As part of its continued focus on the water sector and ways to regionalize the growing water cluster, the Alliance Green Growth working team in collaboration with Alliance partner Loyola University hosted a Water Summit for regional water technology companies on November 24 at Loyola University’s Water Tower Campus in downtown Chicago.
Seth Snyder, Kirk Allen, Jose Ramirez, Dean Amhaus, Hon. Jon Dickert
The program included information about the strengths of the water tech companies in the region, the gains made by The Water Council organized in Milwaukee, the opportunity to make connections with other water technology firms and leaders, as well the as opportunities that working together can provide to help expand business, find talent, and speed technology development.
Rita Athas
Hon. John Dickert, Mayor, Racine, Wisconsin and President, Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative, served as emcee, with participants including:
- Kirk Allen, President and CEO, Sloan Valve Company
- Dean Amhaus, President and CEO, The Water Council
- Rita Athas, Advisor on the Board, World Business Chicago
- Dr. Jose A. Ramirez, Founder, Mikroflot Technologies
- Dr. Seth Snyder, Argonne National Laboratory
- Nancy C. Tuchman, Professor & Founding Director of the Institute of Environmental Sustainability, Loyola University, and
- Sammis White, Interim Dean and Director of Workforce Development—School of Continuing Education, University of Wisconsin Milwaukee.
Nancy Tuchman
Many attendees expressed interest in the Alliance and the Green Growth team’s work to regionalize the water cluster, and thanked the Alliance for moving the regional discussion forward.
“Very impressed with this evening’s event,” said Eric Neagu, Senior Project Manager, Weaver Boos Consultants, and Green Growth Working Team member. “It was honestly one of the better networking events I’ve been to this year. Keep up the great effort!”
In addition, Alliance and Green Growth team leadership met with City of Chicago and World Business Chicago officials immediately prior to the Water Summit to explore opportunities for collaboration on regional water issues. A follow-up call will be scheduled for December.