We are committed to serve as trusted peer advisors to transform the water sector, ensuring the delivery of clean water and to protect the environment and public health in an affordable way.
“I panicked in 2009 as I watched a crew repairing a pipe that was a century old, looking at printed maps stained from years of use and wondering who would talk to angry customers. I witnessed why many see water as a threat – dirty drinking water, sewer backups, dangerous floods – managed by crumbling systems.
The scale of change needed is a “moonshot.” Yet I also realize the impact that water has on every living organism, person and job on the planet.
The journey that followed, including rebranding as DC Water, is inspiring. Today, crews arrive in modern trucks with maps on iPads, video sensors that can diagnose problems - while customers receive updates through social media. Old pipes are being replaced, energy conserved, costs reduced, and revenue generated by new approaches.”
“My passion is to help many water utilities achieve a similar moonshot. I fervently believe that utilities in underserved communities will benefit most from these improvements, yet may have the most difficulty implementing them due to resource constraints.”
“That is where Moonshot Missions can help. I am joined by a motivated team of utility veterans, including Andy Kricun, the former Chief Executive of the Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority. He too stood at the precipice, responsible for an agency hobbled by poor performance and poorer financial results. Through a brilliant series of steps, Andy pulled off his moonshot – improving every performance measure while reducing rates in real terms by 40%.”
We start early, go late, and will not stop in our enthusiasm to help good people realize their dreams.
“Every person is entitled to clean water. Underserved communities often can’t achieve this goal due to a lack of resources. Moonshot Missions offers a solution with field-tested practices that improve performance at lower cost.”
Dozens of field-tested technologies and management approaches can reduce the cost of operating a water system, even as service is improved.
Moonshot Missions works with communities to identify and customize suitable projects within a roadmap that increases cash flow and may even reduce customer rates, while solving significant environmental and public health challenges.
We do our homework. From day 1, we have a good sense of your community, operations, budget and management systems.
We consult with utility leadership to choose 3-5 projects customized to help support a transformation.
We listen to utility staff concerns to identify challenges and opportunities for improvement.
We provide step-by-step guidance, case studies, outcomes and financial analysis from successful projects in similar utilities.
We diagnose from what we learned and deliver a range of potential projects that improve performance and reduce costs.
We provide implementation guidance, including model documents, change management approaches and financing mechanisms.
The Water and Wastewater Utility Peer-to-Peer Network (P2P)
According to the EPA, more than 30 million Americans live in areas with water safety issues. As with many environmental and public health issues, underserved and minority communities are hardest hit – from lead pipes, agricultural runoff, untreated sewage discharge, and micropollutants in the drinking and wastewater, millions of Americans lack access to safe and reliable water.
A network of utilities within a state exchanging best practices and expertise, ultimately pooling resources to maximize environmental, community and financial performance, particularly to benefit utilities in underserved communities.
Moonshot Missions and its state partners will coordinate the P2P Network by:
Any utility, agency or organization within a state that is interested in implementing a P2P Network:
Moonshot Missions is currently piloting the P2P Network in New Jersey, in partnership with the NJ Association of Environmental Agencies. Using New Jersey as a launching pad for the P2P Network, Moonshot Missions will begin recruiting and inviting additional states to participate with the goal of creating a national network.
P2P launches in Maryland.
For more information about the P2P Network, please contact us at: p2p@moonshotmissions.org.
President & CEO
“When I arrived at DC WASA, the agency was disliked by the public, distrusted by the media, and saddled with antiquated systems. In just a few short years, DC Water adopted strategies that reduced the cost and time of almost every operation while building new relationships with our customers, media and community.”
George is the former CEO of DC Water and previously held positions in federal, state and local government, as well as non-profits and teaching roles.
– View Linkedin | View Twitter
Managing Director
“The Camden County Municipal Authority faced increased costs and poor performance. Yet in the last 22 years, we adopted strategies that improved every performance measure, improved our resiliency and relationship to the community, and perhaps most important, reduced rates in real terms by 40%.”
Andy is the former CEO and CE of the Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority and active in a wide range of national and local water organizations.
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Executive Advisor
“Over my water utility tenure serving in three great American cities, I have overseen the automation of nearly every aspect of maintenance, operations and customer satisfaction and the value that comes with respect, a strong operational plan and opportunity.”
Through automation, Dave greatly improved water quality leading innovation in St. Louis, Atlanta and Chicago, the latter where he served as the CEO of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago.”
– View Linkedin
Managing Director
Mike, who retired last year after serving as the Director of Portland Water Bureau for five years in addition to serving as the Bureau’s Chief Engineer for ten years, was distinguished for his work in fostering learning partnerships between utilities and focusing on seismic resiliency of the state’s infrastructure. He also led development of a world class asset management program. Mike was very involved in work with the American Water Works Association including serving as chair of the Standards Council for three years.
Managing Director
Andy is a senior environmental professional with 20 years' experience in the water and wastewater industry. He has a proven track record as a results-driven leader in both utility operations and environmental regulation. He previously oversaw Arizona’s Clean Water Act permitting and compliance team where he implemented tremendous efficiencies to the state program. He worked as a process wastewater scientist for a UK based utility, Thames Water, and as an operations manager for Illinois American Water. He is a licensed water and wastewater operator.
Executive Advisor
Paul is the former General Manager of the Eastern Municipal Water District which provides water, wastewater and recycled water services to 830,000 residents in seven cities in western Riverside County, California. He has over 30 years of experience in the water industry in both the public and private sectors and has spearheaded industry leading One Water solutions. Paul also brings expertise in water affordability and rate design, utility operational efficiency, water recycling, and implementation of sustainable water service solutions in underserved communities.
Deputy CEO
Natalie is the Chief of Operations at Moonshot and heads up HR and recruiting. Natalie also focuses on strategic planning, program oversight and management, fundraising, marketing and branding. She spent over 10 years as an executive recruiter specializing in international equity investment banking. Her organizational skills, persistence and interpersonal approach made her a top producer in the company.
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Chief of Operations
Gloria is responsible for business development as well as business strategy and implementation. Gloria has fifteen years of experience in management consulting, business development and organizational transformation. The last eight years Gloria has worked in the municipal water sector with DC Water/Blue Drop, Veolia and SKion Water.
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General Counsel
Henderson is a seasoned legal strategist who served two terms as General Counsel for DC Water (1998-2003; 2016-2018). He was appointed Interim General Manager for DC Water (2017-2018). Henderson is a member of the Maryland and District of Columbia bars.
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Senior Utility Advisor
Lydia has spent the last 20 years in state and local government, where she has performed complex technical, managerial, and financial analysis and implemented holistic solutions to difficult problems. She graduated from Stanford University with a Bachelors of Arts in Political Science with a focus in statistics and from Golden Gate University with a Masters in Public Administration.
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Senior Utility Advisor
Rania is a wastewater engineer and scientist with significant experience in advance full-scale wastewater treatment system evaluation and optimization. She is responsible for researching complex challenges facing water and wastewater systems and working directly with client utilities to provide solutions.
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Senior Utility Advisor
Shannon is a self-defined “water geek” with an engineering brain and public service heart. She has spent over two decades in One Water solutions - working as a consultant to both local governments and private industry, leading the Pennsylvania office of a clean water non-profit, and working with water industry leaders across the country to blend water infrastructure investments with broader community improvements. Notably, Shannon was the first CEO of Capital Region Water, the mission-driven drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater utility born from the failing City-controlled Harrisburg Authority where she served as Engineering Director. Shannon is a Professional Engineer and a graduate of Juniata College and Penn State University with degrees in Civil and Environmental Engineering. She hails from the western edge of the Susquehanna River watershed (Altoona, PA) and currently lives in the Ohio River watershed (Wheeling, WV).
Senior Utility Advisor
Nate has served in public water and wastewater service for 21 years as a public utility management professional. He has managed a variety of drinking water and reclamation facilities along with the related distribution and collection systems. As a certified drinking and wastewater operator in Ohio and Arizona, he has made a career out of serving people. His desire to help and encourage people is the highlight of his journey. He embraces the power of water and that people are inherently good, and we all need some encouragement from time to time. Access to clean drinking water and sanitation services is the foundation of any healthy civilization. Technology has made it possible so that every human can have this basic need met. Water is vital to life, and every life matters.
Senior Utility Advisor
Susie supports senior staff with business development, communications and media outreach, technical research and grant writing development. Susie is a career public servant, with 20+ years of experience in both large and small water utilities. Susie received her B.S. in Civil Engineering from U.C. Davis. She is a registered Civil Engineer in the state of California and lives with her family in Santa Cruz, CA.
Utility Advisor
Reshet has 6 years of experience working with and supporting small drinking water systems in Arizona. Her work has primarily focused on TMF capacity development, technical assistance and emergency preparedness. She has a B.S. in Environmental Science and a M.S. in Water Policy. She also holds drinking water treatment and distribution certifications.
Utility Advisor
Marguerite conducts utility research, outreach, and plant assessments of water and wastewater facilities in order to help utilities address the challenges they face. She has 8 years of experience supporting Tribal water and wastewater utilities across Indian Country on their path to becoming sustainable entities; this included helping operators get access to training, obtaining certification and completing strategic planning for utility improvement. Marguerite graduated from New Mexico Tech with a B.S. in Environmental Engineering. She is a member of the Navajo Nation and currently resides in Mesa, AZ.
Utility Analyst
Ayako is a managing consultant at TruePani, where she works with state and local government clients to address lead in drinking water concerns. She currently manages lead testing programs under the EPA WIIN Act, as well as supports business development and policy research. With an academic background in environmental science and economics, she is interested in public-private partnerships to effectively address environmental inequalities.
Business Operations Consultant
Francine is responsible for business operations and organizational development. Over the past decade, she has interfaced with utility operators and managers as well as state-level agency staff across the 50 states and 5 territories to ensure their continued access to resources. With an academic background in public administration and international studies, Francine thrives when empowering others and her interests lie in developing workplaces that support diverse teams.
Utility Analyst
Stephanie has special expertise in building collaborative relationships with utility leaders while developing assessments of current needs and aspirations. She has rejoined Moonshot after welcoming her first child to the world, which deepens her appreciation for the mission. She has ten years of experience working in state government, a municipal utility and the non-profit sector. Her background is in regulatory compliance, environmental impact analyses, and direct technical assistance to water utilities. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Engineering from the University of California, Riverside.
Web & UX Designer
Lily is a senior at Boston University studying Psychology and Entrepreneurship. She recently completed an internship as a Growth Analyst at Lunar Solar Group, a boutique ecommerce marketing consulting firm. She has previous experience in web design, project management, and business development at Mediascience, the leader in neuromarketing and ad innovation. She is passionate about the intersection of neuroscience and consumer experience and is currently developing a strong user-first marketing foundation and experience for Moonshot Missions.
Utility Advisor
Lorenzo is an engineer with 18 years of experience in water reuse and wastewater treatment. He brings a strong focus on operational excellence, process optimization and design review for a broad range of water treatment technologies used in the water recycling sector. He spent his career working with both private and public clients, building strong partnerships and leading teams to execute Operations, Maintenance and Asset Management programs for water reuse programs.Lorenzo was the former Project Director for Suez at the West Basin Municipal Water District owned facilities, managing all the operational duties for their water reuse program, which reduces the dependence on imported water in the Southern California region. He also worked with General Electric in the Water Treatment division, helping Fortune 100 companies to adopt recycled water for industrial uses, by offering and managing specialty chemicals programs tailored to the challenges of recycled water.
Utility Advisor
Jonathan has 30 years of experience leading and improving Public-Private Partnerships (P3) for water and wastewater utility systems across the U.S. He has served leadership roles as varied as treatment plant management, for large commercial residuals processing systems, health and safety teams and for technical organizations delivering measurable regulatory compliance and performance management results to all sizes of water and wastewater utilities. Alongside his technical foundation through degrees in chemical engineering and business, he brings a very collaboration-oriented, team development and inclusive approach, vital to ensuring positive outcomes for all stakeholders involved.
Extern, Xylem Inc
Michele is serving as an Extern at Moonshot Missions. Michelle is the Global Practice Manager, Asset Performance as part of Xylem’s Digital Solutions team. Michele is passionate about innovation and the role that digital technologies can play in driving operational and financial resiliency for customers across the water cycle. Throughout her 25+ year career, Michele has held various roles within the water industry ranging from Utility Management in municipal government, through Consulting at various organizations including CH2M Hill, Stantec, EMA, and AECOM. Her expertise includes asset management, process design and optimization, strategic planning and capital delivery, regulatory compliance and environmental management systems, and policy development.
Extern, Xylem Inc
Patrick is serving as an Extern at Moonshot Missions. Patrick has been a Project Innovator at EmNet since May 2015. Previously, he was the Assistant City Engineer for the City of South Bend, Ind. focusing on water and wastewater projects and implementing the City’s CSO program. His passion is to integrate technology with conventional infrastructure solutions to optimize the operation of the whole water and wastewater system. Patrick is a skilled hydraulic engineer well versed in the application of advanced technologies including real-time decision support to complicated conveyance systems. He is a graduate of Trine University (formerly known as Tri-State University) and is a licensed Professional Engineer.
Research Associate Volunteer
Rutva is studying computer science at Princeton University pursuing a Bachelor's of Science and Engineering. He has past experience in water treatment research, and a strong interest in applying his studies towards sustainability.
Utility Technical Advisor Research Intern
Kyle is a rising sophomore at Princeton University, where he is studying Civil and Environmental Engineering, with plans for certificates in Architecture and Engineering, and Urban Studies. At Princeton, he is a member of the Undergraduate Student Government Sustainability Committee, Princeton Conservation Society, Matriculate College-Advising, and the Varsity Men's Volleyball team. His past experience includes a civil engineering internship and solar panel research. His interests lie at the intersection of meeting expanding infrastructure needs, prioritizing the preservation of the environment, and understanding the effect on involved communities.
Volunteer
Doug Geller is serving as a Groundwater and Drinking Water Supply Specialist at Moonshot. While living in Seattle and Portland during the 1980s and 90s, Doug worked as a consulting hydrogeologist and then became the Groundwater Program Manager for the Portland Water Bureau. After moving to British Columbia in the 2000s, Doug returned to consulting, eventually founding his own firm, Western Water Associates Ltd. in 2011. Doug retired from Western Water Associates Ltd. in 2022 and is currently a trusted advisor to dozens of small to medium-size communities grappling with all manner of technical and policy related water and wastewater issues. He has worked extensively with First Nations in British Columbia, Alberta and the State of Washington and helped solve many long-standing water quantity and quality issues. His prior experience with a major water utility, coupled with an extensive and varied background in hydrogeology, is well-suited to Moonshot’s mission of providing practical and technically credible support for water and wastewater utilities.
Research Associate Volunteer
Madison is an environmental engineer with experience in consulting and at the Environmental Protection Agency. She is most passionate about working at the intersection of public health and engineering to make a more climate resilient world.
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Volunteer
Kaustuv is an engineering student at Princeton University with an interest in consulting, especially in the environmental and non-profit/governance sectors. He has previously done research upon the technological implications of the 100th meridian shift, focusing on the essential role of water utility optimization.
Volunteer
Tanvi’s practice and research have focused on sustainable and equitable water, sanitation, and solid waste services; and generating financial support for pro-poor urban policies and programs. Previously Director, International Development Program, and Practitioner in Residence at SAIS-Johns Hopkins University, Tanvi has directed research and led programs at Global Water Challenge and at the World Bank. She serves on the board of SOIL-Haiti and is an advisor to Athena Infonomics. Tanvi has a PhD in Political Science and a BA in Economics from St. Stephen’s College, New Delhi.
– Podcast
David McGimpsey interviews George on one of the original water podcasts. George starts at 12:30
– Video Interview
Ryan Chan interviews George on how new approaches can revolutionize the water industry and reduce costs while improving performance.
– Video Interview
Casey Dinges from the American Society of Civil Engineers interviews George on overcoming the obstacles to innovation.
– Keynote Speech
George on how to overcome the challenges to achieve innovation, lower costs and better service
CONTACT
Email: info@moonshotmissions.org
Phone: 202 256 1981
ADDRESS
5207 Portsmouth Road
Bethesda, MD 20816
