Eighth annual conference coming to nation’s capital Aug. 17-18
David L. Gadis, chief executive officer and general manager of the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water), will give the opening keynote at the eighth annual Water Finance Conference on the morning of Aug. 17. The conference is being held Aug. 17-18 at the Hilton Washington DC Capitol Hill.
DC Water is one of the largest and most highly regarded water utilities in the United States. Gadis oversees the utility’s $1 billion-dollar annual budget and leads its workforce of approximately 1,200 employees.
Gadis’ keynote at the Water Finance Conference will kick off the morning session on Day 1 of the conference on Aug. 17. He is expected to discuss DC Water’s comprehensive low-income customer assistance programs, other DC Water initiatives, as well as his outlook for the water infrastructure sector.
Gadis joined DC Water in May 2018 and is implementing a new strategic plan with a redefined vision and priorities that include improving both customer satisfaction and employee engagement, and a commitment to performance planning and business process improvement. He has also formed a Stakeholder Alliance of city residents, business owners, members of the faith community and others to help address the twin challenges of rising rates and aging infrastructure.
Gadis brings 20 years of industry experience to his role, having previously served as Executive Vice President of Veolia North America and as CEO and President of Veolia Water Indianapolis. He was that utility’s first African American CEO and president, and the first African American CEO to lead a major utility in Indianapolis.
Gadis attended Pike High School in Indianapolis, where he was the school’s first Indiana All Star basketball player. He earned a basketball scholarship to Southern Methodist University and was a four-year basketball player and team captain before graduating from SMU with a B.A. in Marketing Communications. Gadis was inducted to the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 2014.
About the 2022 Water Finance Conference
The Water Finance Conference was established in 2015 and is the only conference that exclusively covers financing specifically for the drinking and clean water utility sector. Presenters generally include a mix of financial consultants, drinking water/clean water utility finance officers (CFOs), managers, association representatives, municipal advisors/consultants, EPA officials and service providers.
Registration is open. CEUs will be available for an additional cost. The 2022 Water Finance Conference is sponsored by Main Event Sponsors NACWA and Stantec, along with Mueller, SL Environmental Law Group, and Wade Trim. Please contact Maura Bourquin about sponsor information. The conference is being held at the Hilton Washington DC Capitol Hill (formerly Washington Court Hotel) just a short walk from the U.S. Capitol and minutes from Washington Union Station. For additional information, conference details are available at waterfinanceconference.com.
