Meet The Team

Chelsea Boozer, MPA

Executive Director

Chelsea Boozer has dedicated her career to advancing public trust in water through communications, policy, and engagement. She currently serves as Executive Director of Rogue Water Lab, a nonprofit that equips and inspires the water sector to strengthen stakeholder relationships, enhance transparency, and build durable trust with the public.

 

In this role, Chelsea designs and leads immersive training programs, national workshops, and strategic communication campaigns that blend behavioral science, narrative change research, and community engagement strategies. She designs and directs Catalyst, an annual, experiential convening that trains utility leaders, communicators, and policymakers to navigate complex human dynamics, manage crises, and communicate with authenticity.

 

Prior to taking the helm of Rogue Water Lab, Chelsea served as Government Affairs Manager for Central Arkansas Water, the state’s largest utility, where she led legislative advocacy, coalition building, stakeholder engagement and regionalism efforts. Her efforts secured $25 million in ARPA infrastructure funding, guided public buy-in for a decade-long rate adjustment, and developed the utility’s first Hispanic outreach program. She also spearheaded campaigns to strengthen regional water collaboration and successfully advanced policy and infrastructure funding initiatives at the local and federal level.

 

Before entering the water sector, Chelsea had an award-winning career in journalism, reporting on government and policy in Memphis, Washington, D.C., and Little Rock. This background sharpened her ability to distill complex issues into plain language and craft stories that resonate across diverse audiences. She continues to leverage that expertise in narrative framing and media relations, including leading workshops on science communication, risk messaging, and public engagement.

 

Chelsea serves on the American Water Works Association’s Executive Committee and Board of Directors, shaping national priorities on water communication and trust. She holds a Master of Public Administration from the top-ranked Syracuse University and is widely recognized as a thought leader in integrating equity, empathy, and evidence-based communications to help utilities and policymakers meet today’s water challenges.

Leadership Council

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Rawaa Al Saadi Milner

Sustainability and Technology Strategy at Accenture

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Cathy Bernardino Bailey

Executive Director of Greater Cincinnati Water Works

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Margaret Bowman

Principal at Bowman Environmental Consulting

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Sylvia Brown

Managing Member, Thought Leaders & Action Partners Ltd.

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Heather Collins

President-Elect of American Water Works Association; Assistant Group Manager of Water System Operations at Metropolitan Water District of Southern California

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Juliet Ellis

Head of Utilities at Promise; Chair of Water Agency Leaders Alliance

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David Goldwater

Vice President of Public Policy at Stantec

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OJ McFoy

City Engineer at City of Houston; Past President of National Association of Clean Water Agencies

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Nathan Ohle

President and CEO of International Economic Development Council

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Karyn Riley, Esq.

Vice President of Water Equity and Social Impact at Arcadis

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LaMar Parkin

Financial Director at Kyndryl; former CFO and ED of Hands Up for Haiti

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Wendell Scales Jr., MA

Deputy Director of Innovation at Arkansas Lighthouse Charter Schools

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Mark Sirangelo

Former Chief innovation Officer for the State of Colorado, founding executive and former head of Sierra Nevada Space Systems, former NASA Special Assistant to the Administrator

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Jeff Sober

Director of Water Services at Garver and Chair of WEF Operations Challenge

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Greg Wukasch

External Affairs Manager at San Antonio Water System

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Stephen Sanders

Environmental Training Center Director at SUNY-Morrisville College

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David Sibelman

Chief Executive Officer of Operational Technical Services

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Arianne Shipley, CPC

Co-founder of Rogue Water Lab; Manager of Research and Advocacy at US Pipe

Water& Team

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Bebe Schaefer

Water& Project Director

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Makenna Sturgeon

Water& Director of Communications

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Rachel Roberts

Water& Director of Public Relations

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Aubree Frost

Water& Artistic Director

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Gracie Ruebel

Water& Community Engagement Lead

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Chenhui Zhang

Water& Research Lead

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Tithi Arekar

Water& Social Media and Marketing Intern

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Kyle Rezek

Water& Content Lead