Momentum, Energy and Potential Building at ACWA for 2026

A couple of months into my role as Interim Executive Director, I attended the ACWA 2025 Spring Conference in Monterey. It was a Thursday, and most attendees were heading home for a well-earned long weekend. But my new colleagues kept working with the same intensity as if the conference had just begun.

There were trucks to be packed, post-conference surveys to go out and work projects waiting back in Sacramento and Washington D.C. ACWA staff members didn't miss a beat. I was surprised and deeply impressed. Now, a year later, I am incredibly honored to be leading this world-class organization while working alongside ACWA staff professionals to deliver results for our member agencies.

We're just a few months into 2026, yet the pace and impact of ACWA's work have been remarkable. There's a palpable sense of momentum, energy and potential being realized.

The launch of ACWA's Vision for Our Water Future has moved forward at an impressive speed. The cornerstone of this initiative is a policy document that articulates our members' unified priorities and recommended actions to secure a reliable and affordable water future for California.

Through regional board meetings, and briefings, committee and board discussions, and outreach at both the state and federal levels, this effort is already elevating water as a key priority for California's future. The professionalism, collaboration and dedication that went into launching this initiative reflects the very best of ACWA.

You can learn more about Vision for Our Water Future on page 1, including how members can access a recently distributed toolkit with messaging materials to help support and promote the initiative.

Meanwhile, we continue working hard to provide the services members expect. From planning and delivering major events such as the Legislative Symposium and D.C. Conference, to navigating the legislative season and regulatory issues, we continue to support our members.

This outstanding performance can be measured. ACWA's 2025-'29 Strategic Plan established 50 key performance indicators, or KPIs, more than 80% of which have either been completed or on track to completion in areas spanning advocacy, connections, education and organizational effectiveness.

What stands out most to me is the teamwork across our organization, and this applies both internally among staff and externally throughout our membership. The willingness of people to step up, support one another and move important work forward together is what makes ACWA such a strong and respected association.

That spirit of teamwork is what will continue to carry ACWA forward. The challenges facing California water are immense, but so is our strength, which is deeply rooted in collaboration, expertise and commitment to a water resilient future.