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Considered one of the innovators in melding art, science and engineering in design, James Patchett, FASLA, LEED AP, founded Conservation Design Forum in 1994, with offices in Elmhurst, Illinois, and Grand Rapids, Michigan. Mr. Patchett is widely recognized as one of the nation’s leading pioneers in the design and promotion of sustainable site planning methodologies that integrate innovative water resource management and ecological restoration measures into built and natural environments. Trained both as a landscape architect and hydrologist, Mr. Patchett has served on a variety of national technical advisory committees including the ASLA Sustainable Sites initiative. He is also co-founder of Conservation Research Institute, Conservation Land Stewardship, and Solutions in the Land. Mr. Patchett is a Fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects and a LEED-Accredited Professional. He received an undergraduate degree in Landscape Architecture, and master’s degrees in both Landscape Architecture and Civil Engineering (water resources) from Iowa State University. Mr. Patchett has completed the necessary course work towards a PhD degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Michigan’s School of Natural Resources.

Ms. Akpinar received a double bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering and Chemical Engineering from the Ataturk University, Turkey. She received her master’s degree in Environmental Engineering from Ataturk University with three years of teaching assistant experience. Ms. Akpinar is now a Ph.D. (c). student in Water Resource Engineering at the University of Delaware. Her research focuses on understanding biochar’s impact on plant growth, nutrient removal and hydrology in bioretention systems and the mechanisms by which biochar enhances soil aggregation, compaction and stormwater infiltration when amended to the soil.

Rob Gladfelter has 20+ years of experience in the landscape trade and has been working as a landscape architect for the past six years. Mr. Gladfelter has worked on all types of projects from municipal planning projects and large park master planning to small residential design and install. His time with Refugia, a mission-based design and install firm that uses best sustainable practices to design native gardens that inspire and improve local ecology has allowed him to explore and learn how to use low impact design and ecological services to manage stormwater. Mr. Gladfelter is also an adjunct professor for the Landscape Architecture program at Temple University and is the acting chairperson of his Borough’s Environmental Advisory Commission.

Landscape architect at Donald Pell Gardens, Philadelphia PA
Ms. Otto received her bachelor’s degree from West Chester University and her master’s degree from Temple University. Her expertise includes the design of outdoor spaces, working in collaboration with team architects, civil engineers and interior designers. Ms. Otto’s work includes planting plans, hardscape plans, grading plans and lighting plans for a variety of commercial and public projects. Her project experience also extends into land development and zoning requirements, and the preparation of all levels of design documentation including schematic design, design development and construction documents. Ms. Otto’s professional background includes serving as a horticultural assistant at the famed Longwood Gardens.

Ms. Paist-Goldman has more than 25 years of experience in water resource engineering with a particular focus in stream and wetland restoration and mitigation design. She is the principal and owner of Rippled Waters Engineering, LLC based in New Jersey. Her firm specializes in water resources engineering services for a variety of projects. She is an experienced hydrologic and hydraulic modeler and has worked extensively on design and analysis using a variety of hydrologic and hydraulic programs including HEC-HMS, HEC-RAS, and HydroCAD. Ms. Paist-Goldman’s design expertise includes wetland restoration and mitigation; stream restoration; bridge repair and replacement; and dam repair, replacement, and removal. Specifically related to riverine systems, Ms. Paist-Goldman has extensive expertise with stream restoration, large woody debris, natural channel design and bioengineering stabilization techniques. Ms. Paist-Goldman has designed restoration projects of all sizes ranging from a few hundred feet to several miles of stream. These projects are planned for use as mitigation banks or serve as mitigation for development onsite. Working closely with restoration ecologists and landscape architects, Ms. Paist-Goldman has designed a variety of stream and wetland habitats including creation, enhancement, restoration, and preservation with a focus on sustainability and regulatory compliance.

Registered Landscape Architect
Mr. Pirie received his BS degree from Amherst College and his MS degree in Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning from the University of Pennsylvania (Penn). He is employed as a senior landscape architect at Langan Engineering, working in the greater Philadelphia area. Mr. Pirie has ten years of experience practicing as a landscape architect. He has worked throughout the New England and Mid-Atlantic regions. Mr. Pirie’s project background includes design of urban plazas and streetscape, university campus workspaces and parks. He has special expertise in green roofs and the design of landscape over structures. Mr. Pirie’s project experience extends into urban planning, urban design and sustainable design.

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.

Senior Aquatic Ecologist; Senior Project Manager with Princeton Hydro
Dr. Szczepanski has taken part in many critical reviews in opposition of planned residential and industrial development, as well as serving as environmental expert on several municipal planning boards in support of development application reviews for stormwater and environmental compliance. He has been asked to review Piping Plover and Seabeach Amaranth Conservation Measure monitoring design and develop a native/invasive species inventory to support an invasive species barrier design to be implemented in the Lake Champlain Canal (between Locks C8-C9), both projects ultimately for the Army Corps of Engineers. Dr. Szczepanski has compiled and analyzed biological, geomorphic and water quality data from the Aquetong Spring stream in Solebury Township, Pennsylvania.

Mr. Holthus’ primary areas of focus are the defense of construction, governmental liability, and employment and general liability claims. He has tried, advocated and arbitrated nearly one hundred cases before civil juries, administrative licensing and other boards and arbitration panels throughout Ohio, as well as Illinois and California, in both state and federal courts. Among his other professional and civic positions, Mr. Holthus is past Chair of the Columbus Bar Association’s Professionalism Committee and is a member of the Professional Liability Defense Federation. 

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

Mr. Ofori-Amanfo’s broad-based experience includes investigation of collapsed structures, investigation of construction defects and damage, investigation of condensation in building envelopes, evaluation of roof and wall leakage, field water spray testing of windows, and assessment of wind and hail damage. His work also involves giving expert testimony and assisting attorneys in resolving disputes over construction and materials-related problems. Prior to establishing Collins Forensics LLC, Mr. Ofori-Amanfo previously worked for many years at Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. (WJE), the Illinois Department of Transportation, and Twin City Testing Corporation. He received his B.S. degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Science and Technology in Ghana and his M.S. degree in Structural Engineering from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. Mr. Ofori-Amanfo is a registered professional engineer in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, North Dakota, Nebraska, and Missouri.

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

Mr. Holthus’ primary areas of focus are the defense of construction, governmental liability, and employment and general liability claims. He has tried, advocated and arbitrated nearly one hundred cases before civil juries, administrative licensing and other boards and arbitration panels throughout Ohio, as well as Illinois and California, in both state and federal courts. Among his other professional and civic positions, Mr. Holthus is past Chair of the Columbus Bar Association’s Professionalism Committee and is a member of the Professional Liability Defense Federation. 

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

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

Alison R. Mullins, Partner at Shannon, Mullins & Wright, LLP, in Alexandria, VA 

Ms. Mullins focuses her practice on all aspects of commercial dispute resolution. In particular, she often represents architects, engineers, and others involved in the construction industry. Ms. Mullins received her J.D. degree from Roger Williams University School of Law in Bristol, Rhode Island. Before entering the private practice of law, she started her legal career as a contracts manager and in-house counsel at a large architectural firm in Northern Virginia. Ms. Mullins is admitted to practice in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia. She is on the Board of Governors and Membership Chairperson of the Virginia State Bar Construction and Public Contracts Law Section, an Allied Professional member of the American Institute of Architects, Northern Virginia and District of Columbia Chapters. Ms. Mullins is an author/co-author of several industry periodicals, as well as a frequent presenter. 

Associate Attorney with the Law Offices of Pullano & Farrow PLLC in Rochester, NY
Ms. Smith is an attorney in the firm’s Litigation Department. Her practice is focused on construction litigation and dispute resolution, commercial litigation, insurance defense, health care litigation, contract enforcement and interpretation, and estate and trust litigation. She has extensive experience in litigation and dispute resolution. She also has significant appellate experience having perfected appeals in the State of the New York Appellate Division, United States District Court Western District of New York, and United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and as well as drafting opposition to a petition for writ of certiorari to the United States Supreme Court. Ms. Smith is listed in Super Lawyers as a Rising Star in 2020. She received her J.D. degree from Syracuse University College of Law.

Partner at Husch Blackwell LLP in Omaha, NE 

Mr. Meyer is a member of the firm’s Real Estate, Development & Construction team. He has extensive experience in construction contract drafting and litigation. Mr. Meyer has represented government entities, business owners, general contractors, suppliers and subcontractors in civil disputes and lien claims. He also represents political subdivisions by assisting in a variety of issues including regulatory compliance, contract negotiations, property acquisitions and condemnation. Prior to joining Husch Blackwell, Mr. Meyer practiced in Atlanta, Georgia for eight years. He represented various entities and individuals in pre-litigation negotiations, mediation, throughout the litigation process and arbitration. In addition, he assisted with multiple cases before the Georgia Court of Appeals and Supreme Court of Georgia that have resulted in the enforcement of certain limitation of liability clauses for design professionals performing services in the State of Georgia. Mr. Meyer was named a Georgia Rising Star from 2014-2016 and a Great Plains Rising Star from 2017-2021 by Super Lawyers. He earned his J.D. degree, with distinction, from the University of Nebraska College of Law.