Description

The Realities of Water in Arizona and Mesa: A Stakeholder Panel Discussion 

Presented by the Mesa Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee, this informative panel moderated by Mesa Mayor Mark Freeman will feature experts from the Central Arizona Project, Salt River Project, and the City of Mesa.

Our panelists will be Christa McJunkin, Senior Director of Water Supply System at Salt River Project, Darrin Francom, Assistant General Manager at Central Arizona Project, and Nicole Petker, Water Resources Advisor at City of Mesa.  

Attendees will learn about:

• The current state of water resources in Mesa locally and Arizona at large
• Common misconceptions about water availability and usage
• Today's regional water planning challenges
• Planning the future of water availability

Community members are invited to not miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights and ask your questions about one of Arizona’s most critical issues. Be sure to RSVP today.

A light breakfast is sponsored by Salt River Project and Central Arizona Project. 

About Darrin Francom

After proudly serving as an officer in the U.S. Navy Civil Engineer Corps, Darrin began his career at CAP in 2001 as a Civil Engineer. Darrin has held several leadership roles within Engineering and Maintenance, including Engineering Services Manager, Project Management Division Supervisor (which included management of CAP’s planning and execution of the capital improvement program), Supervisor for CAP’s design engineers, and Centralized Maintenance Manager, which included CAP’s two Heavy Overhaul Group (HOG) teams, as well as the Fleet Maintenance, Machine Shop and Headquarters Maintenance divisions. Prior to his current role as an Assistant General Manager, Darrin was the Director of Operations, Power, and Engineering.

About Nicole Petker

Nicole Petker is the Water Resources Advisor for the City of Mesa, where she leads strategic planning and policy efforts to ensure long-term water sustainability as a registered Professional Engineer. A Mesa native with nearly 20 years of experience in water resource management, engineering, and utility operations, she brings both deep technical expertise and local insight to her work. Her leadership is helping position Mesa as a regional example for resilience and forward-thinking water management. Outside of work, Nicole enjoys spending time outdoors - hiking, paddleboarding, and camping - and gives back to the community by volunteering in local elementary schools.

About Central Arizona Project

The 336-mile CAP system took 20 years to build, cost $4 billion, and is an engineering marvel that has contributed dramatically to our quality of life and the sustainability of the state’s water supply and economy.

About Salt River Project

SRP is a community-based, not-for-profit organization providing reliable, affordable and sustainable water and energy to more than 2 million people in central Arizona.

About City of Mesa Water Resources

For more than a century, the Water Resources Department has provided reliable, safe, economical, and environmentally responsible water and wastewater services for the community.