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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).

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.

Mr. Miller has been a distinguished leader in the HVAC industry since 1995, bringing three decades of expertise spanning nearly all areas of focus in the HVAC industry. He holds an HVAC Master’s License in Maryland and Virginia, as well as a Stationary Engineer license. Mr. Miller is a proud member of the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), recently lecturing at the 2025 annual conference regarding Thermal Energy Networks. In 1998, he obtained a Security Clearance, enabling him to work on highly specialized and mission-critical classified mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) projects across the globe. His portfolio includes HVAC construction and system integrations in Egypt, India, the UK, Western Europe, the Caribbean, and throughout the United States, projects that extend far beyond the scope of traditional commercial MEP work. Since 2016, Mr. Miller has been based in Scottsdale, Arizona, where he continues to provide subject-matter expertise in all areas of HVAC. He also founded ProProfitBuild.com, a platform dedicated to empowering tradesmen and construction professionals. With real-world proven strategies, he addresses financial management practices, 1:1 construction and business management mentoring, and implementing proven practices and procedures to improve the continuity of business for trade-oriented businesses.

Mr. Colleran is a professional wetland scientist (PWS) and certified ecological restoration practitioner (CERP), who possesses both the basic and advanced field botany certificates awarded by the Native Plant Trust for whom he now serves as an educator. He has a commercial pesticide license in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in Category 40 (Rights-of-Way), has been involved with four Conservation Commissions in Massachusetts including as an agent and a chair, and currently serves on the leadership team of the Northeast’s Regional Invasive Species and Climate Change Network. He has a long history in fluvial, riparian, and wetland projects; invasive species control work, and the regulation and management of natural areas, as well as authoring several peer reviewed papers. At Ecological Land Management he continues to investigate the scope and scale of the impact to transportation and riparian systems inflicted by the swarm of invasive knotweed species and sub-species, and change the discussion of how the problem of this species group is framed to better incorporate the protection of all types of infrastructure.

Ms. Eierman is an environmental horticulturist and ecological landscape designer specializing in native plants. Based in New York, Ms. Eierman teaches at the New York Botanical Garden, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, The Native Plant Center, Rutgers Home Gardeners School, and several other institutions. She is an active speaker nationwide on many ecological landscape topics, presenting for industry conferences, “green events,” Master Gardener groups, garden clubs, nature centers, Audubon Society chapters, beekeeping groups, and other organizations interested in environmental improvements. Ms. Eierman also provides horticultural consulting and landscape design to homeowners and commercial clients. In addition to being a certified horticulturist through the American Society for Horticultural Science, she is an Accredited Organic Landcare Professional, a Steering Committee member of The Native Plant Center, and a member of The Ecological Landscape Alliance and Garden Communicators International. Ms. Eierman is the author of the new book, The Pollinator Victory Garden: Win the War on Pollinator Decline with Ecological Gardening.

Plant Magic Gardens is an ecologically conscious gardening company that focuses on planting native plant gardens and landscapes. Ms. Rafuse and her team of top-notch gardeners design and install gardens, perform garden maintenance. She provides educational opportunities to the community and her clients about how we can all support local pollinators and wildlife with our gardens and be better land stewards.

Ms. Davis-Maddy is a reputable trial lawyer in the commercial, healthcare, environmental and water law sectors. Although primarily a litigator, she practice is full service—assisting her clients and their needs that span the employment, commercial, real property, regulatory and administrative fields. Ms. Davis-Maddy healthcare practice includes advising physicians and other licensed providers regarding corporate, administrative and litigation issues, while her environmental practice focuses on interacting with state and federal agencies to provide her clients with the outcomes they desire. Most recently, She has obtained favorable results for clients in state and federal licensure and certification actions, including with the Department of Environmental Quality and Oklahoma State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision. Ms. Davis-Maddy is an accomplished water attorney, regularly assisting clients in asserting, obtaining and protecting their water rights in court or at state agencies. Her clients include small and large municipalities, corporations, landowners and family farmers.

Mr. Harvey is a licensed professional land surveyor with experience in project management with a demonstrated history of working in the civil engineering industry for almost 29 years. He is skilled in highways, subdivisions, ALTA/design surveys, construction, as-builts, and right of way acquisition. Mr. Harvey is a project management professional from Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City and has primarily worked with utility companies over the past five years to help acquire right of way.

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

Ms. Pence was born and raised in Tulsa and chose to build her law practice in her home town. She has numerous and varied experiences in the legal field from working for multiple judges at the Tulsa County Courthouse prior to attending law school, to working in a medium-sized insurance defense firm, to striking out on her own in 2012 to form a small law firm. Ms. Pence then founded Pence Law Firm as a solo practitioner, which opened its doors on January 1, 2016. She is an active member of the Oklahoma Bar Association and the Tulsa County Bar Association. Ms. Pence is currently serving as the chairperson of the Law School/Mentoring Committee of the Tulsa County Bar Association. She was chosen from applicants throughout the State of Oklahoma to participate in the Oklahoma Leadership Academy for the Oklahoma Bar Association as a rising leader in the legal profession.

Mr. Ward began surveying with his father in 1972 and became the crew chief for an engineering boundary surveying firm in 1984. He was licensed in Colorado in 1989 and in Oklahoma in 2015. Mr. Ward was the lead surveyor for Glenwood Canyon “Hanging Lakes Tunnels”, and I-70 bridge, 1989. In 1990, he was elected Grand County Surveyor which is a role he still has today. He has worked as consultant to the Colorado State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors, 1994 to 1998, and has testified to an administrative court judge on behalf of State Board of Registration in several court actions against land surveyors as an expert witness. In addition to this, as a County Surveyor, he was admitted as an expert witness and testified on behalf of Grand County in several lawsuits and admitted as an expert witness in several private surveyor lawsuits. Mr. Ward is currently member of National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS) Trig-Star Committee, and he has written all text and coordinated construction of four displays currently at the Four Corners Monument, which describes the history of the survey of the Four Corners Monument, the only place in the U.S. where four States meet, and also where two Indian Reservations meet. Mr. Warren was the recipient of “Key Governor” award for 2010, NSPS and is currently an instructor for PLSC’s “Refresher Course”.

Mr. Dowsing is senior counsel in the Orange County office of Manning & Kass, Ellrod, Ramirez, Trester LLP. He practices in the fields of engineering professional liability and construction law and is a Design-Build Institute of America certified professional. His experience as an attorney includes helping parties with their complex engineering projects, to identify engineering risks and develop programmatic approaches to reduce those risks. He serves as project counsel and lead risk manager for three progressive design-build projects in California valued at over $100 million. Finally, he also represents A/E firms, contractors, and developers in engineering claims throughout California.

Mr. Gibson is a construction business litigator who helps his clients build successful projects and negotiate and resolve disputes. A partner in Stoel Rives’ Real Estate, Construction, and Design Practice, Mr. Gibson drafts and negotiates all forms of project documents, from the design phase through construction, and regularly navigates clients through the tricks and traps of contracting and insurance coverage issues. Licensed in California, Oregon, and Washington, Mr. Gibson is a veteran of all formal legal proceedings and has successfully pursued construction defect claims, delay claims, insurance and bond claims, bid protests, mechanic’s liens, real estate disputes, and collection actions through mediation, arbitration, and litigation.

Mr. Knight is the founding partner of the Law Offices of Daniel J. Knight, APLC. As a practicing attorney in California and Hawai’i, university lecturer, California contractor and California real estate broker. Professor Knight can truly be considered something of a “renaissance man” in real property-related matters. His law practice focuses on construction law and real property-related legal services with an additional focus on providing expert witness services in disputes ranging from initial consultation, to mediation, arbitration and/or trial. He is an adjunct professor in the Construction Management Department at Cal Poly University, San Luis Obispo, where he instructs, among other courses, Construction Law and Construction Accounting. Professor Knight holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accountancy from Walden University and a juris doctor degree from the Santa Barbara Colleges of Law. Prior to passing the bar in California and Hawai’i and starting his own law practice, he worked his way through college and law school as the owner/operator of a successful construction, house lifting and moving business. 

Mr. Lindborg leads the firm’s construction practice. Lindborg and Mazor acts as general counsel to private entities and as outside counsel to private and public entities. The firm specializes in all facets of real estate and construction, from the negotiating and the documentation stage, through project completion and beyond, including the counseling of clients in claims avoidance and mitigation techniques and the mediation, arbitration and litigation of claims. He has been lead counsel in numerous trials and arbitrations involving the prosecution and defense of multi-million dollar construction and real estate claims. Mr. Lindborg has also represented clients before various state and federal administrative agencies and has appeared in a number of state and federal courts throughout the United States. He is a member of the American, California, New Mexico and Los Angeles County Bar Associations.

Mr. Nicholas is a member of Stoel Rives’ Construction and Design group with experience litigating a range of construction disputes and drafting a variety of construction agreements. Mr. Nicholas has trial and arbitration experience and has assisted clients before federal and state courts, domestic and international arbitration panels, and administrative bodies. He is licensed in Oregon, Washington, and California. Before joining Stoel Rives, Mr. Nicholas worked as a summer associate for Oracle Corporation in Redwood Shores, California, and as a judicial extern for the Honorable William Q. Hayes of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California in San Diego, California.

Named by Landscape Ontario as 2020 and 2021’s Garden Communicator of the Year, gardening has been Mr. James’ hobby and profession for over 40 years. A graduate of Niagara Parks School of  Horticulture, a Master Gardener, writer, and teacher, he focuses on eco-gardening techniques, which makes sense since he grew up surrounded by nature. He has spoken from the Maritimes to Seattle and landscaped from Nova Scotia to California. Mr. James has had the honor to be part of creating the Ontario Landscape Tree Planting Guide, the Grow-Me-Instead guide, the Ontario Horticultural Apprenticeship Curriculum and the national Red Seal Occupational Standard, and the Master Gardeners Reference Manual. He has participated in chairing the Environmental Stewardship Committee for Landscape Ontario, the Environmental Committee for the Perennial Plant Association, moderating the Master Gardeners of Ontario Facebook page, judging the All-American Selections garden competition and Hamilton’s Monarch Awards. Mr. James has been the Ontario spokesperson for Garden Days Canada and he has appeared on many radio shows and on television and has instructed at the college level for 17 years. He owns ‘Sean James Consulting & Design’.

With warehouses in Arizona, Colorado, Texas, Iowa, Ohio, and South Carolina, Mr. Carson’s company has a unique business model focused on “repurposing” (finding a 2nd life for the castoffs and discards of Corporate America). His company mission/concept of “repurposing” has been featured in media outlets as diverse as Popular Science, Reader’s Digest, and the Chicago Tribune. This is his second foray into the waste stream of America albeit with the goal of this round to keep waste out of the landfill. At the beginning of his career in waste, he sold a garbage company that he had co-owned in the Colorado ski resorts of Vail and Breckenridge to Waste Management.

Ms. Dobreva is a dedicated project manager with a successful track record in the construction industry. Currently based in MGAC’s Los Angeles office, her experience encompasses a diverse range of projects in commercial real estate, luxury living, and biotech/life sciences, featuring budgets that span from $15 million to $300 million in states such as Arizona, Texas, Michigan, and Florida. Ms. Dobreva diligently engages in all project phases, from design to construction management, consistently delivering high-quality outcomes while building strong relationships with her clients. Passionate about purposeful design and the use of natural elements, she continually seeks innovative ways to add value to projects and spaces creatively, showcasing her dedication to both her professional and personal interests.

Mr. Thakkar is a seasoned professional with a strong background in industrial engineering and project management. Currently pursuing a master’s degree in project management at the University of Cumberland, Mr. Thakkar holds a previous master’s degree in Industrial Engineering from Texas A&M University and a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. He brings a wealth of technical expertise, specializing in Advanced Excel, Tableau, SQL, ERP & MRP Systems. Mr. Thakkar’s certifications include Green Belt Lean Six-Sigma, Data Analysis, Production and Inventory Management, Continuous Improvement, Process Optimization, Engineering Economics, and Business Development. In his current role as senior supply chain Analyst at Topcon Positioning Systems, he excels in generating global inventory forecasts for 15 locations, contributing significantly to sales and materials forecast processes. Previously, at Cepheid, he led a team to successfully deliver a $300M order in four months and spearheaded many improvement projects to streamline supply chain planning.

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

Mr. Noviello is an attorney-at-law, a professional engineer, and land surveyor who enjoys teaching. He has taught real property law, survey law and, more recently, alpine skiing. Mr. Noviello received his Master of Engineering degree, his Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering, with honors, and his AAS degree in Engineering, all from Rochester Institute of Technology. He received his juris doctor degree from Rutgers University School of Law-Newark. Mr. Noviello has maintained a professional engineering firm and a general practice law firm since 1984, and he has practiced land surveying since 1991, with ten years in industry and six years in government. He is a licensed professional engineer in the states of New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Mr. Noviello is a New York and Connecticut licensed land surveyor. He holds law licenses in New York State Courts, US Supreme Court, Federal Court for the Southern District of New York, and Federal Court for the State of New Jersey.

Mr. Berry concentrates his practice in land use and zoning, eminent domain, municipal law, state administrative law and commercial litigation, particularly disputes related to real estate. Mr. Berry advises and represents private and public sector clients on antitrust and trade regulatory issues. He  represents both land developers and municipalities in zoning and planning matters, as well as buyers and sellers in commercial real estate transactions. Mr. Berry has been a Rule 31 Mediator since 2001 and has mediated over one hundred commercial, construction, real estate, condemnation and employment disputes. He was the Honorary Consul for the State of Tennessee named by the Federal Republic of Germany from January 2004 to January 2021.

A Murfreesboro native, Mr. Bouldin has thirty years of practice experience before the state and federal trial courts of Tennessee. He has tried civil matters to juries throughout Middle Tennessee. He also maintains a substantial appellate practice before the Tennessee Court of Appeals and Tennessee Supreme Court. Mr. Bouldin focuses his trial practice on civil matters, including eminent domain, business litigation, real estate litigation, construction litigation, and administrative litigation. He has lectured frequently on the law of eminent domain. In addition, he practices extensively in the public finance field. Mr. Bouldin is a graduate of Washington & Lee University and the University of Tennessee School of Law. He is admitted to practice before all courts of the State of Tennessee, the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, the United States Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court. He is a member of the Rutherford/Cannon County Bar Association, the Tennessee Bar Association, and the National Association of Bond Lawyers. He maintains an “AV” preeminent peer rating by Martindale-Hubbell.