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

Originally from New Hampshire, Dr. Hamel completed a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts and a master’s degree in Civil Engineering with an emphasis in structures at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Between degrees he worked as a bridge inspector, roadway designer, and bridge engineer in Boston and as a structural engineer in Denver designing hospitals, museums, and courthouses. After earning his license as a professional engineer in Colorado, he returned to school and completed his doctorate in Structural Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr. Hamel’s research was located at the USDA Forest Products Laboratory in Madison and included a three-year long creep study of wood-plastic composites (WPCs). Dr. Hamel joined the faculty at the University of Alaska Anchorage in 2011, where his current research includes the performance of plywood/polyurethane structural insulated panels (SIPs), the strength of accreted ice on piles at the Port of Alaska, and a reliability analysis of flawed wood-frame structures during seismic events. At UAA, he teaches undergraduate courses in mechanics, structural analysis and steel design, and graduate-level courses that cover loads on structures, structural reliability, advanced structural analysis, finite-element analysis, and advanced steel design.

Mr. King founded the consulting practice TrafficCalmer in 1998, after he was the first Director of Traffic Calming at the New York City Department of Transportation. The first contract was as a visiting scholar at the Research Institute for Regional and Urban Development in Dortmund, Germany. It is here that Mr. King solidified his desire to repurpose cities away from cars. Following long associations with Nelson\Nygaard and Buro Happold, he re-opened TrafficCalmer in 2018 to provide unfettered advice and expertise. The mission is to work with progressive cities, campuses, and NGOs to advance a green mobility ethos. Climate change is real and our mobility habits are partially responsible. The city of tomorrow must be re-envisioned for those living and prospering in it, not for those driving through it.

Mr. King’s portfolio includes complete streets, design guides, mobility networks, tactical urbanism, transit stations, urban design, vision zero, accessibility (ADA) and workshops. He has organized 48 Real Intersection Design workshops since 2000. He has worked in 20 states and 24 countries on five continents.

Highlights include:
• 1st national street design guide, NACTO Urban Street Design Guide
• 1st Director of Traffic Calming at NYC DOT
• 1st Safe Routes to School program in USA – Bronx NY
• 2nd shared street in nation – Santa Monica CA
• Highest volume road diet in USA – St Louis MO
• Largest bus rapid transit system in Asia – Guangzhou (China)
• Progressive street design guides for Abu Dhabi, Chicago, and suburban Toronto
• 2008 US DOT Safe Routes to School Task Force
• 2013 Professional of the Year, Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals
• Certified NACTO trainer
• TOD Standard advisory panel

Mr. King is based in Saratoga Springs, New York, USA (half way between New York City and Montreal) with an outpost in Fort Worth, Texas. He is an architect, registered in New York.

Mr. Eilertson earned his bachelor of science degree from UW-Madison in Civil & Environmental Engineering in 1993 and has worked in the municipal engineering field since 1990. Mr. Eilertson’s early interest in community involvement and environmental issues began in 1972 when, as a child, he helped his parents (Orie & Kit) create a recycling drop off program through their church in the Village of Mukwonago. Mr. Eilertson absorbed much of his interest in environmental conscience and responsibility through his parents and grandparents as he grew up on a Sand County Farm in Wisconsin, practicing first hand Aldo Leopold’s land ethic of striving to live on a piece of land without spoiling it. Above and beyond the day-to-day activities that go along with his current and past civil and environmental engineering roles, Mr. Eilertson spends many of his nights and weekends hosting educational events including waterway cleanups, paddling events, watershed tours, as well as electronics recycling and shred-day events. He is a Director of the American Public Works Association – Wisconsin Chapter (APWA WI) and has chaired APWA WI’s Water Resources Committee and Solid Waste Committee. He serves as the Wisconsin Chapter’s liaison to APWA’s Center for Sustainability (C4S) and is currently chair of APWA WI’s Sustainability Committee.

Mr. Eilertson’s greatest pleasure and source of pride is his wife, Yenti, with whom he’s been happily married since 1995. They have two boys, Erik (22) and Evan (13), who excel in finding “teachable moments” for Mr. Eilertson to continue learning from nature and helping others to share his vision of people working together for healthy generations to come. Past awards that Mr. Eilertson is especially proud of are the 2013 APWA National Community Involvement Award and 2015 Rock River Protector Award.

Mr. Eilertson has increasingly enjoyed being able to spend time and energy volunteering for various non-profit groups that align with his vision for a healthy community. They include: Powered Up Baraboo, Baraboo Kiwanis, Baraboo Rotary, Friends of the Baraboo River, Foundation for Dane County Parks and last, but not least Friends of Pheasant Branch Conservancy.

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

Mr. 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.

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.

Professor Marsik has a joint position with the National Renewable Energy Lab and the Cold Climate Housing Research Center in Fairbanks, Alaska. He is passionate about research and education in the areas of energy and sustainability and utilizes the synergies of his joint position to benefit people in Alaska and beyond. Professor Marsik’s passion is reflected in honors, including Alaska’s Top Forty Under 40 award and a recognition from the World Record Academy for designing and constructing the world’s most airtight residential building on record. He has an M.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from the Czech Technical University in Prague, and a Ph.D. degree in Engineering in Engineering from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Dr. Marsik has numerous publications and has served on highprofile committees, including Alaska Governor Bill Walker’s Transition Team and its Consumer Energy subcommittee. He has a very precious daughter whose face keeps reminding him to work hard on helping develop a sustainable future.

J.A. Smith Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. has been in business over 39 years and specializes in the residential and light commercial HVAC market in southeastern Pennsylvania counties of Bucks, Montgomery and Philadelphia and adjacent counties in New Jersey. The company employs 50 people and serves the new construction, retro fit, and service/maintenance markets. Mr. Smith’s experience in the renewable energy HVAC field dates from involvement in numerous air source heat pump installations starting in the early 1970’s to the company’s current focus on closed loop geothermal installations. He holds an advanced CMS certification with the Refrigeration Service Engineers Society (RSES) and holds a Master HVAC contractor’s license with the state of New Jersey. In addition to running J.A. Smith Heating & Air Conditioning Mr. Smith has also been active in teaching HVAC related topics on a local and national level since 1981. The agencies that he has presented for include Refrigeration Service Engineers Society (RSES), National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI), American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), National Association of Home Inspectors (NAHI), Home Builders Association (HBA), Pennsylvania Power and Light (PPL). He has also volunteered his time and served as president of the Electrical Association of Philadelphia (EAP), the chairman of the Middle Bucks Institute of Technology’s (MBIT) local advisory committee, and as secretary of the Business Referral Network of Delaware Valley (BRN).

Mr. White has over 25 years of experience in engineering, ranging from compliance and industrial wastewater and air treatment system evaluations to remedial study/design projects. Mr. White works with clients across a variety of industries, including iron and steel, utilities, specialty chemicals, food and food additive processing, and petroleum refining. He has expertise in industrial wastewater and stormwater regulatory review and implementation support under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Program. Mr. White earned a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst and an M.S. degree in Environmental Engineering from the University of Michigan.

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

Ms. Birt is a seasoned family law attorney, mediator, and Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) with over 20 years of experience in family law and child advocacy. As the founder of Birt Family Law and creator of the signature Restorative Divorce™ process, Ms. Birt focuses on guiding families through resolution-focused divorce and co-parenting while minimizing court involvement. She is a sought-after speaker on ethics and best practices in family law, known for her practical insights and child-centered approach.

Ms. Dunn is a certified mediator, award-winning, and trained in collaborative divorce, and she has been appointed by judges to represent the interests of minor children in custody disputes. She was named a member of the illustrious Forty Under 40, a peer-reviewed selection of the finest young attorneys in Chicago. She has extensive knowledge of family law issues, including divorce and custody disputes, child support payments, alimony matters, prenuptial agreements, domestic violence cases, adoption proceedings and other types of family disputes. Ms. Dunn practices exclusively in family law and has done so since 2008.

Mr. Field has been practicing matrimonial and family law in Illinois for 24 years. He currently serves as the Head of Beermann LLP’s Family Law Practice Group and he is an experienced litigator specializing in custody disputes, relocation actions (including interstate and international matters under the Hague Convention), post-dissolution conflicts, and the negotiation and drafting of prenuptial and postnuptial agreements. In 2010, Mr. Field was named one of Illinois’ Top 40 Attorneys Under Forty by Law Bulletin Publishing Company and has been recognized by Super Lawyers Magazine every year since 2009.

Mr. Gordon works exclusively in the area of family law. He has significant experience dealing with both parenting-related and financial litigation. In addition, Mr. Gordon has expertise conducting settlement conferences, drafting marital settlement agreements, parenting agreements, and pre and post-nuptial agreements. Furthermore, he is a skilled appellate advocate, having litigated numerous family law cases at the Appellate Court level. In 2012, Mr. Gordon’s book, Pre-Nuptial and Post-Nuptial Agreements, was published by the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education (IICLE). He also authored the 2022 edition of the book, and it remains their most comprehensive authority on the drafting and enforcement of pre and post-nuptial agreements.

Mr. Maurer has over two decades of experience in all aspects of divorce and family law. As a trained guardian ad litem, Mr. Maurer has been appointed by judges to investigate contested custody cases, to be “the eyes and ears of the court”, and to give guidance and recommendations to the court as to what is in the best interest of the children. As a trained and certified mediator, he has been appointed by the courts and retained by private parties to act as a neutral third party to facilitate settlement agreements between parties to divorce and parenting disputes. Mr. Maurer handles cases in DuPage County, Cook County, Kane County, and other counties in the Greater Chicagoland Area. He has focused his practice in the area of family law, including divorce issues (contested and uncontested divorces, complex financial divorces), parentage cases, preparation of prenuptial agreements and postnuptial agreements, custody disputes, establishing visitation or parenting schedules, child support calculation and maintenance determination, grandparent rights, relocation disputes regarding removing children from Illinois, and enforcement or modification of court orders.

Ms. McGuan received her J.D. degree, summa cum laude, from the Northern Illinois University College of Law in 2010, where she graduated first in her class. Prior to attending law school, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish Language and Literature from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and a Certificate in Paralegal Studies from William Rainey Harper College in Palatine, Illinois. An attorney in private practice, Ms. McGuan is a member of the Adjunct Faculty in the Legal Studies Program at the College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, Illinois, where she teaches Introduction to Legal Research and Writing, Family Law, and Immigration Law. She is the author of The Illinois Family Law Paralegal (Carolina Academic Press, 2024).

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. Cooney earned his B.S. degree from Texas A&M University. Mr. Cooney is a J.D. candidate at South Texas College of Law Houston.

Mr. Guarino’s work at at work with the firm focuses on identifying, assessing and resolving a wide variety of land use and traditional commercial real estate matters across all asset types. Mr. Guarino earned his B.A. degree from Southern Methodist University and his J.D. degree from the University of Houston Law Center.

Mr. Izfar represents private land owners and developers in navigating land use and zoning issues in connection local regulation of commercial and industrial developments as well as master-planned communities. Previously, he was Assistant City Attorney for the City of Houston where his practice focused on land development regulations within the City of Houston and public-private partnerships. Mr. Izfar earned his B.A. degree from Emory University and his J.D. degree from the Rutgers-Camden School of Law.

Mr. Joeckel is a member of Winstead’s Business Litigation Practice Group. Mr. Joeckel has experience in a range of civil and commercial matters in state and federal courts, including industry experience in real estate, construction, technology, and financial services. He earned his B.B.A. degree from Texas A & M University, his M.L.A degree from Texas Christina University and his J.D. degree from Texas Tech University School of Law.

Mr. Pruitt has exclusively represented cities in the Texas Panhandle and the Houston Metro Region on all matters of municipal law with an emphasis in land use and economic development. He has been the lead counsel for all land use issues in roles with cities and in private practice. Mr. Pruitt has been lead counsel for the creation and operation of tax increment reinvestment zones, public improvement districts, and economic development corporations. He has been directly involved with downtown revitalization initiatives in several cities and has provided guidance on the legal implications of such initiatives. Mr. Pruitt has an undergraduate degree from Texas Tech University, a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Texas at Arlington, and a law degree from Texas A&M University School of Law.

Mr. Wison is recognized as a preeminent Texas real estate and land use attorney. A Fellow of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers (ACREL), he is one of few practicing Texas real estate attorneys holding the Counselors of Real Estate (CRE) designation. Board-certified in commercial real estate law and property owners association law, he brings to his practice a long history of relationships and reputation with governmental and POA lawyers and officials throughout southeast Texas. As the chairman of Wilson Cribbs + Goren, he led the firm to become one of the go-to real estate boutiques in Texas. An adept critical thinker, problem-solver and creative strategist, as well as a skilled negotiator, Mr. Wilson advocates for the interests of a wide array of private and institutional clients, including residential, commercial and industrial developers, property owners, Fortune 500 companies, and other owners and operators. He also has unique knowledge of the laws on land use rights of religious organizations; specifically, the constitutional and statutory exceptions granted to them under state and federal law. Mr. Wilson’s practice involves a broad array of work related to both public and private land use regulations, such as deed restrictions (restrictive covenants), easements, development agreements, platting, economic development incentives, permitting and denial of permits, zoning, statutory vested rights, and traditional land use matters. As a trusted partner to his clients, he also counsels businesses proactively on land use and real estate matters to help avoid costly missteps before they occur. Mr. Wilson is past chair of the Real Estate, Probate and Trust Law (REPTL) Section of the State Bar of Texas, the second-oldest and largest section of the State Bar of Texas, with more than 9,200 members. He is a director of the Texas Real Estate and Probate Institute (T-REP), which reviews and lobbies changes to real estate and probate laws to keep them current and effective. A former District Council Chair of the Urban Land Institute’s Houston chapter, he has been a long-term contributor to the growth of that Council and is a long time full ULI member. Mr. Wilson has held the position of adjunct professor at the Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University, teaching Real Estate and the Law and Best Practices in Real Estate Development. Recently, Texas Lawyer magazine selected him to receive its Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognizes lawyers who have made their mark on the state’s legal profession, and RED News named him a Real Estate Icon. As a leader of Wilson Cribbs + Goren, he leverages his extensive experience in land use and real estate law to mentor the firm’s attorneys.

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

Ms. Brown has been exclusively practicing family law since 2011 with experience specializing in divorce, modifications, custody cases and other family law-related matters. While attending law school she was awarded a certificate in Family Law. Ms. Brown has been nominated as a Georgia Super Lawyer every year since 2017 an accolade awarded to fewer than 2.5 percent of lawyers in the state. Additionally, she has also been nominated by Georgia’s Trend Legal Elite every year since 2018. Ms. Brown is an active member of the Cobb Bar Association and State Bar of Georgia. She serves on numerous boards and is heavily involved in Kennesaw Business Association and the Kennesaw Public Safety Foundation.

Ms. Fodor is an experienced divorce attorney who has been practicing law since 1998. She provides compassionate, yet aggressive representation for clients facing divorce, as well as custody and child support disputes. Prior to becoming an attorney, Ms. Fodor was a stockbroker/financial advisor for Prudential Securities, Inc., and then Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Her experience has helped her understand the complexities of finance and securities. In addition to divorce, child support and custody issues, she provides legal counsel to individuals and companies in such areas as business and securities law. Ms. Fodor is a member in good standing of the State Bar of Georgia and the State Bar of Arizona. In addition, the Supreme Court of Georgia appointed Ms. Fodor to serve as a mentor for beginning lawyers in Georgia. Ms. Fodor is also a Member of the Cobb County Bar Association, where she is involved in the Family Law Section. Ms. Fodor graduated from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1998. She excelled in academics, won trial competitions, and earned her degree with honors. She also wrote articles for the University bar journal and worked two internships her final year: one for the Arizona Public Defender’s Office and one for the Arizona Corporation Commission, Securities Division.

Gary Graham is a partner with Stern Edlin Graham Family Law, P.C. His main areas of practice include high net worth divorce, complex custody cases and family law matters. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and a member of the State Bar of Georgia.

Mr. Naggiar is a top rated attorney by Georgia legal leaders and has received the Client Distinction Award from Martindale-Hubble, an accolade bestowed on less than four percent of the 900,000 attorneys on Martindale-Hubble. Mr. Naggiar has an AV Preeminent rating, meaning that his peers have rated him at the highest level of excellence. In addition, he has earned the honor of being named to Superlawyers and the honored distinction of making the Superlawyers Top 100 in Georgia. Mr. Naggiar has also been named as one of Georgia Trend Magazine’s Legal Elite. He represents clients in the full spectrum of family law cases, including contested child custody, drafting of prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, and modifications of custody, alimony and child support. Due to his entrepreneurial background and corporate work prior to practicing family law, his expertise is sought out specifically for high asset cases involving the division of businesses and complex financial assets. Mr. Naggiar graduated from Georgetown University Law Center in 2000. After working as a consultant in the commercial real estate and entertainment industries in California, Mr. Naggiar’s desire for more meaningful and solidly ethical work spurred him to change course and became a Judge Advocate General (JAG) in the Army. He served as Special Assistant United States Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia and prosecuted cases for the Army in Federal Court. Mr. Naggiar served nearly four years on active duty before being honorably discharged at the rank of Captain. He then took over as Chief of Legal Assistance in the Department of the Army as a Civilian Attorney, serving over 30,000 service members, their family members, and retirees in all aspects of family law. During his tenure, the office won the Chief of Staff Legal Assistance award, and he was awarded the Superior Civilian Service Award. As a military officer and as a civilian attorney, Mr. Naggiar represented clients in thousands of family law, criminal law, and estate planning cases for both active duty and military retirees in the Atlanta area. With his military background and understanding of the unique issues that confront military personnel, his legal expertise is frequently sought by service members and retirees from all branches of the U.S. Armed Services, as well as their families. Mr. Naggiar continues to give back to the military community by volunteering his services for the Georgia State Veteran’s Clinic and speaking at continuing legal education seminars regarding military/family law issues. Mr. Naggiar is admitted to the State Bar and State Supreme Court of both Georgia and California. He is also admitted to the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia. He is also certified by the State of Georgia in both domestic and civil mediations.

Ms. Palmer earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Alabama then attended law school at Florida Coastal School of Law in Jacksonville, Florida. She previously worked as in-house counsel for a real estate investment company and was the managing attorney of a law firm in Midtown Atlanta. Ms. Palmer is a partner at Oxendine Law, LLC, practicing in all areas of domestic litigation, divorce, child custody, paternity and legitimation, and modification actions. She is a member of the State Bar of Georgia Family Law Section and the Gwinnett County Bar Association Family Law Section.

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

Dr. Balci is accomplished in successfully developing and delivering large climate resiliency and sustainability projects. At the South Florida Water Management District, she managed Federal and State Policy and Permitting Division to achieve goals of Everglades Restoration. At NYC DEP, she led the nations’ largest green infrastructure and innovative cloudburst management program with a budget to reduce combined sewer overflows and improve water quality in New York Harbor while providing flood mitigation benefits and resiliency in environmental justice communities. Notably, she led the Tibbets Brooks Daylighting and Greenway project in the Bronx and developed NYC’s first wastewater resiliency plan. In addition, Dr. Balci worked as the NYC interagency lead to manage NYC’s Stormwater Management Program Plan under the Phase 1 MS4 permit covering 14 city agencies and led the permit negotiations with the State and EPA. Currently, Currently, she is senior vice president at WSP USA working on multiple mid to large-scale drainage and resiliency projects. She is a doctoral faculty member at CUNY Graduate School and teaches classes on climate resiliency and integrated water systems management.

Dr. Ahintha Kandamby is a professional engineer and a vice president at WSP in New York practicing in Water Resources Engineering and Hydraulic and Hydrology (H&H) Modeling. He has a master’s degree in Deep Water Oil Spill Modeling and a doctoral degree in Numerical Modeling of riverine ice formation and consequent 2D Flood Modeling from Clarkson University, NY. He is technical director at WSP and a subject matter expert in surface water, dam safety and dam designs, coastal modeling, green infrastructure and underground storm sewer hydrodynamics modeling. He also leads the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modeling practice for WSP northeast, working on large dams, bridges and sewer design projects. Dr. Kandamby has been in the industry working as an engineering consultant for more than 15 years.

Mr. Johnson provides structural engineering and forensic inspections in multiple states. His work focuses on staff development, mentoring, proper structural design practices, peer reviews and the investigation of building damage, construction or structural defects and their proper repair, legal support, report writing, expert witness services and expert reports. Mr. Johnson also consults as designer of record or peer reviewer for a variety of building types, primarily wood-framed single-family townhomes, and two to four-story assisted living, office, hotel, apartment, and condo complexes. He has design experience in big box retail in Florida’s Hurricane prone regions and experience with historic buildings codes (UBC, BOCA, SBC). A licensed professional engineer in Minnesota since 2004, Mr. Johnson earned his B.C.E. and M.S.C.E. degrees from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities. He is also a professional structural engineer in Nebraska. 

Mr. Dickinson is one of the world’s leading experts in wastewater and urban drainage modeling. He has 50 years of experience in software development and management of wastewater and stormwater planning and design projects. A principal developer of the industry-standard and FEMA-certified SWMM5 software, he has a distinguished background in computational hydraulics and high-level simulation programming. Mr. Dickinson has a unique combination of proven project engineering expertise; management skills and high-level technical capabilities that is coveted in the stormwater industry. He has an impressive record of leadership, impeccable reputation, a key role in the USEPA Storm Water Management Model (SWMM5) redevelopment program, strong expertise in both numerical methods and hydrology/hydraulics, and in-depth knowledge of the wastewater industry. Mr. Dickinson has worked closely with product development teams and clients, helping communities around the world manage urban runoff and wet weather water quality problems in combined, sanitary and storm sewers and protect the ecological health of our waterways.

Mr. Ashwell practices in the areas of criminal defense and civil litigation, land use and zoning, domestic relations, estate planning and real estate. He received his J.D. degree from the University of Dayton School of Law, Dayton, Ohio, and his B.A. degree from Hampden-Sydney College, Hampden-Sydney, Virginia. Mr. Ashwell was named a Virginia Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2017-2021. He has served as a frequent speaker at CLE classes and seminars related to land use, zoning, easements and ethics in boundary law.

Mr. DiStanislao’s practice is focused on residential and commercial contract and closing negotiations, construction and permanent financing, negotiating leases, easement agreements, covenants, land use and zoning, and civil trial work, including real estate litigation, contract litigation, landlord/tenant law, and personal injury. He also handles traffic defense cases, gun rights restoration cases, and municipal law. Mr. DiStanislao earned his B.A. degree from Hampden-Sydney College. After college, he worked as the Director of Business Development for Bon Air Title Insurance Agency before earning his law degree from Campbell University School of Law.

Mr. Gooch is a clean energy lawyer who helps clients develop, build, and sell solar projects and battery storage facilities. He regularly advises clients regarding leases, land use issues, environmental regulation, and transactional matters such as construction contracts and asset purchases. Mr. Gooch frequently represents Virginia landowners in negotiations with electric utilities and renewable energy developers. He advises clients on key terms of solar lease and option arrangements such as the contract term, liability provisions, and compensation. His industry experience allows him to evaluate project sites and negotiate maximum compensation for his landowner clients. Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Gooch was an Assistant Attorney General of Virginia and served as counsel to a number of state agencies, including the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality’s Renewable Energy Division. He is an expert on Virginia’s Permit By Rule process and other regulations affecting renewable generators and storage developers. Mr. Gooch is a graduate of the T.C. Williams School of Law at the University of Richmond. After law school, he clerked for two years at the Supreme Court of Virginia for Justice William C. Mims.

Mr. Murphy is a real estate and zoning lawyer who focuses on real estate development and transactions in Virginia as a principal in the firm’s Land Use and Zoning Group in Tysons. His practice also extends to general civil litigation, local government law, administrative law, and eminent domain. Mr. Murphy has secured complex land use approvals for clients throughout Virginia, while also successfully representing clients before trial and appellate courts. He has also played a key role in the establishment or relocation of corporate headquarters for many of Northern Virginia’s most successful businesses. His clients have included Fortune 500 companies, homebuilders, hospitals, retailers, public utilities, and institutional users. In addition to his focus on real estate development and transactions, his practice also includes general civil litigation, local government law, administrative law, and eminent domain. Mr. Murphy often draws on his extensive background in public policy, having held key positions with elected officials at the local, state, and federal levels. Most recently, he was a partner in the Tysons office of Reed Smith LLP. Mr. Murphy earned his B.A. degree from George Mason University and his J.D. degree from George Mason University School of Law.

Mr. Peeples focuses his practice in the areas of maritime and riparian law, construction law, worker’s compensation, and national security. A prolific author, he has written articles on Virginia aquaculture and maritime law, including the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act, the Virginia Primary Sand Dune and Beaches Act, and the Virginia Tidal Wetlands Act. Mr. Peeples has been published in a number of professional journals on a variety of topics, ranging from Virginia real property law to the Anti-Terrorism Act. He is a member of the firm’s waterfront law practice group, and writes blog articles regularly on the group’s website devoted to waterfront (riparian) property rights law, maritime and admiralty law, and environmental law. He has also taught CLE courses on the topic of riparian rights throughout the Commonwealth. Before joining the firm in 2018, Mr. Peeples retired from the U.S. Navy after 22 years of service as a pilot. He completed seven combat deployments and served as the Commanding Officer of a helicopter squadron. His last assignment was Lead Rotational Planner for the Joint Staff, where he provided strategic advice to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs and the Secretary of Defense.

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. Gregory is a former department head at Purdue University Northwest in Hammond, Indiana. He is registered as a professional surveyor in Indiana and Illinois and consults as a project surveyor at Abonmarche through their Hobart, Indiana office. Mr. Gregory has presented numerous seminars on various land surveying topics to professional land surveyors, surveying technicians, attorneys, title company officials, and real estate professionals through various settings. He is a member of the Indiana Society of Professional Land Surveyors (ISPLS), the Illinois Professional Land Surveyors Association (IPLSA), and the National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS). Mr. Gregory previously served on the ISPLS Board of Directors and is a past society president. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of NSPS and chairs the NSPS Education Committee. Mr. Gregory and his wife, Jen, previously co-pastored a church congregation in Grove City, Ohio for two and a half years.

Mr. Black is a member with FRB’s Corporate and Securities Group. He has over 35 years of experience in corporate and government compliance, government contracts, trade regulation, and information technology. Mr. Black has been in-house counsel for most of his career, including Northrop Grumman’s Data and Information Division, CA Technologies, where he served as Vice President, Senior Counsel, and Associate Chief Compliance Officer, and at Overseas Military Sales Group where he was General Counsel and Chief Compliance. Immediately prior to joining FRB, he was a partner at Silverman Acampora, where he led their Government Contracts and Compliance Group. As counsel to several large government contractors, in various manufacturing and development industries, Mr. Black’s experience has included creating export compliance protocols, and managing multimillion dollar bid and proposal processes from the initial steps of government requests for information through the entire proposal procedure to final contract negotiation and award. For example, he created, launched, and managed a worldwide export compliance protocol for a major software company with more than 1,000 products sold worldwide. He has also successfully negotiated with the Department of Defense to avoid the suspension of his client’s contracts as part of a larger government-wide settlement. Mr. Black has created Codes of Conduct and established compliance help lines for his clients. This includes review of all submissions, investigation of each incident, and reports to executive management and Board Audit Committees. He can develop customized government and corporate compliance programs as well as training courses for company personnel on key compliance issues. Mr. Black’s expertise extends to corporate tax strategy, enhancing clients’ financial approaches. He also assists non-profit organizations, ensuring compliance with legal mandates as they pursue their goals. In addition, he has experience in dealing with issues related to privacy, especially the EU General Data Privacy Regulation (GDPR) and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) as well as other government acquisition and trade rules and regulations. A frequent lecturer on corporate and government compliance issues, Mr. Black is an adjunct professor at the Maurice Deane School of Law where he teaches Corporate Compliance and Ethics and has served as a visiting professor at the Naval Postgraduate School, where he taught courses in Government Contracts. He is a member of the American, New York and Nassau County Bar Associations. Mr. Black is a member of the New York State Bar Association Committee on Attorney Professionalism and the Nassau County Bar Association Ethics Committee. He earned his B.A. degree from Hofstra University and his J.D. degree from Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University.

Mr. Lawrence’s practice is focused on corporate and private securities matters, serving clients as lead counsel on all types of corporate transactions including private placements, mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, corporate finance, planning and strategies, licensing, manufacturing, supply, and distribution arrangements. He provides dedicated hands-on personal support to clients from negotiation to closing and beyond. Mr. Lawrence regularly represents clients in a wide range of industries including telecommunications, food and nutraceutical manufacturing and distribution, restaurants, emerging technologies, retail, light manufacturing, commercial and private lending, architecture and software development. He also regularly advises private issuers and principals with respect to operations and compliance matters in his active private equity practice. In mergers and acquisitions transactions, Mr. Lawrence has regularly represented both buyers and sellers of businesses. Over the past 15 years, he has successfully closed numerous deals with business owners selling their businesses to strategic buyers, private equity funds, and private equity-backed strategic buyers both domestically and internationally. With respect to securities offering and financing transactions, he has significant experience representing both issuers and founders on the one hand, and investors on the other hand, giving him years of experience related to private securities offerings, venture capital, and similar startup financings, and FINRA and SEC regulatory issues. As part of the firm’s Digital Assets Practice Group, his practice has expanded to include advising companies on blockchain, cryptocurrency, Web3, and NFT matters, with a focus on how the corporate and securities matters affect these types of projects. Mr. Lawrence earned his B.A. degree from Tulane University and his J.D. degree from Hofstra University.

Mr. Rappaport chairs FRB’s Taxation and Private Client Groups. He concentrates his practice in Taxation as it relates to Real Estate, Closely Held Businesses, Private Equity Funds, Family Offices and Trusts & Estates. Mr. Rappaport advises clients regarding tax planning, structuring, and compliance for commercial real estate projects, all stages of the business life cycle, generational wealth transfer, family business succession, and executive compensation. He also collaborates with other attorneys, accountants, financial advisors, bankers, and insurance professionals when they encounter matters requiring a threshold level of tax law expertise. Mr. Rappaport is known for his work on complex deals involving advanced tax considerations, such as Section 1031 Exchanges, the Qualified Opportunity Zone Program, Freeze Partnerships, Private Equity Mergers & Acquisitions, and Qualified Small Business Stock. He has served as a trusted advisor for prominent real estate funds, executives of multinational corporations, venture capitalists, successful startup businesses, ultra-high net worth families, and clients seeking creative solutions to seemingly intractable problems requiring tax-focused analysis. Mr. Rappaport earned his J.D. degree from Georgetown University Law Center and his LL.M. in Taxation from Georgetown University Law Center.

Mr. Sechter has determined the value of closely held securities of companies and partnerships in a wide variety of industries. He has prepared valuations of closely held operating companies, asset holding companies, as well as other equities such as undivided interests in real estate, closely held common and preferred stock. In support of the foregoing, he has prepared documented valuation analyses for presentation to management, directors, members, and stockholders of client companies, as well as to attorneys, accountants, other fiduciaries, and the Internal Revenue Service. Mr. Sechter has been court appointed as a neutral financial expert and has testified as an expert witness in various courts and jurisdictions. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants BV Committee Member, and the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.