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Mr. Eilertson earned his bachelor of science degree from UW-Madison in Civil & Environmental Engineering in 1993 and has worked in the municipal engineering field since 1990. Mr. Eilertson’s early interest in community involvement and environmental issues began in 1972 when, as a child, he helped his parents (Orie & Kit) create a recycling drop off program through their church in the Village of Mukwonago. Mr. Eilertson absorbed much of his interest in environmental conscience and responsibility through his parents and grandparents as he grew up on a Sand County Farm in Wisconsin, practicing first hand Aldo Leopold’s land ethic of striving to live on a piece of land without spoiling it. Above and beyond the day-to-day activities that go along with his current and past civil and environmental engineering roles, Mr. Eilertson spends many of his nights and weekends hosting educational events including waterway cleanups, paddling events, watershed tours, as well as electronics recycling and shred-day events. He is a Director of the American Public Works Association – Wisconsin Chapter (APWA WI) and has chaired APWA WI’s Water Resources Committee and Solid Waste Committee. He serves as the Wisconsin Chapter’s liaison to APWA’s Center for Sustainability (C4S) and is currently chair of APWA WI’s Sustainability Committee.

Mr. Eilertson’s greatest pleasure and source of pride is his wife, Yenti, with whom he’s been happily married since 1995. They have two boys, Erik (22) and Evan (13), who excel in finding “teachable moments” for Mr. Eilertson to continue learning from nature and helping others to share his vision of people working together for healthy generations to come. Past awards that Mr. Eilertson is especially proud of are the 2013 APWA National Community Involvement Award and 2015 Rock River Protector Award.

Mr. Eilertson has increasingly enjoyed being able to spend time and energy volunteering for various non-profit groups that align with his vision for a healthy community. They include: Powered Up Baraboo, Baraboo Kiwanis, Baraboo Rotary, Friends of the Baraboo River, Foundation for Dane County Parks and last, but not least Friends of Pheasant Branch Conservancy.

Mr. Messmer has over 30 years of engineering experience in analysis, design, plan/specification development, and project management/personnel supervision for geotechnical, foundation and structural engineering projects in the transportation, industrial, municipal and commercial fields of civil engineering. Throughout his career he has placed an emphasis on quality control and staff training. Mr. Messmer is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, the American Concrete Institute, the American Society of Highway Engineers and the Society of American Military Engineers. He earned his B.S. degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh. Mr. Messmer was accepted into the Academy of Geo-Professionals in 2013.

Mr. Tolman is the president and owner of AccenaGroup, a company that has served Utah and surrounding states as stormwater plan and consulting experts since 2007. His industry certifications include QSWPPP, Utah RSI, CISEC, and CPESC. Mr. Tolman has presented several times at American Public Works Association (APWA) conferences, CASQA, Stormcon, and other industry conferences. He has consulted on U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Utah State consent decrees and regularly guest lectured for construction management classes at Brigham Young University and Utah Valley University.

Mr. Flack has earned his designations, among select thousands in the world, as a Certified Professional in Erosion & Sediment Controls (CPESC) as well as his designation as a Certified Erosion, Sediment and Storm Water Inspector (CESSWI), lending his experience and training to his customers to consult them in all their stormwater needs. He has also earned his status as a Qualified Compliance Inspector of Stormwater (QCIS) and as a Qualified Preparer of Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans (QPSWPPP.) He also earned the Certified Erosion and Sediment Control Lead (CESCL), which is a 17.5-hour certificate program as required by Washington State for all construction stormwater management. He is a subject matter expert and lead instructor for StormwaterONE, which has established itself as the leader in stormwater management training and credentialing, the school’s mission is to provide their students with the most comprehensive and up to date training of individual stormwater permits, online or in-person.

Brad has been invited to speak in-person on storm water and erosion control issues in many locations, including California, Texas, Tennessee, Louisiana, Wyoming, Oregon, Colorado, Ohio and New Mexico, as well as internationally in Antigua, Guatemala, and in San Jose, Costa Rica. Furthermore, he has provided virtual online training for a wide variety of  organizations across the country, including the Army Corps of Engineers, Maryland Stadium Authority, and more.

Additionally, he served as president and administrative vice president for the South-Central Chapter of the International Erosion Control Association. Furthermore, he directed the IECA Region 1 Education Committee: Stormwater Management Track as co-chair, which encompasses North America, South America and Europe. Brad also sat as the Region 6 Chapter President for EnviroCert International (ECI) and was a member of the Policies and Procedures Committee for ECI. He has served as the Region 7 representative for the CPESC, Inc., group as well as the technical vice-chair for the Council. He has been an IECA Mentor and served as a TCEQ EnviroMentor.

Brad has been involved with Stormwater Quality Management since 2004 where he learned about permitting, turf establishment, erosion control and detention pond maintenance and has continued to be a student of the industry throughout his career. His attention to detail and depth of knowledge about structural control devices, vegetative stabilization and best management practices are a valuable asset to his clients and students.

His wife is his high school sweetheart, and they have been married for over 20 years and have three sons. Brad has also actively served at his church and has ventured on over a dozen mission trips, from drilling for water in rural villages in Honduras to assisting in hurricane recovery efforts in Puerto Rico. Brad was the Director of Hands and Feet Honduras/Puerto Rico, a 501(c)3 organization for over eight years.

Mr. Halcomb has over 17 years of geotechnical and cold regions engineering experience and works for Devise Engineering in Anchorage, Alaska. He regularly oversees geotechnical efforts on projects ranging from several hundred thousand to multi-million dollars in various environments including the arctic, subarctic, and marine. Mr. Halcomb has experience in designing various geotechnical infrastructure including shallow and deep foundations, flexible and rigid pavements for vehicle and aircraft traffic, retaining structures, excavations, and dewatering. Mr. Halcomb is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Geo-Institute. He earned his B.S., M.C.E., M.S. in Arctic Engineering, and an Earthquake graduate certificate all from the University of Alaska Anchorage. 

Mr. Ardis received a Bachelor of Science from the State University of New York in 1972, and his Juris Doctor in 1975 from Boston University School of Law. In 1975, he joined the Memphis, Tennessee law firm of Canada, Russell & Turner, where he remained until January 1988, when he became a founding shareholder of Wolff Ardis, P.C. Throughout his career, Mr. Ardis has championed honor and integrity in business. In the area of Products Liability, he is committed to avoiding frivolous suits against manufacturers, but aiding injured parties, and pointing out defective products and the fraud of cover-up that often allows a defect.

Mr. Ardis has successfully pursued claims regarding motor vehicle crashworthiness, glazing, fuel systems, and occupant restraint systems. Mr. Ardis has spent a large part of his legal career dealing with fidelity bond claims, directors’ and officers’ liability policy claims, securities cases, and other matters involving allegations of breach of fiduciary duties. In addition to handling assorted complex litigation matters for client financial institutions, Mr. Ardis has effected the recovery of more than $140,000,000 in the areas of fraud and negligence, and has successfully defended a number of claims against his financial institution clients.

Mr. Ardis has developed and presented hundreds of seminars and speeches on a variety of subjects, including motor vehicle safety, fidelity bonds, directors’ and officers’ liability insurance, risk management, fraud detection and investigation, internet fraud, and the use of multi-media technology in litigation. He has lectured throughout the United States and Europe for groups including the American Management Association, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Bank Administration Institute, the Risk and Insurance Management Society, the Society of Financial Examiners, the Conference of State Bank Supervisors, and the American Bar Association.

He has co-authored two books: Risk Management: Computers, Fraud and Insurance was published by McGraw-Hill in 1987; Bad Lies in Business was published by McGraw-Hill in 1988. From 1982 until January of 1993, Mr. Ardis served as a member of the Board of Boston University’s Morin Center for Banking Law Studies. In 1985, he was a co-recipient of the Young Lawyer’s Chair from the Boston University School of Law. From 1995 until 2000 he was a member of the Board of Visitors of the Boston University School of Law. In the summer of 1988, Mr. Ardis was named Vice Chairman of the American Bar Association, Section of Tort and Insurance Practices, Professional Officers’ and Directors’ Liability Law Committee, and subsequently served as Chair of that committee in 1991-92. Mr. Ardis also served as the Chair of The Fidelity Insurance Litigation Group of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America from 1994-1996 and has served as the head of the Motor Vehicle Glass Subgroup of The Attorneys Information Exchange Group.

Mr. Ardis has testified as an expert witness in bad faith insurance claims. He is trained as a mediator by the Federal Court and is certified as a Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 31 Mediator. Mr. Ardis is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court and the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Fifth and Sixth Circuits. He is a member of the American Bar Association, the Tennessee Bar Association, the Memphis/Shelby County Bar Association, the American Association for Justice (AAJ), the Tennessee Association for Justice (TAJ), the Southern Trial Lawyers Association (STLA), the Defense Research Institute (DRI), Attorneys Information Exchange Group (AIEG) and the National Academy of Expert Witnesses. Mr. Ardis is currently licensed to practice law in Tennessee, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, New York, Missouri, Connecticut, Mississippi and Arkansas.

Ms. Carpenter litigates car, motorcycle, pedestrian, and truck wreck cases; premises liability cases; third-party on-the-job injury cases; police brutality and misconduct civil rights cases; and mass tort cases. Ms. Carpenter is a board member for the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association, and she is also a member of the Memphis Bar Association, Southern Trial Lawyers Association, and the Ben F. Jones Chapter of the National Bar Association. She is licensed to practice in Tennessee, Alabama, Missouri, Arkansas, Mississippi, and North Carolina, and she is also admitted in several federal U.S. District Courts throughout Tennessee, Alabama, North Carolina, Missouri, Mississippi, and Arkansas. Ms. Carpenter was named the 2023 Outstanding New Trial Lawyer of the Year by the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association.

Mr. Grimmett’s main area of practice is personal injury, he is admitted to practice in courts throughout the state, as well as the Tennessee Federal Courts and the U.S. Supreme Court. David has served as chairman of the Nashville Bar Association’s Juvenile Court Section and chairman of the Tennessee Bar Association Administrative Law Section. He is also a member of the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association. He is board certified in child welfare law and has served as a special magistrate in severe abuse cases. Mr. Grimmett earned his J.D. degree from Capital University in Columbus, Ohio.

Mr. Jones is a Knoxville, Tennessee-based trial lawyer with more than 35 years of experience trying jury cases in serious personal injury, criminal defense, and high-stakes civil litigation. He represents clients in state and federal courts throughout the Southeastern United States and is a member, and past president of the Tennessee Chapter, of the American Board of Trial Advocates, as well as only one of less than ten
members of the International Society of Barristers in Tennessee. T. Scott is certified as a Rule 31 Mediator by the Tennessee Supreme Court, regularly teaches continuing legal education courses on trial strategy and litigation practice, and hosts The Weekly Law Round-Up, East Tennessee’s longest-running legal radio program.

Mr. Stapleton focuses primarily on Personal Injury law, with a commitment to helping clients navigate some of the most challenging moments of their lives. Mr. Stapleton is a native of East Tennessee and takes pride in serving the community where he was born and raised.

Nate Ellerman graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in Biology, and he graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in Civil Engineering with an emphasis in Environmental Engineering. He is an Eagle Scout and was member of the Reptile and Amphibian Club at Iowa State University. Mr. Ellerman is currently working on his master’s degree in Environmental Engineering from the University of Tennessee. He works as an engineer for the City of Nashville in the Water Services Department. Mr. Ellerman reviews construction plans to ensure developmental designs are compliant with local, state, and federal regulations. He is very passionate about conservation. Mr. Ellerman aspires to become an environmental project manager and utilize his educational background to reduce pollution and manage habitat restoration projects throughout his career

Jon Hathaway is an associate professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He received his PhD degree from North Carolina State University in 2010, where he studied the fate, transport, and removal of indicator bacteria in urban stormwater runoff. After a brief research fellowship at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, and nearly two and half years at one of the nation’s leading ecological design and consulting firms, he joined the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Tennessee. Dr. Hathaway is a recipient of the National Science Foundation CAREER award and serves as an associate editor for the Journal of Environmental Engineering. He is an elected member of both the ASCE EWRI Urban Water Resources Research Council Core Group and the International Water Association Joint Committee on Urban Drainage.

Christie Henderson is the director of Land Conservation and has been with TennGreen Land Conservancy since May 2012. In her role, she shepherds complicated, urgent, and detailed land transactions, often with national partners and governmental agencies, to acquire, restore, and conserve important lands and landscapes throughout Tennessee and beyond. Ms. Henderson developed a love of the outdoors while growing up in West Tennessee. She followed her outdoor passion through college and holds an M.S. degree in Biology from Tennessee Technological University (TTU). In 2018, she was named Tennessee Wildlife Federation’s Land Conservationist of the Year. In 2019, a major land acquisition project that she spearheaded won the U.S. Forestry Department’s “Wings Across the Americas Habitat Conservation Partnership Award.”

Larry J. Smith received his B.S. degree in Science Education in 1980 and law degree in 1993, both from the University of Memphis. He has always been interested in the environment and the outdoors. After law school, Mr. Smith worked as a community organizer for the Mid-South Peace and Justice Center in their toxics awareness program. In 1997 he went on to be the first executive director of the Wolf River for Conservancy. A local, and still thriving, river and wetland protection land trust. In 2003 he left the not-for-profit world and entered the government sector, still in the field of environmental protection. Mr. Smith headed up the Shelby County Environmental Programs office and then the Air Quality Improvement Branch. He is now the Technical Manager for Shelby County TN Air Pollution Control.

Regional Practice Leader for Natural Resources at KCI Technologies
Adam Spiller has been at KCI for over 18 years and has a Biology and Environmental Science degree from the College of William and Mary and a master’s in Environmental Management from Duke University. Mr. Spiller’s work at KCI has covered all aspects of stream and wetland restoration, dam removal, stream assessment, and other natural resource projects. He specializes in mitigation banking, stream relocations for transportation projects, design-build of large stream bank repair projects, MS4 and TMDL permit support, and QA/QC of design plans. 

David Winter is the founder and president of the professional scientific services firm, Lord and Winter. Lord and Winter are a leading natural resources services company headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, that has success in obtaining environmental permits for hundreds of developments across Middle, West, and East Tennessee. Mr. Winter holds an M.S. degree in Geochemistry from Northern Illinois University and B.S. degrees in Biology and Geology from the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire. His experience spans 40 states and includes some of the largest environmental programs nationwide.

Mr. Stamnes is the founder of Spatial Reality Solutions Inc. (SRS), a Saskatoon-based startup specializing in digital transformation and geospatial consulting. With nearly two decades of experience in the Architecture, Engineering, Construction, Owner, and Operator (AECOO) industries, He has developed a comprehensive expertise in surveying, mapping, laser scanning, lidar, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Mr. Stamnes’s academic credentials include a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Management and a Diploma in Geomatics from Saskatchewan Polytechnic. He has further enhanced his knowledge with a Certificate in Unoccupied Aerial Systems (UAS) from the University of Florida and an Advanced Certificate in GIS from the British Columbia Institute of Technology. Professionally, he is an Engineering Licensee specializing in Geomatics under the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan (APEGS) and holds the Certified Mapping Scientist (CMS) certification in UAS and lidar from the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS). Throughout his career, Mr. Stamnes has led large-scale projects, advanced mapping technologies, and diversified client bases. His current research focuses on reality capture, terrestrial laser scanning, scan-to-BIM, and indoor GIS. Beyond his professional endeavors, he resides on an acreage outside of Saskatoon with his family, enjoying activities such as gardening, motorcycling, snowmobiling, hunting, and fishing in Northern Saskatchewan.

Mr. Barkhurst has extensive litigation experience in business and real estate disputes. He has developed a special concentration in the area of eminent domain, representing landowners as well as governmental entities in numerous such lawsuits, involving millions of dollars. Paul has successfully represented numerous owners in ranch power line takings, pipeline cases, and highway construction cases. Paul also represents governmental entities in construction disputes, and has represented contractors and subcontractors in private disputes. He also has extensive experience handling complex business dissolution and injunction cases. 

Mr. Bowles began working in the field of land surveying in 1978 and is certified as a registered professional land surveyor in the State of Texas. He has given seminars to lawyers, real estate professionals and other land surveyors on land surveying principles, practice and codified standards. Mr. Bowles has been an expert witness in a number of legal actions centering around boundary disputes and land surveyor negligence claims. He has given expert testimony regarding boundary resolution, minimum standards and minimum content regarding land surveys. Mr. Bowles is a member of the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors and a former member of the American Congress on Surveying and Mapping.

Mr. McLain is a retired Marine Corps military judge, and has been in the practice of criminal and military law since 1990. His first jury trials were tried in the deserts of Saudi Arabia during operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Mr. McLain ended his Government service as a federal prosecutor in Dallas, serving in the child exploitation crimes, computer crimes, and general federal crimes sections. The Law Office of Patrick J. McLain, PLLC is headquartered in Dallas, Texas where he represents clients in state criminal cases in Texas and federal crime cases in courts throughout the United States. He has handled thousands of cases and provides aggressive and tenacious representation. Mr. McLain also has a separate military law practice with offices across the country. He earned his J.D. degree from the University if Texas School of Law.

Mr. Rosenthal is board-certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Criminal Law. He was a Collin County Prosecutor prior to founding Rosenthal Kalabus & Therrian. Mr. Rosenthal has tried over 200 jury cases – virtually all criminal. He has received Not Guilty verdicts at every level of State Court from first-degree felonies to serious misdemeanors. Mr. Rosenthal served on the Board of Directors for Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer’s Association (“TCDLA”), was two-time president of McKinney Bar Association, and is the current chairman of Collin County Bar Association’s Criminal Law Section. He is also a member of the Texas State Bar College. Mr. Rosenthal is currently the assistant editor for the Voice for the Defense publication. He frequently lectures on criminal defense topics including handling criminal emergencies and trial advocacy. He earned his J.D. degree from SMU Law School.

Mr. Westfall’s practice focuses on white-collar criminal defense and civil litigation. He has practiced criminal defense in Texas and nationally for 30 years, specializing in complex criminal litigation in State and Federal courts. Mr. Westfall has tried more than 100 criminal cases, many of them “high profile,” and handled more than 50 criminal appeals at all levels. In 2010, He added commercial litigation case work and has several civil trials and appeals among his experiences. Mr. Westfall has represented many individuals through federal investigations into, among others, alleged violations of EPA regulations, hiring undocumented aliens, health care fraud, antikickback and import/export violations, and government contractor fraud. He earned his J.D. degree, summa cum laude, from Texas Tech University.

Mr. Willett is one of only two double board-certified attorneys in criminal and juvenile law in Tarrant County, and one of only 12 double board-certified attorneys in criminal and juvenile law in the State of Texas. He has the unique perspective of successfully defending cases in the Texas state criminal courts, federal immigration courts and Texas civil juvenile courts. Mr. Willett is the author of three editions of his criminal law book. Ignorance of the Law is No Excuse and is currently working on the Silver Edition of this book. He earned his B.S. Degree from the University of Iowa and his J.D. degree from Memphis State University School of Law.

Mr. Deatherage is a founding partner in the Dallas law firm of S. Deatherage Law, PLLC. For more than 30 years, he has focused on environmental issues, energy, and climate change. For most of his career, he worked with large law firms in Dallas, but four years ago he formed his own firm and also began pursuing entrepreneurial opportunities. He earned his B.A. in Letters from The University of Oklahoma in 1984 with highest honors, with minors in Botany and French, and a J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1987 cum laude, where he served as the Articles Editor for the Harvard Environmental Law Review. Mr. Deatherage was one of the founders of the American Bar Association’s Environmental Disclosure Committee. He has published a book entitled Carbon Trading Law and Practice, originally published by Oxford University Press. He has taught Climate Change Law at the University of Texas Law School. He currently is general counsel of a company developing electric vehicle charging stations and planning to supply them with utility-scale solar plus storage facilities.

Partner, Wetsel, Carmichael, Allen, & Lederle, L.L.P.
Jacob R. “Jake” Lederle is a partner at the firm of Wetsel, Carmichael, Allen, & Lederle, LLP. He maintains a broad practice in the energy sector and specializes in renewable energy (wind and solar), eminent domain and condemnation, and oil and gas law. In addition to his energy-related practice, he also routinely advises clients in other areas of real estate and estate planning as well as in civil litigation. He is a graduate of the University of Texas School of Law where he was a research assistant to preeminent oil and gas scholar Ernest E. Smith. He frequently writes and speaks on a variety of topics in the energy business, including the accommodation doctrine, executive rights, competing surface uses, severance of wind rights, environmental concerns in siting renewable energy, condemnation proceedings, and negotiating leases and easements. In fact, his paper “Everything Under the Sun: A Guide to Siting Solar in the Lone Star State” was one of the first published articles on solar energy in Texas.

Founder at Wilhelm Law Firm
Mr. Wilhelm focuses his practice on oil and gas law and state taxation issues before the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. His oil and gas clients include Fortune 500 oil and gas companies, privately owned oil and gas independents, and sophisticated landowners. Most of the oil and gas practice focuses on real estate (title examination, due diligence, and negotiations) and assisting clients with matters before the General Land Office. In addition to his J.D. degree, Mr. Wilhelm holds a masters degree in Energy and Environmental Law from The Tulane University. He is licensed to practice in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Illinois, and by numerous federal courts, including the United States Supreme Court.

Amy C. Allen Partner at Gray Reed & McGraw LLP in Houston.
Ms. Allen handles the entire range of issues and disputes that clients may face, including divorce, child custody, modifications, enforcement actions, marital property valuation and characterization, premarital agreements, adoptions and other child-related issues. Amy is Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. She was recognized by The Best Lawyers in America as the “Lawyer of the Year” in Houston for Family Law Mediation (2023) and selected by her peers for inclusion in Woodward/White, Inc.’s The Best Lawyers in America in the fields of Family Law (2019 – 2023), Family Law Arbitration (2023) and Family Law Mediation (2023).

Stephanie Bandoske Partner at Bandoske & Butler in San Antonio. Ms. Bandoske is Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. She offers a wide range of legal services which include all family law matters including divorce, custody and child support.  She has been recognized since 2017 as a Texas Super Lawyer. She is a member of the State Bar of Texas and San Antonio Bar Association’s Family Law Section and the Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists. Ms. Bandoske received her J.D. degree from St. Mary’s University School of Law in San Antonio.   

Audrey Blair Pedersen Private practice family law attorney in Dallas.
Ms. Blair Pederson has been practicing family law in Texas since 2002.  With her background in family law and family law litigation, Audrey brings broad experience and knowledge to the resolution of family law issues. After graduating from Baylor University Law School, she first worked at a nonprofit dedicated to representing victims of domestic violence. Audrey is now in private practice and handles family law appeals and family law legal research. She has been board certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 2010.

Janis Rivera Paralegal at Bandoske & Butler in San Antonio.
Ms. Rivera is a Board Certified Family Law Paralegal by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

Ms. Wise completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Texas at Austin with honors, majoring in Psychology, and she earned her J.D. degree from South Texas College of Law in Houston. She was admitted to practice in Texas on February 8, 2001, and has been Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 2011. Ms. Wise is a member of the State Bar of Texas, its Family Law Section, its Texas Technology Section, and then the College of the State Bar of Texas, the Houston Bar Association and its Family Law Section, the Fort Bend County Bar Association, and Gulf Coast Family Law Specialists.

Kathleen Witkovski, Senior Associate Attorney at Murrah & Killough, PLLC in Houston. Ms. Witkovski’s role as Senior Associate and head of the Family Law department centers around helping clients through significant moments in their lives-contested and uncontested divorces, custody suits, adoptions, premarital and post marital agreements, other areas of family law, and probate and estate planning. She has represented clients in highly contested custody battles and high net-worth property divisions, including divorces involving the valuation and division of businesses. Ms. Witkovski serves as an Amicus Attorney in highly contested custody disputes as an advocate for a child’s best interests by providing legal services necessary to assist the Court in protecting those interests.

Ms. Barr is a DFW native that has been practicing Family Law for over 12 years. She pursued law school with the intention of practicing Family Law to have a positive impact on children and families. Ms. Barr began her career working for the Office of the Attorney General in Texarkana, Texas. Working there gave her invaluable experience in child support matters as well as the policies, procedures, and inner workings of working with government agencies. Working in a city bordering two states provided Ms. Barr with knowledge of and practical experience handling multistate litigation. Since transitioning to private practice she has successfully completed cases ranging from adoptions, divorce, post-decree proceedings and numerous other family law matters. Her goal is to guide a client through their case and provide them with the knowledge necessary to make informed decisions about how they would like their case to proceed and what options are most likely to lead them toward their desired outcome.

Ms. Wise completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Texas at Austin with honors, majoring in Psychology, and she earned her J.D. degree from South Texas College of Law in Houston. She was admitted to practice in Texas on February 8, 2001, and has been Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 2011. Ms. Wise is a member of the State Bar of Texas, its Family Law Section, its Texas Technology Section, and then the College of the State Bar of Texas, the Houston Bar Association and its Family Law Section, the Fort Bend County Bar Association, and Gulf Coast Family Law Specialists.

Mr. Barkhurst has extensive litigation experience in business and real estate disputes. He has developed a special concentration in the area of eminent domain, representing landowners as well as governmental entities in numerous such lawsuits, involving millions of dollars. Paul has successfully represented numerous owners in ranch power line takings, pipeline cases, and highway construction cases. Paul also represents governmental entities in construction disputes, and has represented contractors and subcontractors in private disputes. He also has extensive experience handling complex business dissolution and injunction cases. 

Mr. Tobin enjoyed a robust full-service practice for 15 years of his career with both transactional and litigation experience. He represented property owners, business owners, and in-house counsel across a variety of industries, such as technology, banking / financial services, real estate, construction, and outdoor advertising. He worked with clients during every phase of the business cycle, from contract negotiation to courtroom advocacy, including handling a multi-million dollar transactions and litigating complex commercial disputes in Texas and federal court. Additionally, Mr. Tobin had a prominent role in running the business of his previous firm, where he served as President and on the Board of Directors. The combination of Mr. Tobin’s vast experience with McFarland’s singular focus provides McFarland’s clients the best of both worlds – a full service business lawyer channeling his experience to condemnation representation. He is admitted to the Texas and New York Bar Associations. Mr. Tobin received her J.D. degree from Southern Methodist University School of Law and his B.A. degree from the University of Buffalo.

Ms. Blanco is a senior associate in the Houston office of Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP. She represents employers in all aspects of labor and employment law, including representation before administrative agencies and the early phases of litigation. In addition to her litigation experience, Ms. Blanco’s practice also focuses on counseling employers on day-to-day legal issues, including internal investigations, separation agreements, and non-compete agreements. She earned her B.A. degree from Harvard College, and her J.D. degree, with honors, from The University of Texas School of Law.

Ms. Cheeseman is the Co-Head of Litigation and Disputes in the Houston office of Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP. She is part of the employment and labor group and is certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization for Labor and Employment Law. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Cheeseman completed a one-year federal clerkship with the Honorable Martin L.C. Feldman of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. She earned her B.A. degree from Duke University and her J.D. degree, summa cum laude, from Tulane University Law School.

Gardner Employment Law helps clients solve workplace problems efficiently and strategically. The client’s career is first and foremost in our analysis. Professionals such as physicians, managers and executives prefer this approach because it resolves issues with minimal delay, controversy, and cost. Other employment lawyers persistently steer their clients first toward filing a lawsuit, launching a drawn-out, resource-draining process. If a lawsuit is required, so be it. Ms. Gardner has won many battles in the courtroom but she doesn’t file suit without first trying to resolve disputes so that both parties can put the matter behind them. Since graduating #1 in her law school class, She has successfully handled hundreds of cases and appeals during her 30+ years as a lawyer. Ms. Gardner’s peers consistently have voted her as one of the “Best Lawyers in America” in Employment Law, among other prestigious awards. She began her career as a judicial law clerk and afterwards went to Bracewell. Ms. Gardner spent the bulk of her career as a partner with Mandell & Wright in downtown Houston. In 2015, She established Gardner Employment Law. The firm has offices in Houston and Austin, Texas. Ms. Gardner earned her B.A. degrees from the University of Colorado and the University of Houston, and her J.D. degree from South Texas College of Law.

Ms. Hansen is board certified in Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. She specializes in litigation and trial work, with a practice area focus in labor & employment law matters and family law. She has twenty-four years of experience with jury trials and litigation. Ms. Hansen is admitted to practice in both Texas state and federal courts, including state courts of appeals and the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. She  grew up in East Texas and attended Texas A&M University. Ms. Hansen then attended law school at the University of Houston Law Center and was licensed to practice law by the Supreme Court of Texas in November 1998. After law school She worked as a prosecutor at the Harris County District Attorney’s Office where she gained valuable trial experience, and experience in supervising and training younger prosecutors in case evaluation and litigation before moving on to private practice with a prominent local law firm. Ms. Hansen then joined a local government entity where she was promoted to associate vice-president and assistant general counsel. In 2010, She decided re-enter private practice and went on to open her own law firm with a practice concentrating on labor and employment law and family law.

Mr. Hesse specializes in a broad range of employment law matters, and has represented both employers and employees. He has experience litigating class and collective actions under the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act and the Family and Medical Leave Act. Prior to joining Moore & Associates in 2009, Mr. Hesse served as a judicial intern under the Honorable Michael Schneider, Jr., 315th Juvenile District Court. During law school, he clerked for Gilman & Allison, L.L.P., a firm specializing in admiralty and maritime law. Mr. Hesse also has worked as a legal assistant clerk at Baker Botts, L.L.P. He is a veteran of the United States Coast Guard. Mr. Hesse was activated multiple times after September 11, 2001, and has received numerous awards, including the Commandant’s Letter of Commendation, Presidential Unit Citation and Global War on Terror Service Medal.

Ms. McClennen Lorenz advises and represents employers in a wide range of labor and employment matters. She focuses her practice on matters involving employer interactions with administrative agencies such as OSHA, DOL, and the Texas Workforce Commission. Ms. McClennen Lorenz has experience litigating OSHA violations, discrimination claims, and regularly advises on workplace safety issues. Additionally, she handles OSHA whistleblower investigations concerning retaliation complaints made under the multiple statutes investigated by OSHA. She defends actions brought by whistleblower complainants for appeal to the Department of Labor. Ms. McClennen Lorenz has significant experience with Gig Economy concerns and regularly provides advice on matters involving independent contractors. She has experience in state and federal courts throughout Texas. Ms. McClennen Lorenz earned her B.A. degree, cum laude, from Southern Methodist University and her J.D. degree from The University of Oklahoma College of Law.

Ms. Azeredo joined Barron, Adler, Clough & Oddo, PLLC in 2024, bringing a diverse expertise in eminent domain law, transportation litigation, employment law, and commercial law. Throughout her career, she has brought five cases to jury trial, secured two appellate victories, and participated in hundreds of Special Commissioners hearings. Before joining Barron, Adler, Clough & Oddo, PLLC, Ms. Azeredo worked at Gilstrap Law Group, a commercial law firm in Austin, TX. She also served as the Houston area team lead for the Texas Attorney General’s Office’s Transportation Division, where she oversaw major litigation cases for the Texas Department of Transportation, including projects like the Grand Parkway and I-10.

Mr. Baum is a partner handling Texas civil litigation matters and property disputes. He has a statewide practice focused on representing and protecting Texas landowners and tenants facing real estate, condemnation, and eminent domain lawsuits. He regularly assists Texas landowners against takings by the State of Texas, cities, counties, oil and gas companies, pipeline companies, and electric transmission line companies. Mr. Baum graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 2006 with a B.A. degree in Government. He then spent time working for both the Texas House of Representatives and Texas Senate before attending Texas Tech University School of Law, where he graduated in 2012. There, he was the Lead Articles Editor of the Texas Tech Law Review and a member of the Board of Barristers. While in law school, he worked for the United States Attorneys’ Office for the Northern District of Texas, the Office of the Attorney General of Texas, and the Washington Legal Foundation. He is admitted to practice in Texas and the U.S. District Court for the Southern and Western Districts of Texas. He is a member of the Texas Young Lawyers Association, the Austin Bar Association, and the Austin Young Lawyers Association.

Ms. Knox joined Barron, Adler, Clough & Oddo, PLLC, in 2016. Focusing in eminent domain, inverse condemnation, and land use litigation, she primarily researches complex legal issues and writes motions, discovery, and appeals, helping to advance cases during the litigation process. Prior to joining Barron, Adler, Clough & Oddo, PLLC, Ms. Knox was an associate with McGinnis, Lochridge & Kilgore, LLP, where she focused her practice on commercial litigation, including business disputes, oil and gas issues, condemnation matters, and administrative law matters in Texas and federal courts. She also has experience litigating civil cases in state and federal appellate courts.

Ms. Sliva is a civil litigation associate at Marrs Ellis & Hodge LLP in Houston, Texas, where her practice focuses on eminent domain and probate litigation. A native of the Texas Gulf Coast, Ms. Sliva brings a deep respect for land, legacy, and the communities connected to both. Ms. Sliva earned her J.D. degree from the University of Houston Law Center, where she founded the Agricultural Law Association and served as a teaching assistant for the 1L Property Law course. She is also a proud former student at Texas A&M, where she was active as a Diamond Darling and Aggie Network Student Ambassador.

Mr. Stuckey practices primarily in corporate, real estate, and environmental law, including transactional work and litigation. He has a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M University and J.D. and L.L.M. degrees from the University of Houston Law Center. Mr. Stuckey is admitted to the practice of law in all Texas courts, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and the U.S. Claims Court. He is also licensed in Texas as a professional engineer and a registered public land surveyor.

Mr. Taylor is an attorney who represents clients in trials and litigation throughout Texas. Graham’s practice primarily involves the protection of property rights for clients whose properties are being impacted by condemning authorities in eminent domain.Mr. Taylor has represented his clients in court and at special commissioners’ hearings. He has also successfully mediated and settled dozens of cases outside of trial. Mr. Taylor’s passion for constitutional rights does not end in the courtroom. In addition to representing clients full-time, he is an adjunct professor at the University of St. Thomas where he teaches Constitutional Law and Environmental Law. Mr. Taylor is also coach of the University of St. Thomas Mock Trial Team.

Mr. Tobin enjoyed a robust full-service practice for 15 years of his career with both transactional and litigation experience. He represented property owners, business owners, and in-house counsel across a variety of industries, such as technology, banking / financial services, real estate, construction, and outdoor advertising. He worked with clients during every phase of the business cycle, from contract negotiation to courtroom advocacy, including handling a multi-million dollar transactions and litigating complex commercial disputes in Texas and federal court. Additionally, Mr. Tobin had a prominent role in running the business of his previous firm, where he served as President and on the Board of Directors. The combination of Mr. Tobin’s vast experience with McFarland’s singular focus provides McFarland’s clients the best of both worlds – a full service business lawyer channeling his experience to condemnation representation. He is admitted to the Texas and New York Bar Associations. Mr. Tobin received her J.D. degree from Southern Methodist University School of Law and his B.A. degree from the University of Buffalo.

Mr. Blount is a 1984 graduate of the University of Houston. After college he served as an Army Corps of Engineers officer on both active and reserve duty, achieving the rank of captain while being stationed in the United States, Republic of Germany and the Republic of Honduras. He has worked in the civil engineering field for forty years and is a Registered Professional Engineer (FL) (WA) (NC) (WI) (TX) (ME) as well as a LEED Accredited Professional, Certified Flood Plain Manager (CFM) and Envision Sustainability Professional (ENV SP). Mr. Blount was employed by Harris County for over thirty-four years starting as an Inspector and advancing to the position of County Engineer responsible for 766 employees and over a billion-dollar annual infrastructure program. He previously served on the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) Joint Wastewater Committee and was previously Chairman of the Texas Onsite Wastewater Research Council appointed by the governor. Currently Mr. Blount is principal of Civil Solutions, a Consulting Engineering firm located in Houston, Texas.

Mr. Jantrania received a B.E. degree in agricultural Engineering from India, an M.S. in Agricultural Engineering from The Ohio State University, and a Ph.D. in Agricultural Engineering from Clemson University. He also has an MBA degree from West Virginia University, and he holds a professional engineering (P.E.) license in Texas and Virginia.

Dr. Jantrania is an associate professor/extension specialist in the Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department at Texas A&M University, Texas. He has over 30 years of experience working in the wastewater industry, both in public and private sectors, with a focus on on-site sewage facilities (septic and aerobic systems), and decentralized wastewater and water systems. Mr. Jantrania’s research and extension interests focus on sustainable infrastructure to ensure the availability of clean water to meet society’s water demands, and to ensure safe sanitation to protect public health and environmental quality.

Before coming to Texas, He worked in Virginia, Massachusetts, and West Virginia. His work in Texas focuses on developing a statewide extension education and research program related to surface and groundwater quality protection with specific emphasis on onsite wastewater treatment and reuse technologies. Dr. Jantrania has authored and co-authored more than 50 papers, including a book titled Advanced Onsite Wastewater Systems Technologies published by CRC Press, and delivered more than 100 presentations at local, state, national and international conferences.

Dr. Speakmon has over 10 years of experience with concrete paving, engineering, design, and research. He has a master’s degree in Civil-Structural Engineering and a doctorate degree in Civil-Materials Engineering from Texas A&M University. He has worked with mix design, structural design, life cycle analyses and many other aspects of concrete paving. Dr. Speakmon serves on the Pavement Design Committee for the American Concrete Pavement Association (ACPA).

Mr. Mazzola graduated from the University of Houston in 2006 with a B.S. in Kinesiology with a focus in Sport Administration. While at the University of Houston, He was accepted into the Sales Excellence Institute at the Bauer College of Business and obtained an advanced certificate in Professional Selling. After graduation, he went to work for a major insurance carrier for three years before embarking on law school. In 2012, he obtained a law degree from St. Mary’s School of Law in San Antonio, Texas. During law school, Mr. Mazzola served as a senator for the Student Bar Association, chair of the Young Alumni-Law Student Chapter, participated in numerous mock trial competitions, and was a member of the External Advocacy Program’s Competition Negotiations team. In addition, Mr. Mazzola was a staff writer on The Scholar: St. Mary’s Law Review on Race on Social Justice where his article on how the law often criminalized victims of human trafficking received Credit with Honors. Because of his experience as a staff writer, he worked as a TA in the Legal Research and Writing program.

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.

Ms. Grove is an experienced and Board Certified Paralegal with a demonstrated history of working in the legal and medical industries. She is skilled in medical record summarization, drafting pleadings and discovery, e-filing, demand preparation, negotiation, subrogation and reductions.

Mr. Mazzola graduated from the University of Houston in 2006 with a B.S. in Kinesiology with a focus in Sport Administration. While at the University of Houston, He was accepted into the Sales Excellence Institute at the Bauer College of Business and obtained an advanced certificate in Professional Selling. After graduation, he went to work for a major insurance carrier for three years before embarking on law school. In 2012, he obtained a law degree from St. Mary’s School of Law in San Antonio, Texas. During law school, Mr. Mazzola served as a senator for the Student Bar Association, chair of the Young Alumni-Law Student Chapter, participated in numerous mock trial competitions, and was a member of the External Advocacy Program’s Competition Negotiations team. In addition, Mr. Mazzola was a staff writer on The Scholar: St. Mary’s Law Review on Race on Social Justice where his article on how the law often criminalized victims of human trafficking received Credit with Honors. Because of his experience as a staff writer, he worked as a TA in the Legal Research and Writing program.

Mr. Ragsdale’s law practice provides legal representation for individuals and families in serious personal injury and wrongful death cases. In law school, he studied to become the kind of lawyer who made an important difference in the lives of clients. He aspired to stand up to large corporate interests and others that were unwilling to take responsibility for injuries and damages they caused. Mr. Ragsdale now has more than 28 years of experience fighting for individuals and families in state and federal courts in Texas. He has handled thousands of cases and obtained millions of dollars in damages for injured clients. He was recently recognized by the National Trial Lawyers as a Top 100 Trial Lawyer in North Texas. Mr. Ragsdale completed mediator’s training at the SMU Center for dispute resolution and conflict management, and he has have served as a mediator and successfully mediated the settlement of over 50 lawsuits.

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.

Samuel J. King is a partner at McCathern, Shokouhi, Evans. Mr. King is an experienced civil litigator and trial lawyer. Based in the firm’s Frisco office, Mr. King represents businesses, insurers, and individuals in complex civil litigation across Texas. His practice focuses on high-exposure personal injury, wrongful death, premises liability, and property loss disputes. He represents clients through every stage of litigation, from pre-suit investigation and discovery through mediation and trial.

Mr. King was born and raised in Dallas County. He graduated from Irving’s MacArthur High School in 1991. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from Texas Tech University in 1997 and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Houston Law Center in 2000. Mr. King has been licensed by the State Bar of Texas since 2000 and is admitted to practice before the United States District Courts for the Northern and Eastern Districts of Texas. He is a member of the Texas Bar College, an honorary society recognizing commitment to continuing legal education and professional excellence.

Mr. Mazzola graduated from the University of Houston in 2006 with a B.S. in Kinesiology with a focus in Sport Administration. While at the University of Houston, He was accepted into the Sales Excellence Institute at the Bauer College of Business and obtained an advanced certificate in Professional Selling. After graduation, he went to work for a major insurance carrier for three years before embarking on law school. In 2012, he obtained a law degree from St. Mary’s School of Law in San Antonio, Texas. During law school, Mr. Mazzola served as a senator for the Student Bar Association, chair of the Young Alumni-Law Student Chapter, participated in numerous mock trial competitions, and was a member of the External Advocacy Program’s Competition Negotiations team. In addition, Mr. Mazzola was a staff writer on The Scholar: St. Mary’s Law Review on Race on Social Justice where his article on how the law often criminalized victims of human trafficking received Credit with Honors. Because of his experience as a staff writer, he worked as a TA in the Legal Research and Writing program.

Brian C. Steward is a civil trial attorney with the Law Firm of Brian C. Steward, P.L.L.C. Mr. Steward is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Mr. Steward is also a Member of the American Board of Trial Advocates. These are honors reflective of over three decades of complex civil litigation in Texas, Louisiana, New Jersey and New Mexico.

Mr. Steward was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 1990, as well as the Western, Southern, Northern and Eastern Districts of the Federal Court system in 1992. Mr. Steward was admitted to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in 1994. Although a civil trial lawyer, he has argued numerous cases to the Fourth Court of Appeals.

Over the years, Mr. Steward has handled products liability, medical malpractice and business litigation matters through trial. In addition to his trial practice, Mr. Steward serves as a certified mediator who has assisted litigants since the inception of the Bexar County mediation system in 1992. Unlike many mediators, he remains actively engaged in complex litigation, regularly evaluating cases, preparing for trial, and advising clients on risk and resolution. This ongoing, hands-on experience allows him to approach mediation with practical insight into the challenges faced by both counsel and their clients.

Mr. Steward has also been involved with the San Antonio and Texas legal communities. He has presided over the Medical Legal Liaison Committee of the San Antonio Bar Association on three separate occasions. In 2021, the San Antonio Bar Association recognized Mr. Steward with the Distinguished Service Award due to his work with various organizations in Texas, North Carolina and Massachusetts. He was also elected to chair the State Bar of Texas Grievance Committee District 10. He currently serves as a Director of the San Antonio Trial Lawyers Association and is a former Director of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association.

His dedication and hard work have been recognized by his peers as evidenced by his selection as a Texas Super Lawyer (2016 to present) and Scene in San Antonio’s Best Lawyers since 2006.

Mr. Steward is an active supporter of the continuing legal education efforts. He has been a frequent contributor and presenter to these efforts since 1999. In 2015, he was tapped to serve as the Course Director of the Advanced Personal Injury Trial Seminar in 2017. He has also presented at the Texas Trial Lawyers, San Antonio Trial Lawyers, Corpus Christi Bar Association and other legal groups since 2015. He is an active member of the William S. Session’s Chapter of the American Inns of Court as well as mentor programs with St. Mary’s School of Law.

Floodplain Administrator and Utility Engineer, City of Round Rock, TX
Until the end of last year, Mr. Carr served as the Planning and Development Services Engineering Division Manager with the City of Round Rock, Texas. With that previous group he facilitated permit applications for site and subdivision development from the point of annexation and platting through site construction and closeout. Mr. Carr spent 13 years in this review and permitting role after 4 years with Pape-Dawson Consulting Engineers designing site and subdivision plans.

Mr. Carr now reviews utilities, flood studies, and drainage studies for his former group for code compliance and technical correctness.  Additionally, he advises other City of Round Rock departments on floodplain related items as well as manages Capital Investment Projects for the City for drainage and utility projects.

Prior to working for the City of Round Rock and Pape-Dawson in Austin, Mr. Carr earned his B.S. degree in Civil Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin.  He continues to serve as a mentor for a senior civil engineering design class at the University of Texas, which he has done for the past several years. He is also a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers. Mr. Carr is a licensed professional engineer in Texas and is a certified floodplain manager.