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Ms. Hill comes to Halfmoon Education with a deep background in design, she specializes in design for manufacturing, modular and off-site BIM. She has spent much of her 35 years of design experience focused on off-site construction using modular or panelized construction methods and the use of CAD/CAM software for DfMA and enjoys educating others on the benefits and challenges within the industry. Ms. Hill also has a passion for passive houses that is closely tied to design for manufacturing. During her CPHC training she discovered that modular and prefab construction were passive house concepts, a concept that she has been championing since 2006. She has experienced many modular and prefab start-ups to include Transform, Katerra and Modulous. Ms. Hill’s architectural experience includes working for a local passive house builder, passive panel manufacturers and being a part of the design team for a local passive house library. She lives just north of Seattle, WA with her spouse and enjoys mountain biking, kayaking, and racing her hydroplane race boat. She champions diversity and inclusion and equality.

Ms. Seidman served as assistant director of International Affairs of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from 2020 through 2022 following 20 years as a wildlife law practitioner and director of Litigation and International Affairs with SCI in Washington, D.C. In 2023, Ms. Seidman founded Two Right Shoes LLC. to provide meaningful and enjoyable continuing legal education courses to lawyers throughout the country, with special emphasis on professional ethics and subjects of interest to environmental law practitioners and those who practice in multiple jurisdictions. Throughout her career, she has focused on providing legal education for lawyers, law students and laypersons. Ms. Seidman has prepared and presented numerous courses on professional ethics and environmental law to both domestic and international audiences including the Legal Committees of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, and attendees of the International Wildlife Law Conference 2019, held in Barcelona, Spain. Prior to her work as a wildlife lawyer, Ms. Seidman practiced personal injury law and specialized in medical malpractice and products liability cases. She also consulted for the Nonprofit Risk Management Center and for the federal government on liability issues arising from volunteer activities provided by nonprofit entities. Ms. Seidman is the author and/or co-author of several publications, including Kidding Around? Be Serious: A Commitment to Safe Service Opportunities for Young People. She received a juris doctor with honors from the National Law Center of George Washington University Law School in 1982 and a Bachelor of Arts with honors from Brown University in 1979. Ms. Seidman is admitted to the courts of the District of Columbia, Pennsylvania and Virginia and has practiced pro hac vice in many courts around the country, including on multiple occasions in Alaska. In 2019 she received the Gary Taylor Award from the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies for her outstanding achievement in the field of public conservation policy.

Ms. Seidman served as assistant director of International Affairs of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from 2020 through 2022 following 20 years as a wildlife law practitioner and director of Litigation and International Affairs with SCI in Washington, D.C. In 2023, Ms. Seidman founded Two Right Shoes LLC. to provide meaningful and enjoyable continuing legal education courses to lawyers throughout the country, with special emphasis on professional ethics and subjects of interest to environmental law practitioners and those who practice in multiple jurisdictions. Throughout her career, she has focused on providing legal education for lawyers, law students and laypersons. Ms. Seidman has prepared and presented numerous courses on professional ethics and environmental law to both domestic and international audiences including the Legal Committees of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, and attendees of the International Wildlife Law Conference 2019, held in Barcelona, Spain. Prior to her work as a wildlife lawyer, Ms. Seidman practiced personal injury law and specialized in medical malpractice and products liability cases. She also consulted for the Nonprofit Risk Management Center and for the federal government on liability issues arising from volunteer activities provided by nonprofit entities. Ms. Seidman is the author and/or co-author of several publications, including Kidding Around? Be Serious: A Commitment to Safe Service Opportunities for Young People. She received a juris doctor with honors from the National Law Center of George Washington University Law School in 1982 and a Bachelor of Arts with honors from Brown University in 1979. Ms. Seidman is admitted to the courts of the District of Columbia, Pennsylvania and Virginia and has practiced pro hac vice in many courts around the country, including on multiple occasions in Alaska. In 2019 she received the Gary Taylor Award from the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies for her outstanding achievement in the field of public conservation policy.

With over 20 years of industry experience, Mr. Pakatar specializes in home performance, energy efficiency, and construction-related training and consulting. Mr. Pakatar holds professional certifications from the International Code Council (ICC), the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE), the Building Performance Institute (BPI), the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), PHIUS and RESNET. He is a certified Code Enforcement Officer in New York State and holds ICC credentials as an Energy Code Inspector and Plans Examiner. Throughout his career, Mr. Pakatar has played an active role in the development and implementation of building codes, contributing to the creation of policies and protocols that support energy efficiency and code compliance. Over the past two decades, he has designed and delivered training programs for code officials, design professionals, and construction industry stakeholders across the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and nationwide. Recognized as a subject matter expert, Mr. Pakatar continues to support the evolution of codes and standards through education, technical assistance, and policy engagement.

In 2001, Ms. Sobczynski founded Erosion Control Inc. with the goal of protecting our environment’s water resources from construction pollution. Over the past 24 years, ECI has served state and city agencies, land developers, and contractors throughout Kansas and Missouri with the development of Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPP), pre-construction planning and permitting, installation of sediment containment devices, and SWPPP inspections. In 2012, she became a fully certified CPESC (Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control). Additionally, Mrs. Sobczynski has maintained Construction Stormwater Inspector certification with KDOT and MoDOT since their program’s inception and is a proud member of the IECA (International Erosion Control Association). She continues her education to stay proficient in the latest techniques and regulations in the field and has crafted a high level of expertise and technical knowledge in all phases of erosion and sediment management.

Over the span of his career, Mr. Sobczynski has held multiple roles in the construction industry. He started as a laborer installing erosion control BMPs and transitioned to a crew foreman guiding the proper planning and best practices of erosion control. Mr. Sobczynski then spent the next 8 years as a Construction Superintendent and Project Manager in ground-up commercial construction. Today, he is currently the Field Operations Manager for ECI. As an erosion control specialist and SWPPP Inspector, Mr. Sobczynski spends most of his time in the field working directly with contractors and developers to provide expertise and guidance in best practices for erosion and sediment control. He holds Construction Stormwater certification in both Kansas and Missouri to be a Certified SWPPP Inspector on DOT projects. Additionally, Mr. Sobczynski has ESC certification in multiple municipalities in the Kansas City Metro.

Named by Landscape Ontario as 2020 and 2021’s Garden Communicator of the Year, gardening has been Mr. James’ hobby and profession for over 40 years. A graduate of Niagara Parks School of  Horticulture, a Master Gardener, writer, and teacher, he focuses on eco-gardening techniques, which makes sense since he grew up surrounded by nature. He has spoken from the Maritimes to Seattle and landscaped from Nova Scotia to California. Mr. James has had the honor to be part of creating the Ontario Landscape Tree Planting Guide, the Grow-Me-Instead guide, the Ontario Horticultural Apprenticeship Curriculum and the national Red Seal Occupational Standard, and the Master Gardeners Reference Manual. He has participated in chairing the Environmental Stewardship Committee for Landscape Ontario, the Environmental Committee for the Perennial Plant Association, moderating the Master Gardeners of Ontario Facebook page, judging the All-American Selections garden competition and Hamilton’s Monarch Awards. Mr. James has been the Ontario spokesperson for Garden Days Canada and he has appeared on many radio shows and on television and has instructed at the college level for 17 years. He owns ‘Sean James Consulting & Design’.

Mr. Fisher has been serving the legal needs of a wide variety of clients for almost 20 years. His clients range from the individual facing their first legal concern, to multi-million-dollar organizations and government agencies. Mr. Fisher’s litigation experience includes negotiations, arbitrations, mediations, administrative proceedings, County Courts, Federal Courts, Bankruptcy Courts and Appellate Courts in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, as well as numerous other jurisdictions where he has been admitted to handle specific cases. His experience also allows him to assist clients in navigating their business activities through the myriad of legal issues facing today’s businesses. Mr. Fisher’s business clients include charitable and religious organizations, construction and trade organizations, financial and banking institutions, professional firms and agencies, real estate investors, manufacturers, health services, wealth advisors, auctioneering and the services industry. He is a member of the Pennsylvania, Cumberland County and Dauphin County Bar Associations, as well as a Council Member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Real Property Probate & Trust Law Section. Mr. Fisher is licensed to practice in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. He earned his law degree from Widener University School of Law-Harrisburg, in 2005, and his undergraduate degree from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. 

Mr. Lee practices in construction law, government contracts, construction litigation, real estate law and municipal law. He represents owners, contractors, subcontractors and surety providers in all fields of the construction industry. During his more than 35 year career, Mr. Lee has handled litigation (including Mechanics’ Liens) matters in numerous state and federal courts including certain states’ specialized courts such as the Pennsylvania Board of Claims and the West Virginia Court of Claims. In addition, he has tried cases before the American Arbitration Association, the Federal Mediation Service and “private” dispute panels. he redrafted the Contracts Section of the Pennsylvania Standard Jury Instructions (2003 Ed.), published by the Pennsylvania Bar Institute. Mr. Lee received his B.A. degree from Gettysburg College, his M.A. degree from Villanova University and his J.D. degree from the University of Pittsburgh, and he is a graduate of The Mercersburg Academy. Every year since 2005 he has been selected by his peers as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer and for inclusion in The Best Lawyers In America. Mr. Lee previously was a member of the Surety and Contract Committees for the Associated General Contractors of America; the Associated Pennsylvania Constructors; and the Constructors Association of Western Pennsylvania; and is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, and the Allegheny, Dauphin and Cumberland Bar Associations. He is a Charter Fellow and Barrister (Order of Maximus) of the Construction Lawyers Society of America as well as a Member of both the Diversity Law Institute and Trial Law Institute.

Mr. Hartsig, joined WasteCap Resource Solutions in 2017 as the Director of Project Management and took over as Executive Director in 2020.  When he joined WasteCap, he brought over a decade of experience in sustainable building design, construction and business operations around the world.  Mr. Hartsig now focuses on guiding local facility and construction managers through waste reduction efforts by providing analysis, tracking, reporting and recognition through zero waste certifications. WasteCap Resource Solutions is an environmental non-profit dedicated to turning waste into resources.  Founded in 1996, WasteCap assists organizations in their zero waste journey, providing solutions and oversight for construction & demolition teams seeking to increase their material reuse and waste diversion efforts. 

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

Mr. Flack has earned his designations, among select thousands in the world, as a Certified Professional in Erosion & Sediment Controls (CPESC) as well as his designation as a Certified Erosion, Sediment and Storm Water Inspector (CESSWI), lending his experience and training to his customers to consult them in all their stormwater needs. He has also earned his status as a Qualified Compliance Inspector of Stormwater (QCIS) and as a Qualified Preparer of Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans (QPSWPPP.) He also earned the Certified Erosion and Sediment Control Lead (CESCL), which is a 17.5-hour certificate program as required by Washington State for all construction stormwater management. He is a subject matter expert and lead instructor for StormwaterONE, which has established itself as the leader in stormwater management training and credentialing, the school’s mission is to provide their students with the most comprehensive and up to date training of individual stormwater permits, online or in-person.

Brad has been invited to speak in-person on storm water and erosion control issues in many locations, including California, Texas, Tennessee, Louisiana, Wyoming, Oregon, Colorado, Ohio and New Mexico, as well as internationally in Antigua, Guatemala, and in San Jose, Costa Rica. Furthermore, he has provided virtual online training for a wide variety of  organizations across the country, including the Army Corps of Engineers, Maryland Stadium Authority, and more.

Additionally, he served as president and administrative vice president for the South-Central Chapter of the International Erosion Control Association. Furthermore, he directed the IECA Region 1 Education Committee: Stormwater Management Track as co-chair, which encompasses North America, South America and Europe. Brad also sat as the Region 6 Chapter President for EnviroCert International (ECI) and was a member of the Policies and Procedures Committee for ECI. He has served as the Region 7 representative for the CPESC, Inc., group as well as the technical vice-chair for the Council. He has been an IECA Mentor and served as a TCEQ EnviroMentor.

Brad has been involved with Stormwater Quality Management since 2004 where he learned about permitting, turf establishment, erosion control and detention pond maintenance and has continued to be a student of the industry throughout his career. His attention to detail and depth of knowledge about structural control devices, vegetative stabilization and best management practices are a valuable asset to his clients and students.

His wife is his high school sweetheart, and they have been married for over 20 years and have three sons. Brad has also actively served at his church and has ventured on over a dozen mission trips, from drilling for water in rural villages in Honduras to assisting in hurricane recovery efforts in Puerto Rico. Brad was the Director of Hands and Feet Honduras/Puerto Rico, a 501(c)3 organization for over eight years.

After working in engineering and design management with award-winning structural and construction firms for nearly 10 years, Mr. Woods founded his own firm, Woods Residential Engineering & Inspection. Mr. Woods is a licensed professional engineer in multiple states, and he holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Civil Engineering (with a focus on structures) from Washington University in St. Louis. He has earned “Accredited Professional” status from the U.S. Green Building Council. Mr. Woods is a member of the Woods Educational Enrichment Foundation, The National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) (director of programs for the Chicago professional chapter), The American Society of Civil Engineers, and the Structural Engineers Association of Illinois.

With more than four decades of legal experience, Ms. Sigmond focuses her practice on construction and real estate industry matters, including arbitration, appeals, bid protests, contract preparation, mediation, litigation, receivership and suretyship. She represents clients in construction defect litigation relating to issues that arise when adjacent owners develop their properties, as well as expediting a builder’s construction project by ensuring that the proper contracts are in place.

As a seasoned practitioner, Ms. Sigmond has a history of litigating construction disputes for public works and buildings in both the public and private sectors. She also has extensive knowledge of preparing contract documents, including design-build, construction management, guaranteed maximum price, and fixed-price contracts. Additionally, Ms. Sigmond is an experienced mediator and arbitrator handling construction or real estate cases for the New York County Supreme Court Commercial Division Roster of Volunteer Mediators and the American Arbitration Association’s Roster of Construction Industry Arbitrators.

For several years, Ms. Sigmond has taken an active role in shaping the construction law community in New York. She is a former Vice President of the New York State Bar Association and a former President of the New York County Lawyers Association. Ms. Sigmond is also a frequent speaker and has authored a number of legal publications relating to construction law and publishes “The Co-Op Condo Help Line” in the monthly Mann Report. Furthermore, she was a member of Law360‘s 2020 Construction Editorial Advisory Board.

As a recognized leader, Ms. Sigmond was presented with the Boris Kostelanetz President’s Medal in 2024 by the New York County Lawyers Association, named among the Crain’s New York Business “Notable Women in Law” list for 2022, and the New York State Bar Association’s 2020 “Real Estate Section Award for Professionalism.” In addition, she also received the Albert Nelson Marquis “Lifetime Achievement Award” by Marquis Who’s Who in 2019. She is also listed as “Top Rated” by New York Super Lawyers for Construction Litigation.

Ms. Bertagna focuses her practice primarily on litigation and resolving project closeout disputes, as well as contract negotiations between parties. She has a wide range of exposure to common construction disputes, including impacts on design professionals. Ms. Bertagna is focused on dispute avoidance and utilizes her legal research and analysis skills to evaluate complex ethical rules, laws, regulations, and other legal issues affecting the construction industry.

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.

Mr. Broder represents clients in all aspects of family and matrimonial law, including complex financial matters, custody disputes, arbitration, and mediation. For more than two decades, Mr. Broder has earned a reputation for exceptional legal skill, professionalism, and ethical standards. He has been selected as an AV Preeminent™ attorney by Martindale-Hubbell®, the highest possible rating in legal ability and ethical standards, earned through a strenuous peer and judicial review procedure. He has been listed in Connecticut Super Lawyers® from 2013–2025 and recognized in The Best Lawyers in America®. He has been designated a “Top Lawyer” in three categories: Arbitration and Mediation, Family Law, and Matrimonial Law in Westport, Greenwich, New Canaan/Darien, and Fairfield Magazines. Mr Broder maintains a 10 out of 10 Avvo Rating and has been selected for Lawyers of Distinction, Recognizing Excellence in Family Law. He is frequently sought after for his insight on family law issues. He has appeared as a legal commentator on NBC’s Today Show and News 12 Connecticut, and he has been a featured guest on numerous nationally recognized family-law-focused podcasts. Mr. Broder regularly speaks to attorneys, accountants, financial professionals, therapists, and the general public on family and marital issues. Throughout his career, he has served as an educator on key issues affecting families, the courts, and the broader legal community. A dedicated contributor to Connecticut’s legal profession, Mr. Broder is a past President of the Fairfield County Bar Association, where he has also served on the Board of Directors, as Co-Chair of the Family Law Section, and on both the Nominating Committee and the Professionalism Symposium Committee. In addition, he is a member of the Connecticut Bar Association and previously served two terms as a Representative to the House of Delegates for District 3.

Mr. Cohen has been practicing law in Connecticut for more than 50 years. For most of that time, he has devoted his practice to family and matrimonial law. He is a graduate of Yale University, where he earned a B.A. degree. He received a Juris Doctor from the School of Law at the University of Virginia, where he served as Articles Editor of the Virginia Law Review and was elected to the Order of the Coif Legal Honorary Society. Mr. Cohen has served as president of both the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association and the Connecticut chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. He is a Charter Fellow of the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. Over his career, Mr. Cohen has been listed in several publications, including Town & Country Magazine’s “The Best Lawyers in the U.S.,” Connecticut Super Lawyers® since 2006, New York Magazine’s “The New York Area’s Best Lawyers” and The Best Lawyers® in America since 1987. He holds the highest rating in legal ability and ethical standards according to Martindale–Hubbell®’s peer review ratings, and he is one of only 100 nationwide diplomates of the American College of Family Trial Lawyers of which he was a founder. His area of practice is Family Law in all trial courts and appellate courts.

Ms. Eucalitto was admitted to the Connecticut bar in 2015. Her practice focuses exclusively on matrimonial and family law, including divorce, post judgment issues, and appellate matters. Ms. Eucalitto was recognized by Super Lawyers Magazine as a Rising Star in the field of Family Law in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. In 2023, she was awarded Connecticut’s Best Lawyer – Ones to Watch. In 2018, Ms. Eucalitto delivered a presentation to the Fairfield County Bar Association on “Post-Majority Child Support: A Primer & Discussion of Practice Considerations.” She has also presented Case Law Updates at the Family Law Section meeting of the Connecticut Bar Association. In July 2018, she attended the American Bar Association’s Family Law Trial Advocacy program at the National Institute for Trial Advocacy in Boulder, Colorado, which is an intensive eight-day training and mock trial program involving lawyers from around the country. In 2015, the Law Review of Quinnipiac University School of Law published her article, “Retiring Alimony at Retirement: A Proposal for Alimony Reform.” She graduated summa cum laude from Quinnipiac University School of Law in 2015. While at Quinnipiac, she completed the Family Law concentration with honors and was active in the Family Law Society where she served as Service Chair. She was also a member of the Law Review. She is a member of the American Bar Association, the Connecticut Bar Association and its Family Law Section, and the Fairfield County Bar Association. She is also a member of the Westport Young Women’s League.

Ms. Provencher focuses on all types of family law matters, particularly contested divorce and custody cases, post-judgment modifications, prenuptial agreements, family law appeals, and de facto parentage petitions. Ms. Provencher is experienced in family law litigation and negotiations, including property division, child support, alimony, and parenting plans. She is also collaboratively trained and a certified Guardian ad litem. Ms. Provencher understands that family law matters affect clients in a deeply personal way that substantially impacts the client’s life. She develops an individualized approach to each case, keeping in mind the client’s unique goals and circumstances. Ms. Provencher is experienced in working with the client every step of the process whether through out of court settlement negotiations or preparing for a courtroom trial. In her appellate practice she takes lead on researching and drafting briefs and related motions, including developing strategy and identifying issues for appeal. She has been recognized as a Rising Star in the area of Family Law by Connecticut Super Lawyers in 2023 and 2024 as well as by The Best Lawyers in America on their “Ones to Watch” list for 2024 and 2025. Prior to becoming an associate, Ms. Provencher was a paralegal in the Family Law Practice for several years. In law school, she was the Senior Articles Editor of the Western New England Law Review and published her note States Should Create A Heightened Standard of Review for Contracts That Determine the Disposition of Frozen Embryos in Contested Divorce Cases, which addressed the various legal standards nationwide for disputed frozen embryos in the context of divorced couples, received CALI Excellence for the Future Awards in Family Law, Constitutional Law, and Torts, and was a teaching assistant in Constitutional Law.

Mr. Raymond has been practicing exclusively matrimonial and family law for his entire career. Mr. Raymond attended Quinnipiac University School of Law due to its renowned family law concentration, graduating cum laude in 2012. He obtained his BA in Psychology in 2009 at the University of Maine in Orono while minoring in Sociology and Legal Studies. Mr. Raymond applies his understanding of human behavior and social interaction to his practice every day, helping clients through difficult and often emotional issues with sincerity, empathy and understanding. While in law school, he worked for the Chief State’s Attorney’s Office in the Financial (“White Collar”) Crimes Division where he assisted in the preparation of trial materials and conducted other trial work on a multi-million dollar larceny case. Mr. Raymond’s experience at the Chief State’s Attorney’s Office provided him with a solid understanding of forensic accounting, which translates well into his matrimonial practice. Also during law school, Mr. Raymond worked for a general practice law firm in New Haven where his first practical experience with family and matrimonial law matters was gained. His exceptional writing and research skills afforded him the opportunity to author an appellate brief in a matrimonial matter, and his advocacy skills allowed him the privilege of representing a client in court in another matrimonial matter, both while only in his second year of law school. After law school, Mr. Raymond successfully passed the CT Bar Exam and immediately began as an associate attorney at one of Fairfield County’s most preeminent family and matrimonial law firms, where he worked for four years. Under his former senior partners, he learned how to effectively and efficiently manage complex financial and custody matters from start to finish. In 2012, Mr. Raymond received the distinguished honor of being selected to serve as a “Special Master” in the Superior Court for the Judicial District of Fairfield at Bridgeport, which role normally requires in excess of 10 years of practice to be selected. As a Special Master, he has assisted many other attorneys in settling multi-faceted financial issues in family matters. Mr. Raymond was appointed as a co-chair of the Greater Bridgeport Bar Association in 2022, which affords him the privilege of working hand-in-hand with a wide array of judges, attorneys, mediators and other professionals in the greater Bridgeport area. He was selected to the Super Lawyers “Rising Stars” list for Connecticut every year from 2018 to current, and was named a “Top 10 Attorney Under 40” by the National Academy of Family Law Attorneys just after finishing his first year of solo practice. He has a perfect 10.00 rating on Avvo.com, and he has numerous testimonials and five-star reviews from prior clients on that site. Mr. Raymond regularly speaks on highly complex family law topics before his peers at local and national conferences. He is a certified Guardian Ad Litem (GAL) and Attorney for Minor Children (AMC). He has represented numerous children in the New Haven, Milford and Bridgeport Superior Courts and accepts both private and court appointments for GAL/AMC matters.

Mr. Liu has experience in building science consulting, building condition assessments, reserve fund studies, wood-products testing and research, and building performance testing. He brings a scientific and analytical approach to the design and conservation of the building enclosure, often relying on real-world testing of materials, assemblies, and systems. He is particularly adept at providing solutions to construction and building science-related issues that benefit all parties involved in a project.

Dr. Hayes holds BS and MS degrees in Civil Engineering from Mississippi State University and a PhD in Civil Engineering from Colorado State University with an emphasis in Environmental Engineering and Water Resources Planning and Management. He is a registered Professional Engineer in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Nevada, a Diplomate of the American Academy of Environmental Engineers, Fellow Member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, on the Board of Directors of the Western Dredging Association, and editor of the Journal of Dredging. Dr. Hayes’ research interests are environmental impacts associated with dredging and sediment placement, particularly contaminated sediment management, wetland restoration, systems applications in water resources management, and water quality issues. He has over 200 journal, conference, and project publications and holds multiple patents. Dr. Hayes has extensive consulting experience, especially on large, contaminated sediment sites. He has testified as an expert witness for many and worked as an expert consultant to the US Environmental Protection Agency, US Department of Justice, US Army Corps of Engineers, multiple state agencies, and numerous private industries. Dr. Hayes has served on numerous national-level committees and panels for the National Science Foundation, US Environmental Protection Agency, US Army Corps of Engineers, US National Resources Conservation Service, and the National Academy of Engineering. He has also organized numerous national and international conferences and workshops. Dr. Hayes has extensive undergraduate and graduate level teaching experience. He has also taught many short courses on dredging, sediment management, and contaminated sediment site remediation.

Mr. Fatoullah chairs the firm’s Elder Law Practice Group and is a Partner in the firm’s Trusts & Estates Practice Group. Prior to joining the firm, Ron was the founder and principal of Ronald Fatoullah & Associates for over 35 years. The firm was perennially recognized as one of New York’s top Elder Law and Estate Planning firms. Mr. Fatoullah has been devoted to advising New Yorkers about the legal and financial challenges of aging. He is highly regarded for his contributions and expertise in estate planning and administration, Medicaid planning, special needs planning, wills and trusts, probate, guardianships, and estate and & guardianship litigation. A certified elder law attorney, he chaired the Executive Committee of the Elder Law Section of the New York State Bar Association’s financial planning and Investments committee; Chaired the Board of the Alzheimer’s Association’s Long Island Chapter for over 10 years; and served on the Executive Council of AARP New York. He is a Fellow of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, the highest honor bestowed by the organization. Mr. Fatoullah lectures frequently on elder law, estate planning and aging; has appeared on numerous radio and television programs; and has been quoted in The New York Times, Newsday, The Wall Street Journal, the New York Law Journal, and Kiplinger’s. He has been honored by many organizations for his achievements and contributions to the senior community.

Mr. Marra and his associates practice in the areas of Elder Law, Estate Planning, Wills, Trusts and Probate and Estate Administration, Medicaid Planning, Divorce, Matrimonial and Family Law, Small Business Representation, Residential and Commercial Real Estate and Personal Injury Law. He attributes the success of the firm to aggressive, honest, and thorough representation provided to its clients. More than 35 years of experience serves as the foundation of trust and expertise his clients have come to rely on. Mr. Marra is admitted to the practice of law in the United States Tax Court, the United States Supreme Court, and all State, as well as all Federal District Courts, in the States of New York and New Jersey. In January 2024, Mr. Marra, with unanimous bi-partisan support, was elected as Town Justice of the Town of Somers Justice Court, in Somers, New York, a part-time position that will not interfere with his practice of law, and allow him to continue to focus on the needs of his clients. Mr. Marra’s credits include his B.B.A., in Accounting, Cum Laude from Iona College in New Rochelle, New York, his J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law, and his L.L.M. in Taxation from New York University School of Law, Graduate Division in New York City.

Mr. Silverberg is nationally recognized as a leader in the areas of estate planning, estate administration, asset preservation planning, and elder law. He is a past president of the prestigious National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), and a founding member and past president of the New York State chapter of NAELA. Mr. Silverberg was awarded the credential of NAELA Fellow, the highest honor bestowed by NAELA to “attorneys… whose careers concentrate on elder law, and who have distinguished themselves both by making exceptional contributions to meeting the needs of older Americans and by demonstrating a commitment to the Academy.” He is also a founding member of the New York State chapter of NAELA. He holds the designation of a Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA), awarded by the National Elder Law Foundation. There are fewer than 520 CELAs throughout the United States. Mr. Silverberg has been awarded the Accredited Estate Planner® Designation, by the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils. The AEP designation is the only graduate-level designation in estate planning. The designation is administered and is awarded only to estate planning professionals who meet special requirements of education, experience, knowledge, professional reputation, and character. He has served as an active member of the Nassau County Bar Association’s Elder Law, Social Services and Health Advocacy Committees and is a long-standing member of the Estate Planning Council of Nassau County. Mr. Silverberg is a past President of the Pension Council of Long Island. For eleven years, he has been an active member of the IRS District Directors Liaison Group. He is also an author of the Elder Law module of the Interactive Legal Document Systems, the preeminent document drafting program for attorneys. Mr. Silverberg is frequently invited as a keynote speaker before national conferences, bar associations, universities, and legal and financial organizations on topics including estate planning, Elder Law, and tax planning matters. He has published in many legal and scholarly journals, including Trusts and Estates Magazine, The New York State Bar Monthly News, and is a widely quoted source for the news media on issues concerning estate and Elder Law. Mr. Silverberg is a graduate of Hartwick College (B.A., 1973) and Brooklyn Law School (J.D., 1976). He is admitted to practice in New York and Florida.

Ms. Valente is the Managing Partner at Makofsky Valente Law Group, P.C., with offices in Garden City, New York. She has been selected to the SuperLawyers Rising Star and the Best Lawyers:Ones to Watch in America lists for the last several years. She was also selected as a recipient of the 17th Assembly District’s “Women of Distinction” Award for 2021. She is a cum laude graduate of Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center. She received her B.A. in Politics, Economics and Law with honors from SUNY College at Old Westbury. Prior to becoming an attorney, Ms. Valente worked at the Firm for many years as the senior paralegal. She has extensive substantive and procedural knowledge in matters concerning Elder Law, Medicaid, asset protection planning, estate planning, guardianships, probate, and estate administration. Ms. Valente is a member of the New York State Bar Association (“NYSBA”) and its Elder Law and Special Needs, Trusts and Estates and Young Lawyers.

Mr. Cunningham joined Donaldson Stewart in 2021 as an associate and has been actively engaged in family law and juvenile litigation in Maricopa, Pinal and Yavapai Counties. He focuses his practice on family court mediation, litigation and helping survivors of domestic violence navigate the family court. Prior to joining Donaldson Stewart, Mr. Cunningham spent nearly six years with the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office as a prosecutor completing more than 25 felony jury trials and countless bench trials. His last two years with the County Attorney’s Office were spent in the Family Violence Unit prosecuting cases involving homicide, child abuse and domestic violence.

Ms. Duhon’s main area of practice is family law. Ms. Duhon worked as a Special Advocate in the Arizona Supreme Court for three years prior to becoming an attorney with her own practice. She is known for her empathetic and detail specific approach to her client’s needs. Getting to know the family’s unique dynamics and intricacies is always a top priority. This approach allows Ms. Duhon to partner with her clients throughout the process, she will always actively engage every step of the way and will never discount the emotional turmoil her clients may be experiencing.

Ms. Mendoza practices primarily in Family Law including divorce, paternity actions, child custody, legal decision making, parenting time, business and property valuation, division of assets and debts, spousal support, child support, as well as matters involving domestic violence, orders of protection and other issues related to domestic relations. Ms. Mendoza also represents clients on appeal for family law matters. She was an acting Judge Pro Tempore with the Superior Court of Maricopa County from 2013 through 2022 covering judicial calendars and conducting settlement conferences in the Family Court division. Ms. Mendoza has also been appointed as Chair of the State Bar of Arizona’s Family Law Practice and Procedure Committee for four consecutive years.

Mr. Sapelli focuses his practice primarily on domestic relations. He offers experience representing clients in all family law-related matters. These include divorce, with or without children, and all issues that may arise in both types of cases. Mr. Sapelli effectively and compassionately advances his clients’ interests in matters involving legal decision-making, parenting time, child support, division of property and debts, spousal maintenance, and other issues. Mr. Sapelli also has experience in complex divorce matters including complex custody and property issues. Aside from divorce matters, his practice also focuses on paternity issues and third-party rights issues, such as grandparents’ rights, step-parents’ rights, and other non-parental rights for children. Giancarlo attended The S.J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah. In law school, Mr. Sapelli was the assistant to the editor of the Utah Journal of Family Law. He earned a Bachelor’s in Political Science, with a History minor from the University of Arizona. Mr. Sapelli also has a Master’s in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University, where he graduated with distinction. After an eight-year term of teaching junior high school, Mr. Sapelli’s love for family and children inspired him to work in family law. That same passion continues to inspire him today.

Ms. Prakkamakul is a Senior Associate Landscape Architect with Sasaki Associates, Inc. She is a landscape architect with public art and design experience focusing on civic and urban space design. With her expertise in community engagement, creative placekeeping, and participatory design, Ms.Prakkamakul explores the role of landscape architect through the eyes of an artist and social activist. She believes a well-designed landscape is not only functional but also socially engaging in a meaningful way and fosters a sense of belonging. Ms. Prakkamakul holds a Master’s degree in Landscape Architecture with honors from the Rhode Island School of Design where she received the Lowthorpe Fellowship Award upon graduation. She has been a guest lecturer on public art and creative play at Massachusetts College of Arts and Design, Montclair State University, University of New Mexico, Louisiana State University, University of Oregon, and Boston Architectural College. Currently, Ms. Prakkamakul is a senior landscape architect at Sasaki. Prior to joining Sasaki, she was a landscape designer at AECOM in Hong Kong, where she worked on various types of landscape urban design projects in Asia.

Mr. Searns has a four-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, both national-award-winning projects. He helped plan the Grand Canyon National Park Greenway, played a key role on the Memphis Wolf River Greenway, and authored the Commerce City, CO, Walk, Bike, Fit Plan. He has written for Planning, Landscape Architecture, LA China, and American Trails magazines and has served as editor-in-chief of Trails and Beyond magazine. He chaired American Trails and was a founder of The World Trails Network as well as being a delegate to the America’s Great Outdoors White House conclave. His current book is Beyond Greenways: The Next Step For City Trails and Walking Routes, published in 2023 by Island Press. This book was chosen as one of THE DIRT’s (American Society of Landscape Architects) 10 best books of 2023. He resides, writes, hikes, and bikes near Denver, Colorado.

Ms. Weidl has nearly two decades of experience shaping urban spaces and strengthening communities towards increased equity, accessibility, and beauty. She continuously seeks opportunities to strengthen communities by focusing on the people who reside there and the spaces they inhabit. Ms. Weidl leads teams with enthusiasm and devotes herself to clear communication throughout the process, working in tandem with her clients’ needs and focusing on delivering assignments with the highest level of excellence. Her passion lies in creating inclusive landscapes in the urban public realm; enabling equitable access and strengthened connectivity between people and vibrant public spaces; transforming lives and fostering communities through opportunities for shared collective community experiences.

Ms. Yang is a Senior Associate Landscape Architect with Sasaki Associates, Inc. She is a landscape architect, practicing both domestically and internationally, who offers creative insights into park and urban space design across multiple scales. Ms. Yang brings expertise integrating equity and sustainability into public space, transforming the master plan vision to built space, and advocating long term socio-ecological opportunities. With a cross-disciplinary background in architecture, urban design, and landscape architecture, she brings a wide lens to landscape solutions, tackling the complexity of urban projects grounded in each unique social and natural context. Passionate about climate resilience and community engagement, Ms. Yang believes that design is a powerful tool for enhancing the success of a city and people’s everyday lives. She has managed a number of award winning projects and co-led the Sasaki research project Climate.Park.Change. Ms. Yang also speaks frequently at conferences and universities across the world.