Driving ACWA’s Strategic Plan: Empowering Regions and Committees by Ernie Avila, P.E. Jan 16, 2026 Voices on Water Thank you for placing your trust in me to serve as President of ACWA. It is an honor to lead a world-class association with a distinguished history of advancing the needs of California’s water community. Together, we will build on our foundation of expertise and collaboration throughout 2026 and beyond. My priority is clear: strengthening ACWA’s presence and voice in Sacramento and Washington, D.C. At a time of rapid policy change, our association must be more assertive in advocating for member agencies. This vision is the “beating heart” of our 2025–’29 Strategic Plan, which establishes 50 key performance indicators (KPIs) to gauge our progress. Empowering Committees and Region Boards for Action While we have completed 70% of our initial KPIs, we are now elevating the ACWA committee and region process to be more than just advisory. We are shifting toward a framework where ACWA Region Boards and Committees are responsible for crafting strategic initiatives that are: Actionable: Moving beyond high-level discussion to create concrete water policy initiatives that originate from members and advance directly into association advocacy. Built on Implementation Strategies: We are laying the groundwork for a more responsive framework that positions ACWA to lead rather than react. This requires committees to develop robust roadmaps for how each policy goal or initiative will be achieved and what resources our members can bring to bear in support of this effort. Focused on Clear Next Steps: To bring these initiatives to fruition, our regions and committees must identify the specific tactical steps and milestones necessary to unlock historic gains for our members. Your Voice in the Implementation Process Vice President Carol Lee Gonzales-Brady and I have recently led an ACWA Board task force to facilitate this shift toward a member-driven, action-oriented system. I encourage every member to get involved through committee service and regional participation. When you contribute to these discussions, you are doing more than sharing an opinion — you are helping to build the implementation strategies that will shape California’s water future. I welcome your input and partnership as we move forward into what should prove a dynamic year for our association.
