David Burton is the Alabama Area Manager for Waggoner Engineering, inc., a multi-discipline engineering firm dedicated to transforming communities. David grew up in the water industry. His father served in various roles at the local utility in his hometown for over thirty years. David is a certified project management professional and professional water asset manager. Since graduating from Auburn University, David has worked with utilities worldwide to understand their systems and help answer the complex questions of how to best manage those systems with the fiscal responsibility every customer deserves.

While water and wastewater utilities confront some of the most significant technical challenges in a generation, they have to do this amidst two historical human resource events; the retirement of many water and wastewater managers and executives (Silver Tsunami) and the abandoning of the job market by many working-class Americans (Great Resignation).

This session takes you through confronting these issues head-on through effective capital planning and asset management. By developing a proactive capital improvement plan, substantiated by a risk-based assessment of actual conditions, managers and leaders can leave behind a sustainable approach to maintaining the utility and investing in the future of the communities they serve.