2020 Conference and Training Symposium Speakers

Keynote Speakers

Thomas Frazer, Chief Science Officer, State of Florida

Thomas K. Frazer currently serves as Chief Science Officer for the state of Florida. He is also a Professor at the University of Florida. Dr. Frazer holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Fisheries Biology from Humboldt State University and a Master’s Degree in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences from the University of Florida. He earned his Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from the University of California, Santa Barbara. His research addresses contemporary and emerging environmental issues, and it is, by nature, interdisciplinary. His work involves collaborators from disparate disciplines, and it includes sampling and experiments conducted across a wide range of spatial and temporal scales. During his tenure at the University of Florida, Dr. Frazer has garnered substantial research funding to address topics pertaining to water quantity and quality, nutrient dynamics, biogeochemical processes, fish population dynamics, food web interactions, and ecological restoration of degraded ecosystems. He has conducted field research in both freshwater and marine systems around the globe, and he is intimately familiar with a broad suite of environmental and natural resource issues (e.g., eutrophication of fresh, estuarine, and coastal waters; invasive species; and the ecological impacts of contemporary environmental change, including coral bleaching, ocean acidification, and sea-level rise). Dr. Frazer has authored and/or co-authored more than 175 peer-reviewed publications, technical reports, and book chapters. He serves as Chief Specialty Editor for the Coral Reef Research section of Frontiers in Marine Science, currently holds an at-large seat on the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, and is a member of APLU’s Board on Oceans, Atmosphere and Climate.

Conference and Symposium Speakers

Nicholas Albergo, Professor, University of South Florida

Nick Albergo is a Professional Engineer and the founder/CEO of HSA Engineers & Scientists. At its peak, HSA had grown to include more than 400 professionals and was sold to GHD in 2012. Nick has spent decades working with industry stakeholders and governmental officials on hundreds of large engineering and land-use projects, many involving sensitive community issues concerning contamination assessment and remediation projects, and responsible waste and pollution management. He is often called upon as an expert witness in litigation matters involving contaminant impact and cleanup. He is also on the engineering faculty at the University of South Florida. He holds patents in the area of bioremediation and has authored or co-authored over 185 publications in the fields of environmental and chemical engineering. Beyond his domestic efforts, he has worked abroad as an advisor to other foreign Governments, private sector corporations, and international lending institutions.

Jack Allen, ICF

More infomation coming soon!

Jenny Andrews, Architectural Historian, Cultural Resource Analysts

Jenny Andrews is an Architectural Historian with Cultural Resource Analysts. Her diverse educational background includes bachelor’s degrees in English from Maryville College in Tennessee, and in Horticulture from Virginia Tech. She has been a horticulturist at a botanical garden, an executive editor and writer for a national gardening magazine, and an education director for a garden-preservation organization. Recognizing a lifelong passion for history and compelled to foster its preservation, she received her master’s degree in Public History from Middle Tennessee State University. She has contributed to multiple Section 106 and historic resource surveys, National Register nominations, and Historic District development plans. Her work includes projects for the Tennessee Valley Authority, Tennessee Department of Transportation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and Y-12 National Security Complex.

Courtney Angelo, Botanist, Broward County Parks and Recreation

Courtney Angelo is a botanist with over ten years of experience working in subtropical/tropical regions focusing on invasive plant species ecology. She holds a MS and PhD in Botany, Ecology, and Conservation Biology from the University of Hawaii. She currently works for Broward County Parks and Recreation as the program administrator for their Rare Plant Program. Through this program, she is evaluating the status of vascular plants in urban Broward County in collaboration with IRC and FTBG.

Courtney Arena, Senior Environmental Scientist, HNTB

Courtney Arena has 22 years of professional experience conducting a variety of environmental services including Project Development and Environment (PD&E) studies with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), the Florida Turnpike, Collier County, and the Miami-Dade Expressway Authority (MDX). Courtney’s experience also includes public involvement participation, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documentation, air quality screenings and modeling, noise studies, contamination screenings, wetland identification and delineation, protected species and habitat assessments and permitting support.Courtney earned her M.S. degree in Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography from Nova Southeastern University’s Oceanographic Center in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Her B.S. is from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington (UNCW) where she also earned a Chemistry Minor. Courtney is also a Certified Florida Master Naturalist. She has served on the Florida Association of Environmental Professionals State Board the Treasure Coast Chapter Board of Directors. In her free time over the last nine years, Courtney has volunteered to serve as an At-Large elected Board Member for the National Association of Environmental Professionals (NAEP) and was the NAEP Treasurer for four years.

Paul Backhouse, Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, American Alliance of Museums- accredited Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum

Dr. Backhouse has served the Seminole Tribe of Florida for more than a decade.  He has been the Tribal Historic Preservation Officer \(THPO\) since 2012, and the director of the American Alliance of Museums-accredited Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum since 2013.  He is the primary representative for the Seminole Tribe of Florida THPO and Museum for the purposes of day-to-day operations and during government to government consultation between the Tribe and Federal entities.  He manages a staff of more than 50 historic preservation professionals. Dr. Backhouse received a Ph.D. in Archaeology from Bournemouth University, England in 2008, is a member of the Register of Professional Archaeologists and numerous associated professional bodies.

Kristin Bennett, Client Service Manager, Tetra Tech, Inc

More information to come!

Michael Bialousz, National Account Manager - Environmental, State Government, ESRI CA Redlands

Mike Bialousz is Esri’s National Account Manager for state government environment and natural resources. Mike has more than 25 years of experience working in GIS and mapping, including management-level positions in the private sector and Pennsylvania state government. All of Mike’s experience has involved implementing GIS for natural resources challenges and he has also taught GIS at several Pennsylvania colleges and universities for the past 13 years.

Michelle Bissonnette, Senior VP, HDR

Michelle Bissonnette, Sr Vice President, HDR Engineering, Inc.EducationB.L.A, Bachelor of Landscape Architecture, University of MinnesotaMinor, Foreign Studies, University of Grenoble, FranceProfessional ExperienceMichelle Bissonnette has over 29 years of consulting experience in the energy industry.  She serves as a Sr. project manager and Professional Services Director (public involvement, environmental, real estate services, sustainability, and environmental compliance monitoring) for HDR’s Resources program. She manages teams that conduct environmental assessments and permitting for transmission lines, wind power, and energy projects. Michelle is responsible for organizing and participating in public and agency meetings related to environmental assessments, with emphasis on power and energy projects.

Maureen Bonness, Boondocks Botany, LLC

Dr. Bonness has been working as an environmental consultant in southwest Florida since 1998.  She has been involved in two Everglades Restoration (CERP) projects: the Picayune Strand Restoration Project, and the Southern CREW Restoration Project.  Her duties included monitoring daily field construction activities for ecological success, assessing vegetation changes over time, and monitoring exotics-control efforts.  Two of her co-authors, Dr. Mike Duever (ecologist) and Mike Barry (botanist), have been integral to the Picayune Strand Restoration Project since its inception in 2004.  Dr. Bonness has 20 years of hands-on experience managing a private 200-acre mitigation preserve on the western edge of Picayune, where she treats exotic/invasive plants, monitors listed species (red-cockaded woodpeckers, gopher tortoise, etc.), amongst other duties.  The hinterlands of south Florida are not only her workspace, but also her play space where she recreates and observes the handiwork of other natural-area-managers.

Brian Boose, Vice President, AECOM

Mr. Boose is an Associate Vice President and the national US Federal NEPA Leader for AECOM. He has more than 32 years of experience as a nationally recognized subject matter expert in NEPA compliance, as well as strong knowledge and experience in Natural Resources Management, Cultural Resources Management, and Environmental Due Diligence, for a wide array of Federal clients. Over his career, he has managed and contributed to multiple complex environmental impact analyses (over 35 EISs and 500 EAs), led over 50 NEPA training courses nationally, developed NEPA compliance handbooks and tools for a variety of Federal agencies, and served as a mentor to multiple NEPA practitioners across the nation. Brian has worked in all 54 states and US territories. He is an experienced NEPA practitioner, mentor, educator, and trainer of professional, adult students. Brian graduated Summa Cum Laude with a B.S. in Biological Sciences/Ecology from the University of California at Davis in 1990. He is a long-time member of the Society of American Military Engineers and the National Association of Environmental Professionals.

Michael Booth, HNTB

Michael Booth has over 33 years of experience in NEPA, Program and Project management, specializes in project and program level environmental management, regulatory compliance and permitting for major capital transit projects rail and highway infrastructure. Michael has brought capital projects through NEPA, permitting and to construction for Sound Transit, Chicago Transit Authority, Washington State Department of Transportation, and Northwest Indiana Transportation District. He brings knowledge of program and project management focused on NEPA, regulatory compliance, and permitting, including FTA New/Small Starts/Core Capacity (5039/CIG/MAP-21) documentation, ratings, project development, and Entry into Engineering to Full Funding Grant Agreements. Other capital projects include NEPA, SEPA, Section 4(f), Environmental Justice under the FHWA/FTA regulatory guidance, and. The transit projects range from light rail to heavy commuter rail, Bus Access Lanes, Bus Rapid Transit Lane Systems, rail-grade separation projects, and transit-oriented development.

Erica Mignone Boulanger, Project Manager, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 

Erica Boulanger has over 14 years of experience in the environmental consulting field, with a focus on all levels of NEPA project development and implementation. Erica has worked extensively in DOD and land management agency NEPA, planning and permitting. Erica’s experience includes program and project management, NEPA document preparation, economic impact analysis, alternative energy feasibility analysis, watershed management, wastewater management planning, and land use planning. Outside of NEPA, Erica has been involved in developing of soil quality measurement methodologies for the US Forest Service, performing biological surveys (marine and terrestrial), regulatory review, regulatory drafting, and abandoned mine site reclamation feasibility. She has testified on behalf of her employer at public hearings on land use disputes, local environmental issues, and has represented local government in communicating with press and media. She has proven strengths in document preparation and review, as well as written and oral presentation.

Jenny Bring, Cultural Resources Manager, 106 Group

Jennifer is a senior project manager with extensive expertise in cultural resources management and environmental documentation. Her multidisciplinary background in archaeology, architectural history, planning, and business management informs her detailed understanding of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) Section 106/Section 110 processes, as well as state-level compliance issues. With nationwide project experience, Jennifer can navigate challenges to successfully lead complex projects to completion. Clients have praised Jennifer’s sharp focus and ability to effectively coordinate the NHPA and NEPA processes as project manager for a wide range of projects, including small-scale development projects, interstate pipelines, wind and solar projects, and rail and transit projects. Jennifer has also facilitated consultation with agencies, Native American tribes, and community groups to bring resolution to potential project issues. Jennifer manages the cultural and historical resources documentation for the NorthMet Mining Project MOA Implementation.Dan Ettinger is a partner at Warner Norcross + Judd, a full-service law firm with over 200 attorneys in Michigan. He works out of Warner Norcross’s Grand Rapids, Michigan office. He concentrates his practice in the areas of mining and natural resource development, environmental litigation, NEPA and NHPA compliance, and administrative law, with a special focus on issues related to Native American tribes and cultural resources. Dan advises mining and natural resource development clients regarding tribal engagement and consultation, compliance with laws aimed at protecting tribal interests and resources, such as the National Historic Preservation Act, and other cultural resource issues that can arise in the course of permitting a development project. Dan also has extensive experience representing mining and other natural resource development companies in federal and state courts, and before administrative tribunals.

Ann Broadwell, FDOT District 4

Ann Broadwell has served as the Florida Department of Transportation District 4 Environmental Administrator since 2003. She is responsible for all NEPA aspects of transportation improvement projects. Part of her responsibilities are the coordination with regulatory agencies concerning listed species and wetland mitigation. She led a team of transportation professionals who were the recipients of the Federal Highway Administration’s 2011 Exemplary Environmental Initiative for the Coastal Roadway Environmentally Sensitive Lighting Initiative. Prior to taking on the EA responsibilities, Ann served as the District Construction Environmental Coordinator and Project Manager of the FDOT Sea Turtle Friendly Roadway Lighting project. She has a Masters Of Biology Degree from Florida Atlantic University and has worked for FDOT for 21 years.

Richard Burke, Project Manager, TRC

Richard Burke, CEP, has over 40 years of experience in managing environmental planning, permitting, and compliance practices, and in serving clients in the capacity of technical, project, and program management.  He was the author of the Ethics Matters articles in the newsletters of the Academy of Board Certified Environmental Professionals (ABCEP), led the Ethics Seminar at NAEP’s annual conferences in Tacoma WA in March 2018, and in Baltimore MD in May 2019, and was one of the two presenters in NAEP’s Ethics Webinar in January 2019.  He is a Certified Environmental Professional, past President of ABCEP, a current member of its Certification Review Board, lifetime member of the National Association of Environmental Professionals, and author of numerous papers and presentations on environmental topics.  He has a BS in Interdepartmental Studies from Stanford University, and an MS in Technology and Human Affairs from Washington University.

Rudi Byron, Director, WSP

More information to come!

Daniel Cassedy, Principal Archaeologist, AECOM

Dr. Daniel Cassedy has four decades of experience as a supervisory archaeologist specializing in cultural resource management in eastern North America. He has worked with DOTs from ten different states and is intimately acquainted with the special needs of these agencies. Dr. Cassedy is AECOM's regional cultural resources department manager for the Southeast and President-elect of the American Cultural Resources Association.

 Dan Cecchini, Director, Environmental Planning, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Energy, Installations & Environment)

More information to come!

Jannek Cederberg, Principal, Cummins Cederberg, Inc.

Jannek Cederberg, P.E., is a coastal engineer with extensive experience in planning, designing, and permitting coastal and marine projects in Florida and throughout the Caribbean. Jannek is formally trained as a civil engineer, specializing in coastal engineering from the Technical University of Denmark. He has more than 17 years of experience in marine field investigations, hydrodynamics, linear and nonlinear wave dynamics, sediment transport, hurricanes, numerical modeling, coastal structure design, sea level rise, environmental permitting and infrastructure projects. He has also conducted hurricane modeling in Florida and throughout the Caribbean creating flood maps and determining base flood elevations. He is regularly consulted on FEMA flood maps and building requirements relative to flood insurances and impacts from climate changes and has extensive experience with the shorelines of Florida.

Carrie Chasteen, Cultural Resources Manager, Sapphos Environmental, Inc.

Carrie Chasteen has a MS in Historic Preservation from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and BAs in History and Political Science from the University of South Florida. Ms. Chasteen has more than 17 years of experience in the field of cultural resource management and currently serves as Historic Resources Manager for Sapphos Environmental, Inc. Project experience ranges from preparing a District Record for the Colorado River Aqueduct to preparing HABS/HAER documentation for the Space Flights Operations Facility (“Mission Control”) at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory on file with the Library of Congress to preparing Section 106 documentation for a variety of transportation projects in Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Arizona, and Maryland.

Michael Conrady, North American Greenhouse Gas Technical Practice Group Leader, AECOM

Mr. Conrardy is the North American Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Technical Practice Group Leader at AECOM, which is comprised of over 300 technical professionals across the company. Mr. Conrardy’s expertise is in GHG emissions inventories, climate change mitigation strategies, and integrated sustainable solutions. Mr. Conrardy has advised on the topic of climate change solutions since as early as 2010 and has experience in economic prioritization and optimized selection of greenhouse emissions reduction strategies (e.g., conservation, energy efficiency, transportation technologies, waste reduction, water conservation, and carbon sequestration). 

Lori Coolidge, Geologist, GHD Services

Lori Coolidge, PG, is a Professional Geologist at GHD with 12 years of progressive experience in the field of geology, with experience in geotechnical investigations and environmental assessments. Since joining GHD in 2007, Ms. Coolidge has performed work related to the identification of geologic hazards, due diligence environmental assessments, and contamination assessments. Her project experience background includes investigation/remediation at sites impacted by industrial contaminants and petroleum hydrocarbons, as well as performing investigations for the presence of sinkhole activity, slope stability and mine subsidence. Ms. Anderson has also provided support for geologic evaluations in Tennessee, Alabama, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Kentucky

Penny Cutt, Director of Environmental Sciences, Edgewater Resources, LLC

Penny Cutt is Edgewater’s Director of Environmental Sciences and brings to the firm 25 years of experience in environmental monitoring, assessment, planning and regulatory permitting.  She is driven by a strong desire to protect our marine resources, having lived in south Florida since childhood snorkeling and diving our South Florida reefs. For Edgewater, Penny oversees all coastal and waterfront projects in the southern half of the US and the Caribbean, easily applying her project management experience to ensure timeliness and accuracy of projects delivered. As a marine ecologist in the public and private sector, she easily navigates the complex web of environmental regulations that dictate aquatic and coastal ecosystems. She is able to quickly evaluate complex scientific information and communicate it to lay leaders for decision-making purposes. Penny has a proven track record of negotiating complex technical issues. The first half of her career was in the public sector administering federal, state, and county environmental regulatory programs. This government expertise is paramount to her assisting her clients currently in the private sector.  Penny is passionate about protecting the coastal environment and resources in her own backyard and serves on the Broward County Marine Advisory Committee, is Vice-Chair of the Pompano Beach Marine Advisory Board, serves on the Pompano Beach Zoning Board of Appeals, and is a Board Director of Friends of Our Florida Reefs. 

Anne Daymut, Watershed Coordinator, Western Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation

Anne has been involved in Pennsylvania’s watershed community and advocating for abandoned mine reclamation programs and policies for nearly 20 years. Anne has worked for the Western Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation, a non-profit serving the abandoned coal-impacted communities of Pennsylvania’s Bituminous region since 2010. She has participated in every aspect of abandoned mine reclamation including grant writing and administration, project development and design, and construction oversight. Anne lives in the U.S. congressional district that has the most abandoned coal mine sites of any district in the nation. She has a BS in Environmental Science from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and an MS in Environmental Management from Duquesne University. 

Betty Dehoney, HDR

More information to come!

Ross Del Rio, Environmental Scientist

Ross is currently an Environmental Scientist at the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, New Orleans Office, Environmental Assessment Section in New Orleans, Louisiana. He has been in his current position since November 2012, where he works as a pre-lease NEPA coordinator. Ross comes to Federal Service after several years of working in academia on research topics ranging from water column respiration to harmful algal blooms to coastal restoration. Ross Del Rio received both his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from LSU. He graduated with a Master’s Degree in Biological Oceanography in 2009.

 Ron Deverman, Associate Vice-President, HNTB

Ron Deverman, CEP, is Associate Vice-President and Principal Environmental Planning Manager for HNTB, a national engineering, architecture, and planning firm, managing environmental impact assessment projects for transportation infrastructure improvements such as transit, passenger and freight rail, roadways, and bridges. Ron has over 34-years-experience in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) with special expertise in community impact assessment, cumulative effects analysis, and other federal environmental regulations, such as the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, National Historic Preservation Act, and Threatened and Endangered Species Act.  Ron is the former Program Manager for IDOT’s Office of Intermodal Project Implementation for the CREATE Program, a program of 70 rail improvement projects in the Chicago area; Ron managed all activities for Phase I environmental, Phase II design and Phase III construction (see www.createprogram.org) and now focuses on Quality Management/Technical Delivery for CREATE.  Ron was awarded the HNTB Fellow Award for his exemplary commitment and dedication to HNTB and the environmental planning professions. His education includes a BS in civil/environmental engineering from the University of Illinois in Urbana, an MA in English (literature and creative writing) from the University of Illinois in Springfield, and post-graduate studies in NEPA and related environmental studies.  Ron is a Past President of the National Association of Environmental Professionals (NAEP).  He has also chaired their national NEPA Symposium, NEPA Working Group, Transportation Working Group (co-founder), and NAEP’s 2016 Annual Conference, among other positions of leadership.  He is a Past President of IAEP, the Illinois chapter of NAEP, founded in 1975 as one of the original three chapters of NAEP.  Ron was awarded the NAEP Fellow Award for his exemplary service and commitment to NAEP and the environmental professions.  He is also a founding Board member of the International Professional Association of Transport and Health (I-PATH).  Ron has authored articles for Environmental Practice, published by Taylor & Francis Press, and Environmental Law Reporter.

Ms. Giannina DiMaio has 18 years of professional experience across multiple federal agencies in environmental policy development, natural resource conservation, regulatory compliance, and enforcement. She serves at the National Ocean Service (NOS) Environmental Compliance Coordinator within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and oversees the NOS environmental compliance program, implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and compliance with other environmental statutes such as the Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act. Prior to her work with NOAA, Giannina provided technical expertise in NEPA, Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, and Chesapeake Bay Program to the Department of Defense, the Air Force, and the Navy. She was instrumental in developing the Governor’s Defense Environmental Partnership Award program for the Commonwealth of Virginia in 2008. In her hometown of Fredericksburg, Virginia, Giannina is a publicly elected Director of her area soil and water conservation district and President of the Board of Directors for the Virginia Association of Soil & Water Conservation Districts. She is a community leader in sustainability who brings knowledge and passion for the environment together in order to solve local natural resources issues and promote conservation. Giannina has a Masters of Natural Resources from Virginia Tech, a Masters of Public Health in Environmental Quality and a Bachelor of Science in Marine Science from the University of South Carolina.

Peyton Doub, Environmental Scientist, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Peyton Doub is an Ecologist and Wetland Scientist with the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission.  He has over 30 years experience in preparing EISs and EAs, especially sections addressing ecology, wetlands, and land use.  He has authored dozens of papers on issues related to wetlands and NEPA, is a frequent presenter at NAEP conferences, and has been a frequent publisher of articles in the NAEP Newsletter and Environmental Practice.  He currently serves as an elected at-large member of the NAEP Board of Directors and is a past member of the ABCEO Board of Trustees.

Samantha Dubay, Senior Communications Consultant, HDR

Samantha Dubay manages projects that have public involvement and outreach strategies ranging from grassroots approaches to highly contentious and complex designs. A senior communications consultant at HDR, Samantha provides expertise in campaign and brand development, media management, facilitation, and crisis communications, all while helping clients manage social and political risk. Samantha holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from the University of South Carolina and a Master of Science in Communication from Purdue University.

Erin Dunable, Senior Environmental Planner/Project Manager, SWCA

Ms. Dunable is a Senior Environmental Planner and Project Manager that specializes in leading environmental compliance efforts under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Hawaii’s Environmental Policy Act (HEPA). Erin's technical area of expertise is marine mammal biology, but she enjoys the unique challenges each project brings and is energized by looking for new and innovative ways to translate complex scientific information to decision-makers, stakeholders, and the general public.

Annette Ehrhorn, Environmental Scientist, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

Annette Ehrhorn is a Senior Environmental Scientist for the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) an agency within the Department of Interior, in New Orleans, Louisiana. She is the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Team Lead for Ancillary Activities and Geological and Geophysical permit applications in the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf. Annette oversees the coordination of NEPA/environmental reviews for these activities, incorporating the development and application of appropriate environmental mitigations including Marine Acoustics. Much of her career at BOEM has focused on pre- and post-lease NEPA and adaptive management.  

Dan Ettinger, Partner, Warner Norcross + Judd

Dan is a partner at Warner Norcross + Judd, a full-service law firm with over 200 attorneys in Michigan.  He works out of Warner Norcross’s Grand Rapids, Michigan office.  He concentrates his practice in the areas of mining and natural resource development, environmental litigation, NEPA and NHPA compliance, and administrative law, with a special focus on issues related to Native American tribes and cultural resources.  Dan advises mining and natural resource development clients regarding tribal engagement and consultation, compliance with laws aimed at protecting tribal interests and resources, such as the National Historic Preservation Act, and other cultural resource issues that can arise in the course of permitting a development project.   Dan also has extensive experience representing mining and other natural resource development companies in federal and state courts, and before administrative tribunals.  

Wayne Flowers, Shareholder, Lewis, Longman & Walker

With more than 40 years of experience, Mr. Flowers is a Shareholder with Lewis, Longman & Walker.  Wayne represents public and private sector clients in the areas of environmental, land use and governmental law.   Wayne’s clients include private land owners and developers as well as entities of government.  He represents these clients before local, state and federal agencies and courts on wetland permitting matters, storm water permitting matters, sovereign submerged lands authorizations, water supply permits and issues, Endangered Species Act issues, and Clean Water Act permits and issues. Wayne is AV Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell, is Board Certified by the Florida Bar as a specialist in City, County and Local Government Law, and in State and Federal Government and Administrative Law Practice and formerly served as General Counsel for the St. Johns River Water Management District.  Wayne received his Juris Doctor, with honors, from the University of Florida College of Law. 

Fabio Fortes, Project Engineer, HSW Engineering

Fabio Fortes is an Environmental Engineer with 6 years of experience in site assessment and remediation of industrial and residential contaminated sites with skills in Remediation System Design, Geographic Information System (GIS) and 3D and 4D Data Visualization. He is a registered Engineer Intern (EI) in the State of Florida and Professional Engineer from Sao Paulo, Brazil. Fabio has a degree in Environmental Engineering from the Federal University of Itajuba, Brazil and Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering at the University of South Florida.  Current he works at HSW Engineering, Inc. in their Tampa Office.

Lori Fox, Associate Vice President, WSP

Ms. Fox specializes in planning and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis, with specialization in public involvement and facilitation and land use planning. Her 19 years of experience have included managing large-scale, complex, and controversial NEPA projects, many of which are a result of current or pending litigation. Ms. Fox is knowledgeable in a variety of agency NEPA implementing regulations, having conducting NEPA analysis for a wide variety of federal agencies including the National Park Service (NPS), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), U.S. Navy, U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and others. She was the project manager for the recently completed Badlands National Park Development Concept Plan/Environmental Assessment, that envisioned a progressive future for the Cedar Pass area while honoring the rich cultural heritage the site possesses, as well as the Knife River Indian Villages Archeological Resources Management Plan/EIS.

Sharese Graham, Environmental Science Associates

With a background in both urban planning and biology, Sharese brings 18 years of experience in environmental impact analysis, master planning, federal and regional permitting, natural resource management, and urban planning research. She assists both private and public sector clients with recreation, transportation, utility, and development projects. Her expertise in environmental analysis has contributes to a wide variety of State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documents for local, regional, state and federal agencies. Sharese is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP).

James Gregory, Environmental Planner/Project Manager, SWCA

James Gregory is a senior NEPA project manager with SWCA Environmental Consultants in Portland, OR. James has managed and prepared NEPA and environmental compliance documents for a wide variety of agencies including the US Army Corps of Engineers, the Bureau of Reclamation, and state Departments of Transportation.  James has presented on the intersection of NEPA and climate change at previous NAEP conferences and other professional forums.

Dave Goodman, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

More information to come!

Henry Haas, Senior Environmental Manager, DRMP, Inc.

Henry Haas, EP, is a senior project Manager in Edwards-Pitman Environmental Inc. \(EPEI\) Atlanta,GA office. With over 20 years of diverse environmental management experience, he has an extensive background conducting, managing and overseeing NEPAassessments, environmental compliance inspections, due diligence audits and remediation projects to meet applicable Federal and State environmental regulations. His experience includes working with hazardous materials,wetlands, ACUB surveys/needs assessment, geophysical surveys, endangered species, UST/AST surveys, tank tightness testing, along with NEPA program support. Mr. Haas also has experience working with wetland banks, water development projects and hydrological assessmentsincluding wetland evaluations and risk assessments for groundwater/soil/airfrom pollutants in the different media. His responsibilities at EPEI include coordination,planning and preparation of Phase I/Phase II environmental site assessments; environmental impact assessments; environmental planning, facility audits; environmental site characterization studies; coordination and implementation of corrective action plans and contaminant remediation efforts. In addition to management of the environmental department, He is also involved with marketing and business development for private, federal and state programs.

Tom Hale, SWCA

Tom is a senior NEPA project manager with SWCA Environmental Consultants. In addition to being a CEP, Mr. Hale is a certified PMP through the Project Management Institute and has 30 years of experience managing EAs, EISs, and other planning projects. He has taught courses on myriad environmental topics at several universities. He has also written more than his share of proposals and wants nothing more than to receive an RFP, immediately know what is required, and develop a beautifully crafted and responsive proposal of such power and purpose as to make grown men weep. (This has happened only once.)

Dan Hayes, Senior Project Manager and V.P. of Land Development, Carnahan Proctor & Cross (CPC) Orlando

Dan Hayes is a local veteran of civil engineering with 32 years of experience with firms in Central Florida, and currently serves as Senior Project Manager and V.P. of Land Development for the Orlando office of Carnahan Proctor & Cross (CPC). He began his career as a highway design engineer and progressed to project management for land development in the public and private sectors. Dan is an Orange County native, attended West Orange High, Auburn University and UCF, and enjoys water polo, swimming and tailgating at UCF football games!

Kari Harris, Manager, Environmental Impact, CN

Kari Harris is Manager, Environmental Impact for CN’s US operations.  Ms. Harris has over 25 years of experience specializing in wetland and stormwater regulations.  With extensive project experience across the Midwest, South and Northeast regions of the US, Ms. Harris has considerable understanding in navigating the regulatory framework of federal, state and local wetland permitting and the associated intricacies of design solutions that can translate to practical field applications.  She is a graduate of Northern Illinois University with a Bachelors of Science degree in Geography (Natural Environmental Systems).  Before coming to CN, Ms. Harris worked as a consultant in the Chicago area where she developed her niche for Clean Water Act permitting and compliance.

 Elizabeth Heavrin, Director of Cultural Resource Analysts, Inc.'s Department of Architectural and Cultural History

Elizabeth G. Heavrin, MHP, is the director of Cultural Resource Analysts, Inc.’s Department of Architectural and Cultural History. Liz received her bachelor’s degree in history from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, in 2004. While living in this most historic town, she developed a love of historic sites that led her to pursue a career in historic preservation. Liz received her master’s degree from the University of Kentucky’s Historic Preservation Program in 2008. 

Michael Hendrix, Chair: AEP Climate Change Committee, Association of Environmental Professionals

Michael Hendrix is one of California's leading climate change and air quality scientists. Mr. Hendrix is the current Chairperson for the AEP Climate Change Committee. In that capacity, he provides leadership within AEP on the issue of climate change and analysis of GHG emissions. AEP specifically recognized that his commitment to balancing the need for industrial, commercial and residential development projects in California with the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution is evident through his dedication to emissions reduction that significantly reduces air pollution and GHG emissions generated by the expansion of these markets. 

Jason Houck, Senior Scientist, GIS

Jason Houck, PWS, GISP, is an Associate Principal and the Ecological Services Manager at Inwood Consulting Engineers, Inc. He has served as a senior environmental scientist and GIS analyst on numerous transportation, Project Development and Environment (PD&E), and watershed projects throughout the states of Florida and Tennessee since 2001 when he first earned his Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Tennessee. He also received his master’s at the University of Tennessee in 2003. Mr. Houck’s expertise includes landscape ecology and roadway corridor analyses as they pertain to wildlife movement and corridor permeability. Recent work includes the development of wildlife crossing and habitat connectivity plans for several major FDOT projects that were presented at the International Conference on Ecology and Transportation in 2019. In addition to his recent wildlife crossing work, Mr. Houck is an adjunct professor of environmental science at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida, and tries his best to go kayak fishing in the Mosquito Lagoon in his free time. 

Lisbeth House, Environmental Engineer, Lockheed Martin

Lisbeth House is a Program Manager at Lockheed Martin and the Director of the Little Creek Florida Wetlands Mitigation Bank.  She received her bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Villanova University, and her master’s degree in Environmental Engineering Management from Syracuse University and the State University of New York.  She is a registered professional engineer in the State of Florida.  She has managed over $20M in facilities demolition and remediation projects working for Lockheed Martin where she has been the Environmental Lead for 20 years, overseeing compliance for the 5,000-person manufacturing site.  A Lean Six Sigma Blackbelt, Lisbeth has documented savings exceeding $10M for cleanup exit strategies, site restoration, demolition activities, and process excellence.  She has worked for IBM, GE, public utilities, as a consultant, as an associate Professor of Engineering.  Her most remote job was working for the National Science Foundation at McMurdo Station on the continent of Antarctica.  

Kae Hovater, President, EcoCredit Marketing

With over 10 years’ experience in the mitigation banking industry, Kae Hovater is President of EcoCredit Marketing.  Representing wetland and conservation banks throughout Florida, she has developed a strong, working relationship with the regulatory and public agencies as well as environmental consultants and private developers to ensure long-term project success.  Kae also serves as President for the Florida Association of Mitigation Bankers (FAMB), whose focus is to provide solid, reliable projects that enhance ecological function as well support economic development throughout Florida.  Her vast knowledge of the natural resource market throughout the United States, with a primary focus in Florida, has proven successful in the marketing and managing of multiple mitigation and conservation banks.

Pam Hudson, Counsel/Professor, Department of the Navy OGC

P.E. Hudson, Esq. is the Counsel, Department of the Navy Office of General Counsel in Naval Base Ventura County, California, where she serves as the Counsel for the Center for Seabees and Facilities Engineering and Civil Engineer Corps Officers School.  The focus of her practice is environmental law and planning, and specifically NEPA; she also develops and teaches courses involving NEPA, environmental planning and impact analysis, and environmental law, with a special emphasis on coastal and ocean resources, to federal employees. She has published thirteen federal agency, academic and peer-reviewed articles on environmental planning and impact assessment since 2013.  She has been a member of NAEP since 2013 and served on the NAEP Committee to develop Best Practice Principles for Environmental Assessments, a CEQ Pilot Project. She formerly served as a litigator at a large firm in private practice, and as a federal clerk. She is a member of the bars of California, Florida, and Georgia and the Supreme Court of the United States. Ms. Hudson retired from the Navy as a Commander. Any views expressed are Ms. Hudson's personal views and not necessarily those of the Department of Defense, Navy or Federal Government.

Danielle Irwin, Cummins Cederberg

Danielle H. Irwin heads the Tallahassee office of Cummins Cederberg, southeast Florida's largest professional engineering firm uniquely specialized in the coastal and marine environment. Ms. Irwin's public and private experience spans the development spectrum including working waterfronts (marinas/dry stacks, ports, cruise industry), beachfront development, shoreline stabilization (seawalls to living shorelines), beach/inlet management, waterfront parks and public spaces, innovative municipal stormwater management, flood management and coastal resilience. Ms. Irwin is a Certified Floodplain Manager, Professional Wetland Scientist, and LEED Accredited Professional. She also serves on the Board for the Tallahassee Area Association of Environmental Professionals and the Leon County Water Resource Committee. 

Paul Jackson, Program Manager, Specialty Analytical Services, Pace Analytical Services, LLC

Mr. Jackson is responsible for local government-related environmental laboratory program development for Pace Analytical. In this role he provides technical support, contract development and program management for water and wastewater utilities, solid waste facilities, and stormwater monitoring programs. Paul also provides guidance for Pace’s Emerging Contaminants program, including the SDWA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, PFAS, 1,4-Dioxane, and Harmful Algal Blooms. Paul provides these services across all of Pace Analytical’s 40 laboratories throughout the country. Paul is a U.S Army veteran where he got his start in laboratory testing, and has over forty years of experience in the environmental testing industry as a laboratory analyst, laboratory department manager, client services manager, business development manager, and Specialty Analytical Services program manager. Paul attended Towson University and University of Maryland for Business and Chemistry.

Michael Johnsen, Supervisory Environmental Protection Specialist, Federal Railroad Administration, US Dept. of Transportation

Michael Johnsen is a Supervisory Environmental Protection Specialist who has been working with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for over 6 years and with the Department of Transportation (DOT) for over 21 years.  He was instrumental in developing the DOT’s Federal Motor Carrier Administration’s NEPA program, and has developed policy, procedures, and completed project NEPA while at FRA.  He has worked on high profile NEPA documentation such as the 2008 Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards with the National Highway Traffic Administration, The Brightline Passenger Rail system in Florida, and the Texas Central Railroad Dallas to Houston High Speed Rail program.  He has a BS degree in Natural Resource Management from the University of Maryland and a MS degree in Environmental Science and Policy from Johns Hopkins University.

Frank Kahoun, Quest Ecology

More information to come!

Robert Kay

More information to come!

Stephen Kerlin, Senior Environmental Project Manager, Terracon Consultants, Inc.

Mr. Kerlin is a Senior Environmental Project Manager and Department Manager in Terracon’s Raleigh office with 15 years of environmental consulting experience.  He routinely manages and performs Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs) and Phase II Limited Site Investigations (LSIs).  He also has experience performing soil and groundwater sampling, supervision of underground storage tank (UST) removals, and remediation projects.  Mr. Kerlin acts as a National Account Manager for and has provided technical and regulatory services related to Phase I Environmental Site Assessment, wetland delineations and Preliminary Natural and Cultural Resource Constraints Analysis Screenings for new utility scale solar farm facilities throughout the Mid-Atlantic and in Indiana, Missouri, New York, Oregon, Texas and Montana.  As part of the project management efforts, Mr. Kerlin performed Phase I Environmental Site Assessments, Preliminary Cultural and Natural Resource Constraints Analysis Screenings which have included SHPO and USFWS consultations, habitat assessments and endangered species consultations.

Anne Ketz, CEO & Services Director, 106 Group

Anne Ketz, RPA, CIPAnne’s career in cultural resources management and planning extends over 40 years and three continents. Originally from the United Kingdom, now living in the United States, Anne has been instrumental in the establishment of culture and heritage as a vital part of community planning. Today, Anne is honored to serve as Vice President for the International Committee on Interpretation and Presentation of Cultural Heritage Sites for International Council for Monuments and Sites. Since co-founding 106 Group in 1992, she has worked with a broad range of stakeholders, including community activists, planners, and Native American leaders. Anne’s diplomacy has brought successful resolutions to complex and controversial projects. She has authored numerous interpretive plans, cultural resources reports, and historic preservation plans and papers. Much of her career has been dedicated to increasing public access to and understanding of the world’s cultural resources and sites.

Erin Koch, Senior GIS Analyst, HDR

Ms. Koch is an accomplished GIS Manager and IT professional with 18 years of experience supporting state agency environmental and natural resources-related objectives. Her areas of expertise include development, planning, and coordination of large multi-disciplinary GIS projects, working with decision-makers to promote GIS use, project management, oversight, and scheduling, diagnosis and resolution of software issues, data management, as well as training and mentoring scientists and non-scientists in GIS.

Steve Kokinakis, National Geodetic Survey (NGS) Environmental Compliance Coordinator, National Ocean Service (NOS)

Mr. Steve Kokkinakis has been serving as the National Geodetic Survey (NGS) Environmental Compliance Coordinator, within the National Ocean Service (NOS), since March 2016. Steve is responsible for NGS' overall environmental compliance program development, management, coordination, and implementation. Prior to NGS, Steve served as a Senior Advisor on National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in the former NOAA Office of Program Planning and Integration, with 17 years of NEPA environmental compliance experience. Prior to his position as a NEPA specialist, Steve worked as a scientist (biological oceanographer) in NOS and has a wealth of field project experience aboard NOAA and University research vessels and labs. He was accepted to the John A. Knauss Sea Grant Fellowship program, and served as a legislative assistant within Congressman James Saxton’s (NJ) Office during 1991, focusing on Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee issues. He received his B.A. in biological sciences from Colgate University, a M.S. in biological oceanography from Oregon State University (OSU), and was also certified in science education from OSU. 

Elizabeth Ann Krispin, Facilities Strategic Planner, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)

Elizabeth Krispin is currently serving as a Facilities Strategic Planner for Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). She has several years’ experience in providing project management, strategic planning, and engineering support to laboratory operations, nuclear nonproliferation, environmental, geotechnical, and construction-related programs. Elizabeth serves as Manager of ORNL’s Site Use and Planning Committee, responsible for coordinated review and approval of proposed changes in land use at ORNL and also as Contract Manager for Historical Preservation efforts conducted at ORNL since 2016. For four years, Elizabeth served as Project Manager in support of international nuclear nonproliferation programs, working extensively with Russia, traveling there several times.

Julie LaBonte, Program Manager, HDR

Julie is a Professional Engineer with 32 years of engineering and management experience related to the planning, design, construction and operation of water programs, utility systems and public infrastructure.  She has a proven track record of successfully implementing some of the largest water capital infrastructure programs in North America. Julie directs HDR’s global water program management practice. In this role, Julie works closely with clients to identify programmatic solutions to their infrastructure needs and provide strategic advice on all aspects of mega-project and program delivery.  Julie is actively involved with Water for People, a non-profit humanitarian organization dedicated to build a world where all people have access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation.  She has led teams of volunteers in Africa to build in-country capacity for the development of water infrastructure.  She is also involved in many programs as a volunteer to encourage girls and young women to consider a career in science and engineering.  She currently serves on the Advisory Council of the University of California at Berkeley’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Ron Lamb, NEPA Specialist, U.S. Marine Corps

More information coming soon!

Caroline Levenda

More information coming soon!

Alexander Levy, Senior Ecologist,  VHB

Alex Levy is a senior ecologist and certified Professional Wetland Scientist with a B.L.A in Landscape Architecture. He leads the growing team of ecologists for VHB’s Atlanta office. Mr. Levy has three decades of professional experience performing wetland determinations, protected species investigations, and general ecology studies for transportation, utility and site development projects, including impact planning, permitting, and National Environmental Policy Act documentation. His broad project experience includes conducting general habitat assessments, Section 7 Consultations under the Endangered Species Act, Section 401 and 404 Clean Water Act permitting coordination, wetland and stream impact mitigation, and post-construction monitoring for hundreds of miles of energy, rail, and highway projects, as well as numerous other land development initiatives throughout the southeastern United States. A former technology- transfer and research liaison for the Federal Highway Administration, Mr. Levy was also a founding member of the Georgia NAEP Chapter.  He currently serves on the steering committee for the International Conference on Ecology and Transportation. For the Transportation Research Board of the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and medicine, Alex formerly served in an appointment as Chair of the standing Committee on Ecology and Transportation (ADC30), and currently serves as a member of the standing Committee on Environmental Analysis in Transportation (ADC10).  Mr. Levy originally presented on the emerging wildlife habitat connectivity practices and policies at the 2004 NAEP Annual meeting in Portland Oregon.

Kristine MacKinnon, Project Manager, JACOBS Engineering

Kristine MacKinnon, PE is a "plangineer" who utilizes her dual experience in civil engineering and environmental fields, predominantly focused on permitting a wide variety of infrastructure projects. Her technical expertise includes NEPA, CWA Section 404, Section 106, Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments, and construction stormwater permitting. She has served as Project Manager, Task Manager, and Environmental Engineer for a wide variety of civil, natural gas, transportation, aviation, scientific, industrial, railroad, civil and environmental engineering projects throughout the United States. Kristine's 18 years of civil engineering experience combined with her environmental planning skill set provides a unique understanding of the relationship between infrastructure needs and environmental requirements to a much deeper degree than typical environmental planning.

Deborah Madden, Attorney, Gunster

Debbie Madden is an attorney with the Gunster law firm. Her practice focuses on representing private and public clients in environmental permitting and litigation matters involving water resources, wetlands, water supply, listed species, mitigation banking, and water quality issues. Prior to joining Gunster, Debbie worked as an environmental consultant. She graduated from University of Florida with a degree in agronomy and attended law school at UF.

William Martin, Senior Environmental Planner, EOR Iowa, LLC

With advanced degrees in Anthropology and Landscape Architecture, Bill Martin is a senior environmental planner working at the intersection of cultural resource management, environmental restoration, and landscape management and conservation.

Denise Matherne, Physical Scientist, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)

Denise Matherne has been employed as a Physical Scientist for the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) since September 2010.  Denise is a NEPA Coordinator, writes Environmental Assessments for Plans, G&G’s, and Ancillary Activities.  She coordinates NEPA reviews and is currently assisting with writing the Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Decommissioning.  Denise earned a degree in Environmental Geography with a minor in Biology from the University of New Orleans.  She has experience with wetland permitting, oil and gas permitting, environmental site assessments as well as quality control, ISO 9000 and Operational Excellence.  

David Mattern, Paramatrix

More information to come!

Shannon Meder 

Shannon Meder is a senior environmental planner with 20 years of experience delivering planning and environmental services for public facilities, including those implemented under alternative delivery. With expertise in linear facilities, her focus includes project management at the project development phase most often in delivery of NEPA documentation and permitting of projects for various public sector clients. Shannon has managed and/or assisted in the preparation of more than 100 NEPA documents and planning studies, ranging from categorical exclusions to environmental impact statements for state DOTs, local transportation authorities and municipal clients in South Carolina and across the Southeast.

Ann Miracle, Manager, Environmental Planning and Emergency Preparedness, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Dr. Ann Miracle manages the Environmental Planning and Emergency Preparedness groups for PNNL.  She is the program manager for NEPA Compliance, Cultural Resources, Biological Resources, Environmental Permitting, and Sustainability for PNNL facilities and PNNL research.  Dr. Miracle has over 15 years of experience in preparing NEPA evaluations for the U.S. Department of Energy, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the Department of Defense.  She has prepared single project and programmatic Environmental Assessments and Environmental Impact Statements as a subject matter expert in aquatic and terrestrial ecology, human health impacts, and cumulative impacts, and has had oversight of NEPA document preparation as the project manager for several Environmental Impact Statements.

Voni Moore, Environmental Scientist, HDR

Voni Moore received her Bachelors of Science in Environmental Science from the University of South Florida. She has 11 years of experience as an Environmental Scientist including 7 years managing mitigation sites for FDOT, documenting and advising on control methods for nuisance species on a monthly basis for mitigation sites, stormwater management facilities and other adjacent roadway structures and right-of-way areas. She is currently working on a project for the Federal Highway Administration titled “Invasive Species Impacts to Transportation Infrastructure Investments: Literature Review and Case Studies with Cost Data”. This project is intended to expand on the 2016 Invasive Species Advisory Committee white paper titled “Invasive Species Impacts on Infrastructure.”

Hassan Moustahfid

More information to come!

Erik Neugaard, Environmental Compliance and Stewardship Program Manager, Broward County Port Everglades

Erik Neugaard is the Environmental Compliance and Stewardship Program Manager at Broward County Port Everglades. He holds a BS degree in Natural Sciences and an MS degree in Marine Biology. He is also a certified planner, fisheries professional, wetland scientist, wildlife biologist, hazardous materials manager, GIS professional and mapping scientist, boat captain and trimix scuba instructor. In his 30-year career as an environmental professional, he has also worked at the Miami-Dade County Department of Environmental Resources Management, Florida Department of Transportation, and as a consultant. He is a former president of the Florida Chapter of NAEP and NAEP Chapter Representative, former president of the South Florida Chapter, and current chapter advisor to the South Florida Chapter.

Kayla Ouellette, Project Professional, SCS Engineers

Kayla Ouellette is a Project Professional at SCS Engineers with about 9 years of experience in the environmental industry. She has a BS in Biology from Millsaps College and a MS in Environmental Science and Policy and Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) from USF. She enjoys traveling and scuba diving and her new baby, Owen, in her free time.

Maurice Pearson, Principal, MSE Group

Mo is a Principal with MSE Group and provides senior leadership for the Ecological/Natural Resources service line. Mo has managed natural resource projects since 1993 and is recognized regionally as a leader of this practice area. His career includes having worked for the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD), the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and a local full-service engineering firm.  He has acquired an exceptional perspective in understanding, negotiating, and meeting project goals in natural resource management. He has fostered and maintains valuable relationships with agency personnel, providing clients the assurance that each project will be presented professionally and that their interests will be articulated and supported.

Tim Perry, Partner, Oertel, Fernandez, Bryant & Atkinson

Timothy J. Perry is a partner with the law firm of Oertel, Fernandez, Bryant & Atkinson, P.A. in Tallahassee, Florida.  His practice concentrates on representing clients statewide in the areas of environmental, coastal, energy, land use, and administrative law.  He is a frequent lecturer in his areas of practice, covering topics including wetland delineations, water use permitting, coastal resiliency, land use and zoning, the Clean Water Act and the Clean Air Act.  Mr. Perry is admitted to practice in Florida and Alabama.  He serves as the President of the Florida Association of Environmental Professionals and the Tallahassee Area Association of Environmental Professionals, and as a Board Member of the National Association of Environmental Professionals.

Jon Philipsborn, Climate Adaptation Practice Director, Americas, AECOM

Mr. Philipsborn currently serves as AECOM’s Climate Adaptation Practice Director for the Americas. He advises clients on the strategic integration of climate change into planning, project development, and management decisions. This has included supporting public and private sector clients with disaster preparedness and climate resilience planning; understanding potential climate change impacts and associated vulnerability, and identifying and implementing adaptation strategies. Throughout his career, Mr. Philipsborn has communicated technical information to decision-makers, and worked on innovative projects that produce environmental, economic, and community benefits. Mr. Philipsborn has gained valuable experience working for government, non-profits, and the private sector. Mr. Philipsborn has a Master of Public Administration in Environmental Science and Policy from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, and a BA from Kenyon College.

Kevin Pylka, Environmental Manager, Poly Met Mining, Inc. 

Kevin Pylka is an environmental manager at Poly Met Mining, Inc., a mine development company preparing to mine copper, nickel and precious metals from the NorthMet ore body located near Hoyt Lakes, Minnesota.  He has used his diverse engineering and environmental background to successfully manage numerous aspects of environmental review, permitting and compliance within the mining industry.  He has effectively led challenging projects in the areas of NEPA and NHPA review, along with federal and state permitting and a land exchange for the mine project.  He has succeeded in collaborating with consultants, legal counsel, federal and state agencies, Native American tribes and other stakeholders to navigate through the myriad set of statutes and regulations and the public engagement necessary to permit a mine with modern, responsible and sustainable practices.  

Samir Qadir, Environmental Engineer, Potomac-Hudson Engineering, Inc.

Mr. Samir A. Qadir is an environmental engineer at Potomac-Hudson Engineering, Inc’s (PHE) Gaithersburg, MD office with over 15 years of environmental experience. Throughout his career, he has worked on a diverse set of environmental projects including greenhouse gas (GHG) and climate change analyses for large and small infrastructure projects. He has assessed the lifecycle GHG emissions of major crude oil transport projects and developed sustainability plans to address GHG reductions and other federal goals. Mr. Qadir has also supported federal and state clients with sustainability, environmental management systems, and compliance-related services. When he is not working, Mr. Qadir enjoys running, building LEGOs with his six-year old son, and spending time with his family, which includes two hyperactive cats. He currently training for his second full marathon. He loves getting outside whenever he can, whether it be for hiking, camping, or photography.

Whitford Remer, Counsel & Director of Public Policy, Insurance Institue for Business & Home Safety 

Whitford E. Remer, Counsel & Director of Public Policy for the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety, in Tampa, Florida focuses on internal IBHS legal issues, as well as federal and state legislative and regulatory policy affecting building codes and standards, mitigation funding and incentives, and community resilience. In addition to his law degree from Loyola University, Whit holds a Master of Urban and Regional Planning from the University of New Orleans and a bachelor’s degree in geography and political science from Florida State University. He is well versed in a wide range of resilience-focused legal and public policy issues, having previously served as Senior Manager of Federal Government Relations for the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). Whit’s previous experience also includes working on climate adaptation and catastrophe recovery for vulnerable populations.

David Rich, President, Geotech Computer Systems

Dr. David W. Rich is the President and founder of Geotech Computer Systems, Inc. Dr. Rich has a B.S. in geology from the University of Notre Dame, and an M.S. and Ph.D. in geology from The University of Illinois. He combined his interest in computers and his knowledge of the earth sciences industry in 1986 to co-found Geotech Computer Systems, Inc.. He has over 40 years of experience in the petroleum, mining, and environmental industries, having worked for Texaco, Shell, Sabine, and Grant Environmental in addition to Geotech. With Geotech, Dr. Rich has worked with well-known corporations, federal, state and local governments, and small businesses and is a recognized expert in the field of earth science computing and environmental database management. He is a member of a number of local and national earth science organizations, and trains and speaks extensively on environmental software technology and other earth science computing topics.

Thomas Ries

More information to come!

Joseph Scarola, Biologist, Ecological Associates, Inc.

Professional biologist with Ecological Associates, Inc. (EAI). Experience conducting sea turtle research in Cape Verde, Barbados, Western Australia, Georgia, Texas, and South Florida. Specializes in sea turtle conservation, shorebird surveys, beachfront lighting management, data collection using decimeter accurate GPS Systems, and statistical analyses.  Member of the International Sea Turtle Society and International Dark-Sky Association, and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) approved Endangered Species Observer for Dredge and Disposal Projects.

Pam Schanel, Managing Director, ICF

Pam Schanel, is a managing director with ICF. She has over 20 years of experience preparing and reviewing NEPA documents and delivering NEPA trainings to a wide range of audiences. She has extensive experience analyzing environmental impacts, facilitating public involvement, and coordinating Federal, state, and local stakeholder engagement and consultation for complex and controversial projects. Pam has managed the preparation and review of several Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) and dozens of Environmental Assessments (EAs). She has planned and facilitated dozens of scoping meetings and public hearings for Department of Transportation, Department of Defense, and Surface Transportation Board NEPA projects. Pam supports ICF’s efforts to revise the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) NEPA Implementing Regulation and develop a companion Desk Reference providing guidance to all FAA NEPA practitioners.

Tammy Seal, Cummins

Tammy is a member of the AEP Climate Change Committee focused on climate risks and adaptation. She manages PlaceWorks Climate Change Services Team and is an expert in sustainability, climate action planning, climate risk assessments, and adaptation planning.

Ben Shepherd, Senior Ecologist, Inwood Consulting Engineers, Inc.

Ben Shepherd, PWS, earned his first Master of Science degree from the University of Florida in interdisciplinary ecology in 2007 and received his second master’s in environmental engineering sciences in 2008. He has more than 12 years of experience in environmental consulting in the southeast United States, most notably in state and federal permitting for energy and linear transportation projects. Mr. Shepherd is currently a Senior Ecologist and Project Manager with Inwood Consulting Engineers, Inc. in Central Florida. In this capacity, he has planned and implemented unique mitigation opportunities related to wildlife crossings that improve habitat connectivity, road permeability, and public safety while reducing costs for wetland mitigation. His key expertise also includes wetland delineations, wildlife studies and protected species permitting, and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) document preparation. In his free time, Mr. Shepherd enjoys playing golf, rowing and spending time with his family.

Lawrence Smith, Senior Planner, Dewberry

More information to come!

Michael Smith, Ecology and Environment

More information to come!

Jennifer Salerno, Lead Senior Technologist, Booz Allen Hamilton

Ms. Salerno has over 20 years of management experience working with Federal agency clients in support of NEPA. As Booz Allen's NEPA lead, she oversees environmental teams to prepare legally defensible NEPA documents from the preparation of Categorical Exclusion (CATEX) recommendations to Environmental Assessments (EA) and Environmental Impact Statements (EIS). She specializes in NEPA, ESA, CZMA, and EFH. She leads our current support to FEMA and BLM, and recently completed programmatic EIS' for VA,  FEMA, and DOE ARPA-E.

Ross Stewart, Principal Environmental Scientist, AECOM

Mr. Stewart is a Chartered Environmental Scientist and Principal Impact Assessment Consultant in the Environment and Planning team at AECOM, London. He has 9 years of experience in the wider environmental sector, including the public, private, and non-profit arenas. In his current role, Ross provides pre-consent environmental management support to nationally significant infrastructure projects in the UK, with a focus on transportation infrastructure. Ross recently completed an 18-month secondment on the internationally recognized A303 Stonehenge highway improvement scheme. In addition to his environmental management roles, Ross is currently leading the digital transformation of AECOM’s environmental impact assessment services. He is coordinating a diverse network of AECOM colleagues globally to identify, implement, and integrate digital improvement projects at each stage of the environmental impact assessment workflow. Having presented at several international conferences and written several articles on the subject, Ross is establishing himself as a leading figure in this critical area of innovative work. The application of these innovative digital technologies to the NEPA process in the US will be explored during the presentation.

Patience Stuart, Senior Architectural Historian, AECOM

Patience Stuart is a Senior Architectural Historian at AECOM in Portland, Oregon. She has more than 10 years of experience in cultural resource management and historic preservation planning for the public, private, and non-profit sectors. She has managed historic resources planning and compliance projects for federal, state, and local agencies, as well as private utilities. She has developed and executed strategies to streamline inventory and evaluation efforts for resources that range from hydroelectric sites and power transmission networks to farmsteads and entire cities. Her expertise includes architectural survey, historic research and context development, Section 106 compliance, National Register nominations, HABS/HAER documentation, and preservation planning. Patience has served as a project manager and technical lead meeting the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualifications Standards for Architectural History.

January Tavel, Architectural Historian, ICF

January is an historic preservation specialist and qualified as an historian and architectural historian under the Professional Qualification Standards of the U.S. Secretary of the Interior (36 C.F.R. § 61). In addition to helping her clients successfully navigate environmental compliance and preservation planning processes, January coordinates an interdisciplinary working group of ICF technical specialists who collaborate on the integration of cultural resource management and climate change adaptation. J. Tait ElderTait is a qualified archaeologist (36 C.F.R. § 61) and is a member of the register of professional archaeologists. He has over 15 years of professional cultural resources experience throughout the United States. With Tait’s combination of technical expertise and experiences; he helps his agency and private sector clients from the transportation, disaster recovery, and habitat restoration sectors navigate state and federal cultural resource regulations safely and defensibly.

James Thomas, Vice President, HDR

Mr. Thomas manages the Environmental Regulatory Practice in HDR's South Central Region. He is a Professional Wetland Scientist has 25 years of experience in natural resource projects, with an emphasis on State/Federal permitting and mitigation planning for Clean Water Act (CWA) - Section 404 regulatory matters. James received BS and MS degrees in Wildlife & Fisheries Sciences from Texas A&M University where he researched wetland restoration techniques in conjunction with surface mine reclamation.

Mr. Thomas has managed and/ or participated in more than 500 environmental projects, including new construction, maintenance, and expansion projects for transportation, water, and industrial projects. James has extensive restoration planning and functional assessments of streams and wetlands, including serving as the lead consultant and project manager for the development of the Texas Rapid Assessment Method. James serves as HDR's CWA Permitting Practice lead with a focus on monitoring and analysis of regulatory changes to help staff and clients understand potential effects on their projects and operations allowing effective planning of permitting and conservation efforts.

Mequela Thomas, Environmental Compliance Coordinator, NOAA

Ms. Mequela Thomas is serving as the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) Environmental Compliance Coordinator (ECC), she is supporting the efforts for the NOS Environmental Compliance Program. She has recently worked with the NOAA Office of Coastal Management (OCM) and National Geodetic Survey (NGS) as a contractor supporting the program office ECCs. Prior to her position as the IOOS ECC, Mequela worked as an intern with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as the Biological Scientist, where she administered and enforced Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (RHA) and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (CWA). Mequela has 10 years of experience in the environmental regulatory field and is committed to protecting the nation's natural resources while allowing reasonable development through fair and balanced decision making. Mequela has implemented corporate decisions, guidance, laws, regulations, and policies in the development of projects and intermediate products in support of the NEPA efforts. Mequela has a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Management from the University of Maryland University College, and a Master of Science in Law, with a Specialty in Environmental Law from the University of Maryland Francis King A Carey School of Law.

Donald Thompson

More information to come!

MRutheyi Thompson, Civil Environmental Engineer, US Bureau of Reclamation

MRutheyi Thompson, CESCO, a semi-professional speaker on STEM and Native American education topics, currently works as a Safety Specialist for the Bureau of Reclamation, 14 prior years as an environmental engineer for the agency. She has over 25 years working in the hazardous materials and environmental fields, with 12 years of field investigations and site assessments. She is an alumna of Brigham Young University. She has designed and built several universal accessible design recreation features, taught numerous workshops, and on the team that designed a Gold LEED Certified building. She won the 2003 American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) Oral Research Presentation competition and is a repeat STEM speaker at AISES national conferences. She enjoys nature walks, travel, armored medieval mixed martial arts and being the reigning Queen of the Grand Junction Renaissance Faire. She has two daughters and two cats, though only the cats still live at home.

Laura Thorne, Owner, Laura Thorne Consulting

Laura has always been a problem-solver and a strategist unafraid to take leaps. She has spent 25 years building programs, databases, designing processes, giving presentations and workshops, and leading people. Today, she operates from a call to action to help people in leadership roles to be more effective and to focus on profitable impact that delivers positive change as this is the change the world needs now. She uses a framework she designed called The Role Model Way!™ to deliver highly actionable consulting, facilitation, and leadership development programs. In 2015, she spearheaded a Women in STEM group and annual workshop now in its 4th sold-out year. She’s now helping others around the world to develop their leadership events. Laura holds a BS in Biology from the University of South Florida, is a certified Project Manager, certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, and serves on the NAEP board.

Leslie Tice, Environmental Sciences Leader, HDR

Moderator/Panelist: Leslie Tice is a Certified Environmental Planner and HDR’s Environmental Business Class Leader for Northern California with 22 years of experience in diverse environmental programs. Leslie is currently supporting the City of Santa Cruz Water Department Capital Improvement Program as HDR’s environmental lead implementing and developing this concept and has worked with numerous other clients and HDR program leads about the advantages and opportunities of integrating environmental considerations earlier in the planning and decision-making process. Panelist: Julie L. Labonte has a 30-year track record of implementing some of the largest water capital programs in North America. Based in San Francisco, Julie manages globally to as the Director of Program Management by identifying, securing and providing strategic leadership of large program contracts, quick-starting key programs to get them up and running efficiently, and developing our next generation of program managers. Further, she enhances existing standards, best practices and program controls in collaboration with our company-wide program management talent, including the most important: Environmental.

Jennifer Turnbow, Corridor Services Group Manager, KJL

Jen Turnbow is a Senior Environmental Planner and KLJ’s Corridor Services Group Manager (cultural resources, environmental, right-of-way and survey). For almost two decades, she has worked as a National Environmental Policy Act and Section 4(f) specialist, in many industries from aviation, transportation, oil and gas, power, renewable energy and telecommunications. She has grown and managed one of the largest environmental groups in the Upper Great Plains. Additionally, she has worked alongside diverse stakeholders from federal, state and local agencies, to tribal governments, to the general public. In 2014, she was selected as the Senior Project Manager for the ND Department of Transportation’s largest project ever, the US Highway 85 EIS.
Jen Turnbow attended the University of Idaho, earning a B.S. in Environmental Science, with an emphasis in social science. Currently, she is pursuing her M.S. Psychology with an emphasis on Industrial/Organizational Psychology.

Fred Wagner, Venable, LLP

More information to come!

Jennifer Walker, Principal-In-Charge, Waterarth

Walker, President of Watearth, Inc., brings nearly 30 years of extensive experience in water quality, flood control, green infrastructure, hydrology/hydraulics, stormwater, water resources, and complex projects with multiple stakeholders. She excels in water supply, integrating water supply with stormwater and groundwater management, and solving water resources challenges at a regional level. Walker was one of the first engineers to receive the Diplomate, Water Resources Engineer certification. Walker has a Masters in Civil Engineering, is a Certified Floodplain Manager, and is a licensed Professional Engineer in multiple states.

Jennifer Warf, National Department of Defense Environmental Planning Leader, AECOM

Ms. Warf is an Associate Vice President and serves as the National Department of Defense (DoD) Environmental Planning Leader for AECOM. She also serves as a Department Manager for AECOM’s Impact Assessment & Permitting practice, and oversees approximately 40 full-time NEPA, Natural Resources, and Cultural Resources Specialists in Maryland, Virginia, Washington, DC, and Alabama.

She is a Senior Environmental Planner / Natural Resources Specialist with over 19 years of experience in preparing large-scale natural resources management plans and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documents, leading coordination and consultation with regulatory agencies, obtaining waterways permits (e.g., Clean Water Act [CWA] Section 404/401 permits), and conducting ecological surveys. Ms. Warf is notably experienced with natural resources surveys, management, regulations, and issues specifically on DoD installations.

Nicole Weymouth, Environmental Manager, Project Manager, Supervising Environmental Planner, WSP

Nicole Weymouth, an Environmental Manager, Project Manager and Supervising Environmental Planner with WSP, has over twenty years’ experience in environmental compliance and planning, with an emphasis on urban transportation infrastructure. She has a Bachelor’s of Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Masters of Urban and Environmental Planning from the University of Virginia. Her work has included National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance, permitting, policy analysis, technical writing, risk assessment, and sustainable development.  She has focused on transportation and development projects for various lead agencies such as the New York State Department of Transportation, Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey and has worked in the New York City metropolitan area for over twelve years. 

Dave Whittaker, Records Analyst, Oak Ridge National Laboratory

David M. Whittaker is currently a Records Analyst at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, in Oak Ridge Tennessee. Dave received his bachelor’s degree with honors from the University of Tennessee in 2008. Dave also has an extensive background in the electrical industry as a journeyman electrician. With an extensive love for preserving history, reading good books, archiving, researching and arranging information, Dave took advantage of an opportunity to complete his master’s degree in Information Science from UT in 2008 and completed training with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) in 2017. 

 Max Winpenny, Teacher of Science, Crofton House School

Max is an energetic and passionate advocate for closing the gap between environmental awareness and environmental change. In an ideal world for conservationists, nature takes priority. However, humans inhabit this world too, so they need to be considered when conservation projects are established. A combined approach of environmental awareness and social welfare should be taken to ensure the success of conservation. His personal objective is to give people a sense of ownership over the environment by creating community management schemes within environmental programs. In his presentation, this ownership comes in the context of 'rewilding' proposals. A combination of his Master's in Environmental Technology from Imperial College London and 3 years of teaching experience has given Max a unique perspective on how to engage and educate communities in order to instigate positive change.