S16 E5: The Freshwater Collaborative Blueprint with Dr. Marissa Jablonski

What happens when an entire state unites around building the next generation of water professionals? In this episode of Smells Like Money, Suzan Chin-Taylor dives back in with Dr. Marissa Jablonski to break down one of the most ambitious and successful workforce development models in the water industry: The Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin.Designed to bring together 13 universities, 23 campuses, industry partners, tribal nations, and government agencies, this statewide initiative is transforming how students are trained, how employers find talent, and how communities prepare for future water challenges.Dr. Jablonski shares how the Collaborative was built, why Wisconsin needed it, and the real-world impact it is already having—from K–12 water camps to fieldwork-driven college programs to fully developed internship pipelines across the state.If you’re looking for a scalable, proven blueprint for strengthening the water workforce, this episode delivers the insights and strategy you need.What You’ll Learn- Why Wisconsin created the Freshwater Collaborative- How universities, agencies, and industry partners aligned their goals- The role of K–12 outreach in sparking early interest in water careers- How hands-on fieldwork boosts student retention in water programs- How the Collaborative builds strong statewide internship and job pipelines- Funding models that keep programs sustainable- Why collaboration—not competition—accelerates innovation- How any region can replicate this modelWhy This MattersThe Freshwater Collaborative proves that when institutions share resources and work toward common goals, they can solve workforce shortages, strengthen education, and create long-term environmental resilience. It’s a model built for today’s challenges—and ready to be copied anywhere.Connect With Dr. Marissa JablonskiWebsite: marissajablonski.comInstagram: @PlasticFreeMarisaFreshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin: freshwater.wisconsin.eduLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marissajablonski/Email: [email protected] hope you find this episode as informative and as exciting as we have.Please let us know your thoughts about the episode!Connect with Suzan Chin-Taylor, host of The DooDoo Diva's Smells Like Money Podcast:Website: www.creativeraven.com | https://thetuitgroup.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/creativeraven/Email: [email protected] Telephone: +1 760-217-8010Listen and subscribe here to your favorite platform:Apple Podcast - Google Podcast - Cast Box - Overcast - Pocket Casts - YouTube - Spotifyhttps://creativeraven.com/smells-like-money-podcast/ Subscribe to the Podcast:https://creativeraven.com/smells-like-money-podcast/Be a guest on our show:https://calendly.com/thetuitgroup/be-a-podcast-guestCheck Out my NEW Digital Marketing E-Course & Coaching Program just for Wastewater Pros:https://store.thetuitgroup.com/diy-digital-marketing-playbook-for-wastewater-pros#FreshwaterCollaborative #WaterWorkforce #OneWater #WaterEducation #EnvironmentalCareers #SustainabilityLeadership #WorkforceDevelopment #HigherEdInnovation #CleanWaterFuture #STEMCareers #SmellsLikeMoneyPodcast #CreativeRaven #MarissaJablonski