Coalition, South Orange County Wastewater Authority, WaterNow Alliance, and Association of California Water Agencies. Additionally, she serves on The Alfred E. Alquist Seismic Safety Commission, The Water Environment Federation’s Diversity and Inclusion Task Force, UC Irvine Water Leadership Board, Water Education for LatinoLeaders (WELL). She’s also a founding member of The California Data Collaborative, a non-profit representing 21 million Californians, focused on leveraging data and technology to enhance statewide water management policies.

Marisa Perez-Reyes
Public Affairs Specialist, Stantec

Marisa works to improve water planning and governance to better include underrepresented communities and Tribes in decision-making across California. In her role at Stantec, Marisa provides facilitation support to groundwater subbasins under SGMA, convenes several multi-party working groups, and coordinates various publicly engaged water resource efforts, including the LA County Safe, Clean Water Program. Marisa is from Virginia, holds a B.S. in Environmental Engineering from Cornell University, is a CivicSpark AmeriCorps Alumna, and has worked for the California Department of Water Resources and Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority.

Victor Griego
President and Founder, Water Education for Latino Leaders (WELL)

Victor Griego is the President and Founder of Water Education for Latino Leaders (WELL). In 2012, Mr. Griego, recruited other leaders across California to create WELL. The mission of WELL is to educate local Latino elected officials on California water policies in order to promote timely and equitable actions that strive to develop a robust economy, healthy communities, and a resilient environment for all Californians. Mr. Griego and the WELL leadership believes that any elected official who serves Latinos is a Latino Leader; as such, most California elected officials are Latino Leaders.