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Mr. Laurent is a recognized leader in community-led real estate, housing finance, and catalytic development with strong focus on implementation and development of innovative, targeted quality affordable housing throughout the nation. He is president of a nonprofit real estate development company and serves as adjunct faculty for Milwaukee School of Engineering and Marquette University.

Mr. Laurent built his career bringing together talented people with initially opposing skills and perspectives to produce well-designed, compelling places that people live and work. He gets his greatest enjoyment in helping to bring out the best work people can offer.

Strong communications skills, decent graphics/marketing skills, innovative financial modeling acumen, and a keen sense of design all combine with an innate desire to make things distinctive, to make them better.

Specialties: Negotiation, communication, government liaison, financial analysis, architectural and construction oversight, affordable housing, project management, collaboration, coaching, mentorship, team-building, nonprofit leadership and development, strategic thinking, LIHTCs, NMTCs, debt, equity, soft financing tools, TIF.

Mr. Kurdi has been serving the electrical industry for over 30 years as an engineer, electrician and trainer. He has engineered (design, specify & analyze) government buildings (police stations, sheriff’s offices, fire stations, city halls, court houses, libraries, and jails), housing buildings (affordable, senior, assistant, memory care, adaptable use & student), hospitals, data centers, sport arenas, commercial office buildings, water/wastewater treatment plants and electric utility distribution and substations. Mr. Kurdi’s electrician experience includes estimating, laying out, wiring, installing and maintaining electrical systems for residential & commercial buildings. He has served as an engineer on construction projects in numerous locations in Texas, including San Antonio, Arlington, Bryan and Manor. Mr. Kurdi has developed and taught thousands of seminar hours over the years at Dunwoody College of Technology, Minnesota Electrical Association, IEEE & others. The Seminars include NEC Code, electrician’s exam, MV system, electrical wiring, apprenticeship, estimation, electrical design, Revit MEP, and project management. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and a master’s degree in Adult Education. Mr. Kurdi is a registered electrical engineer (PE) in 37 states, including Minnesota and Texas. He holds a Class A master electrician license from the State of Minnesota. Currently, Mr. Kurdi is a senior electrical engineer and department head at BKV Group (A&E Firm with offices in Chicago, Dallas, DC & Minneapolis). He served as NCEL Board Member (Jan 2021 – Present), IAEI MN Chapter President (Jan 2018 – Jan 2023), Chair of IEEE Twin Cities PES/IAS (Aug 2019 – Jan 2023), Minnesota State Board of Electricity Member (Jan 2018 – Jan 2020).

Jeffrey W. Berkman, Esq., LL.M. focuses his practice on corporate and securities law matters. He represents entrepreneurs, domestic and international companies, closely-held businesses, family offices, investors, and not-for-profit organizations in connection with business structuring, domestic and cross-border transactions, mergers & acquisitions, venture capital, private equity, secured financing, joint ventures, investment fund structuring, securities law matters, commercial transactions/contracts, and a wide-variety of other business law matters. Mr. Berkman has practiced law for over thirty years, working with entrepreneurs, investors, companies, investment funds, and joint ventures in various industries, including venture capital, private equity, technology, Internet, telecommunications, healthcare, food services, retail, fashion, management consulting, manufacturing, engineering, goods and services providers, professional practices, entertainment/film, and emerging media. He was previously General Counsel of a multimillion dollar venture capital firm with operations in the U.S., Europe, and Asia. He has served on the Board of Directors of both public and private companies. Mr. Berkman was a Judicial Law Clerk for Judge Rodger Miner (dec.), 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals. He is an Adjunct Professor at Touro College – Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center, teaching Drafting Commercial Documents (and previously Business Organizations II). Mr. Berkman is a lecturer for continuing legal education classes and a presenter at a variety of seminars and business workshops. He earned his B.A. degree, cum laude, from Middlebury College, his J.D. degree from New York Law School, and his LL.M. degree from New York University School of Law.

Mr. Black is a member with FRB’s Corporate and Securities Group. He has over 35 years of experience in corporate and government compliance, government contracts, trade regulation, and information technology. Mr. Black has been in-house counsel for most of his career, including Northrop Grumman’s Data and Information Division, CA Technologies, where he served as Vice President, Senior Counsel, and Associate Chief Compliance Officer, and at Overseas Military Sales Group where he was General Counsel and Chief Compliance. Immediately prior to joining FRB, he was a partner at Silverman Acampora, where he led their Government Contracts and Compliance Group. As counsel to several large government contractors, in various manufacturing and development industries, Mr. Black’s experience has included creating export compliance protocols, and managing multimillion dollar bid and proposal processes from the initial steps of government requests for information through the entire proposal procedure to final contract negotiation and award. For example, he created, launched, and managed a worldwide export compliance protocol for a major software company with more than 1,000 products sold worldwide. He has also successfully negotiated with the Department of Defense to avoid the suspension of his client’s contracts as part of a larger government-wide settlement. Mr. Black has created Codes of Conduct and established compliance help lines for his clients. This includes review of all submissions, investigation of each incident, and reports to executive management and Board Audit Committees. He can develop customized government and corporate compliance programs as well as training courses for company personnel on key compliance issues. Mr. Black’s expertise extends to corporate tax strategy, enhancing clients’ financial approaches. He also assists non-profit organizations, ensuring compliance with legal mandates as they pursue their goals. In addition, he has experience in dealing with issues related to privacy, especially the EU General Data Privacy Regulation (GDPR) and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) as well as other government acquisition and trade rules and regulations. A frequent lecturer on corporate and government compliance issues, Mr. Black is an adjunct professor at the Maurice Deane School of Law where he teaches Corporate Compliance and Ethics and has served as a visiting professor at the Naval Postgraduate School, where he taught courses in Government Contracts. He is a member of the American, New York and Nassau County Bar Associations. Mr. Black is a member of the New York State Bar Association Committee on Attorney Professionalism and the Nassau County Bar Association Ethics Committee. He earned his B.A. degree from Hofstra University and his J.D. degree from Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University.

Mr. Lawrence’s practice is focused on corporate and private securities matters, serving clients as lead counsel on all types of corporate transactions including private placements, mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, corporate finance, planning and strategies, licensing, manufacturing, supply, and distribution arrangements. He provides dedicated hands-on personal support to clients from negotiation to closing and beyond. Mr. Lawrence regularly represents clients in a wide range of industries including telecommunications, food and nutraceutical manufacturing and distribution, restaurants, emerging technologies, retail, light manufacturing, commercial and private lending, architecture and software development. He also regularly advises private issuers and principals with respect to operations and compliance matters in his active private equity practice. In mergers and acquisitions transactions, Mr. Lawrence has regularly represented both buyers and sellers of businesses. Over the past 15 years, he has successfully closed numerous deals with business owners selling their businesses to strategic buyers, private equity funds, and private equity-backed strategic buyers both domestically and internationally. With respect to securities offering and financing transactions, he has significant experience representing both issuers and founders on the one hand, and investors on the other hand, giving him years of experience related to private securities offerings, venture capital, and similar startup financings, and FINRA and SEC regulatory issues. As part of the firm’s Digital Assets Practice Group, his practice has expanded to include advising companies on blockchain, cryptocurrency, Web3, and NFT matters, with a focus on how the corporate and securities matters affect these types of projects. Mr. Lawrence earned his B.A. degree from Tulane University and his J.D. degree from Hofstra University.

Mr. Rappaport chairs FRB’s Taxation and Private Client Groups. He concentrates his practice in Taxation as it relates to Real Estate, Closely Held Businesses, Private Equity Funds, Family Offices and Trusts & Estates. Mr. Rappaport advises clients regarding tax planning, structuring, and compliance for commercial real estate projects, all stages of the business life cycle, generational wealth transfer, family business succession, and executive compensation. He also collaborates with other attorneys, accountants, financial advisors, bankers, and insurance professionals when they encounter matters requiring a threshold level of tax law expertise. Mr. Rappaport is known for his work on complex deals involving advanced tax considerations, such as Section 1031 Exchanges, the Qualified Opportunity Zone Program, Freeze Partnerships, Private Equity Mergers & Acquisitions, and Qualified Small Business Stock. He has served as a trusted advisor for prominent real estate funds, executives of multinational corporations, venture capitalists, successful startup businesses, ultra-high net worth families, and clients seeking creative solutions to seemingly intractable problems requiring tax-focused analysis. Mr. Rappaport earned his J.D. degree from Georgetown University Law Center and his LL.M. in Taxation from Georgetown University Law Center.

 Mr. Sechter has determined the value of closely held securities of companies and partnerships in a wide variety of industries. He has prepared valuations of closely held operating companies, asset holding companies, as well as other equities such as undivided interests in real estate, closely held common and preferred stock. In support of the foregoing, he has prepared documented valuation analyses for presentation to management, directors, members, and stockholders of client companies, as well as to attorneys, accountants, other fiduciaries, and the Internal Revenue Service. Mr. Sechter has been court appointed as a neutral financial expert and has testified as an expert witness in various courts and jurisdictions. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants BV Committee Member, and the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.

Dr. Balci is accomplished in successfully developing and delivering large climate resiliency and sustainability projects. At the South Florida Water Management District, she managed Federal and State Policy and Permitting Division to achieve goals of Everglades Restoration. At NYC DEP, she led the nations’ largest green infrastructure and innovative cloudburst management program with a budget to reduce Combined Sewer Overflows and improve water quality in New York Harbor while providing flood mitigation benefits and resiliency in environmental justice communities. Notably, she led the Tibbets Brooks Daylighting and Greenway project in the Bronx and developed NYC’s first Wastewater Resiliency Plan. Dr. Balci worked as the NYC interagency lead to manage NYC’s Stormwater Management Program Plan under the Phase 1 MS4 permit covering 14 city agencies and led the permit negotiations with the State and EPA. Currently, she leads the JMT’s climate resiliency and adaptation initiatives. She is a doctoral faculty member at CUNY Graduate School and teaches classes on climate resiliency and integrated water systems management.

Dr. Kandamby is a Senior Water Resources Engineer, specializing in hydraulics and hydrology. He has nearly 15 years of years of experience in engineering consultancy. Dr. Kandamby is currently in charge of the quality of project deliveries and provides technical subject matter expertise for hydraulics and coastal modeling tasks and eliminates hurdles and barriers in projects related to H&H. In his engineering career, he has gained consultancy knowledge and expertise in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic water business lines assuming different roles and responsibilities. He is proficient in Flow3D, HEC-RAS, HEC-HMS, MIKE11, SMS, SRH2D ADCIRC, SWAN, CMS Wave GIS, AutoCAD, Civil 3D. Dr. Kandamby earned his Master’s Degree in Water Resources Engineering from Clarkson University, and his Ph.D. from Clarkson University.

Mr. Kurdi has been serving the electrical industry for over 30 years as an engineer, electrician and trainer. He has engineered (design, specify & analyze) government buildings (police stations, sheriff’s offices, fire stations, city halls, court houses, libraries, and jails), housing buildings (affordable, senior, assistant, memory care, adaptable use & student), hospitals, data centers, sport arenas, commercial office buildings, water/wastewater treatment plants and electric utility distribution and substations. Mr. Kurdi’s electrician experience includes estimating, laying out, wiring, installing and maintaining electrical systems for residential & commercial buildings. He has served as an engineer on construction projects in numerous locations in Texas, including San Antonio, Arlington, Bryan and Manor. Mr. Kurdi has developed and taught thousands of seminar hours over the years at Dunwoody College of Technology, Minnesota Electrical Association, IEEE & others. The Seminars include NEC Code, electrician’s exam, MV system, electrical wiring, apprenticeship, estimation, electrical design, Revit MEP, and project management. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and a master’s degree in Adult Education. Mr. Kurdi is a registered electrical engineer (PE) in 37 states, including Minnesota and Texas. He holds a Class A master electrician license from the State of Minnesota. Currently, Mr. Kurdi is a senior electrical engineer and department head at BKV Group (A&E Firm with offices in Chicago, Dallas, DC & Minneapolis). He served as NCEL Board Member (Jan 2021 – Present), IAEI MN Chapter President (Jan 2018 – Jan 2023), Chair of IEEE Twin Cities PES/IAS (Aug 2019 – Jan 2023), Minnesota State Board of Electricity Member (Jan 2018 – Jan 2020).

Originally from New Hampshire, Dr. Hamel completed a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts and a master’s degree in civil engineering with an emphasis in structures at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Between degrees he worked as a bridge inspector, roadway designer, and bridge engineer in Boston and as a structural engineer in Denver designing hospitals, museums, and courthouses. After earning his license as a professional engineer in Colorado, he returned to school and completed his doctorate in Structural Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His research was located at the USDA Forest Products Laboratory in Madison and included a three-year long creep study of wood-plastic composites (WPCs). Dr. Hamel joined the faculty at the University of Alaska Anchorage in 2011, where his current research includes the performance of plywood/polyurethane structural insulated panels (SIPs), the strength of accreted ice on piles at the Port of Alaska, and a reliability analysis of flawed wood-frame structures during seismic events. At UAA, he teaches undergraduate courses in mechanics, structural analysis and steel design, and graduate-level courses that cover loads on structures, structural reliability, advanced structural analysis, finite-element analysis, and advanced steel design.

Mr. Kurdi has been serving the electrical industry for over 30 years as an engineer, electrician and trainer. He has engineered (design, specify & analyze) government buildings (police stations, sheriff’s offices, fire stations, city halls, court houses, libraries, and jails), housing buildings (affordable, senior, assistant, memory care, adaptable use & student), hospitals, data centers, sport arenas, commercial office buildings, water/wastewater treatment plants and electric utility distribution and substations. Mr. Kurdi’s electrician experience includes estimating, laying out, wiring, installing and maintaining electrical systems for residential & commercial buildings. He has served as an engineer on construction projects in numerous locations in Texas, including San Antonio, Arlington, Bryan and Manor. Mr. Kurdi has developed and taught thousands of seminar hours over the years at Dunwoody College of Technology, Minnesota Electrical Association, IEEE & others. The Seminars include NEC Code, electrician’s exam, MV system, electrical wiring, apprenticeship, estimation, electrical design, Revit MEP, and project management. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and a master’s degree in Adult Education. Mr. Kurdi is a registered electrical engineer (PE) in 37 states, including Minnesota and Texas. He holds a Class A master electrician license from the State of Minnesota. Currently, Mr. Kurdi is a senior electrical engineer and department head at BKV Group (A&E Firm with offices in Chicago, Dallas, DC & Minneapolis). He served as NCEL Board Member (Jan 2021 – Present), IAEI MN Chapter President (Jan 2018 – Jan 2023), Chair of IEEE Twin Cities PES/IAS (Aug 2019 – Jan 2023), Minnesota State Board of Electricity Member (Jan 2018 – Jan 2020).

Dr. Vitale holds a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the NY Polytechnic University (presently known as NYU School of Engineering). He was registered as a Professional Engineer in six states and is actively registered in New York and Pennsylvania. Dr. Vitale is a veteran engineer with over 52 years of experience in the Gas Industry, including Vice President and Chief Engineer over Production and Engineering across 4 States. He worked domestically and internationally as a consultant for the Gas Industry for more than 20 years, particularly in LNG import, export, and peak shaving facilities around the world. A major focus has been on site-specific plant operator training. Dr. Vitale combines the best of the academic theoretical world with the practical on-the-job industry world. This results in a training experience whereby his industry professional learners understand the technologies they control in theory and application. The learning experience applies science while training engineers to design plant facilities that can be maintained and operated in real-world conditions. His dedication to the engineering field is evident in his teaching of graduate and undergraduate evening engineering courses while working in the Gas Industry during his day job. Dr. Vitale current focus and passion lie in providing training services to ensure the safety and reliability of petrochemical, process, and electric generation facilities. He is committed to excellence.

Mr. Halsted is responsible for increasing the paving market share for ready mixed concrete products through promotion, design, technical services, and construction activities at the local, regional, and state level. He has over 25 years of experience in the use of cement and concrete in the pavements and geotechnical industries. Mr. Halsted is knowledgeable in planning, design, materials testing, construction, and sustainability; has participated in numerous training and construction workshops involving State and provincial transportation agencies, public works departments, universities, material suppliers, and consulting firms; and has authored several publications related to cement and concrete construction. He currently serves as a voting member of several Transportation Research Board (TRB), American Concrete Institute (ACI), and ASTM International standing technical committees. Mr. Halsted holds a bachelor of science degree in Civil Engineering Technology from Southern Polytechnic State University and is a licensed engineer in the state of Georgia. Prior to joining NRMCA, he held civil and geotechnical engineering positions with the Portland Cement Association, the Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute, and the Georgia Department of Transportation.

J.A. Smith Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. has been in business over 39 years and specializes in the residential and light commercial HVAC market in southeastern Pennsylvania counties of Bucks, Montgomery and Philadelphia and adjacent counties in New Jersey. The company employs 50 people and serves the new construction, retro fit, and service/maintenance markets. Mr. Smith’s experience in the renewable energy HVAC field dates from involvement in numerous air source heat pump installations starting in the early 1970’s to the company’s current focus on closed loop geothermal installations. He holds an advanced CMS certification with the Refrigeration Service Engineers Society (RSES) and holds a Master HVAC contractor’s license with the state of New Jersey. In addition to running J.A. Smith Heating & Air Conditioning Mr. Smith has also been active in teaching HVAC related topics on a local and national level since 1981. The agencies that he has presented for include: Refrigeration Service Engineers Society (RSES), National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI), American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), National Association of Home Inspectors (NAHI), Home Builders Association (HBA), Pennsylvania Power and Light (PPL). He has also volunteered his time and served as president of the Electrical Association of Philadelphia (EAP), the chairman of the Middle Bucks Institute of Technology’s (MBIT) local advisory committee, and as secretary of the Business Referral Network of Delaware Valley (BRN).

Mr. Kurdi has been serving the electrical industry for over 30 years as an engineer, electrician and trainer. He has engineered (design, specify & analyze) government buildings (police stations, sheriff’s offices, fire stations, city halls, court houses, libraries, and jails), housing buildings (affordable, senior, assistant, memory care, adaptable use & student), hospitals, data centers, sport arenas, commercial office buildings, water/wastewater treatment plants and electric utility distribution and substations. Mr. Kurdi’s electrician experience includes estimating, laying out, wiring, installing and maintaining electrical systems for residential & commercial buildings. He has served as an engineer on construction projects in numerous locations in Texas, including San Antonio, Arlington, Bryan and Manor. Mr. Kurdi has developed and taught thousands of seminar hours over the years at Dunwoody College of Technology, Minnesota Electrical Association, IEEE & others. The Seminars include NEC Code, electrician’s exam, MV system, electrical wiring, apprenticeship, estimation, electrical design, Revit MEP, and project management. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and a master’s degree in Adult Education. Mr. Kurdi is a registered electrical engineer (PE) in 37 states, including Minnesota and Texas. He holds a Class A master electrician license from the State of Minnesota. Currently, Mr. Kurdi is a senior electrical engineer and department head at BKV Group (A&E Firm with offices in Chicago, Dallas, DC & Minneapolis). He served as NCEL Board Member (Jan 2021 – Present), IAEI MN Chapter President (Jan 2018 – Jan 2023), Chair of IEEE Twin Cities PES/IAS (Aug 2019 – Jan 2023), Minnesota State Board of Electricity Member (Jan 2018 – Jan 2020).

Mr. Palmer is a Board Certified Master Arborist® and Tree Risk Assessment Qualified by the International Society of Arboriculture, and a Consulting Arborist. He was the owner of a premium services landscaping company for 20 years. Mr. Palmer’s focus is on trees in urban and construction environments, soil deficiencies and the importance of soils for sustainable mature trees, increasing urban tree canopies by ensuring trees live to maturity, and unsustainable landscape designs. He does tree assessments for individuals, commercial clients, law firms, insurance companies, municipalities, landscape architecture firms, parks and woodland management agencies, and has assessed and evaluated thousands of individual trees in the past decade.

Here’s what past attendees had to say about the program and presenter John Palmer:

“Very good. Very useful. I will change some of what I have been doing based on what I have learned from this webinar.” – Civil Engineer

“John is one of two presenters in the last 30 years who has held my interest throughout an entire all day program.” – Architect

“Excellent presentation and content. I especially appreciated all of the references in the material.” – Civil Engineer

Mr. Trinkaus is an internationally recognized expert in the field of low impact development, having presented at many ASCE/EWRI international conferences and many other regional conferences and workshops on LID and water quality issues. He has been an invited presenter and consultant in Taiwan, China, and South Korea. He has also presented on Sustainable Stormwater at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. Mr. Trinkaus has written LID design manuals for the Towns of Tolland, Plainville, Harwinton, East Granby, and Morris, Connecticut. He has designed many types of LID treatment systems for a variety of residential and commercial applications. Mr. Trinkaus is chair of the EWRI LID Guidance Document Task Committee and primary author of the Committee’s national guidance document on adopting LID standards. Mr. Trinkaus is a licensed professional engineer in Connecticut and Maryland. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Forest Management in 1980 from the University of New Hampshire. He has more than 38 years of experience in the land development field, more than 19 years of experience designing low impact development treatment systems, and six years of experience writing LID regulations and design manuals.

Mr. Hanrahan has more than 45 years of industry experience. In addition to presentations in Canada, Taiwan and the Dominican Republic, he has also presented at the national level for many organizations, including the International Erosion Control Association, Land Improvement Contractors of America, the Geotechnical Fabrics Institute, the National Working Waterfront Network, and the American Water Works Association. Mr. Hanrahan’s articles have been published in many magazines, including Erosion Control, Land & Water, Geosynthetics, and Landscape Architect & Specifier News. He has produced webinars for the International Erosion Control Association, the International Association of Hydroseeding Professionals, the New York State Society of Professional Engineers, and Forester University. Mr. Hanrahan has also served as a guest lecturer at the University of Mississippi, Ohio Northern University, University of New England, and Vermont Technical College. He has also been has also been active in industry organizations. He was national president of the International Management Council in 1991-92 and served four terms as president of the Northeast Chapter of the International Erosion Control Association. Mr. Hanrahan is also a member of the Senior Advisory Committee of Envirocert. He has developed and delivered training events throughout his career. From 2008 to the present, he has organized coastal erosion control training events up and down the New England Coast, with multiple seminars in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. Event co-sponsors for these events have included the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, Maine Sea Grant, the Rhode Island Coastal Management Council, the University of Rhode Island Coastal Resources Center, Connecticut College, and Connecticut Sea Grant. Mr. Hanrahan has also assisted with the development of erosion control standards with the Illinois Tollway Authority, and the State Departments of Transportation in New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, Oklahoma, Missouri, Arkansas, and Illinois.

Mr. Messmer has over 30 years of engineering experience in analysis, design, plan/specification development, and project management/personnel supervision for geotechnical, foundation and structural engineering projects in the transportation, industrial, municipal and commercial fields of civil engineering. Throughout his career he has placed an emphasis on quality control and staff training. Mr. Messmer is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, the American Concrete Institute, the American Society of Highway Engineers and the Society of American Military Engineers. He earned his B.S. degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh. Mr. Messmer was accepted into the Academy of Geo-Professionals in 2013.

Ms. Anderson practices primarily domestic and family law, criminal law and bankruptcy. Her intent is to assist clients through difficult, complicated and sometimes incredibly emotional events. A resident of Central Florida for 25 years, she received a B.S. degree in Political Science from the University of Central Florida and J.D. degree from Barry University School of Law. At Barry University she received a certificate in Children and Family Law, an asset in her practice. Ms. Anderson is a member of the American Bar Association, The Florida Bar (Family, Criminal and Young Lawyers Division), and the Orange County Bar Association. She is an adjunct professor for Barry University and for Kaplan University and has previously been adjunct faculty for Everest University. Seventy five percent of her practice is devoted to litigation. Ms. Anderson is admitted to practice in Florida and the U.S. Bankruptcy Court Middle District of Florida. Her pro bono work includes Legal Aid for Orange County and Seminole County.

Ms. Beebe practices exclusively in the area of marital and family law. She is Board Certified in Marital and Family Law by the Florida Bar and a Fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) and International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL). Ms. Beebe is a member of the Family Law Section of the Florida Bar, the Palm Beach County Bar Association, Florida Association of Woman Lawyers and the Palm Beach County Greenberg Gamot Family Law American Inn of Court. She is a past Chair of the Family Law Section of the Florida Bar (2018-2019). Ms. Beebe was elected to the Executive Committee of the Family Law Section in 2015 and served as the Secretary from 2015-2016; Treasurer from 2016-2017; the Chair-Elect 2017-2018; and Chair 2018-2019. She also served on the Executive Council from 2010 until her appointment on the Executive Committee. Ms. Beebe currently sits on the Board of Directors for the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County, where she began her legal career in 2006. She has been recognized as Florida Rising Star from 2017-2019 and a Super Lawyer from 2021 to present.

Ms. Hernandez represents high-net-worth individuals in complex marital and family law matters. She assists individuals in the dissolution of marriage, equitable distribution, alimony, child support, parenting and time-share issues, paternity, and prenuptial agreements. Ms. Hernandez has obtained the AV Preeminent* peer review rating through Martindale-Hubbell. In addition, she has been selected for inclusion in the Super Lawyers list since 2014, including Top 100: Miami Super Lawyers in 2018, 2020-2022 and Top 50: Women Florida Super Lawyers in 2015 and 2018, The Best Lawyers in America list since 2019, Florida Trend’s Legal Elite list, and South Florida Legal Guide’s Top Lawyers list. In addition, Ms. Hernandez is a Fellow of The American Bar Foundation and is a graduate of the University of Miami School of Law.

Ms. Kay assists Florida’s families in the Tampa Bay area as a Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Law and Appellate Mediator and a Collaborative Family Law Attorney through her firm Kay Family Law PLLC in Tampa. She assists solo and small firms providing contract research, writing, and consulting services. Speaking, writing, and consulting on family law matters, particularly ones involving persons with disabilities or special needs, are among Ms. Kay’s passions. Leadership is among her strengths. Of note, Ms. Kay was 2023-2024 Chair of The Family Law Section of The Florida Bar during their 50th anniversary year, 2017-2018 President of the Hillsborough Association for Women Lawyers, President of the Hillsborough County Bar Association Leadership Institute Class of 2013, and Co-Chair r of the 2013 and 2014 Hillsborough County Bar Association 5k Pro Bono River Run Committee.

Mr. Westbrook designed his own solar home in north Texas in 1996, which won the Energy Value Housing Award for Innovative Design. It still ranks as one of the most efficient homes in Texas. While serving as Sustainable Development Manager at Texas Instruments International Facilities, Mr. Westbrook was the LEED AP for the 1.1 million square foot Texas Instruments factory, which was the first LEED Gold semiconductor factory in the world. He led the effort to improve the energy and water efficiency of TI’s 20 million square feet of existing global facilities. They were able to double the company energy and water efficiency in less than 10 years. In 2012, Mr. Westbrook was named a senior fellow for the US State Department’s Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas program. He visited Honduras, Bolivia, Columbia, and Peru where he worked with governments, universities, and industry on efficiency and renewable energy. Mr. Westbrook received his B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge in 1982.

ForeSight Consulting, LLC, a professional services firm established in 2004 in Fort Wayne, Indiana. ForeSight offers comprehensive civil engineering and land surveying services to the construction and building sectors. He manages the firm’s operations, directs its growth strategy, mentors team members, and continues to oversee engineering and surveying projects of various sizes throughout Indiana. A graduate of Purdue University, Mr. Bauer holds a bachelor of science degree in Civil Engineering Technology. He is a licensed professional engineer and professional surveyor in Indiana and has previously held professional licenses in several other states. In addition, he has served as an adjunct faculty member at Purdue University Fort Wayne, where he taught courses in elementary surveying, route survey and design, land survey and subdivision, and hydraulics and drainage. Mr. Bauer has played an active role in the Indiana Society of Professional Surveyors (ISPLS), serving on its board of directors from 2006 to 2015 and again from 2018 to 2020. He was honored with the President’s Award in 2010 for his contributions to the society, and the profession of land surveying. He served as president of ISPLS in 2019 and continues his involvement with the society on the Government Affairs Committee. Additionally, Mr. Bauer has served in leadership positions within the Northeast Chapter of ISPLS, including serving as chapter president on three occasions. He is regularly called upon to handle complex surveying cases and has served as an expert witness in matters involving boundaries, easements, and riparian rights. Known as a trusted resource for developers, title companies, and real estate attorneys, he has delivered continuing education presentations on professional surveying topics, including “Professional Surveyor’s Reports,” “Locating Land Boundaries: On Paper and On the Ground,” and “Conducting Due Diligence for a Purchase-Sale Agreement” through the American Bar Association.

Ms. Davisis a research hydrogeologist at Indiana Geological and Water Survey, working to understand and share information of surface and ground water resources in Indiana. She previously worked at Soil and Water Conservation Districts, as a hydrogeologist with DNR Division of Water, as
a consultant along with a geology professor at IvyTech. Ms. Davis has her master’s degrees in both Geology and Civil Engineering from Indiana University and Norwich University, respectively, focused on water resource management, treatment, characterization, and modeling. She currently sits on the AWWA Source Water Protection Committee and holds professional certifications in sediment and erosion control, floodplain management, watershed leadership, and natural resource training.

Ms. Schroeder brings a variety of skills to the complexities of today’s agriculture. She grew up on a farm in Northeast Indiana, so her insight is grounded in experience. Ms. Schroeder works with the agricultural industry as she provides expertise such as litigating complicated environmental matters, drafting contracts for agribusinesses, and helping livestock farms navigate regulatory compliance. She has a diverse group of clients including farmers, rural landowners, agricultural companies, and industry groups. Ms. Schroeder has worked at firms in Indianapolis and Chicago, with her perspective including experience in complex litigation, civil defense, property liability, environmental law, and insurance coverage. She is licensed in Indiana and Illinois. Along with her thriving law practice, Ms. Schroeder is committed to sharing insight with the industry as a sought-after speaker and author. She has authored numerous articles and given presentations on a variety of agricultural, environmental, and legal topics, including the Right to Farm Act, zoning, renewable energy, sustainability, the Clean Water Act, employment law, agritourism, farm security, and insurance coverage. Ms. Schroeder earned her B.A. degree, cum laude, from Carthage College, her M.S. degree from Valparaiso University and her J.D. degree, magna cum laude, from Valparaiso University School of Law.

Mr. Schroeder is an attorney who helps people with environmental law-related issues or have had their insurance claim denied. He helps clients who have environmental law issues, including those arising from Indiana statutes (ELA, Flood Control Act, etc.), federal statutes (RCRA, CERCLA, etc.), regulatory bodies (IDEM, EPA, etc.), common law (negligence, trespass, nuisance, etc.) and more. Mr. Schroeder earned his J.D. degree from Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law.

Mr. Walker has been working for or with the State of Indiana since 2012. He started working in the Groundwater Section in 2015 and became Section Chief in 2021. Mr. Walker helped develop and provide the Surface Water Threat Minimization and Response Plans for all the community drinking water systems that use surface water as their source. He orchestrated a voluntary PFAS sampling project for all community drinking water systems, ahead of an expected EPA rule. Mr. Walker graduated with a BA in Geography (Geographic Information Science) and Anthropology (Physical Anthropology) from Indiana University.

Dr. Mehran Mazari is an associate professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at Cal State Los Angeles, specializing in transportation infrastructure and pavement materials. He is the program manager of the Sikand Center for Sustainable and Intelligent Infrastructures (SITI-Center) and founder of the Sustainable Infrastructure Materials Research Lab (SIM-Lab) at Cal State LA. His research interests include sustainable and resilient transportation infrastructure and transportation infrastructure materials. He is a member of technical committees at the Transportation Research Board of the National Academies of Science and Engineering, and he is co-chair of the LTPP subcommittee of the Highway Pavement Committee of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). Dr. Mazari has published more than 70 peer-reviewed journal and conference papers. He has been actively involved in several national and state research projects, including the National Highway Cooperative Research Program (NCHRP) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).

Ms. Costa is a descendant of the Round Valley Indian Tribes and the Sherwood Valley Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians. She is a Senior Associate at Berkey Williams LLP, a firm that represents exclusively Native American tribes and tribal organizations throughout the United States with its home office in Davis. Ms. Costa’s interest in the intersection between law and Native American rights stems from her childhood growing up on the reservation and her family’s participation in tribal government and community improvement. She earned her B.A. from UC Davis and her J.D. from UCLA School of Law where she received her specialization in Critical Race Studies with an emphasis on Native American rights. In law school she was the Executive Editor of the Indigenous People’s Journal of Law, Culture & Resistance and the Vice-President and Recruitment Coordinator of NALSA. Ms. Costa formerly served as President of the California Indian Law Association, Inc., and currently serves on the Advisory Committee for the California Truth and Healing Fund, a fund established to support the engagement of California Native Americans in the work of the California Truth and Healing Council. She previously worked for the Tribal Law and Policy Institute, the Wishtoyo Foundation, and the Yurok Tribe’s Office of the Tribal Attorney. As a Senior Associate at Berkey Williams LLP, Ms. Costa serves tribal clients in many areas of the law, including water rights, natural and cultural resources protection, governmental affairs, litigation, and Indian child dependency.

For over 15 years, Mr. Fite has supported clients in the natural resource and energy sectors as they manage the complexities of environmental regulation, compliance, and permitting, as well as related litigation. He has significant experience helping clients navigate the legal intricacies required in renewable energy development, forestland management, and endangered species and public lands concerns. Mr. Fite’s clients include resource owners, developers, and associations who pursue responsible use of these resources. He is a seasoned litigator who has argued numerous cases in state and federal trial and appellate courts, including ten cases before the Ninth Circuit. Mr. Fite has also testified before Congress on matters concerning proposed reforms to resource management, the Endangered Species Act (ESA), and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Prior to joining Schwabe, he practiced at a boutique law firm that specializes in environmental, energy, and natural resource issues. Mr. Fite began his legal career at the U.S. Department of Justice working on endangered species and wildlife matters. He earned his B.A. degree, cum laude, from Harvard University and his J.D. degree from Harvard Law School.

Mr. Holth works closely with tribal governments and enterprises on a daily basis to resolve problems, mitigate risk, and advance tribal sovereignty in decision making. His practice is centered on providing tailored, accessible, and timely advice to clients on all areas of the law impacting tribes, including tribal governance, natural resources protection and management, land tenure, code development, cultural resource protection, jurisdiction, transactions, employment, and grant compliance. Mr. Holth also engages in a robust litigation practice, having secured several victories for tribal clients on matters involving sovereign immunity, application of federal laws, treaty rights, and tribal exhaustion. He prides himself on building long-lasting client relationships in Indian Country built on trust, mutual respect, and zealous advocacy. Mr. Holth earned his J.D. degree, summa cum laude, from William Mitchell College of Law.

Ms. Mattson practices in LGN’s environmental, political, business, antitrust, employment, mediation, government representation, and complex litigation practice groups, representing numerous public entities, businesses, tribal governments, and individual plaintiffs in complex litigation and transactional matters in state and federal court. She earned her J.D. degree, magna cum laude, from the University of Minnesota Law School. Ms. Mattson also holds a PhD in Geography, Environment, and Society from the University of Minnesota and a MS in Development Studies from the University of London. Her PhD research focused on expansions of American Indian Tribal jurisdiction over resource policy and water regulation. While in law school she served as Lead Outside Articles Editor for Law & Inequality: A Journal of Theory and Practice and as a Clinic Director for the Human Rights Litigation and International Legal Advocacy Clinic. She currently serves as a Council Member for the Minnesota State Bar Association’s Environmental, Natural Resources and Energy Law Section. Ms. Mattson has taught courses at the University of Minnesota Law School and College of Liberal Arts and has published in the areas of treaty law, environmental law, international law, and natural resource policy.

Mr. Thompson is a tribal attorney focused on resolving complex real estate, natural resource management, and environmental matters. After a successful career working with The Nature Conservancy and working in private practice in New York and the lower Midwest, he received a Masters of Law in Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy from the University of Arizona and began a practice with a concentration in Federal Indian Law and tribal natural resource management. Mr. Thompson is sought after as a speaker and lecturer. Early in his career, he served as an adjunct faculty member at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, and in recent years, he has routinely spoken and lectured on Federal Indian Law and tribal natural resource management at conferences and in the university setting. He uses his unique blend of experience to assist tribes in positioning themselves to achieve optimal outcomes in existing and developing natural resource management projects and partnerships. Mr. Thompson helps obtain funding for tribal natural resource enterprises, navigates regulatory challenges in Indian Country, and assists tribes in defending against activities that encroach upon tribal interests and rights. He also advises corporate clients who wish to understand and respect tribal rights, and who are committed to adhering to the highest standards of corporate social responsibility in their interactions with tribes. Mr. Thompson operates with the utmost level of integrity and is respectful, focused, and responsive in his representation of clients.

Ms. Van Norman has been in private practice for 20 years, working almost exclusively in Indian Country. She handles diverse business, construction, environmental, and regulatory matters for tribes and people doing business with them. Ms. Van Norman also represents tribal governments in matters involving treaty rights, governance, elections, intergovernmental relations, and more. She has worked for and with over 50 federally recognized Indian tribes. In addition, Ms. Van Norman is a mediator and arbitrator, and a former tribal court judge for the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate in South Dakota. More information about Van Norman Law is available online at svn.legal.

Ms. Wagner practices primarily in LGN’s antitrust, generative AI, data breach, and tribal government representation groups, representing consumers, small businesses, and tribes in complex litigation throughout the United States. Her tribal government representation practice includes experience in the areas of Federal Indian Law, tribal sovereign immunity and environmental law and regulations. Ms. Wagner is the Treasurer and Past President of the Minnesota Native American Bar Association. She sits on the Foundation Board for the National Native American Bar Association, and on the Executive Board of Twin Cities Diversity in Practice. Ms. Wagner is from the Lake Vermilion Reservation in Tower, Minnesota. She is an enrolled citizen of the Bois Forte Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.