Making Connections at WaterJAM 2026

Resilient Virginia was pleased to exhibit at the WaterJAM Conference 2026, connecting with attendees and sharing our work to advance resilience across the Commonwealth.

Our Board Chair, Vice Chair, and Executive Director were there throughout the conference, welcoming booth visitors and discussing Resilient Virginia’s mission, programs, services, and achievements. Their presence gave attendees an opportunity to meet our leadership, ask questions, and learn more about our organization’s work.

Sharing Our Work

The exhibit booth served as a gathering place for conversations about resilience and the role Resilient Virginia plays in supporting it. Visitors explored our programs and services, heard about our accomplishments, and shared their own interests and perspectives.

These exchanges offered an opportunity to introduce Resilient Virginia to new audiences and deepen connections with people already familiar with our mission. They also gave our team a chance to listen and learn about the priorities of those attending the conference.

Promotional giveaways added a welcoming touch to the booth and gave visitors a reminder of Resilient Virginia to take home.

Connecting Beyond the Booth

Our leadership team also engaged with attendees during the conference meet and greet, continuing conversations and making new connections in an informal setting. Time together beyond the exhibit booth offered another opportunity to exchange ideas and get to know fellow participants.

Throughout WaterJAM 2026, we appreciated the interest, questions, and perspectives attendees brought to our conversations. Bringing people together around shared challenges is an important part of resilience work, and the conference provided a valuable setting for those connections.

Thank you to the conference organizers and everyone who stopped by our booth or spoke with our team during the meet and greet. We look forward to continuing the conversations and building on the relationships formed at WaterJAM 2026.

To learn more about Resilient Virginia’s mission, programs, and services, explore our website and stay connected with our work.

To learn more about this year’s AWWA WaterJAM Conference, visit https://site.pheedloop.com/event/WaterJAM26/home/

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Trish Porter

Director of Programs & Communications

Trish Porter is the Director of Programs and Communications at Resilient Virginia, where she develops and leads programs focused on resilience, systems thinking, and cross-sector collaboration. She is the co-creator and curriculum lead for the Resilience Foundations Certificate Program and served as lead author of the Regional Resilience Roadmap for Central and Southwest Virginia.

In her role, Trish oversees statewide educational initiatives including the Resiliency Academy, Spotlight On Webinar series, and the biennial Resilient Virginia Conference. She works closely with local governments, nonprofits, academic institutions, and state agencies to support resilience planning, knowledge sharing, and collaborative problem-solving across sectors.

Trish specializes in translating complex resilience and sustainability concepts into practical, accessible learning experiences for local leaders, practitioners, and communities. She holds a Master of Natural Resources with a Graduate Certificate in Global Sustainability from Virginia Tech and brings a multidisciplinary background in sustainability, communications, education, and strategic program development.

Jessica Steelman

Executive Director

Jessica is a systems-level resilience and sustainability practitioner with experience leading nonprofit strategy, cross-sector partnerships, community-centered planning, and resilience implementation across Virginia. She brings a multidisciplinary background in coastal resilience, behavioral health, community engagement, grant strategy, and organizational leadership, with a focus on strengthening the natural, built, economic, and social systems that communities depend on.

Her work centers on connecting people, resources, and ideas across public, private, nonprofit, academic, and regional networks to move resilience priorities from planning into practical action. Through strategic leadership, program design, partnership development, and resource mobilization, she helps communities and organizations build capacity, reduce risk, and advance more resilient and sustainable futures.

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NEXT RESILIENCY ACADEMY JUNE 25: Proactive Resilience: Planning, Adapting, and Mitigating Hazards Before They Strike