product

Ms. Dineen has been a paralegal for 36 years, first starting out in California and then in Spokane since 2000.   For the past 25 years that she has been at EMLVO where she has assisted her attorneys with cases in criminal law, personal injury and business litigation.  Her “super powers” are managing large volumes of discovery, preparing for trial and attending trial as a “Jodi of All Trades”.

Mr. Pearson joined the Iddins Law Group in 2020 and his practice areas include personal injury, estate planning, and criminal defense. Mr. Pearson attended the University of Washington and Saint Martin’s University, earning an undergraduate degree. Mr. Pearson earned his J.D. degree from the Seattle University School of Law and is a member in good standing of the Washington State Bar Association.

Mr. Tollefson is a principal at Black Robe Dispute Resolution Services, PLLC. He also serves as a pro-tem judge for Pierce County Superior Court. Previously, he served as a judge for Pierce County Superior Court for more than 27 years. During his time on Superior Court, he was on the Executive Committee, served as presiding judge, and participated on a number of local Superior Court committees. He served on several committees in the Washington State Superior Court Judges Association and as a trustee on the Association’s board of trustees for five years.

Ms. Annest is a Seattle native, she graduated cum laude and with high honors from Dartmouth College in 2000, where she captained the women’s volleyball team and was a visiting student at Oxford University. Ms. Annest received her J.D. with honors from the University of Washington School of Law in 2003 and served as a Notes and Comments Editor of the Washington Law Review. She spent the first 16 years of her career at Mills Meyers Swartling, P.S., and gained substantial litigation experience representing large and small businesses in a variety of contract, insurance, product liability, and real property matters. Ms. Annest served as President of the Western Washington chapter of the Dartmouth Alumni Association for years, and continued competing in volleyball tournaments with her USAV team. After adopting her daughter in 2008, she began building her family formation practice. Adoption, assisted reproduction, estate planning, and probate matters filled an increasingly large percentage of her time. Particularly after she and her husband adopted their son in 2010, the kids also filled an increasingly large percentage of her time. In 2015, Ms. Annest became a Fellow of the Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys (fka the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys). In 2019, she joined the experienced adoption and estate planning team of Albert Lirhus and John Keckemet. Ms. Annest’s practice now includes all types of adoption, including complex situations involving ICWA and ICPC, step-, second-, and third-parent adoptions, contested adoptions, and birth parent representation. In addition, the 2019 revisions to Washington’s Uniform Parentage Act opened new possibilities for families pursuing assisted reproductive technologies. Surrogacy and gamete donation contracts represent a growing portion of her work.

Ms. Buie is the founder and CEO of Elise Buie Family Law. Her practice focuses on family law and serving as a guardian ad litem, advocating for children’s best interest in high-conflict divorce and dependency matters. Ms. Buie’s practice involves all aspects of family law: preparation of postnuptial and separation agreements, parenting plans, child support, simple and complex financial cases, relocation, and blended families. She is collaboratively trained and has had 40 hours of mediation training. Ms. Buie is an active member of the Washington Bar, a voluntarily inactive member of both the Minnesota Bar and the Louisiana Bar, and the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana. She is a member of the King County Bar Association (Family Law Section, Collaborative Law Section), the Snohomish County Bar Association, the Washington State Bar Association, (Family Law Section, CLE Committee), the Washington Women Lawyers, the National Association of Women Lawyers, The Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC) (incoming president 2019 Washington Chapter), and the American Bar Association (Family Law Section and GP Solo Division, Family Law Committee, Juvenile Law Committee, Commission on Women in the Profession). She earned her J.D. degree from Loyola School of Law.

Mr. Hawthorne is a paralegal and Limited License Legal Technician with Just-in Case Family Law. He has been a paralegal for more than 11 years and was admitted to the Washington State Bar as an LLLT in 2021.

Mr. Khan’s practice emphasizes family law, bankruptcy, general litigation (including personal injury), and drafting simple wills. He is an experienced family law mediator and has published several articles, including co-writing the Family Law Deskbook chapter on prenuptial agreements. Mr. Khan has served as a pro tem family law commissioner at King County Superior Court. He is a former adjunct professor of family law in the paralegal program at Edmonds Community College. Mr. Khan is a member of the Illinois and Washington State Bars. He is also a member of the Washington State Bar Family Law and Bankruptcy Law sections, and King County Bar Association (and Family Law and Bankruptcy Law sections). He earned his J.D. degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology and his LL.M. degree from the University of Washington School of Law. 

Korey Twombly has been an experienced paralegal with Envision Family Law since February 2024, with prior paralegal roles at Morris | Sockle | Posadas and at the Washington State Department of Health as a Health Services Consultant. Ms. Twombly holds an associate of arts and sciences degree in Paralegal Studies from South Puget Sound Community College and an associate’s degree in Hospitality and Hotel Restaurant Management from Anne Arundel Community College. She is currently working towards a bachelor’s degree at The Evergreen State College.

Hon. Ron Culpepper
After more than 29 years of judicial experience, retired Judge Ronald Culpepper is available to help resolve disputes through mediation and arbitration. Mediation or arbitration will save clients time, money, and stress. Judge Culpepper graduated magna cum laude from the University of Washington, with a degree in history, then attended and graduated from the University of Washington School of Law. After eleven years of private practice in Seattle and Tacoma, he began his judicial career in Pierce County District Court, first as Commissioner, and then as Superior Court Judge. Governor Gary Locke appointed Judge Culpepper to Superior Court in 2003. Judge Culpepper served as an officer of the Superior Court Judges Association and was selected as a Superior Court Representative to the Statewide Board of Judicial Administration for a four year term.

Ms. Wilgis is a passionate advocate for her clients, representing children and families for over 25 years as an attorney in private practice, as a former Assistant Attorney General, and as a family and children’s Ombudsman for the State of Washington. Ms. Wilgis is committed to helping clients navigate difficult transitions in their lives through compassionate advice and skilled advocacy, both through negotiation and litigation. 

Mr. Rawnsley has been licensed to practice law since 2004 and has been employed in the legal field since 1992. He has been fortunate to have served clients in both the capacity of an attorney and as support staff for civil litigation covering a wide range of issues including but not limited to family law, probate, general civil litigation, collections, debtor/creditor rights, real property issues and the like. His practice is litigation intensive with an emphasis on trial preparation which generally results in cases settling prior to trial. All too often the outcome of a case is determined in its initial stages and such highly contested litigation requires a proactive approach. Mr. Rawnsley is a former chair of the Family Law Section of the Thurston County Bar Association (2014 & 2015). He also serves as an elected member of the Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) Family Law Executive Committee (FLEC). In addition to his duties as a member of FLEC, he also serves as a legislative liaison for FLEC to the Washington State Legislature. Mr. Rawnsley also serves as a mentor attorney to the Thurston County Volunteer Legal Clinic and has presented at many continuing legal education seminars on a variety of issues involving family law and civil procedure.

Rhea Rolfe Gilson-Moreau & Associates, P.S.
Ms. Rhea J. Rolfe has been practicing law for over 35 years, primarily as a private solo practitioner. She has taught college-level law-related courses, including Women and the Law, Business Law, and Women of Color in America, and she has been a featured speaker for continuing legal education seminars. She has been an investigator for human rights agencies, and the Washington State Bar Association. Ms. Rolfe has been an arbitrator, mediator, and guardian ad litem for the courts, and a hearing examiner for the City of Seattle Civil Service Commission. She currently focuses her practice on family law, with a specialty in interstate and international custody and abduction issues (UCCJEA and Hague Convention). Ms. Rolfe was an editor for the WSBA Family Law Deskbook, and is on the YWCA Pathways for Women Displaced Homemakers’ Advisory Board, Operation Lookout Advisory Board, and the Washington Blues Society Board of Directors.

Dave Christensen is the Washington State Department of Ecology Water Resources Deputy Program Manager. He has been with Ecology for 12 years working on legislative proposals, regulations, and policies on water resource management. Mr. Christensen has worked for state agencies, local government and non-profit organizations, with more than 30 years of professional experience in water resources, public health and environmental management.

Mr. Golding’s firm serves the wide-ranging legal needs of Indian tribes and other Native American entities and individuals, as well as non-profit conservation and community groups. In addition to defending treaty hunting and fishing rights, the firm’s work involves tribal sovereignty and jurisdiction, taxation, land and water rights, federal government contracting, and natural and cultural resource protection. Mr. Golding specializes in litigation involving the intersection of environmental law and federal Indian law, Washington State water law, and administrative environmental appeals.

Dr. Sasha Richey McLarty is an assistant professor at Washington State University. Her main interest is in identifying and quantifying the interaction between human and physical systems, with a focus on groundwater and large-scale hydrologic systems. Currently, Dr. Richey’s research combines satellite and in situ observations of hydrologic systems into modeling and decision support frameworks over large regional scales, including in the Columbia Plateau Aquifer in the Pacific Northwest (USA) and in Central Asia. She mainly focuses on complex groundwater systems, where interdisciplinary approaches are necessary to understand both natural and anthropogenic drivers of aquifer change. She enjoys working at the interface of research and water resources management and has contributed to multiple “science diplomacy” efforts in the United States and internationally to advance the role of scientific research in decision making. Dr. Richey earned her M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Civil Engineering – Hydrology and Water Resources Specialty from the University of California, Irvine.

As Chair of the Land Use and Real Estate Practice Group, Mr. Howsley’s practice focuses on land use and real estate development and is deeply intertwined to the home building industry in the Northwest. He is recognized regionally for his advocacy of the development community. Jamie represents companies, developers, and builders throughout the Pacific Northwest. He has successfully represented clients in a range of complex land use/development projects, including advocacy for large scale master planned developments throughout Washington and Oregon, getting new land into urban growth areas, and working with local governments on complex and creative financing tools to build necessary infrastructure.

Mr. Mullaney provides practical and strategic guidance to public entities and private companies regarding land development and permitting matters, spanning various property types such as residential, office, industrial, retail, healthcare, large public infrastructure projects and natural resource lands. He works closely with clients to provide cost-effective service that helps save time and money while achieving their development goals. Mr. Mullaney has extensive experience in all facets of land development, including managing and coordinating consultant teams, negotiating with government agencies, representing public and private developers in land use litigation, and defending project permits in administrative and judicial appeals. Additionally, he assists clients in negotiating development agreements and resolving disputes concerning boundary lines, easements, covenants, or regulatory compliance issues.

Mr. Neale chose to pursue a legal career because it allows him to help clients find practical solutions to real world challenges. He finds it satisfying to strategize and reach business solutions which benefit his clients. Closely interacting with clients and understanding their needs underlies everything he does. For Mr. Neale, it is very satisfying to finalize a deal, resolve a dispute, or devise a legal strategy that benefits his clients and reflects the outcome that they want. His practice has given him the opportunity to serve clients in a variety of settings. Although his current focus is on business transactional work, Mr. Neale also has experience in litigation, so he understands how to deal with and, if possible, avoid legal conflicts. His broad experience allows him to successfully pursue his client-focused practice. After graduating from law school in California, he decided to relocate to Washington. Mr. Neale has family in Washington and has always loved the beauty of the state. He enjoys hiking and snowboarding in his free time. Washington’s outdoor lifestyle and Seattle’s sophisticated business environment make it a perfect place to practice law and thrive.

Mr. Ordon-Bakalian is a member of the firm’s land use and development practice group. He focuses his practice on land use and environmental law, with experience handling a variety of regulatory and legal compliance matters at the intersection of these two fields of law. His experience includes representing developers and homeowners in local and state land use zoning, permitting, code enforcement, and environmental compliance for development projects and existing land uses. An attorney is an asset to any development team. Mr. Ordon-Bakalian is dedicated to helping clients navigate the complex regulatory environment surrounding land development. He specializes in proactively identifying and addressing potential challenges that could hinder the progress of a project, as well as managing the intricate personal and political relationships characteristic of land development. While earning his J.D. from Lewis & Clark Law School, Mr. Ordon-Bakalian clerked for the Snohomish County Prosecutor’s Office located in northwest Washington, in the County’s Land Use and Environmental Unit. In addition, he clerked for Western Resources Legal Center, where he assisted in drafting pleadings in Federal District Court and the Ninth Circuit relating to Federal forest practices and ranching.

Mr. Shamsi has an extensive background in real estate law and civil litigation. He has assisted clients in a variety of areas, including but not limited to construction litigation, boundary disputes, enforcement of easements and covenants, title litigation, commercial litigation, real estate transactions and commercial lease negotiations, business disputes, and trusts and estates litigation. After earning his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center, Mr. Shamsi started practicing law in 2011, and joined Beresford Booth in 2015, where he has served a diverse array of individuals and entities, including financial institutions, community associations, contractors, creditors, individuals, and small businesses.

Alexandra Houle works together with her business partner Elena Houle at My Medicare Solutions, a family company in Auburn, Washington. The company has been in business for 17 years and has served clients in all of Washington state as well as 10+ other states. As a Medicare broker, Ms. Houle is able to represent and compare all the highly rated and recognized insurance companies providing all available Medicare products. The goal of My Medicare Solution is to assist each client in finding an insurance solution that fits their unique needs and make sure that they understand their options and choose a plan that works for them through one-on-one meetings and group presentations. She also provides support for her members all throughout the year and continues to make sure their plan fits year after year.

Brian Isaacson is an attorney with Washington Elder Law PLLC in Edmonds. Mr. Isaacson is a native of the Pacific Northwest and has been practicing law for over 20 years. He focuses on the areas of elder law, Medicaid planning, estate planning, IRA planning, tax planning, and stock option planning. Holding a masters of law degree in Taxation, he is a certified Attorney/CPA, and he is highly respected nationwide in the legal and tax community for his extensive and sophisticated work in tax litigation. An active member of the American Academy of Attorney-CPAs and president of its Washington State chapter, Mr. Isaacson approaches his work with great energy and serves his clients with respect and compassion. He is a member of the American Bar Association Tax Section, the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, and Lawyers With Purpose. Mr. Isaacson is a sought-after speaker and has coauthored several books on wealth preservation, including Don’t Go Broke in a Nursing Home; Protect Your IRA—Avoid the 5 Common Mistakes; and Tax Free Money For Long-Term Care.

Aaron Paker follows a trinitarian (not Trinitarian) approach to life based around a core value of Love, including in his legal work. This approach can best be summarized as an overarching belief in Ubuntu (“I am because you are”); an interpersonal commitment to love everyone; and an intrapersonal faith in the value of a “Givers Gain” mentality. His family life, friendships, social services, and legal work are all centered on this idea of treating everyone with respect and love and doing all that he can to improve their lives. To Mr. Paker, a client is not a source of income or another face in the crowd. He prides himself on patiently listening to stories that are completely unrelated to the work he is doing, but that are important for the client to share with someone; keeping in touch after the work is done and ensuring that he puts the extra mile in, even at the expense of the profit margin. It is this need to improve lives that drew him to specialize in Crisis cases, typically Medicaid or Medicaid alternatives and Probate. Mr. Paker has been doing Medicaid work for about 10 years, starting as a paralegal and working his way through Seattle University School of Law as a part-time evening student. He graduated cum laude, with special honors, in his Elder Law and Advanced Elder Law classes, has self-published a guide to Medicaid with over 1,300 copies distributed in the first 2 years, and has successfully filed over 1,000 Medicaid applications.

Travis Pierce is an attorney with Inland Northwest Estate Planning and Elder Law, PLLC, in Spokane Valley. His practice focuses exclusively on elder law and estate planning. He has been an attorney since 1998 and practicing in the state of Washington since 2014. Mr. Pierce is a graduate of Lewis and Clark School of Law in Portland, Oregon. In addition to his JD degree, he earned an LLM (Masters in Law) with Distinction in Elder Law from Stetson University. Mr. Pierce is an active member of the National Association of Elder Law Attorneys and the Washington Association of Elder Law Attorneys.

Scott Terry is an attorney with Terry Law firm in Sumner. His main areas of practice are estate planning and personal injury. Mr. Terry is a local attorney who grew up in Des Moines, Washington. After graduating from Brigham Young University in 1986, he attended Seattle University School of Law. Mr. Terry has worked as a legal analyst on NW Cable News, as a pro tem judge, and has represented clients in more than 40 jury trials. With more than 30 years of practicing law, he is confident in the legal services he provides in Washington.

Mr. Betteidge’s career began as an engineering technician at Boeing, designing payload systems for 747 and 767’s, then with Boeing Computer Networks and their phone systems nationwide. He transitioned to environmental engineering in the early ’90s assisting engineers and scientists to clean up polluted groundwater and soils resulting from industrial and military activities as well as leaking underground storage tanks. Mr. Betteridge began public service in 2001 after seven years with civil engineers designing single-family, multifamily, and commercial developments including TESC plans. While at The City of Federal Way he supported the Public Works Division with stormwater inspections, erosion control inspections, and salmon restoration sampling efforts in support of illicit discharge detection and pollution responses. He has been continuously CESCL Certified since 2005 and an APWA certified stormwater manager for five years. He has developed training for city inspectors and regional information-sharing groups. Mr. Betteridge currently works at the City of Tukwila as the NPDES coordinator and manages the Lower Duwamish Source Control efforts to clean up the Superfund site called the Lower Duwamish Waterway.

With over 50 years of expertise in water resources planning, flood studies, and stormwater modeling, Mr. Beyerlein co-founded Clear Creek Solutions after distinguished roles in the San Franciso Bay area and Snohomish County. As a senior hydrologic engineer, he played a key role in shaping Snohomish County’s surface water management program, excelling in watershed planning, monitoring, flood control, and compliance with water quality laws. A trailblazer in engineering, Mr. Beyerlein led the development of accurate tools for analyzing land development impacts on streams, earning his firm contracts for stormwater software in California, Oregon, and Washington. Having taught stormwater modeling to over 2000 professionals, he conducts workshops on HSPF theory and application. Licensed as a professional engineer in Washington and California, certified as a professional hydrologist, and a member of the American Academy of Water Resources Engineers, Mr. Beyerlein serves clients like the U.S. EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers. Noteworthy contributions include impactful stormwater papers such as “Why Standard Stormwater Mitigation Doesn’t Work” and “Dumbing Down Hydrology.”

Ms. Foreman is a graduate of Harvard College, Harvard Law School, and the University of Washington School of Law, where she earned an advanced degree in tax law while building her practice. Her practice focuses on tax and estate planning for individuals, families and businesses, business advising, guardianships, and estate and trust administration and litigation. Ms. Foreman serves on the boards of Tree Top, Inc. and the Harvard Club of Seattle, as well as the Estate and Gift Tax Committee of the WSBA Taxation Section. She is a member of the WSBA Small Town and Rural Committee, which seeks to strengthen and support the practice of law in the rural communities throughout Washington, and the WSBA Editorial Advisory Committee, which publishes the Bar News. Ms. Foreman is a past President of the Chelan-Douglas County Bar Association and a longtime volunteer for both Chelan-Douglas County Volunteer Attorney Services and the Harvard Alumni Association.

Mr. Kim focuses his practice on estate planning and probate, guiding clients through some of life’s most important and personal decisions. Mr. Kim works closely with individuals and families to develop customized estate plans that reflect their values and goals—whether that involves providing for future generations, minimizing tax liability, supporting charitable causes, or protecting minor children. He discovered his passion for estate planning and tax law while attending Seattle University School of Law. To build on this interest, Mr. Kim earned an LL.M. in Taxation from New York University School of Law, where he completed advanced coursework in international estate planning and the tax treatment of charitable giving

The focus of Ms. Olds’ practice is meeting the needs of the individual whether it is though designing an estate plan, assisting with a probate or establishing a small business or not for profit. Ms. Olds is a member of the Washington State Bar Association, Spokane County Bar Association, and Spokane Estate Planning Council. She has served on the boards of over fifteen different not for profits and foundations within our community. Ms. Olds is a frequent lecturer on estate planning and probate for local professional associations and for educational seminars providing continuing education for attorneys, paralegals, accountants, and CFP’s. She qualified for her CPA license in 1990 and is presently a CPA Inactive. She received a BA in Accounting from the University of Washington and graduated with honors from Seattle University School of Law. She went on to obtain an LL.M in Taxation from the University of Florida School of Law.

With over 50 years of expertise in water resources planning, flood studies, and stormwater modeling, Mr. Beyerlein co-founded Clear Creek Solutions after distinguished roles in the San Franciso Bay area and Snohomish County. As a senior hydrologic engineer, he played a key role in shaping Snohomish County’s surface water management program, excelling in watershed planning, monitoring, flood control, and compliance with water quality laws. A trailblazer in engineering, Mr. Beyerlein led the development of accurate tools for analyzing land development impacts on streams, earning his firm contracts for stormwater software in California, Oregon, and Washington. Having taught stormwater modeling to over 2000 professionals, he conducts workshops on HSPF theory and application. Licensed as a professional engineer in Washington and California, certified as a professional hydrologist, and a member of the American Academy of Water Resources Engineers, Mr. Beyerlein serves clients like the U.S. EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers. Noteworthy contributions include impactful stormwater papers such as “Why Standard Stormwater Mitigation Doesn’t Work” and “Dumbing Down Hydrology.”

Ms. Cronin has eighteen years of professional experience in water rights and policy, water transactions, river restoration and conservation program design, facilitation and implementation. Currently Ms. Cronin is leading a facilitated and technical process for implementation of the bi-state Walla Walla Basin strategic plan, designing a groundwater mitigation program in southern Idaho and drafting a basin wide drought plan. Before joining Fluent, she worked for the Washington Water Trust for more than a decade, working across Washington State to implement environmental water transactions and mitigation programs with particular emphasis in the Walla Walla Basin and Puget Sound Basins. Ms. Cronin has evaluated, designed and set-up water mitigation banks to meet instream and out of stream water needs in several watersheds in Washington and in central Arizona. She also co-teaches a graduate course at Oregon State University on environmental water transactions. Ms. Cronin holds a MS in Environmental Science and Policy with Distinction from Northern Arizona University and a BA in Biology and Environmental Studies from Whitman College. Amanda is based in Seattle.

Ms. Frase’s practice focuses on representing individuals, businesses, and municipal governments throughout Washington State in matters involving the Model Toxics Control Act, Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, as well as other federal and state environmental laws. Sara’s interests in environmental law have also naturally progressed into water systems and water rights matters for individuals, municipal governments, and port districts. Ms. Frase is also actively involved in crucial environmental litigation at both the trial and appellate court level. As an active member of the firm’s Port practice group, she enjoys having a hand in many of Washington’s port district’s environmental stewardship efforts and economic successes. Ms. Frase has even had the pleasure of being invited to speak on environmental law matters for the Washington Public Ports Association and the Northwest Environmental Business Council. Through her environmental and port district work, she has developed critical skills necessary for analyzing and triggering historical insurance coverage. Using these skills, she has aided many of the firm’s clients in insurance coverage disputes with their carriers.

Ms. O’Brien is a water rights specialist with over 14 years of experience in water resource management, specializing in water banking and water rights permitting in Washington and Alaska. Previously based in Aspect’s Yakima, Washington, office, Ms. O’Brien moved to Anchorage, Alaska, to serve as a Water Rights Permitting Manager for the Alaska Department of Natural Resources. In Washington, her work focused on planning and permitting for water bank development and transactions, water bank administration, and developing legislative reports on water management. In Alaska, she has managed a wide range of water rights permitting projects for municipal, instream flow, irrigation, and industrial purposes, along with temporary water use authorizations. Ms. O’Brien is dedicated to assisting water users in managing their water rights portfolios, planning future water use, developing water banks, and managing SEPA Environmental Impact Statements (EIS).

Ms. Ray is the Robert and Irene Sylvester assistant professor in the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering at the University of Washington. Ms. Ray received her B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering from Washington University in St. Louis in 2009. Upon graduation, she remained at Washington University in St. Louis to obtain a M.S. degree (2010, funded by the NSF GK-12 Graduate Research Fellowship) and a Ph.D. in Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering (2015, funded by the EPA Students to Achieve Results (STAR) Fellowship). During her Ph.D., Ms. Ray employed surface chemistry techniques to investigate interfacial reactions of nanomaterials in water. She then moved to California as a Miller Institute Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of California, Berkeley in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. As a postdoc, Ms. Ray developed low-cost polymer-clay composites to treat urban stormwater. At the University of Washington, she is continuing to develop and characterize new composite materials for selective contaminant removal in water sources, and for enhanced degradation of persistent contaminants. Recent work includes development of materials for selective adsorption of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), PFAS destruction, and oxidation of trace organics and sorption of trace metals in wastewater and stormwater matrices. Ms. Ray has also begun investigating the fate and transport of microplastics and associated contaminants in stormwater runoff and in wastewater treatment facilities. In recognition of her novel, interdisciplinary research addressing urban water supply and sustainability, Chemical & Engineering News named her one of the “Talented 12” honorees for 2020 as well as the NSF CAREER Award in 2022.

For three decades, Ms. Van Hulle has provided water right assistance to hundreds of communities, working closely with technical staff to secure new water supplies, often in challenging situations. She has built strong relationships with state regulators in the departments of ecology, health, and fish and wildlife and brings an excellent understanding of tribal water law. She is a Certified Water Rights Examiner. Ms. Van Hulle specializes in complicated water rights and water supply projects, especially in Washington and has built a reputation as an innovative problem solver. Her work includes implementing cost reimbursement projects for water right applications, evaluating existing water rights (beneficial use analyses), developing mitigation plans, and handling complex water management projects. Ms. Van Hulle brings a wealth of experience from her work with the Water Resources Program at the Washington Department of Ecology and from her ongoing work in the water resource field. Having helped develop many of Washington’s water resource policies, she is adept at supporting clients as they navigate the water-rights permitting process. In service to her field, she sits on the Lewis County Water Conservancy Board, a voluntary governmental organization tasked with evaluating and processing Applications for Change of Water Rights.

Mr. Breedlove focuses his practice on water rights transactions and permitting, state and federal land permitting, mining, administrative law, and governmental relations. His experience includes a wide variety of water rights transactions (groundwater, surface water, and Colorado River entitlements), assured water supply permitting, consultation on compliance with active management area management plans, water rights due diligence and permitting, state land acquisition, and National Historic Preservation Act compliance. Mr. Breedlove has represented land developers, landowners, golf courses, ranchers, farmers, private water and energy utility businesses, government agencies, and private equity investment firms. He also served for five years as the legislative liaison for the Arizona Department of Water Resources, during which time he managed several bills that were enacted, including the 2007 Water Adequacy Amendments. Mr. Breedlove has experience with the Arizona legislative process, bill drafting, and government relations. He earned his B.S. degree from Western Washington University, his Master of Studies in Environmental Law from Vermont Law School and his J.D. degree from Vermont Law School.

Professor Hanemann was a Chancellor’s professor of environmental and resource economics in the Department of Agricultural & Resource Economics and Goldman School of Public Policy at UC Berkeley from 1976 to 2011 before going to Arizona State University where he is a professor in the Department of Economics and holds a Wrigley Chair in Sustainability in the School of Sustainability. He is still a research professor at UC Berkeley. Professor Hanemann served on the California water rights agency’s economic staff from 1986 to 1990 and as a consultant to that agency through 1993 working on several of its major water right decisions including the Mono Lake Decision. He designed the water rates that LA used successfully for 25 years. Professor Hanemann consulted with state and federal water agencies in California and elsewhere on water issues and served as an expert witness in major litigation on natural resource damages for oil spills as well as for eminent domain cases in California involving the public versus private supply of water. He has taught the economics of water at Berkeley and Arizona State University since 1982 and he has many academic publications on water. He has an undergraduate degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from Oxford University, a master’s degree in economics from the London School of Economics, and a Ph.D degree in economics from Harvard. He was elected a member of the US National Academy of Sciences in 2011.

Mr. Hicks is a California water law, real property, and conservation attorney who represents a variety of public interest organizations, landowners, and others on select public policy, transactional, administrative, regulatory, and litigation matters. Before law school, he was an energy and water policy analyst at the Natural Heritage Institute and the founder and executive director of the Headwaters Institute. He has interned at the San Francisco Office of the City Attorney, California State Water Resources Control Board, and American Rivers. Mr. Hicks founded and chaired the inaugural California Water Law Symposium sponsored by leading northern California law schools and is a Board member. He is the author of the Water Education Foundation’s 2020 Layperson’s Guide to Water Rights Law, recognized as the most thorough explanation of California water rights law available to non-lawyers. He is a former whitewater raft guide, kayaker, and Colorado Outward Bound School instructor. Mr. Hicks holds a J.D. degree from the University of San Francisco School of Law and a B.A. degree from the University of Vermont.

Mr. Hubbard specializes in environmental and land use law, with particular emphasis on issues arising under CEQA, NEPA, the federal and state Endangered Species Acts, the Federal Lands Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), the federal Clean Water Act, the California Coastal Act, the federal Coastal Zone Management Act, and the California Planning and Zoning law. In the environmental and land use fields, Mr. Hubbard routinely addresses matters involving traffic, air quality, water quality, hydrology, water supply, noise, hazardous materials, land use compatibility, aesthetics, sensitive biological resources, including threatened and endangered species, marine resources, and historical resources. His expertise in these areas includes both planning, administrative and litigation matters. A significant portion of his practice includes assisting clients in preparing environmental impact reports, environmental impact statements, and supporting technical studies for complex or controversial projects.

Mr. Sweet received undergraduate degrees from Florida State University in Finance and Management. After a short period in the capital finance industry, Mr. Sweet became an all-lines adjuster for five years and subsequently founded a full-service restoration firm. He is a certified general contractor with the State of Florida, a registered RTPE, and holds the designations of Master Water Restorer & Master Smoke Restorer with the IICRC. Additionally, he also holds Council-certified designations of CMRS, CSDS, CIES, CIEC, CFSR, and he has served for over 10 years on multiple certification boards for the ACAC as well as teaching and training on many restoration topics the industry has been plagued with for decades. He has over 23 years of experience as a CEO, consultant, and seasoned litigation expert with extensive experience in litigation support and trials.

Mr. Taylor grew up in Purvis, Mississippi. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Architectural Engineering Technology at the University of Southern Mississippi. He began his career as a plumbing designer in Houston straight out of college. Mr. Taylor began by designing different types of local commercial projects. After two years, he advanced to senior plumbing designer at HOK, one of the largest architectural/engineering firms in the world. There he gained experience working on international projects, learning to meet unusual criteria for a variety of clientele. After earning his certification in plumbing design, in a joint effort with a co-worker, he decided to start helping other designers in Houston prepare for the CPD exam. He has been teaching this course for roughly 18 years now and has expanded to the Society level both in and outside the United States. Mr. Taylor became a full member of ASPE in 2004 and served as a delegate at the 2004 convention in Cleveland, Ohio, 2010 convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 2012 Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, 2014 Convention in Chicago, Illinois, 2018 Convention in Atlanta, Geogria and 2022 Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana. He is currently serving on the board of directors of the Houston Chapter as chair for the Board of Governors. Mr. Taylor served as co-chair, then chair of the ASPE Houston Product Show, as past Houston Chapter president and is currently on the Society Education Committee. With a coordinated effort, along with the DFW ASPE chapter, started the OKC ASPE chapter and was an interim president for two years. Mr. Taylor is currently at CRB as a senior plumbing/fire protection designer. After nine years in Houston, he decided to move to Norman, Oklahoma for a slower pace of life and to start a family. Before moving back to the Houston area, he was in Oklahoma for five years. Mr. Taylor has been back with the Houston Chapter of ASPE since 2013. He and his wife Jean are blessed with one child, Savannah Jane Taylor.

Ms. Windbiel-Rojas is the Associate Director for Urban and Community IPM and Area Urban IPM Advisor with the University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program (UC IPM). In her role as Associate Director, she provides leadership and coordinates communication and collaboration to address pest issues around homes, structures, landscapes, gardens, schools, and public areas and works with various audiences who live in or serve these areas.

Ms. Windbiel-Rojas oversees UC IPM’s statewide urban educational materials, including content for the UC IPM website, training materials, and printed resources. As a cooperative extension advisor, she conducts research and provides educational resources on local pest issues in the three counties she serves.

Ms. Windbiel-Rojas earned a Master’s degree in Integrated Pest Management from UC Davis in 2006, where her studies focused on entomology, biological control, and pesticides, and a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

William C. Brown, III, Associate at Dinsmore & Shohl, LLP in Huntington, WV Mr. Brown is a proud West Virginian whose practice focuses on creating, growing, defending, and advising businesses in Huntington and nationwide, generating value for owners and their communities. He helps clients with corporate formation and reorganization, mergers and acquisitions, and real estate transactions. His experience also includes representing businesses in contract and real estate disputes, including litigation before the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals and the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals. He earned his J.D. degree from William & Mary Law School.

Mr. Davis is a member of the Business Law practice group and the Energy and Oil & Gas industry groups. His practice focuses on business litigation, mineral acquisitions and sales, and general commercial transactions. A former Assistant United States Attorney, Mr. Davis prosecuted over 40 criminal cases in the Southern District of West Virginia. He has handled numerous civil matters as well, serving as lead counsel in partition actions, condemnations, civil actions involving trespass, and quiet title claims. Mr. Davis has also represented a number of public utilities, public service districts, and motor carriers in rate and certification cases before the Public Service Commission of West Virginia. He is a former Marine Corps Captain, a 1999 graduate of Emory & Henry College, and a 2008 graduate of the West Virginia University College of Law.

Ms. Kerns is a member of the firm’s Energy Team, focusing on coal and oil and gas law. She also practices in real estate development. Her work in the coal industry has included representing and advising coal operators and coal producers on various matters. Ms. Kerns served as counsel in the acquisition of coal properties for coal operators, and represented them in leasing rights, title disputes and curative judicial proceedings. She has also defended coal producers concerning leasing disputes. In the area of oil and gas law, Ms. Kerns has performed due diligence for multi-million dollar oil and gas operation acquisitions. She has represented oil and gas operators in acquisition of properties in West Virginia and Pennsylvania, and she has counseled oil and production companies regarding leasing rights in West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Ohio. Since the Fall of 2018, Ms. Kerns has served as an adjunct professor for the West Virginia University College of Law where she teaches the course on Coal, Oil and Gas Law. She earned her law degree from the West Virginia University College of Law in 2011, where she was a member of the Order of the Coif and senior editor of The West Virginia Law Review. She is admitted to practice in West Virginia and before the United States District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of West Virginia.

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

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

Ms. Bobich, supervises a talented team of ecologists and biologists based out of Davey Resource Group, Inc.’s, Indiana offices. She is a professional wetland scientist, is proficient with NEPA work and projects, and has been trained by the Ohio Department of Transportation in Ecological Surveys and Waterways Permitting. In addition to managing a large portfolio of diverse and complex projects, Ms. Bobich also generates pricing and proposals for a wide range of consulting and restoration projects. She works on field investigations, wetland and stream permitting, restoration and mitigation design, native landscape design, best management practice plans, construction oversight, violation resolution and facilitation, and client and agency coordination. She holds an undergraduate degree from the SPEA program at Indiana University and a master’s degree in Landscape Architecture from Ball State University.

Ms. Church, is an environmental scientist with Snyder & Associates. She has over 14 years of professional environmental experience. Before she started her career as an environmental scientist at Snyder & Associates, she worked for the US Army Corps of Engineers in Rock Island, Jacksonville, and Omaha Districts after graduating from Iowa State University in 2009. Her area of expertise focuses on wetland delineations, stream assessments, Section 404 permitting, and wetland and stream mitigation banking documentation

Kae Hovater is the President and founder of EcoCredit Marketing. With over 16 years of direct experience in mitigation banking, she leads EcoCredit Marketing with a unique blend of business expertise and regulatory insight. Ms. Hovater has overseen more than 60 market studies and facilitated credit transactions totaling over $200 million. She has served as President of the Florida Association of Mitigation Bankers and is widely recognized as a leader in the industry.  

Ms. Keefer, MS has been a restoration biologist for the Stream + Wetlands Foundation (S+W) since June 2020, and she has eight years of experience working in the natural resources field. She is responsible for preparing and overseeing coordination of S+W’s mitigation project submittals to the Interagency Review Team. During her time at S+W, she has been instrumental in the submission and approval of over 20 in-lieu fee (ILF), mitigation bank, and permitee responsible projects. To date, the S+W ILF program is fully in compliance with all its advance credit sales obligations. Prior to joining the S+W team, Ms. Keefer worked for a northeast Ohio environmental consulting firm where she primarily worked on mitigation projects. She also worked at two different environmental test laboratories performing soil and water analyses using sophisticated equipment. During her formal education, she conducted a rigorous research study in native species revegetation and seed ecology. Ms. Keefer published her findings as the primary author of a peer reviewed research paper that appeared in the Journal of Rangeland Ecology and Management.

With over 35 years of experience in wetlands with private industry and NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service, Ms. Stedman has worked in a wide range of wetlands. As a wetland consultant working in New York and New Jersey she prepared permit applications, conducted environmental reviews, and designed compensatory mitigation projects. During her lengthy federal career she represented NOAA on the White House Wetlands Working Group, the Interagency Coastal Wetlands Working Group, and many other interagency cooperative efforts. As a wetland expert for NOAA she wrote regulations, policy, and guidance related to wetland conservation and compensatory mitigation, including the NOAA Mitigation Policy. In cooperation with the US Fish and Wildlife Service she has co-authored three landmark reports on wetland loss trends in coastal watersheds.

Mr. Strain has over 30 years of experience with all aspects of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance including preparation of environmental assessments (EA), environmental impact statements (EIS), categorical exclusions (CE) and other NEPA documentation, baseline biological assessments, and habitat evaluation procedure (HEP) analyses; threatened and endangered species surveys and critical habitat assessments; wetland and stream evaluations; cultural resource investigations; and vegetative community surveys. Mr. Strain’s particular expertise is in wetland science; including delineation, creation, and restoration of wetlands for mitigation and wildlife habitat; Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 404 and 401 permitting; and design of constructed wetland treatment systems.

Ms. Bobich, supervises a talented team of ecologists and biologists based out of Davey Resource Group, Inc.’s, Indiana offices. She is a professional wetland scientist, is proficient with NEPA work and projects, and has been trained by the Ohio Department of Transportation in Ecological Surveys and Waterways Permitting. In addition to managing a large portfolio of diverse and complex projects, Ms. Bobich also generates pricing and proposals for a wide range of consulting and restoration projects. She works on field investigations, wetland and stream permitting, restoration and mitigation design, native landscape design, best management practice plans, construction oversight, violation resolution and facilitation, and client and agency coordination. She holds an undergraduate degree from the SPEA program at Indiana University and a master’s degree in Landscape Architecture from Ball State University.

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

Ms. Church, is an environmental scientist with Snyder & Associates. She has over 14 years of professional environmental experience. Before she started her career as an environmental scientist at Snyder & Associates, she worked for the US Army Corps of Engineers in Rock Island, Jacksonville, and Omaha Districts after graduating from Iowa State University in 2009. Her area of expertise focuses on wetland delineations, stream assessments, Section 404 permitting, and wetland and stream mitigation banking documentation

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

Ms. Keefer, MS has been a restoration biologist for the Stream + Wetlands Foundation (S+W) since June 2020, and she has eight years of experience working in the natural resources field. She is responsible for preparing and overseeing coordination of S+W’s mitigation project submittals to the Interagency Review Team. During her time at S+W, she has been instrumental in the submission and approval of over 20 in-lieu fee (ILF), mitigation bank, and permitee responsible projects. To date, the S+W ILF program is fully in compliance with all its advance credit sales obligations. Prior to joining the S+W team, Ms. Keefer worked for a northeast Ohio environmental consulting firm where she primarily worked on mitigation projects. She also worked at two different environmental test laboratories performing soil and water analyses using sophisticated equipment. During her formal education, she conducted a rigorous research study in native species revegetation and seed ecology. Ms. Keefer published her findings as the primary author of a peer reviewed research paper that appeared in the Journal of Rangeland Ecology and Management.

Mr. Strain has over 30 years of experience with all aspects of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance including preparation of environmental assessments (EA), environmental impact statements (EIS), categorical exclusions (CE) and other NEPA documentation, baseline biological assessments, and habitat evaluation procedure (HEP) analyses; threatened and endangered species surveys and critical habitat assessments; wetland and stream evaluations; cultural resource investigations; and vegetative community surveys. Mr. Strain’s particular expertise is in wetland science; including delineation, creation, and restoration of wetlands for mitigation and wildlife habitat; Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 404 and 401 permitting; and design of constructed wetland treatment systems.

Dr. Martina is an assistant professor at Texas State University in San Marcos, TX (started fall 2019). Dr. Martina’s primary research interests involve better understanding global change phenomena in wetland and grassland ecosystems. Before coming to Texas State, Dr. Martina was the program coordinator of the EEB and ABS programs at Texas A&M University and an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management. He received his Ph.D. degree at Michigan State University with Drs. Steve Hamilton and Merritt Turetsky and completed a postdoc at the University of Michigan with Drs. Deborah Goldberg and Bill Currie.

Dr. Martina is an assistant professor at Texas State University in San Marcos, TX (started fall 2019). Dr. Martina’s primary research interests involve better understanding global change phenomena in wetland and grassland ecosystems. Before coming to Texas State, Dr. Martina was the program coordinator of the EEB and ABS programs at Texas A&M University and an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management. He received his Ph.D. degree at Michigan State University with Drs. Steve Hamilton and Merritt Turetsky and completed a postdoc at the University of Michigan with Drs. Deborah Goldberg and Bill Currie.

Dr. Michael Liptak is a senior ecologist at EnviroScience, Inc, where he specializes in wetland ecology, wetland restoration, and mitigation wetland design. Dr. Liptak earned a B.S. degree in Biology at the University of Toledo and a Ph.D. degree in Environmental Science at Ohio State University under the noted wetland ecologist Dr. William Mitsch. He has over 25 years of experience in wetlands research and consulting and is a Certified Senior Ecologist (Ecological Society of America). His primary responsibilities at EnviroScience Inc. include wetland mitigation planning, wetland assessments and delineations, technical report preparation, and permitting. Dr. Liptak is a member of the Society of Wetlands Scientists and the Ecological Society of America, and regularly gives seminars on wetland issues and regulations.