Lindsey Apland

Vice President, Urban Solution Group

As Vice President at Urban Solution Group, Lindsey wears many hats for the team! She started her career in the Oil and Gas Industry in 2008 in Colorado, working in industrial noise mitigation.  Working her way up to Director of Business Development for the US Market, her experience working closely with the environmental regulatory side of the industry as well as operations and engineering, has exposed her to the great lengths companies go to ensure they are operating safely within communities.  Lindsey’s views on industry and community align with Urban’s mission and core values and she is a strong advocate for industry. Her experience has given her the opportunity to speak on behalf of clients at town hall meetings and government approval meetings.
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Lindsey holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from the University of Northern Colorado and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Denver Petroleum Club. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her friends and family, especially her husband and children (usually outdoors!).

Chad Calvert

Manager, Rockies Government Relations, Chevron USA Inc.

Chad is Manager, Rockies Government Relations at Chevron, bringing extensive experience in government and external relations within the energy sector. Backed by a Doctor of Law degree, they demonstrate applied knowledge of regulatory frameworks and policy advocacy.

Prior to Chevron, Chad served as Manager, Government & External Relations at Noble Energy, contributing to stakeholder engagement and policy initiatives. Previously he was Rockies Director, Government Affairs at BP, overseeing government relations strategies in a highly regulated industry.

His work history includes public sector leadership roles, including Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Land and Minerals Management at USGS. He also served as Executive Director, Western Caucus for the United States House of Representatives. During his tenure at the United States Senate, Chad held positions as Legislative Director and Legislative Assistant, advising on policy matters and contributing to legislative processes.

Brett Cavanagh

Director of Oil and Gas Energy Department, Weld County

Brett is a seasoned professional with over a decade of progressively advancing experience in managing complex projects across diverse market sectors and industries. Demonstrated success in securing multimillion-dollar contracts and fostering strong relationships with landowners, supported by a comprehensive understanding of federal, state, and municipal laws and regulations.
Brett was actively involved in athletics and the Future Farmers of America (FFA), where he developed an early interest in law and politics. He earned an MBA from Regis University, which further fueled his passion for politics and law, ultimately leading me to a career as a Landman. He also has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science Fort Collins, CO Colorado State University Master of Business Administration Denver, CO Regis University.

Sean Chambers

Director of Water & Sewer — City of Greeley

Sean Chambers is director of water & sewer for the city of Greeley and leads a dynamic team of water and wastewater planning, engineering and operations professionals.  Sean joined the city in 2018 and brings a vision for increased collaboration, regional resiliency through planning and demand management.  Greeley has one of the most robust and resilient surface water-collection systems in the West, with resources from four major river basins and balance between trans-mountain and native Poudre and Big Thompson water resources. Sean is passionate about leadership, change management, takes great pride in the stewardship of a proud organization with more than 125 years of service. Sean is experienced in water-resource development, applied natural resource economics, strategic planning, infrastructure project financing, executive team building, collaborative partnership development, and water resource and contract litigation. He has a bachelor of science degree from Colorado State University in agriculture and natural-resource economics, and is an alumnus of the Water Education Colorado Water Leaders program.

Scott Franz

Water and Environmental Reporter, KUNC

Scott Franz is the water and environment reporter from Steamboat Springs. He spent the last seven years covering politics and government for the Steamboat Pilot & Today, a daily newspaper in northwest Colorado.

His reporting in Steamboat stopped a police station from being built in a city park, saved a historic barn from being destroyed and helped a small town pastor quickly find a kidney donor. His favorite workday in Steamboat was Tuesday, when he could spend many of his mornings skiing untracked powder and his evenings covering city council meetings.

Scott received his journalism degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He is an outdoorsman who spends at least 20 nights a year in a tent. He spoke his first word, ‘outside’, as a toddler in Edmonds, Washington. Scott visits the Great Sand Dunes, his favorite Colorado backpacking destination, twice a year.

Todd Gaston

Senior Associate and Economics Lead, Westwater Research

Todd Gaston is a Senior Associate and Lead Economist with WestWater Research. He has conducted water project economic feasibility studies, cost allocations, and repayment analyses across the western U.S. and throughout the state of Colorado. Since joining WestWater in 2022, he has collaborated on the development of water supply master plans, raw water cash-in-lieu fee determinations, and water bank development strategies for seven northern Front Range municipalities. His team is currently collaborating with the City of Greeley in a research effort investigating the price elasticity of demand for residential water service and how these findings can inform future rate adjustments to better-align with revenue targets. Beyond the state’s borders, he led the raw water supply fee update for a public utility serving over 30 Arizona communities, a reformulation and update of the City of Bozeman’s raw water supply fee, and developed the water infrastructure expansion cost allocation methodology for one of California’s largest public water providers (a framework for equitable distribution of costs among existing beneficiaries and new beneficial purposes).

Prior to joining WestWater, Mr. Gaston spent over a decade with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation as a senior economist, leading economic evaluations for some of the nation’s most critical water infrastructure. He specialized in benefit-cost and financial feasibility analyses for major infrastructure projects and the formulation of equitable cost allocation and repayment frameworks for water project beneficiaries.

Mr. Gaston is based in Denver and holds an M.S. in agricultural and resource economics and a B.S. in environmental science, both from the University of Arizona.

Jennifer Gimbel

Senior Water Policy Scholar, CSU Colorado Water Center

Jennifer Gimbel is a Senior Water Policy Scholar for the Colorado Water  Center at CSU.  She has worked for both State and Federal governments on water issues.  She worked as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Water and Science, overseeing the Bureau of Reclamation and U.S. Geological Service. For the State of Colorado she worked as the Director of the Water Conservation Board and for the Attorney General.

Lynn Granger

Executive Director, COGA Colorado Oil and Gas Association

Lynn Granger is the President and CEO of the Colorado Oil & Gas Association (COGA), bringing more than two decades of energy policy and strategic communications leadership experience.
Prior to joining COGA, Granger served as Regional Director at the American Petroleum Institute (API) and Executive Director of API Colorado. She previously held the position of Chief Operating Officer at Colorado Concern, where she led operational and strategic execution supporting statewide policy efforts.

Granger’s public sector experience includes serving as Communications Director for the Colorado Department of Revenue during former Governor John Hickenlooper’s administration, where she was the department’s subject matter expert and primary media liaison.
Her career began with the U.S. Army, where she served for 12 years both in uniform and as a civilian. As a 46R broadcast journalist, she hosted a morning radio show providing vital command information to troops near the DMZ in South Korea. Her military career culminated as a strategic communications adviser to the Commander of United States Army Europe.

Granger is committed to advancing fact-based discussions about Colorado’s energy future, emphasizing that energy policy should transcend partisan lines. Under her leadership, she prioritizes inclusive stakeholder engagement and building consensus through bringing diverse perspectives together.

Dan Haley

Executive Director — Coloradans for Responsible Energy Development

Mr. Dan Haley is an advocate for American energy and Colorado oil and natural gas development. He serves as the Executive Director for Coloradans for Responsible Energy Development. Previously, he was President & Chief Executive Officer of the Colorado Oil & Gas Association, where he was responsible for leading the industry in Colorado legislative, regulatory, and public relations matters.
Prior to joining COGA, Mr. Haley was Vice President of Communications, Development and Strategy at EIS Solutions, a public affairs firm where he served numerous corporate and political clients, including oil and gas interests. Mr. Haley also spent more than 20 years in communications, including 13 years at The Denver Post, where was the Editorial Page Editor. A Colorado native, Haley graduated from the University of Wyoming and sits on the Colorado Advisory Committee for the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition.

Fay Hartman

Southwest Conservation Director, American Rivers

Fay works in American Rivers’ Southwest Region on innovative policy and project solutions that build resilience for communities, economies, agriculture, and ecosystems. She elevates the profile of rivers and demonstrates their essential value to local communities and the natural environment. A member of the American Rivers team since 2010, Fay holds a B.S. in Agricultural & Applied Economics and Environmental Studies from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and an M.B.A. from the University of Colorado Boulder.

Scott Holwick

Partner, Lyons Gaddis

Scott Holwick is committed to protecting the water rights of Colorado residents and organizations. His practice is focused on representing clients in water rights litigation, water quality issues, and transactional matters. He works with individuals and organizations throughout the state, including corporate entities, Title 32 special districts, water conservancy districts and other governmental agencies. His area of expertise expands beyond water and encompasses real estate, land use and corporate and governmental law.
Scott graduated with a B.S. in General Engineering and a B.A. in Economics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1989. He earned his J.D. from the University of Colorado School of Law in 2000.

He has delivered multiple presentations to clients and organizations, including to the Ditch and Reservoir Company Alliance, and has taught a course to real estate professionals relating to water rights transfers. Scott also delivered a presentation on Objective Measures of Neighborhood Character at the National American Planning Association Conference.

Scott James

Commissioner, Weld County

Widely recognized for his thoughtful, common-sense approach to addressing issues that affect families, communities, and businesses, Scott K. James is a staunch defender of the power of the individual, the free market, the rule of law, and maintaining a small, limited government that fulfills only its proper role. A former Council member and Mayor of Johnstown, Colorado, Scott delights in public service and continues that service as the second-term Weld County Commissioner representing District 2.

A community-involved Northern Colorado native, Scott is a 40-year veteran media personality and was awarded Best Morning Show, Best News/Talk Personality, and Best Station Entertainment Personality by the Colorado Broadcasters’ Association. James was recently awarded County Commissioner of the Year by Colorado Counties, Incorporated. Scott, his wife, Julie, and son, Jack, call Johnstown, Colorado, home.

Shea Kauffman

Director of Land and Business Development, Prairie Resources

Shea Kauffman has worked the Rockies for more than 20 years. At Prairie Operating Co, she serves as the SVP, Regulatory Affairs and is the principal point of contact for stakeholders and the ECMC. Prior to joining Prairie, Shea served as Deputy General Counsel for Civitas Resources and Vice President of Land and M&A for Crestone Peak Resources. She began her career in oil and gas writing title opinions and was a landman in the Rockies region at Anadarko Petroleum Corporation for 10 years.

Zane Kessler

Director of Government Relations, Colorado River District

Zane Kessler is the Director of Government Relations for the Glenwood Springs-based Colorado River District. In this role, he manages the River District’s policy efforts at the state and federal levels, and oversees the organization’s work with counties, municipalities, and partner organizations on the Western Slope. Zane brings 20 years of natural resource policy experience to the District’s team, including 6 years as a staffer in the United States Senate, where he managed a variety of policy and outreach initiatives in the agriculture, infrastructure and natural resource arenas.

Mimi Larsen

OF Counsel, Brownstein

With a primary focus on oil and gas, geothermal and carbon management, Mimi Larsen has extensive experience in state and federal regulatory actions, litigation and implementation of public policy strategies.

Mimi assists natural resource development companies, owners, developers and investors in development, land use matters, leasing and financing. She has represented clients before the United States Supreme Court, several U.S. Courts of Appeals, the Colorado Supreme Court and the Colorado Court of Appeals.

She previously served as the deputy director of policy and administration for the Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission (ECMC). In this role she coordinated policy development and implementation of regulatory programs. She was instrumental in the stakeholder process for multiple high-profile rulemakings before the commission and functioned as a liaison between staff and commissioners. Prior to that, Mimi was an assistant attorney general for the State of Colorado representing the ECMC.

Martin Lind

CEO and Owner, The Water Valley Company

A fourth-generation farmer of German descent in the Windsor area, Martin Lind became a land developer in 1985 after working in the agricultural, oil and gas businesses.
Martin has been instrumental in developing several emerging commercial, business, and industrial areas in Northern Colorado’s fastest growing region. The Brands at The Ranch, a 3 million square foot commercial and residential piece along the I-25 and Crossroads Blvd. corridor, the 180-acre Eagle Crossing Business Park, as well as the Windsor Iron Mountain Autoplex, all shine as exemplary examples of Lind’s work. In 1990, in establishing Water Valley Land Company, he purchased land around the Cache la Poudre River with the vision of mining the aggregate and then reclaiming the land for a residential golf community featuring five man-made lakes. Water Valley Land Company is a family owned and operated land development company with over 25 years of experience in business, commercial, residential and industrial developments. Based in the heart of Windsor, Colorado’s Water Valley master-planned community encompasses 1,500 acres and includes 2,600 homes. Nine years later, Water Valley was recognized by the state as the Premier Reclamation Project.

Bart Miller

Healthy Rivers Director, Western Resource Advocates

Bart Miller is the Healthy Rivers Director at Western Resource Advocates, where he leads a multi-state team to protect rivers to support healthy ecosystems, local communities, and world-class recreation.
Bart and his team work to advance policies and secure public funding to save water, recover endangered species, preserve water rights for rivers, and better manage our most precious natural resource.
Bart graduated from Dartmouth College in 1988 and the University of Colorado’s Law School in 1995.

Julie Murphy

Director, Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission

Julie Murphy was appointed as the ECMC Director on July 1, 2020, from her position as Chief of Staff and Senior Policy Advisor. Murphy’s strong oil and gas regulatory expertise draws from 7 years of service with the Colorado Department of Natural Resources. Murphy has knowledge of the complex issues, including conflicts, facing natural resource management from the policy, technical and legal perspectives and works with Colorado’s diverse oil and gas stakeholders to find common sense, consensus solutions. 

Amy Ostdiek

Section Chief, Colorado Water Conservation Board

Amy is the Chief of the Interstate, Federal, and Water Information Section at the Colorado Water Conservation Board, a state agency whose mission is to develop, protect, and manage Colorado’s water for present and future generations. The section Amy oversees works to protect Colorado’s interests in interstate water compacts and supports coordination with the federal government and other states in various contexts. Much of Amy’s work focuses on Colorado River matters, including supporting the State in negotiations and coordination with fellow Basin States, Tribal Nations, and others within the Basin. Prior to joining CWCB, Amy was an Assistant Attorney General with the Colorado River Subunit at the Colorado Attorney General’s Office. Amy is originally from rural Western Nebraska. She attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the University of Colorado Law School.

Virgil Pierce

Utility and Finance Manager, City of Greeley

Virgil Pierce is the Utility Finance Manager for Greeley Water and Sewer. Applying skills in programing, statistics, and mathematics to improve efficiencies and forecasts for the city water and sewer department.
Pierce has 20 Years experience teaching mathematics, statistics, and programming at the undergraduate and graduate level including courses in developmental mathematics. He served as the Associate Dean for Student Success in Science at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley from 2015 – 2018; and was the Director of the School of Mathematical Sciences at the University of Northern Colorado 2018 – 2022. From 2014 – 2018 he was the lead on a high school-university partnership for college readiness that spanned five counties of South Texas and met the needs of over 500 high school students per year.

Sandra Hagen Solin

Founder and President — Capitol Solutions

Sandra Hagen Solin guides clients in navigating the intersection of politics and business as the founder and head of Capitol Solutions, a government affairs, strategic communications and lobbying firm.

Sandra founded Capitol Solutions in 1993 at the age of 23 and quickly built a successful firm solving complex public affairs challenges at local, state, and federal levels for exceptional clients, including Colorado’s top corporations, Fortune 500 companies, and trade associations.  

Joe Taddeucci

Director of public works — City of Boulder

Joe Taddeucci, P.E., is the director of public works for utilities. Taddeucci joined the city of Boulder in 2005 as an engineering project manager and was promoted to Water Resources manager in 2012. Prior to joining the city, he was an engineering consultant for 15 years. Taddeucci holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Michigan Technological University. During Taddeucci’s tenure with the city, he led the development of the 2009 Source Water Master Plan, project-managed numerous capital improvement projects including the Boulder Canyon Hydroelectric Modernization Project, Carter Lake Pipeline and several source water dam and pipeline projects. As Water Resources Manager, Taddeucci oversaw the work group that manages the city’s source water supply, hydroelectric program and instream flow program.

Grant Tupper

Director of Operations and Business Development, Rocky Mountain Region — Select Water Solutions

Grant Tupper has been in the industrial water space in Colorado for the past 12 years. As the Rocky Mountain Region business development and operations director with Select Water Solutions, Tupper procures water sources for developing needs in the oil and gas space and designs and orchestrates the construction of innovative produced water recycling facilities. Grant has recently been charged with forecasting infrastructure needs throughout the region and creating a symbiotic relationship among major O&G organizations for build-out in preparation for Colorado’s long-term energy needs. Appointed to the Colorado Produced Water Consortium in 2023, Tupper aspires to be a resource that allows for increased sustainability in the energy industry while protecting Colorado’s environment for generations to come.

Richard Werner

President & CEO, Upstate Colorado

Rich joined Upstate Colorado Economic Development in his current role as president & CEO in 2015. Upstate Colorado operates in Weld County in Northern Colorado where they have partnered with local communities to support the unprecedented growth making Northern Colorado one of the fastest growing areas in the United States.  Prior to joining Upstate, Rich worked in Southern Colorado for six years. Rich has previously served as the Associate Director for the State of Colorado Small Business Development Centers for Former Governor Bill Owens and Bill Ritter. Prior to his appointment by the State, he acted as the Director of Marketing and Community Affairs for the Boulder Technology Incubator (CTEK). Rich spent his early career in the private sector in Washington DC after receiving degrees in Political Science and Communications from The American University.

Kyle Whitaker

Water Rights Manager, Northern Water

Northern Water and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation operate the Colorado-Big Thompson Project, which collects water from the Colorado River basin and delivers it to about 980,000 residents and 640,000 irrigated acres in Northeastern Colorado. Northern Water, headquartered in Berthoud, and its Municipal Subdistrict are also currently developing the Windy Gap Firming Project and Northern Integrated Supply Project. Kyle is responsible for overseeing Colorado River and Platte River programs that Northern Water is involved in and managing and protecting the water right assets owned by Northern Water and its enterprises in cooperation with Northern Water’s legal counsel. Kyle grew up in the White River basin in western Colorado.  Kyle has more than 25 years of engineering experience, having previously worked for 18 years for the Colorado Division of Water Resources in the Colorado River basin prior to joining Northern Water.  Kyle has a B.S. and M.S. in Civil Engineering from Colorado State University.