Full Schedule

8:00 a.m. – 9:20 a.m. – WQA Board Meeting (By Invitation) – Grand Sierra C

9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. – Registration Open – Grand Sierra Prefunction Area

10:00 a.m. – 11:20 a.m. – WQRF Board Meeting (By Invitation) – Grand Sierra D

10:00 a.m. – 10:50 a.m. – Leadership Engagement And Development – Grand Sierra A/B

Supported by the RISE, THRIVE, and WIN Advisory Councils

Name an email faux pas. What about a reason you might be nervous at work? How about a kind deed a coworker might do for you? Start noodling these questions around as you travel to Lake Tahoe because we will kickstart the conference with a lively feud competition. You’ll make bonds with your teammates and get ideas for engaging your team at home.

(Never heard of the feud? View this short YouTube clip for an idea of how it works.)
Download Feud Slides (PowerPoint)

10:50 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. – BREAK

11:00 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.  – Uncovering and Predicting Industry Trends – Grand Sierra A/B

Supported by the Industry Research Committee’s Cross-Correlations Task Force

We’re highlighting key findings from the Cross-Correlation Task Force, which looked at identifying trends to help WQA members better understand the current industry and potentially predict future business trends. Come ready to contribute to a discussion on the benefits of these trends and how you anticipate using the data to elevate your company.
Pre-Read Materials: WQA Cross Correlation Report

11:50 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.  –   Lunch (Provided) & Afternoon Activities Kick-Off – Grand Sierra A/B

12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.  –  WQRF Golf Tournament (Additional Fee) – Beverage cart sponsored by United Salt

12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.  – WQA Business Unplugged: Meet Up & Connect – Sponsored by Franklin Water Treatment

Not a golfer? You can still enjoy an outdoor network-building activity! Meet us for lunch, then choose one of three fun informal gatherings – no advance registration needed:

Afternoon stroll

Get some fresh air in our informal outdoor hike! Although you’ll want to wear comfortable walking shoes, you won’t need any special hiking gear for this stress-relieving amble around the property.

Biking Adventure

Take things up a notch by renting a bike to explore the surrounding area. Plenty of bikes are available, at prices ranging from $20 to $30 an hour, offering a pleasant way to spend the afternoon getting to know your colleagues.

Games, Games, Games

Join in some competitive fun. Whether you’re enjoying the beautiful scenery while playing a game of checkers or engaging in a slightly more active outdoor game like cornhole, you can engage with your water treatment peers in a new and fun way.

6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.   –   Welcome Reception – Sponsored by Atlantic Filter Corp. and Charger Water Treatment – The Pavillion

7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. – Registration Open – Grand Sierra Prefunction Area

7:30 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. – WQA Mentorship Program Meet-Up – Grand Sierra D

2023 WQA Mentorship Program Mentees & Mentors

2023 WQA Leadership Initiative Mentees & Mentors

Learn more about WQA’s two mentorship programs designed for members by hearing directly from current participants.

7:30 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. – State and Regional WQAs Meet-Up – Grand Sierra C

An opportunity for members who support State & Regional WQAs to share updates, views and ideas.

8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. – Breakfast (Provided) – Sponsored by Pentair – Grand Sierra A/B

8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. – Member Value Proposition Strategy – Grand Sierra A/B

A joint meeting of the Membership and Communications committees

Help refine WQA’s communications strategy to effectively convey the value we bring to you, our members, whether you be long-time members or newbies.

9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.  –   BREAK

10:00 a.m. – 10:50 a.m.  – More than a Section Meeting – Commercial/Industrial Education – Grand Sierra A/B

A meeting of the Commercial/Industrial Section

Examine and explore commercial and industrial education for Convention attendees. What do you want and need to get out of your Convention learning?

10:00 a.m. – 10:50 a.m. – International Section – Grand Sierra D

10:00 a.m. – 10:50 a.m. – WQRF Research Advisory Council Meeting (by invitation) – Grand Sierra C

10:50 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.  –   BREAK

11:00 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.  –   All-Attendee Breakout Sessions – Choose between two sessions to be determined by attendees onsite
Topic 1 in Room Grand Sierra C: Building Public Trust
Topic 2 in Room Grand Sierra D: How WQA Product Certification Can Help You Onboard Staff

11:50 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.  –   BREAK

12:00 p.m. – 1:20 p.m.  –   Lunch (Provided) – Sponsored by Chester Paul Company – Keynote speaker Patrick Keaney, CEO of Subeca – Grand Sierra A/B

1:20 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.  –   BREAK

1:30 p.m. – 2:20 p.m.  –   All-Attendee Breakout Sessions – Choose among two sessions to be determined by attendees onsite
Topic 3 in Room Grand Sierra C: PFAS Disposal
Topic 4 in Room Grand Sierra D: Advocacy Lessons Learned

2:20 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.  –   BREAK

2:30 p.m. – 3:20 p.m.  –   Leveraging Industry Reports for Advocacy – Grand Sierra A/B

Joint meeting of the State/Regional Government Affairs, Federal Government Affairs, and Industry Research Committees

Join us for a discussion regarding consumer trends data collected via the 2023 WQA Consumer Opinion Study. Be ready to engage in brainstorming on how to leverage data from both a business operations and advocacy perspective.
Learn more about the 2023 WQA Consumer Opinion Study

3:20 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.  –   BREAK

3:30 p.m. – 4:20 p.m.  –   Dealers Section & Manufacturers Section – Grand Sierra A/B

Kitchen Table Ethics

Joint meeting of the Dealers Section & Manufacturers Section

This highly entertaining session will feature live demonstrations of how  . . . and how NOT . . . to deal ethically with potential customers; how to accurately and fairly represent products, treatments and services; and how to answer questions about PFAS. We’ll show you our “blooper reel” first, then rewind for a lively discussion and demo of practical tips and tools you can use in the real world.
Pre-Read Materials: WQA Code of Ethics, What you need to know about PFAS

6:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.   –   Crafted Alibies on Lake Tahoe, A WQRF Benefit Dinner Experience (Additional Fee) – Beer Tasting Sponsored by AO Smith, Dinner Elements Sponsored by Austin Water Solutions, Culligan SW, Culligan Ultra Pure, Freeman Water Treatment, Kinetico, Pentair and Stenner Pumps, Transportation Sponsored by Cargill Salts

7:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – Registration Open – Grand Sierra Prefunction Area

8:00 a.m. – 8:50 a.m. – Breakfast (Provided) – Sponsored by Trojan Technologies – Grand Sierra C/D

9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. – Looking Ahead – Grand Sierra A/B

The Water Sciences Committee

Discuss the next chapter of the Water Sciences Committee.

10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. – Top Value: Delivering the Most at WQA Events – Grand Sierra A/B

Events Committee/Business Operations & Training Committee/Professional Certification and Training Committee

What are your objectives and goals each year when you join WQA at the Convention & Exposition or at Business Boot Camp? Come ready to pinpoint what we need to deliver for participants to help us build a strong events strategy.
Learn more about the WQA Convention & Exposition target audience.