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Mr. Kwiatkowski has over 25 years of experience in the field. He’s a certified professional ecologist (CE) and fluvial geomorphologist, who has collected and analyzed data on more than 1,000 miles of river and stream and contributed to stormwater best management practice manuals, addressing the design of ecosystem restoration projects, green infrastructure planning, water quality improvement, and habitat reconstruction. Mr. Kwiatkowski’s assisted numerous clients, including non-profit organizations, municipalities, park districts, and government agencies, with the planning, design, and installation of restoration projects on a variety of scope and scales. His day-to-day professional responsibilities include project management, public outreach, stream assessment, data analysis and calculations, restoration design, and construction oversight.

Mr. Hendrickson is the owner of SportsWest Construction, a general contractor, with offices in Los Angeles and Salt Lake City, and with operations currently covering five states. He is a former board member of the American Sports Builders Association (ASBA), overseeing the Courts Division. Mr. Hendrickson was a contributor to the ASBA Official 2020 Pickleball Construction and the 2023 Courts and Rec Construction manuals for ASBA. His company has built more than 15,000 courts and other sports projects since 1987. He is currently a consultant for several pickleball complexes throughout the West. Mr. Hendrickson graduated from BYU School of Engineering with emphasis in Construction Management. His background of real estate development and construction foster his enate ability to grow the business and a multitude of networking relationships. His team of account managers, project managers, and support staff enables his company to provide the best professional service in sports construction in the industry. An avid sports fan, you will find him cheering on his favorite BYU teams, and he still plays pickleball, tennis, and golf.

Mr. Don is an Arizona civil rights attorney focused on serious constitutional litigation, including correctional healthcare failures, jail deaths, and claims arising from government misconduct. For more than three decades, he has litigated complex civil cases in state and federal courts. His practice includes Section 1983 civil rights claims, wrongful death litigation, and serious injury matters arising from systemic negligence and institutional failure. Mr. Don has tried cases in courtrooms across Arizona and has appeared in federal appellate proceedings. His work is grounded in detailed record review, expert development, and structured trial preparation.is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) and has obtained multiple multimillion-dollar jury verdicts. He has served as President of the Phoenix Chapter of the Arizona Trial Lawyers Association and has twice received Top Ten Civil Jury Verdict of the year recognition in Arizona. Mr. Don has served as Adjunct Faculty at Arizona State University, teaching Health Care Law. He lectures attorneys and professionals on trial presentation, psychiatric injury, and civil rights litigation.

Ms. Kimmel has worked for and been a partner in a number of law firms during her 30-year career, most recently returning to Goldberg & Osborne as a Managing Attorney of four offices in Southern Arizona where she continues to represent clients with personal injuries. Ms. Kimmel graduated from Greater Hartford Community College with an Associates Degree and University of Hartford with a B.A. in politics and government. She next graduated from the University of San Diego in 1990 with a JD. Since then, Ms. Kimmel has practiced in Connecticut and Arizona, and currently practices in Tucson, Arizona. She holds licenses in the State of Arizona, District Court of Arizona, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the White Mountain Apache Tribal Court. Ms. Kimmel is a Certified Specialist in Personal Injury and Wrongful Death by the Arizona State Bar. Her focus during the last 28 years has been in personal injury representing consumers and vulnerable people including children and elderly. A wide variety of personal injury cases are handled by Ms. Kimmel including motor vehicle collisions, premises liability, nursing negligence, and medical malpractice. Ms. Kimmel has successfully arbitrated and tried cases including complex and wrongful death cases, and has litigated appellate cases resulting in two published opinions in her clients’ favor – one in the Arizona Supreme Court and the other in Arizona Court of Appeals.

Mr. Offenhartz is a business attorney who represents clients in the finance, medical, construction, real estate and culinary industries. Mr. Offenhartz has significant experience managing all phases of litigation, including preliminary investigations, discovery, depositions, settlement negotiations, mediation, motions for summary judgment, trial and appeals. Mr. Offenhartz is a member of Madison School District’s Financial Advisory Board and a board member of the Desert States Region of Jewish National Fund. He supports the Phoenix Art Museum as a member of the Men’s Art Council, and helps others by volunteering with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Arizona, Saint Mary’s Food Bank and the Wounded Warrior Project. Mr. Offenhartz earned his B.S. degree in public administration from the University of Arizona, and his master’s and J.D. degrees from Arizona State University. He is licensed to practice law in Arizona; Southern District Court, District of Arizona; and Southern Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.

Ms. Padish Hoebing is a skilled attorney who practices primarily in family law, criminal defense, and civil litigation. Prior to joining Padish Law Group, she served as in-house counsel at Benedictine University and Assistant General Counsel for the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, Internal Affairs Division. Ms. Padish Hoebing has a wealth of experience litigating in city, state, and appellate courts. Recognized for her achievements, she was named to the National Trial Lawyers’ Top 40 Under 40 in 2023, 2024 and 2025. She earned her J.D. from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law and her B.A. in Political Science and Art History from the University of Arizona. Ms. Padish Hoebing is admitted to practice law in both Arizona and Illinois. She is actively involved in her professional community, serving as the current President and past Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary of the Scottsdale Bar Association. Ms. Padish Hoebing is also a member of the Arizona Women Lawyers Association and serves on the City of Scottsdale Personnel Board.

Mr. Torrens main areas of practice are personal injury litigation, alternative dispute resolution, and commercial litigation. Mr. Torrens lectures nationally in the areas of contracts, personal injury, and trial advocacy. He is a faculty member of the Arizona College of Trial Advocacy and a graduate of the State Bar of Arizona’s CLE Institute. Mr. Torrens is a member of the State Bar of Arizona and the Colorado Bar Association. He is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and a judge pro tem with the Maricopa County Superior Court. Mr. Torrens earned his B.A. degree from Arizona State University and his J.D. degree from the University of Nebraska.

Ms. Banta is a connector and resourceful problem solver who is passionate about demystifying legal requirements and helping clients create, protect and leverage value. She is a registered patent attorney and focuses on assisting Fortune 100 and middle-market clients with global trademark, patent, and copyright needs and infringement issues. She concentrates her practice in the areas of foreign and U.S. trademark, patent, and copyright prosecution; bet-the-company patent, trademark, copyright, design, unfair competition, right of publicity, marketing, and trade secret litigation; dispute negotiation; intellectual property licensing; and business planning for protection and value enhancement of intellectual property. Her focus in all these endeavors is business planning for protection and value enhancement of intellectual property.

As a connector, Ms. Banta’s intellectual property clients trust her to find the right connection on non-IP issues, and so Holiday enjoys serving as outside general counsel to many of her clients. She assists companies to develop in-house intellectual property protection programs and recommends and implements protection strategies for core intellectual property assets. Through these programs and strategies, she provides clients with business planning to protect and enhance the value of their intellectual property. Ms. Banta has worked with clients in a wide range of fields, including the medical device, biotechnology, software, agricultural, wine, consumer products, chemical, pharmaceutical, equine, wireless technology, private equity, logistics, real estate, food service, automotive, banking, drone, insurance, refrigeration, plastics, aviation, toys, veterinary, travel, and publishing fields.

Ms. Hamer’s experience, success, and reputation earned her the honor of receiving IndyBar’s first-ever V. Sue Shields Young Female Lawyer Award in August 2025. The award recognizes an emerging female attorney who embodies excellence, professionalism, and a commitment to the ideals of justice. Ms. Hamer was selected by her peers as an Indiana Super Lawyers – Rising Star honoree in 2019-2025 in Environmental Litigation, and Best Lawyers – Ones to Watch for 2024-2026 in Environmental Law, Construction Law, and Personal Injury Litigation – Defense. In addition, she is a registered civil mediator. Ms. Hamer is a volunteer attorney for multiple projects through the Indianapolis Bar Association (IndyBar), the Indiana Bar Association, and the Indiana Bar Foundation. She has served on the Executive Committee for the Women and Law Division (WLD) of IndyBar since 2017 and chaired the WLD Mentoring Program in 2018 and 2019. As of 2021, she is an at-large member of the IndyBar Insurance Coverage Section’s Executive Committee. In 2025, she was elected to a two-year term as Vice-Chair of the Indianapolis Chapter of Women in E-Discovery, having previously served a term as Social Media Director and a term as Membership Director.

Ms. Hamer was elected to the Institute of Hazardous Materials Management’s (IHMM) National Board of Directors in 2020 and re-elected for another four-year term beginning in 2024. She was elected Chair of the IHMM’s Board in 2025, having previously served on the Executive Committee as Vice-Chair and Secretary. The IHMM certifies and manages multiple hazardous and dangerous materials and occupational safety and health credentials. She is also a regular speaker on environmental law, including PFAS topics, administrative laws and procedures, and on construction and insurance law issues. Ms. Hamer has been a Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM) since 2010, as accredited under ANSI/ISO/IEC 17024, the International Standard for Personnel Certification Programs, and the Council of Engineering and Scientific Specialty Boards (CESB).She is also an environmental professional, as defined in the ASTM E1527 standard for environmental and real estate due diligence and under the U.S. EPA’s guidance.

Her prior legal experience includes work as a civil defense attorney for another Indianapolis law firm, where she concentrated on environmental, construction, and A/E professional malpractice litigation and insurance coverage. She previously was an attorney in E-discovery and ESI management. She was a law clerk in Marion Environmental Court under Judge David Certo, with the Civil Litigation Section of the Indiana Attorney General’s office, and for Chief Environmental Law Judge Mary Davidsen with the former Indiana Office of Environmental Adjudication. Ms. Hamer’s prior business experience includes work as an environmental and real estate redevelopment consultant, in environmental laboratories, and as a regulator in multiple states and regulatory media. She led her certified woman-owned business for several years, providing environmental risk assessment, technical review, regulatory negotiation, and business development services for environmental consultants in Indiana and Illinois.

Ms. Hamer was also a senior environmental manager and environmental risk assessor for the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM). She was an invited peer-reviewer and is credited in the 2012 IDEM Remediation Closure Guide. She is a founder and a past vice president and treasurer of the Midwestern States Environmental Consultants Association and was an organizer of the 2006, 2009, and 2010 Midwestern States Risk Assessment Symposiums. Ms. Hamer earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from Columbia College where she graduated cum laude. She then earned her Juris Doctor degree from Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law and a graduate certificate in Environmental and Natural Resources Law.

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

Mr. Ofori-Amanfo’s broad-based experience includes investigation of collapsed structures, investigation of construction defects and damage, investigation of condensation in building envelopes, evaluation of roof and wall leakage, field water spray testing of windows, and assessment of wind and hail damage. His work also involves giving expert testimony and assisting attorneys in resolving disputes over construction and materials-related problems. Prior to establishing Collins Forensics LLC, Mr. Ofori-Amanfo previously worked for many years at Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. (WJE), the Illinois Department of Transportation, and Twin City Testing Corporation. He received his B.S. degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Science and Technology in Ghana and his M.S. degree in Structural Engineering from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. Mr. Ofori-Amanfo is a registered professional engineer in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, North Dakota, Nebraska, and Missouri.

Ms. Sauls received both her J.D. and Graduate Degree in Comparative Law from Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center, graduating cum laude. While in law school, She served as an executive member of the Moot Court Board. Additionally, she completed an externship in the First Circuit Court of Appeals and trained to mediate resolution of conflicts through her involvement in the Civil Mediation Clinic. Ms. Sauls was recognized by the Wex S. Malone Inns of Court for excellence in Trial Advocacy and received the CALI award in Contracts. She earned her undergraduate bachelor of science degree in Marketing from LSU.

Ms. Varnado represents clients in all areas of construction, general liability, insurance defense, commercial litigation, and advises clients on government relations and regulatory matters. Ms. Varnado is ranked by her peers and clients among the Louisiana Super Lawyers “Rising Stars” in Construction Litigation, Civil Litigation, and Business/Corporate Law.

Professor Fratta is an associate professor in Geological Engineering and Civil Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He holds Civil Engineering degrees from three different universities: a diploma from U.N. Corboda (Argentina), an M.A.Sc. degree from U. of Waterloo (Canada), and a Ph.D. degree from Georgia Tech (USA). He has over 20 years of teaching experience through courses in soil mechanics, foundation engineering, and applied geophysics, and he is the author of three books. Professor Fratta also supports a research group that pursues studies in near-surface geophysics, wave propagation in soils and groups, and experimental geotechnical engineering.

Ms. Sadeghi has more than 17 years of experience providing legal services and representation to individuals and families, developing strategies and advocating for legal rights. Her experience includes litigating and advocating on behalf of a large, active client base focusing on complex civil litigation, family and probate law and elder law. Ms. Sadeghi formerly taught at the paralegal program for Suffolk University Law School and is currently a guest lecturer at Northeastern University Law School. In 2023, she received the Massachusetts Lawyers’ Weekly “Making a Difference” honor, part of the Top Women of the Law 2023. She serves as a Board of Bar Overseers lawyer licensing board discipline hearing officer as well as a certified Guardian Ad Litem by the Massachusetts Trial Court.

Dr. Souza is the founding partner of Princeton Hydro, LLC. From its inception in 1998 through 2018, he served as president of Princeton Hydro, retiring from the company in 2019. Over the past 35 years he has dedicated his career to the management and restoration of aquatic ecosystems, in particular lakes, ponds, and reservoirs. Dr. Souza received his B.S. degree in 1974 from the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, his M.S. in 1976 from Rutgers University, and his Ph.D. in 1981 from the University of Connecticut. He has served over the past 25 years as an instructor and course coordinator for the Rutgers NJAES Office of Continuing Professional Education, developing and implementing multiple short courses focused on the management and restoration of aquatic ecosystems. Dr. Souza is also an adjunct professor at Temple University (Ambler Campus), teaching a graduate studies course in the Department of Landscape and Horticulture (Tyler School of Art and Agriculture). He also conducts a professional continuing education course focusing on green infrastructure stormwater management for CPES through Montclair State University.

Ms. Warner has dedicated over 30 years to planning, designing, and constructing public facilities, focusing on accessible design for the past 25 years. Her goal is to ensure that individuals of all abilities can enjoy the facilities in the City of San Diego. Throughout her career, Ms. Warner has worked in various departments, including Engineering, Parks, and Public Works, and is currently with the Sustainability and Mobility Department, specifically in the ADA Compliance and Accessibility Section. Her influence extends beyond her current role. Ms. Warner actively collaborates on the development of Street Design Guidelines, Curb ramp design guidelines and City standards, Municipal codes, and Public Rights of Way policies. She oversees the city’s accessibility compliance program and implements improvements outlined in the Facilities and Right-of-Way (ROW) Transition Plan, demonstrating her comprehensive approach to accessibility. Ms. Warner holds a Master of Science degree in Architectural Engineering and is a Certified Access Specialist. She reviews design and construction documents, provides training, and develops new standards and guidelines to ensure compliance with accessibility regulations. Additionally, Ms. Warner serves as a board member of California’s Certified Access Specialists Institute.

Mr. Wassam is the Founder and Chief Drone Pilot of Aerial Ops Drone Services and a Part 107 FAA Certified Pilot with more than 25 years of experience in professional photography, video production, and visual documentation. He specializes in delivering accurate, mission-specific aerial data and high-impact imagery for commercial construction, infrastructure, quarry, and corporate projects. Mr. Wassam combines advanced UAS operations, including progress documentation, mapping, 2D orthomosaics, 3D modeling, and site analysis, with professional-grade software to produce actionable data—not just visuals. His approach is grounded in a strong understanding of jobsite workflows, safety considerations, and decision-making requirements for project managers and engineers. In addition to his drone expertise, Mr. Wassam brings a unique technical perspective from an extensive background as a decorative artist and specialty contractor, working closely with architects, designers, and top building contractors on residential and commercial projects. This hands-on construction experience allows him to communicate effectively with field teams and deliver aerial products that align with real-world construction needs. By integrating technical accuracy, regulatory compliance, and visual clarity, he helps clients reduce risk, improve efficiency, and gain better insight into their projects through aerial intelligence.

Dr. Wu is an associate professor in the Department of Civil, Coastal, and Environmental Engineering at the University of South Alabama. He is the director for Interdisciplinary Center for Sustainable Engineering (ICSE), the Gulf-Coast Center for Addressing Microplastic Pollution (GC-CAMP), the Solid Waste Sustainability Hub and the director for Sustainable Asphalt Materials Lab. Dr. Wu was a senior sustainability research engineer in the Illinois Center for Transportation at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His research and education areas include asphalt materials characterization; smart, sustainable transportation materials for infrastructure; pavement performance evaluation and modeling; and pavement design and maintenance. Dr. Wu has successfully secured over $7.8 million in research funding from various federal and state agencies, as well as industry. He has published 67 peer-reviewed journal articles, 11 technical reports, and has presented at over 56 conferences and 33 invited talks. Dr. Wu teaches a mixture of undergraduate and graduate engineering courses such as Pavement Design and Advanced Characterization of Transportation Materials. He developed a free course for students to pass the fundamentals of engineering exam. Dr. Wu is a committee member for Transportation Research Board (TRB) AJE35 and AKM 90, and a member of American Society of Civil Engineer (ASCE), American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), and Academy of Pavement Science and Engineering (ASPE). Dr. Wu is also an editorial member for ASCE Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, Journal of Testing and Evaluation, and International Journal of Pavement Research and Technology. He serves as a panel member for several NCHRP and ACRP projects. He is also a registered professional engineer in Alabama and a LEED accredited professional.

Ms. Banks focuses her practice on all areas of construction law, from contract drafting and negotiation, to pre-litigation dispute resolution, and complex construction disputes involving construction defect, mechanic’s lien, and payment bond claims. She represents clients across the construction spectrum, including design professionals, owners, contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers. In addition to her construction practice, Ms. Banks serves as outside legal counsel to the AIA Contract Documents Committee and has been intimately involved in the drafting of, and updates to, AIA Contract Documents over the past fifteen years. Ms. Banks frequently presents on topics including risk management for design professionals, owners, and contractors, and updates to, and analysis of, AIA Contract Documents.

Ms. Banks has been published in the Journal of the American College of Construction Lawyers, Construction Law Handbook, and the Maryland State Bar Association Deskbook, as well as in other professional books and publications. Ms. Banks is a Fellow in the American College of Construction Lawyers and has been listed in Chambers USA for Construction in Maryland, U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” for Construction Law in Maryland, and Maryland Super Lawyers for Construction Litigation. Ms. Banks is also a member of the American Bar Association Forum on the Construction Industry, Maryland State Bar Association, and District of Columbia Bar Association.

Mr. Katz has practiced law in Maryland for two decades, primarily focusing on construction litigation. However, he has a soft spot for representing architects and engineers facing disciplinary proceedings. In these cases, he aims to both zealously defend his clients from harsh repercussions so as to preserve their license to practice, but also to educate them so that they can avoid further disciplinary charges in the future.

Mr. Kelly joined Jackson & Campbell, P.C. from the Department of Justice in 1988. He became a Director in 1992 and a Shareholder in 1993, and is a member of the Firm’s General Litigation and Trial Practice Group. He has been appointed a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, is rated AV-Preeminent™ by Martindale-Hubbell, and has received the coveted Super Lawyer designation for Washington, D.C. in the fields of professional liability, general litigation, and insurance coverage annually beginning in 2012. He is included on the Roster of Neutrals of the American Arbitration Association (AAA) for construction disputes, and serves as an arbitrator and mediator in disputes brought to the AAA for resolution.

He serves as a volunteer arbitrator with the D.C. Bar’s Attorney/Client Arbitration Board, is a Steering Committee member of the Litigation Community of the District of Columbia Bar, and is a member of the Steering Committee of the Construction Law Section of the Maryland State Bar Association. In 2015 he was elected a Fellow of the American College of Coverage and Extra-Contractual Counsel. Mr. Kelly’s practice has concentrated on the counseling and defense of clients in litigation arising out of construction defect and delay claims, professional liability claims (particularly those brought against architects, engineers and social services providers), environmental and toxic tort disputes (including asbestos, gasoline spills, and interior mold claims), pharmaceutical product liability claims and serious bodily injury and wrongful death claims. He also assists insurance companies in resolving coverage questions arising under general liability and professional liability policies in those and other areas of the law, and represents insurers in coverage litigation.

Like any litigator, he has had occasion to take on cases in other areas as far afield as those involving employment discrimination, public charity tax issues, and tort suits against adoption agencies. A member of the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Florida bars, Mr. Kelly’s practice is centered in the regional D.C., Maryland, and Virginia state and federal courts, but he has been admitted pro hac vice to the courts of virtually all other east coast states, and in a good number of western states including Arizona, Montana, Texas, and Wyoming. In addition to his trial work, Bob has represented clients in appeals in several states, including briefing appeals to the Supreme Courts of Delaware, South Carolina, and Texas, and briefing and arguing appeals to the Supreme Courts of Virginia and West Virginia, the Court of Special Appeals of Maryland, and the U.S. Courts of Appeal for the Third, Fourth, Fifth, and Eleventh Circuits. Before coming to Jackson & Campbell, Mr. Kelly was a Senior Trial Attorney with DOJ’s Civil Division (Torts Branch) defending environmental and toxic tort (asbestos) claims brought against the United States under the Federal Tort Claims Act.

He also maintained a significant admiralty and maritime tort caseload. In 1987, he joined the Adjunct Faculty of the Washington College of Law at The American University, where he taught legal writing for seven years. He received a Bachelor of Science in Engineering in civil engineering from Princeton University in 1974 and a J.D. from the University of Miami School of Law in 1977. Mr. Kelly speaks and publishes frequently on litigation and insurance coverage topics, and currently is most active in the Construction Law Section of the Maryland State Bar Association, and the Litigation Section of the District of Columbia Bar. He is a past Vice Chair of the Insurance Litigation Committee of the American Bar Association’s Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section (TIPS).

He authors and provides annual updates to the chapters on District of Columbia law in two highly regarded treatises, the “Tort Law Desk Reference” and the “Product Liability Desk Reference.” He wrote the chapter on Post-Evidentiary Actions and Relief from Judgments and Orders for inclusion in the D.C. Bar Association’s most recent (2014) update to its “Civil Trial Practice Manual,” as well as the post-trial (appellate) chapter in the recent reissuance of “Appleman’s on Insurance,” a nationally recognized treatise on insurance coverage law. He also has been principally responsible for updating the DC Bar’s Litigation Section’s chapter on Superior Court Civil Practice in “The District of Columbia Practice Manual.”

Mr. Policastri is a trial attorney with more than 37 years of experience handling commercial and construction disputes, including the defense of professional liability matters involving engineers and other design professionals. He regularly advises clients on insurance coverage issues related to professional liability. Mr. Policastri has represented parties in multi-million-dollar claims involving alleged design coordination failures, construction sequencing disputes, and performance standard disagreements, where liability turned on the project specifications and the allocation of responsibility under contract documents. He earned an LL.M. in Litigation Management, focusing on the trial and dispute resolution strategy in the management of complex multiparty litigation with catastrophic loss. Mr. Policastri is licensed to practice in Maryland, the District of Columbia, Virginia, and Louisiana.

Mr. Smith practices in O’Hagan Meyer’s Maryland office. A civil litigator for over 30 years, the bulk of his time has been devoted to the defense of design professionals. He holds an AV Preeminent® rating from Martindale Hubbell. In addition to providing malpractice litigation defense, he prepares and negotiates contracts and provides risk mitigation advice for his clients. Mr. Smith has litigated, tried cases, and handled appellate matters in each of the jurisdictions in which he practices. While he has concentrated on the defense of design professionals, he has experience in premises liability, automobile accident, products liability, insurance coverage, food poisoning, asbestos cases, and even one McDonald’s “hot coffee” case. Mr. Smith spent seven years as the in-house lead claims counsel for Baltimore Gas & Electric Company (BGE). There, he oversaw cases from investigation through trial, handled portions of crisis response, as well as advised management on risk mitigation strategies. His experience with utility issues began before his stint with BGE, providing defense and counsel to underground utility locating companies, and continued after his return to private practice with work on revisions to the Maryland “Miss Utility” law and membership on the Defense Research Institute’s Public Utilities Task Force. Mr. Smith was BGE’s representative to the Southeastern Electric Exchange Claims Committee, where he also served as secretary, vice chair and chair, (at different times).

At the firm, Mr. Vyas handles legal matters in the realm of construction, contracts, patents, and more. In the construction law world, he represents a wide variety of clients ranging from contractors and owners to engineers and subcontractors. Mr. Vyas has garnered the attention of many attorneys and engineers alike in a short time since opening his own law firm in 2018. This has brought him recognition on a national and global scale with his handling negotiations, mediation, and arbitration internationally in addition to his domestic law practice. Mr. Vyas has organized symposiums to discuss construction law issues and spoken at various conferences and internal construction company events about how to best manage and mitigate legal risk in engineering and construction projects. In 2018, the same year He opened his law firm, he was awarded the Clients’ Choice Award. Since becoming an attorney, Mr. Vyas has collected numerous accolades including consecutively being selected to the Super Lawyers Rising Stars list. He enjoys the life of being a true solo attorney law firm. It allows him to truly connect to each of his clients and address their needs directly. Mr. Vyas regularly posts to his law firm’s blog and on social media channels @SAVLawFirm. While connecting with clients is his favorite activity, he also stays regularly connected with his peers and new topics in the field of engineering and law as he is a member of over a dozen unique associations, institutions, bars, and programs across the globe.

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

Mr. Rute is a licensed Wisconsin architect with extensive experience in construction, design, and regulatory aspects of the built environment. Beginning his journey with exposure to the construction industry, he earned an architectural degree and worked across traditional architectural offices, design/build firms, and corporate settings acquiring experience with many aspects of the profession. Mr. Rute later served as a plan examiner and Manager of the City of Milwaukee Development Center for over 25 years as a code official, collaborating with colleagues at various government levels to adopt, administer, and apply building codes and standards to many and varied building types. Now a consultant, he advises architects, developers, and building & business owners on building and zoning codes and assists with navigating the whitewater of the entitlement process for a variety of development projects. Mr. Rute provides code tutorials to design professionals and is an adjunct professor teaching building codes to architecture students at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee School of Architecture & Urban Planning. He also actively participates in code development sitting on several committees of the International Code Council and the American Institute of Architects Codes & Standards Committee. Mr. Rute is a passionate proponent of preservation and adaptive reuse of historic buildings.

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

Mr. Iorio is an engineer with StormTree, a Rhode Island-based design and engineering firm specializing in integrating plant systems with stormwater management for commercial and residential applications throughout the Northeast. Over the past 25 years, he has designed and implemented soil and water pollutant removal systems that incorporate principles of bioretention and “natural enhancement,” including biological (bioremediation) and plant-based (phytoremediation) techniques, to achieve cleanup goals and support low-impact development solutions.

Prior to joining StormTree, Mr. Iorio worked as an independent landscape design consultant and contractor. He holds both undergraduate and graduate degrees in plant, soil, and water sciences, as well as environmental engineering.

In 1991, Mr. Milner earned his degree in Electrical Engineering from Stratham Technical College and the University of New Hampshire. Over the next two decades, he owned and operated Milhouse Enterprises in New Hampshire, where he became a leading installer of grid-tied and off-grid solar power systems throughout the New England region. Through his work with programs such as Solarize and Power Up NH, he developed a strong reputation for innovation and quality in renewable energy deployment.

During this period, he also collaborated with the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission, assisting in the development of policies and procedures related to solar energy and state rebate programs.

In 2018, Mr. Milner founded Univix Power Solutions, a manufacturing company based in Laconia, New Hampshire. Univix specializes in the production of hybrid inverters and advanced carbon-based battery systems, reflecting his long-standing commitment to sustainable, reliable, and forward-thinking energy technologies.

Professor Rauf has over 25 years of experience in teaching undergraduate and post graduate engineering, science, math, business administration and MBA courses, seminars, and workshops. He earned his BS degree in Electrical Engineering, with honors, from North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina. Professor Rauf earned his Executive MBA degree from Pfeiffer University Misenheimer, North Carolina. He is a registered professional engineer in the States of Virginia, Wyoming, and North Carolina, and he is a Certified Energy Manager. Professor Rauf holds a patent in process controls technology. His last full-time engineering employment, in the corporate world, was at PPG Industries, Inc. where he served as a senior staff engineer. Professor Rauf was inducted as “Legend in Energy” by AEE, in 2014. He is a member of ASEE, American Society of Engineering Education. Professor Rauf has developed and instructed Professional Engineering and Fundamentals of Engineering Exam (NCEES) Prep Courses over the past 20 years. He develops and instructs PDHs (Professional Development Hours) and continuing education, engineering skill building seminars and courses. Professor Rauf is also an adjunct professor at Gardner-Webb University. He has published multiple texts over the last ten years. Professor Rauf also provides text editorial services to River Publishers.

Mr. Nechamen was the Floodplain Coordinator for the State of New York Department of Environmental Conservation for 21 years. During that period, he helped to promote higher floodplain standards in New York, including enacting a two foot “freeboard” requirement in New York’s building code, saving property owners millions of dollars in flood losses and flood insurance premiums. One of the founders of the New York State Floodplain and Stormwater Managers Association (NYSFSMA), a professional association with over 600 active members, He was their first Chair and currently serves the Association as its treasurer.

Mr. Nechamen has been a Board member of the Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM) at various times for 13 years. ASFPM represents over 15,000 professionals across the United States and internationally and is a key national voice in policies designed to reduce flood risk while preserving the natural and beneficial functions of floodplains. He served as chair (2013-2015), vice-chair (2011-2013) and treasurer (2008-2010) and is currently co-chair of the Floodplain Regulations Committee. Mr. Nechamen has received the ASFPM Meritorious Lifetime Achievement in Floodplain Management Award.
In his capacity as Floodplain Coordinator, he has led workshops and training sessions on the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), floodplain management and regulations, understanding and interpreting flood maps, flood insurance and the Community Rating System.

Ms. Echikson has been a paralegal working almost exclusively in family law for over 20 years and has been with Materese Family Law in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania, since its inception. Prior to her time at MFL, she worked in the family law departments at the Greater Philadelphia area law firms of Dischell Bartle Dooley, Weber Gallagher, and Wolf Block. Ms. Echikson earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Paralegal Studies from Peirce College and holds a Pennsylvania paralegal certification from the Keystone Alliance of Paralegal Associations. She currently serves as President of the Montgomery County Paralegal Association. Along with Ms. Sheriff and other paralegals across the Commonwealth, Ms. Echikson is a founding Board member of the Family Law Paralegals of Pennsylvania (FLPP), a paralegal association dedicated to providing resources and support to paralegals practicing family law in Pennsylvania. She also currently serves as FLPP’s Vice-President and membership chair. In addition, Ms. Echikson is FLPP’s primary delegate to the Keystone Alliance of Paralegal Associations, where she also holds the position of Secretary. She is also a member of various community organizations, including serving as an Area Leader for Free Mom Hugs of Pennsylvania, a Board member for the LGBT Equality Alliance of Chester County, and Secretary of Soroptimist International of Phoenixville.

Mr. Green serves as Deputy Chair of Obermayer’s Litigation Department. He concentrates his practice on commercial litigation and employment law in the state and federal courts of New Jersey and Pennsylvania. He has extensive experience and has been lead counsel in litigation relating to contracts, real-estate disputes, non-compete agreements, and employment disputes. Mr. Green prides himself on his effective and efficient representation of his clients and the favorable results he has achieved for them. He is responsive and compassionate toward his clients and he is known for the high quality of his legal representation and his attention to detail. Mr. Green earned his J.D. degree from Temple University, Beasley School of Law.

Mr. Hart is admitted to practice law in the State of New Jersey, The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. Mr. Hart’s practice scope entails all aspects of civil litigation including personal injury, commercial litigation, liability defense, consumer fraud, and business disputes. Mr. Hart has successfully counseled clients on a variety of complex legal issues and has demonstrated a track record of success through numerous legal accomplishments. He has represented clients of all sizes in complex litigation matters including individuals, small businesses, Fortune 500 companies, and government entities. Prior to joining Kent & McBride, Mr. Hart was an Associate Attorney at a litigation firm in Gibbsboro, NJ where he concentrated his practice on personal injury, product liability claims, consumer fraud, professional malpractice, municipal court violations, and commercial litigation. Mr. Hart is a graduate of Rutgers University School of Law, where he was admitted into the highly selective and rigorous JD/MBA program. He finished both degrees a semester early due to his outstanding achievement and scholarship as a student. During law school, Mr. Hart clerked for a global Fortune 100 insurance company where he focused his work on matters such as motor vehicle collisions, slip & fall accidents, dog bites and products liability cases. Mr. Hart received his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Drexel University where he was a double-major in Marketing and Legal Studies. Prior to graduation, Mr. Hart was awarded with the prestigious “Emerging Leader” award by Drexel University.

Prior to joining Perry Calder, Mr. Perry served as an associate attorney in the New York City office of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom. There, he represented Fortune 500 companies in mass tort, insurance and consumer litigation actions in federal and state courts across the country, contributing to his department’s listing as a Law 360 2022 “Product Liability Group of the Year.” At Skadden, Alex gained invaluable trial experience working under American Lawyer’s 2022 “Litigator of the Year,” playing a supporting role on several of her trial teams that obtained winning verdicts for clients faced with lawsuits seeking hundreds of millions of dollars. At Perry Calder Law, Mr. Perry serves clients as both trial and appellate counsel. He has helped recover more than fifty million dollars for clients victimized by medical malpractice and personal injuries. Mr. Perry graduated cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. Prior to that, he graduated with highest distinction from the Pennsylvania State University and earned the Evan Pugh Scholar Award for finishing in the top .5% of his class. Before becoming a lawyer, Mr. Perry undertook a mini pupilage with a Queen’s Counsel barrister in London, England at XXIV Old Buildings. He also worked in the recruiting department for the Penn State football team.

Mr. Veloski represents individuals who have suffered serious accidents and catastrophic injuries. Mr. Veloski grew up in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and obtained his bachelor’s degree from Temple University. After graduating, he worked for a local Philadelphia hospital system, before returning to Temple University for Law School. During law school, he received awards for his writing, was an editor of the Temple Law Review, and completed Temple’s nationally recognized trial advocacy program. Mr. Veloski brings this breadth of experience and knowledge to the firm, and fights passionately for the rights of people who have been seriously injured as a result of corporate negligence and careless actions. Since joining the firm he has helped to achieve life-changing results for hundreds of clients and has tried cases to juries in Philadelphia and the surrounding counties.