2019 Speaker Bios
Speaker bios will be updated more soon! Please check back.
Wednesday, January 9th, 2019
Construction
Brian Hollis
Reclamation Technical Service Center
Brian Hollis is a Professional Engineer licensed in the state of Montana and graduated from Montana State University in 2003 with my Bachelors of Science in Civil Engineering. He began his professional career with the Bureau of Reclamation in 1999 as an intern and has worked in Construction Management his whole career. Brian started with Reclamation in Billings, Montana with the Construction Management group for the Great Plains Regional Office, then was promoted to the supervisor of our Mobile Division in 2011 where he managed their field crew, which brought him to Red Willow Dam. He continued to manage Dam Safety projects for the Region until 2014 when he was promoted to Regional Construction Engineer. He worked as the RCE for a year until he moved to their Technical Service Center in Denver, CO accepting a Construction Liaison position for Reclamation where he remains today.
Reclamation Technical Service Center
Brian Hollis is a Professional Engineer licensed in the state of Montana and graduated from Montana State University in 2003 with my Bachelors of Science in Civil Engineering. He began his professional career with the Bureau of Reclamation in 1999 as an intern and has worked in Construction Management his whole career. Brian started with Reclamation in Billings, Montana with the Construction Management group for the Great Plains Regional Office, then was promoted to the supervisor of our Mobile Division in 2011 where he managed their field crew, which brought him to Red Willow Dam. He continued to manage Dam Safety projects for the Region until 2014 when he was promoted to Regional Construction Engineer. He worked as the RCE for a year until he moved to their Technical Service Center in Denver, CO accepting a Construction Liaison position for Reclamation where he remains today.
Brett Skinner
Mirage Flats Irrigation District
Mirage Flats Irrigation District
Tad C. Moen
North Poudre Irrigation Company
I am fifth generation on a family ran ranch in Virginia Dale, Colorado. Went to Poudre high school, with wrestling and rodeo being the main sports I focused on. Two weeks after graduation I joined the United States Marine Corps. After several tours over seas my enlistment ended. Traveling up the coast I enrolled at Chico state to study mechanical engineering. Sometime went by my help was needed back in Colorado. When I returned, I worked on the southside ditches of Ft. Collins learning about the basin and logistics of Poudre River. A position came open with North Poudre Irrigation as a ditch rider in 2014. Taking full advantage of it I applied. The next year I was promoted to Operations manager. The year after that I was named interim manager. At the beginning of 2017 I was named General manager and am very excided about the endless possibilities that are to come.
North Poudre Irrigation Company
I am fifth generation on a family ran ranch in Virginia Dale, Colorado. Went to Poudre high school, with wrestling and rodeo being the main sports I focused on. Two weeks after graduation I joined the United States Marine Corps. After several tours over seas my enlistment ended. Traveling up the coast I enrolled at Chico state to study mechanical engineering. Sometime went by my help was needed back in Colorado. When I returned, I worked on the southside ditches of Ft. Collins learning about the basin and logistics of Poudre River. A position came open with North Poudre Irrigation as a ditch rider in 2014. Taking full advantage of it I applied. The next year I was promoted to Operations manager. The year after that I was named interim manager. At the beginning of 2017 I was named General manager and am very excided about the endless possibilities that are to come.
Multi-Generational Workforce & Power of Polarity
Bridget M. Morris, M. Ed.
Mountain States Employers Council
Bridget is a member of the Organizational Development and Learning group at Mountain States Employers Council, an association organized to facilitate effective employer-employee relationships within the business community.
She holds a Master’s in Education from American University in Washington DC and a Bachelor’s degree from Purdue University in Communications and English. She is a facilitator and consultant, working with leaders of organizations about their training and development needs in such areas as: effective communication, conflict prevention and resolution, navigating change, the development of presentation and training skills, and interpersonal and group dynamics. Bridget is certified in Conflict and Mediation training, 360 Profilor assessment, Radical Collaboration and a Certified Executive Coach from the New Ventures West program in San Francisco.
Bridget brings a rich background to her current role having worked in both public and private education, recruitment, and curriculum design.
Phone: (303)839-5177
Email:BMorris@employerscouncil.org
Mountain States Employers Council
Bridget is a member of the Organizational Development and Learning group at Mountain States Employers Council, an association organized to facilitate effective employer-employee relationships within the business community.
She holds a Master’s in Education from American University in Washington DC and a Bachelor’s degree from Purdue University in Communications and English. She is a facilitator and consultant, working with leaders of organizations about their training and development needs in such areas as: effective communication, conflict prevention and resolution, navigating change, the development of presentation and training skills, and interpersonal and group dynamics. Bridget is certified in Conflict and Mediation training, 360 Profilor assessment, Radical Collaboration and a Certified Executive Coach from the New Ventures West program in San Francisco.
Bridget brings a rich background to her current role having worked in both public and private education, recruitment, and curriculum design.
Phone: (303)839-5177
Email:BMorris@employerscouncil.org
Canal Maintenance & Operation
David Ford
Central Nebraska Public Power & Irrigation District
Dave was raised on a farm in Gosper County, near Bertrand, Nebraska. He began his career in the water business as an Irrigation Patrolman, with the Central Nebraska Public Power & Irrigation District in 1987. He has served at Central as Operations and Maintenance Coordinator and Customer Service Supervisor and currently is the Irrigation Division Manager.
Dave has been active with the Four States Irrigation Council and the Nebraska State Irrigation Association.
Dave and his wife, Leigh reside in Bertrand. They are members of Hope Lutheran Church and are involved in many school and community activities. They have been blessed with four children, Lucas and his wife, Cynthe; Seth and his wife, Keshia; James and his wife Ashley and Rachel and her husband Dalton and nine grandchildren.
Phone: (308)995-3562
Email: dford@cnppid.com
Central Nebraska Public Power & Irrigation District
Dave was raised on a farm in Gosper County, near Bertrand, Nebraska. He began his career in the water business as an Irrigation Patrolman, with the Central Nebraska Public Power & Irrigation District in 1987. He has served at Central as Operations and Maintenance Coordinator and Customer Service Supervisor and currently is the Irrigation Division Manager.
Dave has been active with the Four States Irrigation Council and the Nebraska State Irrigation Association.
Dave and his wife, Leigh reside in Bertrand. They are members of Hope Lutheran Church and are involved in many school and community activities. They have been blessed with four children, Lucas and his wife, Cynthe; Seth and his wife, Keshia; James and his wife Ashley and Rachel and her husband Dalton and nine grandchildren.
Phone: (308)995-3562
Email: dford@cnppid.com
Thursday, January 10th, 2019
Telemetry & Automation
Brad Edgerton
Frenchman-Cambrdige Irrigation District
Present Affiliation: Manager, Frenchman-Cambridge Irrigation District, 2009 to present. Prior Affiliations: State of Nebraska, Department of Natural Resources, 1983 to 2008, Field Office Supervisor for the Republican River Basin, 2000-2008.
I started out my career as a field technician, collecting water resource data within the Republican River Basin and worked my way into management and administration. The past 10 years I’ve worked for Frenchman Cambridge Irrigation District. It’s been a great challenge updating and modernizing a 70-year-old irrigation project.
Frenchman-Cambrdige Irrigation District
Present Affiliation: Manager, Frenchman-Cambridge Irrigation District, 2009 to present. Prior Affiliations: State of Nebraska, Department of Natural Resources, 1983 to 2008, Field Office Supervisor for the Republican River Basin, 2000-2008.
I started out my career as a field technician, collecting water resource data within the Republican River Basin and worked my way into management and administration. The past 10 years I’ve worked for Frenchman Cambridge Irrigation District. It’s been a great challenge updating and modernizing a 70-year-old irrigation project.
Brian Mitchem
Mountain Peaks Controls
Brian Mitchem is the MPC Vice President/Project Manager based out of the Paonia Office. Brian has over 30+ years of experience and has earned his degree in AAS Instrumentation Technology from Colorado Northwestern CC and now heads MPC’s western slope operations. His 30+ years of experience in the automation controls industry includes providing solutions for all phases of controls design, integration, and project management in environments such as water/wastewater treatment, irrigation, and manufacturing.
Experience Highlights
Email: bmitchem@mountainpeakcontrols.com
Mountain Peaks Controls
Brian Mitchem is the MPC Vice President/Project Manager based out of the Paonia Office. Brian has over 30+ years of experience and has earned his degree in AAS Instrumentation Technology from Colorado Northwestern CC and now heads MPC’s western slope operations. His 30+ years of experience in the automation controls industry includes providing solutions for all phases of controls design, integration, and project management in environments such as water/wastewater treatment, irrigation, and manufacturing.
Experience Highlights
- Fire Mountain Canal
- Bostwick Park Water Conservancy District
- Cripple Creek Water Treatment Plant Control System UpgradeGlacier Club Water Treatment Plant Control System Upgrade
- Ute Water Controls
- Snowmass Water & Sanitation District Water Treatment Plant SCADA Upgrade
Email: bmitchem@mountainpeakcontrols.com
Tom Gill
Technical Services Center at The Bureau of Reclamation
Tom has been employed as a Hydraulic Engineer at Reclamation’s Hydraulic Laboratory in Denver since 2001. In recent years most of his work at Reclamation has been working with irrigation districts in multiple states in developing and installing cost-effective canal modernization systems. Prior to coming to Reclamation, Tom operated his family’s irrigated farm and ranch operation in the South Platte valley of northeastern Colorado. Tom and his wife Lori continue to live on and manage their farm/ranch operation.
Technical Services Center at The Bureau of Reclamation
Tom has been employed as a Hydraulic Engineer at Reclamation’s Hydraulic Laboratory in Denver since 2001. In recent years most of his work at Reclamation has been working with irrigation districts in multiple states in developing and installing cost-effective canal modernization systems. Prior to coming to Reclamation, Tom operated his family’s irrigated farm and ranch operation in the South Platte valley of northeastern Colorado. Tom and his wife Lori continue to live on and manage their farm/ranch operation.
Platte River Recovery Implementation Program update
Dennis Strauch
Pathfinder Irrigation District
The General Manager for the Pathfinder Irrigation District since 1990, with over 30 years of experience in irrigation system management. Oversees the operation of one of the largest irrigation district in Nebraska, serving over 865 irrigators with water for 118,000 acres in Western Nebraska and Eastern Wyoming.
Involvement:
• Represents the water users above Lake McConaughy on the Governance Committee for the Plate River Recovery Implementation Program. A position he has held since 1997.
• Governor appointment to serve on the Water Policy Task Force and the Water Funding Task Force representing surface water irrigators.
• Past President and current Secretary/Treasurer for the Nebraska State Irrigation Association.
• Secretary for the North Platte Valley Water Association.
• Past President of the Four States Irrigation Council.
• Past member of the Water Research Advisory Panel for the University of Nebraska. • Appointed to represent irrigation districts on the Nebraska Natural Resources Commission. Currently Chairman of the Commission 2017-18.
• Member & Past President of the Scottsbluff/Gering Chamber Agribusiness Committee.
• Director/Officer on the Mitchell Foundation for Academic Excellence.
Awards:
• Named Scottsbluff Star-Herald Citizen of the Year 2007
• 2003 Outstanding Service Award from the University of Nebraska Panhandle Research & Extension Center.
• Presidents Award from the Nebraska State Irrigation Association.
• 2010 Nebraska Headgate Award Recipient
• Named to the Nebraska Hall of Agricultural Achievement - 2016
Pathfinder Irrigation District
The General Manager for the Pathfinder Irrigation District since 1990, with over 30 years of experience in irrigation system management. Oversees the operation of one of the largest irrigation district in Nebraska, serving over 865 irrigators with water for 118,000 acres in Western Nebraska and Eastern Wyoming.
Involvement:
• Represents the water users above Lake McConaughy on the Governance Committee for the Plate River Recovery Implementation Program. A position he has held since 1997.
• Governor appointment to serve on the Water Policy Task Force and the Water Funding Task Force representing surface water irrigators.
• Past President and current Secretary/Treasurer for the Nebraska State Irrigation Association.
• Secretary for the North Platte Valley Water Association.
• Past President of the Four States Irrigation Council.
• Past member of the Water Research Advisory Panel for the University of Nebraska. • Appointed to represent irrigation districts on the Nebraska Natural Resources Commission. Currently Chairman of the Commission 2017-18.
• Member & Past President of the Scottsbluff/Gering Chamber Agribusiness Committee.
• Director/Officer on the Mitchell Foundation for Academic Excellence.
Awards:
• Named Scottsbluff Star-Herald Citizen of the Year 2007
• 2003 Outstanding Service Award from the University of Nebraska Panhandle Research & Extension Center.
• Presidents Award from the Nebraska State Irrigation Association.
• 2010 Nebraska Headgate Award Recipient
• Named to the Nebraska Hall of Agricultural Achievement - 2016
George Oamek
Headwaters Corporation
George Oamek is an Economist with Headwaters Corporation, splitting his time between the PRRIP and the firm’s other efforts. He manages Headwaters’ Omaha office. George has an Iowa farm background and still operates the family farm near Omaha, NE, but was not introduced to irrigation until attending CSU in the late 1970’s. Between throwing siphon tubes at a Weld County operation during the summer and taking Irrigation class from Dr. Bob Danielson, he was hooked. He completed his BS and MS in Agricultural Economics at CSU and, later, a Ph.D. from Iowa State University.
George spent the bulk of his career in the engineering consulting business, working for two of the larger firms in the business, Ch2M Hill and HDR Engineering, where he crossed paths with, and later became a co-worker of Jerry Kenny’s. After formation of the PRRIP, he became a Special Adviser to the PRRIP for Economics and later joined the Executive Director’s staff.
Headwaters Corporation
George Oamek is an Economist with Headwaters Corporation, splitting his time between the PRRIP and the firm’s other efforts. He manages Headwaters’ Omaha office. George has an Iowa farm background and still operates the family farm near Omaha, NE, but was not introduced to irrigation until attending CSU in the late 1970’s. Between throwing siphon tubes at a Weld County operation during the summer and taking Irrigation class from Dr. Bob Danielson, he was hooked. He completed his BS and MS in Agricultural Economics at CSU and, later, a Ph.D. from Iowa State University.
George spent the bulk of his career in the engineering consulting business, working for two of the larger firms in the business, Ch2M Hill and HDR Engineering, where he crossed paths with, and later became a co-worker of Jerry Kenny’s. After formation of the PRRIP, he became a Special Adviser to the PRRIP for Economics and later joined the Executive Director’s staff.
State of the States
Kevin Rein
Colorado Division of Water Resources
Kevin Rein is the State Engineer and Director of the Colorado Division of Water Resources, also known as the State Engineer’s Office. Kevin directs the performance of the division’s responsibilities, which include administration of water rights in Colorado, issuing well permits, performing administrative approvals for water use, administering programs that ensure the safety of dams and the safe construction of water wells, managing compliance with interstate compacts, and providing information and education resources to the public. He has worked at the Division of Water Resources for 21 years.
Colorado Division of Water Resources
Kevin Rein is the State Engineer and Director of the Colorado Division of Water Resources, also known as the State Engineer’s Office. Kevin directs the performance of the division’s responsibilities, which include administration of water rights in Colorado, issuing well permits, performing administrative approvals for water use, administering programs that ensure the safety of dams and the safe construction of water wells, managing compliance with interstate compacts, and providing information and education resources to the public. He has worked at the Division of Water Resources for 21 years.
Earl Lewis, P.E.
Kansas Water Office
Earl Lewis is the Assistant Director of the Kansas Water Office. Earl has been with the Kansas Water Office since 1999 and was named Assistant Director in 2007. In this role he oversees the ongoing Kansas water planning effort and management of the state’s reservoir storage system. In 2013, he was appointed by the Governor to serve on the Water Vision Team developing the Long Term Vision for the Future of Water Supply in Kansas. Earl currently serves as President of the National Water Supply Alliance, a group focused on reservoir water supply and federal policy. He also serves as a director on the Interstate Council on Water Policy and as an alternate for the Western States Water Council. Previously, he worked with the KDA-Division of Water Resources on a variety of issues ranging from management and compliance of water rights to interstate litigation. Earl graduated from the University of Kansas with a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering in 1992. He is a licensed professional engineer in the State of Kansas. He and his wife Shari live in Topeka and have two sons.
Kansas Water Office
Earl Lewis is the Assistant Director of the Kansas Water Office. Earl has been with the Kansas Water Office since 1999 and was named Assistant Director in 2007. In this role he oversees the ongoing Kansas water planning effort and management of the state’s reservoir storage system. In 2013, he was appointed by the Governor to serve on the Water Vision Team developing the Long Term Vision for the Future of Water Supply in Kansas. Earl currently serves as President of the National Water Supply Alliance, a group focused on reservoir water supply and federal policy. He also serves as a director on the Interstate Council on Water Policy and as an alternate for the Western States Water Council. Previously, he worked with the KDA-Division of Water Resources on a variety of issues ranging from management and compliance of water rights to interstate litigation. Earl graduated from the University of Kansas with a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering in 1992. He is a licensed professional engineer in the State of Kansas. He and his wife Shari live in Topeka and have two sons.
Harry Labonde
Wyoming Water Development Office
Harry LaBonde serves as the Director of the Wyoming Water Development Office. His responsibilities include overall management of the agency which is charged with developing Wyoming’s water resources. Specific agency tasks include state water planning, water conservation and rehabilitation projects, weather modification efforts, and the development of new water resource projects such as reservoirs, transmission pipelines and storage tanks.
Mr. LaBonde is a 1976 graduate of Colorado State University with a degree in civil engineering. Upon graduation, he was employed by a national consulting engineering firm in which he specialized in water and wastewater treatment projects. In 1991, he was given an opportunity to work in the public sector when he became the City of Riverton, Wyoming’s Public Works Director. He continued his work in the municipal government sector when he was hired as the City of Laramie, Wyoming’s Public Works Director in 1997 and later as its City Manager in 2000. From 2003-2012 he served as Wyoming’s Deputy State Engineer and was then appointed to his current position in July of 2012.
Wyoming Water Development Office
Harry LaBonde serves as the Director of the Wyoming Water Development Office. His responsibilities include overall management of the agency which is charged with developing Wyoming’s water resources. Specific agency tasks include state water planning, water conservation and rehabilitation projects, weather modification efforts, and the development of new water resource projects such as reservoirs, transmission pipelines and storage tanks.
Mr. LaBonde is a 1976 graduate of Colorado State University with a degree in civil engineering. Upon graduation, he was employed by a national consulting engineering firm in which he specialized in water and wastewater treatment projects. In 1991, he was given an opportunity to work in the public sector when he became the City of Riverton, Wyoming’s Public Works Director. He continued his work in the municipal government sector when he was hired as the City of Laramie, Wyoming’s Public Works Director in 1997 and later as its City Manager in 2000. From 2003-2012 he served as Wyoming’s Deputy State Engineer and was then appointed to his current position in July of 2012.
Bureau of Reclamation Area Manager Update
Luncheon Program
Pat O' Toole
Family Farm Alliance
Patrick O’Toole, a member of the Family Farm Alliance’s Board of Directors since 1998 and a former member of Wyoming’s House of Representatives, was named as the organization’s fifth President in March 2005.
O’Toole is a cattle and sheep rancher and hay grower with strong backgrounds in irrigated agriculture and Wyoming politics. He and his family live near Savery, Wyoming. Mr. O’Toole and his wife, Sharon, live on a ranch that has been in her family since 1881. It straddles the Wyoming-Colorado border and has long afforded Mr. O’Toole the opportunity to view some unique water issues, first hand.
He served in Wyoming’s 64-member House from 1986-92. His assignments included a Select Water Committee and the Agriculture and Water committees. He and others in his region struggled for years to get a scaled-down storage project, Upper Savery Reservoir, developed. The lake is now delivering water. Pat O’Toole’s interest in water intersected with the Family Farm Alliance while he was serving on the Clinton administration’s Western Water Policy Review Advisory Commission. Mr. O’Toole was the only commissioner representing Western irrigated agriculture and, in the end, refused to sign the report, opting instead to prepare a dissenting alternative report.
Mr. O’Toole is presently serving on the Advisory Committee for AGree, a national agricultural policy group.
The O’Toole family and Ladder Ranch were the recipients of the distinguished 2014 Wyoming Leopold Environmental Stewardship Award. Water is listed as a top priority in the discussion.
Pat and Sharon met while students at Colorado State University (where Pat graduated with a degree in philosophy). They have three children, including a daughter and son, and six grandchildren living on the ranch. Another daughter lives in Denver with her husband.
Family Farm Alliance
Patrick O’Toole, a member of the Family Farm Alliance’s Board of Directors since 1998 and a former member of Wyoming’s House of Representatives, was named as the organization’s fifth President in March 2005.
O’Toole is a cattle and sheep rancher and hay grower with strong backgrounds in irrigated agriculture and Wyoming politics. He and his family live near Savery, Wyoming. Mr. O’Toole and his wife, Sharon, live on a ranch that has been in her family since 1881. It straddles the Wyoming-Colorado border and has long afforded Mr. O’Toole the opportunity to view some unique water issues, first hand.
He served in Wyoming’s 64-member House from 1986-92. His assignments included a Select Water Committee and the Agriculture and Water committees. He and others in his region struggled for years to get a scaled-down storage project, Upper Savery Reservoir, developed. The lake is now delivering water. Pat O’Toole’s interest in water intersected with the Family Farm Alliance while he was serving on the Clinton administration’s Western Water Policy Review Advisory Commission. Mr. O’Toole was the only commissioner representing Western irrigated agriculture and, in the end, refused to sign the report, opting instead to prepare a dissenting alternative report.
Mr. O’Toole is presently serving on the Advisory Committee for AGree, a national agricultural policy group.
The O’Toole family and Ladder Ranch were the recipients of the distinguished 2014 Wyoming Leopold Environmental Stewardship Award. Water is listed as a top priority in the discussion.
Pat and Sharon met while students at Colorado State University (where Pat graduated with a degree in philosophy). They have three children, including a daughter and son, and six grandchildren living on the ranch. Another daughter lives in Denver with her husband.
History
Tom Cech
One World One Water Center
Tom Cech was born and raised on a farm near Clarkson, Nebraska, graduated from Kearney State College with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Math Education, and later received a Masters Degree in Community and Regional Planning from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. He was Executive Director of the Central Colorado Water Conservancy District in Greeley, taught water undergraduate and graduate level water resources courses at the University of Northern Colorado and Colorado State University, and is now the Director of the One World One Water (OWOW) Center for Urban Water Education and Stewardship at Metropolitan State University of Denver.
Tom wrote “Principles of Water Resources: History, Development, Management and Policy,” published by John Wiley & Sons - currently in its 4th edition and translated into Portuguese. Tom also recently published “Introduction to Water Resources and Environmental Issues,” (co-author Dr. Karrie Pennington) with Cambridge University Press and translated into Arabic, and “Colorado Water Law for Non-Lawyers,” (co-author P. Andrew Jones) with the University Press of Colorado. He has also completed histories of the Colorado Water Conservation Board and the Colorado State Engineer’s Office with Bill McDonald and Dick Stenzel, respectively.
One World One Water Center
Tom Cech was born and raised on a farm near Clarkson, Nebraska, graduated from Kearney State College with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Math Education, and later received a Masters Degree in Community and Regional Planning from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. He was Executive Director of the Central Colorado Water Conservancy District in Greeley, taught water undergraduate and graduate level water resources courses at the University of Northern Colorado and Colorado State University, and is now the Director of the One World One Water (OWOW) Center for Urban Water Education and Stewardship at Metropolitan State University of Denver.
Tom wrote “Principles of Water Resources: History, Development, Management and Policy,” published by John Wiley & Sons - currently in its 4th edition and translated into Portuguese. Tom also recently published “Introduction to Water Resources and Environmental Issues,” (co-author Dr. Karrie Pennington) with Cambridge University Press and translated into Arabic, and “Colorado Water Law for Non-Lawyers,” (co-author P. Andrew Jones) with the University Press of Colorado. He has also completed histories of the Colorado Water Conservation Board and the Colorado State Engineer’s Office with Bill McDonald and Dick Stenzel, respectively.
Lyle Myler
Bureau of Reclamation
Lyle Myler received his degree in Civil Engineer with an emphasis in Water Resources from the University of Wyoming. Since that time he has been employed by the Bureau of Reclamation's Wyoming Area Office located in Mills, Wyoming. Mr. Myler has over 28-years of experience working for Reclamation in Wyoming and has been involved in reservoir operations, land and recreation management, Safety of Dams, water accounting, and operations activities for the North Platte and Wind/Bighorn River Basins. Currently, Mr. Myler serves as the Deputy Area Manager for the Wyoming Area Office.
Bureau of Reclamation
Lyle Myler received his degree in Civil Engineer with an emphasis in Water Resources from the University of Wyoming. Since that time he has been employed by the Bureau of Reclamation's Wyoming Area Office located in Mills, Wyoming. Mr. Myler has over 28-years of experience working for Reclamation in Wyoming and has been involved in reservoir operations, land and recreation management, Safety of Dams, water accounting, and operations activities for the North Platte and Wind/Bighorn River Basins. Currently, Mr. Myler serves as the Deputy Area Manager for the Wyoming Area Office.
Sedimentation
Blair P. Greimann
Technical Service Center, US Bureau of Reclamation
Blair Greimann has been a Hydraulic Engineer in the Sedimentation and River Hydraulics Group at the Denver Technical Service Center (TSC) for the Bureau of Reclamation since 1998. He is currently the Technical Specialists of the group. His primary work is related to the analysis and design of large scale dam removal, river restoration projects, and reservoir sedimentation issues. Some of the projects where he has performed a critical role include the San Joaquin River Restoration Program, the Klamath Dam Removal Studies, and Matilija Dam Removal. He is also a co-developer of the hydraulic and sediment transport model called SRH-1D (Sedimentation and River Hydraulics – One Dimension) and has applied it to the projects listed above as well as reservoir sluicing projects, such as Paonia Reservoir in Colorado. He has developed reservoir sedimentation training and guidelines for the government of Laos.
Technical Service Center, US Bureau of Reclamation
Blair Greimann has been a Hydraulic Engineer in the Sedimentation and River Hydraulics Group at the Denver Technical Service Center (TSC) for the Bureau of Reclamation since 1998. He is currently the Technical Specialists of the group. His primary work is related to the analysis and design of large scale dam removal, river restoration projects, and reservoir sedimentation issues. Some of the projects where he has performed a critical role include the San Joaquin River Restoration Program, the Klamath Dam Removal Studies, and Matilija Dam Removal. He is also a co-developer of the hydraulic and sediment transport model called SRH-1D (Sedimentation and River Hydraulics – One Dimension) and has applied it to the projects listed above as well as reservoir sluicing projects, such as Paonia Reservoir in Colorado. He has developed reservoir sedimentation training and guidelines for the government of Laos.
Douglas Raitt
Denver Water
Douglas Raitt (Doug) is an Engineering Manager for Construction with Denver Water where he has worked for the last 9 years. He manages heavy civil capital projects for the collection, treatment and transmission systems. He is currently leading the site development design effort for a dam raise project in northern Colorado. He also supervises a staff of construction managers, inspection personnel and consultants. Doug has over 30 years of experience in construction and has managed a diverse portfolio of projects including multiple interstate highway road and bridge projects, light rail, heavy rail, earthmoving, water treatment, an 800 MW pumped storage power station, and a number of dam and water conveyance projects throughout the United States.
Doug is a graduate of Oregon State University with a BS in Civil Engineering and earned his Master of Business Administration in Finance from the University of Chicago. Doug has given numerous presentations about his experience with hydraulic dredging of reservoirs and is a member of the National Reservoir Sedimentation and Sustainability Team (NRSST). He continues to study the effects of wildfires on drinking water sources and the methods to economically manage sedimentation of water supply reservoirs.
Denver Water
Douglas Raitt (Doug) is an Engineering Manager for Construction with Denver Water where he has worked for the last 9 years. He manages heavy civil capital projects for the collection, treatment and transmission systems. He is currently leading the site development design effort for a dam raise project in northern Colorado. He also supervises a staff of construction managers, inspection personnel and consultants. Doug has over 30 years of experience in construction and has managed a diverse portfolio of projects including multiple interstate highway road and bridge projects, light rail, heavy rail, earthmoving, water treatment, an 800 MW pumped storage power station, and a number of dam and water conveyance projects throughout the United States.
Doug is a graduate of Oregon State University with a BS in Civil Engineering and earned his Master of Business Administration in Finance from the University of Chicago. Doug has given numerous presentations about his experience with hydraulic dredging of reservoirs and is a member of the National Reservoir Sedimentation and Sustainability Team (NRSST). He continues to study the effects of wildfires on drinking water sources and the methods to economically manage sedimentation of water supply reservoirs.
2019 Headgate Award Recipients
Colorado: Travis L. Smith
Travis Smith has recently retired as Superintendent of the San Luis Valley Irrigation District after 26 years. Travis served as Rio Grande Basin Director on the Colorado Water Conservation Board from 2005-2017, and Rio Grande Basin IBCC member from 2010-2017. He is now a Senior Consultant with DiNatale Water Consultants providing assistance in the development of the Rio Grande Cooperative Project, a public/private partnership between the State of Colorado and the SLVID. Travis also serves as chairman of RWEACT (Rio Grande Watershed Emergency Action Coordination Team), and as a member of the Rio Grande Basin Roundtable EX Committee. Travis is a strong advocate for Colorado’s water future by building partnerships based on trust and respect within the water user community. Travis lives with his wife Maureen on their ranch on San Francisco Creek near Del Norte.
Contact: travis@dinatalewater.com
Travis Smith has recently retired as Superintendent of the San Luis Valley Irrigation District after 26 years. Travis served as Rio Grande Basin Director on the Colorado Water Conservation Board from 2005-2017, and Rio Grande Basin IBCC member from 2010-2017. He is now a Senior Consultant with DiNatale Water Consultants providing assistance in the development of the Rio Grande Cooperative Project, a public/private partnership between the State of Colorado and the SLVID. Travis also serves as chairman of RWEACT (Rio Grande Watershed Emergency Action Coordination Team), and as a member of the Rio Grande Basin Roundtable EX Committee. Travis is a strong advocate for Colorado’s water future by building partnerships based on trust and respect within the water user community. Travis lives with his wife Maureen on their ranch on San Francisco Creek near Del Norte.
Contact: travis@dinatalewater.com
Friday, January 11th, 2019
Construction II
Adam Northrup
Bureau of Reclamation
Adam Northrup has been with Reclamation for 6 years at the Eastern Colorado Area Office. He works in the Operations & Maintenance Division with a focus on Dam Safety. Most of the work is facility inspections and maintenance. He is a member of the Area Office Emergency Management Team and Great Plains Region Rope Access Team. Prior to Reclamation, Adam spent 4 years working for USDA-NRCS.
Bureau of Reclamation
Adam Northrup has been with Reclamation for 6 years at the Eastern Colorado Area Office. He works in the Operations & Maintenance Division with a focus on Dam Safety. Most of the work is facility inspections and maintenance. He is a member of the Area Office Emergency Management Team and Great Plains Region Rope Access Team. Prior to Reclamation, Adam spent 4 years working for USDA-NRCS.
Small Hydropower
Kevin Meador
Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District
Kevin is currently the Principal Engineer with the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District in Pueblo, Colorado. His 40 years of experience has included the design and construction of water supply and infrastructure projects and, now, one hydroelectric facility. He is a graduate of South Dakota School of Mines & Technology with a B.S. in civil engineering and enjoys the Colorado outdoors, basketball officiating, and grandkids.
Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District
Kevin is currently the Principal Engineer with the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District in Pueblo, Colorado. His 40 years of experience has included the design and construction of water supply and infrastructure projects and, now, one hydroelectric facility. He is a graduate of South Dakota School of Mines & Technology with a B.S. in civil engineering and enjoys the Colorado outdoors, basketball officiating, and grandkids.
Weather
Martha Shulski
Nebraska Climate Office
Martha Shulski serves as the State Climatologist for Nebraska and is an Associate Professor in the School of Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska Lincoln. The Nebraska State Climate Office operates the Nebraska Mesonet – a state weather monitoring program with 69 stations across the state. She has degrees in Meteorology, Agricultural Meteorology and Soil Science. Martha’s work is in the areas of applied climatology, weather and climate monitoring, impact assessment and stakeholder engagement. She was one of the Contributing Authors on the Northern Great Plains chapter of the Fourth National Climate Assessment, Volume II.
Nebraska Climate Office
Martha Shulski serves as the State Climatologist for Nebraska and is an Associate Professor in the School of Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska Lincoln. The Nebraska State Climate Office operates the Nebraska Mesonet – a state weather monitoring program with 69 stations across the state. She has degrees in Meteorology, Agricultural Meteorology and Soil Science. Martha’s work is in the areas of applied climatology, weather and climate monitoring, impact assessment and stakeholder engagement. She was one of the Contributing Authors on the Northern Great Plains chapter of the Fourth National Climate Assessment, Volume II.
Barry Lawrence
Wyoming Water Development Commission
Barry has spent the past 35 years of his professional career working with Wyoming’s water resources. He has been with the Wyoming Water Development Office for the past 20 years, first as a Project Manager, managing numerous water development projects across Wyoming and most recently, as Deputy Director for the agency. The Wyoming Weather Modification Pilot Program, which was initiated and managed by Barry for 10 years, has received widespread acclaim for its furtherance in understanding of cloud seeding processes. Prior to his employment with the Water Development Office, Barry worked for 15 years as Coordinator/Analyst for the Water Resources Data System at the University of Wyoming where he developed an expertise in water and climate information systems. Barry currently sits on the North American Weather Modification Council and the Board of Directors of the Wyoming Water Association.
Wyoming Water Development Commission
Barry has spent the past 35 years of his professional career working with Wyoming’s water resources. He has been with the Wyoming Water Development Office for the past 20 years, first as a Project Manager, managing numerous water development projects across Wyoming and most recently, as Deputy Director for the agency. The Wyoming Weather Modification Pilot Program, which was initiated and managed by Barry for 10 years, has received widespread acclaim for its furtherance in understanding of cloud seeding processes. Prior to his employment with the Water Development Office, Barry worked for 15 years as Coordinator/Analyst for the Water Resources Data System at the University of Wyoming where he developed an expertise in water and climate information systems. Barry currently sits on the North American Weather Modification Council and the Board of Directors of the Wyoming Water Association.
Roy Rasmussen
National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR)
Roy Rasmussen received a B.S. degree in Physics and Mathematics from Wheaton College, Illinois in 1978, and a Masters and PhD from the University of California, Los Angeles in Atmospheric Sciences in 1980 and 1982, respectively, specializing in cloud physics. After receiving his doctorate, he was an Advanced Study Program postdoctoral researcher at National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) . He is currently a Senior Scientist and director of the Hydrometeorology Applications Program at the Research Applications Laboratory at NCAR. He is an American Meteorological Society Fellow and has ten patents and over 100 peer reviewed journal papers.
National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR)
Roy Rasmussen received a B.S. degree in Physics and Mathematics from Wheaton College, Illinois in 1978, and a Masters and PhD from the University of California, Los Angeles in Atmospheric Sciences in 1980 and 1982, respectively, specializing in cloud physics. After receiving his doctorate, he was an Advanced Study Program postdoctoral researcher at National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) . He is currently a Senior Scientist and director of the Hydrometeorology Applications Program at the Research Applications Laboratory at NCAR. He is an American Meteorological Society Fellow and has ten patents and over 100 peer reviewed journal papers.