Conference Speakers 2019
Opening Keynote Speaker
Thomas W. Smith III, ENV SP, CAE, F.ASCE
Executive Director, American Society of Civil Engineers
A dedicated member of the American Society of Civil Engineers for more than 25 years and a civil engineer by training, Tom Smith served as the association’s deputy executive director and general counsel before becoming the executive director in January 2015. Established in 1852, ASCE is the oldest national professional engineering society. With a membership of more than 150,000 and an annual operating budget of over $65 million, the Society is dedicated to advancing the art, science and profession of engineering for the betterment of humanity. Smith is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Society. He provides executive leadership to a staff of 250 and an active volunteer workforce of over 7,500, facilitating ASCE's tradition of supplying high-quality and high-value products and services to its members and other customers worldwide.
Luncheon Keynote Speaker
Tom Murphy, ULI Canizaro/Klingbeil Families Chair for Urban Development, has been a senior resident fellow at the Urban Land Institute since 2006.
A former mayor of Pittsburgh, his extensive experience in urban revitalization—what drives investment, what ensures long-lasting commitment—has been a key addition to the senior resident fellows’ areas of expertise. Murphy also serves on the Advisory Board of ULI’s Rose Center for Public Leadership in Land Use.
Panelists
David W. Barr, Senior Vice President, Roosevelt & Cross, Inc.
Wade Beltramo, Esq., General Counsel, New York State Conference of Mayors and Municipal Officials (NYCOM)
Paul Beyer, Esq., Director of Smart Growth, Office of Planning, Development and Community Infrastructure, NYS Department of State
Karen L. Black, Esq., Principal, May 8 Consulting, Inc.
Amy Chester, Managing Director, Rebuild by Design
The Reverend Peter Cook, Executive Director, New York State Council of Churches
Michael Curti, Esq., Senior Counsel, Harris Beach PLLC
Marilyn Dare, LC, CEM, Senior Project Manager, Energy Codes, NYSERDA
Steve Densmore, President and Founder, Choice Words LLC
Caroline Dwyer, AICP, Project Manager, Renaissance Planning Group, Inc.
Donald L. Elliott, Esq,, FAICP, Director, Clarion Associates, LLC
Lee J. Ellman, AICP, Director of Planning, City of Yonkers
Peter Feroe, AICP, Sr. Technical Director / Planning, AKRF, Inc.
Madeline Fletcher, Esq., Director, Distressed Asset Preservation, NYS Homes and Community Renewal
John Gauthier, P.E., Esq., Associate Engineer, Town of Greece
Sean K. Kearney, Vice President, The Kearney Realty & Development Group
Jason Labate, Esq., Senior Associate, Goldstein Hall PLLC
Alan Mallach, FAICP, Senior Fellow, Center for Community Progress
Gina Martini, AICP, ENV SP, Senior Project Manager, VHB
Dwight H. Merriam, FAICP, Attorney at Law
Valerie Monastra, AICP, President, Westchester Municipal Planning Federation
John R. Nolon, Esq., Of Counsel, Land Use Law Center and Distinguished Professor of Law, Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University
Rose Noonan, Esq., Executive Director, Housing Action Council, Inc.
Thomas M. Roach, Esq., Mayor, City of White Plains
Candace Rossi, Project Manager at NY-Sun, NYSERDA
Patricia E. Salkin, Esq., Provost, Graduate and Professional Divisions, Touro College
Leslie J. Snyder, Esq., Partner, Snyder & Snyder, LLP
Bonnie Von Ohlsen, AICP, RLA, LEED Green Associate, Kimley-Horn of New York, P.C.
Linda B. Whitehead, Esq., Partner, McCullough, Goldberger & Staudt, LLP
Nicholas A. Widzowski, Esq., Legislative Director & Counsel, Office of Council Member Costa Constantinides
Michael Allan Wolf, Esq., Professor of Law & Richard E. Nelson Chair in Local Government Law, University of Florida Levin College of Law
Michael D. Zarin, Esq., Partner, Zarin & Steinmetz