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Mr. Speck serves as associate professor and Paralegal Program Coordinator at Tulsa Community College, where he is dedicated to advancing paralegal education and promoting access to justice. Mr. Speck’s academic credentials include a J.D. degree from Southern Illinois University and both B.A. and M.A. degrees in Philosophy from the University of Oklahoma.

In addition to his academic role, Mr. Speck is of counsel at C. Craig Cole & Associates, where he represents clients in state and federal courts, administrative bodies, and arbitration and mediation proceedings. His practice areas encompass commercial and consumer litigation, insurance defense, employment law, contract disputes, premises liability, personal injury, and landlord-tenant matters. Mr. Speck is admitted to practice in Oklahoma, as well as the U.S. District Courts for the Western and Eastern Districts of Oklahoma and the U.S. Bankruptcy Courts for the Western and Northern Districts of Oklahoma. He is an active member of both the Oklahoma County and Oklahoma Bar Associations. Mr. Speck’s scholarly contributions include co-authoring an article on Washington’s limited license legal technicians and their impact on access to justice, published in the Tulsa Lawyer.

Mr. West’s practice encompasses a variety of legal areas including family law, guardian ad litem work, civil litigation, estate planning, and municipal law. Mr. West attended Texas Christian University and graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and Psychology in 2015. He was a member of the John V. Roach Honors College and the TCU Wesley Foundation. Mr. West worked as an extern at the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office before working as a legal intern for NICHOLS | DIXON. He passed the bar in 2018 and became an associate attorney. Mr. West is licensed to practice law in all municipal and state courts, the Western District of Oklahoma, and several tribal courts. He is invested in his legal community and served on the Cleveland County Bar Association Executive Board, including as president for the 2022-2023 term. Mr. West has been named a Super Lawyers Rising Star for 2023 and 2024 following nomination and voting by his peers. He also currently serves on the Board of Governors for the Oklahoma Bar Association.

A Raleigh native and managing partner of Cranfill Sumner, Mr. Wall represents clients in a wide range of matters including employment law, business litigation, eminent domain and real estate-related 
disputes, and corporate formation and governance issues. Mr. Wall has a particular interest in privacy and data security and holds the Certified Information Privacy Professional/United States (CIPP/US) designation. He is board certified by the North Carolina State Bar as a specialist in privacy and information security. He was part of the first class of attorneys in North Carolina to be certified in this area of the law. A seasoned trial attorney, Mr. Wall also handles litigation and disputes involving non-compete agreements and other restrictive covenants, unfair and deceptive trade practices, wage and hour law, employment discrimination, and regulatory issues. Mr. Wall has handled a substantial number of catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death cases and served as lead trial counsel in state and federal courts throughout North Carolina in trucking and transportation, product liability, and negligent security cases. He has been successful in obtaining favorable results for clients through alternative dispute resolution forums, including mediation and arbitration. Mr. Wall also handles cases in the North Carolina Business Court. Mr. Wall maintains an AV rating with Martindale Hubbell, the peer review rating that recognizes attorneys who have reached high levels of skill and integrity.

Mr. Winstead is a land use lawyer, focusing on quasi-judicial proceedings before the various planning and development boards, commissions, and councils of local governments across North Carolina. With a robust background in real estate litigation, Mr. Winstead possesses the experience and skills necessary to navigate the complex zoning and land use issues that developers encounter. Mr. Winstead approaches his work with a creative and deeply analytical spirit, equipping him to handle the red tape so his clients can focus on building beautiful projects.

Mr. Gregory has been passionate about the law for many years. During an extended career with the federal government, he began pursuing his dream of becoming a practicing attorney. He graduated cum laude from Mitchell Hamline School of Law in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and served as an associate on the Mitchell Hamline Law Review. Mr. Gregory earned his bachelor’s degree in Business Finance from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. His practice consists primarily of estate planning, estate administration, wills and trusts, and conservatorships/guardianships. In his estate planning, he works with individuals, couples and families to develop comprehensive and efficient estate plans through wills, trusts, incapacity instruments and other related documents. Mr. Gregory also works with those suffering from the loss of a loved one to smoothly and cost-effectively navigate the administration of an estate through the probate system or by providing counsel to trustees.

Kradle Law PLLC is a firm assisting Minnesota and Wisconsin clients specializing in elder law, estate planning, probate, trust administration, and business formation. Mr. Kradle is a Minnesota and Wisconsin licensed attorney. He graduated from Trinity University in San Antonio, TX with a B.A. degree in Political Science and Communications. He then attended Marquette University in Wisconsin and graduated with a J.D. degree. He is a former President of Minnesota NAELA (National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys), was named a Rising Star in Minnesota by SuperLawyers from 2022-present, and does pro bono work through Wills for Heroes and the Richfield Foundation. Mr. Kradle is currently on the Board of Directors for the nonprofit Senior Community Services. Kradle Law frequently presents around the Twin Cities regarding elder law, estate planning, and estate administration topics.

Mr. Tramm is an Arden Hills native with a passion for serving his fellow Minnesotans. He has practiced law in a mid-sized Twin Cities firm where he represented various types of clients, including several municipalities, individuals, businesses and even Amazon.com. Mr. Tramm also served as an officer of one of the largest banking corporations in the United States, working in its Trust Services division. It was in this role that he developed his understanding of and appreciation for advanced asset protection strategies. After gaining invaluable experience in the roles noted above, he decided that the biggest positive impact that he could have on society was to establish his own private law practice focusing on estate and asset protection planning. In his position as Managing Attorney of Tramm Law Firm, PLLC, Mr. Tramm provides his clients with superior legal services in all matters where effective legal representation and creative planning are required.

Ms. Warner has dedicated over 30 years to planning, designing, and constructing public facilities, with a strong focus on accessible design for the past 25 years. Her goal is to ensure that individuals of all abilities can enjoy the City of San Diego facilities. Ms. Warner has held positions in various departments, including Engineering, Parks, and Public Works, and is currently with the Sustainability and Mobility Department, specifically in the ADA Compliance and Accessibility Section. Her influence extends beyond her current role. Ms. Warner actively collaborates on developing street design guidelines, curb ramp design guidelines and standards, municipal codes, and public rights-of-way policies. Her oversight of the City’s accessibility compliance program and implementation of improvements outlined in the Facilities and the Right-of-Way (ROW) Transition Plan demonstrate her comprehensive approach to accessibility. Ms. Warner holds a master of science degree in Architectural Engineering and is a Certified Access Specialist. She also reviews design and construction documents, provides training, and develops new standards and guidelines to ensure compliance with accessibility regulations. Ms. Warner is a board member of California’s Certified Access Specialists Institute.

Mr. Aker, known to many as CJ Aker, is a dedicated architect with deep roots in New Jersey. Born in Belmar and raised on a 12-acre horse farm in Howell, he developed a strong work ethic from an early age. After graduating from Howell High School, he began his architectural journey working for local architect Rich Grasso in Manasquan. His early freelance work, particularly on house raises and lifts after Hurricane Sandy, solidified his passion for architecture. CJ pursued formal education at Brookdale Community College’s architecture associate program, which he still considers his most valuable educational experience. He later attended NJIT and Drexel University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Architecture in 2014. While balancing work and studies, he gained invaluable experience at OSK Design Partners, contributing to high-end residential projects along the coast in Southern New Jersey.

In 2018, CJ became a licensed architect and returned to Howell Township to establish his own residential architecture practice in Point Pleasant. As demand grew, articularly during the COVID-19 housing boom, he leveraged his expertise in floodplain regulations, municipal codes, and modern design technologies to create sought-after homes in Monmouth and Ocean counties.

Today, CJ leads a small but talented team, Akertect Design LLC, specializing in custom highend residences along the Jersey Shore. He remains dedicated to his craft, continuously learning, and collaborating with top builders to shape the future of luxury home design. When he’s not designing, CJ enjoys time with his wife and two sons, Jack and Logan, born in 2019 and 2021.

“Excellence Comes Standard” is the phrase that comes to mind when thinking about Edward L. Littlejohn, Jr. He is constantly working to improve his clients’ experiences with his law firm and raising the bar on the quality of services that his office provides.

Mr. Littlejohn believes that hard-working people deserve unparalleled legal services—especially in difficult times. He learned early on in the practice of law that the more information his clients have, the better decisions they can make. And people who are in the difficult situations need access to information so that they can make a well-informed decision. Focusing on Real Estate, Business, Estate Planning, and Personal Injury has allowed him to become well-versed in each area.

Most people who meet Attorney Edward Littlejohn, ask if he’s related to the “karate guy,” or they wonder why he keeps calling them “sir or ma’am.” Well, it’s his martial arts teaching of Discipline and Respect, which is also something that sets him apart from other attorneys.

Mr. Ockner’s practice focuses primarily on zoning, land use, and real estate litigation, and business litigation. Along with Sheldon Berns, Mr. Ockner has been instrumental in obtaining successful outcomes in several major zoning and land use cases in the Ohio Supreme Court, including Goldberg Companies, Inc. v. Council of the City of Richmond Heights, 81 Ohio St.3d 207, 690 N.E.2d 510 (1998), which reestablished that the United States Supreme Court’s standard for determining the constitutional validity of zoning ordinances set forth in Village of Euclid v. Ambler Realty Co. applied in Ohio; State ex rel. Shemo v. Mayfield Heights, 95 Ohio St.3d 59 (2002), which established that property owners in Ohio may recover compensation from a municipality for the diminution in value of property during the time a municipality has enforced an unconstitutional zoning regulation against the property; State ex rel. Commt. for the Referendum of Ord. No. 3844-02 v. Norris, 99 Ohio St.3d 336 (2003), which overruled the Ohio Supreme Court’s earlier decision in State ex rel. Crossman Communities of Ohio, Inc. v. Greene Cty. Bd. of Elections, 87 Ohio St.3d 132 (1999), with respect to the proper treatment of planned unit developments; State ex rel. Webb v. Bliss, 99 Ohio St.3d 166 (2003); State, ex rel. Shemo v. Mayfield Heights, 93 Ohio St.3d 1 (2001); Shemo v. Mayfield Heights, 88 Ohio St.3d 7 (2000); and Jones v. Chagrin Falls, 77 Ohio St. 456 (1997).

Mr. Ockner has represented numerous local and national property owners and developers regarding zoning and land use issues throughout Ohio. Since the enactment of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, Mr. Ockner has represented numerous national telecommunications companies in the deployment of their wireless telecommunications networks in Ohio, including administrative proceedings and litigation in the Federal and State Courts of Ohio, and in a variety of other disputes pertaining to those companies’ wireless telecommunications sites. Mr. Ockner has also represented several non-profit organizations in their efforts to develop facilities for assisted living, supportive housing, and services for unhoused youth and young adults.

Mr. Pempus has been a risk manager for more than 18 years, with experience in architecture, engineering, land use, law and professional liability insurance, and a unique and well-rounded background in the construction industry. Prior to risk management, he has 25 years of experience in the practice of architecture and engineering, and as an adjunct professor teaching professional practice courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels for the last 37 years. As a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects and AIA National Ethics Council 2021 chair, he has demonstrated his impact on architectural profession. He is a licensed architect, attorney and property and casualty insurance agent.

Prior to his service at TVA, Mr. Savage was in private survey practice for 10 years specializing in dispute resolution and expert witness services. He has surveyed several disputed state boundaries to resolve jurisdictional conflicts. Mr. Savage is an adjunct professor at Cleveland State Community College where he teaches courses in boundary law, geodesy, GIS, and surveying fundamentals. He has researched and retraced the historical surveys of Henry David Thoreau and has published several articles on the subject. Mr. Savage teaches exam review and continuing education seminars at various state and local conferences across the country.

Mr. Young is a shareholder with Roetzel. His litigation practice is based in Roetzel’s Columbus office and serves a state- and nationwide clientele. Mr. Young’s practice focuses primarily on infrastructure and real estate-related issues and disputes, particularly eminent domain and easements. Two things set him apart from his peers in the infrastructure space. First, he focuses almost exclusively on representing businesses and commercial properties. This gives him a superior understanding of the unique concerns and challenges businesses face in this specialized area of the law. And second, he has long experience representing both property owners and condemning authorities. This gives him unparalleled insight into the many different issues that can arise and how both sides approach those issues. Mr. Young works hard to obtain just compensation for his clients. Throughout the eminent domain process, he educates and counsels his clients, presenting them with all available options and ensuring that they are equipped to make the right decisions for their businesses. He has represented some of the nation’s largest retail pharmacies, auto parts stores, grocery stores, discount retailers, gas stations, and pipeline companies, yet also enjoys helping smaller, local businesses. In addition to his eminent domain practice, he has considerable experience in zoning and land use, property tax appeals, and commercial foreclosures. Mr. Young also advises and represents clients with their business, contract, commercial, corporate, shareholder, securities, and trust/fiduciary issues and disputes. He earned his B.A. degree, cum laude, from The Ohio State University, and his J.D. degree, cum laude, from The Ohio State University, Moritz College of Law.

Ms. Barker, CPA State and Local Tax (SALT) Director with Perkins & Co.
She has more than 20 years of experience in state and local taxes, including several years as a lead excise tax auditor with the Washington State Department of Revenue, and a B&O tax program auditor at the City of Kent. Prior to joining Perkins, Ms. Barker worked for BDO USA LLP for nine years, rising to the position of SALT Managing Director. There she spearheaded numerous projects related to multistate income/franchise and sales/use tax including research, state tax audit defense, nexus analysis, taxability determinations, mitigation and remediation, due diligence analysis, system implementation support, and ASC 450 analysis. Ms. Barker is regarded as an expert in Washington taxes, as well as other gross receipts and sales/use taxes. Her passion lies in working closely with clients and other service lines to ensure cohesive engagements and high-quality advice for clients. Ms. Barker is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Washington Society of Certified Public Accountants, the Institute for Professionals in Taxation and the Association of Washington Business Tax & Fiscal Policy Council.

Ms. Canahai currently serves as the Interim Audit Manager for the City of Portland. Since joining the City, she has held several essential roles, including Large Business Auditor, Large Business Audit Supervisor, and Personal Income Tax Supervisor. With a strong foundation in tax administration, Ms. Canahai brings both technical and leadership expertise to her work.

Ms. Holt currently serves as the Interim Audit and Accounting Manager for the City of Portland. She brings over 20 years in governmental tax compliance and accounting experience having worked for the City of Portland Revenue Division, Oregon Department of Revenue, and University of Oregon.

Mr. McGovern, JD is a member of the faculty at South Texas College of Law Houston, where he also serves as Director of the school’s Low Income Taxpayer Clinic. Previously, he served for many years as the school’s Vice President and Associate Dean for Academic Administration. He received his undergraduate degree from Columbia University and his law degree from Fordham University School of Law. After law school, he served as a judicial clerk for Judge Thomas Meskill on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in New York. He then practiced law with the law firm of Covington & Burling in Washington, D.C. He subsequently earned an LL.M. in Taxation from the University of Florida Levin College of Law, where he taught as a visiting faculty member before joining the faculty at South Texas College of Law Houston. Professor McGovern teaches and writes in the areas of business organizations and taxation. His courses include Federal Income Taxation, U.S. Taxation of International Transactions, Partnership and Subchapter S Taxation, and Federal Tax Procedure. He frequently speaks on recent developments in federal income taxation. Professor McGovern is a member of the Council of the State Bar of Texas Tax Section, a former Chair of the Houston Bar Association Section of Taxation, and a Fellow of the American College of Tax Counsel.

Ms. Sasaki is a seasoned attorney specializing in tax, business, and estate planning at Samuels Yoelin Kantor, LLP, where she is Partner and Chair of the Taxation Practice. She is admitted to practice in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Utah, and Arizona. Ms. Sasaki’s expertise extends to multi-jurisdictional tax compliance, audit, and appeal, as well as private business transactional work and high net worth estate planning. In her practice, she represents a diverse clientele, including private companies, individuals, foundations, and government agencies, including the Oregon State Bar Professional Liability Fund. Ms. Sasaki serves as a fellow of the American College of Tax Counsel and the American College of Trusts and Estate Counsel. She is a member and has served as chair of the Portland Tax Forum, and the Oregon State Bar Taxation and Business Law Sections. In 2022, the Oregon State Bar appointed her to serve as a commissioner of the Oregon Law Commission. Her fellow Commissioners elected her to serve as chair of the Oregon Law Commission. In 2023 She received the Oregon State Bar’s Membership Service Award. She regularly speaks to attorney and accountant professional groups on estate planning, nonprofit, and tax topics.

Ms. Sasaki is deeply committed to legal education, serving as an Adjunct Professor at several prestigious institutions, including the University of Oregon, Portland State University and Northwestern School of Law, and Lewis & Clark College. Her teaching portfolio encompasses a range of topics, including business law, taxation, estate planning, and state and local taxation. She co-authored Oregon Estate Planning with Forms, published by LexisNexis in 2023. She and her co-author are working on the second edition, which should be released in late 2024. Having grown up in Lake Oswego, Ms. Sasaki is also passionate about giving back to her local community. She has been involved with several great charities in the area, including Junior Achievement and Portland Taiko. She currently serves as a Vice Chair of the Japanese Garden Foundation Board and as a volunteer board member with Portland Center Stage. Prior to her current role, Ms. Sasaki honed her skills at Miller Nash LLP and KPMG LLP, where she gained valuable professional experience. She holds an LL.M. in Taxation from the University of Washington School of Law, a J.D. from the University of Oregon School of Law, and a B.A. magna cum laude from Newcomb College of Tulane University.

Ms. Sweeting is one of Geffen Mesher’s experts on State and Local Taxation (SALT). She started her career holding various tax positions at large, local companies in the forest products and high-tech industries. After a brief hiatus from the profession to stay home with her kids, Ms. Sweeting returned to public accounting and joined a Big 4 firm, where she first developed her SALT expertise. She joined Geffen Mesher in 2019; with her diverse background, Ms. Sweeting brings a well-rounded perspective to her clients’ situations. She enjoys working directly with clients to understand their businesses and help coach them through various SALT issues, as well as develop solutions that are best for each unique client. With a penchant for problem-solving, Ms. Sweeting enjoys analyzing each client’s particular business operations and solving the puzzle of how their activities intersect (and sometimes collide) with the continually transforming landscape of state taxation. Ms. Sweeting earned her Post Baccalaureate Accounting Certificate from Portland State University and her Graduate Certificate in SALT from Villanova University, Pennsylvania.

A proud lifelong Oregonian, Ms. Trudell has more than 22 years of public civil service working for Polk and Benton Counties and the State of Oregon. In 2021, Ms. Trudell was appointed Oregon’s first Taxpayer Advocate in the Oregon Department of Revenue, where she works to be a voice and resource for Oregon’s taxpayers. A graduate of Oregon State University with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Ms. Trudell provides fair and equitable access to Oregonian’s economic opportunities, programs and services. Before joining the Department of Revenue, she served as the manager of the Disadvantaged and Small Business program for the Oregon Department of Transportation.

Mr. Metzger is currently a partner in the Lancaster firm of Metzger and Spencer, LLP, where he practices in the areas of taxation, probate, trusts, estate planning, business entities, real estate, orphans court practice, orphans court litigation and zoning law. Mr. Metzger previously served as the tax partner of the law firm May, Metzger and Zimmerman, LLP where he had practiced for a number of years. He received his B.A. degree, cum laude, from the University of Richmond and his J.D. degree from Temple University School of Law. Since 1990, he has been chairman of the Lancaster Township Zoning Hearing Board. Mr. Metzger is a member of the Elderly Referral Committee, the Fee Dispute Committee, the Awards Committee (chairman), the Diversity Committee, and the Corporate and Business Law Committee of the Lancaster Bar Association. He is also a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Corporate, Banking and Business Law Section and Real Property, Probate and Trust Section.

Ms. Spencer has been practicing law for 35 years and continues to focus her practice on estate planning, probate, trusts, taxation, and closely-held business issues. She often works as a consultant to other attorneys and financial professionals in estate planning, trust and taxation matters as well as serving as an expert witness in fiduciary litigation. Before founding Spencer Law Firm in 1996, Ms. Spencer was the head of the Personal Trust Department at a regional bank in Pennsylvania before returning to private practice in 1996. She is currently a partner in the Lancaster firm of Metzger and Spencer LLP. Ms. Spencer graduated summa cum laude from Dickinson College and received her J.D. and LL.M. degrees in Taxation from Boston University School of Law. She is a member of the Pennsylvania and Massachusetts bars. She taught Estate and Gift Tax Law in the Boston University School of Law Graduate Tax Program for eight years. Her column, Taxing Matters, appeared weekly in the “Business Monday” section of the Lancaster Intelligencer Journal for 14 years. She is a frequent lecturer and is the author of numerous articles on estate planning topics. Ms. Spencer was named one of Pennsylvania’s Top 50 Business Women for 2000 and has been elected as a fellow to the American College of Probate and Trust Counsel. A new edition of Your Estate Matters, a book which is a compilation of Ms. Spencer’s columns, was published in January 2015. Your Estate Matters is currently available online and can be purchased at the offices of Spencer Law Firm LLC. Ms. Spencer is also the author of a reference book for lawyers, Pennsylvania Estate Planning, Wills and Trusts Library Forms and Practice Manual, originally published 2007, 2 volumes, 1,500 pages, 280 forms, updated annually. It is available from Data Trace Publishing Company.

Mr. Simpson founded Gradelta Engineering in 2020 with the intent to help clients better understand the combination of geotechnical and structural engineering that he has worked with for the past 20 years. He earned his B.S.C.E. and M.S.C.E. degrees from Georgia Institute of Technology. He currently provides engineering services to contractors and fellow engineers for earth structure pricing, along with the plans and calculations needed for construction. He frequently consults with clients regarding the optimal structure type and location on the construction site to minimize risk and maximize useable space. He also works in the education sector providing not just seminars such as this one, but also acting as a subject matter expert creating study guide and test prep content for the NCEES Professional Civil Engineer exam. Mr. Simpson has also worked with lawyers and insurance companies during forensic investigation and lawsuits surrounding retaining walls and slope failures. His hope is that through the instructional services that he currently provides, slopes will remain stable and retaining wall failure will be eliminated.

Ms. McQuilliams has been a litigation defense paralegal/medical consultant for 29 yrs, specializing in medical malpractice, pharmaceutical, medical device, toxic tort and product liability. She has attended and managed 30-40 trials in Texas and Oklahoma. In addition to her paralegal background, she has been a Licensed Paramedic for 23 yrs. Ms. McQuilliams experience as a paramedic, including many years in the ER, allows her to assist attorneys and claim professionals with medical record review/analysis, witness/expert interviews, liability/damage determinations and medical research.

Ms. Pingenot Key exclusively practices family law. She has been selected for inclusion in Texas Monthly “Rising Stars” each year since 2006. Prior to practicing law, Ms. Pingenot Key was the program director of a supervised visitation facility for families in Austin as well as an elementary school teacher with the non-profit program, Teach for America. She received a B.A. degree in Psychology, with honors, an M.S. degree in Social Work, with honors, and a J.D. degree from the University of Texas at Austin. Ms. Pingenot Key is board certified in family law and speaks and writes frequently on issues in family law.

Ms. Posadas, MBA, TBLS-BCP is a Board-Certified Paralegal through the Texas Board of Legal Specialization with dual certifications in Civil Trial Law and Personal Injury Law and is an Instructor for the Paralegal Certificate Program through the Center for Professional Development at the University of Texas at Austin. She has been a paralegal for 15 years with experience in litigation in the areas of insurance defense, personal injury, construction defects, products liability, medical malpractice, physician license defense, and appellate matters. Throughout her career, Ms. Posadas has participated in multiple trials at all court levels from small claims/justice courts to state-level district court, and federal court trials. She serves as an Investigator for the Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee, District 9 provided by the Supreme Court of Texas, actively participates in quarterly pro bono clinics related to estate planning for the cancer community and has held multiple Board and Committee Chair positions with the Paralegal Division of the State Bar of Texas and local central Texas paralegal association, Capital Area Paralegal Association for the past 12 years. Previously, Ms. Posadas also served on education Advisory Boards with the University of Texas at Austin and Texas State University and served as a Guardian ad Litem for CASA of Travis County.

Mr. Smaby is retired as the Executive Director of the Texas Center for Legal Ethics in Austin, a position he has held since July 2009. The Center promotes the ethical practice of law by attorneys and educates the public regarding legal ethics and the justice system. Prior to being selected as Executive Director, Mr. Smaby practiced law in Dallas, where he was the managing shareholder of Roberts & Smaby, PC. He formerly served as Chair of the Consortium on Professionalism Initiatives for the American Bar Association and was a longtime member of the Advertising Review Committee of the State Bar of Texas. More recently, he served on the Succession Planning Workgroup for the State Bar of Texas that resulted in the creation of a webpage and forms by which attorneys can designate a custodian-attorney in advance in case of their disability or death. Mr. Smaby is the editor and prima author of the popular “Ethics Question of the Month” column in the Texas Bar Journal, which is the second most popular feature in the Journal per a recent reader survey. He is a frequent speaker, primarily on the topics of legal ethics, professionalism, behavioral ethics, and implicit bias. Mr. Smaby has spoken at events sponsored by the American Bar Association, the State Bar of Texas, the University of Texas Law School, the NAACP, and numerous local bar associations throughout Texas. He is a member of the College of the State Bar of Texas and a Life Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation. Mr. Smaby is a graduate of the University of Minnesota and the University of Michigan Law School, and he is licensed to practice law in Texas and Minnesota.

As an associate, Ms. Tremie is dedicated to leveraging the knowledge and skills she acquired during her clerkship to provide compassionate and effective support to her clients, particularly those navigating the complexities of divorce and family law matters. She earned her law degree from the University of Houston Law Center, where she actively participated in various advocacy competitions and served as a student attorney in a highly complex criminal case. This experience not only honed her client interaction skills but also provided her with valuable insights into the lifecycle of legal cases, from initial client intake to final judgment. In addition to her legal education, Ms. Tremie brings a wealth of operational and upper-management experience from her previous career. This background equips her with a unique understanding of her clients’ business and financial needs, enabling her to identify practical solutions and pathways forward during challenging times while protecting what matters most to her clients.

Dr. Hoskins earned his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Fire Protection Engineering from the University of Maryland. He also received his Ph.D. degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maryland in 2011 with an emphasis on building egress. Dr. Hoskins spent one year working for Arup on projects primarily dealing with life safety design and people movement. He then spent two years working for the National Institute of Standards and Technology working on projects dealing with building evacuations and emergency messaging. He is a registered fire protection engineer in the state of Oklahoma. Professor Hoskins is the chair of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE) working group that developed a research roadmap for fire protection and a member of the Human Behavior in Fire Task group for SFPE. He serves on multiple code and standards committees. He has authored more than 20 articles related to building evacuations and human behavior in fire.

Mr. Jackowski is chair of the Commercial Litigation North practice at Offit Kurman. Voytek focuses on commercial and corporate dispute resolution, emphasizing rational or cost-effective business solutions. His diverse practice includes international facets of litigation and dispute resolution, and criminal and civil facets of various international income reporting obligations. He has represented entities and individuals in cases involving trade and contract disputes, property loss claims, bankruptcy proceedings, construction issues, commodities and derivatives matters, white-collar crime, personal injury, and claims raising questions under federal labor law. Before joining Offit Kurman, Mr. Jackowski was a partner in the New York law firm of Menaker & Herrmann LLP. Voytek began his career as a prosecutor and later became a Senior Assistant District Attorney with the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office. He was part of the Money Laundering and Revenue Crimes Bureau and the Rackets Division, investigating and prosecuting business and securities fraud, money laundering, corporate and individual income, and sales tax evasion. Mr. Jackowski frequently lectures and publishes articles on
construction law and litigation topics. He is active in numerous bar and industry associations, including the Construction Law Committee of the New York Building Congress, Building Owners Management Association (BOMA) Professional Development Committee, the International Section of the American Bar Association’s Forum on Construction Law, Law Firm Sustainability Network, A/E ProNet, and the European American Bar Association. He is a member of the Construction Law Committee at the New York City Bar Association.

Ms. Morris is a highly experienced stormwater professional with over 15 years of expertise in the environmental field. With a focus on stormwater and operational programs related to construction and aggregate operations, Ms. Morris has honed her skills throughout her career. As the owner of Acorn EnviroComply LLC, she leads the way in providing exceptional stormwater management services. After graduating from the University of North Texas with a B.S. degree in Biology and an M.S. degree in Environmental Science, Ms. Morris embarked on her stormwater career journey. Starting as an intern, she progressed to roles as an inspector, manager, and specialist, gaining valuable hands-on experience in the process. Her dedication to professional development is evident in her work. Having provided training to hundreds of contractors and engineers in her previous positions, she is committed to sharing her knowledge and improving industry practices. Based in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, Ms. Morris has collaborated extensively with various local cities, showcasing her expertise, and establishing strong partnerships. Her vast experience and comprehensive understanding of stormwater regulations and best practices makes her a trusted leader in the field.

Ms. Franklin is an experienced Paralegal with a demonstrated history of working in the government administration industry. She is skilled in nonprofit organizations, operations management, coaching, government, emergency management and guardianship. Ms. Franklin is a strong legal professional with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) focused in Social Sciences from Florida State University. She is a Florida Registered Paralegal.

Ms. Jordahl is a litigation paralegal at Weinberg Wheeler Hudgins Gunn & Dial. Ms. Jordahl is CLE Chair and immediate past-President of the Central Florida Paralegal Association (CFPA), and Secretary/Treasurer for the Paralegal Section of the Orange County Bar Association (OCBA). She is a member of the Florida Registered Paralegal (FRP) Enrichment Committee. She authored two chapters of the 2019 NALA Certified Paralegal Exam Fundamentals book (Torts and Clarity of Expression).

Ms. McAllister is an Associate in the firm’s West Palm Beach office. She is a trial attorney that generally practices in the areas of trucking accident litigation, wrongful death, catastrophic and personal injury, security negligence, medical malpractice, premises liability, commercial litigation, vehicle negligence, business/commercial law, consumer law, and more. She advises commercial parties in the midst of highly-contentious matters across the state of Florida and has successfully tried cases to verdict and prevailed on summary judgment. In addition to her business litigation practice, Ms. McAllister has represented clients on a pro bono basis in a variety of contexts.

Ms. McAllister was commissioned as a Kentucky Colonel, which is the highest title of honor bestowed by the Governor of Kentucky as recognition of an individual’s noteworthy accomplishments and outstanding service to their community, state, and nation. Prior to joining CSK, Ms. McAllister worked at the Southern Legal Counsel and clerked for the Honorable Spencer D. Levine of Florida’s 4rth District Court of Appeal. In law school, Ms. McAllister was on the Dean’s List, was a CALI award recipient, proudly served as an editor on the law review, and worked as a research assistant where she produced cutting edge legal research.

Ms. Peter has worked as a paralegal for Ms. George since 2003 and is a Florida Registered Paralegal. Ms. Peter obtained her Bachelor of Science degree from Florida State University in Social Science and Political Science. Ms. Peter received her Master of Professional Studies in Paralegal Studies from George Washington University in August 2020.

Employed in the architecture and construction industry since 1988, Mr. Dea is a licensed architect in the states of California and Utah and is an ICC-certified accessibility inspector/plans examiner. Since 2001, his practice has focused on compliance with federal and state accessibility standards, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) transition plan services, and accessible design covering buildings, sites, and pedestrian facilities in public rights-of-way. This has encompassed accessibility evaluations, plan reviews, and code analyses for numerous corporate, education, and governmental clients.   
     
Summary of Experience

• Consultant access compliance plan reviewer to California’s Division of the State Architect (DSA) – Los Angeles Basin Region Office (2004-2011)
• One of California’s first certified access specialists (CASp #023), based on experience and testing criteria administered by the DSA (2008)
• Alternate delegate (2014-2021) and primary delegate (2021-current) to the ICC/ANSI Committee on Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities, contributing to creation of the 2017 edition of the ICC A117.1 Accessibility Standard. The A117.1 Standard is adopted by building code jurisdictions throughout the United States.
• Provider of over 50 accessibility training presentations to licensed architects and engineers, attorneys, public agencies, and professional organizations, including a 5-hour course addressing the continuing education requirement for California architects.
• Provider of technical assistance to attorneys and other clients to assist in the resolution of lawsuits, complaints, and claims related to state and federal access laws.

Mr. Pfeiffer is a Landscape Architecture Analyst with Kimley-Horn working out of their Twin Cities office in Saint Paul, Minnesota. He has a BLA in Landscape Architecture from the Pennsylvania State University, with a desire to pursue a masters degree in the future. Eli has worked on a multitude of different projects with Kimley-Horn, such as Metro Transit’s Blue Line Extension from Downtown Minneapolis into the northwest metro suburbs. During his time in Pennsylvania, Eli worked closely with Dan Marriott on Rethinking 322, a community-driven advocacy project. This project aims to deliver alternate concepts for communities facing a highway widening project in the heart of Penns-Brush Valley. This work also included collaboration with Ian Lockwood, as he along with Alex McKeag and Cindy Zerger from Toole Design were invited to further advocacy and design efforts. Through this experience, Eli has aimed to specialize in corridor design and community collaboration. Thoroughly believing in community-driven solutions to corridor improvement, with emphasis put on public transportation, multimodalism, and breaking from our uniquely American style of automobile dependency.

Mr. Searns has a five-decade history of visualizing, planning, and getting trails and greenway projects built. He was project director of Denver’s Platte River and Mary Carter Greenways, which were both national-award-winning projects. He helped plan the Grand Canyon NP Greenway and played a key role in planning the Memphis Wolf River Greenway. He served as national chair of American Trails, was a founding member of the Board of The World Trails Network and was a delegate to the White House Great America Outdoors Conference. He authored Beyond Greenways: The Next Step for City Trails and Walking Routes (One of 10 “Best Books of 2023” from the American Society of Landscape Architects/ The Dirt) and co-authored Greenways: A Guide to Planning Design and Development, both published by Island Press. He currently writes for the Island Press Short Form Project. He has written for Public Square, Landscape Architecture, American Trails, LA China and Planning magazines and the Island Press Urban Resilience Project. He has hosted numerous Webinars, interviewed on multiple podcasts, and has been a keynote speaker as well as a trainer for the U.S. National Park Service, American Planning Association and the Urban Land Institute. He chaired American Trails and was a founder of The World Trails Network. He was also a delegate to the America’s Great Outdoors White House conclave (President Obama). He resides, writes, hikes and bikes near Denver, Colorado.

Mr. Smith is co-chair of the Washington, D.C. Litigation Practice Group. His practice focuses on the representation of owners, design-builders, design professionals, construction managers, and general contractors in all phases of the construction process. Mr. Smith’s pre-construction experience includes drafting and negotiating construction, construction management, and design agreements. Mr. Smith assists clients with pursing their rights through litigation and alternative dispute resolution. His litigation experience includes all manner of construction and design disputes, including impact and delay claims, construction and design defects, differing site conditions, design negligence, terminations for default, change order and extra work disputes, requests for equitable adjustments, payment and performance bond claims, mechanics’ liens, prompt payment and conditional payment disputes, and bid protests. Mr. Smith has substantial experience arbitrating and litigating design and construction claims, with a proven track record of success. He is an advocate for early case assessment and mediation, and he has successfully resolved numerous claims through mediation. Mr. Smith has represented clients in state courts throughout the United States, federal courts, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, the American Arbitration Association, and in several non-administered arbitrations.

Ms. Windbiel-Rojas is the Associate Director for Urban and Community IPM and Area Urban IPM Advisor with the University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program (UC IPM). In her role as Associate Director, she provides leadership and coordinates communication and collaboration to address pest issues around homes, structures, landscapes, gardens, schools, and public areas and works with various audiences who live in or serve these areas.

Ms. Windbiel-Rojas oversees UC IPM’s statewide urban educational materials, including content for the UC IPM website, training materials, and printed resources. As a cooperative extension advisor, she conducts research and provides educational resources on local pest issues in the three counties she serves.

Ms. Windbiel-Rojas earned a Master’s degree in Integrated Pest Management from UC Davis in 2006, where her studies focused on entomology, biological control, and pesticides, and a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

Dr. Gordon McCurry has more than 35 years of experience in hydrology, including the investigation, analysis and modeling of aquifer systems, and assessments of hydrologic impacts. His areas of expertise include the quantitative analyses of flow and solute transport, stream/aquifer interactions, climate change, regulatory permitting, and aquifer remediation. He has been involved with modeling groundwater flow and solute transport since the 1980s. In addition to his consulting career, Dr. McCurry has taught courses on groundwater modeling and hydrogeology since the early 1990s at several universities and to state and federal regulatory agencies.

Mr. Kwiatkowski is a fluvial geomorphologist and certified professional ecologist (CE), with over 25 years of experience in the fields of watershed planning, green infrastructure design, and ecosystem restoration. He has extensive training in the analysis and design of riverine systems from North America’s leading experts, including Robert Newbury, Dave Derrick, and Dave Rosgen. Mr. Kwiatkowski is responsible for developing watershed management plans, river and stream restoration projects, and sustainable stormwater systems. He has collected and analyzed data on more than 500 miles of open channel throughout North America, including geomorphic and vegetative process indicators, habitat evaluation, and sediment transport data. Mr. Kwiatkowski has also contributed to stormwater best management practice (BMP) manuals addressing the design of open channels, green infrastructure planning, and water quality improvement. He has provided design, inspection and construction management services for numerous restoration projects throughout the United States.