Transforming the water industry by advancing successful
collaborative delivery through advocacy, education, and research
WATER COLLABORATIVE DELIVERY NEWS
January 12, 2022
Issue Highlights
In Case You Missed It - WDBC Has a New Name and Brand
Meet the New Officers of Water Collaborative Delivery Association
Blog Feature - Strategies for Material Delivery and Price Escalation Risks on Collaborative Delivery Projects
WCDA Owners' Forum Breakfast at NACWA Conference
WDBC Unveiled New Name and Brand
After more than a year of research, analysis, and industry engagement, WDBC officially announced our new name in December 2021. Going forward, the Water Design-Build Council will now be called the Water Collaborative Delivery Association. Our revitalized organizational brand also includes a new logo and tagline—Better Projects, Together.
“Our new name better describes who we are today and our commitment to serving the water and wastewater industry,” said Mike Watson, past president of the Water Collaborative Delivery Association (WCDA) Board of Directors. “Through expanded industry outreach as a newly rebranded association, we intend to equip and empower our industry to achieve better project outcomes through the power of collaboration.”
Our new name also reflects evolving project delivery methods. The term collaborative delivery includes all approaches to procuring and delivering capital projects that involve close collaboration among all stakeholders—owners, designers, constructors, operators, technology providers, and equipment suppliers—through all stages of a project. These methods include construction management at-risk (CMAR), progressive design-build (PDB), fixed-price design-build (FPDB), design-build-operate (DBO), and public-private partnerships (P3).
“Collaborative delivery describes a full spectrum of approaches to achieving better project outcomes,” said WCDA Executive Director Mark Alpert. “By incorporating the term into our name, we will build understanding of collaborative delivery methods, support industry growth, and achieve our mission.”
Founded in 2006 by a small group of water and wastewater design-build firms, our organization has grown to become a leading professional association serving a diverse array of industry experts, practitioners, suppliers, and owners. We have helped thousands of practitioners and project owners successfully adopt collaborative delivery solutions through our education, research, and advocacy.
WCDA’s new logo reflects the collaborative synergies and close connections among all water project stakeholders that enable them to achieve better outcomes, together, through collaborative delivery methods. Stay tuned as we redesign our website and communication channels to reflect our new brand.
WCDA Elects New Officers -
William O. Hixon, PE, BCEE, President
(Pictured above, left to right: Mike Watson, Tom Visosky, Bill Hixon, Marlea Tichy, Michelle Green,
Mark Alpert, WCDA Executive Director)
The Water Collaborative Delivery Association (WCDA) recently named William O. Hixon, PE, BCEE, of Arcadis as president of the WCDA Board of Directors. Hixon will serve a one-year term alongside other newly elected members of the association’s Executive Committee.
A long-time member of WCDA, Bill Hixon leads the collaborative delivery community of practice for the Arcadis Water Business line and is construction services leader for the Southeastern United States. He recently served as the first vice president and treasurer of the WCDA Board of Directors.
“The need for innovation, collaboration, and successful project delivery in the water and wastewater industry has never been more urgent,” Hixon said. “Our association plays a vital role by equipping and empowering our industry to deliver better projects, together, through the power of collaboration.”
At the WCDA annual meeting, members also elected the following leaders to the WCDA Executive Committee:
First Vice President/Treasurer – Marlea Tichy, PMP, Vice President, Business Development, Kiewit Water
Second Vice President/Secretary – Michelle Green, PE, DBIA, Vice President, West Design-Build Lead, Jacobs
Third Vice President/Advisor Liaison – Tom Visosky, PE, Vice President, CDM Smith
The pandemic has impacted not only our day-to-day lives but it is forcing us to reexamine long-accepted approaches to how collaborative delivery firms specify and procure materials and equipment for our projects. A global scarcity of shipping containers, skyrocketing shipping rates, clogged ports, and shortages of manufacturing components are driving firms to evolve their procurement approach to avoid long lead times and escalation charges. Gone for now are the days when quality and price were the two primary drivers for equipment and material selection. Firms and owners are now putting greater emphasis on other factors such as manufacturing location, delivery methods, material availability, and fabrication lead times when selecting materials and equipment.
In partnership with NACWA, this breakfast is open to all owners registered for the conference. Invitations will be sent via email and interested attendees may RSVP and direct any questions to WCDA Business Operations Manager Bob Golden atrgolden@watercollaborativedelivery.org.
Owners' Forum
Improving Productivity with your Capital Projects through Collaborative Delivery
5th Edition of the Water and Wastewater Design-Build Handbook
Learn the Best Practices on Collaborative Delivery Methods for Water and Wastewater Projects
Member Companies
The Water Collaborative Delivery Association provides industry members with the knowledge, tools, and proven approaches to collaborate and innovate effectively, lead change, and deliver Better Projects, Together.
