Keynote Speakers for KWEA / KsAWWA Joint Conference
Gustavo Gallo, WEF Trustee
Gustavo R. Gallo-Chacon is a member of the 2022-23 board of trustees for the Water Environment Federation (WEF).
Gallo-Chacon is the president and founder of Galher Ambiental, S.A. de C.V. in Monterrey, NL, Mexico, providing consulting, engineering, and contractor services. He has a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from UANL and a master’s degree in environmental engineering from Civil Engineering Institute UANL. He has 46 years of experience in industrial wastewater treatment, drinking water treatment, and municipal wastewater treatment.
As a Sociedad Mexicana de Aguas, A.C. (Mexico WEF MA) member since 1976, Gallo-Chacon served as the 1993-94 and 2015-2017 president, as a WEF HOD member and as WEF executive committee member 1998-1999, and WEF Health and safety committee member 1997-1998. In 1999 with the help of WEAT and Texas TNRCC, he started an operators school and voluntary operators certification program. Both programs continue offering courses and voluntary certification nowadays. He is an SMAAC training committee member and trainer since 1999 and was I.P.A. Founder councilor (Nuevo Leon State Environmental Protection Institute) 1989 – 1990.
Brent Tippey, AWWA Trustee
Brent Tippey is HDR’s Drinking Water Market Sector Leader for the eastern half of the United States and a vice president. In his project delivery roles, he has served as project manager on over 165 water treatment or transmission projects for 50+ communities in 9 states.
The clients represented in his work cover the spectrum from large urban cities with populations in the multi-millions to small rural districts serving 600 people. These projects have provided a broad lens into America and her water challenges, especially affordability, equity, customer expectations, workforce issues, water quality, resiliency, and deteriorating infrastructure. However, the most treasured part of all these experiences for Tippey are the friendships he has made with peers, clients, regulators, manufacturers, and contractors.
Tippey’s industry service includes roles within the Kentucky-Tennessee Section of AWWA and at the AWWA national level including:
- MAC Chairman – KY-TN Section (2008-11)
- KY-TN Section Trustee, Vice-Chair, Chair-Elect and Chair (2011-15) currently serving as Director for Section
- KY-TN Water Professionals Leadership Academy (WPLA) Founding Sponsor and Session Facilitator
- Chair of AWWA’s Water Treatment Facilities Design & Construction Committee
- Elected as AWWA Vice-President in February 2023 and serving through 2025
Additionally, Tippey is a regular presenter at both section and national AWWA conferences having prepared and delivered more than 25 presentations at Section and ACE events.
Tippey currently participates in the KY State Drinking Water Advisory Council and is a member of the University of Kentucky Civil Engineering Alumni Advisory Board.
He is married to Leigh Ann whom he has known since middle school and is central to his life. They have two daughters – Claire and Campbell. His oldest, Claire, currently attends DePaul University and lives in downtown Chicago (which keeps him in a constant state of worry). To add to his woe, he has put all his hobbies on hold (golfing, boating, etc.) to follow Campbell, his youngest daughter, around to club soccer tournaments across the country.
