Water Workforce Summit
Speaker Information

Karlyn Armstrong

Water Resources Specialist, Colorado Water Trust 

Karlyn serves as a Water Resources Specialist with Colorado Water Trust, where she facilitates projects that put water into Colorado’s rivers. She began her career at the Colorado Division of Water Resources, where she supported Colorado water administration and water court proceedings. She later served as Senior Water Resources Engineer and Water Project Mitigation Coordinator at Colorado Parks and Wildlife, working with water project proponents to balance ecological objectives with water supply development while also supporting strategic water rights and engineering projects. Karlyn holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines and a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Colorado Denver.

Jared Coleman

Project Engineer, City of Aurora 

Jared Coleman is a Project Engineer at the City of Aurora, Colorado where he focuses on drainage conformance review for development projects within the City performing the duties of the Floodplain Manager, manages standards, manuals, and guidance documents, mentors early-career staff, and serves as a subject expert within the City for other Departments and staff on drainage facilities and floodplain.

He received a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and a M.S. from Colorado School of Mines, received his Professional Engineering license in 2020 and currently holds his Certificate of Floodplain Management. Jared has been involved in the American Society of Civil Engineers – Colorado since 2014 and an executive member of the Denver branch since 2019. He has been a fervent advocate for student and early-career involvement, putting on ASCE events specifically for students, creating mentor opportunities, and increasing the distribution of student scholarships. Jared is an avid snowboarder and volunteer with Ignite Adaptive Sports, and enjoys martial arts, hiking and D&D.

Andy Cross

Water Resource Engineering Consultant, Ayres Associates

Mr. Cross is a water resource engineering consultant based in Fort Collins, Colorado. His work primarily focuses on hydrology, hydraulics, and bridge scour analysis with an emphasis on automation and software development. Throughout his career, Mr. Cross has worked as the technical lead on a number of computer vision based projects, including looking to identify channel migration using aerial imagery, delineate land cover along stream corridors from drone footage, and identifying sediment fence failures to aid in MS4 permit compliance.

Leah Dory

Law Student, University of Colorado Law School, Boulder 

Leah Dory is a first-year law student at the University of Colorado Law School with a focus on water law and policy. A former Colorado Water Fellow while a student at MSU Denver, Dory now coordinates the program at CU Boulder. Dory’s interests include domestic and international water governance, adaptive allocation systems, and the intersection of law, policy, and community resilience. Outside of academic and professional work, Dory enjoys rock climbing, creating art, working on the family farm, and skiing.

Noelle Fillo

Water Resources Engineer, City of Fort Collins
Education Committee Chair, AWRA Colorado

Noelle is a water resources engineer specializing in basin allocation modeling, municipal supply planning, and water rights optimization. They currently work for the City of Fort Collins and are responsible for managing the City’s water supply model along with other tasks related to the planning, development, use, and protection of present and future water supplies. They also serve as the Education Committee Chair of the American Water Resources Association’s Colorado Section (AWRA Colorado) which requires facilitation of student groups and professional development events/activities.  

Prior to working in Colorado, Noelle worked as a hydraulic and hydrologic (H&H) modeler at a consulting firm in Tempe, Arizona. Noelle received their Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Engineering (Ecological Engineering Concentration) and their Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering (Hydrologic Science and Engineering Concentration) from Colorado State University (go Rams!). 

Noelle will be moderating the AI and the Water Workforce panel with the goal of yielding helpful insights to learners both young and old who want to better understand how AI is changing the skills needed to succeed in the water workforce. 

Paul Formisano

Director, Salazar Rio Grande del Norte Center at Adams State University

Paul Formisano, PhD, is the director of the Salazar Rio Grande del Norte Center at Adams State University where he collaborates with university and community groups to increase understanding about the San Luis Valley’s natural resources.

Raised on the Front Range, Dr. Formisano has spent over 20 years working in higher education throughout the American West teaching courses and writing about literature and Western water development. He recently moved back to Colorado and has loved exploring the Rio Grande Basin with his family.

Jan Harrison

Public Engagement Specialist, City of Fort Collins

Jan Harrison, M.Sc. M.Ed., has been a Public Engagement Specialist with the City of Fort Collins Utilities for almost three years. As part of her role with Utilities, she is leading the effort to develop student interest in municipal water and light & power careers. Having been a public educator and school principal for 20 years, Jan has unique insight into the benefits to students for participating in well-curated job shadows and internships.

Because she has extensive experience interviewing, hiring, and managing employees, as well as having a strong partnership with the local school district and CSU, she is passionate about bridging the gap between these institutions and supporting win-win opportunities for all. She works across departments designing equitable, fun, and engaging career experiences for students from high school through graduate school.

Jan has lived in Fort Collins for over 30 years with her partner, children, and animals, and she loves working with and for her community on the beautiful front range of Colorado.

Matt Hayes

Technical Engineering Manager, Castle Rock Water 

Matthew Hayes is the Technical Engineering Manager at Castle Rock Water. Matt holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines and a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Colorado State University. He is a professional engineer and certified water professional in the state of Colorado.

Matt has worked at Castle Rock Water for over 20 years, first as a project manager and then as a technical engineering manager. Additionally, Matt lectures at the University of Colorado Denver in the Department of Civil Engineering.

Rebecca Hill

Professor, CSU Office of Engagement & Extension 

Rebecca Hill is an Extension Professor in the Office of Engagement and Extension at Colorado State University. She is the Co-Director of the Colorado AgrAbility Project (agrability.colostate.edu) which serves farmers and ranchers with disabilities across the state. Rebecca also teaches for the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at CSU. She currently teaches Agricultural and Enterprise analysis and has also recently taught Water Law, Policies and Institutions as well as Agricultural Marketing. Rebecca’s research interests are in regional economics and focus on issues related to community and economic development.

David LaFrance

CEO, American Water Works Association

David LaFrance leads American Water Works Association, the world’s largest and oldest association of water professionals, with 50,000 members worldwide. Overseeing a staff of approximately 150 in Denver and Washington D.C., LaFrance guides AWWA’s extensive scientific, educational, and public policy work to build a better world through better water. Prior to joining AWWA, he was the CFO for Denver Water, and he was best known for being Denver Water’s first running toilet.

Chané Polo

Executive Director, Colorado Water Congress 

Chané Polo was raised on a horse farm on the outskirts of Venice, Italy until the age of 15, before moving to the family ranch in Paris, Texas. She is fluent in English, Spanish, and Italian, and holds dual citizenship (British and American). Chané obtained her B.A. in Plan II Honors from the University of Texas at Austin in 2011. There, she was also awarded the Dedman Distinguished Scholars Scholarship Award. In December 2015, Chané received both her M.A. and J.D. in Environment and Natural Resources with an Energy concentration from the University of Wyoming. Her Master’s Thesis, Cargo Ship Emissions: Weaknesses of the Current International Regulatory Framework and a Prescription for the Future, analyzed the global ship emissions framework, scrutinized its three main weaknesses, and prescribed a way to modify the framework to reduce harmful ship emissions.

In April 2016, Chané began working at the Colorado Water Congress, and is now the Executive Director. Her growing roles at CWC have enabled her to strengthen her passion for advocacy and water. Chané sat on the Board of the Ditch and Reservoir Company Alliance and is a member of the State Executives Council of the National Water Resources Association.

Danielle Reimanis

Planner I, Larimer County

Danielle Reimanis earned a Bachelor of Science in Ecosystem Science and Sustainability from Colorado State University in 2017 and a Master of Science in Watershed Science in 2021, where she studied how snow and weather affect solar radiation absorption in snowpacks. After graduation, she worked for Fort Collins Utilities as a Water Conservation Specialist, focusing on outdoor irrigation and urban water use. Danielle is now a Planner I with Larimer County, where she works in development review and long-range planning, connecting water resources to land use and leading initiatives such as the County’s first Water Master Plan. Outside of work, she enjoys caring for her pets—including a dog, cat, and aquarium—tending her garden and houseplants, and spending time outdoors biking, hiking, camping, playing ultimate frisbee, and seeking a little bit of adventure wherever she can find it.

Sarah Robinson

Senior Program Manager, US Water Alliance

Sarah Gossett Robinson is a Senior Program Manager at the US Water Alliance, a national nonprofit organization advancing policies and programs that build a sustainable water future for all. At the Alliance, she leads the Water Equity Network’s Workforce Taskforce, which supports communities across the country in implementing equitable water workforce solutions. Sarah has over a decade of experience working in water management, both in the water utility and nonprofit sectors.

Sarah has a master’s in natural resource management and a BS in environmental geosciences, both from Texas A&M University. She’s also a certified Project Management Professional and holds a professional certificate in behavior change for sustainability from University of California, San Diego. Sarah lives just north of Colorado Springs with her husband and dog. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, reading, hiking, and any activity that is on or near a body of water.

Tyler Robinson

Project Manager, Burns & McDonnell
Young Professionals Committee Chair, RMWEA

Tyler Robinson is a project manager in the municipal wastewater division at Burns & McDonnell with twelve years of experience in the water industry. He specializes in water and wastewater treatment, pump station design and hydraulic modeling, and has managed projects ranging from treatment plant expansions to pump station rehabilitations. Tyler currently serves as the Young Professionals Committee Chair for the Rocky Mountain Water Environment Association (RMWEA).

Elizabeth Schoder

Water Supply Planning Section Lead, CWCB

Elizabeth Schoder serves as the Water Supply Planning Section Lead for GIS, Environment and Engagement for the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB). She helps lead water planning efforts related to watershed health, data visualization, community engagement, education and equity initiatives that advance the goals of the Colorado Water Plan and promote greater understanding of complex water issues.

Elizabeth served as the Governor appointee for the Department of Natural Resources on the state’s Environmental Justice Action Task Force and currently serves on the Board of Trustees for Water Education Colorado.

Darrell Whitley

Professor of Computer Science, Colorado State University

Darrell Whitley is Professor of Computer Science at Colorado State University. Professor Whitley created the Artificial Intelligence program at CSU. He is a Fellow of the ACM computer science professional society and was named an IEEE Pioneer for his work in computational intelligence.

He has published more than 200 papers, with an H-index of 74 and more than 34,000 citations. One of his early AI papers used neural networks for river flow prediction.