Live Interactive Webinars

Mr. Bevis has over 10 years of experience supporting building department services that include plan review and inspections. In addition to earning the ICC Master Code Professional designation, he has 31 other ICC certifications. He has served as the Chief Building Official and Deputy Chief Building Official for the city of Atlanta. Mr. Bevis has also served as codes and standard specialist for the National Fire Sprinkler Association. Finally, he serves on and chairs several ICC committees and is deeply involved in model code development. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Architectural Studies from Southern Illinois University. Mr. Bevis has been with SAFEbuilt for the past nine years. His other previous experience include serving as a Building Inspector for the City of Mt. Vernon, Illinois.

 Mr. Buckley’s practice involves commercial real estate transactions with an emphasis on commercial lending, including construction loans, workouts and foreclosures, commercial real estate acquisitions and dispositions, commercial leases, and master-planned communities. He has experience in ground leasing, municipal development agreements and residential and mixed-use projects.  Mr. Buckley’s clients have included financial institutions and other lenders, developers of common interest communities and other commercial developments, public entities and nonprofits. He is the chair of the Real Property Section of the State Bar of Nevada and an author and the lead editor of the Nevada Real Property Practice and {Procedure Manual (State Bar of Nevada, 2021), the second edition of which will be available late this year or early next year.

Mr. Cabrera represents and advises real estate developers, investors, non-profit organizations, and individuals at all stages of property acquisition, land planning, zoning, and redevelopment processes. He has represented clients with real property disputes in state and federal court, including defending land use decisions of local governing bodies, quiet title actions, partition actions, and boundary line adjustments.

Ms. Rudnick supports energy clients on disputes and regulatory issues related to project development in Nevada. She assists renewable energy developers, mining companies, and water purveyors with a range of environmental permitting and compliance matters. Ms. Rudnick assists clients in preparing regulatory filings, tax incentives and abatements, and other aspects of project finance and development. She also helps developers, lenders, and equity investors in large project finance transactions for energy production, storage, and transmission projects.

Mr. Silva focuses his practice on problem solving. He regularly practices in civil litigation including eminent domain, real estate litigation, and contested probate litigation, with a heavy emphasis in appellate litigation, trial practice, and governmental interface. He has a strong alternative dispute resolution focus in disputed cases. Mr. Silva also provides advice and guidance to government entities, regulated entities, and businesses.

Mr. Stiteler’s practice is focused on real estate transactions and land use matters regarding residential, commercial and multi-family property development. Additionally, he provides counsel on real estate and commercial contracts, purchase agreements and other related matters. He is a member of NAIOP, Northern Nevada was recognized by The Best Lawyers in America as Ones to Watch, Land Use and Zoning Law, Real Estate for 2023. Mr. Stiteler received his J.D. from the University of Nevada.

Taggart and Taggart, Ltd. has been long respected in the water rights arena, representing businesses and municipalities in transactional and litigation matters, his practice includes water rights acquisitions, sales, contracts, easements, well share and water delivery agreements, adjudications, permitting, extensions, transfers, certification, regulatory compliance and litigation of water rights disputes before state administrative bodies as well as State and Federal trial and appellate courts. Additionally, he practices real property, real estate, land use, redevelopment, complex and general civil litigation, and administrative proceedings. He provides his clients the unique combination of legal experience combined with particularly skilled considerable success in representation of clients and projects.  Mr. Taggart continues to be actively involved in working with and handling matters and individuals, corporate clients, business owners, contractors, developers, and lenders throughout Nevada look to him to represent them in complex water law cases and issues. 

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.

Ms. Abukhodeir was born and raised in Lake Wales, Florida. Following high school, she moved to Tallahassee, Florida, to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology with a Minor in Arabic and Child Development at Florida State University. Ms. Abukhodeir obtained her Juris Doctor from Florida International University College of Law, where she was on the Dean’s List and earned two CALI Excellence for the Future Awards in Islamic/Sharia Law and Judicial Externship. While in law school, Ms. Abukhodeir worked as a Graduate Assistant to Law Professor Cyra Choudhury and was a judicial intern for the Honorable Marisa Tinkler Mendez, Circuit Court Judge in the Criminal Division of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit in Miami-Dade, Florida, and the Honorable Maria M. Korvick, Circuit Court Judge in the Probate Division of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit in Miami-Dade, Florida.

Ms. Cabrera was born and raised in Miami, Florida, has been committed to serving her community from a young age. Starting her legal career at 16, she gained early experience that confirmed her passion for law. Ms. Cabrera earned her Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Florida International University in 2002 and her Juris Doctorate from the University of Miami School of Law in 2005. Licensed to practice law in Florida since 2006, she specializes in Probate and Guardianship, with additional experience in Family and Real Estate Law. Fluent in English and Spanish, she effectively serves a diverse client base. In addition to her legal practice, she previously owned her own firm, showcasing her leadership and entrepreneurial skills. Ms. Cabrera is committed to helping individuals and families navigate complex legal issues, particularly in the areas of probate and guardianship, where her experience and personalized approach make her a trusted advocate for her clients.

Ms. DiLella Freidzon focuses her practice on the administration and litigation pertaining to estates, trusts, and guardianships, in addition to performing estate planning. Born and raised in New Jersey, she relocated to Florida to attend the University of Miami School of Law, graduating cum laude in 2015. Prior to joining FLPFL, Ms. DiLella Freidzon worked as a law clerk and thereafter an associate attorney, practicing in the areas of probate, guardianship, and trusts. Additionally, she was an Assistant State Attorney, prosecuting an array of criminal offenses and trying misdemeanor and felony cases to verdict. She focused much of her time prosecuting violent crimes of domestic violence and has maintained an interest in advocating for vulnerable families in our community. Ms. DiLella Freidzon is admitted to practice in Florida and New Jersey.

Ms. Gross has focused her legal practice on trusts and estates for more than thirty years, which includes the drafting and administration of wills and trusts as well as probate administration. Additionally, she has been serving other law firms as Of Counsel since 2011 where she handles estate planning and administration as well as represents individuals and businesses in connection with integrating estate planning with asset protection plans. Ms. Gross graduated with a B.A. from the Florida International University. She went on to receive her law degree from New York Law School in 1992 and her Masters in Law (LL.M.) in the Heckerling Program in Estate Planning from the University of Miami, School of Law in 1993. Ms. Gross is currently admitted to the New York and Florida bar. Since 2010, she has served as an adjunct professor at Florida Atlantic University where she currently teaches Trusts, Estates and Probate for the Legal Assistant Program. Ms. Gross serves on the many boards for the South Florida Jewish Federation and Trustbridge Hospice Foundation of Broward. She is also a member of the Greater Boca Raton Estate Planning Counsel.

Born, raised, and educated in South Florida, Mr. Leon attended Florida International University where he earned a degree in International Relations from the School of International and Public Affairs. Upon completing his undergraduate studies in 2010, Mr. Leon enrolled in the Florida International University College of Law where, while completing his Juris Doctor, he clerked for the Honorable Maria M. Korvick, the Administrative Judge for the 11th Judicial Circuit Probate Division. He has been involved in the Probate and Guardianship community since before his admission to law school. Upon his graduation and licensing, he continued practicing in the areas of Estate Planning, Probate, and Guardianship until eventually starting his own law firm to better serve his clients in late 2016. Mr. Leon also served as a Supervising Attorney/Adjunct Professor for the Florida International University College of Law Clinical Program in the areas of Probate, Guardianship, Elder Law, and Special Needs. He is personally involved with all the cases in the firm, from start to finish, and thoroughly discusses each specific need with any prospective client prior to accepting representation.

Ms. Mallol was born in Cuba, and she migrated to the United States at the age of 4 with her parents. She graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science, a major degree in Criminology and a minor degree in Sociology from Barry University in Miami Shores, FL. After graduating college, Ms. Mallol worked closely with the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office as a Victim/Witness Counselor and working there confirmed her desire of attending law school and becoming an attorney. Thereafter, she attended Florida International University College of Law and obtained her Juris Doctorate in 2017. While in law school, Ms. Mallol was a probate law clerk for a solo practitioner, where, with the oversight of an attorney, she worked cases such as estate planning, probate administration, guardianship administration, and trusts and estates litigation. After graduating from law school, Ms. Mallol passed the Florida Bar and began practicing as a Trusts, Estates, and Family attorney. She practices in the areas of Estates, Trusts, Guardianships, Estate Planning, and Family Law. Ms. Mallol is fluent and highly proficient in speaking, reading, and writing English and Spanish.

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. He 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 (SEAOI) (Member of the Diversity and Inclusion committee).

Ms. Brown Holmen represents clients who have been injured, or family members of those killed, in car crashes, injured by slip and falls, dog attacks, boating and snowmobile crashes, downed powerlines, sexual abuse victims and other people injured by the wrongful acts of others. She is a strong advocate for people who have suffered injuries because of another person’s negligence and is always keen to fight for justice on their behalf. Ms. Brown Holmen also acts as a Conciliation Court Referee in both Ramsey and Dakota Counties. She has been an Arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association for many years. Ms. Brown Holmen was a member of the Ramsey County Ethics Committee for 6 years. Thereafter, she was appointed by the Minnesota Supreme Court to the Board of Professional Responsibility, an organization that is responsible for the oversight and administration of the Minnesota lawyer discipline system. She was recently honored as a Top 100 Civil Plaintiff Trial Lawyer in Minnesota by the exclusive National Trial Lawyers organization. Ms. Brown Holmen earned her B.A. degree from the College of St. Benedict and her J.D. degree from the University of North Dakota School of Law.

 Mr. Garner has nearly 25 years of experience in representing the injured. During his time in law school, he clerked for five judges in the Minnesota Office of Administrative Hearings Workers’ Compensation Division and interned with a Hennepin County District Court judge. Following law school, he began working in a Minneapolis small firm representing injured workers and injured persons and later experienced representing insurance companies with a medium-sized law firm in St. Paul. In 2002, he left defending insurance companies and opened Gardner Law Office, LLC, focusing on serving the needs of the injured. He earned his B.A. and M.A. degrees from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota and his J.D. degree from William Mitchell College of Law.

Ms. Keller is the managing partner of Keller, Woods & Thompson, P.A. She is an impassioned advocate for her clients. Ms. Keller’s clients view her as caring, compassionate, and thoroughly knowledgeable about insurance law and the full range of avenues for redress of their injuries. Her competitive nature, knowledge of insurance law, work ethic, tenacity, and strategic aggression in a courtroom or negotiation setting has allowed her to successfully close hundreds of cases through settlement, jury trial, arbitration, or appeal. Aside from her litigation practice, Ms. Keller was appointed to the governing committee of the Minnesota Automobile Insurance Plan. She is a qualified ADR neutral on the State of Minnesota Roster, and serves as mediator for both civil and family law cases. Ms. Keller also frequently serves as a FINRA financial dispute arbitrator and chairperson, as well as a Minnesota No-fault arbitrator. She has been named as a Super Lawyer from 2023 to present, and a Super Lawyers Rising Star from 2015 to 2022. Ms. Keller recently earned a Certificate of Completion for Women and Power, which she attended at the John F. Kennedy School, Harvard University. She is a past chair of the Civil Litigation Section of the Minnesota State Bar Association and continues to serve on the governing council. Ms. Keller is also the president of the Richard T. Oakes American Inn of Court. She taught as an adjunct professor at William Mitchell College of Law and the University of St. Thomas Law School, where she developed courses on insurance law.

Mr. Kestner has extensive experience with truck accident cases, both as a private attorney and representative for trucking insurers. He is the current chair of the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys (ATAA), past chair American Association of Justice’s (AAJ) Interstate Trucking Litigation Group, he is a member of the Amicus Committee for AAJ’s Interstate Trucking Litigation Group and he also holds a Chartered Property & Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) professional designation in insurance. has litigated truck accident cases in 24 different states in both State and federal Court. Mr. Kestner is also Board Certified in Truck Accident Litigation in Minnesota by the National Board of Trial Advocates (NBTA). He earned his B.S. degree from Skidmore College and his J.D. degree from William Mitchell College of Law.

Mr. Mulligan applies a practical approach to each case he works on. He  knows what it is like for his clients who find themselves involved in a lawsuit with no idea about the many moving parts of the legal system. In each case, he takes a pragmatic approach to ensure the best results for his clients. Mr. Mulligan first started his legal career working in primarily construction law before broadening his practice to include insurance defense, personal injury defense, wrongful death claims, insurance coverage analysis, trucking accidents, property appraisals, and subrogation actions. He is admitted to practice law in the Minnesota State Bar, Wisconsin State Bar, and is a member of the Minnesota State Bar Association as well. Mr. Mulligan earned his undergraduate degree from Marquette University and his J.D. degree from William Mitchell College of Law.

Mr. Palmer’s is a seasoned trial lawyer with Keller, Woods & Thompson, P.A. In a world where many personal injury lawyers shy away from the courtroom, he is known for his eagerness to take cases to verdict when necessary. His reputation for securing significant jury verdicts has established him as one of the premier personal injury litigators in Minnesota. Mr. Palmer focuses his practice on truck collisions and catastrophic injury. He has represented families that have lost loved ones in fatal collisions and also people that have endured life-altering injuries. No matter the circumstances, he strives to tell each the impactful story of each client in a sincere and compelling way. In 2023, Mr. Palmer was recognized as Attorney of the Year by Minnesota Lawyer, the largest legal publication in the state. He was also named Trial Lawyer of the Year by the Minnesota Association for Justice, Minnesota’s largest collective of plaintiff’s attorneys. These honors arrived after Mr. Palmer secured multiple significant jury verdicts for his clients, including the largest personal injury verdict in Sherburne County history. Through his compassionate engagement, he understands the injuries and their impact on each client’s life. He often pays home visits and walks collision scenes to fully immerse himself in the situation. Mr. Palmer also regularly leads technology-driven collision reconstruction and vehicle inspections to assure a complete understanding of the collision specifics. This level of understanding is part of how he tells the personal story of each client. He earned his undergraduate degree from St. Olaf College and his J.D. degree from the University of St. Thomas School of Law.

Mr. Weimer’s main areas of practice include personal injury, insurance defense and construction defect litigation. He earned his B.A. degree from Truman State University and his J.D. degree from the University of Minnesota Law School.

Mr. Atwood grew up in Shawnee and is a 1997 graduate from Shawnee High School. He received his bachelor of science degree from Saint Mary’s University in May 2001. Mr. Atwood received his Juris Doctor from Oklahoma City University School of Law in May 2008. He was admitted to practice law before all Oklahoma state courts in September of 2008. Mr. Atwood’s practice is focused on general civil litigation, property law, eminent domain law, business law, municipal law, estate law, employment law, family law, and tribal law. He is licensed to practice in the Oklahoma State Courts and in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma. Mr. Atwood held the position of Deputy General Counsel for Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry. While in the Governor’s General Counsel Office, he was responsible for administrative rules; reviewing all clemency, pardon, parole and revocation requests; assisting with all tribal compacting; drafting executive orders and proclamations; and working on appointment qualifications, contract reviews, legislation analysis, and litigation. After serving in Governor Henry’s administration, He moved to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. Mr. Atwood represented ODOT in eminent domain actions, property ownership and title issue across the State of Oklahoma. In 2010, he was selected by the American Council of Young Political Leaders for a United States Delegation to Turkey. Mr. Atwood is the 2018 Drive-Chair for the Pottawatomie County United Way. Additionally, he is a member of the Pottawatomie County Bar Association, Shawnee Chamber of Commerce, Shawnee Forward, Shawnee Yes!, Shawnee Kiwanis Club, NJCAA Basketball Committee and active member throughout the Shawnee community. Mr. Atwood previously served as a board member on the Oklahoma Donor Education and Awareness Advisory Council. He resides in Shawnee and manages the Firm’s Shawnee Office.

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. Jordan received his undergraduate degree from The University of Central Oklahoma, where he served as President of the Student Body receiving a Bachelor’s Degree in Education. He began a career in teaching 8th Grade U.S. History, but soon realized his talents would be better suited through pursuing a Law Degree. Though accepted at many prestigious law schools out of state, Mr. Jordan felt he could get the best education staying in Oklahoma where he planned to be actively involved in the lives of his fellow Oklahomans. He received his Juris Doctorate from The University of Oklahoma College of Law while clerking and interning 30 hours per week at a local law firm, volunteering at a legal clinic and serving on the Board of Directors for a Crisis Pregnancy Center. In 2010, Mr. Jordan founded The Jordan Law Firm to support the families and small businesses of our outstanding community. He is currently active with the Oklahoma and Canadian County Bar Associations and is licensed to practice in all of the Federal Courts in Oklahoma. In addition to running his own small business, Mr. Jordan also serves as an adjunct professor at Redlands Community College. Along with the typical cases that come with a general practice, he has sought out unique and varied cases. In addition, Mr. Jordan has been licensed to practice law in both State and Federal Court.

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. Aragon specializes in litigating complex, nationwide class actions on behalf of plaintiffs. Before joining HBSS, he handled initiative, referendum and redistricting matters, including representing the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission in lawsuits related to Arizona’s congressional and legislative redistricting . Mr. Aragon has also represented candidates from all levels of state and federal government and every major hospital in Arizona state. In addition to his private practice , he is committed to pro bono and community service. Mr. Aragon has represented numerous pro bono clients in the areas of rights of publicity, insurance, immigration, family law, and contract law, and served as the chairman of EMPACT-SPC (one of Arizona’s largest behavioral health organizations).

Ms. Mayer is an Advanced Certified Paralegal in Trial Practice and Criminal Litigation with over 30 years’ experience in the legal field. She works for the Yavapai County Public Defender’s Office in Arizona. Ms. Mayer is a member of NALA and serves on NALA’s Professional Development Committee. She enjoys writing articles that relate to the paralegal field and help paralegals obtain information to enrich their professional and personal wellbeing. In her free time, Ms. Mayer enjoys spending time with her husband and son, cooking, volunteering, and watching sports.

Amy McGuigan is a trial and appellate law firm specializing in high-stakes criminal, civil, and regulatory defense and internal investigations. Prior to joining Swanson & McNamara, Ms. McGuigan worked for the Federal Public Defender in the Northern District of California for 15 years where she assisted in several trials including four complex death penalty cases, one of which resulted in an acquittal. She is a certified eDiscovery specialist holding multiple ACEDS eDiscovery Certifications, as well as certifications in CMFF Cellebrite Mobile Forensic Fundamentals, digital forensics, and has over 21 hours of digital forensic training in FTK. Ms. McGuigan is the acting president of San Francisco Paralegal Association, Chair of the SF Bar Paralegal Section, and the Director of the SF Chapter of Women in eDiscovery. When she isn’t working, she enjoys spending time crafting and hanging out with her four dogs. She will be presenting at the NALA Boston conference in July, on Ethical Considerations in Criminal Law Cases, Text and Smartphone Evidence for Paralegals: How to Identify, Preserve, Collect, and Produce and Assisting at Trial.

Ms. Moss earned her B.A. in Communication Studies from the James Madison University Honors College in 2018. In 2021, she graduated from the Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law with a Juris Doctorate. Ms. Moss joined Attorneys for Freedom in 2020 as a law clerk, where she assisted the firm’s attorneys with criminal cases and postconviction relief matters. In January 2022, she was licensed as an attorney in the State of Arizona and rejoined the firm as a criminal defense attorney. Ms. Moss is proud to have defended clients in state misdemeanor and felony cases, as well as helped clients regain their civil rights in court.

Mr. Sapelli focuses his practice primarily on domestic relations. He offers experience representing clients in all family law-related matters. These include divorce, with or without children, and all issues that may arise in both types of cases. Mr. Sapelli effectively and compassionately advances his clients’ interests in matters involving legal decision-making, parenting time, child support, division of property and debts, spousal maintenance, and other issues. Mr. Sapelli also has experience in complex divorce matters including complex custody and property issues. Aside from divorce matters, his practice also focuses on paternity issues and third-party rights issues, such as grandparents’ rights, step-parents’ rights, and other non-parental rights for children. Giancarlo attended The S.J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah. In law school, Mr. Sapelli was the assistant to the editor of the Utah Journal of Family Law. He earned a Bachelor’s in Political Science, with a History minor from the University of Arizona. Mr. Sapelli also has a Master’s in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University, where he graduated with distinction. After an eight-year term of teaching junior high school, Mr. Sapelli’s love for family and children inspired him to work in family law. That same passion continues to inspire him today.

Mr. Turk has thirty years of litigation experience which he uses on behalf of businesses and business owners in commercial litigation, including contract disputes, trade secrets, unfair competition, and other business torts. Whether representing a doctor, a family business, or a large company, he believes in developing relationships and works closely with his clients to achieve their goals. Importantly, Mr. Turk’s experience allows him to help clients explore all their available options and allows him to recognize when traditional litigation will not meet a client’s needs. Mr. Turk has served as a volunteer judge pro tem since 2000. In that capacity, he has presided over more than 15 jury trials, scores of civil, criminal, and juvenile hearings and over a hundred settlement conferences. Mr. Turk brings the experience gained as a pro tem to bear when serving as a neutral in private mediations and arbitrations, providing alternative dispute resolution services in a wide range of matters. He assists parties to resolve disputes arising from torts, professional malpractice, and business disputes, including business “divorce.”

Mr. Boecker is an Architect Emeritus from both the State of Ohio and the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and a graduate of The Ohio State University. Having been employed in Ohio, Florida, and Missouri, he has worked on projects of many types in various parts of this country and overseas, consulting in accessibility needs for owners, developers, and architects. Occasionally, he has provided plan review services for governmental agencies. Additionally, he has worked as an expert witness for several FHA complaints. His involvement with the International Code Council and as a voting member of the ANSI A117.1 committee has resulted in a number of codes and standards being revised and updated. Mr. Boecker has been a speaker at AIA conferences, NFPA conferences, the National ADA Symposium and numerous conference presentations for the Accessibility Professionals Association (APA). He is currently President-Elect for the national APA organization.

Mr. Nuño is a senior project manager at the Denver office of Ware Malcomb. A 2008 graduate of the University of Notre Dame with a specialty in structural and environmental engineering, he has established himself as a leader in the field of drainage and erosion and sediment control. In his 15-year career, Mr. Nuño has excelled in the design of land development projects including grading, utility design, stormwater management, and erosion control. Through his experiences as a consulting engineer, he has prepared civil construction plans for such clients as Marriott International, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), Lennar Homes, Oakwood Homes, and Kiewit Infrastructure West. In the field, Mr. Nuño has provided stormwater inspection services for SDG&E, Caesars Entertainment Group, and public agencies such as the City of Carlsbad, California, and the Town of Elizabeth, Colorado. He has managed civil projects in 17 different states and prides himself on working with developers, architects, and contractors to bridge the gap between regulatory compliance and constructability in the field. Mr. Nuño is a registered professional engineer in Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, and California; a Certified Floodplain Manager; a certified professional in erosion and sediment control, a Colorado LEED accredited professional, and a qualified SWPPP developer/practitioner. He is an active member in the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Urban Land Institute, and the Colorado Association of Stormwater and Floodplain Managers.

Dr. Liptak specializes in wetland ecology, wetland restoration, and mitigation wetland design. He earned a B.S. in Biology at the University of Toledo and a Ph.D. 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). Dr. Liptak’s primary responsibilities at EnviroScience Inc. include wetland mitigation planning, wetland assessments and delineations, technical report preparation, and permitting. He is a member of the Society of Wetlands Scientists and the Ecological Society of America, and regularly gives seminars on wetland issues and regulations. 

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

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

Meridian Geospatial provides technician training and continuing education seminars for the land surveying industry. Mr. Horton served in the US Air Force and with the Illinois Department of Transportation in planning, design, construction, surveying and maintenance of civil engineering projects including commercial structures, airfields, utility systems and highways, earning his PE license in 1991. Joining the full-time faculty at Parkland College in Champaign, IL, in 1998, he taught land surveying and construction management courses. He founded the land surveying associate degree program at Parkland College in 2001. Working during summers for local engineering firms, he earned his PLS license in 2007. Beginning in 2009, Mr. Horton presented seminars frequently with HalfMoon Education Inc., ultimately speaking in 42 states. He continues to provide training with HalfMoon, with several professional associations and for various private clients. Mr. Horton’s top priority is providing practical skill training for survey technicians. Mr. Horton retired from full-time teaching in 2023 and has joined Farnsworth Group Inc. in Champaign, IL, as a senior project land surveyor. You can reach him at todd@meridiangeospatial.com.

Mr. D’Arcy’s primary practice areas include commercial litigation, construction litigation which he litigates in federal and state courts, and in arbitrations. He is a proponent of resolving matters early in mediation and through alternative dispute resolution if possible so clients can focus on their companies and not on litigation. Additionally, Mr. D’Arcy crafts and reviews construction contracts so that clients are protected on the front end of projects. He has over 18 years of litigation experience. Mr. D’Arcy graduated cum laude from Loyola Law School and now teaches a Construction and Surety Law class there as an adjunct professor. He has also presented numerous lectures on construction and surety issues over the last 18 years and he continues to speak on these subjects on a regular basis. Mr. D’Arcy is licensed to practice law in all Louisiana State courts; the United States District Courts for the Eastern, Western and Middle Districts of Louisiana; the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals; the United States Second Circuit Court of Appeals; the United States Court of Federal Claims; and other federal district courts across the country. 

Ms. Lombardo has successfully litigated matters before the state and federal courts of New Jersey and New York, as well as the American Arbitration Association, with a focus on construction matters. Her experience in commercial litigation and construction litigation is unique in that she represents both plaintiffs and defendants. She was co-lead counsel in a three-year long arbitration representing a major university in a claim involving extensive and complex design and construction defects, which resulted in a multimillion-dollar award in client’s favor and the arbitrator striking down a limitation of liability clause. Unlike most litigators in the construction arena, Ms. Lombardo also has experience drafting and negotiating contracts. She has worked with owners, contractors, subcontractors, and designers on contracts for projects involving academic centers, public schools, laboratory facilities, office buildings, energy facilities, public-private projects, and building additions of varying sizes. Ms. Lombardo works with the firm’s longstanding corporate clients in addition to the Northeast region’s top universities, retailers, and professionals in the design and construction field. Ms. Lombardo is currently on the American Arbitration Association Panel of Construction Arbitrators and a member of the Roster of Mediators. She has also been included on the New Jersey Superior Court Roster of Mediators, where she has mediated a variety of civil matters. Ms. Lombardo earned her B.A. degree, magna cum laude, from Montclair State University, and her J.D. degree, summa cum laude, from Rutgers School of Law.

Mr. Pence is a shareholder in the Tampa, Florida office of Carlton Fields where he is a member of the Construction Practice Group and the Real Estate and Finance Practice Group. He is Board Certified in Construction Law by The Florida Bar and his practice focuses primarily on representing developers, owners, contractors, subcontractors and design professionals in the preparation, negotiation, modification and administration of all types of contracts and forms related to construction and development transactions. Mr. Pence’s practice also includes reviewing and advising clients with respect to insurance and risk management issues. He is a member of the Florida Bar’s Real Property, Probate & Trust Law Section, serving as a past chair of both the Construction Law Committee and the Insurance & Surety Committee. Mr. Pence is currently the chair or the Construction Law Board Certification Review Course. He also is a member of the ABA RPTE Section where he serves as the chair of the Commercial Real Estate Transactions Group. Mr. Pence is a frequent writer and speaker on various matters related to construction contracting and insurance/risk management issues.

Mr. Scotti focuses his practice in the areas of construction law, complex commercial litigation and real estate with an emphasis in construction litigation, construction contracts and project counseling. He has represented owners, developers, architects, engineers, EPC contractors, general contractors and subcontractors on a wide variety of construction projects including power plants, steel plants, dams, bridges, roads, aerial tramways, hospitals, prisons, sports stadiums, schools, churches, office buildings, public housing, mixed-use developments and housing developments. Mr. Scotti has extensive experience in drafting and negotiating design and construction contracts and in providing project counseling regarding dispute avoidance. He has represented clients regarding both domestic and international disputes in federal and state trial and appellate courts, the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals, the Pennsylvania Board of Claims, the International Chamber of Commerce, the International Centre for Dispute Resolution and the American Arbitration Association. Mr. Scotti has concentrated his practice in the area of construction law for over 30 years.

Mr. Vicknair worked as a software engineer for a major medical manufacturer and as an electrical engineer for a major chemical manufacturer prior to entering law school. He graduated from Louisiana Tech University with a BS degree in both Electrical and Biomedical Engineering and obtained his law degree from Loyola Law School in New Orleans. Mr. Vicknair has taught Louisiana Construction Law at Loyola law school as an assistant adjunct professor. He is licensed to practice law in the states of Louisiana, Texas and New York and is a licensed patent attorney. Mr. Vicknair regularly uses his prior work experience as a part of his legal practice. He is one of the founding partners at D’Arcy | Vicknair, L.L.C. His primary practice areas include construction law, construction litigation, surety law, and all phases of intellectual property, including litigation, prosecution, and transactional matters. Mr. Vicknair also practices in commercial litigation and claims related to construction defects, payment disputes, subcontractor claims, owner claims, and claims by general contractors. He lectures on construction law topics such as Louisiana lien law and general Louisiana construction law as well as intellectual property law topics, including trademarks, patents and copyrights.

Wm. Cary Wright is a shareholder in the Tampa office of Carlton Fields and serves as Chair of the Construction Practice. Mr. Wright has extensive experience representing clients in construction disputes, including construction claims, construction liens, insurance coverage matters, risk management, bond claims, and other contract disputes. His engagements have involved bridges, convention centers, stadium projects, high-rise condominiums, highways, hospitals, and hotels. Mr. Wright also has substantial experience in contract drafting and contract review including the preparation of owner-contractor agreements and contractor-subcontractor agreements. He also advised an aviation authority on its insurance program for a multibillion-dollar project. Mr. Wright is the recipient of the Florida Bar Construction Law Committee’s 2014 Lifetime Achievement Award. He is also one of the few who is a fellow in both the American College of Construction Lawyers and the American College of Real Estate Lawyers. He serves as chair of the Public Private Partnership Committee in ACREL and is the chair-elect of the Florida Bar’s Real Property Probate & Trust Law Section. He is the past chair of the ABA Forum on Construction Law. Mr. Wright serves as chair of the Carlton Fields Construction Practice. One commenter remarked in Chambers USA, a leading guide to the legal profession, that he is “a great lawyer and highly respected by anyone in construction. He’s worked very, very hard, having published, written and spoken on it. I can’t say enough good things about him. He’s a great and highly skilled lawyer.” Mr. Wright maintains an active role in pro bono work, including working with professional engineers to assist those in other countries in need through Building for Good and Engineers Without Borders.

Mr. Carter, founder and owner of Carter Custom Construction, has been transforming homes and outdoor spaces for over 26 years. Raised in White Bear Lake, MN, his passion for construction began at the young age of 18 when he started building decks and porches. In 2008, he officially launched Carter Custom Construction, and since then, he has designed and built thousands of decks, porches, kitchens, bathrooms, and more. Known for his attention to detail and commitment to quality, Mr. Carter has become a trusted name in the construction industry. His company’s reputation is built on a foundation of craftsmanship, customer satisfaction, and innovative design. From concept to completion, Mr. Carter and his team deliver projects that not only enhance the beauty of homes but also improve the way clients live in them.

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

Professor Opfer teaches coursework in construction management, cost control, cost estimating, structural design, and facility systems. He is also an industry consultant on design and construction issues, construction safety/defects, methods/materials, production, and cost management issues. He earned a B.S. degree in Building Theory, cum laude, a B.A. degree in Business, cum laude, and a B.A. degree in Economics, cum laude, all from Washington State University. Subsequently he earned his M.S. degree in Management (MBA) from Purdue University and his P.D. degree in Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He also holds estimating-related certifications as a CEP, CCP, CPC, and is a licensed general contractor in Nevada.

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

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

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

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

Mr. Simpson founded Gradelta Engineering in 2020 with the intent to help clients better understand the combination of geotechnical and structural engineering that he has worked with for the past 20 years. He earned his B.S.C.E. and M.S.C.E. degrees from Georgia Institute of Technology. He currently provides engineering services to contractors and fellow engineers for earth structure pricing, along with the plans and calculations needed for construction. He frequently consults with clients regarding the optimal structure type and location on the construction site to minimize risk and maximize useable space. He also works in the education sector providing not just seminars such as this one, but also acting as a subject matter expert creating study guide and test prep content for the NCEES Professional Civil Engineer exam. Mr. Simpson has also worked with lawyers and insurance companies during forensic investigation and lawsuits surrounding retaining walls and slope failures. His hope is that through the instructional services that he currently provides, slopes will remain stable and retaining wall failure will be eliminated.