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Registration | Accommodations | Schedule | Education | Golf Tournament | Travel Information
WASDA Annual Meeting 2025
Securing the Future of Water
The WASDA Annual Meeting is scheduled for February 16 – 19, 2025. The JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa. Relax. Rejuvenate. Restore. You will do that and more while surrounded by desert beauty and the Santa Rosa Mountains. The resort offers all the modern touches and amenities, including some of WASDA’s favorites – two Ted Robinson championship golf courses, Spa Desert Springs, swimming pools, and pickleball.
Join your industry colleagues and peers this February for an honest-to-goodness, in-person event. To learn about the Schedule, Registration, Accommodations, and more, keep scrolling.
Important Note: Each member company must pay their 2025 WASDA Membership Dues and any outstanding invoices before registering for the Annual Meeting. There will be a section to renew your WASDA membership once you login to your WASDA account for registration.
Access to the Registrant List: The Registrant List will be posted directly on the Member Landing Page once logged in. This list will be updated at the end of each week starting Friday, December 20th.
About the Event
The WASDA Annual Meeting (February 16 – 19, 2025) is the perfect platform for professionals in the water and sewer industries to gather for networking, learn about trends and challenges in the industry, and celebrate our community. Spouses and Guests are invited to attend alongside the industry attendee but are also required to register for badges.
Registration Badges
Secure your registration badge today! Please note that all fees are in USD.
Important Note: Each member company must pay their 2025 WASDA Membership Dues before registering for the Annual Meeting. Please make dues payment before registering. Contact WASDA at [email protected] or 630.672.3670 with any questions.
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Early Bird Rate
Through January 17th
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Regular Rate
After January 17th
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| Member Delegates |
$895 / per person
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$995 / per person
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| Spouses/Guests |
$600 / per person
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$700 / per person
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| Bernie M. Pipan Memorial 5K Walk/Run |
$100 / per person
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$100 / per person
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Golf Tournament
Note: Limited Golf Club Rentals are available.
Please note your rental needs during registration. The Course will contact you accordingly.
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$270 / per person + $10 service fee |
$270 / per person + $10 service fee |
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Please note the following items:
- The registration fee is per person.
- The Early Bird rate is automatically applied until Friday, January 17th.
- Spouses/Guests are individuals that do not work in the industry.
Registration Tips
To register for the WASDA Annual Meeting, you will need your WASDA login credentials.
- Your username is your email address associated with WASDA.
- If you do not remember your password, please select "Forgot Password" to reset your password.
- If you are a new user/member and do not have WASDA login credentials, please contact our office at the below information to set up a profile.
If you experience technical difficulties, please clear your web browser’s cookies, cache, and history in your web browser's "Settings."
Please contact Kaitlin O’Brien, WASDA Association Manager, at [email protected] if you continue to experience technical difficulties during registration.
Cancellation & Refunds
Cancellations received by Friday, January 17th, 2025, will receive a full refund. No refunds will be issued after Friday, January 17th. Cancellations must be in writing and sent to [email protected]. Please allow thirty (30) days for the processing of refunds.
If the event cannot take place due to reasons of Force Majeure, WASDA will provide monetary credits for registrations fees purchased in 2025 for this event.
Payment
Payment is accepted via online payment, a mailed check, or by fax. The following credit cards are accepted by WASDA: VISA, MasterCard, and American Express.
Payments by check can be mailed to WASDA at 800 Roosevelt Road, C-312, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137.
Safety Guidelines Consent
WASDA is committed to your safety and comfort at the WASDA Annual Meeting (February 16 – 19, 2025) and will adhere to the guidelines and restrictions set forth by the City of Palm Desert, the County of Riverside, the State and California, and the United States. By registering as an attendee, I agree to abide by these guidelines and any restrictions.
Photography & Video Recording Consent
Photography and video recording will be used throughout WASDA Annual Meeting 2025 and at related activities. Registration and attendance at and/or participation in Annual Meeting or other activities constitutes an agreement and consent by each registrant or participant for WASDA and/or its licenses to use and distribute (both now and in the future) the image, likeness and voice of each registrant or participant (or family members) in photographs, videotapes, printed material, electronic reproductions, and audio recording that are taken or recorded at such event or related activities.
Schedule
Here’s what’s in store for 2025! The sequence of events will look familiar to those who frequent the Annual Meeting. For a quick Snapshot, note the following:
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Saturday, February 15th
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Arrivals
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Sunday, February 16th
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Board of Directors Meeting & Working Lunch
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Committee Forums:
Program (PDC)
Membership & Marketing
Associate Member
Education & Industry Relations
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Distributor-only pre-Reception* (60 minutes)
Welcome Reception & Dinner Party
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Monday, February 17th
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Scholarship Fund Board of Directors Meeting
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Delegate Breakfast
Keynote: Leadership & Attacking Adversity
Eric Kapitulik, The Program
General Business Session
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Education:
U.S. Policy Update for Waterworks
Zack Perconti, WASDA Director of Government Affairs
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Future Leaders Council (FLC) Mini-golf
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Networking Reception
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| Tuesday, February 18th |
The Bernie M. Pipan Memorial 5K Walk/Run
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Education:
Economic Update
Christopher Kuehl, PhD, Armada Corporate Intelligence
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Annual Golf Tournament
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Networking Reception
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| Wednesday, February 19th |
Board of Directors Meeting & Breakfast
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The schedule is subject to change. For a complete Schedule of Events, click below.
Education
What would an Annual Meeting be without some critical content for running your business and managing your company’s bottom line?
Check out the below presenters, hand-picked by the WASDA Professional Development Committee (PDC) and the WASDA Education Committee.
Keynote
Leadership & Attacking Adversity
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Presenter: Eric Kapitulik, Founder and CEO and Founder, The Program Corporate
Eric Kapitulik will discuss his experiences as a U.S. Marine Corps Infantry and Special Operations Officer, his survival of a tragic helicopter crash that killed 6 of his Marines and his subsequent efforts to raise money for a college scholarship fund for the children of his deceased teammates by competing in the world’s toughest endurance races and climbing the world’s tallest summits.
Key learning points include the following:
- Individuals win “games,” but great teams compete for championships, on any battlefield; and great teams are comprised of great teammates and great team leaders.
- Great teammates consistently meet and exceed two standards (“set the example,” and “hold their teammates accountable”)
- Great team leaders consistently meet and exceed two standards (“accomplish the mission,” and “take care of their people”)
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About the Presenter:
Eric Kapitulik
Born and raised in Thompson, CT, Eric Kapitulik attended Pomfret Preparatory School, where he excelled as a three-sport varsity athlete. Upon graduation, Eric matriculated at the United States Naval Academy, where he was a four-year varsity letter player on the Division I Lacrosse team.
After graduation in 1995, Eric went on to serve in the United States Marine Corps as both an Infantry Officer and Special Operations Officer with 1st Force Reconnaissance Company, 1st Marine Division. As a Platoon Commander within his company, Eric led a team of 20 covert operations specialists on numerous Special Forces-related missions, including long-range reconnaissance patrols, hostage rescues, high-altitude jump exercises, ship takeovers and gas-oil platform takedowns.
In 1999, during a routine training mission to prepare for an upcoming deployment to the Persian Gulf, Eric and his platoon were in a helicopter crash that resulted in the death of seven Marines. In response to this tragedy, Eric created the Force Reconnaissance Scholarship Fund to benefit the children of his fallen men.
Eric left active duty after eight years of service and received his MBA from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business in 2005. He founded The Program in 2008.
Eric holds himself to high standards and always strives to do ONE MORETM. He has participated in eight Ironman Triathlons, The Canadian Death Race Ultra Marathon, The Eco Challenge, and The American Birkebeiner Ski Marathon. He is also an avid mountaineer and has summited five of the Seven Summits (the highest peaks on each of the seven continents): Mt. Kilimanjaro, Mt. McKinley, Mt. Aconcagua, Mt. Elbrus, and, most recently, Mt. Everest.
He is co-author of The Program: Lessons from Elite Military Units for Creating and Sustaining High Performance Leaders and Teams.
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Government Affairs
U.S. Policy Update for Waterworks – Post-election
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Presenter: Zack Perconti, Principal, Government Affairs Solutions, LLC and WASDA Director of Government Affairs
Join us for this update on what is happening on The Hill post-U.S. Presidential Election! It’s a New Year with a new administration in the office. A review of current regulatory activity and the impact of H.R. 3684 – U.S. Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act on the waterworks industry will be addressed.
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About the Presenter:
Zack Perconti
Zack Perconti, a graduate of the College of William & Mary and the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University, has worked on infrastructure and labor issues since 2016. He has deep knowledge of U.S. legislative, budgetary, and regulatory processes and is an expert on grassroots communication. This has translated into high effectiveness in achieving clients’ government-relations objectives. Zack is an accomplished home chef, and he enjoys hiking with his wife, Ariela, and their dog, Sadie.
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Economics
Economic Update: U.S. Economy and the New Administration
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Presenter: Chris Kuehl, Ph.D., Armada Corporate Intelligence
A WASDA Favorite is back. You heard Dr. Kuehl offer an industry-tailored assessment of issues, challenges, and strategies to grow your business in Puerto Rico last February. He’s back in 2025 – post-U.S. Presidential Election – to review what has happened in the U.S. during the past 10 to 12 months and how the new administration could impact your business.
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About the Presenter:
Dr. Christopher Kuehl (PhD)
Chris Kuehl, PhD is a Managing Director of Armada Corporate Intelligence and one of the co-founders of the company in 1999. He has been Armada’s economic analyst and has worked with a wide variety of private clients and professional associations in the last ten years. He is the Chief Economist for the National Association for Credit Management and is on the Board of Advisors for their global division – Finance, Credit and International Business. He prepares NACM’s monthly Credit Managers Index. He is the Economic Analyst for the Fabricators and Manufacturers Association and writes their bi-weekly publication, Fabrinomics, which details the impact of economic trends on the manufacturer.
Chris is the chief editor for the Business Intelligence Briefs, distributed all over the world by business organizations and he is one of the primary writers (with Keith Prather) for the Executive Intelligence Briefs. He also makes close to a hundred presentations each year to business and industry associations in the US and overseas. He is on the Board of the Business Information Industry Association in Hong Kong and serves as a resource for the media and for many trade publications.
Chris has a doctorate in Political Economics and advanced degrees in Soviet Studies and Asian Studies and was a professor of international economics and finance for over 15 years prior to starting Armada.
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Annual Golf Tournament
- When: Tuesday, February 18th, 2025
- Tee Off: 1 PM PST
- Round Fee: $270 + $10 service fee (excludes Golf Club Rentals)
The WASDA Annual Golf Tournament is ideal for an afternoon of sharing and networking.
Wrapping around the back of the JW Marriott, the Valley Course offers challenging bunkers, generous fairways, and undulating greens allowing for an unmatched, scenic golf experience that embraces the resort’s natural beauty.
Golf Club Rentals
Golf Club Rentals are available on a first-come, first-serve basis in 2025. Golfers are responsible for their own golf club rental charges which will be paid on-site. As part of WASDA’s online registration process, golfers will request club rentals (right or left-handed clubs; men’s or women’s clubs). Club rentals are $69 plus taxes and per player. Please plan to pay onsite at the golf course.
It is highly recommended that golfers secure club rentals as soon as possible. WASDA anticipates a higher number of club rentals due to the location of the venue. All club sets are standard length and standard shaft flex. Contact either Todd Iacono - [email protected] or Daniel Horning - [email protected] to secure club rentals or with any additional questions.
Golf Hole Sponsorships
Are you interested in purchasing a Golf Hole Sponsorship?
All proceeds will go to the WASDA Scholarship Fund!
If yes, your company can purchase a Golf Hole Sponsorship for $1,000.00 during registration. All proceeds will go directly to the WASDA Scholarship Fund.
Please note the below items:
- Sponsored flags will be placed on the Ocean Course for the WASDA Golf Tournament on Tuesday, February 18th, 2025.
- Each company will have an exclusive sponsorship of one hole on the golf course. The flag will include the sponsored company's name with the WASDA logo.
- Participation in the WASDA Golf Tournament is not a requirement.
- No refunds will be provided once a sponsorship is purchased.
Please note that there are only 18 sponsorship opportunities. Only one opportunity per company is permitted.
Accommodations
Secure your guestroom at the official hotel now – JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa!
- Rate: $339 US / night plus taxes and resort fee*
- Cut-off Date: Tuesday, January 21st, 2025
- Book Your Reservation
If the group rate is no longer available, prevailing rates may be considered. All reservations must be accompanied by a first night’s room and tax deposit or confirmed via a major credit card.
The current tax on the guestroom rate is 11 percent. There are also the following additional taxes and fees for each guestroom night:
- CA Tourism Fee of District Assessment Tax – 2 percent
- Tourism Marketing District tax – 1 percent
- CA Tourism Fee - $1.15 US.
- Taxes and fees are subject to change.
Check-in & Check-out: is currently at 4:00 PM Pacific Standard Time (PST). Check-out is currently at 11:00 AM Pacific Standard Time (PST).
Cancellation Policy: Guestroom reservations must be cancelled no less than three (3) days or seventy-two (72) hours prior to the arrival date on each reservation to avoid a fee of one night’s room and applicable tax. All no-shows that occur after the group’s reservation cut-off date for the period of main group dates will be charged first night’s room and applicable tax.
*Resort Fee: The Resort fee is discounted to $30+ taxes per night and includes the following items:
- In-room, enhanced WiFi
- Use of Spa Fitness Center
- Access to instructional led fitness classes as available
- Overnight self =parking
- Use of The Greens – miniature 18-hole putting course
- Daily golf bag storage
- Golf driving range
- One-hour hard court and racquet rental for two
- All Tennis Center Lawn Games
- Use of Resort Bicycles
Travel Information
Palm Desert
Located in the heart of Coachella Valley, Palm Desert has long been a destination to Rest, Restore, and Rejuvenate. From scenic places to smiling faces, Palm Desert has a unique rhythm has been represented a number of ways over the years. Here you can engage Hiking, excursions, spa, health and wellness, arts and entertainment.
For further information regarding Palm Desert and the surrounding area, check-out Visit Greater Palm Springs.
Airport
Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) is approximately 30 minutes from the resort. Check flight options accordingly. Note that ground travel times will vary pending time of day and traffic patterns between the airport and the resort. Please plan accordingly. For a map, click here.
Ground Transportation
Click here for information regarding taxis, ride shares, and shuttles between the airport and the JW Marriott.
For car rentals at the airport, click here.
Dining Experiences
It is recommended that advanced reservations are made for restaurants at the resort and off-site.
- On-site Restaurants (at resort):
- There are a few Dining Options at the JW Marriott that should not be overlooked. Visit the following website Dining Options for reservations instructions and days/hours of operation for each venue
- Rockwood Grill
- Blue Star Lounge
- Aquifer65 & The JW Sushi Bar
- Oasis Poolside Bar & Grille
- Mikado Japanese Steakhouse
- Fisherman's Landing
- Spa Bistro
- Off-site Restaurants – Palm Desert
- Enjoy fresh ingredients in the desert landscape! Palm Desert and Palm Springs have several savory options, culinary cuisine, handcrafted cocktails, and more for any palate. For options off-site, select one of the below locations:
For general information on Palm Desert, click here.
For general information on Palm Springs and the surrounding area, click here.
Questions?
If you have any questions, please contact WASDA at [email protected] or 630.672.3670.
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