Speakers

Sean Chambers

Director of Water & Sewer

City of Greeley

Sean Chambers is director of water & sewer for the city of Greeley and leads a dynamic team of water and wastewater planning, engineering and operations professionals. Chambers joined the city in 2018 and brings a vision for increased collaboration, regional resiliency through planning and demand management. Greeley has one of the most robust and resilient surface water-collection systems in the West, with resources from four major river basins and balance between trans-mountain and native Poudre and Big Thompson water resources. 

Casey Davenhill

Executive Director

Colorado Watershed Assembly

As Executive Director for the Colorado Watershed Assembly, she has added Conservation Districts to the Watershed Group Map and works to promote the important role of the Districts throughout the state. Although Casey spends most of her time on the Northern Front Range in her home watershed, the Mighty South Platte, she is proud of her Crowley County marriage license and enjoys spending time with her friends and family in the Arkansas Valley. Casey has participated in the planning and implementation of numerous guiding documents and represents the community as the Coordinator for the Cherry Creek Stewardship Partners and as Chairman of the Interbasin Compact Committee’s Metro and South Platte Roundtable Education and Outreach Committee.

James Eklund

Member

Sherman & Howard

James Eklund leads the Water & Natural Resources practice where he is a strong advocate for smart water infrastructure and a recognized authority on water management in the American West. He works with sovereign governments, multi-state authorities, state agencies, and private interests to deliver critical water infrastructure projects and to design policy regarding water law, natural resources, infrastructure, and environmental protection. He uses his depth of policy-making experience and notable connections with federal, state, and local decision makers to assist clients on a wide variety of matters including environmental, regulatory and legislative issues, and matters involving the use of public-private partnerships.

Jennifer Gimbel

Director

CSU Colorado Water Center

Jennifer Gimbel is a senior water policy scholar for the Colorado Water Center at Colorado State University. She has worked for both state and federal governments on water issues. She worked as the principal deputy assistant secretary for water and science, overseeing the Bureau of Reclamation and U.S. Geological Service. For the state of Colorado, she worked as the director of the water conservation board and for the attorney general.

Lucy Harrington

Regulatory Specialist & Restoration Lead

GEI Consultants

Lucy Harrington is a regulatory specialist and restoration lead at GEI Consultants. In her position, she oversees environmental permitting, federal, state and local regulatory compliance, and restoration planning and development. She has led efforts to establish numerous wetland mitigation and species compensation projects in California, Nebraska, and Colorado and ensured regulatory compliance as an employee of a number of federal agencies at locations throughout the western United States. Lucy has also led botanical and endangered species survey efforts in a variety of states and held a 10(a)(1)(a) recovery permit for several threatened species.

Adam Jokerst

Rocky Mountain Regional Director

WestWater Research

Adam Jokerst is the Rocky Mountain Regional Director for WestWater Research and leads the Colorado office in Fort Collins. Adam brings over 15 years of experience in water resource engineering and management in both the private and public sectors. He has overseen long-range water supply planning, water acquisition, and water rights protection programs.  Adam is passionate about finding innovative solutions to solve complex water problems.

Frank Kinder

Water Efficiency Manager

Northern Water

Frank Kinder is the Water Efficiency Program Manager for Northern Water. His responsibilities include commercial and residential conservation programs, outreach and education, and serving on boards and committees. He has a Master’s degree in Applied Geography emphasizing Sustainable Development and an undergraduate in Finance and IT from the University of Colorado. Frank has served as Board Co-Chair of Colorado Waterwise, a statewide non-profit organization of water-conservation professionals, on  Colorado Springs Urban Intervention, USGBC Colorado Southern Branch Steering Committee, and others. He helped lead the first WaterSense labeled home in Colorado and his utility recently launched the first EPA WaterSense New Homes rebate in the nation. 

Eli Kolodny

Technical Director & Partner

Odell Brewing Co.

After graduating from Colorado State University with a BS in Biochemistry in 2009, Eli started in packaging at Odell Brewing Company, an independently owned regional craft brewer in Fort Collins, CO. As the Technical Director for Odell Brewing Company, Eli is now involved with raw materials, brewing, cellaring, and Quality. Beyond the brewery, he works with several raw material industry groups and sits on the board of directors for a local non-profit involved with youth mentorship and prevention education services. His soon to be one year old keeps him, and his partner, happily busy and connected to the community.

Chris Matkins

Principal

Ally Utility Consulting 

When it comes to the design, implementation, and optimization of water utility enterprises, Chris Matkins, P.E. taps into over 25 years of experience. As the owner of Ally Utility Consulting, Chris has a unique skill set and deep understanding of public utilities to provide expert consulting services. Since graduating from the South Dakota School of Mines with an M.S. in Civil Engineering, he has dedicated his career to water engineering and water business management. Chris has extensive experience running water utilities in Northern Colorado having worked with the City of Loveland Water + Power and most recently as the General Manager at the Fort Collins – Loveland Water and South Fort Collins Sanitation Districts. In his new venture, Ally Utility Consulting, Chris’ goal is to function as an extension of management staff, or “Ally”, supporting water and wastewater utilities in planning, design, operational excellence, rate studies, and business decision analysis.

Kevin Reidy

Senior Water Efficiency Specialist

Colorado Water Conservation Board

Kevin received his Bachelor of Science from Colorado State University in Recreation Resources Management and an M.S. degree in Forest Ecology and Management from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In between, he served in the Peace Corps in Honduras, and Central America working in Pico Bonito National Park.  Presently, he is the Senior State Water Efficiency Specialist at the Colorado Water Conservation Board and has worked in this position since 2009. He provides technical and financial assistance to water providers across Colorado for water efficiency planning and implementation, assists local governments on land use and water efficiency integration, works on long-range statewide water supply and demand forecasting, and develops statewide water efficiency policy through research and projects. He was the lead author for the water conservation, water reuse, and land use sections of the first Colorado Water Plan and is continuing in that role with the Colorado Water Plan update due in 2022.

Lindsay Rogers

Water Policy Analyst

Western Resource Advocates

Lindsay joined Western Resource Advocates in 2021 as a Water Policy Analyst on the Healthy Rivers Team. In this role, she develops and advocates for sustainable municipal water management policies and programs at the state and local levels. She also provides technical expertise to build resilient, equitable, and vibrant communities while protecting our rivers and lakes. Previously, she spent five years as the Colorado Basin Program Manager at WaterNow Alliance, focused on advancing sustainable water policies and programs in the West by working directly with municipal water decision-makers. Lindsay serves on the Board of Colorado WaterWise and as Board President for the City of Edgewater’s Sustainability Board. She holds a B.S. in Environmental Studies and International Relations from Tufts University.

Kate Ryan

Program Director & Senior Staff Attorney

Colorado Water Trust

Kate Ryan joined the Water Trust in 2019, with over a decade of experience practicing Colorado Water law. Her past clients included farmers, ranchers, municipalities, landowners, the CWCB and the Water Trust itself. Kate has been a member of the Senate Bill 48 Committee authoring a study to Strengthen Anti-Speculation Law and the City of Boulder’s Water Resources Advisory Board. Before going to Berkeley Law she obtained a master’s degree in geography at the University of Colorado and worked as an associate scientist at the National Snow and Ice Data Center. During her free time Kate loves skiing big mountains and exploring with her kids.

Jessica Thrasher

Education and Outreach Manager

Colorado Stormwater Center

Jessica Thrasher is the Education and Outreach Manager for the Colorado Stormwater Center at Colorado State University. She has a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Southern Methodist University and a master’s degree in International Development Anthropology from Colorado State University. Jessica provides tools, educational opportunities, and research to municipalities, stormwater professionals, consulting firms, and community members allowing them to make informed decisions about stormwater management practices. She is dedicated to being part of creating solutions to the current water quality, supply, use, and conservation issues. Jessica has also attained the following certifications: Permaculture Designer, Rainwater Harvesting Practitioner, Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper (QWEL) and Stormwater Control Measure Inspection and Maintenance.

Kristin Todd

President & CEO

Community Foundation of Northern Colorado

An accomplished visionary, Kristin Todd has dedicated her career to helping those in need through strategic philanthropy and community partnerships. Kristin currently serves as President & CEO of the Community Foundation of Northern Colorado. Kristin leads the Foundation’s efforts to create transformational community impact by inspiring philanthropy and engaging the northern Colorado region. Throughout her 26-year career in philanthropy, Kristin has been passionate about the vibrant role the nonprofit sector plays in the community and the critical supporting role of foundations. She has worked tirelessly to understand the complex issues facing today’s communities and has worked alongside nonprofit and business leaders to help bring about positive change and lasting impact.

Jim Tolstrup

Executive Director

High Plains Environmental Center

Jim Tolstrup is the executive director of the High Plains Environmental Center in Loveland, CO, a unique model for preserving native biodiversity amid development.  His past work experience includes serving as a land steward of Shambhala Mountain Center in Red Feather Lakes, CO, and running his own landscape design business in Kennebunkport, Maine, where he installed gardens at George and Barbara Bush’s “Summer White House.” Jim holds a Certificate in Gardening Arts from the Landscape Institute of Harvard University and the Arnold Arboretum. He has received awards for landscape design from Plant Select®, the American Society of Landscape Architects, Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado, and Denver Water. He teaches widely throughout Colorado, has written numerous gardening and environmental stewardship articles, and is the author of SUBURBITAT: Restoring Nature where we Live, Work, and Play.

Nicholas Wharton

Town Manager

Town of Severance

Nicholas J Wharton earned a graduate certificate in Historic Preservation, an MA in Public History, and an MPA with a concentration in local government from the University of Colorado at Denver. Nicholas started his career in local government as a DOLA Best and Brightest Intern for the Town of Severance in January 2014 and was promoted to Assistant Town Administrator in June of 2014. In June of 2018, he was given the opportunity to become Town Manager for Severance where he is currently employed. 

Brad Wind

General Manager

Northern Water

Brad is the General Manager of Northern Water. Northern Water is a Conservancy
The district situated in northeastern Colorado encompasses 615,000 irrigable acres and is
home to more than 1 million Coloradoans. Northern Water’s Board of Directors, together
with its 165-member staff, partner with the United States Bureau of Reclamation to
operate the Colorado-Big Thompson Project. In addition, Northern Water operates the
Windy Gap Project and oversees four other water-activity enterprises. During Brad’s 29-
year tenure at Northern Water he has provided leadership roles throughout the
organization and has engaged in water right issues on both the South Platte River and the
Colorado River. Additionally, he has assisted in revising water-related policies to reflect
the changing demand and use for water within the region.

Kyle Whitaker

Water Rights Manager

Northern Water

Northern Water and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation operate the Colorado-Big Thompson Project, which collects water from the Colorado River basin and delivers it to about 980,000 residents and 640,000 irrigated acres in Northeastern Colorado. Northern Water, headquartered in Berthoud, and its Municipal Subdistrict are also developing the Windy Gap Firming Project and Northern Integrated Supply Project. Kyle is responsible for overseeing the Colorado River and Platte River programs that Northern Water is involved in and managing and protecting the water rights assets owned by Northern Water and its enterprises in cooperation with Northern Water’s legal counsel. Kyle grew up in the White River basin in western Colorado.  Kyle has more than 25 years of engineering experience, having worked for 18 years for the Colorado Division of Water Resources in the Colorado River basin before joining Northern Water.  Kyle has a B.S. and M.S. in Civil Engineering from Colorado State University.