Announcing the 2026 Career Accelerators!
After many strong applications, the Colorado Water Congress is proud to announce our 2026 Career Accelerators! These scholarship recipients get:
- One free year of membership to the Colorado Water Congress.
- A scholarship to cover registration at our two annual events, the Annual Convention in the Denver Metro and Summer Conference in Steamboat Springs.
- Mentorship from an active member of the CWC in the appropriate industry sector.
- The opportunity to participate on our organization committees, including Federal Affairs, Water Quality, and the Water Stewardship Project.
- And more!
We can't wait to see what growth and insights this year's crop of winners add to our organization!
Meet the 2026 Career Accelerators
Devan Aziz
Devan Aziz is the Community Development Director for the Town of Palisade, Colorado, where he leads an initiative converting wastewater lagoons into constructed wetlands along the 15-Mile Reach of the Colorado River. In this role, he applies systems thinking principles to integrate water infrastructure planning with habitat restoration, drought mitigation, and community resilience. Devan received his Master's in Urban & Regional Planning from the University of Amsterdam with a focus on Spatial Sustainability and holds a Permaculture Design certificate. He applies the seven generations principle to municipal water planning, ensuring infrastructure investments consider impacts seven generations into the future.
Mary Lobato
Mary Lobato was born and raised in Pueblo, Colorado. Her family’s ranching background in the San Luis Valley sparked an early interest in water resources and water law. This led her to pursue a deeper understanding of the complexities of the water system and infrastructure. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the Colorado School of Mines in 2019, with a minor in Humanitarian Engineering. After graduating, Mary worked in engineering for three years, gaining practical experience in infrastructure and water-related projects. Motivated to deepen her focus on water law, she pursued a legal education and enrolled in law school, where she completed advanced coursework in water law, served as a student attorney in the Environmental Law Clinic, and acted as Sources Editor for the Water Law Review. Mary graduated from the Sturm College of Law in 2025 and passed the Colorado Bar in October of the same year. She hopes to continue exploring issues of equity and water quality within the complex system of Colorado water law.
Jasper Ray
Jasper holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Colorado Law School with a focus on environmental law and a Master’s degree from the Yale School of the Environment. Their academic and professional work centers on sustainability, conservation, and social engagement with water bodies, with research exploring how communities understand and relate to water. Having grown up in Colorado, Jasper is deeply connected to the region’s landscapes and water challenges and is excited to build a career dedicated to water stewardship, conservation, and sustainable resource management.
Patrick Vernon
Patrick Vernon is a civil engineer and attorney focused on water resources and water law. He earned his civil engineering degree from the University of Colorado Boulder in 2017. He later completed his Juris Doctor at the University of Denver while continuing to work as a water resources engineer, graduating in 2024 and passing the Colorado Bar in 2025. Patrick operates independent engineering and legal practices dedicated to water-related matters, bringing integrated technical and legal perspectives to complex water challenges. Through his work, he supports public and private clients navigating Colorado’s water systems and regulatory landscape. Outside of work, Patrick enjoys hiking and organizing a local soccer team in Boulder.
Mitchell Zombek
Mitchell Zombek is a Water Resources Analyst for the City of Lafayette, where he works on municipal water operations, data analysis, and resource planning. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Watershed Science from Colorado State University and has professional experience spanning hydrogeological consulting and municipal water resources. Mitchell is particularly interested in the intersection of data driven decision making, water policy, and basin wide water management, with a growing focus on the Colorado River system. Originally from Ohio, he now calls Colorado home and spends much of his free time rock climbing, bikepacking, and caving, activities that have deepened his appreciation for the landscapes and water systems he works to protect. As an early career water professional, Mitchell is eager to build relationships across Colorado’s water community and contribute to collaborative, forward thinking solutions to the state’s water challenges.
Congratulations once again to the 2026 Career Accelerators! If you see one of these fine folks at a 2026 CWC event, we hope you will stop and chat.