AWRA FL Key West Annual Meeting 2025

Thursday, August 7 & Friday, August 8

Harvey Governmental Center
1200 Truman Avenue, Key West, FL

Notes:

• Organizations interested in sponsoring the meeting should contact Sam Palermo at 561-351-5278 or pay online here.

• There is no reserved hotel block. Lodging fills quickly—book early!

• Continuing Education credits will be available for Professional Engineers, Geologists, and Attorneys (pending final approval).

Draft Agenda (Updated June 22, 2025)

Thursday, August 7, 2025

• 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM – AWRA Florida Board Meeting at the Harvey Governmental Center (all are welcome)

• 12:30 PM – Conference Registration Opens

• 1:00 PM – Annual Meeting Begins – Welcome Address (Luna Phillips, AWRA FL President)

• 5:30 PM: Networking Reception, Tour, & Dinner at the Audubon House (covered by registration, 205 Whitehead Street, Key West, FL 33040)

Speakers Include: 

• FKNMS, David Burke, Acting Superintendent

• Resiliency in Florida – Statewide Developments

1. Allison Higgins, Sustainability Coordinator, City of Key West

2. Erin Deady, Esq., Erin Deady Law, P.A.

3. Anne Coglianese, Chief Resiliency Officer, City of Jacksonville

• Florida & Federal Legislative Update

1. Brett Cyphers, Partner, Anfield Group

2. Kim Shugar, Senior Advisor, Arrow Group

3. Adam Blalock, Deputy Secretary, FDEP

Friday, August 8, 2025

• Networking Continental Breakfast

• Welcome Address (Luna Phillips, AWRA FL President)

• Statewide Water Management District Updates

1. Drew Bartlett, Executive Director, SFWMD

2. Brian Armstrong, Executive Director, SWFWMD

3. Mike Register, Executive Director, SJRWMD

4. Lyle Siegler, Executive Director, NWFWMD

5. Hugh Thomas, Executive Director, SRWMD

• USACE Jacksonville District Update

1. Col. Bowman, District Commander

2. Maj. Bell, Deputy District Commander

3. Howie Gonzalez, DPM

4. Jason Engle, Water Resources Engineering Branch Chief

5. Eva Velez, P.E., Ecosystem Branch Chief

• Lunch (on your own)

• FDEP Update – Adam Blalock, Deputy Secretary, FDEP

• DOI / FWS Update – Tim Breen, Supervisor, Everglades CERP

• AWRA Awards & Announcements, Recognition of Scholarship Winners & Students, and Cooler of Cheer Drawing

• Past Presidents Panel

1. Gerald Ward, P.E., Gerald Ward Coastal Engineering, LLC

2. Bob Higgins, Owner, Higgins Engineering, Inc.

3. Allison Lewis, Natural Treatment Systems Senior Technologist & Project Manager, Jacobs

4. Michael Delcharco, Senior Vice President, Taylor Engineering Inc.

• 5:30 - 7:30 PM: Past Presidents’ Networking Reception (covered by registration, Schooner Wharf – 202 William Street, Key West)

Saturday, August 9

• Field Trip (not included in the registration fee, stay tuned for more details)