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Career Development Opportunities Panel as a Result of BIL
Rising Water Professionals
July 14, 2022 @ 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm EDT
Reservoir Center hosted a panel discussion to learn about career development opportunities that are extenuated as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). With the passage of this historic legislation the water sector is in the midst of a unique opportunity in time to both update our infrastructure as well as transform the ways we leverage and manage this infrastructure. Our esteemed panelists represent several different parts of the water industry (USDA rural development, utility leadership, university and technology incubation, and consulting) to provide a well-rounded discussion.
Event Speakers
Carla Reid, GM/CEO WSSC Water
Carla A. Reid serves as General Manager and Chief Executive Officer (GM/CEO) at WSSC Water. She is the first woman to serve in this capacity. Reid is a civil engineer and senior executive with more than 30 years of business and leadership experience in the public sector. As GM/CEO, Reid leads the 104-year-strong water utility, the largest in Maryland, in every aspect of its operation; from finance and supply chain management to engineering, environmental stewardship and customer service.
Reid earned a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Howard University and a master’s degree in Human Resources Management from University of Maryland University College.
Rizwan Siddiqi, President/CEO EBA Engineering
Rizwan Siddiqi, PE, is president and CEO of EBA Engineering, Inc. With 40 years of engineering achievements and advocacy, Rizwan is recognized and appreciated by both clients and colleagues for his leadership and commitment to quality, responsive service.
Actively involved in community, charitable, and professional organizations, Rizwan is a member of the Maryland Transportation Commission, advisory board member for the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of the District of Columbia, and chair of the Government Relations Committee for the National Association of Sewer Service Companies. He is also an inaugural member of the DC Water Business Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Council and a past president of the American Council of Engineering Companies of Metro Washington.
Rizwan is a regular speaker at professional seminars, panel discussions, and other events on topics related to his area of specialty—water and wastewater systems—and the engineering industry, including the ever-changing rules and regulatory requirements that govern the AEC profession. A Pakistan native with degrees from the University of Engineering Technology in Lahore, Pakistan, and from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Rizwan is an enthusiastic supporter of the engineering profession and the powerful role that engineers play in building, sustaining, and enhancing today’s world. He can be reached at rizwan.siddiqi@ebaengineering.com.
Dr. Jeseth Delgado Vela, Howard University
Dr. Jeseth Delgado Vela is an Assistant Professor in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at Howard University. Her research applies tools in molecular biology to develop sustainable and cost-efficient urban water treatment. She is interested in understanding microbial community interactions to improve the urban water cycle. She received her PhD and master’s degree the University of Michigan. She received her bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. She is a recipient of the Ford Foundation Dissertation Award (2016), was named a Early Career Research Fellow by the Gulf Research Program in 2021, and was awarded an NSF CAREER Award in 2022.