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Mr. Klaas is a partner at Friedman + Huey Associates, LLP. He specializes in fiduciary, estate and individual income taxation and working with large family groups. Mr. Klaas taught as an undergraduate/graduate tax instructor at Purdue University Northwest. He received his B.S. degree with concentrations in Accounting and Finance from Purdue University Northwest and received his M.S. degree in Taxation from DePaul University. He has spoken on various occasions presenting on taxation of decedents, estates and trusts. Mr. Klaas serves as a 1041 subject matter expert for a national tax software development firm, has edited various professional publications and is an active member of the Chicago Estate Planning Council, Illinois CPA Society, and AICPA.

Mr. Wirtz is a partner at Friedman + Huey Associates, LLP. He specializes in fiduciary, charitable and individual income taxation and working with large family groups. Mr. Wirtz received his B.S. degree in Accounting from Purdue University Northwest and received his M.S. degree in Taxation from DePaul University. He also is member of the Illinois CPA Society.

Ms. Deeter is an Attorney at Law and Registered Civil Mediator in Indianapolis, after having spent most of the past 35 years working in bank trust departments. She retired from The National Bank of Indianapolis at the end of 2013, where she worked in various roles over 18 years, including serving as the Manager of the Personal Trusts and Estates Group and as Senior Trust Counsel. During her tenure at The National Bank of Indianapolis it grew from $35 million in assets under administration to $1.6 billion in assets. Ms. Deeter earned her B.A. degree, magna cum laude, from the University of Notre Dame and her J.D. degree, magna cum laude, from Indiana University School of Law at Indianapolis (now known as the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law). She also is a Registered Mediator, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER certificant and a Certified Trust and Financial Advisor (CTFA). She started her career as an inheritance tax examiner for the Indiana Department of Revenue. Since that time Ms. Deeter has spent most of her career with bank trust departments, including Indiana National Bank, Wachovia Bank, N.A. and Merchants National Bank/National City Bank and The National Bank of Indianapolis, with responsibilities in the areas of fiduciary income taxation, estate and gift taxation, trust and estate administration, and serving as trust counsel. Ms. Deeter is a member of the Indiana State Bar Association (Probate, Trust & Real Property Section), the Indianapolis Bar Association (Estate Planning and Administration Section), the Indianapolis Bar Foundation (past board member) the Estate Planning Council of Indianapolis (past president and board member) and the Financial Planning Association of Greater Indianapolis. She also served on the board of the Planned Giving Group of Indiana. Ms. Deeter has been an instructor for the American Bankers Association National Graduate Trust School, the Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum, the American Institute of Banking, National Business Institute and the Indiana University School of Law at Indianapolis, among others.

Mr. Willis is a tax lawyer, freelance writer, and consultant and advisor to lawyers, on issues related to wealth transfers. He has written numerous articles for publications serving tax and charitable gift planning professionals, and he is a frequent conference and seminar speaker throughout the country.

Three years ago, he launched a newsletter, the Jack Straw Fortnightly, analyzing current developments in the law – both tax and nontax – concerning the transfer of private wealth in this country.

Mr. Willis chaired the Steering Committee of the Probate and Trust Law Section of his local bar association and served on a legislative drafting subcommittee for the Probate and Trust Law Committee of the State Bar. He has also written numerous articles for law journals and publications.

Mr. Willis has a law degree from St. Louis University and a master’s degree in Taxation Law from Washington University in St. Louis. His undergraduate degree in English Literature is from Indiana University, Bloomington, and he has a master’s degree in English from the University of Chicago.

Mr. Klaas is a partner at Friedman + Huey Associates, LLP. He specializes in fiduciary, estate and individual income taxation and working with large family groups. Mr. Klaas taught as an undergraduate/graduate tax instructor at Purdue University Northwest. He received his B.S. degree with concentrations in Accounting and Finance from Purdue University Northwest and received his M.S. degree in Taxation from DePaul University. He has spoken on various occasions presenting on taxation of decedents, estates and trusts. Mr. Klaas serves as a 1041 subject matter expert for a national tax software development firm, has edited various professional publications and is an active member of the Chicago Estate Planning Council, Illinois CPA Society, and AICPA.

Mr. Wirtz is a partner at Friedman + Huey Associates, LLP. He specializes in fiduciary, charitable and individual income taxation and working with large family groups. Mr. Wirtz received his B.S. degree in Accounting from Purdue University Northwest and received his M.S. degree in Taxation from DePaul University. He also is member of the Illinois CPA Society.

Mr. Klaas is a partner at Friedman + Huey Associates, LLP. He specializes in fiduciary, estate and individual income taxation and working with large family groups. Mr. Klaas taught as an undergraduate/graduate tax instructor at Purdue University Northwest. He received his B.S. degree with concentrations in Accounting and Finance from Purdue University Northwest and received his M.S. degree in Taxation from DePaul University. He has spoken on various occasions presenting on taxation of decedents, estates and trusts. Mr. Klaas serves as a 1041 subject matter expert for a national tax software development firm, has edited various professional publications and is an active member of the Chicago Estate Planning Council, Illinois CPA Society, and AICPA.

Mr. Wirtz is a partner at Friedman + Huey Associates, LLP. He specializes in fiduciary, charitable and individual income taxation and working with large family groups. Mr. Wirtz received his B.S. degree in Accounting from Purdue University Northwest and received his M.S. degree in Taxation from DePaul University. He also is member of the Illinois CPA Society.

Mr. Morrow is a legal professional with a distinguished background in tax law, having transitioned his focus to specialize in estate planning and trust law. Holding the prestigious designation of Certified Mergers and Acquisitions Advisor®, he also serves as a non-public FINRA arbitrator and holds the esteemed position of Fellow at The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. Renowned nationally, Mr. Morrow is among the most sought-after experts in the field, known for his depth of knowledge and expertise. He co-authored the acclaimed publication, “The Tools & Techniques of Estate Planning,” a foundational resource utilized for the Certified Trust Financial Advisor designation.

Mr. Schretter is an experienced financial advisor, compliance manager, and income tax preparer. In his 25-year career, he has helped many clients with both their estate planning and their estate settlement process. He is the Founder of The Legacy Message TM, where people record messages of love, appreciation, and advice to leave behind for future generations. Mr. Schretter really enjoys helping people to achieve their life and legacy goals. You can see a more detailed curriculum vitae on his website, www.BillSchretter.com.

Mr. Klaas is a partner at Friedman + Huey Associates, LLP. He specializes in fiduciary, estate and individual income taxation and working with large family groups. Mr. Klaas taught as an undergraduate/graduate tax instructor at Purdue University Northwest. He received his B.S. degree with concentrations in Accounting and Finance from Purdue University Northwest and received his M.S. degree in Taxation from DePaul University. He has spoken on various occasions presenting on taxation of decedents, estates and trusts. Mr. Klaas serves as a 1041 subject matter expert for a national tax software development firm, has edited various professional publications and is an active member of the Chicago Estate Planning Council, Illinois CPA Society, and AICPA.

Mr. Wirtz is a partner at Friedman + Huey Associates, LLP. He specializes in fiduciary, charitable and individual income taxation and working with large family groups. Mr. Wirtz received his B.S. degree in Accounting from Purdue University Northwest and received his M.S. degree in Taxation from DePaul University. He also is member of the Illinois CPA Society.

Mr. Klaas is a partner at Friedman + Huey Associates, LLP. He specializes in fiduciary, estate and individual income taxation and working with large family groups. Mr. Klaas taught as an undergraduate/graduate tax instructor at Purdue University Northwest. He received his B.S. degree with concentrations in Accounting and Finance from Purdue University Northwest and received his M.S. degree in Taxation from DePaul University. He has spoken on various occasions presenting on taxation of decedents, estates and trusts. Mr. Klaas serves as a 1041 subject matter expert for a national tax software development firm, has edited various professional publications and is an active member of the Chicago Estate Planning Council, Illinois CPA Society, and AICPA.

Mr. Wirtz is a partner at Friedman + Huey Associates, LLP. He specializes in fiduciary, charitable and individual income taxation and working with large family groups. Mr. Wirtz received his B.S. degree in Accounting from Purdue University Northwest and received his M.S. degree in Taxation from DePaul University. He also is member of the Illinois CPA Society.

Mr. DeFilippis is a director with over 10 years of tax experience. He specializes in gift, estate, and fiduciary taxation and planning. He brings a unique skill set to all areas of wealth transfer planning and compliance including estate, gift, generation-skipping transfer tax planning, fiduciary income tax, fiduciary accounting, charitable planning, and business succession planning. Prior to joining Citrin Cooperman, Mr. DeFilippis practiced law for some of New Jersey’s top law firms in the areas of estate planning, including drafting and implementing of complex estate planning documents; estate administration; estate and gift tax compliance; probate litigation’ and guardianships. His legal experience provides him with a unique and well-rounded perspective in areas of the trust and estate planning and compliance that serves his clients well at Citrin Cooperman. Mr. DeFilippis is admitted to the New Jersey, New York, and Florida bars.

Ms. Ferrantelli has a diverse background in public accounting with over ten years dedicated to delivering complex Trust, Estate, Gift and Generation Skipping Transfer Tax planning, administration, and tax services to the clients she serves. As director, She has broad national tax experience. Ms. Ferrantelli has a deep understanding of fiduciary and transfer taxes and employs a collaborative approach with clients and their advisors to ensure client goals are defined, implemented and achieved. Planning areas include multi-generational wealth preservation through transfer tax strategies, charitable giving and succession planning. She also assists individual and corporate trustees with administration services by way of providing fiduciary accounting services and complex tax analyses.

Ms. Niemela has over 30 years of extensive experience in High Net Worth, Tax Planning, and Trust and Estate practices. She graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administrative Accounting from Montana State University of Billings. Prior to joining Citrin Cooperman, she held a significant leadership position as a shareholder with Anderson ZurMuehlen and Company. Her deep knowledge of the High Net Worth, Tax Planning, and Trust and Estate practices field has been instrumental in guiding clients through complex financial decisions, ensuring compliance and optimizing wealth preservation. Ms. Niemela’s holistic approach to trust and estate compliance and planning positions her as a reliable partner for clients seeking expert financial guidance. At Citrin Cooperman, she leverages her expertise to provide strategic financial solutions that drive tangible results. With a track record of transforming financial challenges into opportunities, Ms. Niemela is dedicated to nurturing the financial well-being for individuals and organizations alike.

Ms. Oboda has nearly two decades of experience in public accounting. With a focus in trust and estates, she provides tax, financial, estate, and succession planning. She specializes in coordinating family group returns, including their entities, trusts, and private foundations, in addition to their personal returns. Ms. Oboda’s clients include trusts and estates, high net worth individuals, closely-held businesses. She is an active member of the firm’s Trusts and Estates Practice. Ms. Oboda has presented at a number of events and has written a number of articles relating to estate planning. She has a well-rounded background due to her experience working at firms that has exposed her to all aspects of engagements, including bookkeeping and attest work (401k and not-for-profit audits). Ms. Oboda has significant tax experience, working with corporate, partnership, S-Corp, trusts, and individual returns, awarding her with an in-depth understanding of the engagement and her client’s transactions.

Mr. Metzger is currently a partner in the Lancaster firm of Metzger and Spencer, LLP, where he practices in the areas of taxation, probate, trusts, estate planning, business entities, real estate, orphans court practice, orphans court litigation and zoning law. Mr. Metzger previously served as the tax partner of the law firm May, Metzger and Zimmerman, LLP where he had practiced for a number of years. He received his B.A. degree, cum laude, from the University of Richmond and his J.D. degree from Temple University School of Law. Since 1990, he has been chairman of the Lancaster Township Zoning Hearing Board. Mr. Metzger is a member of the Elderly Referral Committee, the Fee Dispute Committee, the Awards Committee (chairman), the Diversity Committee, and the Corporate and Business Law Committee of the Lancaster Bar Association. He is also a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Corporate, Banking and Business Law Section and Real Property, Probate and Trust Section.

Ms. Spencer has been practicing law for 35 years and continues to focus her practice on estate planning, probate, trusts, taxation, and closely-held business issues. She often works as a consultant to other attorneys and financial professionals in estate planning, trust and taxation matters as well as serving as an expert witness in fiduciary litigation. Before founding Spencer Law Firm in 1996, Ms. Spencer was the head of the Personal Trust Department at a regional bank in Pennsylvania before returning to private practice in 1996. She is currently a partner in the Lancaster firm of Metzger and Spencer LLP. Ms. Spencer graduated summa cum laude from Dickinson College and received her J.D. and LL.M. degrees in Taxation from Boston University School of Law. She is a member of the Pennsylvania and Massachusetts bars. She taught Estate and Gift Tax Law in the Boston University School of Law Graduate Tax Program for eight years. Her column, Taxing Matters, appeared weekly in the “Business Monday” section of the Lancaster Intelligencer Journal for 14 years. She is a frequent lecturer and is the author of numerous articles on estate planning topics. Ms. Spencer was named one of Pennsylvania’s Top 50 Business Women for 2000 and has been elected as a fellow to the American College of Probate and Trust Counsel. A new edition of Your Estate Matters, a book which is a compilation of Ms. Spencer’s columns, was published in January 2015. Your Estate Matters is currently available online and can be purchased at the offices of Spencer Law Firm LLC. Ms. Spencer is also the author of a reference book for lawyers, Pennsylvania Estate Planning, Wills and Trusts Library Forms and Practice Manual, originally published 2007, 2 volumes, 1,500 pages, 280 forms, updated annually. It is available from Data Trace Publishing Company.

Dr. Robert Ahl works as a Geospatial Systems Specialist in the USDA Forest Service|Lands, Minerals, and Geology|Automated Lands Program. He has an extensive natural resource background, with application of geographic information systems and remote sensing to assess and model vegetation characteristics, water yield, and wildlife habitat. In recent years he has also obtained remote pilot certification and manages a remote sensing services agreement with the University of Montana. In the Automated Lands Program, he helps manage a team of contractors that focus on Land Status Record System data development and maintenance, with emphasis on creating spatial representations of right-of-way, land adjustment case boundaries, and other administratively or congressionally
designated changes to land status. He is also a manager of the Program’s National Geospatial Data Asset – the Proclaimed Forest boundary dataset and provides program support for the Title Claims and Encroachment Management System (TCEMS). In collaboration with his team members, he also helps develop mapping templates for the Legislative Map Tool, and Special Uses Map Tool.

Mr. Barowsky works for the Bureau of Land Management and manages their national land surveying services for Federally recognized tribes and is a licensed land surveyor in Alaska, Arizona, Tennessee, and Texas. He has worked as a land surveyor, planner, real estate specialist, and investigator.

Mr. Matthews is the USFS Regional Land Surveyor for Region 6 and has been responsible for program development and oversight for the Boundary and Title Management Program in the Pacific Northwest for the last year and a half. Most of his earlier career was spent working in the private and public sector.

Mr. McDonald currently works as the Public Land Survey System Dataset Manger for the Bureau of Land Management headquarters’ office, and he is a licensed land surveyor in Arizona. He has worked as a cadastral surveyor, for BLM for over 14 years plus nine years a private surveyor for utilities companies, and the private sector.

Ms. Olson has been a land surveyor in the private sector, the gold mines and with the government for 10 years total; with the USFS for 5 years. She has also worked as an adjunct professor and faculty advisor for land survey student competitions at Great Basin College in Elko, Nevada since 2015.

Mr. Price is the Chief Land Surveyor at USDA Forest Service Headquarters in Washington D.C. He obtained his MBA degree from Alaska Pacific University, BS degree in Technology Management from Utah Valley University and AAS in Land Surveying from Salt Lake Community College.

Mr. Ryan started his BLM Career in 2009 as a realty and cadastral aide in Sacramento, California. He then worked in various field offices, holding positions in the Realty, Minerals, NEPA and Project Management programs. He currently oversees the Land Tenure program for the Northern California Districts where there are over 20 active land acquisition cases.

Joseph W. Bukowski is an associate at Michael Best & Friedrich LLP. Mr. Bukowski is a mid-level associate in the Wealth Planning practice at Michael Best & Friedrich LLP, based in Milwaukee Wisconsin. He counsels clients on matters involving wills, trusts, estates, powers of attorney, and marital property agreements. Mr. Bukowski also assists clients with tax planning, business succession planning, charitable planning, and other related considerations. He is the author of several articles and a presenter for the National Business Institute and Law Practice CLE on topics regarding trusts and estate planning. He received his undergraduate degree in political science, summa cum laude, from Marquette University in 2015, and his Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from Marquette University Law School in 2018.  Before joining the firm, Mr. Bukowski was an associate in the Trusts & Estates practice of a full-service Milwaukee law firm, where he previously worked as a summer associate and law clerk. While attending Marquette University Law School, Mr. Bukowski served as a legal intern with the Internal Revenue Service and the Wisconsin Elections Commission. Additionally, he volunteered more than 120 hours of pro bono work to members of the community. Mr. Bukowski also participated in an international conflict resolution trip to Israel. Presently, Mr. Bukowski is a member of the Milwaukee Bar Association, the State Bar of Wisconsin, the American Bar Association, the Eagle Scout Networking Committee in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and the Saint Thomas More Lawyers Society in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He also currently serves as a commissioner on the Police and Fire Commission in Cudahy, Wisconsin, and as a District Chair and a member of the Executive Board for the Three Harbors Council for the Boy Scouts of America.

Stephen E. Diamond, a long-time native to the Hudson Valley, is a partner at Stenger, Diamond & Glass, LLP (SDG Law) where he is well known for his dedication to helping local business and individuals with their legal needs as well as his involvement in the community. Steve has been practicing law for more than 38 years and has built a loyal client base that stay with SDG Law because the services are essential for every stage of their life. At SDG Law, Steve practices in the areas of wills and estates, including asset protection elder law and Medicaid protection, business formation and transactions, commercial and residential real estate buying and selling, lending and secured transactions. He regularly represents clients with estate planning and estates in Florida. He is past Chairman of, and current legal counsel to, The Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce, a past member of the Board of Directors of The Community Foundation of Dutchess County, current legal counsel and past Board member of the Chamber Foundation, prior legal counsel and an honoree for the Northern Dutchess NAACP and legal counsel and Board member for the Matt Herring Foundation. He is a frequent lecturer on the topics of Estate and Retirement planning and Elder Law issues. Steve received his BS from Marist College, his Juris Doctorate from Pepperdine University and a Master of Laws in Taxation from the University of Florida. He is admitted to practice in New York, Florida, and Massachusetts.  Steve served 19 years as a volunteer firefighter, rising through the ranks to become the First Assistant Chief of the Arlington Fire District. He traded in his helmet for diapers when his son was born. 

Adam Sandler, J.D., LL.M. is the Director of Wealth Planning at AJ Wealth in New York City. He counsels the firm’s clients and advisors on complex issues involving tax, trusts and estates, asset protection, charitable planning, business and family governance, and overall wealth transfer and preservation. Prior to joining AJ Wealth in 2022, Mr. Sandler practiced law as a tax attorney focusing on estate planning, estate and trust administration, and tax planning for individuals and businesses. 

Mr. Macalus is an Environmental Technician that performs multiple services for Environmental Permitting and Wetland and Watercourse Delineations. Throughout his career he has performed habitat, vegetation, and wildlife surveys throughout Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Maine. He specializes in aquatic ecology and has a passion for the conservation and preservation of the aquatic resources that affect us every day.

Mr. Reagan advises clients on regulatory compliance, administrative enforcement actions, and civil litigation under state and federal regulations including the Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, Administrative Procedure Act, Pipeline Safety Act, General Mining Act of 1872, and Federal Land Management Policy Act.

Before joining Beveridge & Diamond, Mr. Reagan served as an Attorney-Advisor for the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), Office of Chief Counsel where he provided counsel on enforcement actions under the Pipeline Safety Act. Before that, Mr. Reagan practiced as an associate with a boutique natural resources firm, where he counseled a variety of private, government, and investment clients on environmental and water issues facing western states focusing on environmental permitting and compliance, state and federal regulation, Columbia River Treaty, government contracts, as well as general legal support for projects ranging from business dissolution to protecting grazing and mineral rights. His background includes extensive coursework in climate change, ecology, fisheries, and environmental science.

Mr. Akins has provided technical work on a variety of projects throughout the Gulf coast area performing numerous wetland delineations, threatened/endangered species surveys and monitoring, successfully obtaining many US Army Corps of Engineers Section 404/10 and Coastal Zone permits, overseeing mitigation/restoration projects, and managing projects from conception and scoping through permit issuance. He is experienced in working with industrial and energy clients throughout the Gulf Coast to navigate natural resources regulatory framework and meet their project needs. 

Ms. Herrera is an aquatic biologist with over eight years of experience in natural resource assessment, including wetland delineations, environmental permitting, stream assessments, mussel/macroinvertebrate surveys and identification, and threatened and endangered species surveys. She graduated with a B.S. degree in Biology and Program in the Environment (PitE) from the University of Michigan and an M.S. degree in Water Resource Science from the University of Minnesota Duluth. Ms. Herrera recently moved back to the mitten to work for Holland Engineering’s Environmental Group. She holds a USFWS permit to survey and handle federally listed mussel species. Her favorite mussels are the spectaclecase and snuffbox.

Applied Ecological Services, Inc., Brodhead, WI
Mr. Larson is a principal ecologist at Applied Ecological Services (AES) and a certified senior ecologist with the Ecological Society of America. During his 28-year tenure at AES, he has focused on wetland restoration and design, wetland construction and construction oversight, and vegetation/hydrology monitoring of mitigation sites. His experience at AES includes acting as project ecologist for The Nature Conservancy’s 7,200-acre Kankakee Sands wetland and prairie restoration in Indiana and a 575-acre wetland restoration project in Seneca Falls, New York. He has also been involved in over two dozen wetland mitigation banks in the Midwest, has recently permitted a wetland mitigation bank in Iowa and is currently preparing a mitigation banking instrument for a site in Wisconsin. Dr. Larson has been a lead scientist at AES in the ecological monitoring of hundreds of wetland restoration and mitigation projects. Additional areas of expertise include ecological restoration and management planning and design, environmental review documents, floristic analysis, land cover-type mapping, threatened and endangered species investigations, and stormwater management design for flood control and water quality. He has also completed over 300 wetland delineations throughout the Midwest. 

Bill Sapp focuses on protecting the swamps, tidal creeks, and salt marshes of the Georgia and Alabama coasts and leads SELC’s Georgia Coastal Initiative. He received his law degree from Harvard Law School and his Master of Law degree in Environmental Law from George Washington Law School (with highest honors). Before joining SELC, he served as an assistant regulatory attorney with the Chief Counsel’s office of the Army Corps in DC, clerked for Judge Edenfield in federal district court in Savannah, was an associate at Alston & Bird in Atlanta, and served as the lead wetlands attorney for Region 4 of the Environmental Protection Agency.

Ms. Herrera is an aquatic biologist with over eight years of experience in natural resource assessment, including wetland delineations, environmental permitting, stream assessments, mussel/macroinvertebrate surveys and identification, and threatened and endangered species surveys. She graduated with a B.S. degree in Biology and Program in the Environment (PitE) from the University of Michigan and an M.S. degree in Water Resource Science from the University of Minnesota Duluth. Ms. Herrera recently moved back to the mitten to work for Holland Engineering’s Environmental Group. She holds a USFWS permit to survey and handle federally listed mussel species. Her favorite mussels are the spectaclecase and snuffbox.

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.

Mr. Macalus is an Environmental Technician that performs multiple services for Environmental Permitting and Wetland and Watercourse Delineations. Throughout his career he has performed habitat, vegetation, and wildlife surveys throughout Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Maine. He specializes in aquatic ecology and has a passion for the conservation and preservation of the aquatic resources that affect us every day.

Mr. Miles is an attorney with Beveridge & Diamond. He advises clients ranging from individuals to FORTUNE® 500 companies on federal and state litigation, alternative dispute resolution, and regulatory compliance, with a focus on endangered and protected species. Building on years of broad litigation experience, Mr. Miles focuses his practice on the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and other federal and state environmental laws. He also advises clients in complex regulatory matters, including ESA compliance, Clean Water Act permitting, and carbon capture and sequestration. Before law school, he was a published biologist, studying the effects of insecticides on wetland ecosystems and the effects of mineral transport on amphibian populations. He applied these skills working for the U.S. Geological Survey and as a researcher at Purdue University. Today, he bridges the gap between science and law, bringing subject matter fluency in both fields to his practice. Mr. Miles regularly lectures on environmental law at universities across the country, including the University of Wisconsin, SUNY Binghamton, New Mexico State University, and the University of Texas El Paso.

Mr. Redmond is Of Counsel with Beveridge & Diamond. Prior to joining B&D, he served as an Attorney-Advisor for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Office of the General Counsel’s Natural Resources and Environment Division in Washington, DC, where he advised and represented USDA and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) in numerous public lands management, real property, water rights, hydropower, and other program implementation and litigation matters. He has assisted in legislative and regulatory drafting and advised the agency on a number of issues related to land management, hydropower, carbon stewardship, wetlands mitigation, and land and water conservation. In this role, he served as USDA’s lead attorney on efforts to achieve a national framework for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers siting of wetlands mitigation projects on U.S. Forest Service Lands. Mr. Redmond additionally served as the lead attorney for USDA and USFS in prominent national litigation and negotiations. In private practice, he also served as outside counsel and water counsel for state political subdivisions in prominent multiagency federal, state, tribal and local resource management and infrastructure efforts, including negotiating and litigating ESA and NEPA compliance for large water diversion projects such as on the Colorado River and Middle Rio Grande.

Mr. Scarborough joined Young/Sommer in 2023 and focuses his area of practice on energy, environmental, and land use law. Prior to joining, Austin worked at other law firms in the Capital Region, where he assisted clients on various energy, environmental, land use, and cybersecurity matters. He provides counsel on matters such as environmental compliance, due diligence, and obtaining permits and approvals at local and state levels. He also regularly presents on wetlands issues and updates at the state and federal level.

Terresa M. Bakner is a partner at Whiteman Osterman & Hanna, LLP, in Albany, NY. She represents clients in permitting, administrative and enforcement proceedings before State and federal agencies, such as the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the New York State Department of Public Service, the United States Army Corps of Engineers, the United States Environmental Protection Agency and OSHA, among others. Ms. Bakner assists in obtaining land use approvals for commercial, industrial, residential and energy projects and represents clients in projects involving brownfield redevelopment, wetlands laws and regulations, protection of endangered species and critical habitats, and the preservation of archaeological and historic resources. Ms. Bakner is a past chair of the Environmental Law Section of the New York State Bar Association. Ms. Bakner routinely lectures on wetlands regulations, the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act, and other land use and development topics, including RLUIPA, for organizations such as the New York Planning Federation and the New York State Association of Towns.

Ms. Bruce has over 19 years of sales and marketing experience serving Florida’s mitigation banking credit industry. Her vast background in the wetland mitigation and habitat conservation banks industry has designated her as one of Florida’s most sought-after mitigation bank sales brokers. Mrs. Bruce is passionate about partnering with mitigation bankers, environmental consultants and developers to aid in the mitigation process. She is responsible for developing and implementing strategies and forecasts that support existing relationships with industry partners and promote future growth for the industry.

As a water resources practitioner and manager for 33 years, Mr. Der provides regulatory and scientific expertise for public and private sector clients, with a commitment to equitable and sustainable solutions to complex projects while specializing in creative linkages between ecology and engineering. He has been in private consulting practice since 2001, first as an associate and director of environmental services for two civil engineering firms in the greater Washington, DC, and Baltimore metropolitan areas, then since 2013, the principal of his own consulting firm, Andrew T. Der & Associates, LLC, and now since 2024, promoting the national firm HDR Inc. Mid-Atlantic practice. Prior to 2001, Mr. Der previously completed 17 years of service with the Maryland Department of the Environment as a manager leading major new initiatives to regulate and restore Chesapeake Bay water resources. He is also an appointed industry representative of the U.S. EPA Chesapeake Bay Program Executive Council Stakeholder’s Advisory Committee, as well as provides expert testimony and media interviews.”

Ms. Schroeder brings a variety of skills to the complexities of today’s agriculture. She grew up on a farm in Northeast Indiana, so her insight is grounded in experience. Ms. Schroeder works with the agricultural industry as she provides expertise such as litigating complicated environmental matters, drafting contracts for agribusinesses, and helping livestock farms navigate regulatory compliance. She has a diverse group of clients including farmers, rural landowners, agricultural companies, and industry groups. Ms. Schroeder has worked at firms in Indianapolis and Chicago, with her perspective including experience in complex litigation, civil defense, property liability, environmental law, and insurance coverage. She is licensed in Indiana and Illinois. Along with her thriving law practice, Ms. Schroeder is committed to sharing insight with the industry as a sought-after speaker and author. She has authored numerous articles and given presentations on a variety of agricultural, environmental, and legal topics, including the Right to Farm Act, zoning, renewable energy, sustainability, the Clean Water Act, employment law, agritourism, farm security, and insurance coverage. Ms. Schroeder earned her B.A. degree, cum laude, from Carthage College, her M.S. degree from Valparaiso University and her J.D. degree, magna cum laude, from Valparaiso University School of Law.

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.

Nathan Weaver is a senior staff scientist in Geosyntec’s Greenville, South Carolina office. His primary practice areas include wetland and stream delineations, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) permitting, threatened and endangered species habitat surveys, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) consultations, and state and local permitting. He has completed USACE wetland delineation training with the Wetland Training Institute and is a Certified Erosion Prevention and Sediment Control Inspector.

Mr. Burdette has conducted and managed numerous field delineations, permitting under the Clean Water Act; National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) efforts; and other local, regional, and national regulatory projects. He has worked with South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT), North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), and Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) on multiple permitting efforts ranging from bridge replacements to Environmental Impact Studies (EIS) for roadway developments. Mr. Burdette takes pride and specializes in utility scale solar development projects which have developed over 10,000 acres of land into sustainable green energy producing sites. Since 2018 He has held his FAA Part 107 Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) License. This has allowed him to use cutting edge software and hardware to create new methodologies for gathering data in the field.

Mr. DeRouen is a Wetland Professional in Training (WPIT) who specializes in botany and natural resources science. He received his B.S. in Biology at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and his M.A. in Biology at Arkansas State University. Mr. DeRouen has been working in Southeastern (USA) ecosystems for over 10 years, primarily in the alluvial and coastal plains ecoregions. His professional experience includes wetland delineation, bioremediation, environmental permitting, T/E species surveying, ArcGIS, natural history collection and curation, invasive species management, habitat restoration, green infrastructure, native landscaping, and trail construction.

Mr. Dilley earned a B.S. in Natural Resources (Fisheries Management) in 1991 and a M.S. in Environmental Science (specializing in wetlands) in 2003, both from The Ohio State University. He and his wife Christine are co-owners of a WBE, WOSB, and EDGE-certified environmental consulting firm, MAD Scientist Associates, specializing in ecological and wetland consulting. Mr. Dilley has over 22 years’ experience as a field biologist, ecologist, and wetland scientist. He is an EPA-certified Level 3 Qualified Data Collector (QDC) for fish and habitat studies in Ohio, a Certified Senior Ecologist with the Ecological Society of America, and a Professional Wetland Scientist with the Society of Wetland Scientist. Mr. Dilley has conducted ecological surveys in over 11 states, at a variety of sites, including Department of Energy, NASA, and U.S. military facilities, landfills, and industrial sites.

Mr. Scarborough joined Young/Sommer in 2023 and focuses his area of practice on energy, environmental, and land use law. Prior to joining, Austin worked at other law firms in the Capital Region, where he assisted clients on various energy, environmental, land use, and cybersecurity matters. He provides counsel on matters such as environmental compliance, due diligence, and obtaining permits and approvals at local and state levels. He also regularly presents on wetlands issues and updates at the state and federal level.

Ms. Schroeder focuses her legal practice on litigating complex environmental matters, drafting contracts for agribusinesses and farms, and assisting agricultural clients with regulatory compliance and land use issues. Her experience ranges from defending dairy farms against nuisance suits to negotiating solar leases and advising farmers on wetlands compliance. Ms. Schroeder has also litigated environmental insurance coverage, environmental liability, county zoning, and other complex litigation matters throughout Illinois and Indiana, representing a wide variety of clients from large corporations to municipalities to private individuals.

Mr. Schweisberg provides policy, regulatory and technical advice and assistance for clients seeking to navigate a wide range of regulatory and non-regulatory issues related to wetlands and other aquatic resources. He works throughout the U.S. Mr. Schweisberg is a Professional Wetland Scientist under the Professional Certification Program of the Society of Wetland Scientists. He is a retired federal wetlands ecologist and wildlife biologist who spent over 32 years with the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency at its headquarters office in Washington, D.C., and at the New England Region office in Boston. Mr. Schweisberg served as chief of the New England Region’s Wetlands Protection Program, as senior wetland ecologist, and on national work groups developing guidance and regulations on Clean Water Act jurisdiction, among other issues. He has testified before federal grand juries and has served several times as an expert witness in federal, state, and private litigation. Mr. Schweisberg has taught courses in wetland regulation, restoration, and creation; wetland ecology; and wetland identification and delineation for federal and state agencies, academic organizations, and environmental consultants. He received his degree in Wildlife Management from the University of Maine.

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.

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