Committees

JOIN A COMMITTEE

Members of NWHA are encouraged to participate in committees of interest. Contact NWHA staff to join a committee.

The Technical and Operations Committee focuses on a wide range of topics including dam safety, maintenance of equipment, unit commissioning, asset management, and other issues related to hydropower operations.  Our biggest goal is to put on a successful Technical Workshop in the spring, co-located with the Owners Forum.  We also work on getting technical content into the annual conference and webinars.

The Legal & Regulatory Committee recommends actions to the NWHA board on legal issues or regulatory rulemaking. The committee has historically made recommended amicus filings, participated in rulemakings, and helped update membership on legal and regulatory current affairs.

The Small Hydro Committee conducts an annual workshop, concentrating on small hydro-related issues such as FERC processes, financing mechanisms, equipment and technology upgrades, green credits, and opportunities for improved market positions. The Small Hydro Committee can also assist small hydro operators with public messaging and direct communication with elected officials on how to support small hydro development in the region.  The committee encourages NWHA members and non-members to reach out about their small hydro interests throughout the year, to help us provide assistance and keep current with industry needs.

NWHA Members who are new to the hydropower community are invited to connect, network and attend trips to visit projects in their state.  

The committee's focus is to provide a forum for hydro-focused natural resource professionals to explore topical and technical aspects of environmental resource project implementation, share successful strategies, and proactively address potential implications of new technologies and legislative developments. ​

The committee focuses on outreach and advocacy among four main sectors: general public, schools, media, and elected officials. The committee meets every other month.  

The mission of Women in Hydropower (WinH) is to promote the professional development and advancement of women in the field of hydropower. WinH seeks to expand opportunities for women through networking, mentoring, and education. Women and men from across the nation are welcome to participate in our events and programming.  Come join us at our WinH lunch programs during the Annual and Regional Conferences and watch for our networking pop-ups in your area. We will also host two virtual WinH so please let us know if you want to be on the mailing list.

Committee Leadership

We thank the committee leadership who give their time to lead various efforts around NWHA. Here is the list of the 2025-2026 Committee Leadership.
  • Briana Weatherly
    Sr. Hydropower FERC License Manager Portland General Electric
    Awards Committee- Chair
  • Chad Croft
    Northwest Hydropower Practice Leader HDR
    Scholarship Committee- Chair
  • Shelly Adams
    Decommissioning Project Manager Seattle City Light
    Awards Committee- Co-Chair
  • Fred Noland
    Environmental Manager (Recreation) Idaho Power Co.
    Small Hydro Committee- Chair
  • Diane Barr
    Diane Barr
    Principal/Owner Camas, LLC
    Small Hydro Committee- Co-Chair
  • John Chandler
    John Chandler
    Water Resources Technical Lead Puget Sound Energy, Inc.
    Technical Committee- Chair
  • Dale Campbell
    Senior Manager of Power Production Engineering Grant County PUD
    Technical Committee- Co-Chair
  • Andrea Wortzel
    Andrea Wortzel
    Partner Troutman Pepper Locke LLP
    Legal & Regulatory Committee- Chair
  • Finlay Anderson
    Senior Licensing Coordinator Kleinschmidt Associates
    Legal & Regulatory Committee- Regulatory Co-Chair
  • Jenna Mandell-Rice
    Partner Van Ness Feldman LLP
    Legal & Regulatory Committee- Legal Co-Chair
  • Andy Welch
    Manager, Hydropower License Compliance NorthWestern Energy
    Natural Resources Committee-Chair
  • Betsy Mcgregor
    Senior Scientist Kleinschmidt Associates
    Natural Resources Committee- Co-Chair
  • Monica Ott
    Clark Fork License Manager Avista Corp.
    New Professionals- Chair
  • Briana Weatherly
    Sr. Hydropower FERC License Manager Portland General Electric
    Women in Hydro- Chair
  • Matt Pevarnik
    Sr Sales Leader GE Renewable Energy
    Communications Committee- Chair
  • Sheila Corson
    Sheila Corson
    Public Information Officer Mason PUD 3
    Communications Committee- Vice-Chair
  • Schree Tramel
    Business Development Specialist Mesa Associates Inc.
    Communications Committee- Vice-Chair