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Mr. Sherman is a member of Prince Lobel’s Construction and Business Transactions practice groups. He is an experienced construction attorney with significant construction transactional, consulting, and litigation experience. In this capacity, Mr. Sherman assists construction project owners, developers, general contractors, construction management firms, subcontractors, and material suppliers with realtime project consulting, drafting and negotiating all manner of construction agreements and forms, and with prosecuting and defending construction disputes. Mr. Sherman advises clients during the construction delivery process, assisting with the drafting and review of all forms of design, construction, and consultant agreements. He has experience preparing, negotiating, and amending the standard suite of industry form agreements (e.g., AIA, DBIA, and ConsensusDocs) and preparing other forms of agreement like EPC agreements, construction management agreements, surety forms, guaranteed maximum price contracts, purchase orders, master service agreements, and other ancillary documents used for, by, and with construction project owners and developers, construction management firms, subcontractors, design professionals, and material suppliers.

Brian R. Zimmerman Shareholder at Hurtado Zimmerman
Mr. Zimmerman’s practice focuses in the areas of construction and real estate litigation, alternative dispute resolution, commercial and residential real property, including title and survey analysis, and construction contract preparation and negotiation. He often represents contractors, architects, engineers and project owners in disputes regarding construction defects, delay, warranty claims, theft by contractor claims, right to cure and home improvement practices claims, and construction lien foreclosure. A significant portion of Mr. Zimmerman’s practice involves drafting and negotiating construction contracts through custom and model form contracts (AIA, Consensus Docs, DBIA, and EJCDC). He has worked as an engineering technician for both private and public entities performing design and survey work on various large transportation, municipal and building construction projects throughout southeastern Wisconsin.

Brian R. Zimmerman Shareholder at Hurtado Zimmerman
Mr. Zimmerman’s practice focuses in the areas of construction and real estate litigation, alternative dispute resolution, commercial and residential real property, including title and survey analysis, and construction contract preparation and negotiation. He often represents contractors, architects, engineers and project owners in disputes regarding construction defects, delay, warranty claims, theft by contractor claims, right to cure and home improvement practices claims, and construction lien foreclosure. A significant portion of Mr. Zimmerman’s practice involves drafting and negotiating construction contracts through custom and model form contracts (AIA, Consensus Docs, DBIA, and EJCDC). He has worked as an engineering technician for both private and public entities performing design and survey work on various large transportation, municipal and building construction projects throughout southeastern Wisconsin.

Alex Mathes, a Wildlife and Wetlands Habitat Biology Lead at Geosyntec Consultants, is a natural resource biologist with over 15 years of experience conducting biological field studies for a broad range of clients including site remediation, linear utility, railroad, mining, and transportation projects. Mr. Mathes has extensive experience conducting wetland and stream delineations in accordance with Federal and State regulatory methodologies, invasive species’ plant inventories, and habitat assessments within riparian corridors for terrestrial flora and fauna. Project-specific experience includes performing Brinson’s Hydrogeomorphic (HGM) Approach functional assessments for palustrine emergent/forested wetlands, conducting baseline quantitative floristic inventories implementing both point intercept and Dauphenmire cover class sampling techniques, and conducting variable plot and transect surveys for avian species and wandering transect surveys to classify baseline wildlife corridors. Additional project experience includes authoring and implementing compensatory mitigation and wetland habitat restoration plans, developing species-specific invasive species monitoring and eradication/control programs, conducting watershed-level floodplain assessments for enhancement of impacted stream channels, and performing energy routing/feasibility studies.

Spencer D. Varnado, over 14 years of professional experience in the areas of environmental compliance, permitting, and biological investigations. His areas of expertise include environmental and biological assessments, surveys and mapping; jurisdictional wetland delineations and determinations; regulatory permitting and compliance monitoring with various state and federal agencies; wetland mitigation plan development and implementation; wetland and wildlife management plans; and wetland value assessments. Mr. Varnado’s typical projects include linear pipeline and electrical transmission construction and maintenance, residential and commercial developments, sand and gravel mining, petrochemical facility compliance, due diligence, and habitat restoration projects.

Senior Forensic Engineer for the CAT Forensic Services office located in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Mr. Parkhurst holds a B.S. degree in Materials Engineering and an M.S. degree in Civil & Environmental Engineering, and he is a registered professional engineer in Arkansas, Kansas, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Oregon and South Carolina. Mr. Parkhurst has performed hundreds of evaluations and investigations with respect to residential, commercial, and agricultural structures, as well as municipal infrastructure components, to document and analyze failures from the effects of wind, vibrations, explosions, earthquakes, floods, foundation failures, moisture intrusion, construction defects, cathodic protection systems, lightning damage, manufacturing defects, corrosion failures, weld failures, building envelope failures, and failures of components and cladding, as well as failures of a variety of materials used in construction of modern and historic structures. Mr. Parkhurst is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the Structural Engineers Institute (SEI). Mr. Parkhurst consults and provides educational services related to failures of residential, commercial, and agricultural structures. 

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.

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

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

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

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

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

Mr. 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.

Mr. Rabon is Managing Partner of Civil Engineering of Columbia, Inc. (CEC). CEC is a multi-disciplinary design, planning, and surveying firm in Columbia, South Carolina. Mr. Rabon holds a bachelor of science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of South Carolina and master of business administration from Southern Wesleyan University. He is a licensed professional engineer in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia. Mr. Rabon has managed many projects that encompass a wide range of site engineering obstacles. Prior to Civil Engineering of Columbia, he was a storm drainage engineer for the City of Columbia Department of Utilities and Engineering, with responsibilities including oversight of emergency projects and investigation of flooding complaints. Mr. Rabon is a graduate of The SC Economic Development Institute and Leadership Lexington County, and is a member of the Building Industry Association of Central South Carolina, Central SC Alliance Committee of 100, Lower Savannah Council of Governments, and the Water Environment Association of South Carolina.

Jake Brunoehler, PE Regional Engineer for ADS

Mr. Brunoehler is a licensed Professional Engineer in Wisconsin, and received his B.S. in Civil Engineering from Valparaiso University. He previously worked as a project engineer for Patrick Engineering in SE Wisconsin. As a project engineer, Mr. Brunoehler had the opportunity to work along the entire I-94 N-S corridor through Racine and Kenosha Counties as a consultant to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Prior to his move to Wisconsin in 2009, he worked as an engineering technician for a private firm in Michigan, and as a project manager for the Norfolk Southern Railway. Currently, Mr. Brunoehler is the Wisconsin Regional Engineer for ADS as the technical specialist in stormwater modeling, manufacturing, specifications, structural design, best construction and inspection practices, and more. In his spare time, he enjoys home-brewing, woodworking, and travels with his wife as members of a traditional Irish band.

Dr. Joseph Diekfuss is a civil engineer with 15 years of experience working in civil infrastructure. His experience as a researcher, teacher, consulting engineer and project manager spans several civil engineering disciplines, in both public and private sectors. He has coordinated and overseen construction of public roadway, sewer and watermain. He has designed single and multi-span bridges, single and multi-story buildings, and many different types of earth retention systems. Dr. Diekfuss has intimate knowledge and experience with building and environmental design codes as well as State and local regulations. Dr. Diekfuss earned his BS from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, his MS and PhD from Marquette University – all in Civil Engineering. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in Wisconsin, a National Highway Institute Certified Bridge Inspector and first-named inventor on two United States patents in civil engineering.

Dave Stark Design and Sales Specialist for Rainwater Management Solutions

Mr. Stark is a Design and Sales Specialist for Rainwater Management Solutions and has worked on projects throughout North, Central and South America. Mr. Stark’s role at RMS includes integrating rainwater, stormwater and graywater harvesting techniques for industrial and commercial applications. He has led design teams to achieve net zero water requirements for Living Building Challenge (LBC) and the first permitted commercial rainwater harvesting systems for indoor use in Duluth and St. Paul, Minnesota. Mr. Stark holds a M.S. in Water Resource Sciences from the University of Minnesota and is an accredited professional (AP) for the American Rainwater Catchment System Association (ARCSA).

Mr. Vierthaler has been involved in multifamily real estate for 25 years. He has long provided turnkey services for the acquisition and repositioning of multifamily properties, for both himself and the partnerships that he has worked for or been involved in. Mr. Vierthaler bachelor’s degree in Construction Management gives him the unique ability to undertake complicated projects with a high degree of confidence resulting in a successful outcome. He is an active investor in many clean technology companies and is a member of Element8, a clean technology and sustainability angel investor group. He has assisted many companies in this space with their “go to market” strategies.

UC Cooperative Extension Specialist in Environmental Horticulture

Dr. Oki has been a member of the faculty at UC Davis since 2002 and serves as the Cooperative Extension Specialist in Environmental Horticulture. This appointment is with the Department of Plant Sciences (80%) and the Landscape Architecture Program in the Department of Human Ecology (20%). He is Co-Director of the UC Nursery and Floriculture Alliance that provides outreach and technical training to greenhouse and nursery growers. He is also Co-Chair of the UC ANR Nursery & Floriculture Workgroup, a member of the California Department of Food and Agriculture Nursery Advisory Board, Department of Water Resources Landscape Stakeholder Advisory Group, and serves on the Statewide UC Master Gardener Advisory Committee.

Dr. Oki’s research and outreach activities focus on water issues in greenhouse and nursery production and urban landscapes. His research examines runoff from both nursery and urban sources and evaluates methods to reduce runoff volumes and the pollutants in it. He evaluates the water use of landscape plants to develop information used for urban landscape water budgets, studies the biological treatment of nursery runoff utilizing slow sand and vegetated filters to remove plant pathogens and pesticides so the water can be reused for irrigation, and nitrogen use of plants in nursery production systems. He also teaches the class: ENH 120, Container Media Management.

Dr. Oki’s Ph.D. is in Ecology (2002) from UC Davis. His dissertation research quantified the effects of salinity on rose stem elongation rates. He also holds an M.S. in Plant Science from UC Riverside (1976) where he worked in plant tissue culture studying the role of chromosomal proteins in cell differentiation. His B.S. in Ornamental Horticulture (1974) is from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Loren is a third generation member of a nursery family and prior to receiving his doctorate, he worked as a grower at a family nursery and greenhouse in the Sacramento area.

Ms. Lathrop is licensed as a professional land surveyor in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland, and as a professional planner in New Jersey. She holds a master’s degree in Environmental Policy and has been involved in surveying since 1974 in projects ranging from construction to boundary to environmental land use disputes. Ms. Lathrop is also a certified floodplain manager through the Association of State Flood Plain Managers (ASFPM) and a certified floodplain surveyor through the New Jersey Society of Professional Land Surveyors. A former adjunct instructor at Mercer County College in New Jersey, she has also taught as part of the team for the licensing exam review course at Drexel University in Pennsylvania. Ms. Lathrop has been teaching seminars for surveyors since 1986 and has been writing articles for surveyors since 1983. She is a contributing editor for The American Surveyor magazine, and she has four articles included in the American Bar Association’s text, Land Surveys: A Guide for Lawyers and Other Professionals. She and Stephen V. Estopinal, PLS, PE co–authored a book entitled Professional Surveyors and Real Property Descriptions: Composition, Construction, and Comprehension, published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. in 2011. She is also on the faculty of GeoLearn, a web-based educational provider. Ms. Lathrop is a past president of the New Jersey Society of Professional Land Surveyors and of the National Society of Professional Surveyors, and she has served on the Board of Directors for the American Association for Geodetic Surveying.