Catalyst | Rogue Water Lab

Aug. 31 – Sept. 3 | San Diego

An audience-centric approach to water communication and engagement.

Catalyst 2026 will bring together water professionals from across the country to strengthen the skills needed to build public trust—through clearer communication, community outreach, policy engagement, media collaboration, and effective stakeholder dialogue.

This intensive, hands-on experience is designed for leaders who want to elevate how their organizations connect with the people and communities they serve.

Reservations Opened April 13, 2026. Catalyst is limited to 150 guests. Get your reservations in!
[The separately ticketed pre-workshops below are open registration with no guest limit.]

2026 Program Overview

Monday, August 31, 2026

Optional pre-conference experiences. Separate registration required.

Full-Day Utility Board Training
See Draft Agenda + Speakers Here
Co-hosted with the Association of Regional Water Organizations and Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies, this one-day training is designed for utility board and commission members. The workshop focuses on core governance responsibilities, financial stewardship, risk and resiliency, community trust, and effective oversight, grounded in the Ten Attributes of Effective Utility Management. Participants will engage in real-world scenarios, peer discussion, and practical tools to strengthen board performance and leadership. Registration includes a pre-reception Sunday evening, a Monday night reception, and a half-day tour Tuesday of the Pure Water San Diego plant. This is a separate, ticketed event with open registration.
Half-Day Data Visualization Workshop
An optional, hands-on workshop in collaboration with Water Finance Assistance. This session explores how attendees can use clear, compelling data visuals to support financial conversations, rate discussions, and public engagement. Participants will work through real examples and leave with practical techniques they can apply immediately. This is a separate, ticketed event with open registration. More information coming soon.

Tuesday, September 1, 2026

Catalyst begins

Check-in Table opens, followed by an opening experience that sets the tone for Catalyst 2026. Participants will be welcomed into the shared journey, introduced to the theme, and invited into a different way of thinking about trust, engagement, and leadership in water.

Wednesday, September 2

A full day Catalyst journey

Participants move through a curated, full-day experience across multiple venues, exploring key themes related to public trust, communication, community engagement, policy, media, and stakeholder relationships. The day blends facilitated dialogue, interactive sessions, and place-based learning designed to challenge assumptions and deepen connection.

Thursday, September 3

Closing Catalyst experience

A half- or full-day experience at a closing venue focused on reflection, synthesis, and integration. The Catalyst journey concludes by distilling insights and takeaways, helping participants translate what they experienced into practical, values-driven engagement when they return to their organizations and communities.

Catalyst 2025 Highlight Reel

Not a conference. A movement.

When and where

Date and time

August 31 - September 3 CST

Location

The Westgate Hotel
1055 2nd Avenue San Diego, CA 92101

Show map

Details of Past Event – Catalyst+ Northwest –Portland, OR – September 2023

9:00 am - 10:00 am

Opening Keynote

Emma Robbins

Emma Robbins (Diné) is an artist, activist, and community organizer. She is the Managing Director of Planet Women, a nonprofit who partners with women to create a healthy planet for all life. Prior to Planet Women, Emma was Executive Director of the Navajo Water Project, where she collaborated with communities on the Navajo Nation to get clean running water to the one in three Navajo families without it. Emma is also the founder of The Chapter House, an Indigenous women-led community arts space in Los Angeles, designed for Natives, and welcoming all. All her work is centered around community collaboration, education, and Indigenization. Emma completed her BFA at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and studied Modern Latin American Art History in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She has exhibited both in the U.S. and internationally. Through her artwork, she strives to educate viewers about issues like broken treaties and the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women crisis.

10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Make Your Pitch

Tom Kunetz

You’ve come up with that Big Idea that could really improve your department or organization–now how do you get the green light to set it in motion? You do what they do in Hollywood: you make a great pitch! This session will give participants the tools to craft their own pitches for an actual idea of their own choosing. Participants will learn how to build their own pitch through a series of active exercises, then will practice that pitch in front of an audience and receive feedback. Big Ideas told short and sweet, engaging and inspiring!

12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Community Building aka Mixer Time!

Let’s Sprint: Social Listening and Campaign Development

Erin Mosley

How can we really connect with our communities and develop great educational and public engagement campaigns? In this one-of-a-kind workshop using crossover innovation concepts from the world of design thinking, hackathons, and crowdsourcing campaigns, we’ll explore ways to: • Listen to and understand your audience • Create great campaign challenges • Collect ideas • Minimize bias • Move forward with recommended actions • Keep everyone engaged in the process! We will be working with a theme of communicating affordability to your customers in this full day hands-on innovation sprint.

Going Viral: Confessions of a Social Media Manipulator

Adam Tank

In a world of million dollar budgets, high-ticket marketing agencies, and lavish production studios, how the H*LL can the water industry expect to compete for its share of voice? In this session, we’ll dissect some of the world’s most viral ads & social platform strategies to learn the critical frameworks for how to create eye-popping, memorable, and shareable content that won’t break the budget. Bring your party pants… we might even create a meme or two.

Creating a Culture of Inclusivity

Melinda White

Closing Keynote

Maura Jarvis

Maura Jarvis is a recent graduate of Drexel University and currently works as a Community Outreach Specialist for the Philadelphia Water Department. As a member of the Public Engagement team, Maura’s role includes informing North Philadelphia communities about the City’s green stormwater infrastructure program, Green City, Clean Waters, drinking water quality in the city, and related sustainability initiatives. A proud Philadelphia native, Maura is passionate about working with her local community and serves as PWD’s superhero mascot, Water Woman.

About this event

We can’t wait to welcome you.

Your Catalyst journey is especially curated every step of the way. Each guided experience builds on the next. Please plan to stay and participate for the entirety of the experience. There are no concurrent sessions. Everyone journeys together.

Hotel Information

A room block will be available at the Westgate Hotel for $189+tax per room night. Check back for when reservations are available. Both pre-workshops and the Catalyst opening night experience will take place at the Westgate Hotel.

Reservations + Registration

Catalyst 2026 reservations opened April 13, 2026 and are on a first come, first served basis until all 150 guest seats are filled. The co-hosted Board Governance Workshop and Data Visualization Workshop taking place the day before Catalyst are open registration and unlimited seating.

Registration Costs:

Data Visualization Pre-Workshop – August 31
Ticket Cost: $150

Board Governance Workshop – August 31-Sept. 1:
Earlybird (ARWO or AMWA member*): $375
Earlybird (non-member): $500
After July 3 (ARWO or AMWA member*): $500
After July 3 (non-member): $600
*members contact your association for your discount member code prior to registration

Catalyst – Sept. 1-3
Early Registration (limited quantity available): $695
Standard Registration (available after early sells out): $825
Last Remaining Seats (final release): $925

Schedule at a Glance

Coming soon.

2026 Theme: You’re Invited

Step into this metaphorical dinner party where we explore what it means to show up and the impact of how we show up.

The Journey:

Catalyst is a traveling summit where we use the host city as our classroom. Each day, sessions will occur at different locations. Transportation will be provided or locations will be in walking distance.

Why do we move? When the butt goes numb, the brain goes dumb. Research shows that changing the learning environment between topics helps our brains retain information.

2025 Sponsors

Change Agent

Champion

Visionary

Visionary

Visionary

Visionary

Collaborator

Collaborator

Collaborator

Collaborator

Collaborator

Advocate

Advocate

Advocate

Reserve Your Seat