Financial and water sector experts will examine private and alternative financing tools and public-private partnerships during a first-time, full-day utility finance track during the American Water Works Association’s Annual Conference and Exposition (ACE16) in Chicago.

The track, titled “Financing Total Water Solutions in the 21st Century,” will include four sessions on Tuesday, June 21, at the McCormick Place Convention Center. All of the sessions will feature experts in the fields of finance and utility management and will cover a range of topics critical to modern utility finance. Sessions include:

Private financing in the water sector: Getting you ready for the conversation (9 - 10:30 a.m.)
This kickoff session will include an introduction and overview of various private financing tools, opportunities and challenges from the financial, municipal and ratepayer perspectives. Panelists include: Randall Campbell, executive director, Morgan Stanley; George Hawkins, Esq., CEO and general manager, DC Water; Peter Luchetti, managing partner, Table Rock Capital; and Brian Nicholas, director of business development, Acciona Water. The panel will be moderated by Ed Crooks, managing director, Deal Advisory & Infrastructure, KPMG LLP. 

Rating agencies, financial advisers and the water sector (10:30 a.m. – noon)
A guided discussion of the various components in the private financing of water projects and how the choice to use various private and alternative financing tools can affect public water utilities. Panelists include: Jim Beard, chief financial officer, City of Atlanta; Ted Chapman, senior director of the U.S. Public Finance Infrastructure Group, Standard and Poors; Alexander A. Seleznyov, Deal Advisory & Infrastructure, KPMG LLP; and Scott Shearer, director, Public Financial Management Group. The panel will be moderated by Aurel Arndt, chair of the Water Utility Council and treasurer, board of directors, AWWA (and former CEO of the Lehigh County Water Authority).

Various alternative delivery options and public-private partnerships (P3s) (1:30 - 3 p.m.)
A guided discussion focusing on: Are P3s right for you? The myths vs. reality of P3 savings, lessons learned from P3s in the water sector, key factors in successful P3s, and making the value case of P3s to municipal leaders and ratepayers. Panelists include: Janice A. Beecher, Ph.D., Institute of Public Utilities, Michigan State University; Angela Bricmont, chief financial officer, Denver Water; Brent Fewell, Esq., chairman, Earth & Water Group; and Dan Sugarman, managing director, KWP Capital (Advisory Partner to KKR Infrastructure). The panel will be moderated by G. Tracy Mehan, III, executive director, government affairs, AWWA.

Looking Forward: A guided discussion on developing innovations and trends of alternative and private financing in the water space (3 - 4:30 p.m.)
This wrap-up session will look at the developing innovations and trends in alternative and private financing mechanisms in the water, water-energy and technology sectors that are creating new opportunities for growth in the coming decades. Panelists include: Roger S. Bailey, general manager, Central Contra Costa Sanitary District; Anthony B. Bouchard, North America Unit president, CDM Smith; Debra G. Coy, partner, XPV Water Partners; and Matthew Satnick, partner, MSD Partners LLP. The panel will be moderated by Daniel W. McCarthy, principal, Dan McCarthy Consulting LLC. 

ACE16, which will bring more than 12,000 water experts to Chicago, is the longest-running water conference in the world, having first convened in 1881. The event will feature 111 sessions in 19 professional tracks and an exposition of more than 500 companies.