People > Process > Profit: A Culture-First Playbook

OptiRTC CEO David Rubinstein joins PrimePod to unpack how a late-adopter industry is embracing digital water—from retrofitting stormwater ponds with IoT sensors + actuated valves to forecast-based, pre-event drawdowns that cut flooding, protect habitats, and save cities money. We cover Opti’s pivot from services to platform, the culture and mindfulness practices that power execution, and why people + process + tech (in that order) wins.

In this episode:

• What “smart stormwater” really is—and how CMAC prevents overflows

• Retrofitting vs. new build: why two smart ponds can replace a $2M pond

• Real outcomes: 70k+ storms managed across 20 states; neighborhoods spared in hurricanes; NYC rooftop farm fed by captured rain

• The new Stormwater Engineers’ Workbench and partner go-to-market (e.g., Oldcastle)

• Tech stack hints (Azure, modernized edge, Blazor) without the jargon

• Culture > everything: curiosity rituals, psychological safety, hiring for fit, Vistage peer networks

• Founder takeaways: under-promise/over-deliver, remove priorities (don’t just add), and lead with integrity

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