Words On Water #207: Pam Elardo on DE&I In The Water Sector

January 26, 2022

Pam Elardo is Deputy Commissioner at the Bureau of Wastewater Treatment at New York City Department of Environmental Protection. She visited the WEFTEC Live studio in October 2021 to discuss the evolving landscape of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the water sector, what actions we can take individually and organizationally, and the effects that these actions can have. At WEFTEC, Pam also helped facilitate a peer-to-peer Learning Exchanges focused on LGBTQ+ issues in the workforce, and she talked about her personal journey in water.

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Words On Water #186: Megan Yoo-Schneider and Donnell Duncan on Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

May 12, 2021

Megan Yoo-Schneider is Vice President of the Board of Directors of the Municipal Water District of Orange County and President of Seven Management and Consulting. Donnell Duncan is an Associate Vice President at Arcadis. In this episode Megan and Donnell discuss the efforts by the Water Environment Federation (WEF) to address diversity, equity, and inclusion issues within the organization, among its membership, and across the water sector. They talk about the ongoing work and expected impact of the DE&I Subcommittee of the WEF Board of Trustees and the DE&I Work Group of the House of Delegates. Megan and Donnell explain why they volunteer their time and that transformation in the water sector will be a process. Learn more about WEF’s DE&I work on this web page.

Episode #186
Hosted by Travis Loop

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WOW: Conversations on Equity… With Cathy Bailey, Randy Hayman, and Tony Parrott

September 21, 2020

Cathy Bailey is the Executive Director of Greater Cincinnati Water Works, Randy Hayman is the Commissioner and CEO of the Philadelphia Water Department, and Tony Parrott is CEO of Louisville and Jefferson County Metropolitan Sewer District. In this episode they talk candidly about their experiences as Black Americans working in the water sector and reaching the level of utility executive, including sharing examples of discrimination and racism they encountered along the way. Cathy, Randy, and Tony discuss how it feels to be Black Americans in leadership positions and how utilities should address issues of equity, diversity, and inclusion.

This episode is part of a series of conversations on the Words On Water podcast about equity and the water sector. It is co-hosted by Travis Loop and Rahkia Nance.

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WOW: Conversations On Equity… With Jackie Jarrell, Nikita Lingenfelter, and Stephen Sanders

August 5, 2020

Jackie Jarrell is the President of the Water Environment Federation and Interim Deputy Director at Charlotte Water, Nikita Lingenfelter is Speaker-Elect of the WEF House of Delegates and an Engineer with the State of Nevada Department of Environmental Protection, and Stephen Sanders is Director and Head Trainer at The Environmental Training Center at Morrisville State College. In this episode, they discuss how WEF has responded to the calls for equity for Black Americans and the work of WEF’s Workforce Diversity and Inclusion Task Force. Nikita and Stephen talk about their experiences as Black Americans working in the water sector and how WEF can improve diversity and equity for its members and volunteers. They also share personal perspectives on racism in America.

This episode is part of a series of conversations on equity and the water sector. It is co-hosted by Travis Loop and Rahkia Nance.

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Words On Water #81: Cam Davis on Elected Office and the Great Lakes

March 4, 2019

Cameron Davis is Vice President at GEI Consultants and a Commissioner for the Metropolitan Water District of Greater Chicago. He was formerly the Senior Advisor for the Great Lakes for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and CEO of the Alliance for the Great Lakes. In this episode, Cam talks about the experience of running for an elected office, the role of a water commissioner, and his focus on the issues of infrastructure, equity, and climate change. He also discusses the need to care for the Great Lakes, including through collaboration with Canada and by dealing with nutrient pollution, invasive species, and habitat loss.

Episode #81
Hosted by Travis Loop

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