The Water Entrepreneur

Paul Gagliardo
  • 4.9 (19)
  • Education
  • Updated Bimonthly

Sponsored by ASTERRA, Imagine H20, Mckim & Creed, and The Water & Health Advisory Council: The Water Entrepreneur podcast program features a series of interviews exploring the origin stories of startup founders, early adopters and innovation champions related to their personal, professional, technical, business, organizational and financial journeys. We will explore how the guests decided to get into the water business, who their mentors are, who inspired them to become entrepreneurs and how they selected a technology to develop from an idea to an invention and finally to a commercially viable innovation. You will hear how they raised funding for their company, selected markets to pursue, navigated organizational hierarchies and evolved as their company grew. They will describe their struggles and successes and explain why they are having the most fun of their lives.

  1. 4d ago

    Episode 149

    Jen Millard Jennifer Millard is the CEO and Co-Founder of mainelove, an independent water brand made in Maine that is helping drive innovation within the state’s growing water economy. Drawing on decades of experience in consumer goods, retail, technology, revenue growth, and business development, Jennifer is focused on creating new approaches that connect sustainability with…More

  2. Sep 22

    Episode 148

    Alysen Africano-Nila Alysen Africano-Nila is a business development strategist, consultant, educator, and municipal leader with more than two decades of experience spanning transportation, energy, water, real estate, banking, and public service. Since 2020, Alysen has worked as a Business Development Strategist and Consultant, advising organizations across the transportation, energy, and water sectors. Her work focuses…More

  3. Sep 15

    Episode 147

    Justin Roush Justin Roush is an Associate Professor of Economics at Xavier University’s Williams College of Business and the founding Program Director of Xavier’s Master of Science in Water Utilities Management, known as MS H2O. The program is the nation’s first master’s degree specifically focused on water utilities management and was created to equip current…More

    Episode 147

  4. Jul 14

    Episode 146

    Congressman Mike Levin Congressman Mike Levin is proud to represent California’s 49th Congressional District, which includes North County San Diego and South Orange County. Currently serving his fourth term in the House of Representatives, Mike is a member of the powerful House Committee on Appropriations, where he serves on the Subcommittees on Energy and Water…More

  5. Jul 7

    Episode 145 Shannon Knee

    Shannon Knee is the Founder and CEO of Cetos Water, overseeing the commercialization of the TSSE technology. Shannon brings deep expertise in commercializing products and technologies through her career as a private and public markets investor at Goldman Sachs’s Principal Investment Area, Glenview Capital and Cornell Capital. Through these roles, she was responsible for deploying…More

  6. Jun 16

    Episode 144 Congressman Jim Costa

    Congressman Jim Costa represents California’s 21st Congressional District, encompassing Fresno and Tulare counties. A senior member of the House Agriculture Committee, he has played an instrumental role in shaping the 2008, 2014, and 2018 Farm Bills, forging bipartisan partnerships to strengthen food security, support agricultural producers, and invest in rural communities. A dedicated advocate for the San Joaquin Valley, Congressman Costa has led efforts to secure reliable water resources and advance critical infrastructure investments, including projects such as the B.F. Sisk Dam, Friant-Kern Canal, and Sites Reservoir. As a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Costa is committed to promoting democratic values and advancing U.S. interests abroad. His extensive international engagement has included visits to Ukraine, Armenia, and the Middle East, where he has worked to strengthen diplomatic relationships and support global stability. Prior to his service in Congress, Costa spent 24 years in the California State Legislature, representing the San Joaquin Valley in both the California State Senate (1994–2002) and California State Assembly (1978–1994), building a distinguished record of public service focused on agriculture, water policy, economic development, and infrastructure.More

  7. Jun 9

    Episode 143 Jennifer Pierre

    Jennifer Pierre serves as General Manager of the State Water Contractors (SWC), a statewide nonprofit association representing 27 public water agencies that receive water from California’s State Water Project. Collectively, these agencies provide water to more than 27 million Californians and irrigate approximately 750,000 acres of farmland. With more than 20 years of experience in California water policy, Delta management, and water supply planning, Jennifer leads the SWC’s efforts to advance reliable, sustainable, and affordable water supplies for communities throughout the state. She is recognized for her commitment to collaboration, science-based decision-making, and balancing water management objectives with environmental stewardship. Prior to joining SWC in 2017, Jennifer spent 14 years with ICF International, where she served as a Principal and led complex water supply, restoration, and planning projects throughout the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and its tributaries. Her expertise includes State Water Project and Central Valley Project operations, environmental compliance, ecosystem management, regulatory policy, and stakeholder engagement. Throughout her career, she has successfully guided multidisciplinary teams of engineers, hydrologists, biologists, and policy experts in developing technical analyses, environmental documentation, and water resource solutions. Jennifer earned a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Biology and Management, with an emphasis in Conservation Biology, from the University of California, Davis.More

  8. Apr 21

    Episode 142 David J. Stuckenberg

    Dr. David J. Stuckenberg is an influential strategist and technologist in national security and infrastructure. Recognized for his leadership, he has shaped U.S. defense policy and advised on water security. With extensive experience across government, industry, and academia, he holds over 90 patents and serves as a Colonel in the Air National Guard.More

See All (150)

Ratings & Reviews

4.9
out of 5
19 Ratings

About

Sponsored by ASTERRA, Imagine H20, Mckim & Creed, and The Water & Health Advisory Council: The Water Entrepreneur podcast program features a series of interviews exploring the origin stories of startup founders, early adopters and innovation champions related to their personal, professional, technical, business, organizational and financial journeys. We will explore how the guests decided to get into the water business, who their mentors are, who inspired them to become entrepreneurs and how they selected a technology to develop from an idea to an invention and finally to a commercially viable innovation. You will hear how they raised funding for their company, selected markets to pursue, navigated organizational hierarchies and evolved as their company grew. They will describe their struggles and successes and explain why they are having the most fun of their lives.

Information

  • Creator
    Paul Gagliardo
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    150
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The Water Entrepreneur
  • Show Website
    The Water Entrepreneur