The Government Connection

Episode 1: PFAS Settlement Explained - How Public Water Systems Can Access $13B in Funding

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2270682/fan_mail/new] In this episode of The Government Connection, Mary Scott Nabers speaks with Steve Tugend, Director + Chair of the Government Affairs Practice at Kegler Brown Hill + Ritter, and David Grossman, Partner at Kelly & Grossman. They discuss the landmark $13 billion PFAS settlement with major industrial producers and what it means for public water systems seeking funding to address PFAS contamination. The conversation covers eligibility, the claims process, important deadlines, and practical guidance for public officials navigating the settlement and pursuing resources to improve water infrastructure. Visit pfasclaimaction.com [https://pfasclaimaction.com/] for more information. Listen where you get your podcasts Meet the expert host: Mary Scott Nabers is President/CEO of Strategic Partnerships, Inc. (SPI). A recognized expert regarding P3s, she is the author of Collaboration Nation – How Public-Private Ventures Are Revolutionizing the Business of Government & Inside the Infrastructure Revolution – A Roadmap for Rebuilding America. Her articles have been published by media outlets, including Forbes, CNBC, The Hill and POLITICO. Mary was the President and General Manager of two media firms. In government, she served as the Commissioner representing Business at the Texas Employment Commission where she was a high-profile, proactive business advocate who founded The Texas Business Council. Then, Commissioner Nabers moved to the Texas Railroad Commission, the state’s regulatory agency for the oil and gas industry, which at the time regulated approximately $65 billion of the state’s economy annually.

Episode 4 - Bridging Markets: Tribal Enterprise & Partnerships

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2270682/fan_mail/new] In this episode of The Government Connection, Mary Scott Nabers speaks with Chris James, President and CEO of the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development. They discuss how the organization supports Indigenous entrepreneurs through business development and technical assistance. The conversation covers the importance of federal contracting, building relationships with tribal communities, and creating opportunities for Native-owned businesses. Chris shares insights on navigating government partnerships and offers practical advice for public officials and business leaders aiming to expand economic development in tribal nations. Meet the expert host: Mary Scott Nabers is President/CEO of Strategic Partnerships, Inc. (SPI) [https://www.spartnerships.com/]. A recognized expert regarding P3s, she is the author of Collaboration Nation – How Public-Private Ventures Are Revolutionizing the Business of Government & Inside the Infrastructure Revolution – A Roadmap for Rebuilding America. Her articles have been published by media outlets, including Forbes, CNBC, The Hill & POLITICO.  Mary was the President and General Manager of two media firms. In government, she served as the Commissioner representing Business at the Texas Employment Commission where she was a high-profile, proactive business advocate who founded The Texas Business Council. Then, Commissioner Nabers moved to the Texas Railroad Commission, the state’s regulatory agency for the oil and gas industry, which at the time regulated approximately $65 billion of the state’s economy annually.

Episode 3 - Powering Tomorrow: Solutions for a Changing Grid

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2270682/fan_mail/new] In this episode of The Government Connection, Mary Scott Nabers interviews Pat Wood, CEO of Hunt Energy Network and former chair of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, about America's critical energy challenges. They explore the evolution of energy regulation, the growing demand from data centers and innovations in battery storage technology. The conversation highlights cybersecurity threats to power infrastructure, the importance of backup generation during outages and the resurgence of nuclear as a clean energy solution. Pat offers valuable insights for public officials on building resilient energy systems capable of withstanding extreme weather through smart grid technology and public-private collaboration. Meet your host: Mary Scott Nabers is President/CEO of Strategic Partnerships, Inc. (SPI). A recognized expert regarding P3s, she is the author of Collaboration Nation – How Public-Private Ventures Are Revolutionizing the Business of Government & Inside the Infrastructure Revolution – A Roadmap for Rebuilding America. Her articles have been published by media outlets, including Forbes, CNBC, The Hill & POLITICO.  Mary was the president and general manager of two media firms. In government, she served as the commissioner representing business at the Texas Employment Commission where she was a high-profile, proactive business advocate who founded The Texas Business Council. Then, Commissioner Nabers moved to the Texas Railroad Commission, the state’s regulatory agency for the oil and gas industry, which at the time regulated approximately $65 billion of the state’s economy annually.

Episode 2 - Tapping the Future: Water Infrastructure Solutions

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2270682/fan_mail/new] In this episode of The Government Connection, Mary Scott Nabers interviews Michael Irlbeck, Director of Business Development at EPCOR, about America's critical water challenges. They explore the paradox of water abundance versus infrastructure shortages, the growing demands from data centers and innovative public-private partnerships like San Antonio's Vista Ridge Pipeline. The conversation highlights the urgent need for investment in water systems, addressing emerging contaminant concerns and building political will to secure our water future.  Meet your host: Mary Scott Nabers is President/CEO of Strategic Partnerships, Inc. (SPI). A recognized expert regarding P3s, she is the author of Collaboration Nation – How Public-Private Ventures Are Revolutionizing the Business of Government & Inside the Infrastructure Revolution – A Roadmap for Rebuilding America. Her articles have been published by media outlets, including Forbes, CNBC, The Hill & POLITICO.  Mary was the president and general manager of two media firms. In government, she served as the commissioner representing business at the Texas Employment Commission where she was a high-profile, proactive business advocate who founded The Texas Business Council. Then, Commissioner Nabers moved to the Texas Railroad Commission, the state’s regulatory agency for the oil and gas industry, which at the time regulated approximately $65 billion of the state’s economy annually.

Episode 1 - Mapping the Future: LIDAR Technology and Infrastructure Planning

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2270682/fan_mail/new] In our first episode of Season 2, Mary Scott Nabers interviews Richard Wade, the geographic information officer for Texas, about the transformative technology of LIDAR (Light Detecting and Ranging). They discuss how LIDAR is revolutionizing data collection and geospatial mapping, particularly in understanding and managing environmental challenges such as flooding, utility management and urban planning. Meet your host: Mary Scott Nabers is President/CEO of Strategic Partnerships, Inc. (SPI). A recognized expert regarding P3s, she is the author of Collaboration Nation – How Public-Private Ventures Are Revolutionizing the Business of Government & Inside the Infrastructure Revolution – A Roadmap for Rebuilding America. Her articles have been published by media outlets, including Forbes, CNBC, The Hill & POLITICO.  Mary was the president and general manager of two media firms. In government, she served as the commissioner representing business at the Texas Employment Commission where she was a high-profile, proactive business advocate who founded The Texas Business Council. Then, Commissioner Nabers moved to the Texas Railroad Commission, the state’s regulatory agency for the oil and gas industry, which at the time regulated approximately $65 billion of the state’s economy annually.