Arthur von Wiesenberger
Moderator and Water Master The International Water Tasting & Competition
Noted water expert and consultant

Well known for Nipper’s, his highly successful champagne and caviar club in California, von Wiesenberger added water tastings to his wine tasting business in the late 1970s. He is a past president of the International Food, Wine and Travel Writers Association, the American Institute of Wine and Food and the Society of Wine Educators.  His books include Champagne & Caviar, A Pocket Guide to Bottled Water and The Taste of Water.  The original Water Master of the Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting, von Wiesenberger has served in all but three festivals through the 25 years.  Among his consulting clients are Anheiser-Busch and Perrier.

FEATURED SPEAKERS for 2017

TOPIC: Has Federal Oversight regarding the upcoming Lead and Copper Rule Revision finally forced Transparency in the Drinking Water Industry?

On October 26, 2016 the United States EPA released its highly anticipated Lead and Copper Rule Revisions White Paper. The Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) was implemented in 1991 to minimize lead and copper levels in drinking water, mostly through corrosion control treatment. Despite the clear evidence that the LCR has dramatically reduced levels of lead in drinking water since its inception, the recent lead crises in Flint, Michigan shows that more protection is necessary. The EPA recognizes that the current LCR is probably the most complicated drinking water regulation for states and drinking water utilities to implement. The complexity arises from the rule’s sampling and treatment technique requirements. The LCR is the only national primary drinking water regulation that requires sampling in homes.

J. Scott Shipe, Hagerstown, Maryland-With 39 years of experience managing water & waste water utilities and having worked at four utilities, Scott holds numerous water & waste water license registrations in several states. His expansive knowledge of the industry along with his passion for learning prompted him to launch “Water Advocacy” on YouTube in 2015. In just over two years he has produced approximately 1,300 videos and over 200 playlists showing many aspects of this industry never before compiled together in one location. The goal of the site is to provide a deeper understanding of various operations, technologies and environmental impacts. This educational process yields better transparency for people to follow basic kitchen tap water from the watershed to their drinking glass since water is the world’s most important resource. Scott’s site has a worldwide following including over 190 countries and more than 200,000 views.During his career, Scott has been active in many associations related to drinking water and water quality. He is currently the Government Affairs Chair of the Chesapeake Water Environment Association and the Chesapeake Section of the American Water Works Association. He has authored numerous utility management papers. Scott also founded the CSAWWA Manufacturer / Engineering Resource Council and was instrumental in forming five other sections, Mac Councils, in the United States and Canada all while serving on the AWWA International Mac Council Executive Board representing 830 companies.

Scott’s top accomplishment is being an advocate for the both the water and waste water industries as he has participated for the past twelve years during Water Week – Water Policy Forum and Fly-In. These events have included over 350 meetings with key Congressional Senate & House members on many issues including Watershed Protection, MTBE, the Chemical Security Act, Infrastructure Needs and Lead in our Nations Drinking Water. He has also participated in hundreds of presentations to the public including radio and television interviews. Scott received the George Warren Fuller Award in 2013 from AWWA for distinguished service to the water supply field in commemoration of sound engineering skills and principles. He is this year’s Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting Lifetime Achievement Award recipient.

TOPIC: Protecting Water Supplies

Protecting water supply sources is one of several important parts of the overall approach to providing high quality drinking water for the public. Source water protection includes identifying the greatest risks that could affect the drinking water supply and seeking to reduce those risks. This requires a community effort from utilities, business, residents, government agencies and organizations to share information and take action to protect our shared resources.

Jennifer will provide an overview of West Virginia American Water’s source water protection program and share actions that everyone can take to help protect their local water supplies.

Jennifer Heymann – is a hydrogeologist with experience in water resources management and environmental compliance. She led water sustainability efforts for Coca-Cola throughout the US and Canada and is now the Source Water Protection Manager for West Virginia American Water, where she is responsible for identifying and managing risks to drinking water supplies. Jennifer also serves as Chair for the American Water Works Association Source Water Protection Committee.

 TOPIC: Update on Key Bottled Water Issues

With bottled water about to become the #1 packaged beverage in the US, Joe will talk about how it overtook carbonated soft drinks to reach that milestone, including a discussion of bottled water’s convenience, safety, refreshing taste and overall healthfulness. Environmental issues will also be covered, dispelling the constant flow of misinformation.

Joe Doss– has served as President and CEO of the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) since 1999. He has extensive experience in food and drug issues, government relations, public affairs, association management, and legal matters. His previous positions include: Senior Vice President and Director of Public Affairs, Consumer Healthcare Products Association (formerly the Nonprescription Drug Manufacturers Association); Special Counsel at the law firm of Covington & Burling; Assistant General Counsel and Director of State Government Relations, Consumer Healthcare Products Association; Government Affairs Representative, National Stone, Sand, and Gravel Association; and Legislative Analyst, LEGI-SLATE of Congress.

Mr. Doss has a B.A. in government from The College of William and Mary and a J.D. from George Mason University School of Law. He has completed an executive management course at the Center for Creative Leadership. Mr. Doss is a member of the Bar in Virginia and the District of Columbia. He is also a member of the Food and Drug Law Institute and the American Bar Association

TOPIC: From West Virginia to the Chesapeake Bay.

The West Virginia’s mountains and valleys are the headwaters of the Potomac River, which is the drinking water supply for 5.5 million people. Here in Berkeley Springs, it’s easy to feel far removed from the crabs and oysters of the Chesapeake Bay. But small watershed groups and environmental scientists and educators — who work to restore and enhance streams like Warm Springs Run are helping to shape the future of the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay while taking care of their neighborhood streams.

David Lillard– is special projects manager for West Virginia Rivers Coalition, a statewide nonprofit working to ensure access to safe, clean water. He works in communities with watershed organizations and civic groups to bring local voices to federal and state policy and funding priorities, especially those focused on restoring the health of watersheds in the state’s Eastern Panhandle.

Topic: Group Discussion

Henry “Bob” Hidell–is the Founder, Chairman & Managing Director of Hidell International providing consulting services to the beverage, drinking water, food and nutrition industries since 1972. His professional expertise spans the spectrum of business, technical, and educational services with specific expertise in the formulation of business strategies, mergers and acquisitions, and turnkey development of beverage bottling facilities. He is a recognized expert in international economic and business development.

 

 

 2016 Winners