Conference Speakers 2019

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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.

Read his biography.

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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.

Read his biography.

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 ChesterManaging 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,, FAICPDirector, 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. KearneyVice 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 SPSenior 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