Water Workforce
Summit & Career Fair
Engage. Connect. Inspire. Transform.
Discover the 2026 Water Workforce Summit Speakers
The Colorado Water Center team is excited to host our registered attendees, speakers, and panelists at CSU Spur, Hydro on Thursday, February 12 for the 2026 Water Workforce Summit.
The Water Workforce Summit and Career Fair event series
The Colorado Water Center’s Water Workforce Summit and Career Fair launched in April 2024 as an opportunity to convene students, water industry professionals and employers, water-related educators and trainers, workforce development specialists, and other stakeholders to discuss and address water workforce needs across the state.
Held every other year, the Water Workforce Summit is a day of water education and workforce stakeholder engagement with a keynote speaker, panel discussions, and breakout group work.
The Water Workforce Career Fair takes place every year, connecting water workforce professionals, organizations, and businesses, with students from Colorado State University, technical colleges, high school programs, and other institutions of higher learning.
The next Water Workforce event series will be the 2026 Water Workforce Summit & Career Fair on February 12-13, 2026 at CSU Spur in Denver with the Water Workforce Summit being held on Thursday, February 12 and the Career Fair on Friday, February 13.
Registration is now closed for 2026. Join the waitlist here!
Thursday, February 12, 2026
The Water Workforce Summit
Join us at CSU Spur, Hydro for a full day of water education and workforce stakeholder engagement to address Colorado’s water workforce needs.
- $100 general registration through January 30, 2026
- FREE for students
Friday, February 13, 2026
The Water Workforce Career Fair
Connecting water workforce professionals and organizations with students from CSU and beyond.
- $25 exhibitor registration (free for exhibitor Summit attendees) through January 30, 2026
- FREE for students and all attendees
2026 Water Workforce Event Agendas
Summit Agenda 2026
Thursday, February 12
| 8-8:30 a.m. | Registration & Light Breakfast |
|---|---|
| 8:30-8:45 a.m. | Welcome & Introduction |
| 8:45-9:30 a.m. | Keynote – “Tap Into: Systems Learning for Systems“ Speaker: David LaFrance, CEO of American Water Works Association |
| 9:30-10:20 a.m. | Panel #1: Artificial Intelligence & the Water Workforce – How AI & Machine Learning are Changing the Workforce Landscape Panelists: Karlyn Armstrong, Colorado Water Trust Andy Cross, Ayres Associates Matt Hayes, Castle Rock Water Darrell Whitley, Department of Computer Science, Colorado State University Noelle Fillo, City of Fort Collins; AWRA Colorado Education Committee [Moderator] |
| 10:20-10:40 a.m. | Table Discussion #1 |
| 10:40-11:00 a.m. | Break |
| 11-11:50 a.m. | Panel #2: So We Need More People, Where Do I Start? Attracting and Transitioning Talent into the Water Workforce Panelists: Jared Coleman, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Denver Branch Rebecca Hill, Office of Engagement & Extension, Colorado State University Chané Polo, Colorado Water Congress Danielle Reimanis, Larimer County Tyler Robinson, Rocky Mountain Water Environment Association, Student and Young Professional Committee (RMWEA-SYPC) Paul Formisano, Salazar Rio Grande del Norte Center, Adams State University [Moderator] |
| 11:50-12:10 p.m. | Table Discussion #2 |
| 12:10-1:10 p.m. | Lunch |
| 1:10-1:30 p.m. | Water Education & Workforce Resource Hub |
| 1:35-3:15 p.m. | Breakout Sessions: Topic 1: Industry-Education Partnerships & Funding Opportunities in Times of Change Topic 2: Water Education & Workforce Resource Hub Topic 3: AI & the Water Workforce Topic 4: Positive Intergenerational Environments in the Workplace |
| 3:15-3:30 p.m. | |
| 3:30-4:15 p.m. | Panel #3: The Two-Year Review – Progress, Successes, & Lessons Learned from the 2024 Water Workforce Summit Panelists: Leah Dory, University of Colorado at Boulder Jan Harrison, City of Fort Collins Sarah Robinson, US Water Alliance Elizabeth Schoder, Colorado Water Conservation Board [Moderator] |
| 4:15-4:35 p.m. | Table Discussion #3: Takeaways, Actions from Summit |
| 4:35-4:45 p.m. | Closing Remarks |
| 4:45-6:00 p.m. | Happy Hour & Networking |
Career Fair Agenda 2026
Friday, February 13
| 8-8:45 a.m. | Exhibitor Table Check-In & Set Up, Hydro Lobby and Confluence Theater |
|---|---|
| 8:45 a.m. | Career Fair Check-In Begins |
| 9-1:00 p.m. | Career Fair, Hydro Lobby and Confluence Theater |
| 11:30-12:30 p.m. | Lunch Available, Hydro 2nd Floor |
| 12-1:00 p.m. | Student & Professionals Networking Hydro 2nd Floor Classrooms: Cottonwood Creek Bear Creek Willow Creek Spring Creek |
| 1-1:30 p.m. | Exhibitor Table Breakdown, Hydro Lobby and Confluence Theater |
Highly energizing. The mix of young people and seasoned pros was synergistic.
2024 Water Workforce Summit Attendee
Water Professional & Educator
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