Get to Know the CASA Team: Spencer Saks, Legislative & Regulatory Analyst
Spencer works as an analyst for CASA’s state legislative and regulatory advocacy programs, and is a key point of contact for CASA agency and associate members on legislative and regulatory issues. He directly coordinates with elected and appointed officials, legislative staff, state regulators, and other stakeholders to advance CASA’s public policy priorities. He utilizes his experience and knowledge of the California Legislature and regulatory bodies to advance CASA’s programs on many priority issues. He also writes, edits, and produces components of CASA’s State Legislative and Regulatory newsletters.

Prior to joining CASA in 2022, Spencer worked as a Legislative Advocate in the Legislative and Public Policy Clinic at McGeorge School of Law. He also worked as a Special Advisor to The Gualco Group, Inc., where he worked on numerous projects for a wide variety of clients. Previously, he interned for the office of Senator Dianne Feinstein in Washington, D.C.  Spencer holds a law degree from University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from University of California, Riverside.

Spencer beyond the office:

  • If you could live in any fictional universe, where would you choose to live?
    Ooh. I play video games, so I think I would have to choose the world of Stardew Valley. Picturesque countryside town that comes with free farmland?! Count me in!
  • Are you a morning person or a night owl? I am one hundred percent a night owl. Having a 10-month-old baby at home has confirmed this. Luckily, my wife is a morning person!
  • What’s the strangest talent or skill you have? The strangest talent that I have comes to light when a piece of technology is acting up. If someone is having a tech issue, usually once I take a look at it, it will magically fix itself on its own!
  • If you could visit any place in the world, where would you go and what would you do there? I would visit New York in the wintertime with my family. I would love to do all the touristy things like see the Rockettes and the Christmas tree lighting at 30 Rock!

 

Winter Conference Registration Now Open
Registration is now open for CASA’s 2025 Winter Conference! Join us January 29-31, 2025, at the Hilton in downtown Palm Springs for a dynamic event filled with learning and networking. This year’s agenda features a whole host of technical sessions packed with real-world insights and strategies for your agencies. These sessions will cover topics such as implementation of advanced technologies, asset management, and cutting-edge research. A special extended session on Thursday will dive into how Artificial Intelligence is being used at local clean water agencies.

We will also have several opportunities to celebrate the retirement of our Director of Renewable Resource Programs Greg Kester! With a nod to Greg’s favorite artist, Bob Dylan, our theme this year is “The Times They Are A-Changin’.”

The National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) will also be hosting its 2025 Winter Conference in nearby Rancho Mirage the same week, and we’re looking forward to hosting a joint reception on the evening of Thursday, January 30. The concurrent NACWA and CASA events will present a unique opportunity for attendees to network with top water leaders from both California and the nation. Stay tuned for more information in future publications!

Don’t miss out—register early to secure your spot! Our conferences continue to grow thanks to the support of our members, and we may reach capacity at the Hilton this year. We can’t wait to see you in Palm Springs for is sure what to be a memorable event!

 

NEW – CASA Finance Workgroup and Listserv
CASA is excited to announce the upcoming launch of a workgroup and LISTSERV dedicated to infrastructure funding and agency financing issues! Funding and finance consistently rank among the top priorities and concerns for clean water agencies. While CASA has frequently hosted workshops and conference sessions on these topics, and has formed dedicated groups on topics like the Clean Water SRF program, we believe it would be a valuable member benefit to bring all these insights together in one place. This new forum will provide a space for recurring discussion on key financial issues. Some of the areas we hope to focus on include:

  • Federal programs and funding opportunities, including traditional funding sources such as WIFIA and WaterSMART, as well as new and emerging programs;
  • Presentations from experts on the latest agency financing opportunities and structures;
  • A forum for member agencies to suggest topics and speakers for future workshops, webinars, and CASA Conference content focused on finance issues;
  • A forum for local agencies to ask questions and share knowledge and best practices.

We’re also open to shaping this group to best meet everyone’s needs. Possible additional topics could include agency rate setting and affordability, but we hope participants will help guide the conversation, so this list isn’t exhaustive. The first step is getting your agencies involved!

In order to get this group established, we need to know if you are interested in joining the LISTSERV and participating in future workgroup meetings on behalf of your agency or firm. Please email Cheryl Mackelvie (cmackelvie@casaweb.org) directly and let us know if you would like to participate. We hope to have our first workgroup meeting toward the end of 2024 or beginning of 2025!