ERICA LYNN PORTA
E. Lynn Porta is a water resources policy analyst working at the intersections of communities and governments. She received a Master of Science in Water Resources Policy and Management and a Certificate in Water Conflict Management and Transformation from Oregon State University, and published her MS research on international water politics and changing values of water. During the day, Lynn is currently an Energy & Climate Analyst at Concurrent Technologies Corporation supporting the Department of the Air Force to have water-resilient, mission-supportive systems amid rapidly changing climate and energy policies. In her second “evening” career, Lynn is one of the Co-Founders and current USA Co-President of the North American Youth Parliament for Water, which she helped establish when at Oregon State University. NAYPW works to support the visibility and inclusion of youth and young professionals (ages 18-35) in water resource decision-making spaces across North America/Turtle Island in support of the continent’s progress to achieving SDG 6. Her work with NAYPW led to her speaking at the recent United Nations Water Conference as an expert stakeholder on water and youth. community values, particularly from youth and young professionals, in water management spaces across North America and in the Middle East. If she is not working on one such project, she is reading a book about dragons and elves at the top of a nearby mountain overlook or a tucked-away waterfall.
ERICA LYNN PORTA
E. Lynn Porta is a water resources policy analyst working at the intersections of communities and governments. She received a Master of Science in Water Resources Policy and Management and a Certificate in Water Conflict Management and Transformation from Oregon State University, and published her MS research on international water politics and changing values of water. During the day, Lynn is currently an Energy & Climate Analyst at Concurrent Technologies Corporation supporting the Department of the Air Force to have water-resilient, mission-supportive systems amid rapidly changing climate and energy policies. In her second “evening” career, Lynn is one of the Co-Founders and current USA Co-President of the North American Youth Parliament for Water, which she helped establish when at Oregon State University. NAYPW works to support the visibility and inclusion of youth and young professionals (ages 18-35) in water resource decision-making spaces across North America/Turtle Island in support of the continent’s progress to achieving SDG 6. Her work with NAYPW led to her speaking at the recent United Nations Water Conference as an expert stakeholder on water and youth. community values, particularly from youth and young professionals, in water management spaces across North America and in the Middle East. If she is not working on one such project, she is reading a book about dragons and elves at the top of a nearby mountain overlook or a tucked-away waterfall.
Sean is an environmental consultant with over 15 years of experience with a diversified knowledge of environmental principles and practices in the environmental sciences field and related sciences and disciplines. He conducts complex field biology assessments including, but not limited to, wetland delineations, endangered species/habitat assessments and surveys, plant identification/tree surveys, and land use studies. Sean also directs and conducts field work and attends meetings both inside and outside the firm pertaining to existing and potential projects. He performs project development for complex projects, including finalizing scope of projects, preparing bid summaries, preparing project budgets, and cost estimates. He also monitors and supervises design, including reviewing plans, specifications, estimates, and calculations, and he gives technical advice on corrective actions. Sean has earned a BS and MS in Environmental Science from George Mason University.
JoBeth Delawder is a Presidential Honors graduate from West Virginia University, holding a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Business and Natural Resource Management. She has extensive experience in agriculture and politics, having interned at the West Virginia Department of Agriculture, instructed at the Cacapon Institute, and served in various roles including Fundraising Assistant for Manchin for US Senate, Events Coordinator for the West Virginia Democratic Party, State Assistant and Outreach Representative for US Senator Joe Manchin III, Staff Assistant for the US Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, and Legislative Correspondent for US Senator Ben Ray Luján, focusing on issues related to animals, agriculture, energy, environment, science, tourism, and trade. Currently, she is the Acting Climate Advisor for the Rural Business-Cooperative Service working on implementation of President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). JoBeth also assists on her family’s sixth-generation farm in the Potomac Highlands of West Virginia, and is devoted to caring for the future of agriculture and the environment.
In her current position at the U. S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) Ms. Bisbee and her team review DHS S&T proposed projects for possible environmental, health, safety and energy impacts. In her role as Senior Environmental Protection Specialist / NEPA Program Lead she ensures S&T compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), to include: the Clean Air Act; the Clean Water Act; the Endangered Species Act; the National Historic Preservation Act; the Migratory Bird Treaty Act; and Environmental Justice concerns. During her time in college, Ms. Bisbee was provided the opportunity to work as a Cultural Resources Technician in the Noatak National Preserve, Alaska, for the National Park Service, Department of the Interior. She has an active interest in planting native plant species and is slowly converting her 1-acre property into native plant habitat. When not puttering in the gardens she’s running the local trails with her 8-year old black lab, Ori.
Dr. Lauren Gibson specializes in empowering young people to take environmental action for societal change. She currently serves as the first special advisor on youth engagement at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), working to bring more youth voices into agency decision-making. In previous roles, Dr. Gibson has consulted on youth-adult partnerships, researched the factors that drive young people to engage in large-scale environmental advocacy behaviors, and communicated the importance of environmental education efforts to Congress. Her experiences growing up as a youth environmental activist herself continue to inform her work. 
Juan Rodriguez is the director of the Clearwater Nature Center in Clinton, Maryland, a facility that offers a variety of interpretive programs hosted by park naturalists.   Environmental education is strongly supported at the nature center through exhibits, displays, programs, special events, clubs, trips, and volunteer opportunities. 
Julia Anastasio joined the Association of Clean Water Administrators in May 2014 as the new Executive Director and General Counsel. Ms. Anastasio has 18 years of experience in government law and policy. In the early 2000s she worked for the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and for the last 9 years she has worked with the America Public Works Association (APWA). With APWA, she focused on environmental, sustainability and infrastructure development at the local, state and federal levels and has extensive experience in with federal advocacy and administrative law before Congress and the Executive branch agencies. She is passionate about the role of state government in in developing and implementing national water policy and looks forward to working with ACWA’s membership.