Strong Leadership, Strong Utilities: Retaining the Next Generation of Water Professionals
(Room 127 B&C)
16 Sep 26
3:00 PM
-
4:00 PM
Tracks:
Utility Management
As the water industry faces unprecedented workforce shortages, utilities must rethink how they attract, develop, and retain talent. This session shares how one utility and its Rural Water Association are working together to create a stronger workforce pipeline through outreach, partnerships, mentorship, and leadership practices that support retention. Attendees will gain a clearer understanding of what today’s emerging workforce values, where utilities often fall short, and what leaders can do differently to improve recruitment and long-term employee commitment. By the end of the session, participants will leave with actionable strategies they can use to assess their own workforce efforts, strengthen team culture, and take concrete steps toward building a more resilient utility workforce.