SPEAKERS – LIVE Webinar (Jan. 21, 2026) Jan 21, 2026 SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES ACWA appreciates these speakers for sharing their time, expertise and insights on this topic. From Policy to Practice (Part 3): Tools, Resources, and Sustaining Compliance for Making Conservation a Way of Life Regulation Moderator: Sean Bigley Environmental Utilities Director City of Roseville Sean Bigley is the City of Roseville’s Environmental Utilities Director. Sean leads the City’s water, wastewater, and waste services utilities that provide reliable and affordable utility service to Roseville’s residents and businesses. Additionally, Sean is a current board member of the Sacramento Regional Water Authority (RWA) and served as the RWA Board Chair in 2021. In 2023, Sean received RWA’s Water Statesperson of the Year award for his work in bringing $55 million in state funding to the Sacramento region to build water reliability projects, of which Roseville received $8 million of that state funding. Sean also serves as the Executive Director for the South Placer Wastewater Authority, a regional wastewater joint powers authority that provides wastewater treatment to many communities in South Placer County. Sean has been active in ACWA for over 15 years and in January 2026 was appointed as Chair of ACWA’s Water Management Committee as well as to the ACWA Board of Directors. Sean has over 20 years of utility experience with the City of Roseville and has 12 years of previous experience working in State and Federal organizations. Sean holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration from California State University, Sonoma. In his free time, Sean loves to travel, work in the garden and work towards fluency in Spanish. Speakers: Tia Fleming Executive Director California Water Efficiency Partnership Tia Fleming is the Executive Director of the California Water Efficiency Partnership, where she leads the organization’s strategic vision, operations, and advocacy on behalf of more than 240 urban water suppliers across California. She works closely with local agencies to deliver practical solutions, innovative programs, and strong partnerships that help communities use water wisely and meet regulatory requirements. With more than 15 years of experience supporting municipal organizations and nonprofits, Tia brings deep expertise in communication, policy, and coalition-building. She graduated with honors in Environmental Studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and holds a Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper certification. Tia is also a Board Member of the California Irrigation Institute. Melissa Matlock Deputy Director California Water Efficiency Partnership Melissa oversees CalWEP’s programmatic vision and priorities. Prior to joining the team, Melissa worked with Western Municipal Water District in the Water Resources/Planning Department. She has also worked as a Development Coordinator at the renewable energy non-profit, GRID Alternatives. Melissa has a Master’s in Climate and Society from Columbia University and a Ph.D. in Public Health from University of California, Irvine. Melissa obtained her AWWA Water Use Efficiency Grade 3, Water Loss Audit Validator, and Distribution Grade 1 certifications, is WaterSense Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper certified, and has her Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. Melissa Sparks-Kranz, MPP Legislative Affairs Lobbyist, Environmental Quality League of California Cities Melissa Sparks-Kranz is a seasoned governmental affairs professional with over a decade of extensive experience working on statewide water, environmental, and natural resources issues in California. Currently, Melissa advocates on environmental quality issues as a Legislative Affairs Lobbyist for the League of California Cities. Her expertise includes legislative and regulatory policy and advocacy at both the state and local levels in California, allowing her to shape effective climate and environmental policies with just and sustainable solutions. Formerly, Melissa worked as an Executive Policy Advisor at the State Department of Water Resources, represented local water agencies in legislative and regulatory advocacy, served as staff in the California State Senate, and worked for a local environmental land trust. Her holistic experiences allow her to collaborate with diverse partners on sound public policy decisions. Melissa is a life-long learner and proud mustang – with a Masters of Public Policy and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Management and Protection both from the California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo.
