Denise Schmidt

is Director of Water at the Environmental Policy Innovation Center (EPIC), where she leads a team working at the intersection of water policy, finance, and implementation. Her team works to modernize and strengthen State Revolving Funds, accelerate lead service line replacement, and improve drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater financing systems to ensure federal and state investments translate into real projects - faster. They combine rigorous policy analysis with hands-on technical assistance, analyzing funding data and Intended Use Plans, identifying structural bottlenecks, advising states on program reforms, and helping small and under-resourced utilities access capital for safe, reliable, and affordable water infrastructure.

Schmidt brings more than 35 years of experience across government, nonprofit, and private sectors.Prior to joining EPIC, Denise spent a decade at the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, where she oversaw economic regulation for more than 575 drinking water utilities and decided over 120 rate and construction cases annually. During her tenure, she developed statewide utility performance analysis tools and launched programs for lead service line financial assistance and water loss control, the latter earning her recognition as the Alliance for Water Efficiency’s 2021 Water Star. Earlier roles include senior consulting positions at Ernst & Young and Energy Management Associates, Principal Environmental Planner at the Atlanta Regional Commission, Town Board Supervisor and Plan Commission Chair in Wisconsin, and Trustee on the Wisconsin Section AWWA Board. She currently serves on the Environmental Finance Center Network’s Future Water Leaders Advisory Council and an AWWA Water 2050 implementation team. Denise holds a Master in Public Policy from Harvard University and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Health Sciences from Purdue University.