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Dr. Hongtao Dang is an assistant professor in Construction Management and Construction Engineering. He has a Ph.D. degree in Civil Engineering with a specialization in Construction Engineering and Management from Iowa State University (ISU). He served as graduate program coordinator at Central Washington University (CWU), advised undergraduate and graduate students, and he has published many journal articles and conference proceedings. Dr. Dang is a licensed professional engineer with approximately six years of professional experience working on heavy civil (e.g., bridges), industrial (e.g., powerplants), and commercial (e.g., hotels) projects. He taught various courses in construction programs for many years at ISU and CWU. Dr. Dang served as the Faculty Fellow for Excellence in Teaching and Learning and received the Above and Beyond Award in 2021, the Outstanding Scholar Award in 2021, and the Outstanding Online Peer Mentor Award in 2022 at CWU. He received the 2022 Associated Schools of Construction (ASC) Region 7 Teaching Award, recognizing the faculty member’s contribution to construction education, excellence in teaching, service to the ASC, and dedication to the construction profession. Additionally, Dr. Dang coached many student teams in national and international competitions and developed three online courses for the American Society of Professional Estimators (ASPE). He is the director of Associated Schools of Construction (ASC) Region 7 and a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Transportation Research Board (TRB), American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE), American Society of Engineering Management (ASEM), American Society of Professional Estimators (ASPE), Construction Research Congress (CRC), and Construction Institute (CI) Digital Project Delivery (DPD) Committee. Dr. Dang serves as a reviewer for the Journal of Management in Engineering, Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, Journal of Civil Engineering Education, Journal of Architectural Engineering, Journal of Legal Affairs and Dispute Resolutions, Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering, Journal of Automation in Construction, International Journal of Construction Education and Research, and International Journal of Construction Management. He has been recognized as the outstanding reviewer multiple times in ASCE Journals.

Dakota Hunter, PWS, currently leads the wetland and botany service with Copperhead Environmental Consulting and manages the company’s satellite office located in Staunton, Virginia. He began his career in 2015 working as a wetland scientist and wildlife biologist, and has since accrued extensive experience leading wetland delineations, conducting surveys for federal and state listed flora and fauna species and providing maintenance and monitoring services for wetland restoration projects. He completed Master’s level research at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA studying correlations between invasive plant prevalence, environmental factors, and native plant assemblages on wetland mitigation banks. He has worked as a wetland and stream mitigation manager and has led field surveys on large-scale energy projects, roadway expansions, commercial real estate, and federal land improvement projects. Mr. Hunter has developed and implemented botanical inventories and related research, invasive species management, and mitigation monitoring plans across Appalachia, the mid-Atlantic, and the southeastern United States. He was certified as a Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS) in 2023 by the Society of Wetland Scientists Professional Certification Program, and as a Qualified Hydrologic Professional (QHP) by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.

Dr. Michael Liptak is a senior ecologist at EnviroScience, Inc, where he specializes in wetland ecology, wetland restoration, and mitigation wetland design. Dr. Liptak earned a B.S. degree in Biology at the University of Toledo and a Ph.D. degree in Environmental Science at Ohio State University under the noted wetland ecologist Dr. William Mitsch. He has over 25 years of experience in wetlands research and consulting and is a Certified Senior Ecologist (Ecological Society of America). His primary responsibilities at EnviroScience Inc. include wetland mitigation planning, wetland assessments and delineations, technical report preparation, and permitting. Dr. Liptak is a member of the Society of Wetlands Scientists and the Ecological Society of America, and regularly gives seminars on wetland issues and regulations.

Mr. Murray is a senior scientist with AtkinsRealis. He holds a B.S. degree in Environmental Sciences – Geology from Georgia College & State University and is a professional wetland scientist in the United States as well as a qualified hydrologic professional in the State of Tennessee. He has nine years of experience in geomorphic assessments and environmental compliance/permitting. Mr. Murray is responsible for leading wetland delineations, stream classifications, habitat assessments, 404 permitting, buffer variances, and protected species surveys. He has participated in a number of water resources delineations, protected species relocations, bridge surveys, and plant identifications.

Mr. Nortz is one of two founding principals of Otisco Engineering Ltd. with engineering capabilities in environmental, ecological restoration, hydrology, hydrogeology, and water resources. His experience in engineering and construction includes stream, site, and wetland restoration permitting, design and construction, stormwater management, and green infrastructure design. Most of his project experience is in the urban setting, integrating water features into the built environment. With dual degrees and certifications in Geology and Engineering and with experience as a regulator and in industry, Mr. Nortz collaborates with multidisciplinary teams, including those comprised of scientists, engineers, field technicians, administrators, owners, local/state officials, and contractors. He is passionate about healthy watersheds and the enjoyment of water features. Mr. Nortz volunteers for boards such as the Rocky River Watershed Council (former board chair) and stays involved in technical/professional organizations such as the Ohio Stormwater Association. He is a registered professional engineer in Ohio and Minnesota and a Certified Professional Geologist with the American Institute of Professional Geologists. Mr. Nortz earned his B.S. degree in Geological Water Resources from Ohio University (Athens) and his M.S. degree in Agricultural Engineering from The Ohio State University.

Mr. Ritchie brings over 18 years of experience in environmental consulting, with expertise spanning site investigation, remediation, restoration, regulatory compliance, wetland science, ecological assessments, and effective root zone studies. He holds a B.S. degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Tulane University and an M.S. degree in Soil and Water Science from the University of Florida. Mr. Ritchie began his career with the Coastwide Reference Monitoring System of Wetlands in coastal Louisiana, developing a strong foundation in field-based environmental work. Over the years, he advanced into project management roles within regional consulting firms, gaining a comprehensive understanding of both field operations and regulatory processes. In 2022, Mr. Ritchie founded Ritchie Ecological and Environmental Solutions (REES), an environmental consulting firm serving clients across the oil and gas, energy transmission, and renewable energy sectors. He is recognized as a subject matter expert in a range of disciplines, including botany, plant ecology, agronomy, soil science, wetlands, and regulatory compliance, and has provided expert testimony in litigation involving these topics. Mr. Ritchie’s restoration work is particularly focused on the rehabilitation of former oil field sites and post construction wetland restoration along pipeline rights-of-way. His approach focuses on restoring native habitat through practical solutions to support sustainable land and resource management.

Dr. Wentzell is a wetland ecologist specializing in wetland restoration, phytoremediation, and ecosystem resilience. As dean of the School of STEM and an associate professor of Biology at St. Thomas Aquinas College, she integrates research, education, and conservation to address human impacts on wetlands. Her work focuses on nutrient cycling, plant-based remediation techniques, and habitat restoration, including projects in the Adirondack Mountain wetlands and the New Jersey Pine Barrens. She has led riparian restoration efforts to protect the Sparkill Creek watershed in New York and developed the Wetland Ambassadors Program, an international fellowship supporting students in wetland science. Passionate about applied ecological solutions, Dr. Wentzell continues to advance science-based conservation through research, education, and community engagement.

Mr. Ntuk is a civil engineer with nearly 20 years of experience in the land development industry. He is the managing principal for LAND|Engineering, PLC, a civil engineering design firm focused on site planning, green building consulting, and construction management. Mr. Ntuk received his B.S. degree in Civil Environmental and Infrastructure Engineering from George Mason University. He spends 20 percent of his time as an executive, 30 percent as a designer, 40 percent as a geek, and 30 percent solving complex math problems.

Mr. Barkhurst has extensive litigation experience in business and real estate disputes. He has developed a special concentration in the area of eminent domain, representing governmental entities as well as landowners in numerous lawsuits. Mr. Barkhurst has successfully represented numerous owners in ranch power line takings. He also represents governmental entities in construction disputes, and he has represented contractors and subcontractors in private disputes. Mr. Barkhurst has a B.A. degree, with honors, from Southwest Texas State University and a J.D. degree, magna cum laude, from Texas Tech University, and he is a former USAF Captain and F-111 Aviator. 

Mr. Bowles began working in the field of land surveying in 1978 and is certified as a registered professional land surveyor in the State of Texas. He has given seminars to lawyers, real estate professionals and other land surveyors on land surveying principles, practice and codified standards. Mr. Bowles has been an expert witness in a number of legal actions centering around boundary disputes and land surveyor negligence claims. He has given expert testimony regarding boundary resolution, minimum standards and minimum content regarding land surveys. Mr. Bowles is a member of the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors and a former member of the American Congress on Surveying and Mapping.

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

Ms. Verley believes knowledge is power and there is always a solution for every situation. With a focus on sustainability, longevity and energy efficiency she stays up to date on the most innovative solutions for the building envelope. Through public speaking, digital media and articles, she is able to bring the forefront of information to local markets with a focus on proper use of materials situationally rather than a cookie-cutter approach. Ms. Verley’s building envelope focus includes masonry restoration and moisture management, waterproofing, roofing, single-ply and protected membranes, garden roofs, and assembly solutions. She earned her undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering.

Professor White’s 48 years’ experience in the electrical industry and his 25 years of teaching apprentices and CEU courses for electrical contractors, architects and engineers has provided perspectives he enjoys sharing. Professor White has written and revised more than 150 college course syllabi. He transitioned the entire skilled trades catalog of courses from quarter hours to semester hours. Professor White has created and changed numerous college programs of study for associate degrees and various trade certificates. He has taught for IEC Central Ohio, Columbus State Community College, and most recently Midlands Technical College Columbia, South Carolina. He has also been teaching CEU seminars for various training agencies and private companies since 2007. Professor White has a strong understanding of the National Electrical Code and tries to create interactions with seminar attendees. Regarding electrical system design, he has completed more than 100 projects including simple single buildings, multiple occupancy strips, and multi-use buildings.

Dr. McKelvey is the director of the Geotechnical Design Division at Earth Engineering Inc. in East Norriton, Pennsylvania. He is a registered professional engineer (P.E.) in California, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. Dr. McKelvey is also a Diplomate (D.GE) of the Academy of Geo-Professionals and a Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers (F.ASCE).

Dr. McKelvey has extensive experience in geotechnical engineering including site assessment and field investigations, deep and shallow foundation design for buildings, bridges, and other structures, retaining wall design, embankment stability, mechanically stabilized soil structures, and subsurface hydrology.

He also has significant experience in mitigating heavy construction claims and in litigation support pertaining to impacted heavy construction projects. Dr. McKelvey has also handled construction support and construction quality assurance projects. His environmental engineering experience includes technical contributions to the remediation of many Superfund sites and over 50 landfill design projects.

Dr. McKelvey has published over 30 technical papers in journals, conference proceedings and trade magazines. He is the past chair for the Delaware Valley Geo-Institute (DVGI) and is a voting member in ASTM committees Soil and Rock (D18), and Geosynthetics (D35). He is an editorial board member of the Geotechnical Testing Journal. Dr. McKelvey also serves on two Geo-Institute committees: Earth Structures and Embankments and Dams. For the latter, he is a member of the subcommittee on landslide risk assessment.

Ms. Abernethy joined The Noble Law employment law firm in January 2018 following more than 15 years in the defense bar at large international law firms. Ms. Abernethy has represented clients in matters arising under Title VII, the North Carolina Retaliatory Employment Discrimination Act (“REDA”), the North Carolina Whistleblower Statute, the North Carolina False Claims Act, the North Carolina Wage & Hour Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, and other state and federal employment statutes. Ms. Abernethy has extensive background and experience as a litigator in class and collective action cases. She has also developed significant experience with navigating the regulatory frameworks surrounding medical practice and related industries. She also has extensive experience in arbitration, mediation and in courts of appeals. She is admitted to practice before the State Bars of both North Carolina and Illinois, and in the United States Courts of Appeals for the Third, Fourth, Fifth and Seventh Circuits. She has written and presented on topics relating to e-discovery, civil procedure, insurance coverage and the Medicare payment process. Ms. Abernethy received her J.D. degree from Washington University School of Law in 2001. She graduated Order of the Coif (top 10% of law school graduating class), and was an articles editor for the Washington University Law Quarterly. She has a B.A. degree in History from Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri. While practicing as an employment attorney in Chicago, Ms. Abernethy was named a “Rising Star” by SuperLawyers Magazine in 2010 and 2011. She was named a North Carolina “Super Lawyer” in 2022.

Ms. Harris established The Law Office of Neubia L. Harris, PLLC, in August 2018, and she brings a wealth of experience in education law and civil litigation. Before launching her own practice, Ms. Harris served as an associate attorney at a local education law firm and as a staff attorney at Legal Aid of North Carolina. Her firm reflects her commitment to protecting children and her passion for entrepreneurship. She earned her undergraduate degree in Communication Studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and her law degree from Wake Forest University School of Law. She is licensed to practice in the State Courts of North Carolina and the United States District Courts for the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of North Carolina. An active member of the North Carolina Bar Association (NCBA) and the Wake County Bar Association (WCBA), Ms. Harris was inducted into the NCBA’s Leadership Academy in 2017, one of only 16 lawyers selected statewide. She is a published author in the fields of diversity, equity, inclusion, and education rights, and she regularly teaches continuing legal education courses and speaks at community events on education law topics.

Mr. Hood is a trial attorney in a wide-ranging civil practice with over 200 jury trials to his credit. His concentration includes business disputes, construction law, personal injury and collections. He is also a certified mediator, helping to settle cases pending in both state and federal court and served as president of the North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys, the organization for lawyers representing business interests in civil litigation. Mr. Hood’s involvement in the legal community includes service on the Section Council for both the Insurance Law and Dispute Resolution Sections of the North Carolina Bar Association, and on the boards of the UNC Law Alumni Association and the Equal Access to Justice Foundation. In his local community, he serves on the Board of the Historical Association of Catawba County and has served on the county’s Board of Elections for 25 years, including four years as board chair.

Mr. Litrenta is a litigator who focuses his practice on commercial litigation, construction law and defects, general liability, governmental and municipality liability, premises liability, transportation and professional liability matters. His litigation background spans both prosecution and defense, bringing a comprehensive perspective to each case he handles. Mr. Litrenta began his legal career as a prosecutor, where he gained significant courtroom experience conducting multiple jury trials. His ability to build and present cases in court led him to transition to criminal defense, where he effectively leveraged his trial skills and knowledge of evidence to defend his clients. This diverse background has equipped him with a deep understanding of both sides of the legal process, which he now applies to his civil litigation practice. With trial experience in multiple states, Mr. Litrenta is committed to achieving favorable outcomes for his clients. He is known for his tireless work ethic and strategic approach to litigation. In addition to his practice, Mr. Litrenta is passionate about teaching and regularly presents on topics such as jury selection, evidentiary issues, and trial advocacy. He earned his J.D. degree from Barry University and holds a B.S. degree in Anthropology and History from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Ms. Viera’s intimate knowledge of the North Carolina family court system began as a child amidst a domestic violence and child abuse situation. Although tumultuous, she was inspired by her childhood to pursue the goal of a legal career helping families in similar situations. She conducted her undergraduate studies at George Washington University in Washington, DC. She pursued her law degree at the University of North Carolina School of Law in Chapel Hill where she was able to hone her skills as an orator, writer, and legal thinker. As a family law attorney, Ms. Viera utilizes the tools of negotiation, mediation, and litigation to find solutions for families navigating the legal system. She was named a Top 40 Young Lawyer by the American Bar Association in 2020, a North Carolina Lawyers Weekly Power List Attorney in Family Law in 2022, and has received the designation of Super Lawyers Rising Star, Best Lawyer Ones to Watch, and Legal Elite by Business North Carolina. Modern Legal is based in the South Park area of Charlotte, and her team provides legal, mediation, and arbitration services to clients in North Carolina and South Carolina. Learn more at ModernLegalNC.com.

Ms. Weyandt’s practice focuses exclusively on family law, including issues related to child custody, child support, spousal support, equitable distribution, and domestic violence, as well as the issues of alienation of affection and criminal conversation. Ms. Weyandt is a magna cum laude graduate of Auburn University. She earned her J.D. degree from Wake Forest University School of Law, where she served as Senior Notes and Comments Editor of the Wake Forest Law Review. While in law school, Ms. Weyandt was also a member of the Moot Court Board, where she competed as a member on the Gabrielli National Family Law Moot Court Team; worked as a research assistant for Dean Suzanne Reynolds in researching and editing her North Carolina Family Law treatise; and served as a teaching assistant and Academic Engagement Group Leader for various subjects.

Mr. Halek brings over six years of specialized experience in transportation electrification, with a strong foundation built on two decades in the utility sector. As principal trusted advisor for ConsultOne Group, a Twin Cities-based consultancy, he provides strategic guidance to small businesses and property stakeholders across the residential, multi-family, commercial, retail, and hospitality sectors, helping them implement turnkey EV charging solutions tailored to their needs.

Throughout his career, Mr. Halek has held executive leadership roles in eMobility and electrical infrastructure and collaborated with numerous leading EV charging station original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). He is well versed in residential and commercial Level 2 and DC Fast Charging technologies, network solutions, installation, servicing, and available market incentives.

Mr. Halek is also a thought leader in the EV space, having authored industry articles for the Minnesota Multi Housing Association, Minnesota Business Journal, and Minnesota Real Estate Journal. As an instructor with HalfMoon Education Inc., he taught the Adding EV Charging Stations to Homes and Businesses course and has moderated and spoken on expert panels, many CEC-approved, for organizations such as the Building Owners & Managers Association of Greater Minneapolis, Minnesota Real Estate Journal Multi Housing Summit, and Minnesota Multi Housing Association Executive Conference.

Mr. Halek holds a B.S. degree in Industrial Studies from St. Cloud State University and an MBA degree from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management. His prior roles include business development positions with leading electrical contractors in the Twin Cities, where he helped deploy certified EV charging solutions and earned multiple installation partner designations from top-tier EV charging OEMs.

Ms. Banerjee is a member at Boodell & Domanskis, LLC where she leads her firm’s practice in the areas of estate planning, estate administration, and guardianship. Before joining Boodell & Domanskis, she gained experience in highly respected law firms in the collar counties of Chicago. She has extensive courtroom and litigation experience in probate and guardianship, including appearing before the Third District of the Illinois Appellate Court for oral arguments. A magna cum laude law graduate, she earned her degree at 42 as the mother of two young children.

Paloma Holloman (née Hospedales-Mohammed) is an Illinois attorney and is the founder of PHM Law, LLC. Ms. Holloman went to DePaul University for her B.A. degree in Political Science. At DePaul, she was a Community Service Scholar and minored in Community Service Studies. She received her J.D. degree and Master of Laws degree in Estate Planning from UIC John Marshall Law School. Ms. Holloman is an adjunct instructor at Waubonsee Community College, teaching courses on estate planning/ probate and legal ethics. Ms. Holloman has always had a passion for helping others to achieve their goals. She enjoys estate planning because she can help others preserve and maximize the results of their hard work and success. Ms. Holloman is the first attorney in her large, Trinidadian family. She was born and raised in Illinois and loves giving back to the community. While she was in law school, she interned at John Marshall Law School’s Domestic Violence Clinic, assisting domestic violence survivors with housing, employment, debt, and tax-related matters. Through her previous and current work and volunteer experiences, she has interacted with and served individuals of all different backgrounds. She possesses a strong ability to empathize with others and truly enjoys connecting with new people.

Ms. Lukaszewski is a counsel attorney in the Private Wealth practice at Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP, in Chicago, where she focuses her practice on post-death estate and trust management. She regularly advises corporate and individual fiduciaries and beneficiaries on all aspects of probate practice, complex estate and trust administration, and conflict resolution. Ms. Lukaszewski’s practice includes significant experience preparing and filing federal and state estate tax returns, representing clients before the Internal Revenue Service and Illinois Attorney General on reporting questions, valuation issues, and audits, and appearing in court on contested probate and chancery matters. Prior to joining Katten, she worked in the private wealth departments of several major law firms. Ms. Lukaszewski graduated magna cum laude from DePaul University College of Law as a member of the DePaul Law Review and Order of the Coif.

Kerry R. Peck is the managing partner of the Chicago law firm Peck Ritchey, LLC. He is the past president of the 22,000 lawyer Chicago Bar Association. His clients have included families, hospitals, banks, the State of Illinois, County of Cook, and City of Chicago. Since 2006, he has been selected by his peers in statewide surveys of Illinois attorneys as a “Super Lawyer”, an attorney to whom other attorneys would refer their family, and he was named a member of the Leading Lawyers Network. Mr. Peck is the recipient of the 2014 Justice John Paul Stevens Award, the Chicago Bar Association’s highest honor. He was also selected by IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law as one of their 125 Alumni of Distinction. In 2021, Mr. Peck was appointed chair of the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Elder Justice. Mr. Peck was retained by the City of Chicago Department of Aging to rewrite the State of Illinois Elder Abuse and Neglect Act. Mr. Peck is the co-author of Alzheimer’s and the Law and Don’t Let Dementia Steal Everything, both published by the American Bar Association. Mr. Peck has written articles for the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, Chicago Bar Association Record, Illinois State Bar Journal, and various other journals and newspapers. He teaches attorneys and healthcare professionals across the country and is a former adjunct professor at John Marshall Law School’s Elder Law Studies program.

Allie Bohannon is an associate attorney at Howard Mobley Hayes & Gontarek, PLLC. Ms. Bohannon concentrates her practice in the areas of estate planning, tax reduction planning, asset protection planning and business succession planning. She also advises fiduciaries and beneficiaries with regard to trust and estate administration and in dispute resolution involving estates. Ms. Bohannon attended Belmont University – College of Law where she earned her J.D. degree in 2015. Prior to attending law school, Allie attended the University of California-Los Angeles, as an undergraduate, where she was a member of the UCLA Cross Country and Track and Field teams, earning All-American honors and All Academic honors as a student athlete, and attended Vanderbilt University as a graduate student where she earned a Master of Public Policy degree.

Caroline L. H. Bradshaw joined the Cumberland Trust team in 2007. As senior vice president and managing director of trust administration, Ms. Bradshaw is responsible for relationship management and account administration, with a focus on high-net-worth families and their needs. Additionally, she mentors trust officers and their teams, building connections between Cumberland Trust’s relationship managers, external advisors, and clients. Ms. Bradshaw also serves as the business development liaison, representing Cumberland externally and working closely with the Business Development team in evaluating new business opportunities. Her previous experience includes working in the investment banking division of JP Morgan in the firm’s New York, Hong Kong, and Sydney, Australia offices and then in the managerial roles of Vice President and Senior Client Manager for JP Morgan’s Private Client Group in New York. Here she provided comprehensive investment management and trust services, while representing individuals and families in Texas and Louisiana. Ms. Bradshaw holds a B.A. degree in Economics from Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts. Ms. Bradshaw serves as a board member of the YWCA of Nashville and Middle Tennessee. She is also an active supporter of Cheekwood and the annual Swan Ball. Ms. Bradshaw is a regular speaker for industry events nationwide and has been a guest of the Wealth Matters radio show. She focuses on topics related to family governance structures, succession planning, and working with a corporate trustee.

Shelby Carpenter joined Cumberland Trust in 2016 and currently serves as vice president and trust officer in the Personal Trust division. In this role, she administers personal trust accounts and is dedicated to delivering personalized service with a high level of responsiveness and care to her clients. Ms. Carpenter brings a diverse financial background to her position, with prior experience at a national mortgage lender, a Nashville-based real estate team, and a local stock brokerage firm, where she held Series 7 and 66 licenses. She earned a B.S. degree in Communication with a concentration in Public Relations from Florida State University and a master’s degree in Management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Carpenter holds the Certified Trust and Fiduciary Advisor (CTFA) designation and is a graduate of Cannon Trust School through Cannon Financial Institute.

Stephen Crofford joined Cumberland Trust in 2016. In his role as vice president and senior fiduciary counsel, Mr. Crofford reviews and drafts documents relating to trust and estate accounts. Previously, Mr. Crofford served as fiduciary counsel and special assets officer – reviewing and preparing documents and working with unique, illiquid, and hard-to-value assets held in trust. Mr. Crofford received a B.S. degree in Political Science from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and J.D. degree from Belmont University College of Law in Nashville. He is licensed to practice law in Tennessee.

Emily Harvey is an associate attorney at Mobley & Gontarek, PLLC. She concentrates her practice in the areas of estate and trust administration, estate planning, and estate and trust litigation. Prior to joining Mobley & Gontarek, she served as Senior Law Clerk to the Honorable Frank G. Clement, Jr. on the Tennessee Court of Appeals. Ms. Harvey earned her J.D. degree from Nashville School of Law in 2016. She currently serves on the faculty at Nashville School of Law.

Ally M. Hicks is a Nashville-based attorney focusing her practice on estate and tax planning. In this role, Ms. Hicks works with families, business owners, and advisors to craft tax-efficient estate plans tailored to the needs of each client. She also represents fiduciaries in probate, guardianship, and conservatorship matters, and assists local entrepreneurs with business formation and governance issues. With a deep commitment to personalized service, Ms. Hicks is passionate about ensuring her clients feel seen, understood, and taken care of. She began her legal career in trust and estate administration, serving as both fiduciary officer and trust officer at a Nashville-based trust company. In this capacity, Ms. Hicks worked with ultra-high-net-worth individuals and their advisors to oversee the administration, legal compliance, and tax reporting of various testamentary instruments. After seeing the immeasurable benefits of a well-drafted estate plan, Ms. Hicks felt called to shift her practice into estate and tax planning.

Beth Lee joined Cumberland Trust as a Trust Officer in Estate Administration in 2022. In this role, Ms. Lee works with the Estate Administration team to support families and professional advisors in the administration of estates and administrative trusts. She focuses on being responsive, attentive, and understanding in order to build relationships with the clients and families she serves. Previously, Ms. Lee served as vice president and in-house counsel for a nationwide franchise. She also previously practiced entertainment law and employment litigation. Ms. Lee holds a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications with minors in Political Science and English from Middle Tennessee State University. She received a J.D. degree from Nashville School of Law. Ms. Lee is a Certified Mediator and is licensed to practice law in Tennessee.

Mr. McDonald is a Nashville-based estate and tax attorney who advises clients on estate planning and wealth preservation at every stage of life. He has extensive experience in this field, from young families starting out to individuals and families with nine-figure net worths.

Jeff Mobley is a member of Mobley & Gontarek, PLLC, and he concentrates his practice in the areas of estate planning, wills, trusts, estate administration and related matters. Mr. Mobley is listed in The Best Lawyers in America (2001-2023 editions) and Mid-South Super Lawyers (2005-2023 editions). He has the AV highest rating for ethical standards and legal ability from Martindale-Hubbell’s peer review ratings system. Mr. Mobley is a fellow in the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. He is a co-author of Pritchard on the Laws of Wills and Administration of Estates, a three-volume treatise on the laws pertaining to wills and probate in Tennessee. Mr. Mobley teaches Estate Planning at Belmont University College of Law and Wills and Estate Planning at Nashville School of Law. He has served as president of the Nashville Estate Planning Council, as chair of the Probate Court Committee of the Nashville Bar Association, and as an officer and director of the Nashville Bar Association. Mr. Mobley graduated with High Distinction, Phi Beta Kappa, from the University of Kentucky. Mr. Mobley received his law degree from the University of Kentucky College of Law, Order of the Coif (top 10%), and served on the Law Review. Mr. Mobley is licensed to practice in Tennessee and Kentucky.

Mr. Morales works with our partners in estate planning. He earned his law degree in California and is licensed in Tennessee and California.

Mr. Tillman has been recognized as an estate planning specialist by the Tennessee Board of Certification and Specialization and holds the Accredited Estate Planner and Estate Planning Law Specialist designations with the National Association of Estate Planners and Councils. Mr. Tillman advises clients on estate planning matters as well as closely held business owners regarding business succession.

Ethan Ward counsels clients on estate planning and the administration of trusts and estates. In this capacity, Mr. Ward works with high-net-worth individuals, families, and businesses on the implementation of tax-advantaged generational wealth transfer and business succession plans utilizing advanced estate planning techniques such as family limited partnerships, charitable entities, sales to intentionally defective grantor trusts, irrevocable life insurance trusts, and charitable split-interest trusts, as well as drafting wills, trusts, and powers of attorney. He also works with trust companies, family offices, and fiduciaries on the administration of complex trusts and estates. Prior to joining Bass, Berry & Sims, Mr. Ward was an associate at Husch Blackwell LLP and Holton & Mayberry P.C. and focused on estate planning.

Mr. Cohn focuses his practice on counseling individuals and families on estate and tax planning, philanthropic planning, trust formation, and preparation and review of prenuptial, postnuptial and cohabitation agreements, among various other related matters. Mr. Cohn also advises a wide array of clients in planning and establishing foundations and charitable trusts. He represents charitable organizations in connection with the receipt of gifts and bequests, as well as in their administrative affairs, including issues regarding formation. Mr. Cohn graduated from the University of Florida in 1981 with a B.S. degree in Accounting, with honors. Following his graduation from the University of Florida Law School in 1984, he proceeded to earn his Master of Law degree in Taxation from the University of Florida in 1985.

Ms. Groover has over 30 years of experience in fiduciary, legal, wealth management, business, and personal finance services. Among her strengths are innovative problem solving, strategic foresight, and conflict resolution. An amiable relationship builder, she engages clients with expert written and verbal communication skills. She is recognized for her exceptional proficiency in estate planning, trust administration, and fiduciary litigation support. Ms. Groover is an adjunct professor at Florida A&M School of Law. She is currently teaching an upper-level Trusts and Fiduciary Administration course. Ms. Groover most recently served as the vice president and senior fiduciary advisor for PNC Bank in Orlando. During her tenure, she was responsible for engaging in fiduciary decision making by executing the terms of any plan or document in which PNC served as trustee. She successfully managed complex, litigious relationships involving various assets, multiple internal departments, and outside counsel. Ms. Groover is currently a member of Orange County Bar Association, where she served as a past chair of the Estate, Guardianship, and Trust Committee. Additionally, as a member of The Florida Bar, Ms. Groover serves on the Real Property, Probate, and Trust Law (RPPTL) Section, including the Estate and Trust Tax Planning Committee and the Attorney Trust Officer (ATO) Conference Committee. She is on the board of directors at the Central Florida Estate Planning Council. Ms. Groover received a B.S. degree in Business Administration, with a concentration in banking and finance, from Wilkes University and an M.B.A. degree from the University of Central Florida. She also obtained her J.D. degree with the Florida A&M University’s College of Law, where she graduated cum laude and earned the highest score in Estates and Gift Taxation, Business Associations, and Contract Drafting. She was awarded an intern position for the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Orange County Probate and Guardianship.

Mr. Hermes focuses his practice on estate planning, tax issues, real estate, business law, and elder law. His primary focus is assisting high net-worth families with estate and succession planning, wealth transfer tax, and asset protection. He also frequently acts as co-counsel to other attorneys on advanced tax and estate planning concepts. Raised in rural Wisconsin, Mr. Hermes moved to St. Augustine to attend Flagler College, where he graduated with honors with a B.A. degree in Political Science. He then accepted a full scholarship to study at Wake Forest University School of Law, obtaining both his Juris Doctor and a Master of Studies of Law with a concentration in Taxation. Mr. Hermes also serves on the Florida Probate Rules Committee, which develops and recommends probate rule amendments to the Florida Supreme Court. He is licensed in Florida and Wisconsin, and is recognized as a Board Certified Specialist in Wills, Trusts, and Estates law by The Florida Bar (a certification attained by less than 1% of Florida-licensed attorneys).

Andrés Hernández is an attorney with Saltiel Law Group, where his practice includes corporate law, international tax and estate planning for domestic and foreign high net-worth individuals, and assisting with fully compliant structures, both domestically and abroad, as well as providing succession planning solutions considering tax challenges of global wealth. He has experience advising high net-worth individuals and their families on cross-border wealth, investments, and estate planning concerns with particular focus on issues arising from civil law and common law application. Mr. Hernandez also has significant experience advising individuals and fiduciaries in estate, trust, and probate administration, and representing clients on tax controversy matters before the IRS, including streamlined filing compliance procedures. He earned his Abogado LL.B. equivalent from Universidad Católica Andrés Bello, Caracas, Venezuela, his LL.M. degree and certificate in business administration from Northwestern University School of Law and Kellogg School of Management, his LL.M. degree in Taxation from Northwestern University School of Law, Chicago, Illinois, and his J.D. degree from Emory University School of Law in Atlanta, Georgia. Mr. Hernandez is a member of The Florida Bar (member, Tax Law Section), American Bar Association and the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP).

Mr. Spinks is a distinguished attorney specializing in elder law, with a wealth of experience and a commitment to advocating for the elderly and their families. As a Board Certified Elder Law Attorney, Mr. Spinks brings expertise in the legal issues that impact seniors, including estate planning, longterm care, guardianship, veterans’ pensions, and Medicaid planning. Before practicing law, he joined the military at 17 years old, serving in the Gulf War. He was also certified as a Florida firefighter/EMT and was employed by the Polk County Fire Department. After graduating from the University of South Florida, he returned to military service as a Marine Corps officer and graduated from Florida State University College of Law. Mr. Spinks retired from the United States Marine Corps after over 25 years of service. He is admitted to the Florida and Hawaii bar associations and has been practicing law since 2000. Beyond his legal practice, Mr. Spinks is an active member of the community. He frequently conducts seminars and workshops to educate seniors and their families about their legal rights and options in estate planning, elder law, and special needs planning. He serves with the Buddy Baseball League as a coach for the Pirates, a team his son plays on. Mr. Spinks also serves on the Hillsborough County Superintendent Advisory Committee and is active in the American Legion and VFW. He serves on the elder law and military affairs committee for The Florida Bar, and he is a member of the vestry at St Mark’s Episcopal Church. With a career spanning over two decades, Mr. Spinks has established himself as a trusted advisor and advocate in the elder law community.

Anthony S. Barilari is an of counsel attorney at Lagerlof, LLP, in the trust and estates department focusing his practice on estate planning and trust administration. Mr. Barilari’s legal career began when he graduated from UC Hastings (now UC Law San Francisco) in May of 2008 and was admitted to the California Bar in December of that year. After several years practicing bankruptcy and civil litigation, Mr. Barilari turned his attention to trusts and estates, first as a solo practitioner, and then as a partner in the firm, Barilari & Williams, LLP. He built a small firm from the ground up and served as managing partner of the same before bringing his practice to Lagerlof, LLP. Mr. Barilari is a member of the Pasadena Bar Association, and he has a passion for preserving generational wealth by ensuring that families have effective estate planning, efficient trust administration, and strategic planning to avoid costly disputes.

Uzzell S. Branson IV is a senior attorney in RMO LLP’s San Diego office. Mr. Branson brings over a decade of experience in probate litigation. His practice focuses on representing heirs, beneficiaries, fiduciaries, creditors and other interested parties in litigated probate, contested conservatorship, and financial elder abuse cases. Prior to RMO LLP, Mr. Branson headed the trust and estates practice at his previous firm, where his work included litigating probate disputes in State courts throughout California and Federal courts in the Southern and Central districts of California. Beyond litigation, Mr. Branson also has substantial experience in estate planning and private and trust administration. Mr. Branson brings that experience in guiding clients through the probate pre-dispute, litigation, and appellate processes. Mr. Branson has also taught Trusts and Estates at the University of San Diego School of Law as an adjunct professor.

Verlan Y. Kwan is a partner at Keystone Law Group, P.C. with her primary focus on trust and estate administration and litigation. With over a decade of litigation experience, Ms. Kwan has represented trustees, executors, administrators, creditors, heirs and beneficiaries in complex disputes with assets ranging from several hundred thousands of dollars to tens of millions of dollars. With her broad knowledge and compassionate approach to matters, Ms. Kwan has successfully litigated and settled countless matters to her clients’ satisfaction. In addition to disputed matters, Ms. Kwan also specializes in advising fiduciaries in high– net worth estates and trusts. Furthermore, Ms. Kwan has acted as the administrator of estates for foreign heirs and beneficiaries, allowing her to proficiently advise executors, administrators and trustees on estate and trust administration matters. Ms. Kwan regularly appears in courts throughout California, including but not limited to, Los Angeles County, Riverside County, San Mateo County, Ventura County, San Bernardino County, Orange County, and San Francisco County.

Sean D. Muntz serves as Managing Partner of RMO LLP. Mr. Muntz is an experienced trial and appellate lawyer, with litigation experience spanning a broad range of subject matters, including banking, general commercial, employment, probate, real estate, securities, intellectual property, maritime and environmental disputes. Mr. Muntz has litigated matters in state and federal courts throughout California, and in alternative dispute resolution forums, including AAA and JAMS, and before the NASD/FINRA and Pacific Stock Exchange.

Mr. Muntz’s practice focuses on representing beneficiaries, professional and corporate fiduciaries (administrators, executors, trustees, conservators, and guardians) in contested trust, estate and probate litigation.

Mr. Muntz previously was a partner at an international law firm in the firm’s commercial litigation group, where he represented international financial institutions in litigation matters.

Mr. Muntz worked as in-house counsel for a Fortune 100 aerospace manufacturer. There, he represented the company in internal and external investigation and compliance matters. While there, Sean represented the company as a victim of espionage, in the criminal matter of U.S. v. Chung, in which the U.S. District Court handed down the first conviction under the Economic Espionage Act of 1996. For representing the company’s interests, Sean received a commendation from the Los Angeles Field Office of the FBI and the FBI Director.

Mr. Muntz also has worked for a Fortune 100 financial institution as in-house counsel, where he managed and directed national litigation strategy, overseeing hundreds of cases.

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

Dr. Gregory H. Nail is a professor in the Engineering Department at the University of Tennessee at Martin where he teaches a variety of courses including fluid mechanics, hydraulics and hydrology, and hydraulic and hydrologic modeling. He holds a professional engineer’s license based on having passed both the Civil and Mechanical discipline-specific exams. Prior to coming to UT-Martin in 2002, he worked as a research hydraulic engineer for the United States Army Corp of Engineers for 11 years. He continues to be professionally active by working summer internships, carrying on consulting work, supervising senior design projects, and regularly delivering continuation programs, all oriented around computational hydraulic and computational hydrologic modeling. Dr. Nail earned his B.M.E. degree from Auburn University and his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Texas A&M University.

Mr. Davidson is partner with Hummel, Lewis & Davidson, LLP, in Bloomsburg, where his practice emphasizes real estate, boundary disputes and land use. He serves as solicitor for several municipalities and planning commissions. Mr. Davidson previously served as Chief of Land Use and Natural Resources for the Department of Agriculture, where he worked with the permitting of agricultural facilities, Clean and Green, and Agricultural Conservation Easements. Prior to joining the Department, he worked in zoning, planning and code enforcement for local government and as a surveyor and project manager for a civil engineering firm. Mr. Davidson is a Pennsylvania resident title insurance agent, Pennsylvania sewage enforcement officer (SEO), and Pennsylvania licensed land surveyor (PLS).

Ms. Lathrop is licensed as a professional land surveyor in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland, and as a professional planner in New Jersey. She holds a master’s degree in Environmental Policy and has been involved in surveying since 1974 in projects ranging from construction to boundary to environmental land use disputes. Ms. Lathrop is also a certified floodplain manager through the Association of State Flood Plain Managers (ASFPM) and a certified floodplain surveyor through the New Jersey Society of Professional Land Surveyors. A former adjunct instructor at Mercer County College in New Jersey, she has also taught as part of the team for the licensing exam review course at Drexel University in Pennsylvania. Ms. Lathrop has been teaching seminars for surveyors since 1986 and has been writing articles for surveyors since 1983. She is a contributing editor for The American Surveyor magazine, and she has four articles included in the American Bar Association’s text, Land Surveys: A Guide for Lawyers and Other Professionals. She and Stephen V. Estopinal, PLS, PE co–authored a book entitled Professional Surveyors and Real Property Descriptions: Composition, Construction, and Comprehension, published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. in 2011. She is also on the faculty of GeoLearn, a web-based educational provider. Ms. Lathrop is a past president of the New Jersey Society of Professional Land Surveyors and of the National Society of Professional Surveyors, and she has served on the Board of Directors for the American Association for Geodetic Surveying.

Mr. Dean currently serves on the Board of the Bennington County Bar Association, as a director of the Vermont Bar Foundation, as chair of the Vermont Bar Association’s Court Users Group, and as president and trustee of the Samuel Blackmer Law Library Fund. Mr. Dean draws from many areas of legal experience and clerked for the late Honorable Kathy C. Qasim in the New Jersey Superior Court’s Chancery Division. In 2017, he provided legal aid to clients throughout the Northeast as part of the South Royalton Legal Clinic. In law school, Mr. Dean served as the senior managing editor of the Vermont Law Review and as an active member of the National Moot Court Team. He has taught workshops for legal writing, civil procedure, and constitutional law. Mr. Dean’s practice areas include personal injury, appellate practice, contract disputes, debtor’s and consumer’s rights, professional licensing defense, and general civil litigation. He also serves on the board of SPEAK, Inc., a Vermont 501(c)(3) providing public speaking and debate workshops to students and incarcerated individuals.