Leadership
The Water + Energy Forward leadership team comprises leaders from Wisconsin’s technology, industrial, nonprofit and university sectors.
Dr. Christopher K. Merker, Marquette University S-Lab
Chair
Chris Merker brings a wealth of experience in sustainable finance, governance, and investment management to Water + Energy Forward. As the Director of Private Asset Management at Baird and Executive-in-Residence at Marquette University, he has guided innovative strategies to align financial sustainability with environmental impact.
Dan Romito, Opportune
CEO
Dan is a Managing Director at Opportune, where he leads the firm’s Sustainability advisory practice. He joined Opportune in 2026 following the firm’s acquisition of PEP Consulting & Advocacy, a practice he built and led at Pickering Energy Partners (PEP). Dan’s work focuses on helping capital-intensive businesses navigate the convergence of energy, power, and technology, ensuring that corporate sustainability strategies align with economic realities and investor expectations.
Dean Amhaus
Secretary
Dean Amhaus recently retired as the founding president and CEO of The Water Council since March 2010. His diverse, 40-year background in multiple sectors encapsulates a wide range of expertise in government relations, branding, fundraising, economic development and nonprofit management in Washington, D.C., and Madison, Wisconsin.
Frank DeGuire, Quarles & Brady
Member
Frank DeGuire leverages his in-house and law firm experience to help clients with public finance, corporate and commercial law issues. He serves as bond counsel and disclosure counsel on a wide variety of tax-exempt and taxable financings.