Ms. Akpinar received a double bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering and Chemical Engineering from the Ataturk University, Turkey. She received her master’s degree in Environmental Engineering from Ataturk University with three years of teaching assistant experience. Ms. Akpinar is now a Ph.D. (c). student in Water Resource Engineering at the University of Delaware. Her research focuses on understanding biochar’s impact on plant growth, nutrient removal and hydrology in bioretention systems and the mechanisms by which biochar enhances soil aggregation, compaction and stormwater infiltration when amended to the soil.

Robert Gladfelter Landscape Designer with Refugia Design/Build
Refugia is a mission-based design and install firm that uses best sustainable practices to design native gardens that inspire and improve local ecology. Mr. Gladfelter comes to Refugia with 20+ years of experience in the landscape trade. Mr. Gladfelter also teaches when called upon at Temple University and is an acting member of his Borough’s Environmental Advisory Committee. Mr. Gladfelter graduated with a BS degree in Landscape Architecture from Temple University in 2018  and has nearly completed all his tests for  his LA license.  

Landscape architect at Donald Pell Gardens, Philadelphia PA
Ms. Otto received her bachelor’s degree from West Chester University and her master’s degree from Temple University. Her expertise includes the design of outdoor spaces, working in collaboration with team architects, civil engineers and interior designers. Ms. Otto’s work includes planting plans, hardscape plans, grading plans and lighting plans for a variety of commercial and public projects. Her project experience also extends into land development and zoning requirements, and the preparation of all levels of design documentation including schematic design, design development and construction documents. Ms. Otto’s professional background includes serving as a horticultural assistant at the famed Longwood Gardens.

Principal and Owner of Rippled Waters Engineering, LLC based in New Jersey
Mary Paist-Goldman has more than 20 years of experience in water resource engineering with a particular focus in stream and wetland restoration and mitigation design. She is the principal and owner of Rippled Waters Engineering, LLC based in New Jersey. Her firm specializes in water resources engineering services for a variety of projects. Prior to starting Rippled Waters in 2018, she served for many years as principal engineer and director of Engineering Services of a Mid-Atlantic regional natural resources firm. She is an experienced modeler and has worked extensively on design and analysis using a variety of hydrologic and hydraulic programs including HEC-HMS, HEC-RAS, and HydroCAD. Applications for her hydraulic modeling expertise include wetland restoration and mitigation; stream restoration; bridge repair and replacement; and dam repair, replacement, and removal. Specifically related to riverine systems, Ms. Paist-Goldman has extensive expertise with stream restoration, large woody debris, natural channel design and bioengineering stabilization techniques. Ms. Paist-Goldman has designed restoration projects of all sizes ranging from a few hundred feet to several miles of stream. These projects are planned for use as mitigation banks or serve as mitigation for development onsite. Working closely with restoration ecologists and landscape architects, Ms. Paist-Goldman has designed a variety of stream and wetland habitats including creation, enhancement, restoration, and preservation with a focus on sustainability and regulatory compliance.

Registered Landscape Architect
Mr. Pirie received his BS degree from Amherst College and his MS degree in Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning from the University of Pennsylvania (Penn). He is employed as a senior landscape architect at Langan Engineering, working in the greater Philadelphia area. Mr. Pirie has ten years of experience practicing as a landscape architect. He has worked throughout the New England and Mid-Atlantic regions. Mr. Pirie’s project background includes design of urban plazas and streetscape, university campus workspaces and parks. He has special expertise in green roofs and the design of landscape over structures. Mr. Pirie’s project experience extends into urban planning, urban design and sustainable design.

Dr. Stephen J. Souza has over 35 years of professional expertise in the management and restoration of water resources. This includes the design and application of a wide array of green infrastructure stormwater management techniques. Dr. Souza received his B.S. from the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth (1974), his M.S. from Rutgers University (1976), and his Ph.D. from the University of Connecticut (1981). He is the founding partner of Princeton Hydro, serving as the company’s president until his retirement in 2018. Dr. Souza is an instructor and course coordinator for the Rutgers NJAES Office of Continuing Professional Education as well as for Continuing Professional Education Services, LLC. He is also an Adjunct Professor at Temple University (Department of Landscape and Horticulture – Tyler School of Art and Agriculture). 

Senior Aquatic Ecologist; Senior Project Manager with Princeton Hydro
Dr. Szczepanski has taken part in many critical reviews in opposition of planned residential and industrial development, as well as serving as environmental expert on several municipal planning boards in support of development application reviews for stormwater and environmental compliance. He has been asked to review Piping Plover and Seabeach Amaranth Conservation Measure monitoring design and develop a native/invasive species inventory to support an invasive species barrier design to be implemented in the Lake Champlain Canal (between Locks C8-C9), both projects ultimately for the Army Corps of Engineers. Dr. Szczepanski has compiled and analyzed biological, geomorphic and water quality data from the Aquetong Spring stream in Solebury Township, Pennsylvania.