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202-223-2299

Presidential Pipeline

Ben Grumbles

President

Ben Grumbles is President of the Clean Water America Alliance, a not-for-profit educational organization based in Washington, DC and committed to uniting people and policies for water sustainability throughout the country. He has a long career in water and environmental policy, serving the public and teaching law students and environmental professionals, over the last 25 years.

Most recently, he led Arizona’s Department of Environmental Quality working on air quality and climate change, energy policy and waste management, water efficiency, and wastewater recycling. Regional priorities included protecting the Grand Canyon, Colorado River, and Arizona-Mexico border environment.

Mr. Grumbles served as Assistant Administrator for Water at US EPA from 2003 through 2008 where he was known for using collaboration, innovation, and technology to improve environmental performance and reduce costs. He launched EPA’s water efficiency labeling program, WaterSense, and initiatives on green infrastructure, water and climate change, and pharmaceuticals. He carried out and defended the nation’s clean water, drinking water, ocean and coastal, and wetlands laws and worked on great waterbody collaborations from coast to coast.

From 1985 to 2001, he served in the US House of Representatives in various environmental counsel and staff director roles for the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and Science Committee. His particular focus was on water and its connections to people, wildlife, agriculture, and energy.

Mr. Grumbles serves on various boards and committees, including the Water Science and Technology Board of the National Academy of Sciences; Solutions from the Land, an educational nonprofit forging integrated and sustainable policies for agriculture, forestry, and conservation in the U.S. and globally; and the nominating committee of the Stockholm Water Prize administered by the Stockholm International Water Institute. He is also a former board member and current supporter of River of Words, a national nonprofit committed to connecting kids to their watersheds and imaginations through poetry and art.

Mr. Grumbles has a Masters degree in environmental law from George Washington U. Law School, a J.D. degree from Emory University Law School, and a B.A. degree from Wake Forest University. He was born and raised in the Beargrass Creek watershed of the Ohio River, Louisville, Kentucky, four-miles east of Churchill Downs. Ben, his wife Karen, and their two children live and play in the Spout Run watershed of the Potomac River, Arlington, VA.

Email

202-533-1819

Lorraine Loken

Senior Vice President

Lorraine Loken is Senior Vice President of the Clean Water America Alliance. In this position, she continues her 20 year career mission, creating strategic communications programs that unite the water sector and advance public understanding.

Lorraine joined the Alliance after more than 15 years with the Water Environment Federation. There she began the public education and outreach program, designing and developing programs such as Walk Your Watershed, Water Is Life, WEFTeach, Stockholm Junior Water Prize, and Biosolids Public Acceptance, to name just a few. She came to WEF from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utility Department where she was known as “Water Woman” and is responsible for starting the public information program.

Lorraine received her Master’s in Environmental Management from Duke University and her Bachelors in Communications from Trinity University. She has served on several water related boards and committees, including as AWWA’s first Public Relations Chair. Recognition for her work includes five water industry awards and acknowledgement for having initiated both the North Carolina and Washington D.C. chapters of Water for People.

Email

202-533-1821

Kristyn Abhold

Vice President

Kristyn Abhold is Vice President of the Clean Water America Alliance. In this capacity she plays a prominent role in the planning and implementation of key programs and initiatives including the Alliance’s National Dialogue series, U.S. Water Prize, and Urban Water Sustainability Council.

Prior to her affiliation with the Alliance, Kristyn joined the government affairs team of the National Association of Clean Water Agencies’ (NACWA), a national trade association representing the interests of America’s clean water utilities as the leading advocate for responsible national policies that advance clean water. At NACWA Kristyn worked on a number of issues ranging from climate change to water security.Kristyn started her career in environmental policy with the Environmental Council of the States (ECOS), a national non-profit, non-partisan association of state and territorial environmental commissioners. While there she assisted the Executive Director and staff on state funding and environmental issues.

Kristyn serves on the Board of Directors of DC EcoWomen, a non-profit educational forum that empowers women to become leaders in the environmental community. Through her position on the Board, Kristyn helps facilitate a monthly speaker series and coordinates local volunteer events.Kristyn graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of California, Santa Cruz with a B.A. in both Environmental Studies and Economics. She was born in Spokane, WA but grew up in Clovis, located within California’s bountiful Central Valley.

Email

202-533-1807

Natalia Bengoechea

Growing Blue Project Manager

Natalia Bengoechea is the Clean Water America Alliance’s Growing Blue Project Manager and is responsible for the research, data and content of the online resource tool. Growing Blue examines the state of water globally and locally to help municipalities, businesses and consumers gain a better understanding of how water is as essential to our economic and social growth as it is to ensuring healthy ecosystems.

Natalia has a background in communications, development, and research but has always aspired to work towards solving the world’s greatest environmental challenges. She has studied the science, ethics and law of water, was part of a scientific expedition to Kangerlussuaq, Greenland to study the effects of climate change, and as a Public Policy & International Affairs JSI Fellow has advanced her understanding for the way science, social systems and policy interact in the context of environmental problem-solving.

Natalia received her B.S in Environmental Science and Policy with a concentration in Politics & Policy from the University of Maryland, College Park, and is expected to receive her Master’s in Global Environmental Policy from American University in 2014.

Email

202-533-1824

Michael Colgin

Associate

Michael Colgin is an Associate of the Clean Water America Alliance. In this role, he handles research, accounting, scheduling, and other organizational duties that arise. The Clean Water America Alliance allows Michael to continue advocating for the environment, a passion cultivated in the Boy Scouts.

Michael comes to the Alliance with a background that includes litigation, advocacy, research, and even a stint on Capitol Hill. Beginning his career as a political research writer at Political Research, Inc., Michael moved into the legal arena as a legal assistant for a large litigation firm. In addition, he has also worked in the environmental sector previously with the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies.

Michael received degrees in Political Science and Public Policy, with minors in International Economics and International Studies, from Southern Methodist University.  Having grown up in Dallas, TX, Michael developed his passion for water issues camping by and swimming in the various lakes and rivers across Texas.