Mr. Munfakh has more than 30 years of experience in civil engineering, with experience in water supply and distribution projects; wastewater system projects, including sewer construction, pumping and treatment; and road, street, and bridge design and reconstruction. He has also overseen implementation of multiple infrastructure projects across Southeast Michigan, including water treatment plant expansions, water and sewer system expansions, sewer replacement design and more. Mr. Munfakh is a registered professional engineer in the states of Michigan, Louisiana and Indiana, and currently serves as the Founder and CEO of Munfakh & Associates, LLC in Plymouth, MI.

Mr. Munfakh serves as Chairman for the Arab American and Chaldean Council, in addition to serving as a trustee of the foundation board of Henry Ford College. He formerly served on the Plymouth Township Planning Commission and the Plymouth Township Board of Trustees, as well as the Michigan Board of Professional Engineers. In addition, Mr. Munfakh previously served as President, Chairman of the Board and Principal-in-Charge at Ayers, Lewis Norris & May Inc., in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Mr. Munfakh is a graduate of Louisiana State University with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and has completed graduate work in Civil Engineering at the University of Michigan.

Mr. Baker is the Chief Deputy for the Macomb County Public Works Commissioner, Candice Miller, where he oversees a staff of 60 storm water and waste water professionals. He formerly served as the Finance and Budget Director for the City of Sterling Heights for more than 30 years. In that capacity, he directed the City’s financing, procurement and debt management initiatives, and worked extensively on water and sewer rate setting process, which has resulted in Sterling Heights achieving efficiencies and lowering costs, as well as on pension administration. In addition, Mr. Baker has worked regionally serving in numerous capacities, including on a municipal revenue task force established by the Governor’s Office to address ongoing problems. He has also worked closely with the Southeastern Michigan Council of Governments in similar capacities. Mr. Baker earned a Master of Business Administration from Wayne State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Political Science from the University of Michigan.

Cheryl Porter is the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Great Lakes Water Authority’s Water and Field Services Area where she oversees five water treatment facilities and water transmission to the Authority’s Member Partner communities, ensuiring GLWA’s water consistently meets and exceeds all quality standards and regulations.

The water sector’s largest and oldest professional organization, American Water Works Association (AWWA), selected Ms. Porter as the first African-American person and first woman of color to be their next president-elect. Her term as president begins in June 2024.  Ms. Porter has been active at both the national AWWA and with the Michigan Section, serving as the Michigan Section Trustee and Director at Large while also lending her expertise to the Government Affairs Council and Finance Committees.

Ms. Porter provides leadership that’s grounded in experience and manages engineers, field staff and administrative and technical support personnel. Her broad knowledge base in the water service sector began at DWSD as a Junior Chemist, where her dedication yielded eventual advancement to Water Production and Operations Manager. As COO of the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD), she was part of the team that helped establish GLWA in 2016.

Ms. Porter earned her BS degree from the University of Michigan, an MBA with a concentration in Human Resources Management from Madonna University and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Detroit Mercy’s School of Law. Ms. Porter maintains State of Michigan operator certifications for both Water Distribution (S-3) and Complete Treatment (F-1). Under her direction, GLWA’s Water Works Park received the “2019 Directors Award for Water Treatment” from the Partnership for Safe Water (PSW) and the highly prestigious President’s Award in the year 2020. GLWA's Southwest Water Treatment Plant received the President's Award in 2023.

Mr. Hupy is the Public Services Area Administrator for the City of Ann Arbor. In this capacity, Mr. Hupy oversees several major city departments, including water and sewer operations, solid waste, project management and systems planning and coordinates long-term asset planning and construction across interdependent operations. He currently is administering the ongoing reconstruction of the Ann Arbor Wastewater Treatment Plant. Prior to being appointed to his position in 2011, Mr. Hupy held various leadership roles with the City, including Manager of both the Field Operations and Systems Planning Units. Through his work with the City, Mr. Hupy has also gained significant experience in utility rate design. Mr. Hupy is a registered professional engineer and holds multiple certifications through the Department of Environmental Quality. He earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Michigan Technological University.