On-Demand Options

Dr. Hoskins earned his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Fire Protection Engineering from the University of Maryland. He also received his Ph.D. degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maryland in 2011 with an emphasis on building egress. Dr. Hoskins spent one year working for Arup on projects primarily dealing with life safety design and people movement. He then spent two years working for the National Institute of Standards and Technology working on projects dealing with building evacuations and emergency messaging. He is a registered fire protection engineer in the state of Oklahoma. Professor Hoskins is the chair of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE) working group that developed a research roadmap for fire protection and a member of the Human Behavior in Fire Task group for SFPE. He serves on multiple code and standards committees. He has authored more than 20 articles related to building evacuations and human behavior in fire.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ms. DelVecchio concentrates her practice in the areas of real estate and redevelopment. She assists in the firm’s representation of clients in transactions involving commercial and residential properties, including acquisitions, sales and leases.  Her work encompasses the drafting of transactional documents, oversight of title reviews, and due diligence. In the specialized area of community association law, Ms. DelVecchio assists in the drafting of contracts for association clients and their vendors, as well as in the production of amendments to association governing documents including bylaws, master deeds and resolutions. She earned her B.A. degrees from University of Maryland, and her J.D. degree, cum laude, from New York Law School.

Mr. Nudelman has represented members of the construction industry across a broad spectrum of matters for over 25 years. He works with owners and developers, construction managers, general contractors, subcontractors and design professionals to prepare and negotiate contract documents for construction in the New Jersey and New York metropolitan area. Mr. Nudelman drafts, modifies and negotiates customized contracts, as well as contracts based on standard industry forms from groups such as the American Institute of Architects, Consensus Docs and Design Build Institute of America. His construction contracting work helps his clients manage the risk inherent in construction projects so they may adequately protect their interests now to avoid claims and disputes in the future. When claims and disputes are unavoidable, Mr. Nudelman draws upon his wide-ranging experience in construction litigation, representing clients in state and federal courts throughout the New Jersey/New York metropolitan area, as well as in local and international mediations and arbitrations.

Mr. Sweet received undergraduate degrees from Florida State University in Finance and Management. After a short period in the capital finance industry, Mr. Sweet became an all-lines adjuster for five years and subsequently founded a full-service restoration firm. He is a certified general contractor with the State of Florida, a registered RTPE, and holds the designations of Master Water Restorer & Master Smoke Restorer with the IICRC. Additionally, he also holds Council-certified designations of CMRS, CSDS, CIES, CIEC, CFSR, and he has served for over 10 years on multiple certification boards for the ACAC as well as teaching and training on many restoration topics the industry has been plagued with for decades. He has over 23 years of experience as a CEO, consultant, and seasoned litigation expert with extensive experience in litigation support and trials.

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.

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. Westbrook designed his own solar home in north Texas in 1996, which won the Energy Value Housing Award for Innovative Design. It still ranks as one of the most efficient homes in Texas. While serving as Sustainable Development Manager at Texas Instruments International Facilities, Mr. Westbrook was the LEED AP for the 1.1 million square foot Texas Instruments factory, which was the first LEED Gold semiconductor factory in the world. He led the effort to improve the energy and water efficiency of TI’s 20 million square feet of existing global facilities. They were able to double the company energy and water efficiency in less than 10 years. In 2012, Mr. Westbrook was named a Senior Fellow for the US State Department’s Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas program. He visited Honduras, Bolivia, Columbia, and Peru where he worked with governments, universities, and industry on efficiency and renewable energy. Mr. Westbrook received his B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in 1982.

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

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

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

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

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

From “concept through completion” or “dirt to done,” clients have come to rely on Tami Boeck for her pragmatic business approach and 30 years of experience representing a wide variety of clients in all areas of project development. Tami routinely advises owners, developers, and general contractors, primarily in California, Idaho, and Nevada. Whether it is advising clients regarding development insurance risks and coverage disputes, pre-project and project contracting risk management (RM) advice relating to project design and development or construction, or dispute resolution in ADR or litigation, she approaches each matter with a focus on the client’s goal and best interests, utilizing a broad range of practical knowledge for her client’s benefit in mitigating disputes or representing clients in litigation where necessary. Tami’s early background representing insurers in coverage claims has also served her policy-holder clients well regarding project protection and in coverage analysis or disputes. Clients retain Tami for advice on wide-ranging projects, including commercial, all types of residential and mixed-use projects, food processing facilities, as well as construction-related aspects of energy-related developments such as oil and gas, mining, solar, wind, geothermal, biofuel, wastewater treatment, along with other industrial facility development. In addition to counseling her clients on ways to avoid protracted litigation through thoughtful negotiations and effective contracts with risk management processes, she handles construction claims and disputes to resolution, through negotiation and mediation to litigation or arbitration. Tami’s advice for clients also encompasses recommendations and handling of significant business conflicts, addressing project delays, disputes over workmanship and performance deficiency claims, as well as those matters involving various state licensing/lien/bond laws, insurance coverage disagreements with insurers, and claims involving toxic tort, product liability, and catastrophic injuries. With her depth of experience, Tami is able to assist and protect her clients when a pragmatic business resolution is not available. Tami previously served for five years as chair of the firm’s Real Estate, Development & Construction group. For many years, she also served as a member of Stoel Rives’ Pro Bono Committee and Coaching and Mentoring Committee. Before joining Stoel Rives, Tami was a shareholder for eight years at another West Coast regional law firm. She was also one of the founders of that firm’s California offices and its subsequent Nevada offices and served as shareholder-in-charge of its former primary California office.

Mr. Miller has over 55 years of construction industry experience. He is a nationally recognized design-build custom home builder and remodeler, owner of Chuck Miller Consulting LLC and Chuck Miller Education Services LLC, author of Plan to Profit: Business Planning for Builders and Remodelers, and former president and CEO of Chuck Miller Construction Inc. The residential construction industry is important to the financial health of the nation. However, small businesses in the construction industry have the second highest failure rate of all industries. Chuck wrote Plan to Profit: Business Planning for Builders and Remodelers to share his knowledge and expertise with other construction industry professionals with the goal of decreasing that failure rate. As Chuck Miller Consulting LLC, Chuck provides business planning and coaching, construction mediation and arbitration services, aging-in-place design consultation, construction project management for owner-builders, initial decision maker services, and expert witness services. His clients are small volume builders, remodelers, and construction trade contractors; owner-builders undertaking residential or light commercial construction projects; government licensing boards, and attorneys specializing in construction-related issues. Chuck Miller Consulting’s clients include the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses Contractors Board. From November 2010 through June 2022, Chuck reviewed 572 consumer complaints against contractors and rendered his written professional opinion on the quality of the contractor’s workmanship and compliance with Idaho building codes, statutes, rules and code of ethics governing construction in the state. Chuck is a Construction Disputes Resolution Services certified construction mediator, arbitrator, and dispute resolution board member and an associate member of the American Bar Association.

Mr. Iliff has been a certified building official for 10+ years serving communities in Texas, Illinois, and Missouri. He has taught classes on the residential, building, and property maintenance codes with a focus on preparing students for certification exams and effective administration. Mr. Iliff has 30+ years of experience as a city planner, floodplain manager, and code enforcement officer. He earned an undergraduate degree in Urban Planning and Development from Ball State University.

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. Brook is a professional land surveyor with experience surveying from the Bay Area to Tahoe, focusing on boundary surveying. Outside of contracted work, Mr. Brook provides a free daily test prep question to help prepare aspiring surveyors for licensure tests, and to keep licensed surveyors sharp. He is passionate about informing and educating the public on the intricacies and issues associated with boundary disputes whenever the opportunity arises. Outside of the surveying realm, you can find Mr. Brook enjoying outdoor activities such as rafting and skiing.

Ms. Lichman, Ph.D., has an extensive and successful record representing airports, municipalities, developers, and other public and private clients in litigation and administrative proceedings under Federal Aviation statutes such as the Airline Deregulation Act and Airport Noise and Capacity Act; the California Public Utilities Code governing land use in airport environs (Aeronautics Act); and federal and state environmental statutes including the National Environmental Policy Act, the Federal Clean Air Act, the Federal Clean Water Act, the California Environmental Quality Act, and the California Coastal Act. She has also successfully represented clients in litigation involving land use issues such as inverse condemnation, development agreements and specific plan amendments. Dr. Lichman holds a doctorate in Urban and Regional Planning.

Mr. McKinley has been the managing partner at Freeland McKinley & McKinley since 2011, His trial court and appellate experience spans 40 years in easement law, eminent domain and inverse condemnation, real property, construction defect, real estate broker liability, land use, agreed boundaries, and adverse possession. Mr. McKinley is admitted to practice before all courts in the State of California and is a member of the California State Bar Association.  

Mr. Wance is a shareholder and former chair of Buchalter’s Land Use Practice Group. He has built a cross-disciplinary practice involving land use and entitlements, water resources, environmental compliance, natural resources, and public law through the representation of both public agencies and private businesses throughout California. Mr. Wance has handled all aspects of these substantive areas, from advising clients regarding the applicability of the law, to guiding clients through a permitting or entitlement process, or defending clients subject to enforcement actions. He successfully represented businesses and public agencies in sophisticated financial, real estate, water resource, environmental compliance, and land development matters in court and before administrative agencies. Mr. Wance’s land use and entitlement background includes representation of residential developers, public entities, major industrial facilities, and other commercial businesses in all phases of project development before local and state agencies, city councils, and county board of supervisors. He has assisted clients in obtaining development and environmental permits and project approvals for power plants, schools, mixed-use, and industrial development projects.

Mr. Iliff has been a certified building official for 10+ years serving communities in Texas, Illinois, and Missouri. He has taught classes on the residential, building, and property maintenance codes with a focus on preparing students for certification exams and effective administration. Mr. Iliff has 30+ years of experience as a city planner, floodplain manager, and code enforcement officer. He earned an undergraduate degree in Urban Planning and Development from Ball State University.

Mr. Dax has been practicing law since 1978 focused on energy regulation and environmental permitting. His practice and client base has evolved with the dramatic shifts the energy industry has experienced over those four and a half decades. Mr. Dax has extensive experience in energy infrastructure development and regulation, environmental permitting and compliance, administrative law, local land use law, contract negotiation, government procurement, and appellate litigation. He is active in licensing renewable electricity generation, transmission and storage facilities and counseling developers, large energy consumers, investors and lenders in the energy and utility industries on regulatory and commercial strategies and compliance issues. Mr. Dax appears before federal, state, and municipal agencies with responsibility for energy regulation and environmental protection, and local land use control as well as in New York State and federal courts. After graduating from Columbia Law School he served as an assistant counsel to the New York State Public Service Commission and as an assistant counsel in the Office of Counsel to New York Governor Hugh Carey. He has been in private practice since 1983 and a partner in Hodgson Russ LLP since 2021.

Mr. Lang is a partner with Couch White LLP. He assists clients in matters before state and federal energy regulatory agencies and involving utilities and electric system operators, energy procurement options, generation development and siting, asset divestiture and acquisition, and other energy-related transactions. His clients include the City of New York, State University of New York, University of Massachusetts, Cornell University, numerous Fortune 500 companies, generation owners and developers, financial institutions, and other individuals and companies participating in energy markets. Prior to joining Couch White, Mr. Lang worked for the New York State Department of Public Service as a managing attorney and before that, as an assistant counsel. While with DPS, he successfully defended the New York State Public Service Commission in court challenges to PSC decisions, led staff teams in numerous rate cases, was instrumental in maximizing the value received by New York ratepayers from the divestiture of the New York public utilities’ nuclear, fossil-fueled, and hydroelectric generating facilities, and routinely advised the PSC on policy and other issues.

Sam M. Laniado is a partner with Read and Laniado, LLP. He graduated from New York University School of Law in 1976. He joined the staff of the NYS Department of Public Service (NYSDPS) in September 1976. Mr. Laniado represented Staff in environmental, transmission, and power plant siting proceedings pursuant to Articles VII and VIII of the PSL, the investigation of the extended outage at Consolidated Edison’s Indian Point II Generating Station, and the development of phase-in ratemaking principles to be applied when nuclear power plants were scheduled to enter rate base. His duties also included directly advising the NYSDPS on a wide range of legal, regulatory and environmental issues. Furthermore, he provided representation of the NYS Public Service Commission and the NY Board on Electric Generation Siting and the Environment in appellate litigation proceedings (Article 78 of the Civil Practice Law and Rules). Mr. Laniado also represented the Staff in cases involving electric rates as well as gas, telephone and water rate cases. He left the NYSDPS for private practice in December 1983. Mr. Laniado leads the Firm’s power plant and transmission line siting practice.

Zachary Perdek is an attorney with Read and Laniado, LLP. Mr. Perdek has represented clients before state and federal administrative agencies, including the New York State Public Service Commission, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the New York Independent System Operator, and New York State and federal courts. He is active in administrative proceedings in matters involving the permitting and siting of renewable energy projects, gas and electric rate proceedings, cost- and market-based rate design, and regulation of competitive wholesale electricity suppliers. During his time in law school, Mr. Perdek served as the editor-in-chief of the Syracuse University Journal of International Law and Commerce, and as a member of the Class Act Committee. Mr. Perdek has had legal internships with NYSDEC Region 7 and the New York State Office of the Attorney General Environmental Protection Bureau, where he familiarized himself with New York State’s environmental regulatory regime, wrote enforcement petitions, and engaged in settlement deliberations. He graduated from Syracuse University College of Law with a J.D. and graduated from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry with a Master of Professional Studies in Natural Resources Management.

Mr. Pond is a partner with Barclay Damon LLP. A former trial attorney in the Antitrust Division of the US Department of Justice, he primarily concentrates his practice on the interplay between regulation and competition in energy markets. Mr. Pond represents electric and gas utilities, pipeline companies, generators, and marketers in administrative proceedings before the NY Public Service Commission (PSC) and the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) as well as in commercial matters and proceedings before the NY Independent System Operator, Inc. (NYISO). He assists generators and transmission providers in connection with the siting of new facilities under Articles 7 and 10 of the Public Service Law and also advises generators, pipeline companies, and commercial landowners in obtaining lightened regulation from the PSC. He also obtains approvals for transfers of assets and ownership interests under the Public Service Law, counsels retail energy service providers in matters before the PSC, and assists electric-power marketers in obtaining market-based rate authority from FERC and in complying with FERC’s evolving regulatory requirements for market-based rate authority.

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

Mr. Lewandowski is senior counsel with Husch Blackwell. He guides clients on compliance issues regarding surface and groundwater and remediation of contaminated properties. With experience in aligning the clean water laws of Wisconsin with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines, Mr. Lewandowski understands the subtleties of state regulations covering surface and groundwater. He has the unique ability to handle client matters in courts, administrative agencies and legislatures. Though he generally collaborates with private sector clients, he also successfully defended a rural county in Wisconsin in a Superfund contribution action. Mr. Lewandowski defends businesses in state and federal enforcement actions, including citizens’ suits and federal criminal enforcements. He earned his B.A. degree, cum laude, from Ripon College and his J.D. degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School.

Ms. Murn is an attorney with Axley Attorneys and a member of the Business Practice Group at Axley. Ms. Murn focuses her practice primarily on commercial real estate, business, and estate and succession planning, as well as catering to the unique legal needs of family-owned businesses. Attorney Murn’s other areas of practice, including commercial real estate, land use, construction law, riparian rights, and general business practice, allow her to serve clients with a full 360-degree approach to asset protection, business strategy and conveyance of real estate. She represents business owners of all kinds both in their everyday dealings as well as when they are buying or selling commercial real estate or developing land. Ms. Murn also represents a number of commercial construction companies with a nationwide presence. Her experience working with local municipalities gives her a leg-up on representing business owners or those looking to purchase and develop real estate. Ms. Murn earned her B.A. degree, cum laude, from Marquette University and her J.D. degree, cum laude, from Marquette University Law School.

Mr. Sorenson is a shareholder with von Briesen & Roper, S.C. and has more than 35 years of experience helping clients with a wide range of legal issues. He provides counsel on corporate law, business succession planning and estate planning. Mr. Sorenson also represents municipalities, and with regard to real estate he counsels on land use, zoning, smart growth, water front litigation and nonmetallic mining. He is a Fond du Lac County Court Commissioner and serves as a mediator and arbitrator in real estate and labor disputes. Widely known and respected by his peers, he has served in many capacities with the State Bar of Wisconsin, including terms as president (1997-1998) and Secretary (1994-1996), as well as chairing several of their Standing Committees, including the Finance, Solo and Small Firm, Communications, Convention and Entertainment Committees. He was also president of the National Conference of Bar Presidents (2007-2008) and a member of the American Bar Association House of Delegates. Mr. Sorenson is a member of the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation Board and the Green Lake County/Ripon Area Foundation Board. He is the past President of the Ripon Main Street Development Board of Directors and an adjunct professor of Business and Politics and Government at Ripon College. Mr. Sorenson is a member of the Board of Directors for the Green Lake Festival of Music and Badger Boys State. Mr. Sorenson is a frequent lecturer on legal ethics, real estate law and waterfront rights. He served as chairman of the Board of Directors for Community Health Network (CHN) and remains active in health care organizations.

Mr. Moormann, PE, RA, earned a 5-year Bachelor of Architecture degree and a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology. He is dually a licensed as a registered architect and a licensed Professional Engineer in the States of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and other states and holds multiple professional affiliations and certifications. Mr. Moormann has spent a large portion of his 18+ year career involved in heavy construction and new building development in the New York City market under various capacities of geotechnical, excavations, demolition, remediation, and structural design works. Notable projects include MoMa Tower Verre; 432 Park Avenue; World Trade Center Towers 2, 3 & 4; 220 Central Park; Nordstrom Tower; and currently under construction 740 8th Avenue. Mr. Moormann has been directly involved with over 750 construction projects in the tri-state region. Additionally, he has held a technical director position in multiple engineering companies overseeing all special inspection operations. He is co-owner and principal of Ancora Engineering based out of mid-town Manhattan. Mr. Moormann also has his own private architecture and engineering practice focused on the local market around his New Jersey home.

Mr. Curtin is the stormwater manager at Erosion Control Services and oversees the UPDES program at the company. Before joining ECS, Mr. Curtin served as the construction program coordinator for Utah DWQ for three years and on the stormwater team with UDOT for a year. Prior to moving to Utah, Mr. Curtin worked as a consultant for four years implementing MS4 permits across multiple different regions. He holds a B.S. degree in Earth Science with a minor in Soil Science from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

Ms. Jack Hinners is the director of conservation and research at Red Butte Garden on the University of Utah campus in Salt Lake City. An urban and landscape ecologist, she has a B.A. degree in Geography and Environmental Studies from McGill University and a PhD degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Prior to her current position, she was on the faculty of the Department of City and Metropolitan Planning at the University for 12 years and founded the Center for Ecological Planning and Design. She has been studying and teaching about stormwater green infrastructure from an interdisciplinary perspective for over a decade and has multiple stormwater reference sites on the University of Utah campus, most notably the Landscape Lab. Ms. Jack Hinners has also taken a leadership role in stewardship of Red Butte Creek on campus, and in her current position at Red Butte Garden, she continues to study and advocate for landscape practices that support and enhance the health of our urban streams and riparian ecosystems.

Mr. Tolman is the president and owner of AccenaGroup, a company that has served Utah and surrounding states as stormwater plan and consulting experts since 2007. His industry certifications include QSWPPP, Utah RSI, CISEC, and CPESC. Mr. Tolman has presented several times at American Public Works Association (APWA) conferences, CASQA, Stormcon, and other industry conferences. He has consulted on U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Utah State consent decrees and regularly guest lectured for construction management classes at Brigham Young University and Utah Valley University.

Dr. Kerski is a geographer with a focus on analyzing change over space and time across multiple fields of study. His research analyzes the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in education. He has served as the President of the National Council for Geographic Education and has given 2 TED Talks on “The Whys of Where”. He holds 3 degrees in geography (BA, MA, PhD) and has served as geographer in 5 major sectors of society, including as an independent consultant, in government (NOAA, US Census Bureau, USGS), academia (University of Minnesota, Harrisburg Area Community College, Penn State University, Sinte Gleska University, University of Denver, others), private industry (as Education Manager for Esri), and in nonprofit organizations (with roles in geography and education associations). Mr. Kerski has authored over 100 chapters and articles, and 200 podcasts on GIS, education, space, place, and related topics. He has visited over 350 schools and 400 universities around the world. He regularly conducts professional development for educators. He has created over 7,000 videos, 2,500 lessons, 1,500 blog essays, and authored 12 books, including Interpreting Our World, Spatial Thinking in Environmental Contexts, Essentials of the Environment, Spatial Mathematics, Tribal GIS, International Perspectives on Teaching and Learning, the GIS Guide to Public Domain Data, and others. But as a lifelong learner, he feels as though he’s just getting started and thus actively seeks mentors, partners, and collaborators.