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Mr. Avery served in the Army for 20 years. Since 1993, after he retired from the Army, he has restricted his practice to family law, predominantly in Montgomery County, Maryland. First as a solo practitioner and now in partnership with his daughter, Prudence Upton. He has handled hundreds of divorce, child custody, child support, visitation and other family issues, most often bringing them to resolution without the need for a trial. Mr. Avery is frequently consulted by other counsel regarding military matters and has done presentations for a number of groups regarding military family law. He has been selected by SuperLawyers every year since 2008 and has been selected for listing in The Best Lawyers in America since 2017. Mr. Avery is a certified as a mediator in both general civil matters and family law, focusing on property and child-related issues. He serves as a facilitator for the Family Law Division of the Montgomery County Circuit Court. Mr. Avery is an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law where he co-teaches Collaborative Practice to law students. He is a trainer for the Collaborative Practice Training Institute training practicing professionals in Collaborative Practice.

With more than 25 years of experience, Mr. Coaxum is skilled at negotiation, settlement, and litigation of complex domestic matters. he has experience navigating difficult and high-profile matters that present significant legal, business, and reputational risks. His deep and vast experience includes complex asset and property distribution, complex separation agreements, alimony, and child custody and access issues. Mr. Coaxum represents clients in Baltimore City and Baltimore, Howard, Prince George’s, Anne Arundel, and Montgomery counties in Maryland as well as the District of Columbia. In addition to his family law practice, he also serves as legal counsel and trusted advisor to clients who are owners of business and corporate entities. Mr. Coaxum’s experience includes handling multifaceted business disputes and litigation matters, including high profile defamation claims, employment disputes, and contract claims. His excellent reputation in the Maryland legal community has resulted in the recent appointment to Maryland’s Attorney Grievance Commission, a commission that ensures Maryland lawyers adhere to their professional responsibilities. He served on the board of directors for the Maryland Pro Bono Resource Center from 2010 to 2016 and is also a former board member to HopeWorks, Howard County’s sexual assault and domestic violence center that provides critical services to families affected by domestic violence. From 2009 to 2017, Mr. Coaxum served as treasurer to the Prince George’s County Political Committee to Re-Elect Sitting Judges and served as political committee treasurer to other Judges in campaigns to retain judicial seats in Howard County.

Ms. DeMeo is an alumna of Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and George Washington University Law School, who has been practicing family law in Maryland and DC for over 25 years. She is currently a Principal at Markham Law Firm in Bethesda, MD, where she focuses on negotiated settlements and Alternate Dispute Resolution, including mediation and Collaborative Law. Although she continues to litigate in high conflict cases, her preference is to help families in transition efficiently navigate the divorce process in order to preserve as much family wealth and goodwill as possible. For over a decade she has frequently quoted as an expert in her field, and various media sources have recognized her as one of the top DC area attorneys in her field, including the Washingtonian Magazine, Superlawyers, Bethesda Magazine, Best Lawyers and the Daily Record. She was an adjunct professor from 2019-2020 for the GWU Family Justice Center, and is currently serving a 2 year term as a Board Member of the AFCC Maryland Chapter.

Ms. Jacobson has been practicing law for nearly a decade, having successfully represented clients in all facets of family law proceedings including separation, divorce, custody, child support, post-divorce enforcement, and other family law related matters. Through her experience litigating family law matters, Ms. Jacobson has found that the conflict associated with litigation often tears a family apart making it toxic for children and their parents. However, as a certified mediator and collaborative divorce attorney, she has also seen how these forms of alternative dispute resolution can lead to and foster successful co-parenting arrangements. Ms. Jacobson has chosen to dedicate her practice to working with clients who wish to resolve their family disputes without court intervention. She assists clients in choosing between mediation, collaborative divorce or separation agreements in order to keep drama out of their divorce. Ms. Jacobson graduated from the University of Baltimore School of Law with her Juris Doctorate magna cum laude. She is admitted to practice law throughout the State of Maryland as well as within the United States District Court for the District of Maryland. She is a certified mediator, Best Interest Attorney, Child Advocate Attorney and Child Privilege Attorney. Prior to founding Jacobson Family Law, Ms. Jacobson was a senior associate at The Drazin Law Center, specializing in divorce and bankruptcy.

Ms. Scherer concentrates representation in divorce, child custody, parenting agreements, alimony, marital property division, marital settlement agreements, child support, visitation, paternity, step-parent adoption, jurisdictional disputes, and interstate child custody and child support matters. Her vast experience in domestic/family law matters is the foundation of her recognition as a leading Maryland family, divorce, and custody attorney. Ms. Scherer regularly appears in state courts throughout Maryland. She has skillfully litigated and settled hundreds of domestic cases, obtaining favorable results for her clients. Ms. Scherer regularly represents high profile clients in state court, including professional sports figures and business owners with significant assets at stake. Additionally, Ms. Scherer has obtained custody for many clients, both men and women. Ms. Scherer has successfully argued cases before the Maryland appellate courts resulting in published and unpublished opinions. Ms. Scherer is also trained in collaborative law, which is a commitment to recognizing that divorce and other family matters are multi-dimensional and often require assistance from other collaboratively trained professionals such as child specialists, financial specialists, and/or a divorce coach. The goal of the collaborative approach is a negotiated settlement focusing on empowering the client, following established guidelines and protocols without the threat of court action from the collaborative attorneys. Ms. Scherer is also a trained civil mediator and is regularly appointed by state courts to serve as a Best Interest Attorney or Privilege Attorney to represent children in highly contested cases. Her client-first, goal-oriented strategy is consistently recognized by her peers and by Maryland Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers as the best divorce lawyer in Maryland, the best custody lawyer in Maryland, and the best Maryland family attorney, to name a few.

Mr. Abrahams specializes in Tax Planning, Tax Litigation, Estate Planning and Probate matters. He helps clients meet their legal and tax planning goals and objectives in the areas of business tax planning, entity formation, business transactions, wealth preservation, protection of assets, estate planning and probate estates. Mr. Abrahams also advises clients who have been contacted by the IRS regarding an audit or dispute of a tax return or a tax assessment. He represents individuals and businesses in Maryland, the District of Columbia and Ohio. He has over 25 years of substantive legal experience. In addition to a law degree from the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Mr. Abrahams has an Advanced Degree in Taxation from the Georgetown University Law Center. He is licensed in Maryland, the District of Columbia and Ohio. Additionally, Mr. Abrahams is admitted to practice in the Federal District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, the Federal 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, the United States Tax Court, and the United States Supreme Court. Mr. Abrahams has published in numerous tax-related publications.

Ms. Arasu has more than 15 years of state tax consulting experience within a public accounting environment. She serves as a firm specialist in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia, including the Virginia Business, Professional and Occupational License (“BPOL”) tax. Ms. Arasu consults on all aspects of state income tax, including participating in mergers and acquisition transactions, due diligence reviews, representation on state tax controversy matters, and assisting companies with state tax compliance and state tax provision matters. She has worked with Fortune 1000 and mid-size companies in industries such as manufacturing, retail, healthcare, hospitality, real estate, technology and nonprofit.

Ms. Kuhn has a strong and diverse background in tax planning, tax policy, and representation of taxpayers before the IRS and state tax authorities. She supports clients including domestic and foreign high net-worth individuals, corporations, nonprofit organizations, and domestic and foreign limited liability entities in a variety of federal and state tax and non-tax matters and litigation in federal and state courts. In matters involving general litigation and before the IRS, she has represented many taxpayers and companies with complex structures including joint ventures and domestic/international affiliated entities undergoing IRS audits, IRS appeals and collections. Ms. Kuhn’s prior experiences, both as an attorney-advisor at the United States Tax Court and as a litigator for the IRS provide her with valuable perspective to help anticipate and mitigate the impact of clients’ disputes. Ms. Kuhn frequently counsels clients who are in the planning stages of philanthropy, ensuring compliance with the Internal Revenue Code. She regularly advises public charities and private foundations (501(c)(3)); social welfare and business leagues (dark money) groups (501(c)(4) and 501(c)(6); and social clubs (501(c)(7)). Ms. Kuhn also advises individuals and corporate entities with regard to foreign and domestic tax issues, along with related business issues including complex litigation in federal and state courts. She is an expert witness and advisor regarding various tax issues, including nonprofit board governance. Ms. Kuhn is a member of the Murdock Inn of Court and a Board member of the Women’s Bar Association of the District of Columbia. She also serves as co-chair of the firm’s Tax Practice and Exempt-Organization Practice. Prior to joining Shulman Rogers, she was Chair of the Tax Practice at Jackson & Campbell and Of Counsel with a D.C. law firm specializing in federal tax matters. Ms. Kuhn also served with the IRS for ten years, primarily litigating before the United States Tax Court on behalf of the government, and previously served as an attorney-advisor at the United States Tax Court.

Ms. Ledingham’s practice centers around litigating in the U.S. Tax Court and Federal District Court, defending her clients during IRS and state examinations, and challenging IRS and state assessments, and penalties. Her representation includes those of a sensitive nature in connection with a risk of the allegation of tax fraud. Her practice includes representing her clients on collection matters such as offers-in-compromise, lien releases, installment agreements, innocent spouse petitions, and FBAR voluntary disclosures. Additionally, she has successfully represented her client in Maryland property tax appeals, Maryland State audits, and Washington D.C. refund suits. She is also experienced in obtaining and defending tax-exempt status for public and private non-profits. Prior to starting Ledingham Law, Ms. Ledingham worked for Willkie Farr Gallagher, LLP, and PricewaterhouseCoopers in New York, NY. Additionally, she received her Tax LL.M. (Master of Laws) from the Georgetown University Law Center and clerked for the Honorable Ronald Lee Buch of the United States Tax Court.

Mr. Safko’s practice focuses on tax controversy, business litigation, and trusts and states. Prior to specializing in taxes, he worked in litigation handling professional malpractice and family law cases, as well as taking leadership positions with for-profit organizations and nonprofits recognized under Section 501(c)(3). This experience has provided him with a wide perspective on the many facets of tax law and the ethical pitfalls that so often entrap professionals in various fields. He is dedicated to continuing education in order stay at the forefront of the constantly evolving landscape of taxes. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Juris Doctor from the University of Baltimore. He is an active member of the Maryland State and Anne Arundel County Bar Associations and is licensed to practice in the State of Maryland, the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, and the United States Tax Court.

Mr. Vaida brings a breadth of public and private sector experience to bear as he provides practical and thorough legal advice in the areas of tax and business. He has facilitated transactions across a wide variety of industries, including health, construction, government contracting, telecom and more. Mr. Vaida is adept at handling some of the most vexing tax issues facing taxpayers today, such as conservation easements, captive insurance, clean energy credits, and multi-state nexus and apportionment. As a member of Stein Sperling’s nationally recognized tax litigation team, he provides expert representation before the IRS and state taxing authorities. He defends taxpayers from the initial audit all the way through to Tax Court, when necessary. Mr. Vaida tailored approach ensures taxpayers always receive advice that suits their specific situation. Whether it be through an installment agreement, Offer in Compromise, or another collection alternative, he ensures taxpayers secure an agreement that works for them.

Mr. Gorski is an attorney in Annapolis, specializing in environmental, natural resources and agricultural law. He advises clients on environmental and agricultural matters, water supply and sewer capacity allocation, land use and related litigation. In addition, he represents clients litigating in State and federal courts and administrative forums, including trial and appellate advocacy.

Mr. Gorski served as an assistant attorney general representing the Maryland Department of the Environment from 1991 to 1997. In addition to his law practice, he has taught environmental law in the graduate engineering program at Johns Hopkins University for over 20 years and water resources law and policy for the University of Maryland’s Department of Agriculture and Resource Economics. He is an active speaker in legal education seminars.

Mr. Gorski earned a J.D. degree and a master of environmental law degree, cum laude, from Vermont Law School and a B.S. degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Management, with minors in Biology and Chemistry, from Frostburg University. He is admitted to practice in Maryland, before the US District Court for Maryland, and before the US Courts of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and the Federal Circuit. He is a member of the Maryland State Bar Association (Environmental Law and Agriculture Law Sections).

Mr. Henderson is the co-founder and managing partner of Rich &
Henderson, P.C., which has law offices located in Annapolis and Easton, Maryland. Widely regarded as among the leading trial and transactional attorneys in his region, Mr. Henderson provides exceptional representation and support to clients throughout Washington, D.C., and surrounding areas. His main areas of practice include administrative law, business and commercial law, energy and natural resources law, environmental law and land use and zoning. Over the course of his legal career, Mr. Henderson has achieved remarkable success helping a diverse range of clients across the country with their important and pressing legal issues. He has extensive experience handling matters involving regulatory compliance of hazardous waste disposal and related violations as well as helping his clients to obtain the necessary permits and licenses they need.

In addition, Mr. Henderson has considerable experience handling environmental due diligence for mergers and acquisitions and complex real estate-related issues involving land use and zoning requirements. He has become known as an authority on environmental law, and he has gained a reputation for his efficient and cost-effective manner of helping his clients navigate the complex and convoluted process of environmental requirements needed to allow them to open their businesses or acquire land. As further evidence of his in-depth legal knowledge and leadership skills, Mr. Henderson serves as an instructor of environmental law and business law courses with the Johns Hopkins University Engineering for Professionals Program.

He has also conducted numerous lectures and continuing legal education seminars across the nation on a variety of legal topics related to real estate law, land development and other subjects, and he has served as Chair of the Maryland State Bar Association’s Environmental Law Section. A 1976 graduate of the State University of New York at Purchase with a Bachelor of Arts in environmental science. In 1980, Mr. Henderson received his Master of Science from the Nelson Institute of Environmental Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison his Juris Doctor from the University of Wisconsin Law School.

Mr. J. Hershey is active in Rich & Henderson’s transactional, regulatory, and litigation practices, including with respect to environmental, administrative, business, zoning and land use, and contracts law. Prior to joining Rich & Henderson, He served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Ronald B. Rubin, Circuit Court for Montgomery County, Maryland. As a judicial law clerk, he regularly worked on cases in the Maryland Business and Technology Case Management Program. Mr. J. Hershey received a J.D. from the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University in Arlington, Virginia and a B.B.A in Finance and a B.A. in History from the College of William and Mary in Virginia. While in law school, he served as a legal intern for the Securities and Exchange Commission Division of Investment Management and for the Department of Justice Civil Division. Prior to enrolling in law school, Mr. J. Hershey worked as an Information Technology auditor for Ernst & Young, LLP, in Tysons, Virginia and in Washington, D.C. He is admitted to practice in Maryland and the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland.

Mr. P. Hershey  practices in the areas of environmental, natural and cultural resources, land use, criminal, construction, maritime, procurement, and commercial law. He advises clients on a wide range of environmental, commercial, marine/maritime and other laws and regulations and is active in the firm’s trial and appellate litigation practice. Prior to joining Rich & Henderson, Mr. P. Hershey  served as a judicial law clerk and senior judicial law clerk to the Honorable Christopher B. Kehoe, Maryland Court of Special Appeals, and as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Broughton M. Earnest, County Administrative Judge for the Talbot County Circuit Court. He received a B.A. in History from the College of William and Mary in Virginia, and a J.D. from the William and Mary Marshall-Wythe School of Law.

Mr. Moore’s main areas of practice are Environmental, Real Estate, Business, and Construction Law. Mr. Moore advises and represents individuals and businesses in civil litigation and commercial affairs including business asset purchases and sales, materials and mining, real estate, chemical manufacturing, energy development and construction. He also advises on regulatory, permitting and litigation matters. He delivers C-level consulting services for large regional development and manufacturing groups related to CERCLA remedial actions at legacy sites, real estate transactions, asset sales, mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Moore is also the owner and Principal Engineer with D. Moore & Associates, LLC with decades of environmental engineering and earthwork construction experience. He earned his B.A. degree in Environmental Sciences from the University of Virginia, his B.S. degree in Geology and his M.S. degree in Environmental Engineering from Virginia Tech and his J.D. degree from The George Washington University Law School.

Mr. Rubenzer started FORSE in 2010, where he works as a delegated designer for other structural engineers on designs involving steel, concrete, PT concrete, masonry, and wood construction. He often speaks on the topics of software use and best practices in masonry design. Mr. Rubenzer has over 20 years of experience and is a licensed structural engineer (SE) and a professional engineer (PE) in many of the Midwestern states. He has also been a consultant to the International Masonry Institute (IMI) for the past 11 years.

Mr. Rubenzer started FORSE in 2010, where he works as a delegated designer for other structural engineers on designs involving steel, concrete, PT concrete, masonry, and wood construction. He often speaks on the topics of software use and best practices in masonry design. Mr. Rubenzer has over 20 years of experience and is a licensed structural engineer (SE) and a professional engineer (PE) in many of the Midwestern states. He has also been a consultant to the International Masonry Institute (IMI) for the past 11 years.

Mr. Rubenzer started FORSE in 2010, where he works as a delegated designer for other structural engineers on designs involving steel, concrete, PT concrete, masonry, and wood construction. He often speaks on the topics of software use and best practices in masonry design. Mr. Rubenzer has over 20 years of experience and is a licensed structural engineer (SE) and a professional engineer (PE) in many of the Midwestern states. He has also been a consultant to the International Masonry Institute (IMI) for the past 11 years.

Mr. Rubenzer started FORSE in 2010, where he works as a delegated designer for other structural engineers on designs involving steel, concrete, PT concrete, masonry, and wood construction. He often speaks on the topics of software use and best practices in masonry design. Mr. Rubenzer has over 20 years of experience and is a licensed structural engineer (SE) and a professional engineer (PE) in many of the Midwestern states. He has also been a consultant to the International Masonry Institute (IMI) for the past 11 years.

Mr. Conway is a registered architect in Wisconsin. He currently serves as Director of IMI’s internal technical team and is a distinguished national masonry author and speaker. Mr. Conway is a prolific presenter on masonry wall system topics, including: flashing, movement control, high-performing masonry wall systems, air barriers, efficient wall design, structural masonry concepts, masonry drawing and specification review, modern open-jointed rainscreen veneer systems, masonry lintels, single-wythe masonry walls, lessons-learned from the job site, and adhered veneers. His expertise/practice areas are in building enclosure design and detailing, masonry job site troubleshooting, masonry construction document review, flashing and moisture control and masonry movement control. He is a member of the American Institute of Architects, the Construction Specifications Institute and International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants. Mr. Conway earned his Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Minnesota.

Mr. Fiebig holds a Bachelor of Environmental Design degree from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and a Master of Architecture degree from the University of Colorado, Denver. He is a licensed architect in several states, and he provides both consulting and design services to clients throughout the country. Mr. Fiebig is an active member of the American Institute of Architects, as well as an NCARB certificate holder. He is a LEED green associate, as well as a certified fire protection specialist, credentialed through the National Fire Protection Association. As a forensic architect, Mr. Fiebig provides analysis of architectural standard of care in design and construction projects, with special emphasis on multi-family residential projects. He performs cause and origin analyses of building system installations and failures, including roofing systems, window and door systems, exterior wall cladding systems, waterproofing, and foundation systems, with a specialization in passive fire-resistive assemblies and active fire-protection systems. Mr. Fiebig provides premises liability analysis regarding slip/trip and fall accidents and accessibility code compliance, and provides maintenance and inspection procedure analysis with an emphasis on NFPA 25: Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-based Fire Protection Systems. As well, he performs damage assessments on existing facilities related to storms, accidents, fire, and natural disasters. As a design architect, he provides traditional design services for residential and light commercial buildings, and provides code consulting for clients, specializing in life/safety, egress, and fire protection code requirements to assist clients in properly designing and detailing these critical elements of design and construction. Mr. Fiebig also provides traditional services during construction including construction observations and special inspections when required by the jurisdiction of authority. His experience includes several trial and deposition testimonies regarding design, construction, and the built environment, as well as mediation and arbitration support for litigation purposes. Mr. Fiebig holds active memberships in many professional organizations including AIA, NCARB, NFPA, USGBC, NICET, and others. He is a published writer in Common Ground, the national magazine for the Community Associations Institute.

Susan Jones, FAIA
Ms. Jones is the founder of atelierjones. Design-award winning, atelierjones is a national leader in implementing innovative lower carbon construction technologies to help lower the carbon footprint of the industry. atelierjones completed four of the first mass timber demonstration projects permitted in the US. Ms. Jones is a national leader in the mass timber community, as she represented over 90,000 architects on behalf of the American Institute of Architects in 2016 to successfully change American building codes to allow tall mass timber buildings up to 18 stories in the US. In 2018, she published a book, Mass Timber | Design and Research, which launched in New York City, London, Tokyo, and Seattle. In addition to multiple mass timber design projects, the firm worked with The Nature Conservancy, the USDA, and the Research Institute of Sweden (RISE) on a series of grants to test life-cycle analyses, and fire resistance of Mass Timber in the US and internationally. Ms. Jones has taught at the University of Washington since 1991, been a visiting design critic at numerous national universities, and is an Affiliate Associate Professor of Architecture in the College of the Built Environments, University of Washington. A third-generation Pacific Northwesterner, she was elected to the AIA College of Fellows in 2010 and has been working for architects since she was sixteen.

James Nicolora of AKF Group holds a master’s degree in Fire Protection Engineering and a bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. A member of AKF’s Architectural Code Consulting team, he provides building, fire, life safety, and accessibility code reviews for a variety of project types. Mr. Nicolora combines his code consulting expertise and creative approach to problem solving to produce compliance alternatives and performance-based designs where prescriptive code compliance is not possible. He has extensive experience with computational fire and smoke modeling software, which he uses to ensure life safety in the design of atrium smoke exhaust systems, cantilevered buildings, and fire-resistant structures. Mr. Nicolora is currently acting as the liaison to the AHJ on two life science construction projects in the Greater Boston area, where he oversees the special inspections of structural concrete, spray-applied fireproofing, and firestopping.

Mariah Seaboldt, P.E., AKF Group, is a licensed fire protection engineer with extensive experience in building, fire, life safety, and accessibility code consulting. She holds a master’s degree in fire protection engineering and bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. Combining her technical knowledge with her passion for educating others, Ms. Seaboldt has presented on a variety of topics related to building and fire codes. She is also an accomplished author, having been published in Construction Specifier, Consulting-Specifying Engineering, and Construction Business Owner. As a member of AKF Group’s Architectural Code Consulting team, she applies her expertise to a variety of project types, including, senior living, healthcare, residential, commercial, higher education, transportation, and hazardous material protection.

Ms. Sadeghi has more than 17 years of experience providing legal services and representation to individuals and families, developing strategies and advocating for legal rights. Her experience includes litigating and advocating on behalf of a large, active client base focusing on complex civil litigation, family and probate law and elder law. Ms. Sadeghi formerly taught at the paralegal program for Suffolk University Law School and is currently a guest lecturer at Northeastern University Law School. In 2023, she received the Massachusetts Lawyers’ Weekly “Making a Difference” honor, part of the Top Women of the Law 2023. She serves as a Board of Bar Overseers lawyer licensing board discipline hearing officer as well as a certified Guardian Ad Litem by the Massachusetts Trial Court.

Mr. Cronin, CFPS has 27 years of fire service experience, most recently in a municipal fire department, and formerly rural volunteer department settings. He is currently VP of Fire Protection for Strategic Code Solutions and serves as an instructor for several fire protection associations. Mr. Cronin has also been an instructor and author for the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). He teaches fire service representatives across the country for the National Fire Academy in the Technical Fire Prevention curriculum. Mr. Cronin has experience performing fire code inspection and plans review as a licensed Fire Marshal for the State of Rhode Island. He serves on and chairs several NFPA Technical Committees and UL Standards Technical Panels. Mr. Cronin is the current Chair of NFPA 25 and NFPA 303, NFPA 101, Residential Occupancies and past Chair of NFPA 150. He is a Technical Committee member on NFPA 13R & 13D, NFPA 20 and NFPA 909 & 914. He is a Certified Fire Protection Specialist has B.S. Degrees from both Saint Michael’s College and University of Cincinnati in Business Administration and Fire Safety and Engineering Technology and a Master’s in Public Administration from Anna Maria College.

Mr. Duval has been the Fire Investigator for the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association), which is based in Quincy, Massachusetts, since 1997. He is responsible for conducting investigations of technically significant incidents in order to gather, “Lessons Learned” from each incident to apply those lessons to improving NFPA codes and standards. The investigation of these incidents includes documenting the emergency services response, the structure(s) involved as well as the events leading up to and following the incident. Mr. Duval was named the New England Regional Manager for NFPA in 2003. His region recently expanded to include NY and NJ and is now referred to as the Northeast Region. As Regional Director, he is responsible for outreach within the northeast states regarding code adoptions, and training. He also serves as a point of contact for stakeholders in the NFPA process; including the fire service, engineering and safety professionals. Mr. Duval was a member of the FEMA Building Performance and Assessment Team (BPAT) that studied the World Trade Center disaster in 2001.

He recently reviewed the fire service response to the Merrimack Valley, MA gas over-pressurization incident of September 2018, a BESS explosion that seriously injured four firefighters in Surprise, AZ in April 2019, as well as a fatal high-rise fire in Minneapolis, MN in November 2019 for NFPA Journal magazine. He has served as the Chief of the Atwood Hose Fire Company in his hometown of Wauregan, CT, where he has been a member since 1981, since 2012. He has worked as an emergency services dispatcher in a regional fire department dispatch center in northeastern Connecticut since 1986. He also serves on the instructional staff of the Eastern CT Fire Training School. Mr. Duval is a Past President of the CT Fire Chiefs Association and a member of the CT Fire Service Hall of Fame, Class of 2021. He serves as a Communications Specialist for CT-TF1 – Connecticut State Urban Search and Rescue Task Force, and is also a member of the CT Region 4 Incident Management Team (IMT – 4). Mr. Duval holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology from Northeastern University in Boston, MA.

Mr. Nunnemacher is a Fire Protection Engineer for the Office of the State Fire Marshal. His territory is south of the Massachusetts Turnpike. He is also a Fire prevention Office/Fire Protection Engineer with the Auburn Fire Rescue Department. Mr. Nunnemacher received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Assumption College and a Bachelor of Science degree from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 1995. He is a member of the New England Chapter of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE). Prior to working for DFS he has worked for as a FPE for a large Texas Fire Department.

Mr. Noviello is an Attorney-at-Law, a Professional Engineer, and a Land Surveyor who enjoys teaching. In addition to teaching continuing education courses for Attorneys-at-Law, Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Architects, he has taught real property law, survey law, alpine skiing, and, more recently, adaptive skiing. Mr. Noviello received his Masters of Engineering degree, his Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering, with honors, and his AAS degree in Engineering, all from Rochester Institute of Technology. He received his Juris Doctor degree from Rutgers University School of Law-Newark. Mr. Noviello has maintained a professional engineering firm and a general practice law firm since 1984 and has practiced land surveying since 1991 including 10 years in industry and six years in government. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in the states of New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Mr. Noviello is a licensed Land Surveyor in New York and Connecticut. He is an Attorney-at-Law in New York and New Jersey State Courts, the U.S. Supreme Court, the Federal Court for the Southern District of New York, and the Federal Court for the State of New Jersey.

Mr. McWhite is from Indiana and a graduate of Vincennes University. He is an accomplished building inspector and plans examiner, with 20 years of experience in public and non-profit code enforcement and inspections. Mr. McWhite has served as an inspector and plans examiner in Massachusetts, Georgia, Virginia, and Indiana. He has served on the Massachusetts Construction Supervisor Licensing exam rewriting committee to help transition the exam from the 2009 to the 2015 International Codes, as a member of the International Code Council’s IPMC/IZC Code Development Committee, and as member of the ICC Building Membership Council and most recently BCAC. Mr. McWhite also currently serves as an ICC Governmental voting member representing Region 6. He has earned a combined 21 certifications ranging from SBCCI (Legacy Code) to ICC, including Housing Code Official, Building Code Specialist, Plumbing Code Specialist, Certified Building Official, and is currently two certifications away from Master Code Professional.

Mr. McWhite is from Indiana and a graduate of Vincennes University. He is an accomplished building inspector and plans examiner, with 20 years of experience in public and non-profit code enforcement and inspections. Mr. McWhite has served as an inspector and plans examiner in Massachusetts, Georgia, Virginia, and Indiana. He has served on the Massachusetts Construction Supervisor Licensing exam rewriting committee to help transition the exam from the 2009 to the 2015 International Codes, as a member of the International Code Council’s IPMC/IZC Code Development Committee, and as member of the ICC Building Membership Council and most recently BCAC. Mr. McWhite also currently serves as an ICC Governmental voting member representing Region 6. He has earned a combined 21 certifications ranging from SBCCI (Legacy Code) to ICC, including Housing Code Official, Building Code Specialist, Plumbing Code Specialist, Certified Building Official, and is currently two certifications away from Master Code Professional.

Mr. George is an engineering professional with over 25 years of international experience in managing infrastructure development and environmental engineering projects. The primary focus of his consulting practice has been water resources engineering and associated regulatory compliance services. He is proficient in the master planning, design and hydraulic modeling of stormwater management, water supply, and sanitary sewer systems. Mr. George also has extensive experience in providing engineering design services and regulatory compliance assistance to commercial and industrial clients on site remediation, brownfields redevelopment, landfill engineering, and sustainability.Mr. George received his Bachelor of Technology degree in Civil Engineering and Master of Technology degree in Environmental Engineering from the University of Calicut. Mr. George is a registered Professional Engineer in Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York, a registered Professional Planner in New Jersey, a LEED Accredited Professional of the US Green Building Council, and an accredited Project Management Professional

Mr. Gorneau is responsible for offering innovative green infrastructure/low impact stormwater solutions that enable new applications and raise the bar on performance, cost effectiveness, and verification. He previously served as national manager of ACF Environmental/Ferguson Waterworks and as regional vice president for FABCO Industries where he was responsible for engineering design, specification, and installation of manufactured stormwater management systems. Mr. Gorneau earned a BS degree in Biological Systems Engineering and an MS degree in Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln which provided the necessary knowledge for him to launch his career into the technical sales and specified engineered products industry. He spent the subsequent time since graduation gaining experience and expanding his knowledge of the industry on a wide variety of civil and environmental engineering design projects for private and public sector clients. Mr. Gorneau is a registered professional engineer in Maine and New Hampshire, and he is a Maine certified stormwater inspector. He has been a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), serving as section president in 2014.

Mr. White has over 35 years of experience in engineering, ranging from compliance and industrial wastewater and air treatment system evaluations to remedial study/design projects. Mr. White works with clients across a variety of industries, including iron and steel, utilities, specialty chemicals, food and food additive processing, and petroleum refining. He has expertise in industrial wastewater and stormwater regulatory review and implementation support under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Program. Mr. White earned a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst and an M.S. degree in Environmental Engineering from the University of Michigan.

Becoming an established professional in the AEC (Architecture, Engineering, and Construction) industry began for Mr. Williams in 2005, following his return from nearly a year of service aiding victims of the 2004 tsunami in Thailand. Inspired by the opportunity to assist those who had tragically lost everything, He developed a passion for rebuilding homes, offering hope for the future to those in need. Along his journey, Mr. Williams acquired numerous mentors and diversified his skill set, gaining expertise across various development and construction processes. Recognized by many colleagues as the “Swiss Army Knife” in business development and marketing, He is renowned for his ability to grasp needs swiftly and translate ideas into collaborative endeavors, resulting in structured goals and successful outcomes. Mr. Williams has worked with some of the nation’s leading contractors and recently established his consultancy firm, Silver Nova Partners, LLC., in January of this year, aiming to enhance clients’ branding across all relevant domains. Before embarking on his AEC career, He served as a full-time production and operations manager under the leadership of legendary speaker Tony Robbins. Working closely with Robbins and other peers provided Mr. Williams with invaluable insights into diverse life experiences and the resilience required to overcome challenges through unwavering perseverance.

For the last decade, Mr. Beaty served as the Campus Arborist at Dartmouth College caring for hundreds of mature trees of historical significance. His particular area of expertise is the care and culture of American elms trees in urban settings. Over this time, he regularly presented on subjects including mature tree management, tree risk management, and big tree measurement. Mr. Beaty’s popular campus tree tour series features discussion of botany, ecology, history, and the relationship between historic architecture and legacy trees. He oversaw tree protection planning and management over a period of intense construction and expansion of the Dartmouth campus and worked with several architects and construction engineers to create innovative solutions to often difficult conflicts between physical and biological infrastructure concerns. 
In 2022, Mr. Beaty returned to full time practice as a professional consulting arborist to institutional, municipal, legal and estate clients. He is a long-term registered consulting arborist and member of the American Society of Consulting Arborists, a board certified master arborist with the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), and an ISA municipal arborist specialist. 

Mr. House is a Board Certified Master Arborist, is Tree Risk Assessment Qualified, and is president of the Georgia Arborist Association. He currently works as an arborist for the City of Decatur, Georgia. After attending the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources at the University of Georgia, he worked for the Fish and Wildlife Service, the Forestry Commission, and several private tree companies in various roles. In addition to educational programming about trees, Mr. House has conducted many other natural resource education courses, including programs on reptiles and amphibians and on recycling and water conservation. He was awarded the White Oak Award for leadership, commitment, and impact in tree work by the Georgia Arborist Association in 2022. Mr. House is an avid quilter, gardener, and extremely novice cyclist.

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

Mr. Kurdi has been serving the electrical industry for over 30 years as an engineer, electrician and trainer. Mr. Kurdi has engineered (designed, specified and analyzed) government buildings (police stations, sheriff’s offices, fire stations, city halls, court houses, libraries, and jails), housing buildings (affordable, senior, assistant, memory care, adaptable use and student), hospitals, data centers, sport arenas, commercial office buildings, water/wastewater treatment plants and electric utility distribution and substations. Mr. Kurdi’s experience as an electrician includes estimating, laying out, wiring, installing and maintaining electrical systems for residential and commercial buildings. He has served as an engineer on construction projects in numerous locations in Texas, including San Antonio, Arlington, Bryan and Manor. He has developed and taught thousands of seminar hours over the years at Dunwoody College of Technology, Minnesota Electrical Association, IEEE and others. The seminars include NEC Code, electrician’s exam, MV system, electrical wiring, apprenticeship, estimation, electrical design, Revit MEP, and project management. Mr. Kurdi holds a BS degree in Electrical Engineering and a master’s degree in Adult Education. He is a registered electrical engineer (PE) in 37 states, including Minnesota and Texas. He holds a Class A master electrician license from the State of Minnesota. Currently, Mr. Kurdi is a senior electrical engineer and department head at BKV Group (A&E Firm with offices in Chicago, Dallas, DC & Minneapolis). Mr. Kurdi served as NCEL Board Member (Jan 2021 – present), IAEI MN Chapter president (Jan 2018 – Jan 2023), chair of IEEE Twin Cities PES/IAS (Aug 2019 – Jan 2023), Minnesota State Board of Electricity member (Jan 2018 – Jan 2020).