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Ms. Karen Schuckman is the SME for Remote Sensing and Geospatial Services at RRC Companies, a recognized leader in the international renewable energy industry. She continues to serve as a part-time associate teaching professor of Geography at The Pennsylvania State University, where for 17 years she was the lead faculty for the Graduate Certificate in Remote Sensing and Earth Observation in the Online Geospatial Program. She also serves as the executive director of the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. Prior to her move to teaching, Ms. Schuckman was the geospatial technology leader at URS Corporation (now AECOM) from 2005-2006. From 1995-2005, she was with the EarthData group (now Fugro), where she held several positions including geospatial applications director for EarthData Solutions; senior vice president of EarthData Technologies; and president and general manager of EarthData International of North Carolina. Notable projects in her private sector career include leading the use of remotely sensing imagery in the Hurricane Katrina response, leading lidar acquisition for the first phase of the North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program, numerous transportation mapping projects for state DOT’s, and technology demonstration projects for NOAA, NASA and the US Department of Transportation. Prior to joining the private sector, Ms. Schuckman worked for the USGS National Mapping Division, in Menlo Park, California. She is a former vice chair of the NOAA Advisory Committee on Commercial Remote Sensing (ACCRES) and a member of the National Research Council Committees on Floodplain Mapping Technologies and FEMA Flood Map Accuracy. She holds an MS degree in Geospatial Information Systems from The Pennsylvania State University, is an ASPRS Certified Photogrammetrist, ASPRS Certified Mapping Scientist – Lidar, and Professional Land Surveyor.

Ms. Karen Schuckman is the SME for Remote Sensing and Geospatial Services at RRC Companies, a recognized leader in the international renewable energy industry. She continues to serve as a part-time associate teaching professor of Geography at The Pennsylvania State University, where for 17 years she was the lead faculty for the Graduate Certificate in Remote Sensing and Earth Observation in the Online Geospatial Program. She also serves as the executive director of the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. Prior to her move to teaching, Ms. Schuckman was the geospatial technology leader at URS Corporation (now AECOM) from 2005-2006. From 1995-2005, she was with the EarthData group (now Fugro), where she held several positions including geospatial applications director for EarthData Solutions; senior vice president of EarthData Technologies; and president and general manager of EarthData International of North Carolina. Notable projects in her private sector career include leading the use of remotely sensing imagery in the Hurricane Katrina response, leading lidar acquisition for the first phase of the North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program, numerous transportation mapping projects for state DOT’s, and technology demonstration projects for NOAA, NASA and the US Department of Transportation. Prior to joining the private sector, Ms. Schuckman worked for the USGS National Mapping Division, in Menlo Park, California. She is a former vice chair of the NOAA Advisory Committee on Commercial Remote Sensing (ACCRES) and a member of the National Research Council Committees on Floodplain Mapping Technologies and FEMA Flood Map Accuracy. She holds an MS degree in Geospatial Information Systems from The Pennsylvania State University, is an ASPRS Certified Photogrammetrist, ASPRS Certified Mapping Scientist – Lidar, and Professional Land Surveyor.

Mr. Adams is CEO of 1UP Aerial Drone Service, which sells drones and sensors, and provides expert consultation & aerial services to a range of industries, including engineering, commercial real estate, land development, construction, insurance, forensic science, & surveying. Mr. Adams is an FAA Part 107 certified pilot, and a tenured information technology and cloud industry veteran who has spent more than 25 years in the high-tech industry: the last 7 in UAS, AI, and machine learning.

Mr. Rempel is the Geospatial Division Manager for ESP and Associates, an engineering, surveying, and planning company with over 750 full time employees and 33 locations across the United States. He oversees the UAS/manned flight, mobile lidar, and pavement mapping groups within ESP’s Headquarter Region out of Fort Mill, SC. Mr. Rempel began his career as an intelligence analyst in the United States Marine Corps working with multiple, remote sensing technologies on national and tactical platforms. He was trained in remote sensing, terrain analysis and photogrammetry at the Defense Mapping Agency and various Department of Defense schools during his service. After transitioning to the private sector in 1997, Mr. Rempel began his civilian career in photogrammetry and by 2007 was managing large-scale lidar and photogrammetry projects across the nation for EarthData (Fugro). He was instrumental in the assessment and selection of the first softcopy photogrammetry systems utilized at EarthData, helping navigate the transition from film to digital mediums. Mr. Rempel co-authored FEMA‘s “Procedure Memorandum 61-Standards for Lidar and other High Quality Digital Topography“ and currently serves as Secretary on the ASPRS Board of Directors. He has worked at ESP and Associates since 2013, managing geospatial services and ESP’s work on USGS lidar projects and the North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program. Most recently Mr. Rempel has guided the development of photogrammetric workflows for the UAS program at ESP. He is licensed as a Surveyor Photogrammetrist in Virginia, a Professional Photogrammetrist in Oregon, and is an ASPRS Certified Photogrammetrist and Certified Mapping Scientist-Lidar.

Ms. Karen Schuckman is the SME for Remote Sensing and Geospatial Services at RRC Companies, a recognized leader in the international renewable energy industry. She continues to serve as a part-time associate teaching professor of Geography at The Pennsylvania State University, where for 17 years she was the lead faculty for the Graduate Certificate in Remote Sensing and Earth Observation in the Online Geospatial Program. She also serves as the executive director of the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. Prior to her move to teaching, Ms. Schuckman was the geospatial technology leader at URS Corporation (now AECOM) from 2005-2006. From 1995-2005, she was with the EarthData group (now Fugro), where she held several positions including geospatial applications director for EarthData Solutions; senior vice president of EarthData Technologies; and president and general manager of EarthData International of North Carolina. Notable projects in her private sector career include leading the use of remotely sensing imagery in the Hurricane Katrina response, leading lidar acquisition for the first phase of the North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program, numerous transportation mapping projects for state DOT’s, and technology demonstration projects for NOAA, NASA and the US Department of Transportation. Prior to joining the private sector, Ms. Schuckman worked for the USGS National Mapping Division, in Menlo Park, California. She is a former vice chair of the NOAA Advisory Committee on Commercial Remote Sensing (ACCRES) and a member of the National Research Council Committees on Floodplain Mapping Technologies and FEMA Flood Map Accuracy. She holds an MS degree in Geospatial Information Systems from The Pennsylvania State University, is an ASPRS Certified Photogrammetrist, ASPRS Certified Mapping Scientist – Lidar, and Professional Land Surveyor.

Mr. Rempel is the Geospatial Division Manager for ESP and Associates, an engineering, surveying, and planning company with over 750 full time employees and 33 locations across the United States. He oversees the UAS/manned flight, mobile lidar, and pavement mapping groups within ESP’s Headquarter Region out of Fort Mill, SC. Mr. Rempel began his career as an intelligence analyst in the United States Marine Corps working with multiple, remote sensing technologies on national and tactical platforms. He was trained in remote sensing, terrain analysis and photogrammetry at the Defense Mapping Agency and various Department of Defense schools during his service. After transitioning to the private sector in 1997, Mr. Rempel began his civilian career in photogrammetry and by 2007 was managing large-scale lidar and photogrammetry projects across the nation for EarthData (Fugro). He was instrumental in the assessment and selection of the first softcopy photogrammetry systems utilized at EarthData, helping navigate the transition from film to digital mediums. Mr. Rempel co-authored FEMA‘s “Procedure Memorandum 61-Standards for Lidar and other High Quality Digital Topography“ and currently serves as Secretary on the ASPRS Board of Directors. He has worked at ESP and Associates since 2013, managing geospatial services and ESP’s work on USGS lidar projects and the North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program. Most recently Mr. Rempel has guided the development of photogrammetric workflows for the UAS program at ESP. He is licensed as a Surveyor Photogrammetrist in Virginia, a Professional Photogrammetrist in Oregon, and is an ASPRS Certified Photogrammetrist and Certified Mapping Scientist-Lidar.

Ms. Karen Schuckman is the SME for Remote Sensing and Geospatial Services at RRC Companies, a recognized leader in the international renewable energy industry. She continues to serve as a part-time associate teaching professor of Geography at The Pennsylvania State University, where for 17 years she was the lead faculty for the Graduate Certificate in Remote Sensing and Earth Observation in the Online Geospatial Program. She also serves as the executive director of the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. Prior to her move to teaching, Ms. Schuckman was the geospatial technology leader at URS Corporation (now AECOM) from 2005-2006. From 1995-2005, she was with the EarthData group (now Fugro), where she held several positions including geospatial applications director for EarthData Solutions; senior vice president of EarthData Technologies; and president and general manager of EarthData International of North Carolina. Notable projects in her private sector career include leading the use of remotely sensing imagery in the Hurricane Katrina response, leading lidar acquisition for the first phase of the North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program, numerous transportation mapping projects for state DOT’s, and technology demonstration projects for NOAA, NASA and the US Department of Transportation. Prior to joining the private sector, Ms. Schuckman worked for the USGS National Mapping Division, in Menlo Park, California. She is a former vice chair of the NOAA Advisory Committee on Commercial Remote Sensing (ACCRES) and a member of the National Research Council Committees on Floodplain Mapping Technologies and FEMA Flood Map Accuracy. She holds an MS degree in Geospatial Information Systems from The Pennsylvania State University, is an ASPRS Certified Photogrammetrist, ASPRS Certified Mapping Scientist – Lidar, and Professional Land Surveyor.

Mr. Abraham was the Senior Research Geophysicist with Exploration Resources International (XRI) and the EM and Potential Field Team Manager from 2013- 2015. Mr. Abraham was a Geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey for 16 years. Prior to the USGS he was a geophysicist with the Department of Energy contractor at the Grand Junction Project Office. Before entering public service, he was with Denver based Northern Geophysical, Inc. Over the past 35 years, his research has focused on the application of geophysical techniques for mapping water, energy, and mineral resources as well as engineering and environmental problems.

His research interests include the use of airborne geophysical survey techniques to construct 3D geological and hydrological framework models. He has worked extensively throughout the world on geophysical surveys including Africa, Antarctica, Australia, Central Asia, Europe, India, the Middle East, and South America. He has served as a technical expert for many government agencies and the World Bank. Mr. Abraham received his Master in Science in Geophysics from the Colorado School of Mines in 1999. He received his Baccalaureate in Science in Geology from Mesa State College in 1994 after concluding a research internship with the University of Alaska Fairbanks, Geophysical Institute. Mr. Abraham holds Professional Geologist licenses in Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Utah, Texas, and Wyoming. Jared also holds a Professional Geophysicist license with the State of California.

Mr. Bell is a globally recognized advocate for the application of airborne robots, aka “drones”, to collect geophysical and remote sensing data, primarily to explore for earth resources and environmental site characterization. He began his career as a mineral exploration geophysicist where he collected, processed, visualized, and interpreted ground, borehole, and airborne geophysical data for base and precious metal exploration. His has worked on resource exploration projects in North and South America, Europe, Africa, Australia, and Far East Russia. In addition, he has performed numerous geophysical surveys for environmental and engineering subsurface site characterization. In 1986 to 1991, he helped found and served as the marketing specialist for a geophysical software company. From 1991 through 2006, he focused on ground and airborne geophysics ( i.e. magnetic and EM) applied to mineral, hydrocarbon, and groundwater exploration. From 2006 through 2009, he worked for hydroGEOPHYSICS, Inc. to build the market for a novel electrical technology for monitoring fluid flow within geologic materials. In 2009, he returned to geophysical services and consulting. In 2016, Mr. Bell conducted a number of drone magnetic surveys map subsurface geology and precisely locate oil and gas infrastructure using the prototype of the MagArrow, an innovative drone magnetometer. In 2022, he deployed the EM61Lite, drone drone-enabled deep-looking EM metal detector to map buried pipelines and locate metallic objects. Also in 2022, he did his first survey using the GEM2 UAV, a drone enabled EMI conductivity meter to map shallow soil and rock. In 2024, he formed Drone Geoscience, LLC, a geophysical and remote sensing service provider located in the Denver, CO area with office in Houston, TX. Mr. Bell holds a BSc in Applied Physics from Michigan Technological University in 1976. In the early 80’s, he completed non-degree geologic course work at the University of Colorado Denver.

Mr. Detwiler has been in the surveying and geospatial field for 23 years, with the majority of those years specializing in aerial mapping, lidar, and photogrammetry. His work experience has taken him to 31 states and 12 countries, with projects ranging from transmission power line lidar mapping, multi-oblique cityscape photogrammetry, and unmanned aerial systems (UAS) mapping at mines. Mr. Detwiler is skilled in the capture, processing, and analysis of accurate geospatial data, helping lead the industry in UAS applications in mining and exploration and many other uses which this technology lends itself to. He is the owner of Great Basin Geomatics, LLC. Based in Reno, NV., Providing innovative aerial mapping and remote sensing solutions. Michael is a Certified Photogrammetrist, Certified Mapping Scientist, a Licensed Land Surveyor, and an FAA certified Remote UAS pilot.

Dr. Laefer is a full professor with NYU Tandon School of Engineering. With degrees from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (MS, Ph.D.), NYU (MEng), and Columbia University (BS, BA), Prof. Debra Laefer has a wide-ranging background spanning from geotechnical and structural engineering to art history and historic preservation. Not surprisingly, Prof. Laefer’s work often stands at the cross-roads of technology creation and community values such as devising technical solutions for protecting architecturally significant buildings from sub-surface construction.

As the density of her aerial remote sensing datasets continues to grow exponentially with time, Prof. Laefer and her Urban Modeling Group must help pioneer computationally efficient storage, querying, and visualization strategies that both harness distributed computing-based solutions and bridge the gap between data availability and its usability for the engineering community. In her decade and a half as a faculty member in both the US and Europe, Prof. Laefer has served as the principal investigator for grants from a wide range of sponsors including the National Science Foundation, the US Federal Highway Administration, the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, Science Foundation Ireland, and the European Research Council (including a €1.5 million single investigator award from the flagship ERC program for which she is the only civil engineer to have been funded in Ireland in the program’s 11 year history).

Prof. Laefer has authored over 160 peer-reviewed publications, been awarded 4 patents, and has supervised 15 doctoral and 20 Masters theses. Among many honors from IEEE, ISPRS, and other professional societies, the most notable is perhaps the 2016 commissioning and hanging of her portrait by the Royal Irish Academy as one of eight researchers selected for the Women on Walls project to celebrate Irish women in science and engineering. She currently helps form national research programs and policies in her governmental appointment to the Irish Research Council (2016-2020).

Mr. Rempel is the Geospatial Division Manager for ESP and Associates, an engineering, surveying, and planning company with over 750 full time employees and 33 locations across the United States. He oversees the UAS/manned flight, mobile lidar, and pavement mapping groups within ESP’s Headquarter Region out of Fort Mill, SC. Mr. Rempel began his career as an intelligence analyst in the United States Marine Corps working with multiple, remote sensing technologies on national and tactical platforms. He was trained in remote sensing, terrain analysis and photogrammetry at the Defense Mapping Agency and various Department of Defense schools during his service. After transitioning to the private sector in 1997, Mr. Rempel began his civilian career in photogrammetry and by 2007 was managing large-scale lidar and photogrammetry projects across the nation for EarthData (Fugro). He was instrumental in the assessment and selection of the first softcopy photogrammetry systems utilized at EarthData, helping navigate the transition from film to digital mediums. Mr. Rempel co-authored FEMA‘s “Procedure Memorandum 61-Standards for Lidar and other High Quality Digital Topography“ and currently serves as Secretary on the ASPRS Board of Directors. He has worked at ESP and Associates since 2013, managing geospatial services and ESP’s work on USGS lidar projects and the North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program. Most recently Mr. Rempel has guided the development of photogrammetric workflows for the UAS program at ESP. He is licensed as a Surveyor Photogrammetrist in Virginia, a Professional Photogrammetrist in Oregon, and is an ASPRS Certified Photogrammetrist and Certified Mapping Scientist-Lidar.

Mr. Jones, P.E., is president of Hartech Engineering, which was founded in 2007 as a multi-discipline civil engineering consulting firm providing infrastructure, development, and municipal design services for the public and private sectors. Bringing over 30 years of engineering expertise along with specific state-of-the-art, computer-aided technology to achieve efficient, cost saving design solutions, he also provides hydrology and hydraulic studies and reports along with general civil engineering support for prime consultants to PennDOT or local municipality projects. Mr. Jones is a licensed pilot and studied Military Civil Engineering while serving in the U.S. Air Force and continues his master’s education locally through Penn State. He is also a registered professional engineer in the states of Pennsylvania, Maryland, Arizona, and Georgia.

Riley Lindsay has over 17 years of experience with Surveying and GIS and has been a Part 107 Remote Pilot since 2017. He graduated from SLCC in 2011 with his degree in Survey/Geomatics and a G.I.S. Certificate. He is a licensed Land Surveyor in the State of Utah.  He has been recognized as nationwide leader for his use of LiDAR and UAS technology in Surveying.

Mr. Miller is passionate about teaching UAS and geospatial education and leverages his experience in his current role as a professor in the Bay Area. Outside of academia, he is a technical trainer and entrepreneur. He started his business, Aerial Education, in 2018 to provide the highest-level training and consulting in the drone mapping industry. Mr. Miller’s interest in UAS began in 2013 when he started doing research for his master’s thesis. His blog, iphonedroneimagery.com, chronicles that research. He is pursuing a Ph.D. degree in Geomatics Engineering at the University of Colorado, Denver.

Skillfully managing a broad, multifaceted practice, Mr. Brauer assists clients with environmental and economic development matters across many industries, including the agribusiness, automotive, manufacturing, resource-use, energy, mining, and real estate development sectors. He establishes rapport with his clients early on and forges strong relationships that enhance his ability to represent them as effectively as possible.

Mr. Brauer serves not only many Michigan- and Great Lakes region-based companies, but organizations across the country and around the world as well. Clients include developers and nonprofit environmental organizations, alternative energy producers and equipment manufacturers, transportation and logistics companies, retail centers, mining operations, and businesses in the food production, high-tech manufacturing, and aerospace industries.

His expertise encompasses all manner of environmental issues, including regulatory compliance, site investigation, cleanup and closure, solid and hazardous waste, due diligence, permitting, wetland and critical habitat protection and mitigation, and adaptive reuse. Mr. Brauer helps many clients secure brownfield redevelopment and business expansion incentives. He draws on his deep experience identifying, securing, and monetizing federal, state, and local economic development incentives to facilitate the use and adaptive reuse of properties. Particularly adept at devising creative solutions, he is always gratified to resolve both novel and standard environmental issues.

He truly enjoys guiding clients in these large public projects, which generate jobs and enhance the local tax base. Mr. Brauer views these community-investment efforts as a “win” for all parties, including the client, the municipality, state, and region.

Mr. Bunch is a lead consultant with 5 Lakes Energy, where he leads a team of expert witnesses and analysts representing public interest clients in utility regulation proceedings. He also serves as Executive Director of the Michigan Municipal Association for Utility Issues (MI-MAUI), which provides technical support and a collective voice to local governments to improve utility services, reduce costs, and influence utility regulatory processes.

Previously, Mr. Bunch was Executive Director of the Southeast Michigan Regional Energy Office, assisting municipalities in the Detroit metro area with identifying, financing, and implementing clean energy projects. He has 20 years of experience in sustainable enterprise research and education, having served as Managing Director of the Erb Institute for Global Sustainable Enterprise at the University of Michigan from 2008 to 2013. Prior to that, he was a senior fellow with the Business and Society Program at The Aspen Institute, developing corporate social responsibility and sustainability programs at business schools in China.

From 2003 to 2005, Mr. Bunch served as Executive Director of the Bainbridge Graduate Institute near Seattle, Washington, the first independent graduate school of sustainable business in the United States. From 1996 to 2003, he was Business Education Director at the World Resources Institute in Washington, DC, supporting the development of teaching and research programs on environment and sustainability at business schools worldwide. Between college and graduate school, he worked with Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) organizations in DC, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Washington State, culminating in a three-year tenure as Executive Director of WashPIRG. He continues to serve on the boards of WashPIRG and the WashPIRG Foundation.

Mr. Bunch chairs the Planning Commission in Ann Arbor Charter Township, Michigan, which recently completed its updated master plan, including updates to transportation, infrastructure, open space, agriculture, and water goals, as well as strengthened provisions to reduce nuisances related to noise, light, and traffic.He holds an MBA with an Environmental Management certificate from the University of Washington and a BS in Political Science from Yale University. Mr. Bunch and his family reside in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Mr. Hall’s expertise is in environmental and water law, and his research focuses on issues of environmental governance, federalism, and transboundary pollution and resource management. He joined the Wayne Law faculty in 2005. For the 2014-15 academic year, he served as the Law School’s associate dean for student affairs. Previously, he taught at the University of Michigan Law School and was an attorney with the National Wildlife Federation, where he managed the Great Lakes Water Resources Program for the nation’s largest conservation organization. Mr. Hall also worked in private practice for several years, representing a variety of business and public-interest clients in litigated and regulatory matters. He has extensive litigation experience and numerous published decisions in state and federal courts. Mr. Hall continues to represent a variety of clients in significant environmental policy disputes. From 2016-2019, he served as special assistant attorney general for Michigan for the Flint water investigation. Mr. Hall is founder of the Great Lakes Environmental Law Center, a nonprofit environmental organization that provides legal assistance to community organizations, environmental non-governmental organizations, and local, state and regional governments. He continues to serve as the Great Lakes Environmental Law Center’s scholarship director. He graduated from the University of Michigan Law School and University of Michigan School of Natural Resources and Environment, concentrating in environmental policy. After law school, Mr. Hall clerked for the Hon. Kathleen A. Blatz, chief justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court.

Ms. Harrell is a litigation attorney and strategic legal consultant. During her 30+ years in practice in Michigan state and several federal courts, Ms. Harrell’s experience ranges from multimillion-dollar disputes among multi-national corporations to neighbors involved in boundary-line disputes to trust beneficiaries’ claims to an estate and everything in between. Client goals are always the priority. Because often the best result for the client is to avoid the expense and burden of litigation, she has counseled clients on how to avoid litigation or to creatively and quickly resolve disputes.

Ms. Harrell has served as a court-appointed receiver (in commercial litigation and family/domestic matters) and has represented other receivers in fulfilling their role, seeking court approvals, and strategizing and defending against claims. She also serves as a AAA/ICDR-appointed and privately-retained arbitrator and mediator in complex commercial, construction, real estate, employment, and domestic relations/trust matters.

It can be difficult, if not impossible, to decouple real estate issues from those implicating environmental concerns. With extensive experience and deep insights into both areas of the law, Mr. Schebor is uniquely positioned to deliver comprehensive counsel for clients who must address such intersecting matters, whether in the context of transactions, disputes, or enforcement actions.

Mr. Schebor’s immersion into environmental law and related issues predates his legal career. Accordingly, he focused on developing a combination of legal and scientific knowledge that now serves his clients so well. Those clients are in the energy, waste disposal, petroleum, manufacturing, and other sectors that must deal with the unique challenges of ever-changing regulatory requirements and law.

Mr. Stokan has represented Michigan municipalities on matters related to civil rights violations, local ordinance issues and reviews, land use and zoning laws, related constitutional claims, and real estate transactions for 25 years. Mr. Stokan’s work has included assisting clients in developing internal policies and procedures, municipal charter reviews, and municipal contracts, in addition to handling requests related to the Freedom of Information Act and Open Meetings Act claims. His practice has also included successfully defending municipalities in the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Mr. Stokan additionally has experience defending attorneys against legal malpractice claims and representing insurance carriers in first- and third-party automobile claims. He also represents physicians and health care facilities in medical malpractice actions.

While attending the George Washington University Law School, Mr. Stokan worked for U.S. Representative James Barcia. He also served as a law clerk in the appellate division for the Michigan Attorney General and as a prosecuting attorney for the Charter Township of Northville.

Mr. Stokan obtained his law degree from George Washington University and his undergraduate degree from Michigan State University.

Mr. D’Arcy’s primary practice areas include commercial litigation, construction litigation which he litigates in federal and state courts, and in arbitrations. He is a proponent of resolving matters early in mediation and through alternative dispute resolution if possible so clients can focus on their companies and not on litigation. Additionally, Mr. D’Arcy crafts and reviews construction contracts so that clients are protected on the front end of projects. He has over 18 years of litigation experience. Mr. D’Arcy graduated cum laude from Loyola Law School and now teaches a Construction and Surety Law class there as an adjunct professor. He has also presented numerous lectures on construction and surety issues over the last 18 years and he continues to speak on these subjects on a regular basis. Mr. D’Arcy is licensed to practice law in all Louisiana State courts; the United States District Courts for the Eastern, Western and Middle Districts of Louisiana; the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals; the United States Second Circuit Court of Appeals; the United States Court of Federal Claims; and other federal district courts across the country. 

Ms. Lombardo has successfully litigated matters before the state and federal courts of New Jersey and New York, as well as the American Arbitration Association, with a focus on construction matters. Her experience in commercial litigation and construction litigation is unique in that she represents both plaintiffs and defendants. She was co-lead counsel in a three-year long arbitration representing a major university in a claim involving extensive and complex design and construction defects, which resulted in a multimillion-dollar award in client’s favor and the arbitrator striking down a limitation of liability clause. Unlike most litigators in the construction arena, Ms. Lombardo also has experience drafting and negotiating contracts. She has worked with owners, contractors, subcontractors, and designers on contracts for projects involving academic centers, public schools, laboratory facilities, office buildings, energy facilities, public-private projects, and building additions of varying sizes. Ms. Lombardo works with the firm’s longstanding corporate clients in addition to the Northeast region’s top universities, retailers, and professionals in the design and construction field. Ms. Lombardo is currently on the American Arbitration Association Panel of Construction Arbitrators and a member of the Roster of Mediators. She has also been included on the New Jersey Superior Court Roster of Mediators, where she has mediated a variety of civil matters. Ms. Lombardo earned her B.A. degree, magna cum laude, from Montclair State University, and her J.D. degree, summa cum laude, from Rutgers School of Law.

Mr. Pence is a shareholder in the Tampa, Florida office of Carlton Fields where he is a member of the Construction Practice Group and the Real Estate and Finance Practice Group. He is Board Certified in Construction Law by The Florida Bar and his practice focuses primarily on representing developers, owners, contractors, subcontractors and design professionals in the preparation, negotiation, modification and administration of all types of contracts and forms related to construction and development transactions. Mr. Pence’s practice also includes reviewing and advising clients with respect to insurance and risk management issues. He is a member of the Florida Bar’s Real Property, Probate & Trust Law Section, serving as a past chair of both the Construction Law Committee and the Insurance & Surety Committee. Mr. Pence is currently the chair or the Construction Law Board Certification Review Course. He also is a member of the ABA RPTE Section where he serves as the chair of the Commercial Real Estate Transactions Group. Mr. Pence is a frequent writer and speaker on various matters related to construction contracting and insurance/risk management issues.

Mr. Scotti focuses his practice in the areas of construction law, complex commercial litigation and real estate with an emphasis in construction litigation, construction contracts and project counseling. He has represented owners, developers, architects, engineers, EPC contractors, general contractors and subcontractors on a wide variety of construction projects including power plants, steel plants, dams, bridges, roads, aerial tramways, hospitals, prisons, sports stadiums, schools, churches, office buildings, public housing, mixed-use developments and housing developments. Mr. Scotti has extensive experience in drafting and negotiating design and construction contracts and in providing project counseling regarding dispute avoidance. He has represented clients regarding both domestic and international disputes in federal and state trial and appellate courts, the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals, the Pennsylvania Board of Claims, the International Chamber of Commerce, the International Centre for Dispute Resolution and the American Arbitration Association. Mr. Scotti has concentrated his practice in the area of construction law for over 30 years.

Mr. Vicknair worked as a software engineer for a major medical manufacturer and as an electrical engineer for a major chemical manufacturer prior to entering law school. He graduated from Louisiana Tech University with a BS degree in both Electrical and Biomedical Engineering and obtained his law degree from Loyola Law School in New Orleans. Mr. Vicknair has taught Louisiana Construction Law at Loyola law school as an assistant adjunct professor. He is licensed to practice law in the states of Louisiana, Texas and New York and is a licensed patent attorney. Mr. Vicknair regularly uses his prior work experience as a part of his legal practice. He is one of the founding partners at D’Arcy | Vicknair, L.L.C. His primary practice areas include construction law, construction litigation, surety law, and all phases of intellectual property, including litigation, prosecution, and transactional matters. Mr. Vicknair also practices in commercial litigation and claims related to construction defects, payment disputes, subcontractor claims, owner claims, and claims by general contractors. He lectures on construction law topics such as Louisiana lien law and general Louisiana construction law as well as intellectual property law topics, including trademarks, patents and copyrights.

Mr. Banks is the principal attorney at Banks & Associates, PLLC, a Houston-based law firm focused on meeting the needs of government and construction contractors throughout Texas. He is a trusted advisor for licensed professionals, CEOs and managers in construction firms, and government contractors. Mr. Banks was licensed as a CPA in 2003 and has more than 20 years of experience as a lead accountant and CFO for successful government contractors. He earned his B.B.A. degree with a double major in Accounting and Finance from the Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston, and secured his J.D. degree from South Texas College of Law. Mr. Banks is a member of the State Bar of Texas, the Association of Corporate Counsel and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). Mr. Banks is a member of the Construction Law Section of the State Bar of Texas.

Mr. Blackwell represents a variety of clients, ranging from general contractors, subcontractors, owners, developers, insurers, and sureties in construction and labor issues, to companies involved in sales, acquisitions, corporate governance matters, commercial disputes, and other challenges arising in the commercial arena. He has engaged in significant contract negotiation; corporate formation, structuring, and governance matters; sales and acquisitions of assets and ownership interests; contract negotiation and drafting; construction disputes involving delays, terminations for default, payment, asset seizure, fraud, labor and employment issues; and a variety of other disputes that arise during construction. Mr. Blackwell regularly lectures on matters affecting construction clients, on ethics and liability for engineers, and on changes in Louisiana construction law for construction managers. 

Theodore L. Degenhardt IV  Attorney at Clark Hill in Detroit Michigan.
Mr. Degenhardt is an experienced counselor and litigator in the construction space. He provides ongoing representation for design professionals, general contractors, subcontractors, and owners in a wide range of public and private projects involving issues like contract negotiation, contract interpretation, construction change directives, damages for delay, defective construction, design errors, differing site conditions, and owner interference.

Mr. Manion is Co-founder of Manion Stigger, LLP, a law practice devoted to representing and advising construction professionals. Prior to his legal career, Mr. Manion. was educated as an engineer and worked in project management for an ENR 100 contractor. Before Manion Stigger, he was part of the national construction practice of an AMLAW 200 firm and a law clerk in the United States District Court. His three decades’ experience in construction includes prosecuting and defending large payment claims in a variety of construction contexts, drafting and negotiating hundreds of construction-related transactions, and working closely with clients to manage operational risk. Mr. Manion brings to each task the combined lessons of an engineering education, MBA education, project management background, experiences as an advocate. Manion Stigger represents general contractors, construction managers, design-builders, and specialty contractors throughout the United States. 

Mr. Abraham leads the Firm’s Complex Litigation practice group, and is a member of the Firm’s Banking & Financial Services, Redevelopment and Life Sciences practice groups.  Equally skilled in the board room and the court room, He counsels his clients in a wide variety of practice areas and across industries.  Banks, pharmaceutical companies, developers and business owners all rely upon Mr. Abraham’s legal advice to solve their most difficult problems.  In the development and redevelopment practice areas, Mr. Abraham draws on a wealth of experience in environmental law, land use law, regulatory/administrative law, and construction law to solve his client’s most pressing problems.  Mr. Abraham’s assignments have included high-profile redevelopment projects in New Jersey’s largest cities, disputes relating to water and sewer resource allocation for new developments, complex construction defect suits, and environmental remediation suits.  He received his law degree from Seton Hall University School of Law and graduated cum laude.  During law school, he served as an editor of the Seton Hall Law Review.  Mr. Abraham is a graduate of Franklin & Marshall College.

Mr. Banks is the principal attorney at Banks & Associates, PLLC, a Houston-based law firm focused on meeting the needs of government and construction contractors throughout Texas. He is a trusted advisor for licensed professionals, CEOs and managers in construction firms, and government contractors. Mr. Banks was licensed as a CPA in 2003 and has more than 20 years of experience as a lead accountant and CFO for successful government contractors. He earned his B.B.A. degree with a double major in Accounting and Finance from the Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston, and secured his J.D. degree from South Texas College of Law. Mr. Banks is a member of the State Bar of Texas, the Association of Corporate Counsel and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). Mr. Banks is a member of the Construction Law Section of the State Bar of Texas.

Mr. Blackwell represents a variety of clients, ranging from general contractors, subcontractors, owners, developers, insurers, and sureties in construction and labor issues, to companies involved in sales, acquisitions, corporate governance matters, commercial disputes, and other challenges arising in the commercial arena. He has engaged in significant contract negotiation; corporate formation, structuring, and governance matters; sales and acquisitions of assets and ownership interests; contract negotiation and drafting; construction disputes involving delays, terminations for default, payment, asset seizure, fraud, labor and employment issues; and a variety of other disputes that arise during construction. Mr. Blackwell regularly lectures on matters affecting construction clients, on ethics and liability for engineers, and on changes in Louisiana construction law for construction managers. 

Mr. Ferrini has served as lead construction contract writer and negotiator for private, corporate, and institutional projects, ranging from school district facility upgrades to the restoration of historic and iconic buildings, new multiuse developments of up to $500 million, and first-of-their-kind buildings in the New York City area. He has developed novel agreements and strategies to assist owners in moving their projects forward and has resolved complex claims that have paved the way for major new projects in multiple metro locations. Clients benefit from his extensive trial and appellate court experience and his cross-disciplinary approach in addressing their issues. Mr. Ferrini also has extensive dispute-resolution experience, resolving wide-ranging construction disputes in and out of court, including delay, construction defect, change orders, and lien foreclosure claims, as well as issues regarding mistakes, concealed conditions, bid challenges, and design professional malpractice. He taught Construction Law in the LL.M. program at New York Law School and has authored numerous articles on construction and design industry topics. In addition, he serves as a fellow of the Construction Lawyers Society of America, an invitation-only construction lawyer honorary society with membership limited to 1,200 practicing fellows from around the world. Mr. Ferrini has his own practice, but is also Of Counsel at Olshan Frome Wolosky, LLP.

Mr. Vicknair worked as a software engineer for a major medical manufacturer and as an electrical engineer for a major chemical manufacturer prior to entering law school. He graduated from Louisiana Tech University with a BS degree in both Electrical and Biomedical Engineering and obtained his law degree from Loyola Law School in New Orleans. Mr. Vicknair has taught Louisiana Construction Law at Loyola law school as an assistant adjunct professor. He is licensed to practice law in the states of Louisiana, Texas and New York and is a licensed patent attorney. Mr. Vicknair regularly uses his prior work experience as a part of his legal practice. He is one of the founding partners at D’Arcy | Vicknair, L.L.C. His primary practice areas include construction law, construction litigation, surety law, and all phases of intellectual property, including litigation, prosecution, and transactional matters. Mr. Vicknair also practices in commercial litigation and claims related to construction defects, payment disputes, subcontractor claims, owner claims, and claims by general contractors. He lectures on construction law topics such as Louisiana lien law and general Louisiana construction law as well as intellectual property law topics, including trademarks, patents and copyrights.

Theodore L. Degenhardt IV  Attorney at Clark Hill in Detroit Michigan.
Mr. Degenhardt is an experienced counselor and litigator in the construction space. He provides ongoing representation for design professionals, general contractors, subcontractors, and owners in a wide range of public and private projects involving issues like contract negotiation, contract interpretation, construction change directives, damages for delay, defective construction, design errors, differing site conditions, and owner interference.

Mr. D’Arcy’s primary practice areas include commercial litigation, construction litigation which he litigates in federal and state courts, and in arbitrations. He is a proponent of resolving matters early in mediation and through alternative dispute resolution if possible so clients can focus on their companies and not on litigation. Additionally, Mr. D’Arcy crafts and reviews construction contracts so that clients are protected on the front end of projects. He has over 18 years of litigation experience. Mr. D’Arcy graduated cum laude from Loyola Law School and now teaches a Construction and Surety Law class there as an adjunct professor. He has also presented numerous lectures on construction and surety issues over the last 18 years and he continues to speak on these subjects on a regular basis. Mr. D’Arcy is licensed to practice law in all Louisiana State courts; the United States District Courts for the Eastern, Western and Middle Districts of Louisiana; the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals; the United States Second Circuit Court of Appeals; the United States Court of Federal Claims; and other federal district courts across the country. 

Mr. Ferrini has served as lead construction contract writer and negotiator for private, corporate, and institutional projects, ranging from school district facility upgrades to the restoration of historic and iconic buildings, new multiuse developments of up to $500 million, and first-of-their-kind buildings in the New York City area. He has developed novel agreements and strategies to assist owners in moving their projects forward and has resolved complex claims that have paved the way for major new projects in multiple metro locations. Clients benefit from his extensive trial and appellate court experience and his cross-disciplinary approach in addressing their issues. Mr. Ferrini also has extensive dispute-resolution experience, resolving wide-ranging construction disputes in and out of court, including delay, construction defect, change orders, and lien foreclosure claims, as well as issues regarding mistakes, concealed conditions, bid challenges, and design professional malpractice. He taught Construction Law in the LL.M. program at New York Law School and has authored numerous articles on construction and design industry topics. In addition, he serves as a fellow of the Construction Lawyers Society of America, an invitation-only construction lawyer honorary society with membership limited to 1,200 practicing fellows from around the world. Mr. Ferrini has his own practice, but is also Of Counsel at Olshan Frome Wolosky, LLP.

Mr. Manion is Co-founder of Manion Stigger, LLP, a law practice devoted to representing and advising construction professionals. Prior to his legal career, Mr. Manion. was educated as an engineer and worked in project management for an ENR 100 contractor. Before Manion Stigger, he was part of the national construction practice of an AMLAW 200 firm and a law clerk in the United States District Court. His three decades’ experience in construction includes prosecuting and defending large payment claims in a variety of construction contexts, drafting and negotiating hundreds of construction-related transactions, and working closely with clients to manage operational risk. Mr. Manion brings to each task the combined lessons of an engineering education, MBA education, project management background, experiences as an advocate. Manion Stigger represents general contractors, construction managers, design-builders, and specialty contractors throughout the United States. 

Joe D. Tolbert is Director at Brackett & Ellis, P.C., in Fort Worth, Texas.
Mr. Tolbert has represented businesses and individuals for more than 32 years. He counsels clients on various business issues and has an active trial practice in commercial litigation and construction law. In addition, Mr. Tolbert is board certified in Construction Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, a mark of excellence and a distinguishing accomplishment achieved by fewer than 150 practicing attorneys in Texas. Board-certified attorneys in Construction Law are specialists in transactions and relationships among contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, owners, architects, engineers, governmental entities, insurers, sureties and lenders regarding public and private development, design, and construction projects. 

Dr. Harrod is a contractor, author and electrification advocate. In 2006 he founded Snug Planet, an award-winning home performance company based in Ithaca, New York. From its initial focus on energy audits and envelope improvements, Snug Planet has grown to offer whole-home solutions, including moisture management and HVAC upgrades. Snug Planet is an active participant in New York State residential programs serving low-income and market-rate customers. In early 2022, Snug Planet merged with Halco Energy, one of the largest home performance contractors in New York. Dr. Harrod is certified by the Building Performance Institute as a Building Analyst, Envelope Professional, Heating Professional, and AC/Heat Pump Professional. Dr. Harrod’s articles have appeared in Home Energy Magazine, Journal of Extension, Building Performance Journal; and ASHRAE Journal. He is a regular contributor to Green Building Advisor.

Professor Marsik has a joint position with the National Renewable Energy Lab and the Cold Climate Housing Research Center in Fairbanks, Alaska. He is passionate about research and education in the areas of energy and sustainability and utilizes the synergies of his joint position to benefit people in Alaska and beyond. Professor Marsik’s passion is reflected in honors, including Alaska’s Top Forty Under 40 award and a recognition from the World Record Academy for designing and constructing the world’s most airtight residential building on record. He has an M.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from the Czech Technical University in Prague, and a Ph.D. degree in Engineering in Engineering from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Dr. Marsik has numerous publications and has served on highprofile committees, including Alaska Governor Bill Walker’s Transition Team and its Consumer Energy subcommittee. He has a very precious daughter whose face keeps reminding him to work hard on helping develop a sustainable future.

J.A. Smith Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. has been in business over 39 years and specializes in the residential and light commercial HVAC market in southeastern Pennsylvania counties of Bucks, Montgomery and Philadelphia and adjacent counties in New Jersey. The company employs 50 people and serves the new construction, retro fit, and service/maintenance markets. Mr. Smith’s experience in the renewable energy HVAC field dates from involvement in numerous air source heat pump installations starting in the early 1970’s to the company’s current focus on closed loop geothermal installations. He holds an advanced CMS certification with the Refrigeration Service Engineers Society (RSES) and holds a Master HVAC contractor’s license with the state of New Jersey. In addition to running J.A. Smith Heating & Air Conditioning Mr. Smith has also been active in teaching HVAC related topics on a local and national level since 1981. The agencies that he has presented for include Refrigeration Service Engineers Society (RSES), National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI), American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), National Association of Home Inspectors (NAHI), Home Builders Association (HBA), Pennsylvania Power and Light (PPL). He has also volunteered his time and served as president of the Electrical Association of Philadelphia (EAP), the chairman of the Middle Bucks Institute of Technology’s (MBIT) local advisory committee, and as secretary of the Business Referral Network of Delaware Valley (BRN).

Professor Marsik has a joint position with the National Renewable Energy Lab and the Cold Climate Housing Research Center in Fairbanks, Alaska. He is passionate about research and education in the areas of energy and sustainability and utilizes the synergies of his joint position to benefit people in Alaska and beyond. Professor Marsik’s passion is reflected in honors, including Alaska’s Top Forty Under 40 award and a recognition from the World Record Academy for designing and constructing the world’s most airtight residential building on record. He has an M.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from the Czech Technical University in Prague, and a Ph.D. degree in Engineering in Engineering from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Dr. Marsik has numerous publications and has served on highprofile committees, including Alaska Governor Bill Walker’s Transition Team and its Consumer Energy subcommittee. He has a very precious daughter whose face keeps reminding him to work hard on helping develop a sustainable future.

J.A. Smith Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. has been in business over 39 years and specializes in the residential and light commercial HVAC market in southeastern Pennsylvania counties of Bucks, Montgomery and Philadelphia and adjacent counties in New Jersey. The company employs 50 people and serves the new construction, retro fit, and service/maintenance markets. Mr. Smith’s experience in the renewable energy HVAC field dates from involvement in numerous air source heat pump installations starting in the early 1970’s to the company’s current focus on closed loop geothermal installations. He holds an advanced CMS certification with the Refrigeration Service Engineers Society (RSES) and holds a Master HVAC contractor’s license with the state of New Jersey. In addition to running J.A. Smith Heating & Air Conditioning Mr. Smith has also been active in teaching HVAC related topics on a local and national level since 1981. The agencies that he has presented for include Refrigeration Service Engineers Society (RSES), National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI), American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), National Association of Home Inspectors (NAHI), Home Builders Association (HBA), Pennsylvania Power and Light (PPL). He has also volunteered his time and served as president of the Electrical Association of Philadelphia (EAP), the chairman of the Middle Bucks Institute of Technology’s (MBIT) local advisory committee, and as secretary of the Business Referral Network of Delaware Valley (BRN).

Professor Marsik has a joint position with the National Renewable Energy Lab and the Cold Climate Housing Research Center in Fairbanks, Alaska. He is passionate about research and education in the areas of energy and sustainability and utilizes the synergies of his joint position to benefit people in Alaska and beyond. Professor Marsik’s passion is reflected in honors, including Alaska’s Top Forty Under 40 award and a recognition from the World Record Academy for designing and constructing the world’s most airtight residential building on record. He has an M.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from the Czech Technical University in Prague, and a Ph.D. degree in Engineering in Engineering from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Dr. Marsik has numerous publications and has served on highprofile committees, including Alaska Governor Bill Walker’s Transition Team and its Consumer Energy subcommittee. He has a very precious daughter whose face keeps reminding him to work hard on helping develop a sustainable future.

J.A. Smith Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. has been in business over 39 years and specializes in the residential and light commercial HVAC market in southeastern Pennsylvania counties of Bucks, Montgomery and Philadelphia and adjacent counties in New Jersey. The company employs 50 people and serves the new construction, retro fit, and service/maintenance markets. Mr. Smith’s experience in the renewable energy HVAC field dates from involvement in numerous air source heat pump installations starting in the early 1970’s to the company’s current focus on closed loop geothermal installations. He holds an advanced CMS certification with the Refrigeration Service Engineers Society (RSES) and holds a Master HVAC contractor’s license with the state of New Jersey. In addition to running J.A. Smith Heating & Air Conditioning Mr. Smith has also been active in teaching HVAC related topics on a local and national level since 1981. The agencies that he has presented for include Refrigeration Service Engineers Society (RSES), National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI), American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), National Association of Home Inspectors (NAHI), Home Builders Association (HBA), Pennsylvania Power and Light (PPL). He has also volunteered his time and served as president of the Electrical Association of Philadelphia (EAP), the chairman of the Middle Bucks Institute of Technology’s (MBIT) local advisory committee, and as secretary of the Business Referral Network of Delaware Valley (BRN).