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GSI Ambassador

Awards

May 6, 2025

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“It’s All About the People.”

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“The network is all about the people … Networking … is most successful when the members are sharing resources. They become hotbeds of innovation, information sharing, and inspiration.”

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~ P. Plastrik, et al. Connect, Innovate, Scale Up: How Networks Create Systems Change (2022), p. 138.

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ANNUAL MEETING, 2023

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What is a GSI Ambassador?

An Exchange member who, through their words and deeds, demonstrates a substantial commitment to advancing the Exchange’s mission of equitable GSI implementation.

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Mission, Theory of Change & Programs

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Framing GSI Principles & Best Practices

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• The Framework of Practice: An outline of the steps members believe local governments and stormwater agencies must follow to create strong GSI programs in their jurisdictions and (2) an online, living compendium of GSI principles, best practices and case studies designed to benefit practitioners across sectors. 
• Parks & GSI: An ongoing partnership with the City Parks Alliance & the U.S. Water Alliance to get more GSI into City Parks.

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PARKS & GSI CONVENING, 2023

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Framing

Ambassadors

1. Mike Adamow (Lotus Water)*
2. Blue Baldwin (City of Tucson)*
3. Shanti Colwell (Seattle Pub. Util.)*
4. Molly Deger (City of Lancaster)
5. Beth Dutton (Pittsburgh Water)*
6. Kate England (City of Boston)
7. Ann English (Montgomery CO DEP)*
8. Suzanna Fabry (PWD)
9. Amy Farinelli (City of Raleigh)*
10. Bill Flores (HDR)*
11. Moriah Gelder (MWRD Greater Chic.)*
12. Amanda Hallauer (City of Chamblee)

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13. Sally Hoyt (City of Raleigh)
14. Helen Langille (Halifax Reg. Mun.)*
15. Torrey Lindbo (City of Gresham)
16. Robb Lukes (City of Vancouver)*
17. Wayne Miles (City of Raleigh)*
18. Jeremy Person (City of Portland)*
19. Andy Potts (Jacobs)*
20. Ryan Quinn (Pittsburgh Water)
21. Lisa Sasso (MMSD)
22. Chris Webb (Herrera)*
23. Neal Wisenbaker (City of Raleigh)*
24. Rob Woodman (Ferguson Waterworks)
25. Andy Szatko (City of Omaha, SPPC)

*Unable to attend the meeting.

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Training Development & Delivery

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• The GSI Accelerator: A training partnership with the Center for Regenerative Solutions & the Trust for Public Land to advance the GSI knowledge of those working in sustainability departments.
• Friends of the Rouge: A customized training for the constituents of this nonprofit in Southeast, MI.
• GSI & Equity: A new course organized around the Exchange’s seven Equity Goals and 4 identified types of equity (i.e., identity, power, process, spatial
• GSI Foundations: A new survey course organized around the Framework of Practice’s core topics.

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Training

Ambassadors

1. Blue Baldwin (City of Tucson)*
2. Gerald Bright (PWD)*
3. Stephanie Chiorean (PWD)
4. Beth Dutton (Pittsburgh Water)*
5. Kate England (City of Boston)
6. Jessica Engel (King County)
7. Paul Harris (Buffalo SA)*
8. Chris Hartman (NEORSD)
9. Heather Himmelberger (SWEFC)*
10. Christina Hausmanis (City of Toronto)*
11. Roland Jones (CIS)*
12. Aaron Kirkland (PWD)

*Unable to attend the meeting.

13. Torrey Lindbo (City of Gresham)
14. Cooper Martin (Rainplan)
15. Claire Maulhardt (Cap. Reg. Water)
16. April Mendez (Greenprint Partners)*
17. Irene Ogata (City of Tucson)*
18. Beatrice Ohene-Okae (DC DOEE)
19. Jeremy Person (City of Portland)*
20. Lisa Sasso (MMSD)
21. Andy Szatko (City of Omaha)
22. Regan Wilhelm (DC DOEE)*
23. Matt Wilson (City of Toronto)*

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11

Building the Evidentiary Case

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• GSI Impact Hub: A partnership with the Nature Conservancy and One Water Econ to create an interactive platform with a suite of resources and tools to help quantify and communicate the co-benefits of GSI and assist in siting and planning projects to achieve the greatest impact.
• https://gsiimpacthub.org

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Evidence-Builder Ambassadors

1. Sarah Bloom (San Francisco PUC)*
2. Stephanie Chiorean (PWD)
3. Dana de Leon (Tacoma Water)*
4. Chris Hartman (NEORSD)
5. Matt Johnson (DC DOEE)*
6. Irene Ogata (City of Tucson)*
7. Beatrice Ohene-Okae (DC DOEE)
8. Brent Peterson (DC DOEE)*
9. Kerry Rubin (City of Portland)*
10. Holly Sauter (MWRD Greater Chicago)*
11. Elizabeth Svekla (PWD)*
12. Tracey Tacket (Seattle Public Utilities)*

*Unable to attend the meeting.

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Leadership Efforts

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• Annual Meeting Committee: Plans the Annual Meeting
• RISC Steering Committee: Developing a theory of change & strategic plan for RISC.
• Water Now Emerging Leaders Awardees: Recognizing the contributions of young leaders in the water industry.
• Strategic Planning & Policy Committee (SPPC): The Exchange’s governing body.

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Leadership Ambassadors

1. John Brosnan (King Co., AMC)*
2. Stephanie Chiorean (PWD, SPPC)
3. Ryan Durocher (City of Portland, SPPC)*
4. Jessica Engel (King Co., AMC)
5. Kate England (City of Boston, SPPC)
6. Chris Hartman (NEORSD, AMC)
7. Heather Himmelberger, (SWFC, AMC)*
8. Heidi Horlacher (City of Vancouver, SPPC)*
9. Sally Hoyt (City of Raleigh, SPPC)

10. Aaron Kirkland (PWD, Emerging Leader)
11. Torrey Lindbo (City of Gresham, SPPC)
12. Claire Maulhardt (Cap. Reg. Water, SPPC, AMC)
13. Irene Ogata (City of Tucson, SPPC)*
14. Beatrice Ohene-Okae (DC DOEE, SPPC)
15. Lisa Sasso (MMSD, SPPC)
16. Brandy Sidelaczek (City of Southfield, RISC)*
17. Andy Szatko (City of Omaha, SPPC)
18. Matt Wilson (City of Toronto, SPPC)*
19. Robb Lukes (City of Vancouver)*

*Unable to attend the meeting.

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Thank You For Your Attention

GILE Annual Meeting 2026

Guess the location!

GILE Annual Meeting 2026

Guess the location!

Average Annual Rainfall = 46”

It is a state capital

The population has expanded 10x over the past 100 years.

Known as the �City of Oaks, �the city drops �an acorn on �New Year’s Eve

Home to the Krispy Kreme Challenge (running & donut eating)

Home to an NHL team named after a weather phenomenon�