2026 TMUA Utility Leadership and Management Conference
Agenda | Register | Presentations
The 2026 Utility Leadership and Management Conference brings together Texas municipal utility professionals to explore the evolving challenges and responsibilities of utility leadership. Conference sessions will address a broad range of timely topics, including performance management, water quality, certificates of convenience and necessity, legislative and regulatory updates, workforce retention, and other issues impacting municipal utilities across the state. Designed with utility managers and decision-makers in mind, the program emphasizes practical insights, shared experiences, and forward-looking strategies to support effective utility operations and long-term sustainability.
The Texas Municipal Utilities Association is dedicated to strengthening the management and direction of municipal utilities. This conference serves as a forum for members to learn from one another, exchange ideas, and engage with peers and subject-matter experts on issues central to the successful operation of Texas municipal utilities.
Date
March 4 – 6, 2026
Location
AC Hotel by Marriot Waco Downtown, 600 Mary Ave, Waco, TX 76701
Registration
| Category | By February 16 | After February 16 |
| Member | $300 | $350 |
| Nonmember | $350 | $375 |
| Guest Ticket for Thursday Dinner | $65 | $65 |
If you are registered and cannot attend, we encourage you to send a substitute. If you cannot send a substitute, a $75 cancellation fee will be assessed if written cancellation is received by February 16, 2026. No refunds will be honored after February 16. Email all cancellations to acct@tml.org, and copy tmua@tml.org.
Hotel Accommodations
The AC Hotel Waco Downtown, has extended a $169 room rate for the nights of 03/04/26 and 03/05/26. Please do not delay in making your arrangements. The cutoff date for the room block February 16. If you are having trouble booking your room, please contact the reservations desk at +1 254-910-8900 or email tmua@tml.org.
Sponsors
Please see our full list of sponsors here. To inquire about sponsoring the 2026 TMUA Utility Leadership and Management Conference, please email tmua@tml.org.
Presentations (PDFs)
PDF presentations will be pasted here, as provided. Note not all presentations may be shared.
Employee Performance Management and Discipline, Hector Mendoza
PFAS, Is It Even Still a Regulatory Concern?
A Holistic Data-Driven Approach to Water Quality and Pressure Management
Workforce Refresh: Plan, Grow, GO!
Wednesday, March 4
Speakers and sessions are subject to change. All events are at the hotel unless otherwise noted. All meals shown in the agenda are included with your registration.
1:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Sponsor Move-In
Barcelona I-II
3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Registration
Barcelona Foyer
5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Welcome Reception
Join us in the exhibits to kick off the 2026 TMUA Utility Leadership and Management Conference and meet our sponsors over light refreshments and beverages.
Barcelona I-II
Thursday, March 5
7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Registration
Barcelona Foyer
7:30 – 8:15 a.m.
Breakfast
Barcelona III-V
8:15 – 8:30 a.m.
Welcome and Introduction
TMUA President David Waldrup, Environmental Engineer, Texarkana Water Utilities
Barcelona III-V
8:30 – 9:15 a.m.
Employee Performance Management and Discipline
This session provides supervisors with a practical framework for managing employee performance and addressing discipline in a consistent, documented, and legally compliant manner. Participants will explore best practices for aligning performance expectations with job duties, using measurable metrics, conducting effective check-ins, and providing continuous feedback. The presentation also covers documentation standards, employee evaluations, progressive discipline, and key legal considerations under Texas law, with an emphasis on using performance management as a tool to coach employees toward success while protecting the organization.
Hector Mendoza, Director of Human Resources, City of Canyon
Barcelona III-V
9:30 – 10:15 a.m.
Blurred Lines: CCNs, Service Territory and Operational Risk, and the Financial Stakes for Municipal Utilities
Certificates of Convenience and Necessity (CCNs) do more than define a municipal utility’s service area—they carry regulatory, financial, and long-term operational implications. As development patterns shift and challenges to certificated areas increase, utilities must clearly understand their obligations and exposure under Texas law.
This session provides a concise overview of CCNs, including when they are required, the benefits and drawbacks of holding one, and recent legal and regulatory trends. Attendees will also learn about statutory requirements for obtaining and maintaining a CCN, financial assurance obligations, and what occurs when a party seeks decertification, including the PUCT process and compensation requirements
Chris Ekrut, President and CEO, NewGen Strategies and Solutions, LLC and Zak Wright, ASA, Partner, NewGen Strategies and Solutions, LLC
Barcelona III-V
10:15 – 10:45 a.m.
Networking Break with Exhibitors
Barcelona I-II
10:45 – 11:45 a.m.
PFAS, Is It Even Still a Regulatory Concern?
A current assessment of the existing regulatory landscape surrounding utilities and PFAS
Joseph Fielding, Manager, Regulatory Services & Compliance, Trinity River Authority
Barcelona III-V
11:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Lunch and Word from Our Sponsors
Barcelona III-V
1:15 – 2:00 p.m.
A Holistic Data-Driven Approach to Water Quality and Pressure Management
This presentation will take a look at a holistic approach to how data derived from various technologies can be used to maintain water quality, improve pressure management, reduce leaks, and advance decisions related to leak detection. Together, we will explore the many advantages of utilizing a variety of technologies in combination with one another to assess risk, track trends, mitigate less than desirable conditions, and reduce operational expenses through proactive approaches.
Justin Garrison, Regional Manager- Water Management Solutions, Mueller Water Products
Barcelona III-V
2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Workforce Refresh: Plan, Grow, GO!
Workforce Refresh: Plan, Grow, GO! shares practical, real‑world strategies utilities are using to assess workforce readiness, strengthen recruitment and retention, and build effective succession plans aligned with future service demands. Featuring a detailed case study from the City of Cedar Park, Texas, the presentation highlights actionable lessons, decisions, and outcomes that utilities of any size can adapt to create a more resilient, future‑ready organization.
Lauren Brown, Senior Consultant, BerryDunn, Andrea Brinkley, Senior Consultant, BerryDunn, and Nanette McCartan, Senior Utility Business Operations Manager, Cedar Park
Barcelona III-V
3:00 – 3:15 p.m.
Networking Break with Exhibitors
Barcelona I-II
3:15 – 4:15 p.m.
Customer Service: Know Yourself to Help the Customer
Our moods and emotions often are what impact how we provide customer service. This fun interactive talk will take a look at what may motivate us as well as our customers. Through some understanding of ourselves, we might be able to understand our customers better and meet them where they are.
Lance A. McAvoy, City of Fort Smith
Barcelona III-V
4:15 – 6:30 p.m.
Free Time
6:30 – 9:00 p.m.
Dinner and Trivia Night
Join us after-hours for dinner and friendly competition!
Test your knowledge with a fun blend of trivia—ranging from general questions to those tailored toward utilities. Whether you’re a trivia master or just in it for laughs, it’s a great opportunity to network. Dinner is included with your registration.
Guest tickets can be purchased.
Questions: tmua@tml.org.
Barcelona III-V
Friday, March 6
7:30 – 9:00 a.m.
Registration
Barcelona Foyer
8:00 – 9:00 a.m.
Breakfast and Business Meeting
Barcelona III-V
9:00 – 10:30 a.m.
Legislative Update
General legislative update on the 89th legislative session with an emphasis on utility matters.
Snapper Carr, Partner and General Counsel, Focused Advocacy
Barcelona III-V
10:45 a.m. – Noon
From Water Stress to Action: The New Texas Model for Non‑Traditional Water Supply and Utility Management
Amid historic drought, industrial growth, and rising population demands, Texas communities are redefining their water strategies. This presentation examines how the state is shifting toward non‑traditional sources, including brackish desalination, modular treatment systems, new groundwater development, and high‑impact emergency projects.
A key example is the recent decision by the Corpus Christi City Council, to deploy a containerized brackish desalination plant as part of a broader $175 million emergency investment package designed to expand supply ahead of an anticipated Level 1 water emergency. In addition to the technological and operational benefits, agreements like Corpus Christi’s are increasingly incorporating innovative risk‑management structures, budget‑optimization mechanisms, and performance‑driven contracting approaches that help municipalities stretch their dollars further. These new models aim to reduce exposure to cost overruns, accelerate delivery timelines, and ensure that every investment produces measurable value for the community—strengthening both financial resilience and water security.
Drawing on this and other forward‑leaning initiatives across the state, the session will show how modular technologies, risk‑based planning, and agile governance are shaping the emerging Texas water model. Attendees will leave with practical tools to inform urgent decision‑making today.
Eva Arnaiz, Aqualia
Barcelona III-V
Noon
Adjourn