SacBee Political Columnist to Keynote Summit for State's Water Leaders

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif., July 7, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- California's top water executives will join together for the California Utility Executive Management Association (CUEMA) Annual Leadership Summit September 3-5 in Monterey, California.  Conference attendees will have an opportunity to hear from Dan Walters, the Sacramento Bee's leading political columnist who frequently covers water issues.

Walters, a renowned journalist with a career spanning over 50 years, will speak on the merits of the 2014 water bond and the need to address the Delta to secure supplies across the state. Walters will also highlight the impact state water policy has on local agencies. 

"Walters will bring the unique insight of a veteran Sacramento journalist," said Rick Gilmore, general manager of Byron Bethany Irrigation District and president of CUEMA.  "Industry management needs to hear this perspective to better lead their agencies and ensure reliability for their customers."

Walters has written more than 7,500 columns about California politics and his daily column now appears in more than 50 California newspapers. He is also the author or co-author of several books and the founding editor of the California Political Almanac.

In addition to Walters' keynote, the conference will include panel discussions, giving participants the opportunity to engage in dialogue and share experiences. These discussions will focus on topics such as working effectively with millennials and how local agencies can take advantage of unprecedented opportunities to shape public policy.

The summit will also give public and private sector leaders a chance to collaborate on key regional issues. New general managers and those on executive management teams will benefit from the invaluable perspectives of industry leaders with decades of experience.

Founded in 2010, CUEMA's primary goal is to serve the needs of water utility professionals in California by providing groundbreaking conferences, an arsenal of valuable resources and constant support through mentorship. More information and registration is available online at www.cuema.org.

California Utility Executive Management Association (CUEMA) is a premier group of leaders from public water agencies and their private sector partners. For more information, visit www.cuema.org.

SOURCE California Utility Executive Management Association (CUEMA)