Dr. Becky Bowling

Urban Water Specialist
Texas A&M AgriLife Ext. Service

Dr. Rebecca Bowling, Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist with Texas A&M AgriLife, provides programming on the topic of water conservation in the urban landscape for professional audiences. She specializes in appropriate plant selection, soil management to improve infiltration, and water use in residential and commercial landscapes alike. Her research is focused on improving water-use efficiency and infiltration in urban landscapes through a combination of applied and social science research efforts. Her specific areas of interest include improving infiltration in urban landscapes and incorporating this into an integrated approach for water conservation. She also has an interest in strengthening Extension outreach efforts through social science by evaluating potential barriers to behavioral intervention in urban landscape management.

Dustan Compton

Conservation Manager
Tarrant Regional Water District

Dustan is a Conservation Manager at Tarrant Regional Water District with twelve years of experience focusing on water conservation programs, community outreach and regional coordination. He has a master’s degree in Applied Geography from the University of North Texas and a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Management from Northeastern State University. He recently discovered he has an INFP personality and enjoys meaningful work with a sense of purpose and does not like to be told to “grow up.”

Daniel Cunningham

Horticulturist & Program Manager, Texas A&M Agrilife Research/Water University

As a one of the state’s leading horticulturist Daniel provides professionals and the public with the most current research-based information on resource efficient and water-conserving landscape management. Focused on a holistic approach, Cunningham specializes in native plants, edible landscaping, rainwater harvesting and utilizing landscapes as habitat for beneficial wildlife. Keep up with Daniel by following his @TXPlantGuy social media pages, by catching his latest articles, news segments and radio spots for tips on how to get the most out of your lawn, landscape, or vegetable garden.

Mary Ann Dickinson

President & CEO, Alliance for Water Efficiency

Mary Ann Dickinson is the President and CEO of the Alliance for Water Efficiency, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the efficient and sustainable use of water in the United States and Canada. Based in Chicago,the Alliance works with 500 water utilities, water conservation professionals in business and industry, planners, regulators, and consumers. In 2014, the Alliance won the U.S. Water Prize in the non-profit category for its work.

Mary Ann has over 40 years of experience in water resources and water efficiency. A graduate of the University of Connecticut, Mary Ann currently serves as Co-Chair of the Water and Planning Network at the American Planning Association, and is a Board member of the California Irrigation Institute and the Texas Water Foundation. She is past Chair of the Efficient Urban Water Management Specialist Group for the International Water Association, past Chair of the American Water Works Association National Water Conservation Division, and past President of the Lake Arrowhead Community Services District. She has presented numerous papers on water conservation internationally and all across the United States and Canada.

Abigail Gardner

Water Resources Engineer, Freese & Nichols
Region C Water Planning Group

Abbie Gardner is a Water Resources Engineer extensively involved in water supply evaluation and assistance, conservation planning and Senate Bill 1 regional water planning. She was heavily involved in the development of the 2016 and 2021 Region C Regional Water Plans, addressing the long-term water needs for 16 counties in and surrounding the DFW metroplex. In addition to her experience with state water planning, she has been involved in planning, conservation and Riverware modeling for the North Texas Municipal Water District. Abigail has experience with several major integrated water supply plans, water conservation and drought contingency plans, as well as treatment system asset inventory and risk assessments.

Karen Guz

Presiding Officer, Texas Water Conservation Advisory Council
Director of Water Conservation, San Antonio Water System

Karen is the Director of Water Conservation for San Antonio Water System (SAWS). In this role she leads a team that deploys conservation programs for residential, industrial, and institutional customers resulting in over one billion gallons of savings each year. Outside of SAWS Karen has served on in roles that include the TCEQ Irrigator Advisory Council, the Smart Water Applications Team (SWAT) and the WATR Advisory Committee for Texas A&M San Antonio. Karen is currently the Presiding Officer for the Water Conservation Advisory Council which provides input on conservation progress for the Texas Legislature. Karen has a Bachelor of Science from the University of Michigan and a Master of Public Administration from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Abigail Gardner

Water Conservation Manager, Dallas Water Utilities

Holly R. Holt-Torres serves as the Water Conservation Manager for the City of Dallas, the ninth largest city in the United States, with a staff of water conservation professionals charged with changing the public’s perception and behaviors regarding the efficient use of water. Dallas has become a leader in water conservation in the North Texas Region by offering a diverse menu of incentive-based programs and award-winning regional and local public awareness campaigns aimed at educating residents on the value of water. Holly is most interested in understanding the social and economic drivers behind water demand and issues impacting under-served communities affected by a lack of clean, healthy drinking water, with a mindfulness of equity and inclusion. Holly holds a BA in Psychology and an MS in Business Management and Administrative Sciences. On behalf of the City of Dallas, Dallas Water Conservation’s mission, staff and work can be found at savedallaswater.com.

Kathleen Jackson

Director, Texas Water Development Board

Kathleen Jackson, a registered Professional Engineer, serves as an appointee of Governor Greg Abbott to the Texas Water Development Board, the state agency responsible for planning, developing and conserving water resources. Jackson received a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from North Carolina State University. Jackson has three children, sixth-generation Texans who all reside and work in Texas, and three grandchildren. She is a long-time resident of Beaumont.

Joyce Warren

Programs & Communications Administrator, City of Frisco

Joyce Warren is the Programs and Communications Administrator for the City of Frisco Public Works and Engineering Services Department. Joyce joined the City of Frisco in 2007. Her water conservation management efforts and program development helped achieve significant reductions in daily per capita use. Under her leadership, the City’s free sprinkler system checkup program received national recognition as a model practice and was added to the American Public Works Association’s library to serve as a reference guide to help other cities establish similar programs. Joyce is a Collin County Master Gardener and serves as Project Lead for their Speakers Bureau. She earned a Bachelor of Journalism and Public Relations degree from the University of Texas at Austin.