Live Interactive Webinars

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

Mr. Royle-Grimes has been at the forefront of applying drone technology in industries such as petroleum and power distribution since 2017. He previously developed a youth drone program focused on preparing students and staff for FAA Part 107 certification. Mr. Royle-Grimes also publishes a blog on industrial drone applications, highlighting how drones can save time, reduce costs, and improve safety in engineering and construction environments. Learn more at elevationuas.com.

While Mr. Gaynor will always do whatever he can to settle a case, he recognizes that some cases do not settle, and will also begin preparing from day one for a possible trial to ensure his clients the best possible outcome. He has found this “two-track” approach best serves client interests by being prepared for any eventual outcome and obtaining the best possible results. He appears frequently in front of family part judges throughout the state addressing all areas of family law, including issues related to divorce, custody, parenting time, relocation, alimony, child support, college contribution, grandparent’s rights, emancipation and valuation and division of assets including businesses, real property, stock options, restricted stock units, retirement accounts and cryptocurrency. Mr. Gaynor believes in a practical approach to any case and works to prepare clients for the range of possible outcomes that can be had at settlement or trial. He frequently speaks to clients about this range, from best case to worst case scenario so that clients can consider the cost-benefit of moving forward and make informed decisions on how to move forward.

He also places considerable effort into preparing witnesses (both clients and third parties) for the stress and anxiety that can come with testifying so that they can put forth that testimony in a manner that is comprehensive, believable, and understandable to the court. He firmly believes that ensuring witnesses are prepared for the rigor of a trial can lead to better outcomes. Mr. Gaynor is not satisfied with standing by and hopes to actively participate in making the practice of family law better for family court litigants. It is for this reason that he recently became a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and is active in the New Jersey chapter. He is also a New Jersey Certified Matrimonial Law Attorney and a member of the Family Law Executive Committee of the State Bar, the Barry Croland Family Inn of Court and is on the Board of Morris County’s BWLAP Program.

He has been trained to conduct forensically sound interviews of children and has attended and spoken at numerous seminars both nationally and in New Jersey. Mr. Gaynor previously served as an Assistant Prosecutor at the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office and as a law clerk for the Honorable Ann R. Bartlett, J.S.C. in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Chancery Division, Family Part, Warren County. He received his undergraduate degree from The Catholic University of America and his J.D. from the Columbus School of Law.

Mr. Goldstein handles complex litigation matters involving high net worth divorce cases in addition to all types of family law matters. The firm also handles estate planning, probate and administration of estates, and estate litigation. Mr. Goldstein earned his B.S. degree in Accounting from Brooklyn College, CUNY, and his J.D. degree from New York Law School. Prior to becoming an attorney, Mr. Goldstein was a practicing accountant.

Ms. Groves’ practice is dedicated entirely to family law matters. She received her Juris Doctor from Rutgers University School of Law in 2008. She then completed a Judicial Clerkship for the Honorable Susan L. Claypoole, J.S.C. in the Family Division of the Burlington County Superior Court, handling matters related to divorce, custody, support and adoption. Ms. Groves joined Musulin Law Firm in 2009, and was named a partner in 2021. In addition to practicing law, she serves the legal community through appointment by the New Jersey Supreme Court as a member of both the Family Practice Committee and the District IIIB Ethics Committee.

Mr. Guzzo is a former law clerk to the presiding family law judge in Atlantic County. He has appeared as a speaker and guest lecturer for several continuing legal education seminars and written various articles on family law topics, including divorce and domestic violence issues. His private practice is primarily focused on all issues related to family law. Through 15 years of experience and six years of being a business owner, Louis G. Guzzo has gained exceptional experience, knowledge, and respect from the community of South Jersey. He earned his B.S. degree from John Jay College of Criminal Justice and his J.D. degree from Rutgers University School of Law.

Ms. Hinkle is a bar-certified attorney in the State of New Jersey who has run the Law Offices of Lynda Hinkle in Southern New Jersey for nearly 15 years. She holds a J. D. from Rutgers School of Law Camden, a Masters in English from Rutgers University, and a Masters in Teaching from Rowan University. She also serves as a mediator in family and estate matters. Ms. Hinkle has worked as a teacher, an adjunct professor, and an entrepreneur. She founded Working to Halt Online Abuse and served as its first president, acted as a district representative for New Jersey Congressman Rob Andrews, and was Editor-In-Chief of MP Journal, an international, peer-reviewed feminist academic journal. She has done a significant amount of freelance, professional, and academic writing in her career. Ms. Hinkle has also written a book, Breaking Up: Finding and Working with a New Jersey Divorce Attorney. Though her legal career has been successful, Ms. Hinkle has never strayed from her communal roots. She served on the Alumni Board at Rowan University, is a Board of Trustee of the Camden County Bar Association Foundation and the Camden County Bar Association, and is a participant in many more volunteer and pro bono activities, including a significant amount of lobbying for domestic violence and human trafficking causes and often consults with legislators about pending litigation in family law/domestic violence matters.

Mr. Saadeh is a New Jersey divorce lawyer with a deep focus on complex family law and matrimonial law. Mr. Saadeh is dedicated to guiding clients through all aspects of divorce, including high-conflict child custody, parenting time, equitable distribution, alimony, and prenuptial agreements. He is particularly skilled in handling cases involving the valuation of businesses, executive compensation, and stock options. In his role on the New Jersey Supreme Court Family Practice Committee and as an Early Settlement Panelist, Mr. Saadeh has been recognized for his expertise and authority in family law. He leverages this insight to secure favorable outcomes, whether through skilled mediation or aggressive litigation. Mr. Saadeh earned his undergraduate degree from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, and his J.D. degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.

Mr. Ray Meyer brings an extensive background of over 50 years in the field of Geotechnical Engineering, Construction Materials Engineering and Testing, and Forensic Investigations. His work is centered on challenges related to expansive and soft soils, soil-structure interactions, and the testing of construction materials for large, complex projects in the public and private sectors.

In his role as an Adjunct Professor in the College of Engineering at the University of Houston, Mr. Meyer instructs courses on Construction Materials Testing, and Soils Mechanics and Foundation Engineering. This teaching role has refined his ability to demystify complex engineering concepts for individuals with little to no technical background, making him adept at conveying ideas to non-engineers and those with non-engineering backgrounds.

Mr. Meyer’s career spans a wide range of civil engineering projects, where he has applied his geotechnical expertise to design and analyze structures such as bridges, waterfront structures, deep foundations (e.g., piles, auger cast piers), slabs, pavements, runways, channels, levees, and drainage systems. His work includes critical aspects of industrial paving, airport runways, side slope stability, groundwater drainage, and complex construction scenarios like cofferdams and wet wells and earth retaining structures.

Additionally, Mr. Meyer is highly experienced in geotechnical forensic investigations, which involve analyzing structure issues such as foundation failures, pavement distress, slope stability, bulkhead and pier performance, and site moisture problems. His forensic expertise also addresses issues stemming from soil movement due to environmental factors like drought and rainfall, underground utility failures, and interactions between foundations and site vegetation.

Throughout his career, Mr. Meyer has served as a subject matter expert in disputes regarding foundation and pavement performance, making him a valuable resource for understanding and resolving complex geotechnical issues in civil engineering projects.

Mr. Abbott manages the Midwest and NY territories, working directly with civil engineers and landscape architects to promote responsible and economical design of plastic stormwater chambers. He has overseen the installation and design of commercial chamber systems with all ranges of project goals and storage requirements. Mr. Abbott graduated from Western Connecticut State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in History. Following his graduation, he joined the family business Cultec. His grandfather was responsible for patenting the very first stormwater chamber and his father still has a managing role in the company, now owned by ADS. His history with Cultec and the stormwater chamber industry runs deep and his passion for the industry has not waned. Mr. Abbott is focused on building partnerships with engineers and acting as a resource to the designing community on how best to account for stormwater. Connecting designers, developers, contractors, and home owners with these solutions can have far reaching benefits to the community and is the motivation behind these efforts.

Mr. Davidson received his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University, and his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Environmental Engineering Science from California Institute of Technology. Following his PhD, he joined the Carnegie Mellon faculty in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Department of Engineering and Public Policy where he served for 33 years. He joined Syracuse University in 2010. Dr. Davidson has written and edited a number of books, has over 200 refereed publications, and was President of the American Association for Aerosol Research during 1999-2000. He is the Founding Director of the Center for Sustainable Engineering, a partnership among several universities led by Syracuse University. In his capacity as Director, he has organized many workshops to help faculty members add content in sustainability and sustainable development into engineering courses. He has conducted environmental research in the Arctic, the Himalayas, and several U.S. National Parks, examining the influence of anthropogenic activities in populated areas on environmental quality in remote regions.

Since the 1990s, he has studied the role of engineers in sustainable development as well as lay people’s perceptions of technology and their understanding of the environmental impact of their daily activities. Mr. Davidson retired in 2023 as the Thomas and Colleen Wilmot Professor of Engineering at Syracuse University in Syracuse, NY, stepping down as Director of Environmental Engineering. However, he continues working on campus as Professor Emeritus. He and his research group are currently collaborating with the Physical Facilities Department of Onondaga County, New York to conduct measurements of precipitation and stormwater runoff from a 1.5 acre green roof on the convention center in downtown Syracuse. He and his group are also making measurements to assess the energy flow through the roof for different weather and soil conditions. He is also studying the ways in which this project can be used in class activities to enhance student learning of fundamental engineering concepts.

Mr. Davidson received the William and Frances Ryan Award from Carnegie Mellon University in 2009 and the United Methodist University Scholar-Teacher Award from Syracuse University in 2014. He is a Fellow of the American Association for Aerosol Research, the Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors, and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). He is currently Chair of the Sustainable Infrastructure Education Committee of the ASCE. He has played several roles in ASCE activities related to education in sustainable development.

Mr. Fortuna’s nearly 50 years’ experience in the construction industry brings extensive and diverse knowledge of many facets of commercial and residential construction. A fourth generation home builder and land developer, Mr. Fortuna designed homes that work in unison with the land, creating ecologically friendly designs which focus on energy efficient homes and environmentally friendly landscapes. He has created landscapes and hardscapes that focus on controlling runoff and recharging the water cycle. Mr. Fortuna was also a certified post-tension concrete designer/installer building PT concrete tennis courts. Shifting focus after the 2007 housing fiasco he spent several years as a regional sales manager for a large pre-cast concrete stormwater manufacturer managing the culverts and underground retention/detention vaults division in the heavy civil construction sector. Most recently working as New York area sales manager for ACO, Inc., he demonstrates his passion of delivering a top-notch consultative sales approach offering the most innovative stormwater systems on the market and is also known for providing industry-leading support to designers, suppliers, and contractors alike.

Dr. Souza has over 35 years of professional expertise in the management and restoration of water resources. This includes the design and application of a wide array of green infrastructure stormwater management techniques. Dr. Souza received his B.S. from the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth (1974), his M.S. from Rutgers University (1976), and his Ph.D. from the University of Connecticut (1981). He is the founding partner of Princeton Hydro, serving as the company’s president until his retirement in 2018. Dr. Souza is an instructor and course coordinator for the Rutgers NJAES Office of Continuing Professional Education as well as for Continuing Professional Education Services, LLC. He is also an Adjunct Professor at Temple University (Department of Landscape and Horticulture – Tyler School of Art and Agriculture).

Mark Alan Hewitt Architects is a full-service architectural firm with over 30 years of experience creating buildings that fit their context, time, and purpose. Mr. Hewitt takes pride in enhancing the built environment with traditional, well-made, beautiful designs that are suited to specific client requirements and civic values. Unlike many architects, Mr. Hewitt does not place ideology over practical or economic concerns. Each design is as modest or elaborate as befits the individual or institution that it serves. Mr. Hewitt has won many awards for both design and research, and continues to strive for exemplary work that will push professional standards to a higher plane.

Professor Opfer teaches coursework in construction management, cost control, cost estimating, structural design, and facility systems (MEP design). He is also an industry consultant on design and construction issues, construction safety/defects, methods/materials, and production issues. He has been a consultant to numerous ENR Top 600 Design Firms, Top 400 Contractors, and Fortune Top 500 Corporations. He received his B.S. in Building Theory, B.A. in Business, and B.A. degree in Economics, all from Washington State University. Subsequently he received his M.S. in Management (MBA) from Purdue University and his P.D. in Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has been involved as an estimator, lead estimator, chief estimator, and estimating consultant on billions of dollars of construction projects over his career.

Mr. Anderson has been an engineer in the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Water Supply Engineering Section since 1984, and a senior engineer since 1995. He is the lead engineer responsible for water allocation review, policy analysis of water rights, and planning aspects of Iowa water law. He is also IDNR’s aquifer storage and recovery technical expert, from both a technical and a regulatory perspective. He has a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree, both in Civil Engineering, and both from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. He has a Hydrogeology minor, and he is also an assistant professor of Practice in Iowa State University’s Geology Department, teaching Hydrogeology.

Mr. Helfrich has been principal land surveyor with Craig R. Knoche & Associates, P.C. and its successor Koru Group PLLC in the Chicago area for the last 30 years. Mr. Helfrich first picked up a plumb bob in 1971 for Webster & Associates. From tape-and-transit to GPS, mortgage surveys to shopping centers, he has his seal on billions of dollars of commercial, residential and institutional developments and transactions in 23 counties in Illinois together with consulting and managing projects in 15 other states. Mr. Helfrich has enjoyed working with countless prominent developers, attorneys and other professionals in the field and the office. His specialties include real estate law, boundaries and boundary law, easements, rights-of-way and other encumbrances and servitudes, statutory and common-law plats, ALTA surveys, topography, building and site layout, construction- and project-management as well as land development consulting. He has presented classes and co-written manuals with the Illinois Institute For Continuing Legal Education along with classes at the University of Illinois and HalfMoon Education. Mr. Helfrich is a member of the National Society of Professional Surveyors and the Illinois Professional Land Surveyors Association.

Mr. Hinders has substantial experience in advising boards on legal matters, interpreting ordinances and statutes, writing policies, reviewing and recommending modifications to ordinances, negotiating collective bargaining agreements, and representing municipalities in court, and he has tried numerous jury and non-jury trials. Mr. Hinders has represented clients on cases involving a wide variety of municipal law issues, including: statute and ordinance issues, open records and open meetings issues, contract interpretation issues, zoning issues, takings issues, and writs of certiorari and mandamus. He has represented municipal boards of adjustment, zoning commissions, and drainage districts. Mr. Hinders has been named a “Best Lawyer” in the State of Iowa since 2020 in the areas of employment benefits law, employer and employee labor and employment law, and as and as a litigator in the areas of labor, employment, and municipal law. He is a graduate of Simpson College, Drake University College of Business and Public Administration, and Drake University Law School.

Mr. Haecker, of AWH Architects, focuses on delivering creative design solutions that pursue sustainable resolutions to the built environment. He emphasizes the successful re-purposing and adaptation of existing structures to meet contemporary needs and uses. Inspired by an early-life experience witnessing the destruction of a large swath of historic warehouses in his hometown of Omaha, Mr. Haecker pursues adaptive reuse and historic building rehabilitation as a means to prevent the unnecessary loss of cultural heritage and to preserve the embodied energy inherent in existing buildings.

Mr. Gorneau is responsible for offering innovative green infrastructure/low impact stormwater solutions that enable new applications and raise the bar on performance, cost effectiveness, and verification. He previously served as national manager of ACF Environmental/Ferguson Waterworks and as regional vice president for FABCO Industries where he was responsible for engineering design, specification, and installation of manufactured stormwater management systems. Mr. Gorneau earned a BS degree in Biological Systems Engineering and an MS degree in Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln which provided the necessary knowledge for him to launch his career into the technical sales and specified engineered products industry. He spent the subsequent time since graduation gaining experience and expanding his knowledge of the industry on a wide variety of civil and environmental engineering design projects for private and public sector clients. Mr. Gorneau is a registered professional engineer in Maine and New Hampshire, and he is a Maine certified stormwater inspector. He has been a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), serving as section president in 2014.

Mr. White has over 35 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.

Dr. O’Connor is a professor of horticulture with Colorado State University Extension, where she focuses on outreach education and coordinates the Larimer County Master Gardener Volunteers. She earned her B.S. in horticulture from Iowa State University, her M.S. from The Ohio State University, and her Ph.D. from Colorado State University. With over 20 years of experience in the field, Dr. O’Connor specializes in woody plants, turfgrass management, and annuals and perennials for the landscape. She also serves as an affiliate faculty member in the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture at Colorado State University.

Mr. Anderson represents Gulf Coast businesses in both transactional and litigation matters and often serves as outside general counsel for his clients. Mr. Anderson has extensive experience representing real estate developers, commercial landlords, tenants, and investors in leasing, purchases and sales, financing, and real property disputes. He also focuses his practice on the Gulf Coast hospitality industry, including franchise regulatory matters, transactions, and disputes, intellectual property prosecution and enforcement, tort liability, advertising, regulatory, and employment matters. His corporate law practice involves representation of individuals and entities in the formation and ongoing operation of businesses including sales, acquisitions, franchising, and expansion. His widely varied litigation experience has involved patents, trademarks, copyrights, product liability, franchising, timeshares, real estate sales, premises liability, Title VII, FLSA, FMLA, ADA, and commercial matters. Prior to founding Yates Anderson, Mr. Anderson was a partner at Clark Partington, served as general counsel for one of Alabama’s most successful commercial real estate developers, practiced with the law firm Baker Donelson in Birmingham, Alabama, and clerked at the U.S. Court of Federal Claims in Washington, D.C. He is licensed to practice in Alabama and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Mr. Miller holds a B.A. in political science from the University of Alabama, and a J.D. from the University of Alabama School of Law. He has nearly a decade of experience working in land conservation and water policy, and has worked for governments and nonprofit groups in Missouri, Washington D.C. and Alabama.

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

Mr. Barton maintains a vibrant business and real estate practice that includes both transactional and litigation matters. By actively representing clients in Oregon, Washington, Arizona, and Utah, Paul has an in-depth knowledge of law that allows him to navigate the nuances in the law throughout the western region. As a business and real estate lawyer, Paul assists owners, developers, lenders, franchisees, tenants, and other clients with retail and office leases, real estate acquisitions and dispositions, corporate finance, loan workouts, and other transactional matters. As an experienced litigator, Paul regularly handles disputes involving business and real estate litigation, including contract disputes, shareholder disputes, construction defects, employment matters, non-compete and trade secret cases, securities fraud, foreclosures and receiverships, and other matters.

As a Principal in the Real Estate, Land Use & Environmental practice group, Ms. Glynn focuses on business and real estate transactions, representing individuals, businesses, municipalities and nonprofit organizations in sales, acquisitions and other commercial agreements. Chelsea was recognized by the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch 2026 edition for her work in Real Estate Law and Land Use and Zoning Law. She is a frequent speaker at Real Estate and Land Use conferences and has published multiple articles in the American Bar Association’s Probate & Property journal.

As Chair of the Land Use and Real Estate Practice Group, Mr. Howsley’s practice focuses on land use and real estate development and is deeply intertwined to the home building industry in the Northwest. He is recognized regionally for his advocacy of the development community. Jamie represents companies, developers, and builders throughout the Pacific Northwest. He has successfully represented clients in a range of complex land use/development projects, including advocacy for large scale master planned developments throughout Washington and Oregon, getting new land into urban growth areas, and working with local governments on complex and creative financing tools to build necessary infrastructure.

Ms. Keating is an experienced trial attorney who uses her strong research, persuasive writing, and creative problem-solving skills to help clients effectively resolve disputes. Her practice focuses on complex civil litigation, commercial business and contract disputes, condemnation and real property actions, healthcare litigation, and consumer protection actions. She represents businesses, public entities, educational institutions, and individuals as plaintiffs or defendants in a variety of state and federal courts, on appeal, and in arbitration and mediation. Reilley has tried cases in several different jurisdictions, taken and defended many depositions, and managed large-scale discovery.

Mr. Trinchero represents clients in litigation relating to business and real estate disputes, condemnation and eminent domain, property tax appeals, commercial landlord-tenant disputes, federal and state securities law, enforcement of noncompetition agreements, False Claims Act violations, and shareholder class action and derivative lawsuits. He is experienced in litigating cases in state and federal court, as well as in private arbitrations

Dr. Fitzgerald grew up in Maryland working in his father’s construction company for many summers restoring barns, houses, and bridges. Dr. Fitzgerald went on to earn a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in civil engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York. After working in structural engineering consulting at Bensonwood and Tetra Tech IER, Dr. Fitzgerald attended Oregon State University to earn a PhD in Wood Science and Civil Engineering. During and after his PhD program, Dr. Fitzgerald published multiple papers in ASCE and Engineering Structures journals on mass timber connections in shear walls and has presented at the SEI Structures Congress.

Dr. Fitzgerald has continued to act as a peer reviewer for two different engineering journals and is on ASCE’s Wood Design committee. The committee is currently developing a new design guide for direct-displacement design of low-rise wood framed buildings. After earning his Ph.D., Dr. Fitzgerald worked at Ohlin and Reed in Ohio as a consulting engineer. Dr. Fitzgerald then founded Cambium Design LLC, a design and engineering office in Maryland and is licensed in multiple mid-Atlantic states. Prior to founding Cambium Design Dillon provided engineering design and consulting on projects ranging from steel framed libraries, to low rise office buildings, to mass timber homes, and restorations of various historic buildings. Cambium Design LLC continues to offer its Clients premier services focused on structural engineering for timber buildings. Cambium’s designs houses, barns, adaptive reuse, restorations, mass timber, heavy timber, and light frame buildings. He looks forward to meeting you at this webinar graciously hosted by HalfMoon Education.

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

Mr. Brown’s environmental career spans the last 42 years, including several years employed with engineering & environmental consulting firms and the remaining with various federal, state, county, and municipal agencies within southwest and north-central Florida. His experience includes a range of technical environmental assessment, regulatory permitting, project and program managerial positions involving ecosystem evaluations, habitat restoration, and wetland mitigation. Mr. Brown has been employed for the last several years by Alachua County’s Environmental Protection Department as Natural Resources Program Manager. His responsibilities include management, supervision and training of staff conducting evaluations of regulated natural resources associated with proposed residential, commercial and public infrastructure projects throughout Alachua County. He has a B.S. degree (’82) in Soil Science with minor in Environmental Science from the University of Florida.

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

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

Ms. Mower has over 25 years of experience, currently serving as a Principal and Ecological Restoration Lead within CEC’s Pittsburgh Ecological Services practice. She specializes in aquatic resource restoration and compensatory mitigation, having designed miles of stream restoration and acres of wetland restoration during her career. Beginning her career with the US Army Corps of Engineers in Norfolk, Virginia (VA) and serving as a fisheries biologist with the VA Game and Inland Fisheries Department, she has in-depth regulatory experience to help navigate clients through difficult local, state, and federal permitting projects. While working for one of the largest energy industries in the state of WV and PA, her working knowledge and understanding of major decision-making strategies provides valuable insight to improve short and long-term cost savings understanding industry priorities, goals, and objectives. As a Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner (CERP), Ms. Mower has completed Levels I through IV Rosgen Training and has taken weeks of additional stream and wetland design training, led by experts in the fields of low-tech process-based restoration and natural channel design techniques. Publishing several papers and articles across her career and presenting at specialized conferences across the country, she is a recognized expert within the industry. Ms. Mower is currently working on projects in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, as well as in West Virginia within the Appalachian Mountain and across the country in Colorado. Her role is to lead designs in CEC’s Pittsburgh office, while supporting other ecosystem restoration projects across CEC’s nationwide footprint; and continue to expand CEC’s ecological services footprint across the county.

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

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

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).

In 2001, Ms. Sobczynski founded Erosion Control Inc. with the goal of protecting our environment’s water resources from construction pollution. Over the past 24 years, ECI has served state and city agencies, land developers, and contractors throughout Kansas and Missouri with the development of Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPP), pre-construction planning and permitting, installation of sediment containment devices, and SWPPP inspections. In 2012, she became a fully certified CPESC (Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control). Additionally, Mrs. Sobczynski has maintained Construction Stormwater Inspector certification with KDOT and MoDOT since their program’s inception and is a proud member of the IECA (International Erosion Control Association). She continues her education to stay proficient in the latest techniques and regulations in the field and has crafted a high level of expertise and technical knowledge in all phases of erosion and sediment management.

Over the span of his career, Mr. Sobczynski has held multiple roles in the construction industry. He started as a laborer installing erosion control BMPs and transitioned to a crew foreman guiding the proper planning and best practices of erosion control. Mr. Sobczynski then spent the next 8 years as a Construction Superintendent and Project Manager in ground-up commercial construction. Today, he is currently the Field Operations Manager for ECI. As an erosion control specialist and SWPPP Inspector, Mr. Sobczynski spends most of his time in the field working directly with contractors and developers to provide expertise and guidance in best practices for erosion and sediment control. He holds Construction Stormwater certification in both Kansas and Missouri to be a Certified SWPPP Inspector on DOT projects. Additionally, Mr. Sobczynski has ESC certification in multiple municipalities in the Kansas City Metro.

Mr. McWhite is from Indiana and a graduate of Vincennes University. He is an accomplished building inspector and plans examiner, with 20 years of experience in public and non-profit code enforcement and inspections. Mr. McWhite has served as an inspector and plans examiner in Massachusetts, Georgia, Virginia, and Indiana. He has served on the Massachusetts Construction Supervisor Licensing exam rewriting committee to help transition the exam from the 2009 to the 2015 International Codes, as a member of the International Code Council’s IPMC/IZC Code Development Committee, and as member of the ICC Building Membership Council and most recently BCAC. Mr. McWhite also currently serves as an ICC Governmental voting member representing Region 6. He has earned a combined 21 certifications ranging from SBCCI (Legacy Code) to ICC, including Housing Code Official, Building Code Specialist, Plumbing Code Specialist, Certified Building Official, and is currently two certifications away from Master Code Professional.

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

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