On-Demand Options

As an arbitrator, structural/civil engineer, and expert forensic consultant with nearly four decades of experience, Mr. Hemmatyar has provided extensive expert services for defendants’ and plaintiffs’ attorneys on numerous construction litigation matters throughout the United States and Canada.

He has been retained as an expert engineer in over one hundred and fifty litigation matters on single and class-action legal cases by the U.S. government, law firms, and insurance carriers at the State and Federal levels, working with both plaintiff and defendant sides.

Mr. Hemmatyar’s understanding of core engineering and legal concepts has enabled him to effectively assist a wide range of clientele. He brings diversified experience in structural and civil engineering design, and in forensic engineering, investigation, and evaluation. Mr. Hemmatyar also conducts research, has assisted in the development of building codes and standards, and has supervised the construction of domestic and international projects. His experience includes special structures and new buildings as well as modifications, alterations, seismic/hurricane retrofits, and upgrades to existing structures. Mr. Hemmatyar has provided failure analysis, expert consultation, structural forensic investigation, and damage assessment services for numerous litigation and insurance-related matters.

He actively presents continuing education lectures to audiences of licensed engineers, architects, and general contractors on topics of structural and forensic engineering throughout North America. Mr. Hemmatyar has been the principal structural engineer on projects for clients such as NASA and several other high-profile agencies. Currently, he directs PSFEG and has served as Director for SEAOSC from 2011 to 2013. He has been interviewed by public media, including the History Channel (documentary episode: “Collapse of Ancient Structures”) and Reuters (Mexico City school collapse).

Mr. Knaak has been practicing law for nearly 45 years in Minnesota and 30 in Wisconsin and Colorado. He is the head of Municipal and Real Estate Development Law with Northstar Law Group. Mr. Knaak has tried cases and argued appeals throughout the country in both State and Federal Courts. For nearly that whole period he has been a city attorney. Past clients include the Minnesota cities of Fridley, Maplewood, Lake Elmo, Newport and Afton. He is currently city attorney for Ramsey and Taylors Falls, Minnesota, and continues to represent private clients on a variety of matters. Mr. Knaak also has considerable experience in litigation involving title insurance claims and title insurance. He served ten years in the Minnesota Senate, representing a district in the northeastern suburbs of the Twin Cities. Mr. Knaak was Special Counsel to the Minnesota Secretary of State in redistricting litigation and was lead counsel on the Senator Norm Coleman election recount. He is a frequent commentator on Twin City news programs on political matters and is a frequent guest political panelist of the Twin Cities Public Television Almanac program. Mr. Knaak also regularly teaches in national seminars on municipal law and has published a number of essays and articles on various topics. His article “Using Development Agreements to Further Environmental Ends: A Case Study” will be published this summer in the ABA’s Probate and Real Property Section magazine. Mr. Knaak earned his B.A. degree, summa cum laude, from John’s University, and his J.D. degree from the University of Minnesota Law School.

Ms. Land is a shareholder with LeVander, Gillen & Miller P.A. She concentrates her practice on municipal and governmental law, real estate and land use, and development. Ms. Land serves as city attorney for the cities of Cottage Grove, Stillwater, Hastings and Randolph. She is also general counsel to the South Metro Fire Department, a full-time joint fire department serving the cities of West St. Paul and South St. Paul. As a city attorney, Ms. Land has experience in several areas of municipal law including open meeting law, data practices, ordinances, employment, problem properties, land use, zoning/planning, economic development, residential development, public improvement projects, and all the issues that cities face on a daily basis. Ms. Land attended law school at William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota, where she received her juris doctorate degree with honors. Before this, she received a bachelor’s degree in English and Spanish at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Ms. Land has been admitted to the bar in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and U.S. District Court District of Minnesota. She is a regular speaker at the Minnesota Association of City Attorneys’ annual conferences as well as at several other government organizations, speaking around the state on the topics surrounding general planning and zoning. Ms. Land volunteers her time atz Trinity Lutheran Church on various committees and is actively involved in We Do Feet, a program that collects and donates furniture and household items to those in need.

Mr. Lindgren is a licensed land surveyor in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, and he has more than 20 years of professional experience in surveying and right of way. He has planned, directed and executed large- and small-scale surveys including freight and light rail projects, DOT corridors, and residential/commercial sites ranging in size from less than an acre to 300 acres. He has worked for small and medium-sized firms and served clients in the public and private sectors. He started his own firm in 2019 and performs surveys primarily in Minnesota.

Ms. Villari is a licensed land surveyor with Cornerstone Land Surveying in Stillwater, Minnesota. She has over 30 years of experience in a variety of survey practices and has served as president of the Minnesota Society of Professional Land Surveyors and local land surveying societies.

Mr. Vogel is a land surveyor with LHB, Inc.; past chair of the Minnesota Board of Architects, Engineers, Land Surveyors, Landscape Architects and Geoscientists (AELSLAGID); past president of the Minnesota Society of Professional Surveyors (MSPS) and president of his local Arrowhead Chapter of MSPS. He earned his bachelor of science degree in Chemistry at the University of Minnesota in 1991 with additional education in land surveying from Metropolitan State College of Denver, Colorado. He has taught survey coursework at both Lake Superior College as well as the University of Minnesota and enjoys helping better the understandings of the role of land surveyors in today’s society.

Mr. Kurdi has been serving the electrical industry for over 30 years as an engineer, electrician and trainer. Mr. Kurdi has engineered (designed, specified and analyzed) 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 and student), hospitals, data centers, sport arenas, commercial office buildings, water/wastewater treatment plants and electric utility distribution and substations. Mr. Kurdi’s experience as an electrician includes estimating, laying out, wiring, installing and maintaining electrical systems for residential and commercial buildings. He has served as an engineer on construction projects in numerous locations in Texas, including San Antonio, Arlington, Bryan and Manor. He has developed and taught thousands of seminar hours over the years at Dunwoody College of Technology, Minnesota Electrical Association, IEEE and others. The seminars include NEC Code, electrician’s exam, MV system, electrical wiring, apprenticeship, estimation, electrical design, Revit MEP, and project management. Mr. Kurdi holds a BS degree in Electrical Engineering and a master’s degree in Adult Education. He 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). Mr. Kurdi 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. Harmanos is a professional engineer with extensive experience in subsurface exploration, soil testing, infiltration testing, geosynthetics, and seismic and advanced analysis. His expertise includes commercial, industrial and institutional foundation design; retaining wall and steep slope design; sinkhole remediation; landfill design; site work; forensic engineering; LEED consulting; and construction quality control/assurance (CQA/QC). Mr. Harmanos is a graduate of Drexel University where he received both his BS and MS degrees in Civil Engineering (Geosynthetics and Geotechnical). Hillis-Carnes performs geotechnical engineering consulting and laboratory testing services. Its construction services include evaluation of bearing materials, inspection of pile driving, slope inclinometer installation and monitoring, and retaining wall construction observation.

Mr. Floyd is a trial lawyer with the firm and is licensed in Tennessee and Kentucky. He is a partner in the Nashville office and focuses his practice on the defense of individuals and companies across Tennessee, Kentucky, and surrounding states. Mr. Floyd has tried numerous jury and bench trials to verdict in state and federal courts, including many as lead counsel. He focuses his practice on the defense of health care providers and hospitals as well as products liability defense, commercial, and domestic litigation. Mr. Floyd’s experience defending health care liability cases involves all aspects from pre-suit investigation to verdict and appeal, and his clients include physicians and providers of all specialties. He has significant experience with cases involving claims of catastrophic injury involving brain damage, permanent disability and disfigurement, surgical negligence, and issues related to consent and battery. Mr. Floyd takes pride in working closely with experts to evaluate these cases early on and formulating a defense based on the evidence and science. He is often called upon to speak to providers and discuss risk management and legal developments in the health care liability field. Common to every successful defense is his experience in evaluating a client’s position and strategizing with the client to achieve a favorable and realistic outcome. Although many cases do not advance to verdict, Mr. Floyd draws from his trial experience when necessary to present a case in a concise and persuasive manner. In addition to health care defense, Mr. Floyd has successfully tried cases to verdict involving contractual disputes and defended companies in cases where their product is alleged to have injured someone. He also works closely with individuals who are experiencing high-conflict domestic issues involving marital estates, businesses, and interstate visitation.

Mr. Graham focuses his law practice exclusively on family law matters, including divorce, custody, alimony, child support, parental relocation and Juvenile Court matters. He was admitted to the Tennessee Bar in 2018 and has practiced exclusively at Taylor, Bean & Hamer since. Mr. Graham brings a fresh perspective to the firm’s family law practice, with his experience in digital and social media so vital in today’s divorce cases. Mr. Graham is dedicated to working one-on-one with the firm’s clients to address the details that arise throughout their litigation. Mr. Graham graduated from the University of Memphis School of Law in 2018, cum laude, and received the prestigious CALI Award and Dean’s Award of Excellence. He attended East Tennessee State University and graduated with a B.A. degree in Political Science and minor in Legal Studies. He is an active member of the Memphis Bar Association Family Law Section and the Tennessee Bar Association.

M. Hamer focuses her divorce practice on high-asset, highconflict cases. Ms. Hamer believes that divorce should be handled with professionalism and discretion, and she works to diffuse destructive, expensive tactics from overly aggressive opposing counsel, always aiming to maintain the clients’ privacy while preserving assets for settlement. She draws from her extensive litigation experience, as well as her work as a trained mediator, to obtain results her clients can not only live with, that allow them to live well. A nationally recognized speaker for family lawyers, Ms. Hamer was recently invited to present to the ABA Family Law Section Spring Conference. She currently practices law in Memphis and Nashville. She is a Rule 31 trained civil and family law mediator, and she has also completed domestic violence mediation training. A leader in the legal community, Ms. Hamer is past chair of the Family Law Committee of the Memphis Bar Association, and she is an active member of the American Bar Association, the Nashville Bar Association, and the Association of Women Attorneys. She has successfully completed the prestigious ABA Family Law Trial Advocacy course at the National Institute of Trial Advocacy, and she was a member of the inaugural class of Tennessee Leadership. Before becoming a family law attorney, she practiced with Bass, Berry & Sims, PLC, in Nashville and Wolff Ardis, P.C., in Memphis, handling complex commercial litigation. Ms. Hamer graduated from New York University School of Law in 1996 and with high honors from the University of Tennessee in 1989, where she was a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

Mr. Lankford is an attorney in the Nashville Office. Mr. Lankford practices primarily in the field of domestic relations, assisting clients with divorce and post-divorce matters, including issues of child custody, child support, alimony, and financial and property disputes.

Mr. Mims, at 33 years old, brings over seven years of dedicated experience to the legal field, with a passion for family law that spans more than three years. His unique blend of legal expertise and a background in technology and mathematics enriches his approach to complex cases, allowing him to find innovative solutions and provide exceptional support to clients. Outside the courtroom, Mr. Mims enjoys immersing himself in the world of video games, indulging in the latest shows and movies, and pursuing self-development. His diverse interests reflect his commitment to continuous growth and his ability to adapt to various challenges in both his personal and professional life. Mr. Mims is a paralegal who thrives on the intersection of law, technology, and a genuine desire to help families navigate the complexities of the legal system.

Ms. Shepard graduated in 2013 from Brighton High School. She worked administrative jobs for several years after before landing at Miles Mason Family Law Group, PLLC in 2017 as a legal assistant. Ms. Shepard instantly fell in love with family law and knew it was what she was meant to do. Ms. Shepard also knew she wanted to be more involved and to learn as much as she could. From there she went to Rogers, Berry, Chesney & Cannon, PLLC, as a legal assistant. Ms. Shepard eventually worked her way up to paralegal with Rogers, Brackin & Davis, PLLC, and has been with the firm since its start in 2021.

Dr. Bezbaruah received his Ph.D. (2002) in Civil Engineering from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. Prior to joining NDSU in 2005, Dr. Bezbaruah worked on groundwater remediation and modeling at URS Corp (now AECOM) at Omaha, NE. Since joining NDSU, he has established a new research track on environmental nanotechnology.

Dr. Geza Nisrani is an Associate Professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering at South Dakota Mines – an engineering, science, and technology university. Dr. Nisrani received his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Environment and Water Resources Engineering. He worked as a research faculty and is affiliated with the Colorado School of Mines with a focus in watershed modeling and development of decision support tools for water resources management. Currently at South Dakota School of Mines, he does research in water resource management and teaches courses in hydrology and water resources.

Dr. Hargiss is a professor and director of the School of Natural Resource Sciences at North Dakota State University. She has degrees in Science Education and received her Ph.D. degree in 2009 from North Dakota State University in Natural Resources Management. Dr. Hargiss main research focuses on water. It started with wetland ecology and water quality of the Prairie Pothole Region but has expanded to include water use, tile drainage, harmful algal blooms, environmental education, and the effects of energy development on natural resources.

Dr. Jia obtained her Ph.D. degree from the University of Arizona. She is a registered professional engineer in North Dakota and serves as a full professor at the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, North Dakota State University. With a keen focus on water resource management, Dr. Jia directs the North Dakota Water Resources Research Institute. Her extensive teaching portfolio covers courses in natural resource management systems, drainage engineering, wetland design, and controlled environment agriculture. Renowned from her research, she has addressed critical water issues in the region, including floods, drainage, and droughts. Currently, Dr. Jia pioneers the use of advanced technologies and mathematical algorithms to automate irrigation and drainage water management.

Mr. Woodward has 22 years of engineering and project management experience in various groundwater and watershed management programs and projects. He is currently a Senior Water Resources Engineer at HDR Engineering in Omaha, Nebraska. Mr. Woodward’s professional positions prior to HDR include the Papio-Missouri River NRD and Olsson. While working as the Groundwater Management Engineer at the Papio National Resources District (NRD), he gained valuable insight into Nebraska’s local geology and aquifers, surface water streams and rivers, and the state’s unique approach to integrated water management. Mr. Woodward attained a B.S. degree in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln and later received a graduate certificate in Geographic Information Science from the University of Nebraska – Omaha. He is a professional civil engineer in Nebraska and a Certified Floodplain Manager through the Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM). Mr. Woodward has also served as an adjunct instructor at the University of Nebraska-Omaha for the past seven years, teaching courses in Water Resources and Nebraska Natural Resources Management. Mr. Woodward has lived in Omaha, Nebraska since 2002. He is married to a kindergarten teacher and has two girls and one boy. His children’s hobbies are his full-time hobbies, including baseball, football, softball, and dance.

Ms. Avalos is a nationally renowned leader in providing accessibility-related services and is a sought-after speaker with a knack for using an upbeat approach to help others understand the complexities of compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). With over 40 years of experience, she provides expert witnessing on ADA, 504, Federal Housing Administration, and Air Carrier Access Act legal cases. In 1990 she founded Accessology Too, LLC which is a national leader in providing accessibility consulting services and is one of the largest U.S. firms dedicated solely to accessibility and access issues. Since its founding, Accessology has worked closely with the Department of Justice and the U.S. Access Board to remain knowledgeable and adept with the constant changes that occur regarding ADA guidelines. Accessology has worked on numerous multi-million dollar projects to impact accessibility compliance during all stages, from schematics to construction and final inspections. Since 2005 Accessology has specialized in the development, execution, and monitoring of the required ADA Transition Plans for Title II entities to help them avoid access-related litigation since so much litigation is tied to not having a Transition Plan on file. Ms. Avalos and her team at Accessology are committed to removing structural and attitudinal barriers that adversely impact people with disabilities.

Mr. Hanrahan has more than 47 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, the 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 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. Murphy has a broad practice grounded in all types of real estate matters. His litigation practice focuses on property law, including disputes involving title and boundary issues, easements, adverse possession and prescriptive easements; public and private road issues; title insurance claims; land use, zoning and Act 250; construction, condemnation and tax appeals. In the course of his practice, Mr. Murphy has represented landowners, developers, municipalities and neighborhood groups in matters before the United States District Court for the District of Vermont, the Vermont Supreme Court, Vermont Superior Courts, the Vermont Environmental Court, the Vermont Environmental Board, the Water Resources Board, multiple Act 250 District Environmental Commissions, and various municipal zoning and planning boards. His transactional practice focuses on representing property owners and developers to establish and manage their operating entities; to acquire, finance, permit, manage, lease and/or sell (including “1031 exchanges”) a wide variety of commercial, residential, hotel, recreational, office and shopping center properties; and to establish condominiums and common interest communities.

Ms. Narigon works as the legal counsel for the Department of Environmental Conversation’s Drinking Water & Groundwater Protection Division (DWGPD). She graduated with her J.D. degree from Vermont Law School in 2022, with a focus in energy law. Her role with the DWGPD involves creating and revising rules and regulations, and working with state and federal entities to develop approaches to contaminants of emerging concern within a water context. In particular, she works extensively with the Safe Drinking Water Act.

Mr. Patch is the Agriculture Climate and Land Use Policy Manager at the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (VAAFM). VAAFM facilitates, supports and encourages the growth and viability of agriculture in Vermont while protecting the working landscape, human health, animal health, plant health, consumers and the environment. Mr. Patch is the VAAFM designee to the Vermont Climate Council, Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, and the Current Use Advisory Board.

Ms. Davidson is an experienced extension agent with a demonstrated history of working in the higher education industry and providing outreach and education to Coloradans. Her horticulture skills focus on native plants, water conservation, pollinator habitat, and design. She is skilled in AutoCAD, Microsoft Word, Environmental Awareness, Adobe Photoshop, and Submittals. Ms. Davidson is a strong research professional with a BS degree in Horticulture from Colorado State University and an MLA degree in Landscape Architecture from University of Arizona.

Dr. Gornish received her MS and PhD degrees from Florida State University in 2013. She then completed two years as a post doc at the University of California, Davis. Dr. Gornish’s work largely focuses on vegetation management in arid systems with a focus on ecological restoration, weed management and soil management. She has published over 80 articles, given hundreds of talks and was recently selected as an ESA Early Career Fellow. In addition to vegetation management, Dr. Gornish is passionate about STEM inclusion and is also the director of GALS (Girls on outdoor Adventure for Leadership and Science). GALS focuses on providing science learning and leadership opportunities to traditionally underserved female high school students through backcountry programming.

Dr. McCoshum has designed urban, suburban, and rural conservation projects across the United States. His research expertise includes monarch ecology, milkweeds, and native bee communities, and he has more than 15 years of experience working in the arid Southwest. Dr. McCoshum has extensive experience rearing monarchs in laboratory settings, growing milkweeds, and creating vegetation management plants, and urban conservation designs. In addition to his research and professional work, he is the author of Inviting Pollinators and Other Wildlife into Your Garden, which dives into the processes of creating robust, aesthetically pleasing, wildlife habitats.

Ms. Valachovic is passionate about finding solutions to challenging problems bringing her skills in forestry, natural resources and sociological research, design and mitigation of the built environment for wildfire resilience, as well as her years rooted in County government and community engagement. She is a member of the California Governor’s Wildfire Forest Resilience Task Force and other California state fire policy workgroups. Ms. Valachovic is the co-lead of the Northern California region of the California Fire Science Consortium and is a founding member of the Northern California Prescribed Fire Council. She has co-authored papers on fire behavior in California forests and the intersection of fire performance in home and landscape design. She is active in California policy development and has been a technical resource for bioenergy, forest management, home hardening, and improvements to defensible space legislation. She will share her experience from post-fire assessments that have helped craft her vision for adaptation.

Nate “The House Whisperer” Adams is the author of The Home Comfort book and the Air Sealing course. He’s helped numerous clients in Cleveland, Ohio, electrify while making their homes healthier and more comfortable since 2014. Now he is teaching HVAC contractors how to naturally sell heat pumps through the HVAC 2.0 Technical Sales Process.

Mr. Meruva is a geotechnical engineer with 22 years of experience. He is a professional engineer (PE) in Texas, New Mexico, South Carolina, Louisiana, and Tennessee. Mr. Meruva has worked on a variety of projects, including nuclear facilities, wind turbines, bridges, hospitals, parking garages, highrise buildings, refineries, gas plants, schools, dams, landfills, and hydraulic fracking pits, and he has worked in the oil and gas industry. In his current role with Delek, he serves as a lead civil engineer providing civil/geotechnical/structural support on oil and gas midstream facilities. He also provides training to junior and entry-level staff. Mr. Meruva earned his M.S. degree in Geotechnical Engineering from the University of Houston in Houston, Texas.

Mrs. Bannan, her responsibilities encompass evaluating federal grants and historical property titles while optimizing the company’s utilization and return on real property assets. Prior to her tenure at Union Pacific, she practiced as an oil and gas title attorney, specializing in federal title and compliance matters. She continues to offer her expertise to clients and collaborates with various law firms on special projects. Mrs. Bannan holds the distinguished role of incoming president for the Energy & Natural Resource Council of the Wyoming Bar Association, reflecting her deep commitment to education, community service, and volunteering. Mrs. Bannan holds an MBA degree from Regis University and a JD degree from the University of Wyoming. She is a registered professional landman and maintains an active membership in both the AAPL (American Association of Professional Landmen) and the WAPL (Wyoming Association of Professional Landmen), where she contributes to the scholarship committee. Mrs. Bannan’s dedication to education extends to her prior role as an adjunct professor at the University of Wyoming School of Energy Resources. During this time, she developed and instructed two new undergraduate core courses: “Introduction to Land Management” and “Senior Registered Landman Capstone” as part of the AAPL-certified Professional Land Management/Energy Management program.

Bettencourt, director at Fairfield & Woods, P.C., is an environmental, public land use, and natural resources attorney with over a decade of experience working on federal and state land issues in various states including in Colorado, Wyoming, North Dakota, Arizona, and Utah. She works with local governments, grazing associations, ranchers, and natural resource producers early on in the federal land use planning, permit, or project approval process to ensure clients’ interests are protected, they are building an appropriate administrative record for appeal, and that they are working cooperatively with the federal and state agencies involved in the decision-making process. She works closely with her clients to find legal, political, and practical solutions. This also includes advising clients and helping them obtain the necessary permits to graze livestock on federal land, to gain access to and across federal land, and for other special uses on federal land. When necessary, Ms. Bettencourt handles the related environmental and land use litigation involving the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Water Act (CWA), the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act, the Wilderness Act, and the Mineral Leasing Act. She also has experience with Quiet Title Act litigation against the United States over title disputes to County roads, R.S. 2477 rights-of-way, and mineral and royalty interest on and across federal land.

Mr. Smith has more than three decades of experience as an attorney, in which he has successfully handled a number of complex water disputes, land use disputes, takings claims, and other issues. He has argued over 30 appeals to the Utah Supreme Court. Mr. Smith has represented public and private parties in takings claims arising from land use decisions, represented numerous water users in successful settlement of instream flow claims on the San Rafael River, and won appeals for municipalities and water entities before the Utah and New Mexico Supreme Courts. His most notable projects include securing the water rights for Duchesne City through an act of Congress, successfully entitling and securing water rights for a multimillion-dollar resort in Kane County, and creating the first municipal natural gas utility in Utah. He is licensed to practice in Utah, Wyoming, and the District of Columbia. Mr. Smith earned his B.A. degree, magna cum laude, from Bringham Young University, and his J.D. degree, cum laude, from Bringham Young University.

Mr. Stump provides water rights and water resources planning and engineering expertise to public, mining, energy, and agricultural clients throughout Wyoming. Mr. Stump has led many successful teams completing diverse water infrastructure projects, meeting client needs while addressing regulatory requirements. Prior to joining HDR he served as North Platte coordinator for the Wyoming State Engineer’s Office and served with the Water Quality Division of the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality.

A Sustainable Production, LLC (ASAP) is a woman owned, full-service global sustainability, wellness, and resiliency consulting firm. Founded in 2012, ASAP advocates for creating healthy places for people and planet through education, innovation, and an intersectional environmentalism approach to sustainability that includes regenerative, resilient, equitable, and healthy spaces, communities, and organizations. Ms. Berthelot-Jelovic is an expert in IWBI’s WELL Building Standard. As one of the first Provisional WELL APs, WELL APs, and WELL faculty in the world, she has also been a peer reviewer for WELL v1.0, v2.0 Pilot, and v2 of the Standard, as well as WELL v1 and v2 exams. Ms. Berthelot-Jelovic has worked with more than 4,500 WELL projects globally in various phases and pilots. She works with global companies as they explore WELL for their projects, portfolios, and communities. Ms. Berthelot-Jelovic and her team are currently working on numerous sustainable, healthy, and resilient new community developments globally that are implementing DOE ZERH, WELL for Residential, LEED and WELL for Communities, SITES, FORTFIED, LEED Zero, LEED v5, WELL v2, EnergyStar, and more.

Ms. Dobreva is a dedicated project manager with a successful track record in the construction industry. Currently based in MGAC’s Los Angeles office, her experience encompasses a diverse range of projects in commercial real estate, luxury living, and biotech/life sciences, featuring budgets that span from $15 million to $300 million in states such as Arizona, Texas, Michigan, and Florida. Ms. Dobreva diligently engages in all project phases, from design to construction management, consistently delivering high-quality outcomes while building strong relationships with her clients. Passionate about purposeful design and the use of natural elements, she continually seeks innovative ways to add value to projects and spaces creatively, showcasing her dedication to both her professional and personal interests.

Mr. Thakkar is a seasoned professional with a strong background in industrial engineering and project management. Currently pursuing a master’s degree in project management at the University of Cumberland, Mr. Thakkar holds a previous master’s degree in Industrial Engineering from Texas A&M University and a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. He brings a wealth of technical expertise, specializing in Advanced Excel, Tableau, SQL, ERP & MRP Systems. Mr. Thakkar’s certifications include Green Belt Lean Six-Sigma, Data Analysis, Production and Inventory Management, Continuous Improvement, Process Optimization, Engineering Economics, and Business Development. In his current role as senior supply chain Analyst at Topcon Positioning Systems, he excels in generating global inventory forecasts for 15 locations, contributing significantly to sales and materials forecast processes. Previously, at Cepheid, he led a team to successfully deliver a $300M order in four months and spearheaded many improvement projects to streamline supply chain planning.

Mr. Brislin has been a professional engineer for more than 21 years and he has designed many structures and performed many different types of analysis in that time. He has worked for a steel fabricator, an architectural/engineering firm and a seismic consultant, and he has been in private practice for over 13 years. Mr. Brislin earned his BSCE degree from The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina, and his MSCE degree from the University of South Carolina. He has completed all his course work for his PhD degree but has not completed his dissertation. His graduate study work has been in mathematical elasticity. Mr. Brislin has worked on a wide variety of projects from arenas such as Gund Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, and the Edward Jones Arena in St. Louis, Missouri, to renovation and seismic retrofit of the South Carolina State House and the design of the Columbia South Carolina Museum of Art. He has done stress analysis on weapons systems for the Department of Defense and has consulted on cellular telephone concealment projects. Mr. Brislin’s company routinely performs modal analysis of structures to provide more accurate seismic loads and to reduce the cost of seismic requirements through more advanced analysis techniques. The company is knowledgeable concerning structural dynamics and can perform a full dynamic analysis for complicated structures, and ductility requirements in concrete and masonry as well as welded steel moment connection requirements on toughness of steel.

Mr. Finch is a building science engineer who specializes in building enclosure design, risk management, research, and investigation work for new and existing buildings. Mr. Finch also works with building product manufacturers and other clients on product research and development, and the creation of various industry guidelines and training initiatives. Mr. Finch is directly involved with the majority of RDH’s mass timber and high-rise wood building projects and instrumental in leading industry research, risk management, and façade development for these new wood buildings. As a result of this experience, he is regularly invited by various organizations and clients to speak to the practical and technical issues of mass timber façade design and moisture management for mass timber buildings.

Mr. Cook is a master electrician in Wisconsin and held an Arizona electrical contractor’s license for over 20 years. (K-11) He holds an Administrator’s and a Journeyman’s license in Washington State. Mr. Cook has been in the electrical industry since 1978, and he owned and operated his own electrical contracting business in Arizona. He was an instructor for the Independent Electrical Contractors of Arizona (I.E.C.), a four-year apprenticeship program facilitated at Gateway Community College in Phoenix. Mr. Cook continues to train for the Electric League of Arizona educational program, teaching classes on NFPA 70E, arc flash, grounding and bonding and other topics of the National Electrical Code. He has presented the NEC for HalfMoon Education and the Arizona Department of Transportation as well. He authors “Code Corner” a monthly article appearing in The Electric Times (AZ) and The Daily Reporter (WI). Mr. Cook has contributed articles to the IAEI magazine. He is a National Fire Protection Association member, an International Association of Electrical Inspectors member, and a certified commercial electrical inspector for the State of Wisconsin. He was recently appointed to Code Making Panel 2 for the 2023 National Electric Code, NFPA 70. Mr. Cook is approved as a CEU provider for more than twelve states.

Mr. Nuño is a civil engineering manager at the Denver office of Ware Malcomb. A 2008 graduate of the University of Notre Dame with a specialty in structural and environmental engineering, he has established himself as a leader in the field of drainage and erosion and sediment control. In his 15-year career, Mr. Nuño has excelled in the design of land development projects including grading, utility design, stormwater management, and erosion control. Through his experiences as a consulting engineer, he has prepared civil construction plans for such clients as Marriott International, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), Lennar Homes, Oakwood Homes, and Kiewit Infrastructure West. In the field, Mr. Nuño has provided stormwater inspection services for SDG&E, Caesars Entertainment Group, and public agencies such as the City of Carlsbad, California, and the Town of Elizabeth, Colorado. He has managed civil projects in 17 different states and prides himself on working with developers, architects, and contractors to bridge the gap between regulatory compliance and constructability in the field. Mr. Nuño is a registered professional engineer in Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, and California; a Certified Floodplain Manager; a certified professional in erosion and sediment control, a Colorado LEED accredited professional, and a qualified SWPPP developer/practitioner. He is an active member in the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Urban Land Institute, and the Colorado Association of Stormwater and Floodplain Managers.

Mr. Karow is the CEO of Code Educational Opportunities providing education based on current building codes. He also provides service as a building code specialist for design professionals and stakeholders in the industry. Mr. Karow has an extensive background in developing and presenting various types of building code and related seminars. Previous career paths included staff instructor with the International Code Council and with the State of Minnesota Codes and Standards Division. He has instructed in a Building Inspection Technology program at a local community college. Mr. Karow is a certified building official in Minnesota and holds ICC certifications as a Certified Building Official, ICC Plans Examiner, ICC Building Inspector and ICC Building Code Specialist.

Dr. Harrod is a contractor, author and electrification advocate. In 2006 he founded Snug Planet, an award-winning home performance company based in Ithaca, New York. From its initial focus on energy audits and envelope improvements, Snug Planet has grown to offer whole-home solutions, including moisture management and HVAC upgrades. Snug Planet is an active participant in New York State residential programs serving low-income and market-rate customers. In early 2022, Snug Planet merged with Halco Energy, one of the largest home performance contractors in New York. Dr. Harrod is certified by the Building Performance Institute as a Building Analyst, Envelope Professional, Heating Professional, and AC/Heat Pump Professional. Dr. Harrod’s articles have appeared in Home Energy Magazine, Journal of Extension, Building Performance Journal; and ASHRAE Journal. He is a regular contributor to Green Building Advisor.

Ms. Guercio is senior counsel in Crowley Fleck’s Bozeman office. She is a member of the firm’s Environmental & Energy Practice Group, and her environmental practice includes environmental litigation, permitting and compliance work, as well as CERCLA/Superfund, natural resource damages, and Clean Water Act related issues. Ms. Guercio has worked on renewable energy development matters, as well as public utility infrastructure upgrades and transmission line developments. She is a member of the firm’s Commercial Department. Her commercial transactions practice focuses on general commercial real estate matters, including acquisitions/dispositions, development, financing, land use and leasing. Ms. Guercio received her Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree in Environmental Law, summa cum laude, in 2010 from Vermont Law School. While at Vermont Law, she was a research fellow, published several law review articles and earned several academic excellence awards. Ms. Guercio received her J.D. degree, cum laude, in 2008 from the University of Michigan Law School. She holds an Environmental Studies degree from Middlebury College and worked as an environmental scientist for several years before attending law school. Prior to joining Crowley Fleck, Ms. Guercio was an associate in the Boston office of Goulston & Storrs.

Ms. Knuteson has worked in a variety of land use and conservation-oriented positions in the Rocky Mountain west for more than 23 years, including a collaborative National Park Service/US Forest Service archaeological internship where she served as a surveyor/topographical and vegetative mapper, followed by years-long internships with a Bozeman-based consulting engineering and land development firm and a Bozeman-based law firm where she researched and performed extensive document review on toxic tort claims related to tetrachloroethylene pollution in the Yellowstone River. Ms. Knuteson earned her JD degree from University of Montana School of Law in 2012. During law school Ms. Knuteson worked on Missoula County’s comprehensive zoning update and various land trust and conservation matters through the Land Use Clinic and performed in-depth water rights and water quality permitting research through summer internships. Ms. Knuteson also began her 6-year tenure with a Missoula-based environmental law firm, first as a law clerk, then as co-counsel, where she gained valuable experience representing local, state and national environmental law groups and individuals challenging agency actions related to projects with potential significant impacts to water quality and water rights, including water-related nuisance and trespass claims. Ms. Knuteson’s current practice focuses on assisting Montana businesses and property owners with land use and permitting issues through comprehensive due diligence research services, regulatory compliance guidance and also general day-to-day business, contract and transactional matters. Ms. Knuteson serves as chair of the Montana Water Pollution Control Advisory Council (WPCAC), a statutorily-authorized group representing a diverse array of interests across Montana that serves in an advisory capacity to MDEQ.

Mr. Robinson was born in Wyoming, and at a young age, his family moved to Utah. He spent his summers working on various ranches in Southwest Wyoming and attending high school in Utah during the winters. He has worked various jobs which include mining, logging, and communications. He worked for a consulting firm doing work in the coal bed methane arena which included sampling and inspecting water wells that are located near methane wells. He graduated from Montana State University-Billings with a BA degree in Environmental Studies. Mr. Robinson has been the program manager for the Montana Board of Water Well Contractors for 16 years.

Mrs. Stephenson founded DMS Natural Resources in 2011. DMS is an advisory firm specializing in water right management, water right technical services, water valuation, water investment advisory, and water transaction services. Mrs. Stephenson manages large water right portfolios across the Western United States for which she provides water right database and inventory management, historical research and document interpretation, GIS mapping and aerial photo interpretation, change application and permitting services, adjudication support, due diligence in property transactions, and expert witness support in water right lawsuits. Mrs. Stephenson also has 15 years of experience helping entities across the western United States acquire or sell water assets. From identifying water assets suitable for purchase, to negotiating terms, and through the administrative permitting process, Mrs. Stephenson helps clients navigate the entire water right transactional process. An in-depth technical understanding of water rights combined with a business and economics background makes Mrs. Stephenson one of the country’s leading experts in water valuation and water investment advisory. Mrs. Stephenson maintains detailed water market transaction data and performs water valuations based on multiple valuation techniques. Lastly, Mrs. Stephenson advises investors in making decisions regarding water-related investments. Prior to forming DMS Natural Resources LLC, Mrs. Stephenson worked as a senior associate at WestWater Research (WWR). While at WWR, she worked on a variety of projects including water right appraisals, market research reports, water investment due diligence and water right portfolio management. At WWR, Mrs. Stephenson managed projects and teams of Associates. Mrs. Stephenson graduated with a BS degree in Agricultural Business and Economics from the Montana State University in 2001 and a Master’s of Business Administration from Stanford Graduate School of Business in 2005.

Prior to joining Parsons Behle & Latimer, Ms. Story worked as an associate attorney at the Bloomquist Law Firm, P.C. for three-and-a-half years, serving clients across the state of Montana in Water Court, State District Court and Federal Court. Ms. Story received her J.D. degree from the University of Montana School of Law in 2019. During her time as a law student, Ms. Story served as president of the Federalist Society Student Chapter and was the recipient of the Dean of Students Award for Highest Academic Achievement in Land Use & the Environment. Ms. Story holds an undergraduate degree in Political Science with minors in Russian and Arabic Studies. She often returns home to Emigrant, Montana, to help on her family’s cattle ranch and enjoys rafting, long distance running and skate skiing, and mountain lion hunting.

Dr. Taylor leads internationally recognized research at the National Concrete Pavement Technology Center. His high-impact work has resulted in the development of standard practices such as AASHTO PP 84: Developing Performance Engineered Concrete Pavement Mixtures. Additionally, his research has helped transportation agencies save millions of dollars by preventing premature failures in sawn joints and improving concrete proportioning tools for sustainable concrete mixtures. Dr. Taylor regularly presents at workshops, seminars, and conferences as an invited speaker, where the information he presents about the current research in concrete technology has a strong impact on the concrete pavement community in the United States and internationally.