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Mr. Betteidge’s career began as an engineering technician at Boeing, designing payload systems for 747 and 767’s, then with Boeing Computer Networks and their phone systems nationwide. He transitioned to environmental engineering in the early ’90s assisting engineers and scientists to clean up polluted groundwater and soils resulting from industrial and military activities as well as leaking underground storage tanks. Mr. Betteridge began public service in 2001 after seven years with civil engineers designing single-family, multifamily, and commercial developments including TESC plans. While at The City of Federal Way he supported the Public Works Division with stormwater inspections, erosion control inspections, and salmon restoration sampling efforts in support of illicit discharge detection and pollution responses. He has been continuously CESCL Certified since 2005 and an APWA certified stormwater manager for five years. He has developed training for city inspectors and regional information-sharing groups. Mr. Betteridge currently works at the City of Tukwila as the NPDES coordinator and manages the Lower Duwamish Source Control efforts to clean up the Superfund site called the Lower Duwamish Waterway.

With over 50 years of expertise in water resources planning, flood studies, and stormwater modeling, Mr. Beyerlein co-founded Clear Creek Solutions after distinguished roles in the San Franciso Bay area and Snohomish County. As a senior hydrologic engineer, he played a key role in shaping Snohomish County’s surface water management program, excelling in watershed planning, monitoring, flood control, and compliance with water quality laws. A trailblazer in engineering, Mr. Beyerlein led the development of accurate tools for analyzing land development impacts on streams, earning his firm contracts for stormwater software in California, Oregon, and Washington. Having taught stormwater modeling to over 2000 professionals, he conducts workshops on HSPF theory and application. Licensed as a professional engineer in Washington and California, certified as a professional hydrologist, and a member of the American Academy of Water Resources Engineers, Mr. Beyerlein serves clients like the U.S. EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers. Noteworthy contributions include impactful stormwater papers such as “Why Standard Stormwater Mitigation Doesn’t Work” and “Dumbing Down Hydrology.”

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

Mr. Heiss’s research entails coastal groundwater-surface water interactions, climate change and sea level rise impacts to coastal groundwater resources, and chemical fluxes along the land-sea transition zone. His current research focuses on the hydrologic forcings (waves, tides, currents, extreme precipitation, and storm surge) that move water and chemicals between aquifers and nearshore surface water bodies. He explores these hydrologic processes using field experiments, numerical models, and quantitative synthesis of large datasets. Prior to joining UMass Lowell, Dr. Heiss was a postdoctoral fellow at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, DC. He holds M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Geology from the University of Delaware.

Mr. Russoniello is a hydrogeologist in the University of Rhode Island Department of Geosciences. His work focuses on coastal groundwater, saltwater intrusion, surface water/groundwater interactions, cold-region hydrology, and the impacts of rising seas and changing climate on freshwater resources. Prior to joining URI, he earned M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Geology from the University of Delaware, completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Syracuse University, and was assistant professor at West Virginia University. Mr. Russoniello has served on 15 graduate committees, mentored many undergraduate researchers and is current and former mentor to two NSF EAR postdoctoral fellows. Teaching interests focus on the coast, its complex processes, the interaction between the ocean and groundwater, and environmental data skills. Outside work Mr. Russoniello enjoys playing on water (liquid and frozen) and spending time with his wife, daughter, and dog.

Mr. Hock is a professional engineer with over 10 years of experience in the field of environmental engineering and water resources management. He holds a degree in Environmental Engineering from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. Mr. Hock has worked for the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Division of Water for over seven years. His current role is in managing the statewide Water Withdrawal Program where he performs engineering reviews of water withdrawal permit applications and provides permitting guidance, application guidance, and outreach to the public.

Mr. Kappel earned both undergraduate and graduate degrees from Penn State. He has worked as a hydrologist for the U.S. Forest Service in Missouri and Wisconsin. For about 45 years he has studied the hydrogeology of upstate New York with the U.S. Geological Survey – New York Water Science Center. At present he is a hydrogeologist emeritus with the New York Water Science Center. Past investigations include the Onondaga Trough, studying the movement of natural brine to Onondaga Lake at Syracuse, NY; study of mudboil (mud-volcano) activity in the Onondaga Creek Valley; study of landslides in upstate New York – in relation to glacial lake clays; aquifer studies in central and western New York, and carbonate and evaporite karst throughout New York. Presently, in his emeritus status, he is assisting various projects in central and western New York in the collection and analysis of data.

Mr. Kuzia-Carmel is an assistant geologist in the Division of Water (DOW) at NYSDEC Central Office in Albany. Mr. Kuzia-Carmel has over 10 years of combined experience in federal disaster response, environmental consulting, and as a technical professional for the State of New York. He has worked for NYSDEC for over six years and currently works within the Water Withdrawal Program, assisting regional staff with the review of new and modified Water Withdrawal Permit applications. He specializes in the review of applications involving new or modified groundwater sources and aquifer pumping tests. Mr. Kuzia-Carmel holds a degree in Environmental Geology from Binghamton University.

Mr. McCluskey is employed by Everett J Prescott as the Western Erosion Control & Stormwater Specialist, and he is experienced in the promotion and education of various product lines related to stormwater, geosynthetics, erosion control, sediment control, and ground stabilization. In this role Mr. McCluskey is in contact with local, state, and federal regulatory agencies and he also works closely with engineers, landscape architects, municipalities, and contractors in both the public and private sector. He is active in several professional organizations, frequently conducts presentations to educate decision makers, is involved in training EJ Prescott employees, and manages product sales and promotions in New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Indiana, and Ohio. Mr. McCluskey holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the State University of New York at Potsdam.

Mr. Ophori is a professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Studies, Montclair State University. He is a geo-environmental scientist and specialist, with extensive experience in the mapping and modeling of large-scale groundwater flow and contaminant transport for application to the solution of environmental problems. In the past, he worked as a hydrogeological consultant to both the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, Ontario, and Alberta Environment, Alberta, Canada. He was a research scientist with the Nuclear Fuel Waste Management Program of the Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL), Canada, from 1989 to 1995. From 2007 to 2010, he was the chairperson of the Department of Earth and Environmental Studies, Montclair State University, Upper Montclair, New Jersey, USA.

Mr. Rigano has concentrated his practice exclusively in environmental law for more than three decades. He has served in the Enforcement Division of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, where he was involved in a variety of water pollution control programs and was environmental counsel to the New York Power Authority. Mr. Rigano was environmental counsel for the New York Power Authority. He was employed for five years as an environmental scientist conducting research on the environmental effects of electric power generation. Long Island Business News has featured him in their “Who’s Who in the Law” edition. Mr. Rigano is the Chair of the Environmental and Energy Law Section of the New York State Bar Association from 2022 to 2023. He earned his J.D. degree from Hofstra University School of Law.

Mr.. Williams has a B.A. degree in Geology from Colgate University, and an M.S. degree in Geosciences from Pennsylvania State University. Mr. Williams currently is the groundwater specialist for the U. S. Geological Survey Water Science Center in New York. He has worked on a wide range of groundwater projects throughout the Northeast in cooperation with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Pennsylvania Geological Survey, U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, and Geological Survey of Canada. He has provided support and training in borehole geophysics for Survey offices throughout the U. S. and for water agencies in the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Kurdistan, and India.

Mr. House is a Board-Certified Master Arborist, Tree Risk Assessment Qualified, and is president of the Georgia Arborist Association. He currently works as an arborist for the City of Decatur, Georgia. After attending the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources at the University of Georgia, he worked for the Fish and Wildlife Service, the Forestry Commission, and several private tree companies in various roles. In addition to educational programming about trees, Mr. House has conducted many more natural resource education courses including with reptiles and amphibians and for recycling and water conservation programs. He was awarded the White Oak Award for leadership, commitment and impact in tree work by the Arborist Association in 2022. Mr. House is an avid quilter, gardener, and an extremely novice cyclist.

For the last decade, Mr. Beaty served as the Campus Arborist at Dartmouth College caring for hundreds of mature trees of historical significance. His particular area of expertise is the care and culture of American elms trees in urban settings. Over this time, he regularly presented on subjects including mature tree management, tree risk management, and big tree measurement. Mr. Beaty’s popular campus tree tour series features discussion of botany, ecology, history, and the relationship between historic architecture and legacy trees. He oversaw tree protection planning and management over a period of intense construction and expansion of the Dartmouth campus and worked with several architects and construction engineers to create innovative solutions to often difficult conflicts between physical and biological infrastructure concerns. 
In 2022, Mr. Beaty returned to full time practice as a professional consulting arborist to institutional, municipal, legal and estate clients. He is a long-term registered consulting arborist and member of the American Society of Consulting Arborists, a board certified master arborist with the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), and an ISA municipal arborist specialist. 

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. Fronapfel is the founder of multiple forensic firms that work nationwide, including PIE, SBSA, and CTETS. His expertise includes geo-hydrology, hydrology, development, civil engineering, structural engineering, building envelope, commissioning, and the interdisciplinary-required practices in the behavior of foundations, substructures, superstructures, and building envelopes in the as-built environment. Mr. Fronapfel provides consulting to designers, builders, developers, attorneys, and real estate professionals. For over 30 years, his work has included ground-up construction and post-construction evaluation of thousands of structures across the United States. Mr. Fronapfel is licensed in 39 states and Puerto Rico.   Mr. Fronapfel has been a Distinguished Lecturer for ASHRAE, is an Adjunct Professor for Colorado School of Mines Civil and Environmental Engineering was and Adjunct Professor at the University of Denver, Burns School for over 15 years, and a Lecturer for the College of Contract Management, U.K.  He also is a speaker for a number of organizations including NSPE, ASCE, NAFE, NABIE, EEBA, DOE, AIA, ICC-Colorado, and others. Mr. Fronapfel’s experience includes providing more than 800 depositions, hundreds of arbitrations, and more than 125 trial testimonies. 

Ms. Bobich, supervises a talented team of ecologists and biologists based out of Davey Resource Group, Inc.’s, Indiana offices. She is a professional wetland scientist, is proficient with NEPA work and projects, and has been trained by the Ohio Department of Transportation in Ecological Surveys and Waterways Permitting. In addition to managing a large portfolio of diverse and complex projects, Ms. Bobich also generates pricing and proposals for a wide range of consulting and restoration projects. She works on field investigations, wetland and stream permitting, restoration and mitigation design, native landscape design, best management practice plans, construction oversight, violation resolution and facilitation, and client and agency coordination. She holds an undergraduate degree from the SPEA program at Indiana University and a master’s degree in Landscape Architecture from Ball State University.

Ms. Bruce has over 19 years of sales and marketing experience serving Florida’s mitigation banking credit industry. Her vast background in the wetland mitigation and habitat conservation banks industry has designated her as one of Florida’s most sought-after mitigation bank sales brokers. Mrs. Bruce is passionate about partnering with mitigation bankers, environmental consultants and developers to aid in the mitigation process. She is responsible for developing and implementing strategies and forecasts that support existing relationships with industry partners and promote future growth for the industry.

Ms. Church, is an environmental scientist with Snyder & Associates. She has over 14 years of professional environmental experience. Before she started her career as an environmental scientist at Snyder & Associates, she worked for the US Army Corps of Engineers in Rock Island, Jacksonville, and Omaha Districts after graduating from Iowa State University in 2009. Her area of expertise focuses on wetland delineations, stream assessments, Section 404 permitting, and wetland and stream mitigation banking documentation

Ms. Herrera is an aquatic biologist with over eight years of experience in natural resource assessment, including wetland delineations, environmental permitting, stream assessments, mussel/macroinvertebrate surveys and identification, and threatened and endangered species surveys. She graduated with a B.S. degree in Biology and Program in the Environment (PitE) from the University of Michigan and an M.S. degree in Water Resource Science from the University of Minnesota Duluth. Ms. Herrera recently moved back to the mitten to work for Holland Engineering’s Environmental Group. She holds a USFWS permit to survey and handle federally listed mussel species. Her favorite mussels are the spectaclecase and snuffbox.

Ms. Keefer, MS has been a restoration biologist for the Stream + Wetlands Foundation (S+W) since June 2020, and she has eight years of experience working in the natural resources field. She is responsible for preparing and overseeing coordination of S+W’s mitigation project submittals to the Interagency Review Team. During her time at S+W, she has been instrumental in the submission and approval of over 20 in-lieu fee (ILF), mitigation bank, and permitee responsible projects. To date, the S+W ILF program is fully in compliance with all its advance credit sales obligations. Prior to joining the S+W team, Ms. Keefer worked for a northeast Ohio environmental consulting firm where she primarily worked on mitigation projects. She also worked at two different environmental test laboratories performing soil and water analyses using sophisticated equipment. During her formal education, she conducted a rigorous research study in native species revegetation and seed ecology. Ms. Keefer published her findings as the primary author of a peer reviewed research paper that appeared in the Journal of Rangeland Ecology and Management.

Mr. Strain has over 30 years of experience with all aspects of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance including preparation of environmental assessments (EA), environmental impact statements (EIS), categorical exclusions (CE) and other NEPA documentation, baseline biological assessments, and habitat evaluation procedure (HEP) analyses; threatened and endangered species surveys and critical habitat assessments; wetland and stream evaluations; cultural resource investigations; and vegetative community surveys. Mr. Strain’s particular expertise is in wetland science; including delineation, creation, and restoration of wetlands for mitigation and wildlife habitat; Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 404 and 401 permitting; and design of constructed wetland treatment systems.

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. Mohney is the Engineering Geology Program leader for the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). The Engineering Geology Program at ODOT encompasses site characterization, subsurface exploration, slopes and embankments, geologic hazards, groundwater, geotechnical instrumentation, and planning and research activities. In this role, he also oversees the Unstable Slopes (landslide/ rockfall) Program for ODOT. He is a registered geologist and a certified engineering geologist in Oregon with over 30 years of experience in Oregon and the western states. Mr. Mohney has been the Engineering Geology Program leader since 2004. Prior to this, he had been a staff and project-level geologist for consulting firms and the mining industry as well as for ODOT. He is a graduate of the Geology Program at Portland State University. During his professional career, Mr. Mohney has been involved in the investigation, design, and construction of a wide range of challenging earthwork projects including high fills on soft ground, side slope embankments, and cut slopes in mixed-face conditions. His other work includes landslide and rockfall mitigation, ground improvement, and dewatering.

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

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

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

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

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

Mr. 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.

Dr. Mallinger is a pollinator ecologist focusing primarily on native wild bees. She is interested in the basic biology of native wild bees, their response to anthropogenic disturbance, and their role in the pollination of both crop and wild plants. A major focus of her research program is to integrate approaches from landscape ecology and community ecology to better understand pollinator community dynamics and plant pollinator interactions at multiple spatial scales. She conducts research in a variety of ecosystems, including natural, agricultural and urban, with the overarching goal of informing pollinator conservation and improving pollination services.

Ms. Neal is the owner of Green Gardens Education and Designs. Prior to that, she was a biologist at Fernbank Science Center in Atlanta for over 30 years. She retired in 2017. Ms. Neal areas of expertise are composting, vermicomposting, ornithology, environmental education, establishing outdoor classrooms and wildlife gardens and educating the public about the wonders of monarchs. She has a bachelor’s degree in biology and a master’s degree in science education with an emphasis in animal behavior. In 2015 Ms. Neal received the Outstanding Biology Teacher Award for Georgia from the National Association of Biology Teacher in recognition of her career’s work in environmental education.
Ms. Neal was also the project director for the School Master Gardener program that trained over 300 Master Gardeners from 50 different schools across DeKalb County. Since 2003 these participants have volunteered over 50,000 hours at their local schoolhouses with over 35,000 students. Numerous Junior Master Gardener Clubs were formed in the local schoolhouses. This program also brought in over $63,461 in grant money at the local schools to support these school outdoor classrooms.
Upon retirement, she realized that her depth of knowledge offered an opportunity to help homeowners transition from a traditional lawn yard to a landscape that welcomes wildlife and pollinators with native plants. This type of landscape is critical in protecting threatened species and establishing a healthy ecosystem for humans and wildlife. Doug Tallamy, author of Bringing Nature Home, says “Gardening is a way of showing you believe in tomorrow”. Based on this belief, Ms. Neal formed an LLC called Green Gardens Education and Designs (GGED) and works with homeowners to make their residence a part of the solution, instead of it being part of the problem. When a customer works with GGED, they can expect a design that uses over thirty years of knowledge and experience and takes into consideration how a space is utilized by both humans and wildlife. This design will transform the landscape into both an aesthetically pleasing space and a space that is a part of the solution to the problems our earth is currently facing. By connecting yards and habitats, homeowners can actively work to offset their carbon footprints and support species that are struggling.

Ms. Wilson is a professor in the Department of Environmental Horticulture at the University of Florida (UF). She completed her B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of Delaware, her Ph.D. from Clemson University and conducted postdoctoral studies at Clemson University and Chiba University, Japan. Her research focuses on characterizing the invasive potential of ornamental plants and native plant propagation and production. Complementary to this, she teaches courses in plant propagation, native landscaping, and annual and perennial gardening. Throughout her career she has been recognized with a number awards including the UF Undergraduate Teacher of the Year Award, the
UF Roche Professorship Award, the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) Outstanding Undergraduate Educator Award, and the ASHS Outstanding Graduate Educator Award. Most recently, she co-authored the world standard textbook Hartmann and Kester’s Plant Propagation-Principles and Practices, 9th edition. For her outstanding
contributions to horticultural science and education, she holds the distinction of Fellow within International Plant Propagators Society (IPPS), American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS), and the North American Colleges and Teaching of Agriculture (NACTA).

Ms. Baumgarten is a practicing horticulturist and owner/operator of BaumGardens Landscape and Design in New Orleans. She is a Master Gardener with the LSU AgCenter, the founding president of the Native Plant Initiative of Greater New Orleans and the past president of the Louisiana Native Plant Society. Her passion as a landscape designer, contractor and community educator is to increase the ecological functionality of built landscapes by incorporating native plants and other essential components of good habitat to gardens and green spaces while actively helping others to do so as well.

Ms. Gronquist has been a licensed landscape architect since 2004. She has been teaching landscape architecture since 2006, working with Ray Freeman’s LARE Preparatory Courses. She has served as an adjunct professor at many Bay Area institutions, including UC Berkeley, UC Extension, Merritt College, and Berkeley’s Owner Builder Center. Ms. Gronquist also developed online courses in grading and drainage for San Francisco’s Academy of Art University, with separate tracks for undergraduates and graduate students. After earning an undergraduate degree as a sculptor, she quickly became interested in applying her design skills on larger scale projects. She earned her M.L.A. degree at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and then made her way to California. Since that time, Ms. Gronquist has worked on a wide range of design projects, including private residential gardens, creek restorations, affordable housing developments, public park settings for monumental sculptures, and commercial mixed-use permitting and master planning. She was an early adopter of Alameda County’s ReScape (formerly Bayfriendly) landscape sustainability rating program. She was a member of the first class of Bayfriendly Qualified Landscape Professionals back in 2006 and continues to volunteer and teach at ReScape events throughout California. As a lifelong learner, Ms. Gronquist is also an enthusiastic teacher. Her SGLA Technical Training website at www.sarahgronquist.com is the registration portal for LARE webinars. New on-demand courses for the California Supplemental Exam and for refreshing basic grading skills are also available there, along with many free resources for landscape professionals seeking to learn and grow.

A native of New Orleans, Ms. Brown has worked tirelessly to address the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Louisiana Department of Environment Quality requirements for water quality. She has written and revised chapters of the development code for several municipalities and parishes. She authored a manual to guide developers and design professionals in designing and implementing stormwater best management practices, and she organizes and leads dozens of stormwater workshops each year. Ms. Brown holds a BLA degree from Louisiana State University and an MLA degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Design, and she is a professional landscape architect, licensed in several states. She is a long-time active member of ASLA and is a Fellow of the organization. Ms. Brown is a certified planner (AICP), and a LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP). As President of Dana Brown & Associates, she pioneered design of green infrastructure throughout Louisiana. Ms. Brown is a licensed trainer for the National Green Infrastructure Certification Program (NGICP) and a founding member of Water Wise Gulf South, which trains and educates residents in implementing green infrastructure in their neighborhoods. Having taught classes on the subject at the LSU Robert Reich School of Landscape Architecture and the University of New Orleans (UNO), Ms. Brown regularly guest lectures at Tulane University, UNO, and Xavier University. She is the author of Using Plants for Stormwater Management: A Green Infrastructure Guide for the Gulf South, LSU Press, April 2014.

Dr. Sharareh Shirzad is an assistant professor at the Department of Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment at Appalachian State University. Before that, she worked as a graduate research assistant at Louisiana State University and Louisiana Transportation Research Center. She obtained her Ph.D. degree from the Department of Construction Management at LSU working on light-activated self-healing asphalt materials. She also holds a graduate certificate in Materials Science and Engineering. Dr. Shirzad’s research expertise and interest are in the broad theme of sustainable infrastructure and sustainable construction materials. She has published the results from her research on self-healing asphalt materials, recycling of asphalt materials, and sustainable asphalt pavements in multiple peer-reviewed journals such as the Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering and the Journal of Construction and Building Materials. She is currently working on the use of bio-oil and biochar obtained from pyrolysis of the wood and forestry waste in asphalt and concrete pavement, respectively. 

Mr. Macalus is an Environmental Technician that performs multiple services for Environmental Permitting and Wetland and Watercourse Delineations. Throughout his career he has performed habitat, vegetation, and wildlife surveys throughout Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Maine. He specializes in aquatic ecology and has a passion for the conservation and preservation of the aquatic resources that affect us every day.

Mr. Reagan advises clients on regulatory compliance, administrative enforcement actions, and civil litigation under state and federal regulations including the Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, Administrative Procedure Act, Pipeline Safety Act, General Mining Act of 1872, and Federal Land Management Policy Act.

Before joining Beveridge & Diamond, Mr. Reagan served as an Attorney-Advisor for the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), Office of Chief Counsel where he provided counsel on enforcement actions under the Pipeline Safety Act. Before that, Mr. Reagan practiced as an associate with a boutique natural resources firm, where he counseled a variety of private, government, and investment clients on environmental and water issues facing western states focusing on environmental permitting and compliance, state and federal regulation, Columbia River Treaty, government contracts, as well as general legal support for projects ranging from business dissolution to protecting grazing and mineral rights. His background includes extensive coursework in climate change, ecology, fisheries, and environmental science.

Mr. King, is a city planner and has directed multidisciplinary teams around the country and world. He has served as the project director and prime author on over 200 plans for cities, towns, neighborhoods, and corridors. Mr. King was a Principal at Dover, Kohl & Partners for 18 years before creating his own firm, King Design Collaborative. He is also the co-founder of Able City East. Mr. King’s work has focused on social, economic, and climate change resilience. He authored two books: The Climate Planner: Overcoming Pushback Against Local Mitigation and Adaptation Plans (2021) and The Equity Planner: Five Tools To Facilitate Economic Development with Just Outcomes (2023). Mr. King’s work is also featured in numerous planning texts such as Sustainable Urbanism (2007), Form-Based Codes (2008), and Street Design (2014), and he has been interviewed by the New York Times, Planning Magazine, and National Public Radio.

Ms. King has over 24 years of experience in architecture and urban planning. She specializes in leading the design of illustrative plans that promote walkability and sustainability, collaborating closely with the public. Ms. King excels in directing multi-disciplinary teams, fostering collaboration among stakeholders, business owners, and residents to transform visions into reality. Her portfolio spans downtown and corridor vision plans, comprehensive plans, form-based codes, and community development strategies. Ms. King has navigated both public and private sectors, discerning the nuanced needs of each and how they can work together. Her guidance enables communities to secure funding through grants and other funding streams. Ms. King received her bachelor of Architecture degree and her master’s degree of Architecture in Suburb and Town Design from the University of Miami. She is a certified Charrette planner and is CNU accredited.

Aquic was established in 2021 by Tim Smith to support clients who are passionate about their projects, and who need reliable, data-driven analysis to make informed decisions.  Tim is an industry leading subject matter expert in navigation of the federal and state agency review process. With 24 years of experience as a state and federal employee regulating and restoring wetlands, streams, and rivers, Aquic’s Tim Smith is uniquely qualified to assist with:

• Wetland and Stream Mitigation Bank Development
• Mitigation Market Analysis
• Mitigation Bank Management
• Agency Coordination
• Permitting Strategies and Alternatives Analysis

Ms. Akers is an Environmental Scientist Advisor with the Kentucky Division of Water, Commonwealth of Kentucky – Energy and Environment Cabinet. As a career employee of the Energy and Environment Cabinet, Paulette Akers has worked in the Department of Natural Resources and the Department for Environmental Protection for more than twenty years. Currently, Paulette serves as the Gulf Hypoxia Program Engagement Coordinator in the Division of Water and works to support activities occurring in nutrient-priority watersheds and develop new tools and partnerships to support nutrient reduction in those areas and across the Commonwealth. She works specifically in areas such as wastewater treatment plant nutrient optimization, agriculture, and with partners in Tennessee. Previously, she served 5 years as the Director of the Division of Conservation and 2 years as the Director of the Division of Compliance Assistance. Her early career was with the Division of Water in the Water Quality and Watershed Management Branches. Paulette is a graduate of Eastern Kentucky University where she earned a BS degree in Biology and an MS degree in Applied Ecology.

Mr. Bonnell has been involved in watershed and natural resource management for thirty years. In September of 2023, Joe became the first Nutrient Reduction Strategy Coordinator with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in the Office of Agriculture and Water Quality. Previously, Joe had a long career in university extension, first with Ohio State University and more recently with the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Joe has spent his career working on addressing primarily agricultural non-point source issues, focusing on promoting holistic and collaborative approaches to watershed planning and implementation. 

Mr. Dunn is an environmental attorney with PoynerSpruill, LLP in Raleigh, North Carolina. After receiving his law degree and a master’s degree in City and Regional Planning from UNC-Chapel Hill, he worked with the N. C. Department of Environmental Quality for over eight years, with his last position being general counsel. In 1985 he joined PoynerSpruill to expand the firm’s areas of practice to environmental law. In his 39 years with PoynerSpruill, he has represented both private and public clients in practically all areas of environmental law and particularly has advised cities and counties regarding wastewater compliance issues and consolidation of water and wastewater treatment facilities and services. Most relevant to this seminar, Mr. Dunn was the legal advisor for the formation of the Neuse River Compliance Association (NRCA), an association of point source wastewater dischargers in the lower Neuse River Basin formed over 20 years ago to comply with a then-pending total maximum daily load for nitrogen in the lower Neuse River estuary.  Subsequent to the formation of the NRCA, Mr. Dunn served for many years as legal counsel for the NRCA and the Lower Neuse Basin Association, a previously- existing monitoring association, in establishing by-laws and rules for their membership and operations and for jointly carrying out their complementary functions.  

Ms. Harrold is the Program Manager for the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) and Water Quality Initiatives for the Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA), Division of Soil Conservation (DSC). As the Program Manager, Julie provides leadership and management for the Indiana CREP, the Indiana State Nutrient Reduction Strategy and Indiana Science Assessment, and other water quality initiatives undertaken by the ISDA. She provides Indiana representation on the Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia Task Force Coordinating Committee. Julie is a graduate of Purdue University with a degree in Landscape Horticulture and Design and has over 26 years of experience as a conservation professional. She has held a number of different positions within the Division of Soil Conservation over the years and has been in her current position as Program Manager since July 2015. Her experience includes working with partners around the state of Indiana as well as other states to advance water quality improvement goals and implement conservation programs; engineering surveys, design and implementation of conservation Best Management Practices (BMPs) such as Grassed Waterways and Wetland Restorations; assisting landowners with developing conservation plans; working with Soil and Water Conservation Districts in northeast Indiana on carrying out conservation programs and events and providing technical assistance; working with DSC staff in quantifying the water quality benefits of various conservation BMPs; and working with Purdue University on quantifying the effectiveness of conservation practices on water quality.

Dr. Marshall is a Staff Scientist in the Water Planning and Assessment Division at the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ), where she has worked for the past five years. She serves as the project manager for the Hypoxia Task Force Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Gulf Hypoxia Program Grant for Louisiana, which is comprised of two projects focused on helping Louisiana address nonpoint source water quality management. Amanda also serves on the Water Resources Team for the Gulf of Mexico Alliance, and was the lead author on the update to the LDEQ report Nitrogen and Phosphorus Trends of Long-Term Ambient Water Quality Monitoring Sites in Louisiana, completed in 2021 in support of the Louisiana Nutrient Reduction and Management Strategy. Amanda holds a Ph.D. degree in Environmental Resources and Policy from Southern Illinois University, and both an M.S. degree in Public Policy and a B.S. degree in Biology with an ecology focus from the Georgia Institute of Technology. During her Ph.D. she was the recipient of a National Science Foundation IGERT Fellowship in the field of Watershed Science and Policy, where her dissertation work focused on comparative stakeholder assessments in the Mississippi and Tisza River Basins.

Mr. McAleese is president and CEO of the Sand County Foundation. Kevin assumed overall leadership of Sand County Foundation in July 2015. In his over 20 years with the Foundation, he has overseen all aspects of planning, program implementation, and personnel and financial management. Kevin founded the Cooperative Sagebrush Initiative in 2007, an award-winning 11-western state public-private partnership to balance energy production, ranching, and habitat protection. He served as President of its Board of Directors until 2013. He led a 10-year program in the Great Lakes states and northeastern U.S. to enhance the regeneration of important hardwood forests that support rural economies and abundant wildlife. He has organized and facilitated regional, national, and international conferences among landholders, resource managers, and scientists. He holds a BS degree in engineering from the University of Wisconsin and an MA degree in history from Catholic University in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Peterson leads Sand County Foundation’s agricultural conservation team and sets its strategic direction in research, and farmer and rancher engagement. She brings significant leadership, teaching, and research experience surrounding agricultural conservation and water quality issues. Heidi previously served as the Phosphorus Program Director with the International Plant Nutrition Institute, and prior to that at the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. She serves the scientific community on the Agronomic Science Foundation’s Board of Trustees, as an adjunct professor at the University of Minnesota, and as an associate editor with the Journal of Environmental Quality. Heidi completed her Ph.D. in Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering at the University of Minnesota. At Purdue University she received a M.S. degree in Agronomy, and a B.S. degree in Natural Resources and Environmental Science.

Mr. Phthisic is the Executive Director of the Lower Neuse Basin Association (LNBA) and Neuse River Compliance Association (NRCA). He has served in this role with the associations since 2009. Prior to accepting this position, he served as the Chair of the Associations (2004 to 2009). He was a founding delegate to the LNBA when formed in 1994. The LNBA was formed as a sampling coalition in concert with the N. C. Division of Water Quality. The NRCA was formed to implement the Neuse Nutrient Management Strategy (also known as the Neuse Rules) to comply with a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) being implemented for the Neuse River estuary. He also served on the committee to form the NRCA in 2002. He was the Assistant Director of Utilities for Johnston County which included the management of the water, wastewater, and solid waste landfill for the County prior to becoming the Executive Director for the LNBA/NRCA.

Ms. Salvato has worked for the Upper Mississippi River Basin Association as a Policy and Programs Director since 2017. Her focus at the Association is on water quality, water quantity, and ecosystem restoration initiatives. Lauren previously worked for the North American Lake Management Society (Secchi Dip-In program), the National Park Service at the Grand Canyon (North Rim), and US Fish and Wildlife Service’s Eastern Tallgrass Prairie and Big Rivers Landscape Conservation Cooperative. Her background is in environmental science, with graduate degrees in Water Resources and Public Policy from the University of New Mexico and Indiana University. Lauren lives two blocks from the Minnesota River and volunteers as a Board member for the Lower Minnesota River Watershed District.  

Mr. Sample has worked for the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency for 22 years, serving as the Agency Coordinator for the Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy for the past six years. He represents Illinois EPA on the federal Hypoxia Task Force, the Illinois Nutrient Research and Education Council, and the Illinois Certified Crop Adviser Board.  Mr. Sample earned a B.S. in Agronomy from Illinois State University.

Mr. Siegel is a member of Barley Snyder’s Real Estate and Environment & Energy practice group. He has spent more than two decades as a litigator at the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. In his time at the DEP, he litigated more than 250 appeals in state and federal courts and in front of the Pennsylvania Environmental Hearing Board in cases involving litigation of solid waste, clean water, environmental remediation, and sewage planning. His cases resulted in tens of millions of dollars of environmental remediation and civil penalties throughout Pennsylvania. In the private sector, Mr. Siegel has worked with businesses on both environmental and energy issues. He’s helped companies in real estate transactions navigate environmental issues, worked with municipalities on stormwater and sewage issues, and has assisted companies and other entities in addressing DEP and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency enforcement actions. He’s also worked with out-of-state gas pipeline owners and contractors to help them comply with Pennsylvania environmental requirements and defended them in DEP enforcement actions. Mr. Siegel is also a trained mediator. In addition to his time at the DEP, he has worked in federal government positions at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry in Atlanta and with the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest Laboratory in Washington state. Mr. Siegel is a prolific speaker at professional gatherings throughout Pennsylvania on environmental topics including Pennsylvania’s Environmental Rights Amendment, Pennsylvania’s voluntary cleanup program, Chesapeake Bay and clean water issues, and municipal stormwater requirements. He also co-authored the chapter on Pennsylvania’s Land Recycling and Environmental Remediation Standards Act (Act 2) in Pennsylvania Environmental Law & Practice, 10th Edition. His professional environmental experience has led him to leadership positions with a multitude of nonprofit organizations both in central Pennsylvania and throughout the Mid-Atlantic. He’s also a former member of the Board of School Directors for the Lower Dauphin School District. Mr. Siegel earned his J.D. degree from Temple University Beasley School of Law.  

Ms. Verville joined Sand County Foundation in 2021 to lead a regenerative agriculture initiative in Wisconsin’s Lake Michigan Basin. She works with farmer-led groups to achieve water quality and climate resiliency goals. She previously served as a research project manager and safety lead for the Soil Health Partnership, a project of the National Corn Growers Association. Prior to that, she worked as a crop specialist, and as a deputy conservation warden for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Based in Wautoma, Wis. she plays an active role in Sand County Foundation projects across the Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins.