Annual Meeting Education

Keynote Speaker: Matt Beaudreau

Monday, February 17, 2020
8:30 am – 9:45 am

We are delighted to welcome Matt Beaudreau to the Water and Sewer Distributors of America's 41st Annual Meeting to deliver the keynote address.

Biography:
Matthew Beaudreau is a millennial, who has a reputation as a leader in his own generation. He is one of the nation’s most in-demand speakers on the topic of “Bridging the Generational Divide” in the 21st-century Workplace.He was a featured TEDx speaker and named Corporate Trainer of the Year at Stanford University. Matt’s personal experiences employing multiple generations, serving as a school administrator, and being an entrepreneur make him a powerful and action-driving speaker on solving generational challenges with employees and customers. Plan to learn from Matt the shifts that need to occur in hiring and recruitment practices, in workplace management styles and structures, and in intergenerational communication—to make sure the the greatest talent emerging from new generations is being put to the greatest use. 

Register now for the 2020 Annual Meeting in Scottsdale, Arizona beginning February 16 - 19, 2020. 

General Session – "AIS Compliance"

Guest Speaker: Chris Keffer

Monday, February 17, 2020
10:00 am – 11:30 am

The Education Committee is pleased to host this general session with the topic of “AIS Compliance” and special guest speaker Chris Keffer.

Chris Keffer is an award winning political and public affairs consultant with over a decade of experience in the industry. Keffer has been named among the “Top 10 Rising Stars” and “Top 10 Political Consultants Who Lobby” in Capitol Inside’s “Texas Lobby Power Rankings.” Chris is versatile at crafting, implementing and leading strategic public affairs and communications plans. He has years of experience guiding both private corporations and government entities on interests ranging from oil and gas exploration, emergency response systems, domestic manufacturing, utility rehabilitation, water districts and infrastructure.   Chris is also recognized as one of the leading consultants specializing in the many different domestic specifications related to federal, state and local funding sources for water and transportation infrastructure projects—including the EPA’s American Iron and Steel requirements.  He has worked with Congress and many state legislatures to help draft and pass these requirements as well as to educate both public and private entities on compliance issues and proper application. Chris grew up in the water/wastewater infrastructure industry and learned the value of hard work early in life by working at his family’s iron foundry—EBAA Iron. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Public Relations from Texas Tech University.  Prior to founding The Iron Group, Chris was the Vice President of Government Relations for Vortex Infrastructure—a national trenchless rehabilitation product manufacturer and applicator.  He also worked for the legendary Texas based public affairs firm The Eppstein Group where he served as the Managing Director of the firm’s Austin Office.  Chris is currently a member of the Texas Tech Chancellor’s Council. He and his wife live in Austin with their two young children. 
 

Pre-Registration is REQUIRED for participation.