CASA and CWEA Presents: Catch the Wave: Building the Future Workforce through Local Student Water Education Events - Live Webinar

  • Registration Closed
image

Free for Members & Non-Members

Contact Hours:  1.8 contact hours towards CWEA certifications: ALL

This webinar provides public agencies with a practical roadmap for hosting immersive, hands-on field days that bring water careers to life. Featuring successful case studies from Roseville, Leucadia, San Elijo, and Olivenhain, this session provides the tools that agencies of any size may need to build local school partnerships and design interactive demonstrations that inspire the next generation of water professionals. Webinar participants will learn how to leverage their existing community and education programs to build strategic partnerships with high schools and community colleges to connect to students exploring career fields. The session will offer step-by-step instructions for designing interactive demonstrations that give students a tangible understanding of public agency careers to show them the value, impact, and benefits of working in the water industry.

Learning Objectives
Adapt Existing Programs: Learn how to use your agency’s current community outreach efforts and materials to build a successful field day event.
Build Local Connections: Identify effective ways to reach out to high schools and community colleges to introduce students to clean water careers.
Host Hands-On Activities: Gain practical, step-by-step instructions for setting up interactive on-site demonstrations that show students what it is like to work at a public agency.
 
Speakers
Ryan Green, Leucadia
Tom Falk, San Elijo
TBD, Olivenhain
Brayden Mitchell, Roseville
 
Moderator:
Gregoria Estrada, HDR
 
Agenda
Intro – Gregorio (5 mins)
Roseville (30 mins)
  Q&A (5 mins)
Leucadia, San Elijo, Olivenhain (35 mins)
  Q&A (15 mins)








Gregorio Estrada, PE

Gregorio Estrada, PE (Moderator)

Southwest Region Wastewater Treatment Practice Lead

HDR Engineering, Inc.

Gregorio brings more than 25 years of experience delivering major water and wastewater projects for public agencies across California. With expertise in nutrient removal, membrane treatment processes, and disinfection, he is widely regarded as a trusted technical advisor to utilities navigating evolving regulatory and operational challenges. Beyond his project leadership, Gregorio has been a champion for nurturing the next generation of water professionals, leading numerous internal and external training initiatives focused on treatment facility operations, process optimization, design tools, and data analytics—efforts that have strengthened staff capability, improved institutional knowledge, and supported long-term workforce retention. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Stanford University, and is a licensed Civil Engineer in California.

Tom Falk

Tom Falk

Deputy General Manager

San Elijo Joint Powers Authority

Tom Falk is the Deputy General Manager for San Elijo Joint Powers Authority. He graduated from San Diego State University and is a registered Civil Engineer and certified Project Management Professional.

Tom spent the first 20 years of his career as a consultant engineer leading multi-discipline teams to deliver treatment plant, pump station, and pipeline projects for public agencies throughout southern California. At San Elijo, he oversees the capital infrastructure program and maintenance department.

Tom is an active and long-time member of CWEA and a member of the 5S (Select Society of Sanitary Sludge Shovelers) since 2019. He also served in leadership roles with WateReuse, as president for the San Diego Chapter and a Trustee to the California Section.

Ryan Green

Ryan Green

Director of Finance & Administration

Leucadia Wastewater District

Ryan Green has been the Director of Finance & Administration for the Leucadia Wastewater District in Carlsbad, California since 2022. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business and Economics, and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration. Prior to Leucadia, Ryan worked for the City of Carlsbad as their Finance Director after serving as NATO’s Financial Analysis and Accounting Policy Officer.

Brayden Mitchell

Brayden Mitchell

Supervisor Utility Exploration Center

City of Roseville

Brayden Mitchell is the Utility Exploration Center Supervisor for the City of Roseville, a hands-on learning center where he and his team provide education and outreach programs for Roseville’s suite of community-owned utilities including water, electric, waste, stormwater and wastewater.

With more than 25 years of experience in environmental education, Brayden has built an impressive career, also working in renowned locations like Mount St Helens National Monument and Rocky Mountain National Park. His diverse background has sharpened his skills in leadership, communication, visitor center management, event planning, and educational programming for all age groups. 

 Brayden’s passion lies in fostering connections between visitors and their natural resources, recognizing that understanding leads to appreciation and, ultimately, conservation and living sustainably. 

 A proud graduate of Cal Poly Humboldt with a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources Planning and Interpretation, along with a minor in Geology, Brayden brings a solid academic foundation to his work.

Registrants who view the live webinar to see the slides and hear the audio and then enter the correct attention check codes (directions below) will receive 1.8 contact hours towards CWEA certifications: ALL

To receive your contact hours for viewing the live webinar, please note the two (2) different attention check codes that will be displayed at two different points during the webinar in the top right corner of the presentation for approximately 90 seconds.  Please enter these codes as 1st attention check code – 2nd attention check code (XXXX-XXXX) in the Attention Check Code component under the "Contents" tab.  

Please note, all user activity of CWEA certification holders on the Online Wastewater Education Network is subject to the CWEA Code of Ethics standards for professional conduct and ethics. Certification holders should receive credit for a training only once within the same contact hour period. Any attempt to undermine the certification process may be subject to ethics procedures and possible sanctions. It is not possible to receive contact hours for both attending the live webinar and viewing the recording.  

Once you have entered the correct attendance check codes, you will be able to create and download an electronic certificate of completion under the "Contents" tab.

Key:

Complete
Failed
Available
Locked
CASA and CWEA Presents: Catch the Wave: Building the Future Workforce through Local Student Water Education Events - Live Webinar
04/29/2026 at 1:00 PM (PDT)  |  90 minutes
04/29/2026 at 1:00 PM (PDT)  |  90 minutes PLEASE USE GOOGLE CHROME, MICROSOFT EDGE OR FIREFOX TO ACCESSS THIS WEBINAR.
Evaluation of Program
8 Questions
8 Questions Thank you for attending this program. Please provide your feedback and suggestions as they are greatly appreciated.
Attendance Check Codes
Enter code to continue.
Enter code to continue. To receive your contact hours for viewing the recording, please note the two (2) different attention check codes that will be displayed at two different points during the webinar in the top left or right corner of the presentation for approximately 90 seconds. Please enter these codes as 1st attention check code – 2nd attention check code (XXXX-XXXX) in the Attention Check Code component under the "Contents" tab. Once you have entered the correct attendance check codes, you will be able to create and download an electronic "Certificate of Completion" under the "Contents" tab.
Certificate of Completion
1.80 Contact Hours Towards CWEA Certifications: ALL credits  |  Certificate available
1.80 Contact Hours Towards CWEA Certifications: ALL credits  |  Certificate available Please do not return this certificate to CWEA when applying for or renewing your CWEA Certification(s). These contact hours will be reflected in your mycwea.org account within 2-3 weeks following completion.