Water, Energy, & Environment Task Force
Join EBLC’s Water, Energy & Environment Task Force for a moderated panel discussion with industry leaders from Garney, PCL, and Walsh, all major construction firms, on how water and wastewater infrastructure projects are planned, delivered, and evolving in today’s market.
For decades, most municipal projects have followed a traditional approach where design and construction are handled separately, known as "design-bid-build." More recently, many projects have begun using a “design-build” model, where one team is responsible for both designing and constructing a project. This approach can streamline timelines, improve collaboration, and provide clearer accountability.
For water and wastewater infrastructure in particular, design-build is gaining traction because it can help deliver projects faster, reduce disputes, improve cost certainty and control, and create more opportunities for innovation. Recent changes in California regulations have also made it easier for municipalities to use this method, shaping how major public infrastructure projects are planned, funded, and delivered. This discussion will explore what these shifts mean in practice and where the industry is headed next.
OUR SPEAKERS
Jonathan Keaney has over 25 years of design and construction experience in the municipal water and wastewater industry working as a design consultant for the first 18 years of his career before transitioning to the construction industry to lead and support alternative delivery projects. His career has involved work on some of the largest projects in the country and work throughout the United States where he gained a perspective on the different types of project delivery and local statutes. He has served as the Chair of the New England Water Environment Biosolids Management Committee and as the Co-Chair of the Water Collaborative Delivery Education Committee. He is a registered professional engineer in the State of California and a Certified Design Biuld Institute of America Professional.
Dan Tikalsky, Project Executive/Area Manager of Pacific North Water Group within Walsh's Water Divsion, leads Walsh’s South Bay water and wastewater operations book of business. He brings 20 years of experience in the water and wastewater construction industry and has helped lead nearly $800 million of major treatment plant work across collaborative and traditional delivery methods. His local experience includes $448 million of Progressive Design-Build work, including SFO and the Digested Sludge Dewatering Facility, along with roughly $348 million of Design-Bid-Build work for the City of Sunnyvale, including Secondary Treatment and Dewatering and Existing Plant Rehabilitation. Dan is known for leading complex projects with a steady, team-oriented approach and for working closely with owners, stakeholders, and design partners to deliver strong outcomes in technically demanding environments. He holds a B.S. in Construction Management from Purdue University.
Nathan Trevor is a Vice President of Business Development and Preconstruction with 28 years of industry experience, 20+ years in the California infrastructure market, and two years with Garney, leading teams through design and preconstruction to deliver high-quality, cost-effective water/wastewater infrastructure projects. He provides constructability input, develops GMPs, shapes procurement strategies, and partners closely with owners, designers, and vendors. Nathan has delivered more than $1.3B in collaborative delivery work, supporting CMAR and progressive design-build programs that include treatment plants, pipelines, drainage, and conveyance improvements. He holds a BS in Geological Engineering from Colorado School of Mines.
