MECC 2023 Speakers
Samantha Anderson, Peabody Energy
SAnderson2@peabodyenergy.com
Samantha Anderson is the lead for Peabody’s global ESG program with responsibility for the annual ESG report as well as development of metrics and systems to support Peabody’s ESG strategy. After joining Peabody in 2019 as an Environmental Manager, she has served as interim Director of Corporate HSSE and currently as the Director of Environmental Policy and ESG. She has worked extensively within the mining industry, in both coal and hard rock sectors, on state and Federal regulatory issues, HSE management systems, and the ESG program development.
Samantha received B.S. and M.S. degrees in Chemistry from Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, TN.
Brittany Barrientos, Stinson
brittany.barrientos@stinson.com
Brittany’s deep understanding of environmental, health and safety laws across the regulatory, transactional and litigation spectrums allows her to find well-rounded and practical solutions to complex issues. She has significant experience assisting clients with environmental, health and safety regulatory requirements arising under the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, solid and hazardous waste laws, Superfund, OSHA and PHMSA, as well as state and local environmental laws and regulations. Brittany’s broad experience gives her the ability to issue-spot across media and type of issue, in a way that provides both continuity and efficiency for her clients. She has worked extensively with municipalities and electric-generating utilities, mobile sources, and clients in the chemical, manufacturing and real estate industries. Her journalism background and endless curiosity also serve her well as she navigates FOIA issues, inspections and information requests, and investigations across sectors. Brittany is also a recent graduate of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce’s esteemed two-year Centurions Leadership Program, and she is excited to continue to “Learn. Serve. Lead.” in the Community.
Kimberly Bauman, Mississippi Lime
KSLBauman@mlc.com
Kimberly is Director, Environmental Affairs and has over 26 years of multi-state experience in environmental consulting & heavy industry, focusing on environmental policy & air quality management issues. She has also served, and presently serves, as the chairperson for various environmental committees.
Susan Brodie, Geosyntec
Susan.Brodie@geosyntec.com
Susan Brodie is a Senior EHS and Sustainability Consultant with Geosyntec based in Colorado. She has nearly 25 years of experience supporting and advancing sustainability and energy transition programs; building environmental, health, and safety (EHS) management systems and metrics programs; and advocating for clean and renewable energy policies and incentives. Susan leads project teams to develop initiatives and programs that result in tangible and measurable environmental, social and governance (ESG) benefits. Susan has worked on corporate energy and environmental teams at Conoco and GE and led a national clean energy trade association. She holds a master’s degree in environmental management from the School of the Environment at Yale University and a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies and ecology from the University of Pennsylvania.
Erin Brooks, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner
erin.brooks@bclplaw.com
Erin Brooks is an environmental partner with the law firm Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner whose nationwide practice has deep experience across all environmental media and compliance program and specializes in real estate redevelopment. Erin is an active member of BCLP’s Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) global team, which promotes sustainability and ESG initiatives across industries, including real estate.
Rick Brunetti, KDHE
rick.brunetti@ks.gov
Rick Brunetti is the Director of the Bureau of Air for KDHE. He has been in that position for the past 8 years. Prior to his appointment as Director, he served as the District Environmental Administrator for KDHE’s northcentral district office in Salina. Mr. Brunetti currently resides in Topeka with his wife and three children.
Dru Buntin, Missouri DNR
dru.buntin@dnr.mo.gov
Dru Buntin was named director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources in August 2021.
He joined the Missouri Department of Natural Resources as deputy director in May 2017, after serving as executive director for the Upper Mississippi River Basin Association for four years.
Prior to his time with the UMRBA, he was deputy director for the Missouri Department of Natural Resources from 2009 to 2012.
Since rejoining the Missouri Department of Natural Resources in 2017, Dru has led the agency on important river-related issues, including drought relief and flood recovery. He works with his department team to build and strengthen relationships with their stakeholders, including Missouri businesses, citizens and communities.
A sixth-generation Missourian, Dru grew up in Moberly. He received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Missouri – Columbia.
Kelli Calhoon, Ramboll
kcalhoon@ramboll.com
Kelli Calhoon has managed projects in environmental consulting for over 22 years, with specific expertise in air quality, compliance, and environmental justice. She participates in Ramboll’s cross practice environmental justice task force and co-leads the air quality service line environmental justice workgroup. She has extensive experience in air quality permitting and compliance programs, including Title V, PSD, numerous state programs, NSPS and NESHAP compliance, annual emissions reports, toxic release inventory (TRI), Tier II, and greenhouse gas inventories. She leads projects across the country for corporate groups and individual sites.
Andrea Collier, Barr
acollier@barr.com
Andrea Collier is a licensed professional Environmental Engineer at Barr Engineering Co. with more than 20 years of experience in water resource management, stormwater and wastewater infrastructure and permitting; process control; and waste management. Her background in PFAS related projects includes permitting, environmental audits, sample collection and data review, and stormwater infrastructure and treatment. Other recent project experience includes water resource planning and design, water quality studies, water compliance auditing, stormwater management and BMPs, environmental permitting, and watershed planning. Andrea is also certified as a drinking water and wastewater operator in MO. Prior to joining Barr, she served as deputy director of the Missouri Geological Survey, as well as director of the Water Resources Center, at the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
David Cozad, US EPA
cozad.david@epa.gov
Dave Cozad is the Director of the Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division for EPA Region 7 in Kansas City. He started in that position in October 2019. Prior to that, he was the Regional Counsel for EPA Region 7 for twelve years, where he was responsible for leading the Region’s 45-person legal office. He recently three six-month temporary details at EPA HQ in Washington, D.C., serving in senior leadership positions during the last two presidential transitions. Dave has been with EPA Region 7 for thirty-one years, and prior to that, he worked with the Department of Justice in Washington D.C., on environmental enforcement matters. Dave has a B.B.A. in Economics from James Madison University and a law degree from the College of William and Mary.
Aimee Davenport, Stinson
aimee.davenport@stinson.com
Aimee assists public and private clients in resolving environmental, energy and administrative law matters with governmental agencies and third-parties. Aimee’s practice involves a keen understanding of administrative agencies and the legal authority under which they operate in areas of rulemaking, permitting and enforcement. Co-chair of the firm’s Environmental practice group, Aimee works closely with experts in state and federal litigation, she helps clients employ informed strategies to achieve long-term resolutions to meet operational needs. Prior to entering private practice, she served as deputy general counsel to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources where she advised the department in governance, contract, environmental, employment and other matters as assigned. Prior to her time with the department, Aimee served as an attorney for the Missouri Public Service Commission where she advised the commissioners and chief law judge in rate, tariff and complaint cases.
AJ Ferate, Spencer Fane
ajferate@spencerfane.com
Anthony J. (A.J.) Ferate has built a multi-faceted background in the areas of the law, policy, energy, campaigns and elections, and defense for more than 20 years. Through representation as Vice President of Regulatory Affairs for the Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association (OIPA), A.J. held responsibilities over government efforts outside of the legislative branch on matters as broad as water, electric generation, commodity marketing, land matters, and seismicity. A.J. also maintained responsibility for legal matters at OIPA, including amicus briefing in appellate matters. A.J.’s extensive experience also includes management of public policy strategy for a Fortune 500 company.
Kyle Foote, Stinson
kyle.foote@stinson.com
Kyle blends state and federal environmental experience and familiarity with regulatory compliance strategies and governmental programs and enforcement efforts to advise on facility operations and business and real estate ventures in the complex arena of environmental law.
An environmental lawyer, Kyle advises clients on the federal and state laws regulating air, water, hazardous substances and wastes, and natural resources. He represents companies large and small before the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state environmental agencies to advise on regulatory compliance and move business forward. He represents clients in diverse sectors, including manufacturing, energy and electric utility, real estate (acquisition and development), mining, propane and petroleum storage and distribution, telecommunications, finance and banking.
Kyle develops creative solutions to environmental issues arising in business and real estate transactions. He performs critical environmental due diligence, obtains construction and operating permits for facilities, and advises clients on liability exposure and risk mitigation strategies. Kyle represents clients during on-site inspections and investigations by the EPA and state environmental agencies, and coordinates audits, investigations and responses under environmental laws. He works with environmental consultants to oversee investigation and remediation of contaminated properties, and with state voluntary cleanup and tank insurance fund programs.
Formerly an environmental attorney for an international engineering company, Kyle managed environmental permitting and compliance for domestic and international electric generation facilities and other industrial projects. He offers environmental regulatory experience in more than 35 states, and has experience working with EPA, Corps of Engineers, US Fish & Wildlife Service, and state environmental and natural resources agencies.
Michael Franano, AECOM
mike.franano@aecom.com
Mike Franano has over 37 years’ experience in environmental consulting for private and public sector clients. Mr. Franano’s experience includes Client Management, Project Management, RCRA RFI/CMS, CERCLA RI/FS, Hazardous Waste Remediation Project Management, Hazardous Waste Characterization and Disposal, RCRA Compliance, Facility Audits, Building Decontamination and Dismantling, Refinery Dismantling, and Treatability Studies.
Ed Galbraith, Barr
egalbraith@barr.com
Ed Galbraith has over 30 years’ experience in environmental regulatory matters, including two decades with the Missouri DNR, most recently as Director of the Division of Environmental Qualtity. He now helps manufacturing, mining, power, and municipal clients achieve successful outcomes with their water and hazardous waste compliance challenges, including permitting, compliance assistance, planning, evaluations, and studies.
Tom Grever, Shook, Hardy & Bacon
TGREVER@shb.com
Tom counsels and litigates in all aspects of environmental law, including air, water, hazardous waste, Superfund and natural resource damages. He assists clients in negotiating and obtaining environmental permits from state and federal environmental agencies and defending these permits from legal challenges. His practice includes significant focus on Clean Air Act permitting and enforcement, including new source review, Title V operating permits, and hazardous air pollutants. Tom works with clients in a broad range of industries, including utility, cement, agricultural products, mining and chemical manufacturing. Tom’s environmental litigation experience includes successful arguments in federal and state courts of appeal. In addition, Tom counsels clients on occupational health and safety issues and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) compliance. Tom began his career as an assistant attorney general in the Ohio Attorney General’s environmental enforcement section, representing the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources in civil and criminal enforcement, permit appeals, and development of environmental regulations.
Stephen Hall, Missouri DNR
stephen.hall@dnr.mo.gov
Stephen Hall was appointed staff director of the Air Pollution Control Program on Aug. 25, 2021. Stephen has worked for the department for 20 years; the last 10 years in the Air Program. Most recently, he served as the chief of the program’s Air Quality Analysis Section. Stephen has a Bachelor of Science in Physics and Mathematics and a Master’s in Business Administration.
Mary Hauner-Davis, Burns & McDonnell
mhauner@burnsmcd.com
Mary Hauner-Davis is the Technical Service Leader and Department Manager for Air Quality at Burns & McDonnell, where she specializes in air permitting, noise control, regulatory compliance and sustainability services. With over 23 years of experience, she has assisted numerous industrial and power facilities with preparing permitting strategies to obtain complex permits and regulatory compliance. She manages a team of air permitting engineers that prepare air permit applications, perform air dispersion modeling studies and prepares analyses regarding air regulatory compliance for clients throughout the United States. She also assists clients with greenhouse gas and ESG evaluation and planning. She graduated from Cornell College with a BA in Chemistry and obtained a master degree from University of Iowa in Environmental Engineering.
Leo Henning, KDHE
Leo.Henning@ks.gov
Leo G. Henning is the Director of Environment for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE). He directs all environmental program activities and oversees a staff of approximately 380 employees. Leo has worked for KDHE for over 36 years. During his career Leo has directed the Bureau of Environmental Remediation, the Kansas Health and Environmental Laboratory and the Bureau of Environmental Field Services. Mr. Henning received a bachelor and master degree in Geology from Wichita State University and is a licensed professional geologist.
Joe Hitt, iSi Environmental
jhitt@iSiEnvironmental.com
Joe Hitt has over 35 years’ experience in environmental consulting and compliance for both government and industry, much of that related to asbestos compliance. Joe has conducted hundreds of asbestos-related projects as an inspector, project manager and post-abatement air sampler as well as industrial hygiene and other environmental site work.
For several years at iSi Joe was a project manager. In the area of asbestos, he conducted project design and management of asbestos removal projects, developed Asbestos Operations and Maintenance Plans, conducted Asbestos Operations and Maintenance training and conducted asbestos and lead-based paint inspections and risk assessments. Today he continues to be a certified asbestos inspector, estimates asbestos-related compliance projects and provides as-needed technical support to asbestos-related projects.
In previous roles at other firms, Joe was the Kansas environmental coordinator for 18 U.S. Army Reserve facilities and was a Project Manager/Construction Observer for HWS Consulting Group.
Joe is celebrating his 25th year at iSi this year.
John Hoke, Missouri DNR
john.hoke@dnr.mo.gov
John Hoke is the Director of the Water Protection Program at MDNR. Prior to his work as Program Director, Hoke worked as Chief of the Water Protection Branch and the Watershed Protection Section chief where his primary duties included managing and directing staff work on the Missouri 303(d) List of impaired waters, Missouri’s Water Quality Standards regulation, Total Maximum Daily Load development, and water quality monitoring and assessment. Hoke has a Bachelor’s degree in Geology from the University of Illinois – Urbana/Champaign and a Master’s degree in Geology from the University of Missouri – Columbia.
Paul Jacobson, Spencer Fane
pjacobson@spencerfane.com
Paul helps businesses manage their environmental and workplace safety legal challenges. In the environmental context, Paul helps companies comply with federal and state requirements for all environmental media, navigates site remediation challenges, defends against agency enforcement efforts, and works on a variety of environmental and toxic tort litigation. Paul helps companies with immediate and long-term responses to environmental disasters. Paul also helps clients with California Proposition 65 product labeling requirements.
In the workplace safety context, Paul assists clients with all stages of OSHA inspections and enforcement, and has experience defending inspections involving a wide range of OSHA standards, including Process Safety Management, Permissible Exposure Limits, robotics safety, and more.
Jeremy James, Stanley Consultants
JamesJeremy@stanleygroup.com
Jeremy James is an air quality specialist with 10 years of experience in the environmental industry, with specialized knowledge in air quality permitting and regulatory compliance.
Prior to joining Stanley Consultants, Jeremy spent 3 years writing Title V operating permits for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
Jeremy is also a Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM), and has industry experience managing air, RCRA, SWPPP, and SPCC programs.
Ryan Russell Kemper, Thompson Coburn
rkemper@thompsoncoburn.com
Ryan has a broad and diverse practice serving clients navigating sophisticated matters related to air, water, land, energy, agriculture, emergency response and climate issues. He serves as a vice-chair of Thompson Coburn’s Environmental Law Group and has successfully handled cases across the country under the full spectrum of federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations. Ryan has nearly two decades of experience in litigation, regulatory and counseling work. Ryan also counsels clients on climate, ESG, and environmental justice issues. He has handled significant air and climate issues and has advised clients with regard to major source permitting, carbon sequestration, GHG reporting and accounting, and the environmental aspects of government incentive programs for carbon offsets and credits, including clients in the energy sector. Prior to entering private practice, Ryan worked on environment and energy issues as committee staff in the Illinois State Senate and on Capitol Hill.
Matt Leopold, Hunton Andrews Kurth
mleopold@hunton.com
Matt Leopold is a Partner with Hunton Andrews Kurth. He is the former General Counsel for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, former General Counsel for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and a former environmental litigator at the U.S. Department of Justice. Matt has experience in an array of major federal environmental statutes, including the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), as well as the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Endangered Species Act (ESA). While at EPA he worked directly on a number of Clean Air Act rulemakings dealing with GHGs, including the first rule adopting GHG standards for aircraft.
Jim Macy, NDEQ
jim.macy@nebraska.gov
Jim Macy was reappointed by Governor Jim Pillen and unanimously confirmed by Nebraska unicameral on February 14, 2023. Jim was previously appointed By Governor Pete Ricketts on March 1, 2015. Before his duties in Nebraska, Jim enjoyed a 28-year career with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
Since his appointment Macy has been engaging Nebraska leadership in all sectors to open a dialogue with the department.
Jim has focused on process improvement, compliance assistance and community and stakeholder engagement.
Among his tenure successes: -Served as President of the Environmental Council of the States
-In October of 2020, the department reorganized from traditional Air, Land, Waste, Drinking Water and Energy divisions to Inspection/Compliance, Monitoring/Remediation, Planning/Aid, Engineering/Permits/404, Drinking Water/Well Standards/Groundwater, and Management services.
-In July of 2021, LB148 brought the Drinking Water, Well Standards & Contractors and Environmental Safety Programs to Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy.
-In July of 2022, the agency was granted authority to develop a Clean Water Act Section 404-assumption package for full assumption of dredge and fill permits.
-Also in July 2022, the agency was granted new authority for Cease and Desist for certain environmental emergencies, with administrative penalty and clean-up provisions.
-In October of 2022, the agency passed the 1-billion-dollar loan amount for the State revolving Fund projects in Nebraska.
Brian Martin, Ameren
BMartin2@ameren.com
Brian Martin is the manager of the Environmental Support & Waste Management group at Ameren, a St. Louis, MO based electric and gas utility company. Brian has led the Ameren Environmental Justice working group for the past three years.
Brian also serves on the Executive Committee of the Illinois Environmental Regulatory Group (IERG) where he is the Past Chairman. Brian has worked with IERG staff and IERG other member companies to review and comment on several legislative proposals related to Environmental Justice. Brian is also active in the Regulatory Environmental Group for Missouri (REGFORM) as Chairman of the Hazardous Waste and Environmental Justice Committees.
Brian graduated from University of Illinois at Champaign with a B.S. in Ecology and Ethology and graduated from Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri with an MBA. Brian is certified as a Certified Hazardous Materials Manager by the Institute of Hazardous Materials Management. Brian is certified as a Project Management Professional by the Project Management Institute.
Alyssa Martinec, Burns & McDonnell
amartinec@burnsmcd.com
Alyssa Martinec is a Sustainability Specialist at Burns & McDonnell, where she supports the development and delivery of sustainability services. She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a B.A. in Political Science and International & Area Studies and obtained her MBA and Master of Sustainability degrees from Chatham University. Alyssa specializes in corporate sustainability reporting, materiality, goal setting, and strategy development. She also has experience fostering cross-sector collaboration, having driven partnerships across government, non-profit, private sector, and higher education institutions to accomplish regional sustainability initiatives.
Meg McCollister, EPA Region 7
McCollister.Meg@epa.gov
Meg McCollister has a strong advisory and advocacy background with nearly two decades of experience serving nonprofits, candidates for public office, and public policy campaigns. Born in Kansas and raised in both Kansas and Missouri, she received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas before attending the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, where she earned her Juris Doctorate with an emphasis in urban, land use and environmental law. After law school, McCollister and her husband moved to Sonoma County, California, where she served on the Board of Directors for Sonoma County Conservation Action and worked on environmental campaigns and in local government. Upon her return to the Midwest, she has continued to serve as an advisor and strategic thinker in areas including environmental, health, and social improvement initiatives as well as communication strategies. McCollister resides in Kansas City with her husband, three children, and rescued greyhound. She enjoys running, hiking, and exploring the outdoors.
Jessie Merrigan
jmerrigan@spencerfane.com
Jessica Merrigan counsels clients on environmental matters regarding regulatory requirements and represents them in litigation of environmental claims, including contribution claims under the federal Superfund law. She has significant experience helping clients in administrative negotiations with both the Environmental Protection Agency and state agencies, advises them on additional or equivalent state law requirements, and assists clients with facility audits, compliance initiatives and waste reduction programs. Throughout her career, Jessica has worked with clients to monitor the ongoing changes in chemical regulations and implement programs to manage evolving state, local and federal requirements for chemical management, disclosure and research. Jessica also helps clients with environmental issues involved in property redevelopment and real estate transactions. Her work includes review of environmental assessments, evaluation of potential environmental liabilities associated with real estate transactions including those created by CERCLA, and evaluation of eligibility for federal and state Brownfields assistance programs. In addition, she works with clients to transfer and maintain permits, through the completion of appropriate plans and applications and coordination with responsible agencies. Her experience has included national, regional and local projects ranging from single site sales to transactions involving hundreds of millions and up to $2 billion in assets.
Kyra Moore, Missouri DNR
kyra.moore@dnr.mo.gov
Kyra began her career with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources in 1999. She has served in different roles within the department, including Deputy Director of the Division of Environmental Quality for nearly four years and Director of the department’s Air Pollution Control Program for seven years. Kyra holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Missouri – Columbia.
Dalton Mott, Shook, Hardy & Bacon
Dmott@shb.com
Dalton represents clients in a wide range of environmental, toxic tort and product liability matters for Shook, Hardy & Bacon. He is involved in all phases of matters from initial regulatory disputes to litigation settings. Dalton has considerable experience in motion and discovery practice, as well as case investigation and workup. Dalton’s practice covers a wide range of industries such as agriculture, petroleum, aviation, mining, chemical and pharmaceuticals, with a particular emphasis in the energy and defense sectors. Dalton also handles significant Superfund and environmental cleanup matters, involving some of the largest and most complex sites in the nation. Dalton focuses on finding unique and creative ways to resolve cases, often involving science- or technical-based arguments. Dalton earned his J.D. from the University of Kansas, where he obtained membership in the Order of the Coif and was a notes and comments editor for the Kansas Law Review.
Kevin Perry, REGFORM
kperry@regform.org
Kevin is Assistant Director at REGFORM, a MO business association focused entirely on State environmental regulations & policies. He is a registered lobbyist & holds a BS degree in biology. He has over 28 years of experience, including work as a biologist at US EPA Office of Water. He sings in the choir at church.
Grace Poling, Encamp
grace.poling@encamp.com
Grace ensures Encamp’s customers’ needs are met by delivering high-quality solutions for advancement in environmental compliance. Prior to joining Encamp as an Account Manager, Grace held Environmental Professional roles within the oil and gas industry specializing in many program areas. She excels at creating compliance tools to ensure site compliance and effective use of regulatory research.
Steve Poplawski, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner
Steve.Poplawski@bclplaw.com
Steven Poplawski has 35 years of experience in providing strategic legal and business counseling to address complex and challenging compliance issues frequently involving the interaction of local, state, and federal law. Steve takes a collaborative approach in building and managing teams to address a board array of regulatory, procedural, and contractual matters with a focus on achieving excellent results while being sensitive to client risk mitigation, business efficiency, and corporate social responsibility goals.
Steve maintains a broad environmental practice involving negotiation of real estate and corporate transactions, administrative and judicial litigation, regulatory enforcement defense, and development and implementation of corporate sustainability policies. In addition, he has managed internal audits and investigations both in an enforcement context and in the context of developing better internal compliance and best practices.
Steve provides compliance counseling regarding a wide range of regulatory issues in all major environmental areas, including air, waste, and water. These representations have included counseling on self-disclosure of violations and negotiations with both state and federal regulators of appropriate settlements often involving multiple facilities throughout the country. They have also included complex and sometimes controversial permitting projects requiring teaming with clients, consultants, and public relations personnel.
James Price, Spencer Fane
jprice@spencerfane.com
Jim Price is a partner and co-chair of the Environment and Energy practice group at the Kansas City, Missouri, office of Spencer Fane LLP, where his practice concentrates in environmental law, regulation, litigation, and business transactions. Jim represents clients in environmental compliance, environmental management, transactions, and disputes. He frequently writes and speaks on environmental law and has contributed to several books on environmental law. Jim has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America for many years and has been named one of the Super Lawyers and Best of the Bar in Kansas City. Jim received his bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri, and he graduated with honors from Harvard Law School.
Christine Pries, Ramboll
cpries@ramboll.com
Christine Pries is a Manager in Ramboll Management Consulting’s Strategic Sustainability Consulting business. Her experience in the energy and sustainability space spans consulting, policy advocacy, and corporate strategy. She has worked with companies across numerous sectors on portfolio energy management, carbon accounting, sustainability goal setting, and strategy development. Her expertise helps clients navigate ever-changing landscapes though insights into market dynamics, regulatory developments, and new technologies.
Brett Roberts, GHD
brett.roberts@ghd.com
Brett Roberts is at the forefront of seamlessly weaving digital solutions and cutting-edge technology into environmental and sustainability initiatives. He is leading the trajectory toward a future Environmental and Sustainability industry, redefining norms to deliver heightened efficiency and profound impact for clients. Brett’s innovative work encompasses the implementation of integrated data management systems, advanced data analytics, artificial intelligence, robotic process automation, real-time IoT-enabled data collection, immersive visualization techniques like virtual reality, and the creation of software solutions that underpin client environmental and sustainability endeavors.
With an illustrious career spanning over three decades, Brett has occupied pivotal executive leadership positions within both consulting and software enterprises. Since his induction into GHD in 2020 as the Global Digital Environment Market Leader, Brett has orchestrated GHD’s concerted endeavor to expedite the digital transformation of its environmental and sustainability business. His unwavering commitment has resulted in the infusion of digital innovations into GHD’s core business, enriching client experiences and propelling them into the forefront of the digital age.
Brent Rosser, Hunton Andrews Kurth
brosser@hunton.com
For over two decades, Brent has practiced in the area of environmental law, representing major utilities, energy companies and other businesses in matters throughout the country, including in cases alleging violations of federal and state water, waste, chemical and air laws, as well as state common laws such as nuisance and trespassing. Brent has represented defendants in some of the largest and most important environmental cases in the country, including cases that have been heard in the Circuit Courts of Appeals and the Supreme Court of the United States. He possess a valuable blend of experience as a litigator and a regulatory advisor on both energy and environmental law and he has been instrumental to the establishment and development of the firm’s coal ash and waste practice.
Over the last several years, he has handled nearly 30 separate administrative and litigation matters involving coal ash for clients throughout the country. These matters have included defending citizen suits brought under federal environmental laws including the Clean Water Act (CWA) and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), enforcement actions brought by government agencies, and private actions asserting nuisance and other common law claims. Brent also acted as co-lead counsel for a major utility in one of the first cases alleging violations of RCRA related to the storage and management of coal ash.
LaTonya Sanders, US EPA Region 7
Sanders.Latonya@epa.gov
LaTonya Sanders is the Communities Section Chief for EPA Region 7. She manages the Children’s Environmental Health, Environmental Education, and Environmental Justice Programs. LaTonya has over 25 years of public affairs, communications, and outreach experience. Prior to her current position, she was a Public Affairs Specialist and Congressional Liaison for EPA Region 7. LaTonya has a Bachelor of Public Administration and a Master of Public Affairs both from Park University.
Kurt Schaefer, Lathrop GPM
kurt.schaefer@lathropgpm.com
Kurt Schaefer is a partner at Lathrop GPM, LLC His practice focuses on litigation, environmental, health care, administrative, agricultural, business and public utilities. He has litigated bench and jury trials of all kinds and complexities in numerous circuit and federal courts throughout Missouri and elsewhere. He has briefed and argued over 100 appellate actions before all three districts of the Missouri Court of Appeals and Missouri Supreme Court and handled more than 90 administrative proceedings before various state permitting and licensing agencies.
In addition to his litigation and regulatory legal practice, Kurt is President of Lathrop GPM Consulting, a subsidiary of Lathrop GPM LLP that focuses on government affairs and communications.
Kurt formerly served as a Missouri State Senator, Assistant Missouri Attorney General, Special Assistant US Attorney, General Counsel and Deputy Director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Special Counsel to the Governor and Special Counsel to the Missouri Department of Agriculture.
Adam Schnieders, IDNR
adam.schnieders@dnr.iowa.gov
Adam Schnieders has worked in various roles for water quality programs within the Iowa Department of Natural Resources for the past 23 years, including a role coordinating the state’s water quality standards efforts, and serving as the NPDES program supervisor. Schnieders now serves as Water Quality Resource Coordinator, which is responsible for the management and coordination of water quality policies and partnership programs for the DNR.
Ingrid Setzler, KC Board of Public Utilitites
isetzler@bpu.com
Ingrid Setzler is the Director of Environmental Compliance for the Kansas City Board of Public Utilities (BPU). She oversees regulatory compliance for BPU’s water, solid waste and air operations. Ingrid has a B.S. in Environmental Science from the University of Colorado, Boulder. She strives to reduce BPU’s environmental impact and is committed to making the community a better place.
Ingrid has 30 years’ experience in the environmental industry and has worked in both Region VII and Region VIII including managing contracts for the U.S. EPA, U.S. Navy and Missouri State Emergency Management Agency, State Homeland Security and Assessment Strategy Program.
Sheila Shockey, Shockey Consulting
sheila@shockeyconsulting.com
Sheila Shockey is the founder and CEO of Shockey Consulting. She has held leadership positions in city management, public works, and planning for local governments as a staff member or consultant since 1989. She is an experienced project manager with numerous American Planning Association Award Winning Plans, including a National APA award for comprehensive planning. She brings the study of futurology to clients so they can imagine positive change through the lens of a scientific and historical understanding of the world. Known for her expertise in public process design and facilitation, her superpower is the ability to research, understand, and communicate complex subjects including how future trends may impact communities. She busts the myth that either you are a right-brained intuitive, creative, free thinker or a left-brained quantitative, analytical, or logical thinker. Whether it is public policy, economics, financial, sociology, or scientific, she can translate these concepts into value-based conversations that everyone can participate in and come to consensus around. Sheila uses data-rich tools to show interconnection between issues so participants can comprehend big, complex transformations and make better decisions for a more resilient world.
DeAndré Singletary, US EPA Region 7
Singletary.DeAndre@epa.gov
DeAndré Singletary is currently serving as the Air and Radiation Division Director, responsible for ensuring healthy air quality by implementing the Clean Air Act (CAA) within the geographic boundaries of Region 7, since March 2023. Prior to serving as the acting Air and Radiation Divison Director, He served as the Director of EPA Region 7’s Land, Chemical and Redevelopment Division, overseeing the region’s hazardous waste, solid waste, pesticides, lead-based paint, underground storage tanks, brownfields, land revitalization, pollution prevention and sustainable materials management programs, since 2019. He has been employed by the federal government and EPA for 25 years starting his career as an emergency responder in Superfund in 1998. He spent several years advancing EPA’s enforcement and environmental justice efforts. He is an alumnus of Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, Georgia, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in biology.
Dana Skelley, US EPA Region 7
Skelley.Dana@epa.gov
Dana Skelley is currently serving as the Director of the Water Division, U.S. EPA Region 7, since March 2023. The Water Division handles Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act implementation and oversight. Prior to her detail, Dana served as the Director of the Air and Radiation Division, U.S. EPA, Region 7 since 2020. The Air and Radiation Division handles standards implementation, review and approval of state implementation plans, air modeling and monitoring, air toxics, permitting, delegations, indoor air and grants. She began her EPA career with the Office of Regional Counsel in 1997, serving in a variety of roles including staff attorney, Air Branch Manager, Deputy Regional Counsel, and Regional Enforcement Coordinator. Dana received a Bachelor of Science in Animal Ecology and Environmental Studies from Iowa State University and a Juris Doctorate from Drake University.
Tom Stiles, KDHE
Tom.Stiles@ks.gov
Tom Stiles has been Director of the Bureau of Water at KDHE since 2019, overseeing all programs implementing the Clean Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act in Kansas. Stiles has been President of the Association of Clean Water Administrators and the Interstate Council on Water Policy. He currently serves as co-chair of the Water Quality Committee of the Western States Water Council. Stiles received his B.S. in Watershed Science at Colorado State University and a M.S. in Forest Hydrology at the University of Minnesota.
Stacy Stotts, Polsinelli
sstotts@polsinelli.com
Stacy Stotts is a member of the Environmental and Natural Resources group and her practice centers on representing businesses, organizations and individuals in environmental regulatory and administrative matters, enforcement matters, private party suits, compliance counseling, and corporate and property transactions. Stacy strives to provide well-rounded guidance relating to clients’ current legal needs, as well as efficiently identify and mitigate potential complications that might arise down the road.
She has represented clients in the areas of air, water, superfund and hazardous waste law. Her work also includes assisting clients in commenting on proposed agency rulemakings. Her expertise also extends to advising clients on compliance and regulatory obligations in California, including Proposition 65 compliance and obtaining carbon credits.
Vel “Sube” Subramanian, GHD
Vel.Subramanian@ghd.com
Sube is a Principal and a Market Leader of GHD’s North America EHS Compliance practice. A registered professional engineer with 33 years of experience in the environmental consulting industry, Sube’s knowledge and technical process experience encompasses work with a variety of market sector clients including utilities, power generation, manufacturing, chemical/petrochemical and oil and gas, automotive in the areas of air quality and environmental compliance. He has conducted multi-media environmental compliance audits to over 200 facilities in North America, Latin America and Asia.
Sube also has over a decade of experience in EHS management information system design and implementation. Specific power generation and utility experience with this includes PSD and Title V permitting, storm water management, coal ash management, GHG emissions inventory development and reporting, decarbonization strategies, NPDES permitting, mercury minimization programs and boiler NOx control projects.
Jeremias Szust, Trinity Consultants
jszust@trinityconsultants.com
Mr. Szust is a Managing Consultant and the Office Manager for Trinity’s St. Louis office with more than 10 years of experience in air quality consulting. He has extensive experience in traditional air quality consulting areas including state and federal air permitting, emissions calculations, compliance tracking, reporting, and expert litigation. Mr. Szust’s main areas of expertise include air dispersion modeling and air toxics related matters. He has conducted and managed both short and long-range transport analyses in support of state-level permit applications, PSD permit applications, and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) assessments. He also has a continued focus on air toxics related matters that include the preparation of state and federal Health Risk Assessments (HRA) using various protocols and software, including CARB’s Hot Spots Analysis & Reporting Program (HARP), EPA’s Human Health Risk Assessment Protocol (HHRAP), and EPA’s Human Exposure Model (HEM).
Mr. Szust has been the point contact for numerous clients and has served clients in several industries including Portland cement manufacturing, electric utilities, inorganic chemical manufacturing, liquid petroleum refining, silica sand processing, cement board manufacturing, and semi-conductor manufacturing, among others, across numerous states including Arizona, California, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and West Virginia. Mr. Szust serves as a national lead for Trinity’s Health Risk Assessment team and is an instructor for several of Trinity’s environmental training courses on Missouri & Illinois Reporting, Advanced Spreadsheet Functionality for Air Quality Compliance, Dispersion Modeling for Managers, Practical Air Dispersion Modeling Workshop, Introduction to Environmental Reporting in Nevada, and Environmental Justice Policies, Tools, and Best Practices.
Joseph Tell, KTL
jtell@goktl.com
Joseph combines over 20 years of EHS technical expertise, management strategy, and information technology experience to help large, diverse organizations solve their sustainability and EHS management challenges. In addition to his commercial/industrial clients, Joe has extensive experience working with the federal government. He is intimately familiar with federal sustainability and EHS programs/ requirements and has provided extensive support to various federal agencies throughout his career, including Department of the Interior (DOI); National Institutes of Health (NIH); U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID); U.S. Army, Army National Guard, Army Reserve; U.S. Air Force; and U.S. Navy. He has NIH, DOI, and USAID security clearances. He holds a B.S. in Civil & Environmental Engineering, Northwestern University.
Linden Terpstra, EHS Support Source
linden@ehssupportsource.com
Linden Terpstra is an accomplished environmental, health, and safety (EHS) professional and passionate entrepreneur with expertise across the EHS world. After building a strong foundation in consulting, Linden later transitioned to experience life in industry, gaining valuable insights into electronics manufacturing and the budding battery recycling industries.
Linden is the founder and CEO of EHS Support Source, an interactive online platform and concierge service that makes it faster and easier for businesses to find and hire EHS third-party experts. EHS Support Source provides industry leaders with a resource to identify local services that align with their unique needs, vet potential providers’ past work performance on similar projects, and streamline the process to identify the most suitable resources.
Ed Tormey, Iowa Department of Natural Resources
ed.tormey@dnr.iowa.gov
Ed is Division Administrator of Iowa DNR. He has been with IDNR since 2004. Prior to that, Ed worked in OH, in both public and private sectors. He has over 33 years of experience practicing environmental law. He has a JD from the Univ. of Iowa School of Law.
Maria Vishnevskiy, Geosyntec
MVishnevskiy@geosyntec.com
Maria Vishnevskiy is a Senior Engineer in Geosyntec’s Overland Park office. She has over nine years of experience in flow and transport modeling, engineering design for remediation, and site investigation and characterization. She is skilled at managing large- and small-scale projects and coordinating geographically distributed teams to best deliver on project needs. On complex projects, Maria is skilled at integrating large datasets and multiple priorities with fastidious attention to detail to support regulatory negotiation and provide client advocacy. She leverages advanced project controls as needed to manage the scope, schedule, and budget based on client needs. Her technical experience includes flow and transport modeling, process design, site investigation and remediation, and vapor intrusion. She has a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Geophysics from Dartmouth College and a master’s degree in Environmental Fluid Mechanics and Hydrology from Stanford University and is a licensed Professional Engineer.
Dana Wagner, Terracon
dana.wagner@terracon.com
Dana Wagner is a Senior Principal and Vice President of Terracon Consultants, Inc. He serves as the Director of Environmental Due Diligence Services and Leads the Financial Legal and Investment Sector of National Accounts. He has 33 years of experience and has managed thousands of due diligence projects across the United States, Canada and Mexico as well as experience in Europe and Asia. Dana specializes in transaction-oriented environmental due diligence, particularly for the financial, legal and investment sectors. He advocates for team-oriented, client-focused and innovative approaches in the due diligence business.
Roger Walker, REGFORM
rwalker@regform.org
Roger Walker, J.D., LLM (Environmental Law) BS (Journalism/Education). Walker currently serves as the Executive Director of the Regulatory Environmental Group for Missouri (REGFORM) — a business association that has forged positive relationships with State and Federal agencies, in the support of sound science, purposeful regulations, fair funding, meaningful discussion and consensus-building. Walker also serves as a consultant and legal adviser to corporate clients. In 2014, he created and continues to serve as Chair of the annual “Midwest Environmental Compliance Conference.” In 2009, he helped co-found the Missouri Energy Initiative (MEI) and was its Director for four years. Walker has also worked as Of Counsel for a St. Louis law firm, Armstrong Teasdale, taught “Environmental Law” as an Adjunct Instructor at St. Louis University, and clerked for the Missouri Supreme Court.
Brian Wanzenreid, Viterra
brian.wanzenried@viterra.com
Mr. Wanzenried is the Vice President of Environmental Health and Safety for Viterra USA, LLC based out of Omaha, Nebraska. He has over 32 years of experience in chemical and environmental engineering including regulatory compliance, safety and industrial hygiene, training, site assessments and cleanup, and natural resources projects. At Viterra, Mr. Wanzenried oversees the employee safety and health, environmental, security and transportation programs for over 100 grain and ingredient facilities across the United States and in Mexico.
Dan Wilkus, Evergy
dan.wilkus@evergy.com
Dan is the Director, Environmental Services, for Evergy, Inc. headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri. Dan has over 30 years of regulatory permitting experience both as a consultant and as a member of the electric utility industry. His experience includes overseeing air and water compliance related activities as well as regulatory construction and operating permit projects. Over his career, Dan has worked with numerous electrical and industrial facilities regarding environmental regulatory issues. Dan obtained a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and a Bachelor of Science in Atmospheric Sciences both from the University of Kansas. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Kansas.
Coulter Wood, KTL
cwood@goktl.com
Coulter is an environmental compliance and energy management leader with over 20 years of industry and consulting experience in providing expert regulatory and technical guidance, conducting energy and environmental compliance audits, leading corporate sustainability efforts, leading environmental capital expenditure projects, and managing energy sourcing and procurement.
Coulter has executed numerous environmental compliance audits as both a third-party consultant and an internal corporate representative to industrial manufacturing, agricultural, and commercial facilities throughout the U.S., including multi-site portfolios, OSHA reviews, and ISO 9001 and 14001 reviews. He has extensive knowledge of state and federal environmental regulations, including the CAA, CWA, CERCLA, EPCRA, NEPA, OPA, RCRA, SARA, SDWA, TSCA.
In addition, Coulter has provided oversight on a variety of remedial projects, including those at large refineries, manufacturing facilities, oil and gas research campuses, and others. He has qualified surveying experience on investigation and construction sites throughout the nation, as well as extensive experience in field documentation and construction oversight, including the completion of daily field notes, photographic documentation, boring logs, well construction and sampling forms, instrument calibration logs, health and safety forms, etc. He holds a B.S. in Geoscience, University of Iowa.
Eric Wooten, Terracon
eric.wooten@terracon.com
Eric Wooten is a Senior Environmental Department Manager and Terracon’s ESG practice leader. Eric focuses on helping clients develop accurate and sustainable GHG and ESG programs, while providing insight into current and emerging air quality regulations. Eric started his career as an environmental professional in 2014 with Occidental after graduating from the University of Missouri School of Law. During his eight years with Occidental, Eric held various roles of increasing responsibility related to developing, implementing, and advocating for effective state and federal environmental programs.
Joseph Zaleski, Shook, Hardy & Bacon
jzaleski@shb.com
Joseph is an attorney in the Environmental and Toxic Tort and Exposure Litigation Practice group at Shook, Hardy & Bacon. He has advised and represented clients across a spectrum of industries and environmental legal challenges. Joseph has focused his practice on regulatory compliance counseling, enforcement defense, and complex litigation strategy spanning major federal environmental statutes like the National Environmental Policy Act, Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, CERCLA/Superfund, RCRA, FIFRA, and TSCA, as well as state equivalents. Joseph’s past work has included representing clients in negotiating administrative settlements with the United States Environmental Protection Agency and state environmental regulators. This involved alleged Clean Air Act violations and federal and state pesticide law, negotiating federal consent decrees with the United States Department of Justice, litigating challenges to EPA and state environmental agency rulemakings, and advising parties on CERCLA/Superfund investigations and litigation related to remediation cost recovery. Joseph earned his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law, where he was the executive editor for the Virginia Environmental Law Journal.