Join ACWA and CAPIO for an engaging webinar where we explore dynamic approaches to water education that are designed to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of water conservation and sustainable practices, as well as support workforce development.

Key Takeaways

• Spotlight on Collaborative Programs: Learn how water agencies partner with local high schools and middle schools to offer expert-led water curriculum development and introduce students to careers in water.
• Teacher Workshops: Dive into strategies for successful workshops for educators.
• Community Engagement Beyond the Classroom: Gain insight into how water agencies collaborate with community organizations such as the Girl Scouts, enhancing stewardship through interactive patches and badges.

Recorded: December 17th

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Presenters:

BIOS

Amanda Fine

Amanda Fine is the Director of Strategic Communications and Public Affairs for Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) – California’s sixth-largest water agency.

In her role, Amanda collaborates with a team of public affairs professionals to provide transparent, engaging, and impactful internal and external communications to EMWD’s 600 employees and nearly one million customers. 

Amanda has over ten years of experience working in the private, non-profit and local government sectors. Before EMWD, Amanda served as a digital marketing specialist for Best Best & Krieger LLP and as a communications and social media specialist with Valley Children’s Hospital Network.

Amanda is a native of Riverside, Calif. and earned her Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations from Fresno State.

Charlene Engeron

Charlene Engeron has worked in communications for more than 30 years, most recently as the Public Information officer for Mojave Water Agency (MWA), a water wholesaler and State Water Contractor serving 4,900 square miles in the Mojave Desert region of Southern California.

With a focus on strategic communications, Charlene is skilled at identifying and leveraging the strengths and talents of her colleagues to build project teams that help fulfill the Agency’s mission to provide a sustainable water supply to more than 500,000 people.

Charlene transitioned to MWA after working for the Town of Apple Valley for 13 years, during which time she gained extensive experience in civic engagement, website development, social media management, video production, event planning, fundraising, marketing, and internal communications.

Charlene has a Bachelor of Arts degree from CSU San Bernardino. Early in her career she earned two California Newspaper Publishers Association Awards for team news coverage and front-page feature photo.

Congressman Paul Cook named her a Woman of Distinction, and the Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio Council named her Volunteer of the Year. Charlene lives in Oak Hills with her husband of 31 years, a terribly misbehaved blue heeler, 25 bougie chickens, and one antisocial turkey.

Marion Champion

Marion Champion is the Assistant General Manager at Mission Springs Water District, where she heads up the district’s Communications, Conservation, and Legislative outreach efforts. Passionate about water, education, sustainability, and the looming health crisis posed by the shrinking Salton Sea, she has used her Communications skills to spotlight and call for community and legislative action.  

Before joining MSWD in 2022, she was the Public Information Officer at College of the Desert, overseeing all branding, marketing, and communications-related activities at the College. She helped the institution navigate through a turbulent COVID-19 pandemic, which included moving all learning activities online for a two-year period. She also supported many of the student-first achievements of the College that garnered a national Bellwether Award for student success. 

Prior to this, Champion was the Media Communications Officer at the Imperial Irrigation District. There for more than 14 years, she was responsible for overseeing the district’s media relations, social media channels, print services, websites and all internal and external communications.

Active in her community, Champion was named the DHS Volunteer of the Year in 2023 by the Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce. She is part of the DHS Chamber Board, the DHS Rotary Board, Friends of the DHS Library, the DVBA’s Professional Women in Building Council, and is Secretary of the DHS Women’s Club. A proponent of education, she supports various local school events, including providing tours and educational support to the DHS High School REAL Academy. Champion is also a driving force behind many of the community-giving efforts of the water district, including its Toy and Canned food drives, and is a proud participant and promoter of the District’s LifeStream Community Blood Drives. 

Mother of three, in her spare time, you can find Marion on the volleyball court, coaching alongside her husband at College of the Desert. Champion holds a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications with an emphasis in Public Relations from Cal State University, East Bay.  

Brian Brown

Brian works with a dedicated team of workshop facilitators to provide engaging, hands–on Project WET (Water Education Today) professional development trainings for educators who teach K-12 across California.

Brian coordinates supplies and support to assist facilitators in organizing workshops, writes the California Project WET newsletter to provide guidance for educators in using Project WET activities that engage students in current water issues and topics. He personally leads a number of workshops each year.

Brian joined the Water Education Foundation in 2004 after a 14-year career as a naturalist, lead teacher, intern coordinator and trail engineer at Whiskeytown Environmental School near Redding and YMCA Camp Campbell Outdoor Science School in Boulder Creek.

Brian graduated from Humboldt State University with bachelor’s degrees in forestry and social sciences. Brian holds California Professional Clear Credentials in multiple subjects, life sciences and social sciences.

Sarah Wilson

Sarah Wilson is a formidable public relations professional with over a decade of award-winning experience in her field. She has worked independently and alongside reputable creative teams to develop and implement dynamic programs and essential communications tools that boost public awareness, promote community involvement, and support effective partnerships. During her time with the Municipal Water District of Orange County, Sarah has developed and written outreach programs, designed educational resources, and is responsible for the coordination of the district’s countywide K-12 school programs that have reached more than 3.5 million Orange County students, teachers, and families since its inception.