LAN at Texas Water 2026
April 28th, 2026 – April 30th, 2026
San Antonio, Texas
Tuesday, April 28th
1:20 – 2:25 pm
Texas Two Step: Showcasing Voices in the Water Industry, a panel with Dedra Ecklund, PE
Dedra Ecklund, PE
Dedra Ecklund, PE, is a Senior Associate and Team Leader on the Water Conveyance team at LAN. Dedra has over 21 years of experience in municipal water and wastewater infrastructure projects across Texas.
3:30 – 4:00 pm
Complex Program: Managing a $1B CIP & Construction Challenges with Large Diameter Water Lines, presented by Melissa Mack, PE; Mackrena Ramos, PE; and Panduranga Kuruva, PE (City of Houston)
This presentation will convey the magnitude of the project that the City of Houston's Capital Projects Surface Water Transmission Program has managed and completed in the last decade. We will review CIP and construction challenges as we manage a $1B water program. This is a Utility Management success story!
Melissa Mack, PE, PMP
Melissa Mack, PE, PMP, is a Vice President and Principal at LAN. Melissa has over 24 years of experience specializing in hydraulic modeling, master planning, and project management for large-scale municipal water infrastructure projects.
Panduranga Kuruva, PE
Panduranga Kuruva, PE, is the Managing Engineer for Capital Projects at Houston Public Works, where he leads major water infrastructure programs.
6:00 – 9:00 pm
LAN Happy Hour with Northwest Pipe at Holey Moley
Join LAN and Northwest Pipe Company for a fun night of food, drinks, and 27 holes of mini golf at Holey Moley in downtown San Antonio.
Mackrena Ramos, PE
Mackrena Ramos, PE, is Vice President and Business Group Director at LAN. Mackrena has over 25 years of experience leading large-scale water infrastructure programs.
Wednesday, April 29th
7:15 – 9:00 am
Women of Water Breakfast
LAN is a sponsor of the annual Women of Water Breakfast, which features three dynamic panel members who will share their career stories, leadership successes and challenges, mentorship, and more.
1:20 – 2:25 pm
Connecting Your Utility Across Generations for a Global Impact, presented by Melissa Mack, PE; Farida Goderya, PhD, PE (City of Fort Worth); Jessica Comer (Water for People); Julie Kauffman (Water for People)
This presentation will be panel style, with representatives from Water For People, a municipality, and a consulting firm to offer experience and insights on how to start an awareness campaign within your public entity or water utility to support a global need while bringing people together.
Julie Kauffman
Water For People is a global nonprofit working across Latin America, Asia, and Africa to address the global water crisis. We're equipping communities with lasting access to clean water and dignified bathrooms – for Everyone Forever.
Melissa Mack, PE, PMP
Melissa Mack, PE, PMP, is a Vice President and Principal at LAN. Melissa has over 24 years of experience specializing in hydraulic modeling, master planning, and project management for large-scale municipal water infrastructure projects.
Jessica Comer
Water For People is a global nonprofit working across Latin America, Asia, and Africa to address the global water crisis. We're equipping communities with lasting access to clean water and dignified bathrooms – for Everyone Forever.
Farida Goderya, PhD, PE
Farida Goderya, PhD, PE, is a Facilities Senior Project Manager with the City of Fort Worth’s Water Department. She has over 25 years of experience managing capital improvement projects for water and wastewater facilities, including treatment plants, pump stations, and storage systems.
Thursday, April 30th
9:40 – 10:10 am
Process Intensification, presented by Paul Wood, PE, and Brooke Schroeder
Process Intensification involves the application of innovative, non-conventional technologies to treat wastewater more efficiently and effectively. This presentation will examine several emerging technologies, highlighting the similarities between processes and their potential for implementation. Real-world case studies from Texas will be featured, including examples in which process modifications created conditions suitable for intensification — and one in which it was successfully implemented.
Paul Wood, PE
Paul Wood, PE, is a Senior Technical Leader at LAN. Paul has 40 years of experience in the analysis, design, and management of water and wastewater treatment projects, including plant expansions, disinfection studies, and capital project planning.
Brooke Schroeder
Brooke Schroeder is an Engineer at LAN with nearly one year of experience supporting water and wastewater projects.
Poster Displays
Display Hall
Buried History, Future Ready: Replacing Half-Century Infrastructure, produced by Lisa Lattu, PE, AICP, and Melissa Mack, PE, PMP
Explore how the SETL program is replacing aging infrastructure through coordinated regional partnerships, innovative funding strategies, and advanced data-sharing tools. The poster highlights real-world approaches to managing complex pipeline projects while maintaining system reliability, cost transparency, and operational flexibility.
Lisa Lattu, PE, AICP
Lisa Lattu, PE, AICP, is a Senior Project Manager at LAN. Lisa has 30 years of experience in water and wastewater infrastructure planning, including 15 years with the City of Houston Public Works Department.
Melissa Mack, PE, PMP
Melissa Mack, PE, PMP, is a Vice President and Principal at LAN. Melissa has over 24 years of experience specializing in hydraulic modeling, master planning, and project management for large-scale municipal water infrastructure projects.