Abeni Allen
Financial Analyst
West County Wastewater District
With 16 years of experience as a Financial and Management Analyst in the public sector, Abeni Allen joined West County Wastewater (WCW) a year and a half ago. Before this role, Allen spent eight years with the City of Berkeley and two
years with the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART). Ms. Allen holds a B.S. in Business Administration with a focus on Accounting from California State University, East Bay.
Throughout their career, Allen has developed expertise in budgeting, financial analysis, payroll, procurement, and grant management, strengthening both technical skills and a passion for finance and public service. In addition to their role at WCW, she co-chairs the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Belonging (DEIAB) group, contributing to the development of a strategic plan for this initiative. Outside of work, she enjoys cooking, bowling, watching movies, spending time with family, and solving Sudoku puzzles.
Angela Andrews
Capital Portfolio Manager
West County Wastewater District
Angela Andrews, Capital Portfolio Manager, joined West County Wastewater in 2019. Previously, she worked for 10 years in non-profit facilities and capital project management. She is also the first black woman elected to Hayward City Council. She currently serves on the Economic Development Committee, Infrastructure and Airport Committee, and the Council liaison on the Keep Hayward Clean and Green Task Force. She also represents Hayward on the Bay Area Water
Supply and Conservation Agency, San Francisco Bay Area Regional Water System Financing Authority, and the East Bay
Dischargers Authority. In 2018, Angela was appointed to the Hayward Planning Commission and served as Vice Chair
prior to joining the City Council.
Angela was born in Southern California, where her father worked in the Los Angeles County Fire Department and hermother worked at a Credit Union. She attained a BA in Political Science and Sociology from UCLA and earned a Master of Planning from USC with a concentration on Design and the Built Environment.
Erika Bensch
Reuse & Compliance Manager
Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts
Erika Bensch (Reuse & Compliance Manager at Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts) brings over 23 years of experience in the wastewater sector, with expertise in spanning laboratory
operations, regulatory compliance, biosolids management, and recycled water program administration experience. She earned her BA in Biology from Scripps College and her MS in
Environmental Engineering from Loyola Marymount University, and she is a California-licensed Professional Civil Engineer.
She leads Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts’ (LACSD) Reuse and Compliance Section by overseeing a team of 30 engineers,
scientists, and support staff. In this role, Erika supports the agency’s wastewater management operations and related compliance; makes sure that proposed federal, state, and local regulatory requirements are scientifically valid and practical to implement; supports and encourages maximum use of recycled water in coordination with water agency partners; and ensures cost-effective and reliable biosolids management for the agency. Erika is actively involved in WateReuse California and serves as the Vice Chair of its Potable Reuse Permitting and Compliance
Committee. She also serves as the Outreach Coordinator for the Los Angeles Basin Section (LABS) of the California Water Environment Association (CWEA).
Joanne Chan
Director of Operations
West Valley Water District
Joanne Chan is a California water professional with over 20 years of experience in the water industry. She is currently the Director of Operations at the West Valley Water District serving approximately 100,000 people in the communities of Bloomington, Colton, Fontana, Rialto, and parts of unincorporated areas in San Bernardino and Jurupa Valley in Riverside County.
She graduated from Cal Poly Pomona with a B.S. in Microbiology. After graduation, she worked as a Clinical Lab Technician at the Huntington Memorial Hospital. She has held positions as a Water Quality Lab Technician, Senior Water Treatment Plant Operator, Operations Supervisor/Chief Plant Operator, and Operations Manager.
William Chen
Division Engineer
Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts
Will Chen is the Manager of the Energy Recovery Section for the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts. He and his team are responsible for managing the agency’s energy portfolio, which includes renewable power, natural gas, and transportation fuel. They also developed the Food Waste
Recycling Program, operate and maintain landfill gas-to-energy facilities, and conduct Household Hazardous/E-Waste collection events throughout Los Angeles County. Mr. Chen began his career with the Districts in 2009 and was promoted to Supervising Engineer in 2019 and became Section Head in 2022.
He graduated from UCLA with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and from USC with an M.S. in Environmental Engineering. Mr. Chen is a Registered Mechanical Engineer in the State of California and is a Board-Certified Environmental Engineer. Born and raised in the San Gabriel Valley, he is now raising his two young boys in Pasadena with his wife.
Johanna Clemens
Engineering Field Administration Team Manager Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD)
Mrs. Johanna Clemens is an inspiring trailblazer in the field of engineering and in the water industry! Johanna faced the challenges of being a minority woman in a male-dominated field. She often had to go the extra mile to prove her
capabilities, working long hours to earn the respect of both field staff and upper management. Despite the doubts,nJohanna’s dedication shone through, and she won respect when field employees discovered she was the engineer, not
the secretary.
Native to East Los Angeles, she graduated from Garfield High School, attended USC, and joined MWD full-time in 2015. She initially worked in the Construction Management Unit, then as a field engineer in Conveyance & Distribution, then in Facility Planning’s Substructures Team, and now as a Team Manager in the Infrastructure and Reliability Section. Balancing a full-time career, raising three young kids, and recently earning a Master of Arts in Organizational Management from the University of Arizona Global Campus, Johanna exemplifies dedication and resilience.
When she’s not working, Johanna loves spending time with her family and finding fun activities to enjoy with her husband and their kids, ages 6, 4, and 3.
Ana Corti
Water Quality Supervisor
City of Pittsburg Water Treatment Plant
Ana Corti is a seasoned environmental and municipal drinking and wastewater laboratory professional with 28 years of experience in analytical analysis, regulatory compliance, and laboratory management. As the Laboratory Director for the City of Pittsburg, she oversees lab operations, ensures compliance with state and federal water quality regulations,
and develops training programs for staff.
She holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the Polytechnic University of El Salvador and an M.S. in Agricultural Home Economics (Food Chemistry and Nutrition) from Seoul National University. Ana is fluent in Spanish and Korean.
James Cortes-Rivera
Director of Watershed Projects
Day One
James Joaquin is the Director of Watershed Projects at Day One, a non-profit that serves the diverse communities of the San Gabriel Valley in Los Angeles County. A long-time environmentalist, James manages community outreach and engagement projects related to water infrastructure. His personal goal is to help create healthy and resilient communities.
Erika Flores
Senior Government Affairs Representative
Water Replenishment District
Erika Flores is a public affairs and communications professional specializing in policy advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and strategic communications. As the Senior Government Affairs Representative at the Water Replenishment District (WRD), she works with elected officials and stakeholders to address water policy impacts in Southern Los Angeles County. She leads WRD’s Groundwater 101 workshops, advocacy days, and facility tours to highlight groundwater’s importance. Previously, as Senior Manager at Presidio Communications, she secured grant funding, including a $1.3 million CalTrans workforce development contract. Her legislative experience includes roles with U.S. Congressmen Gil Cisneros and Pete Aguilar, where she managed outreach and secured COVID-19 relief funding.
Beyond her career, Flores is committed to leadership development and community empowerment. As an Associate Board Member for the Inland Empire Future Leaders Program, she has secured grant funding for youth leadership initiatives. She holds a Master of Public Administration from USC and a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from CSU San Bernardino. Passionate about public service, she continues to advance policies that promote environmental sustainability, community well-being, and equitable resource access.
Tony Foster
Senior Director, Utility Business Services
Long Beach Utilities
Leon Anthony Foster (Tony) is a seasoned public sector utility manager with expertise in natural gas operations, regulatory compliance, and environmental stewardship. As Senior Director of Utility Business Services at Long Beach Utilities, he oversees multimillion-dollar projects, advances electrification and hydrogen adoption, and ensures sustainability efforts prioritize equity for underserved communities. With a J.D. from Northwestern School of Law and a B.A. in English from UCLA, he brings a strong foundation in policy, law, and strategic leadership.
Committed to equity and inclusion, Tony has held leadership roles with the Long Beach Management Association, Long Beach Black Employees Association, and Leadership Long
Beach.
Mary Harvey
Environmental, Health, and Safety Manager
Santa Clara Valley Water District (Valley Water)
Mary Harvey is Valley Water’s Environmental, Safety, and Health Manager (Santa Clara Valley Water District). She has extensive experience as an Environmental, Health, and Safety professional. Mary strives to work with all levels of management to help increase their understanding and commitment to fostering and supporting a healthy and safe
work environment; and, to empower staff to be responsible for their safety and to participate in their safety programs. Mary holds a B.S. degree in Health Sciences, and a M.S. in Environmental Management with an emphasis in Environmental Health. She is a Certified Safety Professional and a Certified Hazardous Materials Manager. Additionally, she is a First Aid/CPR/AED trainer and has experience as a Forklift trainer and Fall Protection Competent Person and trainer.
Mary is an OSHA Authorized General Industry Trainer, for both Federal OSHA and Cal OSHA. She has work experience in the Aerospace, EH&S Consulting, Advanced Composite, and Water/Wastewater industries. She was a past chairperson for the California Water Environment Association San Francisco Bay Section Safety Committee, in 2020 and 2021. Mary’s philosophy is that safety is everyone’s responsibility, and she is a proud member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.
Malika Jones
Supervising Operations Engineer
Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts
Malika Jones is a Supervising Engineer at the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts. Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, she holds a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, and a master’s degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Loyola Marymount University. Outside of her professional work, she enjoys snowboarding, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.
Anna Lam
Principal Accountant
Moulton Niguel Water District
Anna Lam is a Principal Accountant with 12 years of experience at Moulton Niguel Water District. She has demonstrated strong leadership by completing the JPIA
Supervisory Leadership Program, leading a cross-functional team to implement a new AP automation system, and mentoring junior colleagues. Her ability to motivate and inspire, combined with strong communication and problem-solving skills, has contributed to her success in navigating complex challenges.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from California State University, Dominguez Hills, in 1996. Her career in the water sector began in 2004 at the Municipal Water District of Orange County as an Accountant, and she joined Moulton Niguel Water District in 2013 as a Senior Accountant. Passionate about the water industry, she is eager to continue developing her leadership skills to support the District’s success. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, reading, gardening, and listening to classical music.
Anna Lam
Principal Accountant
Moulton Niguel Water District
Anna Lam is a Principal Accountant with 12 years of experience at Moulton Niguel Water District. She has demonstrated strong leadership by completing the JPIA
Supervisory Leadership Program, leading a cross-functional team to implement a new AP automation system, and mentoring junior colleagues. Her ability to motivate and inspire, combined with strong communication and problem-solving skills, has contributed to her success in navigating complex challenges.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from California State University, Dominguez Hills, in 1996. Her career in the water sector began in 2004 at the Municipal Water District of Orange County as an Accountant, and she joined Moulton Niguel Water District in 2013 as a Senior Accountant. Passionate about the water industry, she is eager to continue developing her leadership skills to support the District’s success. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, reading, gardening, and listening to classical music.
Danna Monzon
Manager of Engineering
Long Beach Utilities
Danna Monzon has been with the Long Beach Utilities since 2015. She is currently the Manager of Engineering of the Department’s Water & Sewer System Infrastructure division and is responsible for managing and implementing the engineering design and construction management/inspection of the various programs and projects for the Department’s storage tanks, booster station, groundwater production wells, MWD connections, groundwater treatment plant, and sewer lift stations.
She is a registered Professional Civil Engineer in the State of California and received her Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and Bachelor of Arts in Physics from California State University, Long Beach. Danna is a certified State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) Grade 2 Distribution and Grade 2 Treatment Operator; certified to perform condition assessments of pipelines, manholes, and laterals under the National Association of Sewer Service Companies (NASSCO) programs; and is a USC Foundation cross-connection control program specialist.
Victoria Salazar
Senior Engineer
Inland Empire Utilities Agency
Vicky is a Senior Engineer at the Inland Empire Utilities Agency with a decade of industry experience. She holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering and a Masters in Civil Engineering, both from Cal Poly Pomona. She is also a licensed Mechanical Engineer in the state of California. Vicky is passionate about mentorship and sharing her career experiences with the next generation. Outside of the office,
Vicky enjoys baking, DIY projects, serving in her local church, and spending time with her husband and their two dogs.
Moises Santillan
Hydrogeologist
Water Replenishment District
Moises Santillan is a Hydrogeologist at the Water Replenishment District (WRD), the largest groundwater agency by population in California. He works on projects that involve well construction, well rehabilitation, groundwater monitoring, asset management, data analysis, and data management. Prior to his time with WRD, he began his career as a consulting geologist in the environmental sector working on soil and groundwater remediation projects.
Moises is an active member of the Groundwater Resources Association of California (GRA) and has served as State Secretary (2023-2024) and Southern California Branch Technical Advisor (Current), Secretary (2021), and President (2022-2023). He has also served on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) committees both at WRD and GRA. He received a B.S. in Geology and MPA with a specialization in Public Works Management from California State University, Long Beach. He is also a registered Professional Geologist (PG) in the State of California.
Jenyffer Vasquez
Principal Water Resources Specialist
Calleguas Municipal Water District
Jenyffer Vasquez is the Principal Water Resource Specialist for Calleguas Municipal Water District. In this role, she helps manage a variety of water use efficiency programs and data reporting. These programs help support the District’s mission to provide a reliable supplemental supply of regional and
locally developed water in an environmentally and economically responsible manner to the roughly three-quarters of Ventura County residents.
Jenyffer received a B.A. in Environmental Science and Policy from California State University, Long Beach. She holds a Water Use Efficiency Practitioner Certification with the American Water Works Association (AWWA). Additionally, she is a board member of the California Water Efficiency Partnership (CalWEP), graduated with AWWA and WaterNow’s Transformative Water Leadership Academy( TWLA) in 2023, and completed an online Water Distribution System Operation course with Sacramento State.