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Mr. Fleischer is the founder and principal of Capital Environmental Consultants, Inc. He is an environmental scientist and professional wetland scientist with more than 15 years of experience in the environmental consulting industry. Mr. Fleischer has conducted wetland and ecological investigations at properties throughout the five boroughs of New York City, Long Island, and the Lower and Mid-Hudson Valley. His areas of expertise include all aspects of federal, state, and local wetland analysis including freshwater and tidal delineation, specializing in comprehensive determinations for routine, atypical, and problem wetlands. Mr. Fleischer has extensive experience developing solutions and providing strategic advice for a wide range of clients and projects. He holds a BS degree in Biology from SUNY New Paltz and an MS degree in Environmental Science from Pace University.

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.

Dr. Schultz’s research focuses on the interaction between ecosystem functioning and plant community (diversity and composition). Her specialties include wetland ecology, ecosystem ecology, plant functional traits, and carbon cycling dynamics. She earned her Ph.D. degree in Environment and Natural Resources from The Ohio State University.

Mr. Sturm has been a practicing wetland scientist since he joined the firm in 2012 and has been a partner since 2019. He has delineated and/or assisted with delineating hundreds of acres of freshwater and tidal wetlands and has managed and conducted numerous surveys for endangered/threatened flora and fauna. In addition, Mr. Sturm conducts or assists with conducting environmental analyses such as air quality and sound level studies on a wide range of projects. He is a project manager in his own right but frequently provides technical assistance in terms of AutoCAD drawings and data collection. A graduate from Stony Brook University, Mr. Sturm obtained a B.S. degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, and a B.A. degree in German Language and Literature. He currently holds the designation of Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS #3470). While not working he enjoys his time outdoors, often found birding and hiking throughout Long Island, as well as looking for owls and moths at night.

Mr. Hock is a professional engineer with over 10 years of experience in the field of environmental engineering and water resources management. He holds a degree in Environmental Engineering from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. Mr. Hock has worked for the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Division of Water for over seven years. His current role is in managing the statewide Water Withdrawal Program where he performs engineering reviews of water withdrawal permit applications and provides permitting guidance, application guidance, and outreach to the public.

Mr. Kappel earned both undergraduate and graduate degrees from Penn State. He has worked as a hydrologist for the U.S. Forest Service in Missouri and Wisconsin. For about 45 years he has studied the hydrogeology of upstate New York with the U.S. Geological Survey – New York Water Science Center. At present he is a hydrogeologist emeritus with the New York Water Science Center. Past investigations include the Onondaga Trough, studying the movement of natural brine to Onondaga Lake at Syracuse, NY; study of mudboil (mud-volcano) activity in the Onondaga Creek Valley; study of landslides in upstate New York – in relation to glacial lake clays; aquifer studies in central and western New York, and carbonate and evaporite karst throughout New York. Presently, in his emeritus status, he is assisting various projects in central and western New York in the collection and analysis of data.

Mr. Kuzia-Carmel is an assistant geologist in the Division of Water (DOW) at NYSDEC Central Office in Albany. Mr. Kuzia-Carmel has over 10 years of combined experience in federal disaster response, environmental consulting, and as a technical professional for the State of New York. He has worked for NYSDEC for over six years and currently works within the Water Withdrawal Program, assisting regional staff with the review of new and modified Water Withdrawal Permit applications. He specializes in the review of applications involving new or modified groundwater sources and aquifer pumping tests. Mr. Kuzia-Carmel holds a degree in Environmental Geology from Binghamton University.

Mr. McCluskey is employed by Everett J Prescott as the Western Erosion Control & Stormwater Specialist, and he is experienced in the promotion and education of various product lines related to stormwater, geosynthetics, erosion control, sediment control, and ground stabilization. In this role Mr. McCluskey is in contact with local, state, and federal regulatory agencies and he also works closely with engineers, landscape architects, municipalities, and contractors in both the public and private sector. He is active in several professional organizations, frequently conducts presentations to educate decision makers, is involved in training EJ Prescott employees, and manages product sales and promotions in New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Indiana, and Ohio. Mr. McCluskey holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the State University of New York at Potsdam.

Mr. Ophori is a professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Studies, Montclair State University. He is a geo-environmental scientist and specialist, with extensive experience in the mapping and modeling of large-scale groundwater flow and contaminant transport for application to the solution of environmental problems. In the past, he worked as a hydrogeological consultant to both the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, Ontario, and Alberta Environment, Alberta, Canada. He was a research scientist with the Nuclear Fuel Waste Management Program of the Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL), Canada, from 1989 to 1995. From 2007 to 2010, he was the chairperson of the Department of Earth and Environmental Studies, Montclair State University, Upper Montclair, New Jersey, USA.

Mr. Rigano has concentrated his practice exclusively in environmental law for more than three decades. He has served in the Enforcement Division of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, where he was involved in a variety of water pollution control programs and was environmental counsel to the New York Power Authority. Mr. Rigano was environmental counsel for the New York Power Authority. He was employed for five years as an environmental scientist conducting research on the environmental effects of electric power generation. Long Island Business News has featured him in their “Who’s Who in the Law” edition. Mr. Rigano is the Chair of the Environmental and Energy Law Section of the New York State Bar Association from 2022 to 2023. He earned his J.D. degree from Hofstra University School of Law.

Mr.. Williams has a B.A. degree in Geology from Colgate University, and an M.S. degree in Geosciences from Pennsylvania State University. Mr. Williams currently is the groundwater specialist for the U. S. Geological Survey Water Science Center in New York. He has worked on a wide range of groundwater projects throughout the Northeast in cooperation with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Pennsylvania Geological Survey, U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, and Geological Survey of Canada. He has provided support and training in borehole geophysics for Survey offices throughout the U. S. and for water agencies in the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Kurdistan, and India.

Mr. Krueger’s main areas of practice include Residential and Commercial Real Estate, Zoning, Land Use and Development, and Commercial and Consumer Bankruptcy. He is a member of the New York Bar Association, the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys and the Monroe County Bar Association (Chair, Bankruptcy Committee). Mr. Krueger earned his B.A. degree, cum laude, from Canisius College of Buffalo, and his J.D. degree from Syracuse University College of Law.

With more than four decades of legal experience, Ms. Sigmond focuses her practice on construction and real estate industry matters, including arbitration, appeals, bid protests, contract preparation, mediation, litigation, receivership and suretyship. She represents clients in construction defect litigation relating to issues that arise when adjacent owners develop their properties, as well as expediting a builder’s construction project by ensuring that the proper contracts are in place.

As a seasoned practitioner, Ms. Sigmond has a history of litigating construction disputes for public works and buildings in both the public and private sectors. She also has extensive knowledge of preparing contract documents, including design-build, construction management, guaranteed maximum price, and fixed-price contracts. Additionally, Ms. Sigmond is an experienced mediator and arbitrator handling construction or real estate cases for the New York County Supreme Court Commercial Division Roster of Volunteer Mediators and the American Arbitration Association’s Roster of Construction Industry Arbitrators.

For several years, Ms. Sigmond has taken an active role in shaping the construction law community in New York. She is a former Vice President of the New York State Bar Association and a former President of the New York County Lawyers Association. Ms. Sigmond is also a frequent speaker and has authored a number of legal publications relating to construction law and publishes “The Co-Op Condo Help Line” in the monthly Mann Report. Furthermore, she was a member of Law360‘s 2020 Construction Editorial Advisory Board.

As a recognized leader, Ms. Sigmond was presented with the Boris Kostelanetz President’s Medal in 2024 by the New York County Lawyers Association, named among the Crain’s New York Business “Notable Women in Law” list for 2022, and the New York State Bar Association’s 2020 “Real Estate Section Award for Professionalism.” In addition, she also received the Albert Nelson Marquis “Lifetime Achievement Award” by Marquis Who’s Who in 2019. She is also listed as “Top Rated” by New York Super Lawyers for Construction Litigation.

Prior to his service at TVA, Mr. Savage was in private survey practice for 10 years specializing in dispute resolution and expert witness services. He has surveyed several disputed state boundaries to resolve jurisdictional conflicts. Mr. Savage is an adjunct professor at Cleveland State Community College where he teaches courses in boundary law, geodesy, GIS, and surveying fundamentals. He has researched and retraced the historical surveys of Henry David Thoreau and has published several articles on the subject. Mr. Savage teaches exam review and continuing education seminars at various state and local conferences across the country.

Alicia Legland is a member of the Environmental and Renewable Energy Practices. Her experience and current work centers on environmental law, energy law, and land use and zoning law. A primary part of her practice involves preparing zoning analyses for renewable energy developers, representing clients involved in Article 78 proceedings, and assisting clients with regulatory compliance matters and environmental due diligence review. Prior to joining Hodgson Russ, Alicia was a summer associate for a real estate law firm in New York City. During law school, she interned for the Honorable Andrew L. Carter Jr. in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York in Manhattan.

Daniel A. Spitzer concentrates his practice on issues involving environmental law, renewable energy, sustainable development, land use law, municipal law, and real estate development. His practice involves numerous renewable energy projects, including representing municipalities, developers, land owners, and financing entities. His work includes some of the largest wind farms in the eastern United States; multiple utility and small-scale solar projects; and landfill, gas-to-energy, biomass, storage, transmission, and energy efficiency projects. A primary part of his work focuses on National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) review and compliance with federal and state environmental statutes. His work includes environmental assessments for large-scale telecommunications projects, infrastructure projects and power generation projects. He counsels agencies and private clients on compliance with historic preservation laws, the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, and other federal environmental statutes and regulations. His practice also includes work in areas concerning the valuation of property. He represents property owners and municipalities in condemnation proceedings and tax assessment challenges, from the initial filing of claims, all the way through to trial. His clients include municipal redevelopment agencies, developers, and taxpayers throughout New York State.

Michael Ginsberg is a sustainability professional with expertise in green buildings, solar PV, energy policy, and government relations. He is the vice president of Energy Transition at Bowman, leading the multi-disciplinary engineering firm’s work in renewable energy, microgrids and green hydrogen. Mr. Ginsberg is the author of two books on renewable energy and a Doctor of Engineering Science candidate at Columbia University, specializing in the techno-economics of solar energy grid integration and renewable hydrogen through PEM electrolysis. He is a LEED AP O+M, CEM, NABCEP PV installation professional, and holds an MS degree in Sustainability Management from Columbia University. Mr. Ginsberg brings particular competencies in carbon accounting, life cycle assessment, green buildings, and international development.

Through his firm, Mastering Green, he has advised the New York City Mayor’s Office of Sustainability and Long Term Planning and the UN Development Programme on climate change adaptation measures in NYC and West Africa. Mr. Ginsberg has managed government relations and business development efforts for government agencies, renewable energy firms, and non-profits, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Urban Green Energy, and World Learning.

Michael Ginsberg is a sustainability professional with expertise in green buildings, solar PV, energy policy, and government relations. He is the vice president of Energy Transition at Bowman, leading the multi-disciplinary engineering firm’s work in renewable energy, microgrids and green hydrogen. Mr. Ginsberg is the author of two books on renewable energy and a Doctor of Engineering Science candidate at Columbia University, specializing in the techno-economics of solar energy grid integration and renewable hydrogen through PEM electrolysis. He is a LEED AP O+M, CEM, NABCEP PV installation professional, and holds an MS degree in Sustainability Management from Columbia University. Mr. Ginsberg brings particular competencies in carbon accounting, life cycle assessment, green buildings, and international development.

Through his firm, Mastering Green, he has advised the New York City Mayor’s Office of Sustainability and Long Term Planning and the UN Development Programme on climate change adaptation measures in NYC and West Africa. Mr. Ginsberg has managed government relations and business development efforts for government agencies, renewable energy firms, and non-profits, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Urban Green Energy, and World Learning.

Mr. D’Aloisio is a principal with Klepper, Hahn & Hyatt, a structural engineering, landscape architecture, and building envelope services firm in East Syracuse, New York. A graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, he is a registered professional engineer in New York. He is a member and past president (1997-1998) of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Syracuse Section, and a member of the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), the American Concrete Institute (ACI), the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE), and the Structural Engineers Association of New York State (SEAoNY). 

Mr. D’Aloisio has served on ASCE/SEI’s Frost-Protected Shallow Foundations Committee, the Structural Condition Assessment of Existing Buildings Committee, and the SEI Sustainability Committee. Mr. D’Aloisio received the Order of the Engineer at Syracuse University in 1997. 

His 30-plus years of experience as a consulting structural engineer has primarily involved the design of new building structures, additions, and modifications, and analyses, assessments, and investigations of structures and facades. Mr. D’Aloisio has performed structural condition reviews of over 15 million square feet of buildings, and he has performed over 150 structural forensic investigations. He has presented over 300 times. 

Mr. Muthersbaugh currently serves as an assistant engineer with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) in Albany. At NYSDEC, Mr. Muthersbaugh works in the Division of Water, Bureau of Water Permits, with the SPDES Construction General Permit (CGP) program. Prior to joining NYSDEC, Mr. Muthersbaugh worked as a staff engineer with Enman Kesselring Consulting Engineers in Rutland, Vermont, and before that as an engineering intern with the New York State Department of Transportation in Albany. Mr. Muthersbaugh earned a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering Technology from SUNY Polytechnic Institute. Prior to his career in engineering, he worked in several industries including education and healthcare after earning a B.A. degree in Biblical & Theological Studies from Gordon College.

Dr. Souza is the founding partner of Princeton Hydro, LLC. From its inception in 1998 through 2018, he served as president of Princeton Hydro, retiring from the company in 2019. Over the past 35 years he has dedicated his career to the management and restoration of aquatic ecosystems, in particular lakes, ponds, and reservoirs. Dr. Souza received his B.S. degree in 1974 from the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, his M.S. in 1976 from Rutgers University, and his Ph.D. in 1981 from the University of Connecticut. He has served over the past 25 years as an instructor and course coordinator for the Rutgers NJAES Office of Continuing Professional Education, developing and implementing multiple short courses focused on the management and restoration of aquatic ecosystems. Dr. Souza is also an adjunct professor at Temple University (Ambler Campus), teaching a graduate studies course in the Department of Landscape and Horticulture (Tyler School of Art and Agriculture). He also conducts a professional continuing education course focusing on green infrastructure stormwater management for CPES through Montclair State University.

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.

Mr. Abbott manages the Midwest and NY territories, working directly with civil engineers and landscape architects to promote responsible and economical design of plastic stormwater chambers. He has overseen the installation and design of commercial chamber systems with all ranges of project goals and storage requirements. Mr. Abbott graduated from Western Connecticut State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in History. Following his graduation, he joined the family business Cultec. His grandfather was responsible for patenting the very first stormwater chamber and his father still has a managing role in the company, now owned by ADS. His history with Cultec and the stormwater chamber industry runs deep and his passion for the industry has not waned. Mr. Abbott is focused on building partnerships with engineers and acting as a resource to the designing community on how best to account for stormwater. Connecting designers, developers, contractors, and home owners with these solutions can have far reaching benefits to the community and is the motivation behind these efforts.

Mr. Davidson received his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University, and his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Environmental Engineering Science from California Institute of Technology. Following his PhD, he joined the Carnegie Mellon faculty in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Department of Engineering and Public Policy where he served for 33 years. He joined Syracuse University in 2010. Dr. Davidson has written and edited a number of books, has over 200 refereed publications, and was President of the American Association for Aerosol Research during 1999-2000. He is the Founding Director of the Center for Sustainable Engineering, a partnership among several universities led by Syracuse University. In his capacity as Director, he has organized many workshops to help faculty members add content in sustainability and sustainable development into engineering courses. He has conducted environmental research in the Arctic, the Himalayas, and several U.S. National Parks, examining the influence of anthropogenic activities in populated areas on environmental quality in remote regions.

Since the 1990s, he has studied the role of engineers in sustainable development as well as lay people’s perceptions of technology and their understanding of the environmental impact of their daily activities. Mr. Davidson retired in 2023 as the Thomas and Colleen Wilmot Professor of Engineering at Syracuse University in Syracuse, NY, stepping down as Director of Environmental Engineering. However, he continues working on campus as Professor Emeritus. He and his research group are currently collaborating with the Physical Facilities Department of Onondaga County, New York to conduct measurements of precipitation and stormwater runoff from a 1.5 acre green roof on the convention center in downtown Syracuse. He and his group are also making measurements to assess the energy flow through the roof for different weather and soil conditions. He is also studying the ways in which this project can be used in class activities to enhance student learning of fundamental engineering concepts.

Mr. Davidson received the William and Frances Ryan Award from Carnegie Mellon University in 2009 and the United Methodist University Scholar-Teacher Award from Syracuse University in 2014. He is a Fellow of the American Association for Aerosol Research, the Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors, and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). He is currently Chair of the Sustainable Infrastructure Education Committee of the ASCE. He has played several roles in ASCE activities related to education in sustainable development.

Mr. Fortuna’s nearly 50 years’ experience in the construction industry brings extensive and diverse knowledge of many facets of commercial and residential construction. A fourth generation home builder and land developer, Mr. Fortuna designed homes that work in unison with the land, creating ecologically friendly designs which focus on energy efficient homes and environmentally friendly landscapes. He has created landscapes and hardscapes that focus on controlling runoff and recharging the water cycle. Mr. Fortuna was also a certified post-tension concrete designer/installer building PT concrete tennis courts. Shifting focus after the 2007 housing fiasco he spent several years as a regional sales manager for a large pre-cast concrete stormwater manufacturer managing the culverts and underground retention/detention vaults division in the heavy civil construction sector. Most recently working as New York area sales manager for ACO, Inc., he demonstrates his passion of delivering a top-notch consultative sales approach offering the most innovative stormwater systems on the market and is also known for providing industry-leading support to designers, suppliers, and contractors alike.

Dr. Souza is the founding partner of Princeton Hydro, LLC. From its inception in 1998 through 2018, he served as president of Princeton Hydro, retiring from the company in 2019. Over the past 35 years he has dedicated his career to the management and restoration of aquatic ecosystems, in particular lakes, ponds, and reservoirs. Dr. Souza received his B.S. degree in 1974 from the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, his M.S. in 1976 from Rutgers University, and his Ph.D. in 1981 from the University of Connecticut. He has served over the past 25 years as an instructor and course coordinator for the Rutgers NJAES Office of Continuing Professional Education, developing and implementing multiple short courses focused on the management and restoration of aquatic ecosystems. Dr. Souza is also an adjunct professor at Temple University (Ambler Campus), teaching a graduate studies course in the Department of Landscape and Horticulture (Tyler School of Art and Agriculture). He also conducts a professional continuing education course focusing on green infrastructure stormwater management for CPES through Montclair State University.

Ms. Kilmer is the owner of CMK Consulting LLC, a New York State Certified Woman Owned Business (WBE), stormwater consulting firm based in Rochester, NY. She has over 20 years of experience providing; stormwater inspections for NYS DEC SPDES permitted construction sites, education and technical assistance to municipalities, developers, and the construction industry on all aspects of the NYS DEC SPDES stormwater permit programs , and grant writing/management services.  Ms. Kilmer has been teaching classes on green infrastructure to both the public and professional audiences for the past 15 years. She is the current chairperson of the Water Education Collaborative, a not-for-profit organization (www.H2Ohero.org), and a current Board member of the Town of Pittsford, New York’s Environmental Board. Caroline received her B.A. in biology from SUNY Oswego and her M.S. degree in Biology from Illinois State University. Ms. Kilmer is a Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control (CPESC), a Certified Professional in Stormwater Quality (CPSWQ), and a Certified Professional in Municipal Stormwater Management (CPMSM). 

With more than four decades of legal experience, Ms. Sigmond focuses her practice on construction and real estate industry matters, including arbitration, appeals, bid protests, contract preparation, mediation, litigation, receivership and suretyship. She represents clients in construction defect litigation relating to issues that arise when adjacent owners develop their properties, as well as expediting a builder’s construction project by ensuring that the proper contracts are in place.

As a seasoned practitioner, Ms. Sigmond has a history of litigating construction disputes for public works and buildings in both the public and private sectors. She also has extensive knowledge of preparing contract documents, including design-build, construction management, guaranteed maximum price, and fixed-price contracts. Additionally, Ms. Sigmond is an experienced mediator and arbitrator handling construction or real estate cases for the New York County Supreme Court Commercial Division Roster of Volunteer Mediators and the American Arbitration Association’s Roster of Construction Industry Arbitrators.

For several years, Ms. Sigmond has taken an active role in shaping the construction law community in New York. She is a former Vice President of the New York State Bar Association and a former President of the New York County Lawyers Association. Ms. Sigmond is also a frequent speaker and has authored a number of legal publications relating to construction law and publishes “The Co-Op Condo Help Line” in the monthly Mann Report. Furthermore, she was a member of Law360‘s 2020 Construction Editorial Advisory Board.

As a recognized leader, Ms. Sigmond was presented with the Boris Kostelanetz President’s Medal in 2024 by the New York County Lawyers Association, named among the Crain’s New York Business “Notable Women in Law” list for 2022, and the New York State Bar Association’s 2020 “Real Estate Section Award for Professionalism.” In addition, she also received the Albert Nelson Marquis “Lifetime Achievement Award” by Marquis Who’s Who in 2019. She is also listed as “Top Rated” by New York Super Lawyers for Construction Litigation.

With more than four decades of legal experience, Ms. Sigmond focuses her practice on construction and real estate industry matters, including arbitration, appeals, bid protests, contract preparation, mediation, litigation, receivership and suretyship. She represents clients in construction defect litigation relating to issues that arise when adjacent owners develop their properties, as well as expediting a builder’s construction project by ensuring that the proper contracts are in place.

As a seasoned practitioner, Ms. Sigmond has a history of litigating construction disputes for public works and buildings in both the public and private sectors. She also has extensive knowledge of preparing contract documents, including design-build, construction management, guaranteed maximum price, and fixed-price contracts. Additionally, Ms. Sigmond is an experienced mediator and arbitrator handling construction or real estate cases for the New York County Supreme Court Commercial Division Roster of Volunteer Mediators and the American Arbitration Association’s Roster of Construction Industry Arbitrators.

For several years, Ms. Sigmond has taken an active role in shaping the construction law community in New York. She is a former Vice President of the New York State Bar Association and a former President of the New York County Lawyers Association. Ms. Sigmond is also a frequent speaker and has authored a number of legal publications relating to construction law and publishes “The Co-Op Condo Help Line” in the monthly Mann Report. Furthermore, she was a member of Law360‘s 2020 Construction Editorial Advisory Board.

As a recognized leader, Ms. Sigmond was presented with the Boris Kostelanetz President’s Medal in 2024 by the New York County Lawyers Association, named among the Crain’s New York Business “Notable Women in Law” list for 2022, and the New York State Bar Association’s 2020 “Real Estate Section Award for Professionalism.” In addition, she also received the Albert Nelson Marquis “Lifetime Achievement Award” by Marquis Who’s Who in 2019. She is also listed as “Top Rated” by New York Super Lawyers for Construction Litigation.

Mr. Fatoullah chairs the firm’s Elder Law Practice Group and is a Partner in the firm’s Trusts & Estates Practice Group. Prior to joining the firm, Ron was the founder and principal of Ronald Fatoullah & Associates for over 35 years. The firm was perennially recognized as one of New York’s top Elder Law and Estate Planning firms. Mr. Fatoullah has been devoted to advising New Yorkers about the legal and financial challenges of aging. He is highly regarded for his contributions and expertise in estate planning and administration, Medicaid planning, special needs planning, wills and trusts, probate, guardianships, and estate and & guardianship litigation. A certified elder law attorney, he chaired the Executive Committee of the Elder Law Section of the New York State Bar Association’s financial planning and Investments committee; Chaired the Board of the Alzheimer’s Association’s Long Island Chapter for over 10 years; and served on the Executive Council of AARP New York. He is a Fellow of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, the highest honor bestowed by the organization. Mr. Fatoullah lectures frequently on elder law, estate planning and aging; has appeared on numerous radio and television programs; and has been quoted in The New York Times, Newsday, The Wall Street Journal, the New York Law Journal, and Kiplinger’s. He has been honored by many organizations for his achievements and contributions to the senior community.

Mr. Marra and his associates practice in the areas of Elder Law, Estate Planning, Wills, Trusts and Probate and Estate Administration, Medicaid Planning, Divorce, Matrimonial and Family Law, Small Business Representation, Residential and Commercial Real Estate and Personal Injury Law. He attributes the success of the firm to aggressive, honest, and thorough representation provided to its clients. More than 35 years of experience serves as the foundation of trust and expertise his clients have come to rely on. Mr. Marra is admitted to the practice of law in the United States Tax Court, the United States Supreme Court, and all State, as well as all Federal District Courts, in the States of New York and New Jersey. In January 2024, Mr. Marra, with unanimous bi-partisan support, was elected as Town Justice of the Town of Somers Justice Court, in Somers, New York, a part-time position that will not interfere with his practice of law, and allow him to continue to focus on the needs of his clients. Mr. Marra’s credits include his B.B.A., in Accounting, Cum Laude from Iona College in New Rochelle, New York, his J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law, and his L.L.M. in Taxation from New York University School of Law, Graduate Division in New York City.

Mr. Silverberg is nationally recognized as a leader in the areas of estate planning, estate administration, asset preservation planning, and elder law. He is a past president of the prestigious National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), and a founding member and past president of the New York State chapter of NAELA. Mr. Silverberg was awarded the credential of NAELA Fellow, the highest honor bestowed by NAELA to “attorneys… whose careers concentrate on elder law, and who have distinguished themselves both by making exceptional contributions to meeting the needs of older Americans and by demonstrating a commitment to the Academy.” He is also a founding member of the New York State chapter of NAELA. He holds the designation of a Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA), awarded by the National Elder Law Foundation. There are fewer than 520 CELAs throughout the United States. Mr. Silverberg has been awarded the Accredited Estate Planner® Designation, by the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils. The AEP designation is the only graduate-level designation in estate planning. The designation is administered and is awarded only to estate planning professionals who meet special requirements of education, experience, knowledge, professional reputation, and character. He has served as an active member of the Nassau County Bar Association’s Elder Law, Social Services and Health Advocacy Committees and is a long-standing member of the Estate Planning Council of Nassau County. Mr. Silverberg is a past President of the Pension Council of Long Island. For eleven years, he has been an active member of the IRS District Directors Liaison Group. He is also an author of the Elder Law module of the Interactive Legal Document Systems, the preeminent document drafting program for attorneys. Mr. Silverberg is frequently invited as a keynote speaker before national conferences, bar associations, universities, and legal and financial organizations on topics including estate planning, Elder Law, and tax planning matters. He has published in many legal and scholarly journals, including Trusts and Estates Magazine, The New York State Bar Monthly News, and is a widely quoted source for the news media on issues concerning estate and Elder Law. Mr. Silverberg is a graduate of Hartwick College (B.A., 1973) and Brooklyn Law School (J.D., 1976). He is admitted to practice in New York and Florida.

Ms. Valente is the Managing Partner at Makofsky Valente Law Group, P.C., with offices in Garden City, New York. She has been selected to the SuperLawyers Rising Star and the Best Lawyers:Ones to Watch in America lists for the last several years. She was also selected as a recipient of the 17th Assembly District’s “Women of Distinction” Award for 2021. She is a cum laude graduate of Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center. She received her B.A. in Politics, Economics and Law with honors from SUNY College at Old Westbury. Prior to becoming an attorney, Ms. Valente worked at the Firm for many years as the senior paralegal. She has extensive substantive and procedural knowledge in matters concerning Elder Law, Medicaid, asset protection planning, estate planning, guardianships, probate, and estate administration. Ms. Valente is a member of the New York State Bar Association (“NYSBA”) and its Elder Law and Special Needs, Trusts and Estates and Young Lawyers.

Michael Bontje B. Laing Associates
Mr. Bontje has been a practicing wetlands and mitigation scientist for more than 38 years. For NYCEDC, he has been involved in marine habitat assessment, and in permitting and mitigation for the New York Yankees Minor league baseball stadium in Staten Island and the Bush Terminal inter-pier solid waste fill in the Sunset Park section of Brooklyn. For other clients, Mr. Bontje has been involved in impact assessment, mitigation, restoration construction and permitting in New York City and throughout Long Island. Mr. Bontje is not only familiar with planning and permitting of freshwater and tidal systems, but has also been involved in their construction and monitoring. He has delineated or reviewed projects in both freshwater and tidal situations. Successfully completed mitigation sites range from a 0.25 acre tidal wetland site in Staten Island; an 8.0 acre freshwater site in Rockland County, New York; and a 3.2 acre freshwater site in Waterbury, Connecticut; to a 158 acre tidal wetland site in Bergen County, New Jersey. He is known for both creative and cost effective problem solving. Mr. Bontje is certified by the Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) as a wetland delineator (#WDCP94MD031301333). He is also a certified professional in soil erosion and sediment control (CPESC #5347) and a certified professional in storm water quality (CPSWQ #0578).

Mr. Fleischer is the founder and principal of Capital Environmental Consultants, Inc. He is an environmental scientist and professional wetland scientist with more than 15 years of experience in the environmental consulting industry. Mr. Fleischer has conducted wetland and ecological investigations at properties throughout the five boroughs of New York City, Long Island, and the Lower and Mid-Hudson Valley. His areas of expertise include all aspects of federal, state, and local wetland analysis including freshwater and tidal delineation, specializing in comprehensive determinations for routine, atypical, and problem wetlands. Mr. Fleischer has extensive experience developing solutions and providing strategic advice for a wide range of clients and projects. He holds a BS degree in Biology from SUNY New Paltz and an MS degree in Environmental Science from Pace University.

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.

Taylor Sturm, PWS, with B. Laing Associates, Inc.
Mr. Sturm has been a practicing wetland scientist since he joined the firm in 2012 and has been a partner since 2019. He has delineated and/or assisted with delineating hundreds of acres of freshwater and tidal wetlands and has managed and conducted numerous surveys for endangered/threatened flora and fauna. In addition, Mr. Sturm conducts or assists with conducting environmental analyses such as air quality and sound level studies on a wide range of projects. He is a project manager in his own right but frequently provides technical assistance in terms of AutoCAD drawings and data collection. A graduate from Stony Brook University, Mr. Sturm obtained a B.S. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, and a B.A. in German Language and Literature. He currently holds the designation of Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS #3470). While not working he enjoys his time outdoors, often found birding and hiking throughout Long Island, as well as looking for owls and moths at night

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).

Mr. David Romano is a degreed Electrical Engineer with extensive experience in the specification, design, analysis, and testing of analog, digital, and RF/IF circuitry and subsystems. Over the course of his career, he held key engineering roles at Boeing Satellite Systems and Hughes Space and Communications in Los Angeles, California, where he contributed to the design and analysis of analog, digital, and intermediate-frequency circuitry for communication satellite payloads.

Mr. Romano’s most recent role at Boeing Satellite Systems was as a Technical Subcontract Manager. In this position, he was responsible for the specification and procurement of microwave units spanning L- to Ka-band frequencies from both domestic and international vendors. His technical responsibilities included drafting specifications at the subsystem and unit levels, reviewing Statements of Compliance, participating in internal and vendor Design Reviews, evaluating technical data, and overseeing the delivery and integration of units into communication satellites.

As part of his supply chain management duties, Mr. Romano traveled extensively across Europe, Asia, and the United States to monitor development schedules and assess the performance of various units and subsystems. He has in-depth knowledge of the specification and performance of Low Noise Amplifiers, Receiver Downconverters, IF and Limiting Amplifiers, and Solid-State Power Amplifiers.

Mr. Romano retired from Boeing Space and Communications in June 2015. Since 2022, he has been authoring and delivering online interactive webinars on topics including Electromagnetic Radiation, Electromagnetic Interference, Fourier Analysis, and AC-DC Circuits. He has also presented programs on Harmonic Generation, Variable Frequency Drives for AC motors, Fuses and Circuit Breakers, and 3-Phase Power for industrial applications.

Mr. Romano attended Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, on scholarship from 1964 to 1969.

Mr. Clark has 37 years of increasingly responsible professional experience in the application of fire protection engineering practices and principles in the built environment, in the programs that implement them, and in the practice of their use for safety compliance to ensure public trust. As a licensed professional engineer, his efforts have been for clients as diverse as A/Es, developers, property managers, federal agencies, and individuals that needed a champion. These efforts put him in facilities used for mission-critical functions, data processing, manufacturing, large assembly, residential, hospitality, high-rise and towers, and laboratories. Activities have ranged from program management and major code revision to design and construction period services related to fire protection and life safety systems and features, including fire alarm systems, fire suppression systems, life safety and egress systems, smoke management systems, fire event and fire hazard analysis with mitigations, property conditions assessments, and more. Understanding client needs and their perspective on risk, and experience with many agencies, jurisdictions, and companies across the country have provided Mr. Clark with a unique perspective and tool kit for problem solving to the benefit of all stakeholders.

Mr. Edelmann has nearly 40 years of experience in numerous fire protection arenas, including system design, full-scale fire testing, code consulting, computer fire and egress modeling, and serving as an Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) representative for local municipalities and Federal government agencies. Mr. Edelmann received a B.S. degree in Physics from Frostburg State University and a B.S. degree in Fire Protection Engineering from The University of Maryland. He is a licensed professional engineer in several states and is a certified fire protection specialist. Mr. Edelmann is most often performing design reviews and third-party test witness services for municipal and Federal authorities, code consulting to architects, contractors, government, and industrial clients, and designing fire suppression and alarm systems for government and commercial facilities, including office, hospital, residential, theme park, and K-12 and higher educational facilities. Mr. Edelmann is also conducting property condition assessments/due-diligence surveys of commercial office, industrial process, residential, and data center environments.

Mr. Pinigis graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering but found his way into fire protection engineering almost 30 years ago and stayed there. He spent his early engineering career in the insurance industry and has spent the last 25 years as a consulting fire protection engineer with a focus on federal and military projects. Mr. Pinigis has provided building code and life safety analysis for hundreds of facilities from auto manufacturing and munitions to museums and other cultural properties. He is a registered fire protection engineer (FPE) in 11 states and has worked on projects all over the world, with visits to project sites in 12 countries.

Mr. Stormer’s responsibilities at VERTEX FIRE INVESTIGATIONS LLC include management of a forensic fire investigation team conducting origin and cause investigations nationwide for the insurance industry. He is a Certified Fire Investigator through the IAAI and a Certified Public Fire and Life Safety Instructor, with both certifications recognized by the National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications. He is also a Certified Fire Protection Specialist through the NFPA. Mr. Stormer has over 39 years of experience investigating and supervising in excess of 3,500 fires and explosions both in the public (26 years) and private sectors (13 years). His fields of expertise include fire and explosion, origin and cause involving household appliances, photovoltaic arrays and lithium-ion battery storage systems, large and complex fire scenes, subrogation, failure analysis, evidence collection and preservation, fire code analysis and research, crime scene investigations, and arson investigations. Mr. Stormer has served as an expert witness and is actively engaged in several legal cases related to property damage, product liability, personal injury, and criminal activity. Mr. Stormer’s legal support activities have included depositions, interrogatories, mediation, arbitration, and trial testimony. Mr. Stormer is currently licensed as a private investigator, manager in Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, South Carolina, Vermont, and West Virginia with reciprocal licensing in Alabama, California, Georgia, Lousiana, North
Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.

Mr. Sullivan has worked in the fire protection field for over 20 years, with experience in sprinkler, fire pump, backflow prevention, clean agent suppression, and fire alarm. He holds a NICET Level IV certification in Fire Alarm Systems and NFPA’s Certified Fire Protection Specialist (CFPS) and is an NFPA 3000 ASHER Program Manager. Mr. Sullivan’s experience includes positions with engineering firms, fire protection contractors, and manufacturers ranging from sales to company ownership. His project
experience includes a variety of vertical markets, including industrial/manufacturing, semiconductor fabs, government, hospitality, commercial, multi-family residential, healthcare, and education (K-12 and higher education). Mr. Sullivan has been a presenter for the Society of Fire Protection Engineers and has also provided fire alarm and building code education to the A/E community throughout the United States. Prior to working in commercial fire protection, Mr. Sullivan led a crew of wildland firefighters and chainsaw operators in Northern Arizona.

Mr. Ziemba is a licensed engineer (Fire Protection Branch) in ten states. He has specialized in the design of fire protection and life safety systems for the past 19 years and regularly consults with owners, architects, and developers on fire and building code compliance of all types. Mr. Ziemba co-founded Fire Protection Consulting Group in 2013 and now, with 18 full-time employees and six licensed FPEs, he leads the engineering staff and manages challenging projects. He has received a B.S. degree in Civil/Structural Engineering, with distinction, and a M.S. degree in Fire Protection Engineering from the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in Massachusetts. He recently served six years as the executive director at large for the San Antonio chapter of Professional Engineers in Private Practice, three years as president and secretary/treasurer of the Cypress Cove Water Supply Corporation in Spring Branch, Texas, and over four years in several leadership roles, including president of the San Antonio-Austin Chapter of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers. Mr. Ziemba is a professional member of SFPE International, a member of the National Fire Protection Agency, and a member of the International Code Council.

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

Mr. Love obtained his bachelor of science degree in Construction Technologies with a concentration in Community and Regional Planning from Appalachian State University. He is also a licensed general contractor. Mr. Love currently holds a Level III Standard Certificate in Building, Plumbing, Mechanical and Electrical and Level I Standard Fire Certificate from the North Carolina Department of Insurance. He teaches Building and Plumbing I, II and III Standard Courses to North Carolina Building Inspectors as well as continuing education courses for the North Carolina Building Inspectors’ Association. Mr. Love is currently on the Executive Board of the North Carolina Building Inspectors’ Association as the president-elect, and he also serves on the Education Committee as the co-chair and Site-Development Committee.