Speakers: Marco Finazzi, PE PMP, Program Director, CIS & Roland Jones, Market Director, CIS

Session Time: 10:10-11:00 AM

Description: Our symposium kicks off with an Opening Plenary that introduces the Community-Based Partnership (CBP), a transformative delivery model designed to scale green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) while addressing the convergence of climate change, aging infrastructure, and social inequities. Using the nation’s first CBP—the Clean Water Partnership (CWP) in Prince George’s County, MD—as a primary case study, presenters will demonstrate how this model overcomes traditional procurement barriers to accelerate urban greening and concentrate economic benefits locally. Since 2015, the CWP has successfully implemented $350 million in GSI through over 200 projects, significantly impacting the local economy: 79% of contracts were awarded to local, women, and minority-owned businesses (WMBE), and 52% of labor hours were performed by county residents, generating an estimated $655 million in local economic impact. Attendees will explore how this model, now expanded to regions including Seattle and Chicago, empowers communities to solve complex stormwater challenges while driving long-term workforce development and climate resilience.

About the Speakers

Marco Finazzi, PE, PMP
Program Director
CIS

Marco Finazzi is a Program Director at CIS, responsible for leading a Community-Based Partnership with the Stormwater Authority of Chester, Pennsylvania and supporting program operations nationwide. He brings over a decade of experience advancing water and wastewater infrastructure improvements, watershed planning, flood resilience initiatives, and stormwater management solutions across North America. A licensed Professional Engineer in multiple states and a certified Project Management Professional, Mr. Finazzi combines strong technical knowledge with strategic program leadership to support effective implementation and long term community outcomes. He holds a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from Columbia University, and a Bachelor and Master of Science in Environmental Engineering from University of Brescia, Italy.

Roland Jones
Market Director
CIS

Roland Jones is the Market Director at CIS and serves as the Program Director for the Clean Water Partnership with Prince George’s County, Maryland, the first Community-Based Partnership in the nation. In this role, he oversees program delivery, stakeholder engagement, and coordination across multidisciplinary teams. Mr. Jones brings decades of leadership experience in public sector procurement, having served as Chief Procurement Officer for Prince George’s County, Director of Strategic Sourcing at the University of Maryland College Park, and Director of Procurement & Contract Management for the Maryland Department of Environment. Before entering the public sector, he built a strong professional foundation through roles at several Fortune 500 companies. A nationally recognized leader in supplier development and diversity, he is Chairperson Emeritus of the Capital Region Minority Supplier Development Council and remains active in community organizations. Mr. Jones holds a Master of Science in Procurement and Contract Management and a Bachelor of Arts in the Administration of Justice.

Reframing Laurel Hill’s Legacy Landscape Through Regenerative, Climate-Resilient Green Burial Design

Speakers: Karen Steenhoudt, RLA, Lead Landscape Architect, Land+, LLC & Nancy Goldenberg, Hon. ASLA, President & CEO, Laurel Hill Cemeteries & Laurel Hill Funeral Home

Session Time: 11:10-11:50 AM

Description: Once a traditional 19th-century landmark, Philadelphia’s 287-acre Laurel Hill Cemetery is undergoing a profound paradigm shift toward eco-sensitive, regenerative burial practices. This session explores how the cemetery is transforming its historic manicured lawn-scape into a climate-resilient “living landscape” through the integration of native meadows, memorial tree groves, and repurposed urban wood. By prioritizing natural burial methods over high-carbon conventional practices and expanding pedestrian-focused infrastructure, Laurel Hill has evolved into a vital community sanctuary and an educator in land stewardship. Attendees will discover how these sustainable transformations foster deeper connections between people and nature, creating a social and ecological asset that ensures the cemetery’s relevance for generations to come.

About the Speakers

Karen Steenhoudt, RLA
Lead Landscape Architect
Land+, LLC

Karen Steenhoudt, RLA, is a registered landscape architect and Principal at Land+ LLC, where her work focuses on ecological design for public spaces. Her portfolio spans public gardens, cemeteries, and zoological landscapes, with an emphasis on habitat restoration, climate resilience, and long-term stewardship of cultural landscapes. Karen serves as a board member and volunteer at the Delaware Botanic Gardens, where she contributed to the Inland Dunes Habitat Garden and the Living Shoreline Project, an award-winning initiative that integrates native ecology, green infrastructure, and public engagement. She is licensed in Delaware and Pennsylvania and holds master’s degrees in Bioscience Engineering, Environmental Engineering, and Landscape Architecture.

Nancy Goldenberg, Hon. ASLA
President & CEO
Laurel Hill Cemeteries & Laurel Hill Funeral Home

Nancy Goldenberg is the President & CEO of Laurel Hill Cemeteries & Laurel Hill Funeral Home, responsible for ensuring that the historic properties remain premier cultural and educational destinations and national leaders in the evolving death care industry.

Prior to joining Laurel Hill, Nancy served for 20 years in multiple executive positions at the Center City District, Philadelphia’s premier downtown business improvement district, planning and managing many high-profile public space capital improvement projects, including the renovation of the Rail Park, Sister Cities Park, Collins Park and Dilworth Park.  She also served as Chief of Staff for the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Program Manager for Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park Commission, and Assistant Township Manager for Lower Merion Township, PA.

A native of Cincinnati, Nancy has a B.A. from George Washington University and Master’s Degree in City Planning from the University of Pennsylvania. She is a board member of the Pennsylvania Cemeteries Cremation and Funeral Association, the Preservation Alliance of Greater Philadelphia, and serves on the Cemeteries Committee of World Urban Parks, an international organization working to improve urban open spaces world-wide. Nancy is also a member of Greater Philadelphia Gardens and co-chairs PA Gardens, a statewide network of public horticulture entities that amplifies the collective voice and impact of Pennsylvania’s public horticulture organizations.  She is an emeritus board member of the Fairmount Park Conservancy and previously chaired the Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Commission, the Philadelphia Cultural Fund, and co-chaired the City Parks Alliance. Nancy is most proud of being a founder of the Philadelphia Outward Bound School and an Honorary Member of the American Society of Landscape Architects, a lifetime achievement and among the highest honors that organization confers.

Symbiotic Subsurface Bioretention: Integrating Structural Soil Cells and Modular Storage for Dual-Purpose Urban Greening

Speaker: Steve Shiffer, PE, Engineered Solutions Specialist, Ferguson Waterworks & Rob Woodman, PE, NGICP, CPESC, LEED Green Associate, Director, Engineering & Green Stormwater Infrastructure, Ferguson Waterworks

Session Time: 1:00-1:40 PM

Description: This session introduces a cutting-edge conceptual model for urban greening that integrates structural soil cell technology with high-capacity modular stormwater storage to achieve dual-benefit climate resilience. By moving beyond siloed subsurface designs, this symbiotic approach creates un-compacted root zones that are passively irrigated by captured runoff, simultaneously supporting robust canopy growth and large-volume stormwater retention. Attendees will explore the engineering and environmental potential of combining systems—such as R-Tank Modular Units and UrbanForest soil cells—to maximize space efficiency beneath urban hardscapes while enhancing GSI performance through decentralized infiltration and peak flow reduction. Designed for civil engineers, landscape architects, and urban foresters, this presentation demonstrates how to unlock the full potential of nature-based solutions to deliver healthier, longer-living tree canopies and superior water management in dense, space-constrained environments.

About the Speakers

Steve Shiffer, PE
Engineered Solutions Specialist
Ferguson Waterworks

Mr. Shiffer brings over 12 years of experience in site civil development and green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) projects across both the private and public sectors in the greater Philadelphia region. His previous work involved designing and managing GSI projects as a consultant for the Philadelphia Water Department, one of the nation’s leading GSI programs, where he gained extensive expertise in innovative stormwater solutions. In his current role as an Engineered Solutions Specialist, Mr. Shiffer collaborates with engineers and designers throughout the greater Philadelphia area and the Chesapeake Bay Watershed to develop high-performing, sustainable stormwater solutions. He is committed to advancing green infiltration practices where appropriate, supporting the broader goal of achieving environmental, social, and economic benefits through resilient water management strategies.

Rob Woodman, PE, NGICP, CPESC, LEED Green Associate
Director, Engineering & Green Stormwater Infrastructure
Ferguson Waterworks

Mr. Woodman has more than 19 years of experience on a wide variety of engineering and site\civil development projects for private and public sector clients. In his current role as Director of Engineering & Green Stormwater Infrastructure at Ferguson Enterprises, Mr. Woodman strategically leads the business development and technical engineering and design support effort for the company throughout the US with regard to the implementation of innovative, sustainable and high performance stormwater management technologies for clients in the public, private and non-profit sectors from concept design through to value-engineering solutions. Mr. Woodman supports engineers and landscape architects across the country on a variety of challenging stormwater sites.

Right-of-Way Stormwater Projects in Tredyffrin Township

Speaker: Daniel Wible, Water Resources Engineer, Jacobs; Stephen Burgo,

Session Time: 1:50-2:30 PM

Description: This session explores Tredyffrin Township’s proactive, twenty-year journey in implementing green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) within the public right-of-way to address the dual challenges of aging infrastructure and intensifying rainfall. Guided by a comprehensive four-pronged strategy—improving water quality, reducing flooding, protecting infrastructure, and ensuring regulatory compliance—the presentation details the lifecycle of three recent residential projects, from grant acquisition and concept development to construction and monitoring. Attendees will learn how the Township leverages community input via its Citizens Advisory Task Force to transform flood-prone streets into climate-resilient landscapes that protect local watersheds. By sharing critical lessons learned and scalable design approaches, this session provides a practical framework for municipalities aiming to integrate high-performance GSI into established suburban environments.

About the Speakers

Daniel Wilbe
Water Resources Engineer
Jacobs

Daniel has over 25 years of experience in the advancement and design of innovative stormwater Best Management Practices and Green Stormwater Infrastructure. He has contributed to numerous stormwater projects for local municipalities and cities such as Tredyffrin Township, Radnor Township, Philadelphia, Chester, West Chester, Lancaster, and Harrisburg, as well as other cities such as Pittsburgh, New York, Newark, Boston, Syracuse, Atlanta, and San Diego. He has served as a senior technical consultant on several large-scale Green Stormwater Infrastructure implementation programs, most notably Onondaga County, NY’s Save the Rain Program and the City of Lancaster, PA’s green infrastructure program, and has contributed to various stormwater management manuals, guidance documents, and industry publications.

Stephen Burgo
Township Engineer
Tredyffrin Township

Biography coming soon!

Partnerships in Bloom: Financing a Resilient Community Reading Garden

Speakers: Le Xu, Innovation Director, SALT Design Studio; Sara Pevaroff Schuh, Principal, SALT Design Studio; Kimberly Leichtner & Stephanie Tomei, Co-Chairs, Penn Wynne Library Community Reading Garden; Kate Cronin, Owner, Oakleaf Ecological

Session Time: 11:10 AM-11:50 AM

Description: This session highlights the Penn Wynne Library Reading Garden as a powerful, replicable model for how neighborhood-led mobilization can transform underutilized land into high-impact social and ecological assets. Attendees will explore how a small group of volunteers leveraged strategic storytelling, inclusive design, and multi-stakeholder partnerships to raise over $400,000 for a resilient, community-focused sanctuary. By prioritizing transparency and diverse engagement—ranging from online surveys to localized storytelling—the project successfully integrated native greening and climate resilience into a beloved neighborhood hub. The presentation will share scalable fundraising strategies and leadership approaches that empower communities to navigate common hurdles and turn modest urban sites into meaningful public spaces that foster long-term stewardship and environmental health.

About the Speakers

Sara Pevaroff Schuh
Founder & Principal
Meliora Design

Sara Pevaroff Schuh is founder of SALT Design Studio, an award-winning, woman-owned landscape architecture practice focused on connecting people to place through design, tapping into community engagement as a catalyst for action. Applying sustainable strategies to mitigate the impacts of climate change and leveraging the landscape as a teaching tool is a hallmark of Sara’s practice. She has 30 years of experience with master planning and design for public parks, secondary schools, college campuses, streetscapes, and urban centers across the country. As a recognized expert in the field, her work has garnered awards and been exhibited as models for social impact and ecological design. Sara lectures frequently on urban design, professional practice and community engagement to school groups and non-profit organizations, and serves on design juries. She holds a Master of Landscape Architecture from University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Science in Political Communication from The University of Texas.

Le Xu
Innovation Director
SALT Design Studio

Le (Cindy) Xu, PLA is a licensed landscape architect and Innovation Director at SALT Design Studio. With a background spanning landscape architecture, planning, environmental design, and product design, she brings an international, interdisciplinary lens to creating landscapes that are visually compelling, functional, and equitable. Her portfolio ranges from schoolyards and cultural landmarks to national park master plans, corporate campuses, public art spaces, and higher education landscapes, with several projects recognized through LEED certifications. Beyond professional practice, Le frequently serves on design juries and participates in workshops at the University of Pennsylvania, and this year, is an invited juror for the 2025 Arizona ASLA Awards and 2026 Connecticut ASLA Awards. She is also deeply engaged in community work, volunteering as a translator and facilitator for engagement efforts in Philadelphia’s Chinatown. Le holds a Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Arts from Tongji University.

Kimberly Leichtner
Program Manager
The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania

Kim Leichtner’s professional experiences are in nonprofit management and leadership development. She’s a Program Manager with the Lipman Family Prize at the University of Pennsylvania, managing the relationships between global prize-winning nonprofit organizations and the university. As a trained facilitator, she moderates civic dialogues with undergraduate students from across Pennsylvania and adults through Keystone Civic Ventures. She’s also been a High Performing Team Facilitator for Wharton undergraduates, observing and coaching them on effective teamwork.

Kim enjoys volunteering in her community and served on the board of the Penn Wynne Library Association from 2018-2024. She joined the board as a co-treasurer and stepped up to be co-president during the COVID-19 pandemic to help the board meet its essential fundraising goals. She currently co-chairs the PWLA Community Reading Garden project. Kim holds a BA from Harvard College and a MPA from Penn’s Fels Institute of Government.

Stephanie Tomei
Public Relations/Communications Consultant
Former President and Board Member of the Penn Wynne Library Association; Co-Chair of the Community Reading Garden Committee

Stephanie has spent her professional career leading PR and communications efforts in both agency and corporate settings in the healthcare field. She currently works as a PR consultant supporting medical start-ups and societies. Outside of work, Stephanie is a passionate community volunteer and provides pro-bono PR support for local non-profit organizations. She served six years on the Board of the Penn Wynne Library Association (PWLA) in the roles of co-president, secretary and as the PWLA representative on the Lower Merion Library System Board of Directors. She served on the Boards of the Penn Wynne Civic Association and local Home and School Associations. She currently serves on the InterSchool Council and Co-Chairs the PWLA Community Reading Garden project. Stephanie has degrees in Public Relations & International Studies from the Pennsylvania State University, as well as a Spanish minor studying at the University of Salamanca.

Kate Cronin
Owner
Oakleaf Environmental

Kate Cronin is the owner of Oakleaf Ecological, where she blends stewardship with the creation of beautiful, dynamic spaces. Her work has been featured in The Philadelphia Inquirer for utilizing native garden design in small settings. Kate previously worked at Riverbend Environmental Education Center and Wissahickon Charter School, where she and her students cultivated a school garden. Kate serves on the Penn Wynne Library Association Board as co-chair for development of the Community Reading Garden. Kate holds a BA from Drexel University.

Competency as Capacity: Developing the National Stormwater Workforce

Speakers: Kaitie Evers, Stormwater and Watershed Training Coordinator, Center for Watershed Protection; Ian Ross, Industry Training-Programming, PowerCorps PHL

Session Time: 1:00-1:40 PM

Description: As urban areas accelerate the installation of green and gray infrastructure, a critical workforce gap has emerged in the capacity to operate and maintain these essential systems. This session explores how the Clean Water Certificate (CWC)—a nationally accredited, entry-level training program—addresses this challenge through strategic partnerships between municipal agencies, workforce organizations, and community-based instructors. Drawing on insights from a January 2026 literature review of national stormwater workforce trends, the presentation highlights competency-based training methods that reduce employment barriers and foster learner confidence through multi-modal instruction. Attendees will examine the operational requirements of maintaining an accredited program—balancing technical rigor with local relevance—and gain a roadmap for strengthening the workforce pipeline through regional modules and job task analysis.

About the Speakers

Kaitie Evers
Stormwater and Watershed Training Coordinator
Center for Watershed Protection

Kaitie Evers is a Stormwater and Watershed Training Coordinator with the Center for Watershed Protection, where she manages and delivers the nationally recognized Clean Water Certificate (CWC) program. Her work focuses on building workforce capacity in the stormwater and green infrastructure sector through professional training, instructor development, and strategic partnerships with municipalities, nonprofits, and industry leaders. Kaitie specializes in translating complex watershed science into practical, field-based learning experiences that support resilient communities and healthier waterways. She holds a B.S. in Plant Science from the University of Delaware and is passionate about environmental education, collaborative problem solving, and advancing sustainable stormwater management practices.

Ian Ross
Industry Training-Programming
PowerCorpsPHL

Ian Ross is the Industry Academy Team Lead at PowerCorpsPHL, where he has worked for 3.5 years. He oversees PCPHL’s workforce and technical trainings for the ‘Water Infrastructure and Land Management’ crews and Skilled Trades Academy.’ Ian also manages work order contracts with partners including the Philadelphia Water Department. Ian taught high school science for 5 years in Philadelphia and is currently studying for his arborist certification.

Reclaiming Land, Growing Resilience: Overbrook Environmental Education Center’s Climate Adaptation Model

Speakers: Michael Busch, Water Resources Engineer, Meliora Design; Jerome Shabazz, Executive Director & Founder, JASTECH Development Services, Inc; Tavis Dockwiller, Principal, Viridian Landscape Studio

Session Time: 1:50-2:30 PM

Description: This session explores the twenty-year transformation of West Philadelphia’s Overbrook Environmental Education Center (OEEC) from a derelict brownfield into a thriving model of community-led ecological restoration. Participants will examine OEEC’s sustained leadership in remediating environmental hazards, highlighted by two landmark initiatives: the recently completed Resilience Hub, which provides climate-adaptive shade and emergency solar power, and the Farmacy/NatureWorks Campus, a multifunctional green space currently breaking ground in 2026. By converting impervious auto yards into healing gardens, nature trails, and educational facilities, these projects demonstrate how strategic urban greening can strengthen neighborhood resilience and provide equitable access to nature-based solutions. Attendees will gain insights into how grassroots stewardship can effectively address public health and climate challenges in historically underserved urban corridors.

About the Speakers

Jerome Shabazz
Founder & Executive Director
JASTECH Development Services, Inc.

Jerome Shabazz is the founder and Executive Director of JASTECH Development Services, Inc., a notfor-profit organization developed in 1997, to promote environmental justice; encourage sustainable community development; and to promote public health in urban communities. In 2002, JASTECH established the Overbrook Environmental Education Center a community-based center dedicated to preserving the built and natural environments of Philadelphia.

Prior to working in the non-profit sector, Mr. Shabazz worked for 25 years at the Philadelphia Water Department and Philadelphia Gas Work in operations, engineering, and training. Mr. Shabazz is also an adjunct professor at Community College of Philadelphia. He is an active member of the PA Department of Environmental Protection’s – Citizen Advisory Council, Environmental Justice Advisory Board, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Board of Directors, and the EPA’s National Environmental Justice Advisory Council.

Michael Busch
Water Resources Engineer
Meliora Design

Michael Busch is a Water Resources Engineer with expertise in applying various hydraulic and hydrologic models to inform green infrastructure and flood reduction planning efforts and design projects. He has designed several large-scale flood reduction and green infrastructure projects that also provide ecological and community benefits.

Tavis Dockwiller
Principal
Viridian Landscape Studio®

Tavis Dockwiller, Principal, is the guiding influence for Viridian Landscape Studio®. Viridian heals ecological systems while making beautiful places for people. Tavis recognizes place-making as integral to the basic framework of society and understanding ecological systems as key to making place. Her work is built from an understanding of long-term strategy and strengthened by client investment in design. Tavis’ designs give people meaningful ways to engage with the environment – to play, learn and relax.

Closing Speaker to be announced soon.

Devi Ramkissoon
Executive Director, Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia

Devi Ramkissoon comes to SBN with 15+ years of experience in international development, specializing in working with sustainable businesses for economic growth and poverty reduction. An immigrant and social entrepreneur herself, Devi has worked tirelessly to advance the work of small businesses from underrepresented communities across Latin America, Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and the Middle East. For nearly the past decade at USAID, she led multimillion dollar food security, environment, and private sector development projects around the world, managed the Agency’s premier knowledge-sharing platform for market development, and advanced the US Government’s sustainable development goals at multiple international market development fora. She has won numerous awards from the US Government and the private sector for her leadership navigating global humanitarian crises.

Devi holds a Master of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and English Literature from Swarthmore College.

Mark McCoy
Vice President, Operations, Aqua

Mark McKoy is the vice president of operations for Aqua, the water and wastewater business of Essential Utilities Inc. (NYSE: WTRG). Essential is one of the largest publicly traded water, wastewater and natural gas providers in the U.S., serving approximately 5.5 million people in 10 states.

As vice president of operations, McKoy directly supports the President, has direct oversight of three subsidiary state utilities and has responsibilities in all operating divisions with an emphasis on operational excellence, employee engagement and safety. He is responsible for coordinating, directing and overseeing operations’ activities across all 8 states, by ensuring continuous development and implementation of efficient operations and cost-effective solutions to meet current and future operations needs.

McKoy has 20 years of experience in water utility finance, operations leadership and customer service. Before joining Aqua in 2020, he served as vice president and general manager for SUEZ North America’s New Jersey water utility. He also served in numerous roles of increasing responsibility for SUEZ, including director of finance policy and procedures and treasury; director of revenue integrity; director of internal audit; and senior director of New Jersey customer operations.

McKoy earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and accounting and a master’s degree in business administration from Monroe College. He also holds a Certification in Risk Management Assurance (CRMA) from the Institute of Internal Auditors and is a member of several professional organizations including the American Water Works Association, the New Jersey Utilities Association, the National Association of Water Companies and the Institute of Internal Auditors.

Marc Cammarata
Deputy Water Commissioner, Planning & Environmental Services, Philadelphia Water Department

Marc Cammarata is the Deputy Water Commissioner for Planning & Environmental Services with the Philadelphia Water Department.  His responsibilities include the integration, direction and management of the Department’s planning initiatives and environmental programs focused on wet weather compliance, source water protection, green stormwater infrastructure implementation, facility and linear asset renewal and replacement, ecological restoration, laboratory services, energy, and climate mitigation and adaptation.  He has over 25 years of experience in water resources engineering and environmental planning.

Amy Cornelius, LEED-AP BD&C, BPI-Building Analyst, WELL Water Advisor, Passive House Consultant
Founder & Sustainability Consultant, GreenBeams LLC and Board Member, Green Building United

Amy Cornelius is a Sustainability Consultant working in the Philadelphia region and Delaware. She is focused on helping residential, not-for-profit, small business, and institutional clients, adopt sustainable lifestyles, landscapes, and business practices while saving money and improving quality of life. 

She received her BA from Trinity University and her MBA from Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University. She holds a Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Design from the Boston Architectural College. 

Prior to founding GreenBeams, Amy’s varied career has provided experience in residential and commercial construction/ real estate management in NY, NJ, PA, and Washington, DC, transportation, and property management.

Amy is committed to giving back to the community. She serves on the Green Building United Board and the GreenBuild Program Committee, and is an active member of SBN’s GSI Partners, and contributes to various other sustainable business organizations. She enjoys riding her bicycle to commute, shop and just get around, is an avid gardener and mini-farmer, and is fanatic about reducing utility costs in her own home.

Skelly Holmbeck
Executive Director, Water Resources Association of the Delaware River Basin

Skelly works at the intersection of water, energy and waste to advance sustainability and resilience.  She is the Executive Director for the Water Resources Association of the Delaware River Basin (WRADRB), promoting the sustainable and resilient management of water resources within the Delaware River basin, which spans four states and provides drinking water for 15 million people. She serves as Board Vice Chair of the Chester County Solid Waste Authority/Lanchester Landfill and Reclamation Center, is on the Advisory Council for The Drexel University Environmental Collaboratory Leadership, and on the Board of Directors for the Smart Energy Initiative of Southeastern Pennsylvania.

Skelly has led cross sector and cross departmental teams to develop programs to protect environmental resources, manage risk, and advance new technologies in the renewable energy, water resources, mining, and oil and gas sectors.  Skelly led sustainability initiatives for NextEra Energy, where she launched an international partnership with Oxford, TCU, Stanford, UCLA, Duke University, the Pew Center on Global Climate Change, USFWS, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and others to address key challenges to the growth of sustainable and resilient energy infrastructure.  She served as Policy Director for Riverkeeper, and as an Investment Advisor for Ben Franklin Technology Partners.

Skelly has a BS in physics from Clemson, an MS in hydrogeology from the University of Georgia, and has a background in computer modeling.  

Sara Pevaroff Schuh, RLA, ASLA
Founder & Principal, SALT Design Studio

Sara Pevaroff Schuh, RLA, ASLA, founder and principal of SALT Design Studio, is a landscape architect, artist and teacher with 30 years experience in creating resilient, equitable landscapes that connect people to place and integrate art into the everyday experience. Her firm focuses on community-driven, sustainable design, with an emphasis on leveraging the landscape as a teaching tool in public parks and gardens, schoolyards, institutional campuses, streetscapes and urban centers. She has taught design at Temple University and Thomas Jefferson University, lectures frequently at conferences and to secondary school groups, and serves on design juries. Sara holds a Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Science in Political Communication from The University of Texas. 

Juan Pablo Vicuna Reyes
Civil Engineer, Senior Project Manager, Stantec

Juan Pablo Vicuna Reyes is a distinguished Civil Engineer and Senior Project Manager at Stantec in Philadelphia, boasting over 20 years of transformative experience in water engineering. Renowned for his international credentials, Juan Pablo has spearheaded impactful projects across the United States and South America.

Holding a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Cuenca and an MSc degree in Environmental Engineering from the University of Illinois, Juan Pablo’s expertise encompasses a wide array of innovative and sustainable projects. His portfolio includes wastewater treatment plants, water treatment plants, biosolids management, sanitary sewers, stormwater management, green infrastructure, pumping stations, hydrologic and hydraulic (H&H) models, and infiltration/inflow (I/I) reduction studies.

As a certified Project Management Professional, Juan Pablo excels in master planning, feasibility studies, evaluation studies, detailed design, and construction services for complex, multi-disciplinary projects. He is adept at coordinating international teams and implementing effective project communication procedures to ensure adherence to project goals, budgets, and schedules.

South Devon Area Flood Reduction: Revitalizing a Wooded Wetland Preserve in Radnor

Michael Busch, EIT 
Water Resources Designer, Meliora Design

Michael Busch is a Civil and Water Resources Engineer with expertise in applying various hydraulic and hydrologic models to inform green infrastructure and flood reduction planning efforts and design projects. He has designed several large-scale flood reduction and green infrastructure projects that also provide ecological and community benefits.

Building Resilience: Enhancing Community and Climate Preparedness in East Falls and Manayunk

Carolyn Paone, PE, LEED AP
Senior Technical Director, AKRF

Carolyn is a civil and water resources engineer specializing in green stormwater infrastructure and climate resiliency and adaptation. She has experience in assessing risks related to climate hazards such as sea level rise and increased flooding, using the latest tools and science to inform design decisions at the building, neighborhood, and city scale. Her expertise includes campus stormwater management master planning, stormwater modeling, water balance analyses, and the integration of sustainability, biodiversity, and embodied carbon considerations into her designs. Carolyn has a strong background in asset management and the full lifecycle of green infrastructure, supporting effective planning, implementation, and long-term maintenance. As a founder and co-leader of the AKRF Sustainability Working Group and an active member of the ULI Philadelphia Resilience Committee, Carolyn is dedicated to advancing sustainability and climate resilience initiatives.

Floodplain Restoration under Power Lines

Erin Landis
Water Programs Manager, Wissahickon Trails

Erin works on efforts to improve water quality and connect people to their local streams! She has lived in the Wissahickon watershed almost her whole life, and has always loved exploring the outdoors. After graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, she worked in environmental remediation and watershed protection and also got involved in her local community’s Environmental Advisory Council before joining Wissahickon.

Kennett Square Rain Garden

John Majdic
Designer, GreenWeaver Landscapes

John is a landscape designer working with GreenWeaver Landscapes, a design-build-maintain landscape firm operating in the greater Philadelphia area. GreenWeaver focuses on sustainable landscape practices, often combining the techniques of resilient native plantings with green stormwater infrastructure on a wide variety of project types.

GSI Impact Hub: Capturing the Multiple Benefits of Green Infrastructure

Lyndon DeSalvo
Urban Conservation Program Manager, The Nature Conservancy

Lyndon is a program manager for The Nature Conservancy’s Urban Conservation team, where he works to advance nature-based solutions that maximize outcomes for people and nature. Lyndon leads efforts to implement and scale nature-based and green infrastructure projects that improve water quality and provide climate resilience and other co-benefits to local communities. He works in close partnership with government agencies and the water sector, including utilities, researchers, and policymakers. Lyndon is a trained city and environmental planner with the ability to work at multiple scales, from watershed-wide planning to site-specific design, and is adept at integrating solutions that are informed by stakeholder input and the urban ecological landscape. He holds a Master of City Planning degree from the University of Pennsylvania and Bachelor of Arts from Carleton College.

Protecting Nature-Based Infrastructure Through Innovative BioMedia

Stephen Shiffer, PE
Engineered Solutions Specialist (PA, MD, DE, DC), Ferguson Waterworks

Mr. Shiffer brings over 11 years of experience in site/civil development and green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) projects across both the private and public sectors in the greater Philadelphia region. His previous work involved designing and managing GSI projects as a consultant for the Philadelphia Water Department, one of the nation’s leading GSI programs, where he gained extensive expertise in innovative stormwater solutions.

In his current role as an Urban Green Infrastructure BMP Specialist, Mr. Shiffer collaborates with engineers and designers throughout the greater Philadelphia area and the Chesapeake Bay Watershed to develop high-performing, sustainable stormwater solutions. He is committed to advancing green infiltration practices where appropriate, supporting the broader goal of achieving environmental, social, and economic benefits through resilient water management strategies.

Speakers: Pinar Balci, PhD, NYC Water Lead & Deputy East Water Lead, WSP; Biswarup Guha, MS PE CPM, Research Scientist, NJDEP; Marc Cammarata, Deputy Water Commissioner, PWD; Caleb Stratton, Assistant Business Administrator & Chief Resiliency Officer, City of Hoboken, NJ

Session Time: 9:20 – 10:20 AM

Description: Join this Symposium-opening panel presentation on urban resilience as the panelists present groundbreaking strategies for combating urban flooding and water quality challenges in NJ, NY, and PA with state and local government stakeholders. Discover how blue-green infrastructure not only safeguards communities but also brings co-benefits like cleaner air and improved water quality, all while fostering cross sectoral collaborations and innovative solutions to tackle climate change head-on. This plenary also promises to explore lessons learned and best practices, shaping a sustainable and resilient future for urban environments.

Leveraging Ecological Restoration for Green Stormwater Management

Speaker: Tyler Charles, PE, Water Resources Engineer, JMT

Session Time: 10:30 – 11:15 AM

Description: This session will highlight an innovative stormwater management technique that integrates stream and floodplain restoration, addressing historical impacts and enhancing ecological uplift. Learn about a nature-based design philosophy that not only restores stream corridors but also manages stormwater runoff from land development, and the triple bottom line benefits of establishing stormwater utilities, including flood reduction, water quality improvement, and infrastructure protection, through compelling case studies showcasing the successful implementation of this innovative approach. Join this session for a compelling examination of green stormwater management.

Municipal Stormwater Retrofits: The unique planning, design, construction, budgeting and maintenance challenges

Speaker: Rob Woodman, PE, CPESC, NGICP, LEED Green Associate, Director, Engineering & Green Stormwater Infrastructure, Ferguson

Session Time: 11:20 – 12:20 PM

Description: As towns and cities across the country seek to implement green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) retrofit projects there are a series of unique challenges that differ from managing wet weather on private site development projects. Understanding and addressing these challenges will improve the outcomes, impact, and cost effectiveness of these projects. Dive into the practical challenges of GSI retrofit projects in towns and cities across the country. This presentation offers guidance for designers and program managers, along with case studies, to enhance understanding and improve the outcomes of these projects, and will encourage listeners to adapt their processes to account for the many challenges and to work collaboratively to improve GSI retrofit outcomes.

Circular Soils: Waste-Based Materials for Green Infrastructure Soils

Speakers: Ed Confair, PE, PLA, CPRP, Vice President and Principal of Landscape & Resiliency, E&LP; Megan Schmidt, Project Engineer, E&LP; Rebecca Popowsky, Research Associate, OLIN Labs; Rebecca Davies, Co-Founder, Remark Glass

Session Time: 1:40 – 2:40 PM

Description: Can engineered soils, designed for green stormwater infrastructure (GSI), include recycled pulverized glass rather than virgin sand to simultaneously reduce reliance on environmentally damaging materials and provide a sustainable outlet for a major waste stream? Join this session on the Circular Soils initiative, an innovative approach to green stormwater infrastructure using recycled pulverized glass instead of traditional sand. Learn how this practice-based research project, backed by US EPA funding, is transforming urban landscapes, creating sustainable soil, blends, and propelling us towards a greener, circular economy.

Stormwater Utility: A Mechanism for Funding Green Stormwater Infrastructure Projects in Your Community

Speakers: Dana Patterson, Director of Marketing & Communications, Princeton Hydro & Elizabeth Treadway, Senior Vice President, WSP

Session Time: 2:45 – 3:45 PM

Description: Stormwater utilities can be a game-changing funding mechanism for building green stormwater infrastructure projects. Join this session to consider real-world examples of successful stormwater utilities and engagement tools for community discussions, as well as to gain insights into the tools needed to enhance resilience against climate impacts in your municipality. The session will address the tools necessary to establish a strategy to encourage, regulate, implement, and oversee the use of green infrastructure in public projects and in new or redevelopment efforts. 

The Checkbox is Square One: Leveraging Creativity and Site Synergies to Move Beyond Regulatory Frameworks

Speakers: José Almiñana PLA, FASLA, SITES AP, LEED AP, Principal, Andropogon Associates & Jason Curtis, PLA, LFA, SITES AP, LEED AP, Senior Associate, Andropogon Associates

Session Time: 10:30 – 11:30 AM

Description: Globally, and particularly within the design professions, climate change is placing a spotlight on the changing patterns of the water cycle and the roles that carefully-designed buildings and landscapes play in preserving healthy sites and mitigating the damage to ecosystems and infrastructure. As legal regulations have become the default mechanism for green stormwater infrastructure strategies, this session explores how going beyond those regulations satisfy and surpass benchmarks through alternative methods that save time in construction, cost less, and reduce the need for development space and building systems. This session will detail creative strategies used on projects at the Northern District of Mississippi as well as at Yale Divinity School. In recognizing these creative solutions and progress made in this field, what’s needed now is creativity and holistic thinking to help the industry push forward and define new metrics for the success of the built environment.

Radnor Township’s Green Infrastructure Approach to Water Quality and Flood Reduction

Speakers: Michele Adams, PE, LEED AP, Founder, Meliora Design; Marc Henderson, PE, Project Manager, Senior Water Resources Engineer, Meliora Design; Michael Busch, EIT, Civil and Water Resources Engineer, Meliora Design 

Session Time: 11:35 – 12:20 PM

Description: Radnor Township, situated in the headwaters of the Darby Creek Watershed in Pennsylvania, grapples with urban flooding exacerbated by climate change and undersized infrastructure. Despite not aligning with FEMA-mapped flood areas, Radnor initiated a watershed-based Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) strategy in 2018, focusing on frequent, intense rainfalls and completing a regional project in 2023 to reduce flooding and enhance water quality, with a second major project underway featuring wooded wetlands restoration funded by Growing Greener and NFWF.

Hydrating the Learning Landscape

Speakers: Sara Pevaroff Schuh, RLA, ASLA,  Principal, SALT Design Studio; Le (Cindy) Xu, RLA, LEED BC+D AP, Landscape Architect, SALT Design Studio; James Gallagher, EIT, Senior Engineer, Rodriguez Consulting; Emma Melvin, Green Infrastructure Program Manager, The School District of Philadelphia

Session Time: 1:40 – 2:40 PM

Description: Explore the transformative role of urban school districts in managing stormwater and promoting community greening. Join our discussion on the School District of Philadelphia’s pioneering green stormwater infrastructure projects, revealing how these initiatives not only mitigate pollution but also enhance water quality, foster environmental equity, and provide unique learning opportunities for students, contributing to climate resilience.

Tapping into Community Knowledge and Building Trust: Strategies to Bring Equity to Stormwater Management, Resilience, and Adaptation Efforts

Speaker: Campbell Simmons, Resilient Communities & Policy Associate, River Network

Session Time: 2:45 – 3:45 PM

Description: Delve into the critical intersection of climate resilience, equity, and community engagement with this session. Through an examination of practical tools, “Building Blocks of Trust” and “Community-Led Research,” developed by River Network, participants will learn how to foster authentic relationships between stormwater utilities, GSI practitioners, and community organizations. Attendees will learn how these tools contribute to equitable stormwater solutions, sharing valuable insights and case studies to enhance understanding and collaboration in the face of climate change.

Owner Engagement and Funding – Lessons from 10 years of GCCW Participation 

Speakers: Dennis Shelly, PE, Founder & Managing Member, PEER Environmental; Lyle Winklerprins, Environmental Engineer, PEER Environmental; Maurice Sampson II, Eastern Pennsylvania Director, Clean Water Action

Session Time: 10:30 – 11:45 AM

Description: As Philadelphia navigates the midpoint of its ambitious 25-year Green City Clean Waters plan, challenges arise in capturing an additional 6,725 green acres, necessitating innovative strategies beyond the success of grant incentive-driven projects. Join this exploration of a practitioner’s insights into private sector contributions, barriers for property owners, and potential policies to maintain the promise of greening the city through stormwater infrastructure, in a presentation that dives into the complexities and future directions of GCCW. 

Introducing Stormwater Management to Philadelphia C-PACE

Speakers: Carla Windt, PE, CFM, LEED AP ND, Engineering Supervisor, Philadelphia Water Department; Matthew Stern, Senior Director of Commercial Programs, Philadelphia Energy Authority

Session Time: 11:50 – 12:30 PM

Description: During a time of innovation and infrastructure funding, an effort is underway to reshape funding mechanisms for stormwater management as Philadelphia pioneers an expansion of the C-PACE program to include voluntary stormwater practices. A cross-sectoral collaboration between the Philadelphia Energy Authority and the Philadelphia Water Department has led to legislative amendments that now make resiliency projects, including voluntary stormwater management, eligible for C-PACE financing. Learn how this financing tool could make a significant difference in advancing the region’s green infrastructure and the steps that it took to get there.

Inter-municipal Collaboration for Stormwater Management: Case Studies Across Pennsylvania

Speakers: Emerson O’Donnell, Program Manager, WaterNow Alliance; Beth Uhler, Pennsylvania Director, Center for Watershed Protection; Jennifer Cotting, Director, University of Maryland Environmental Finance Center; Lisa Werder-Brown, Executive Director, Watersheds of South Pittsburgh

Session Time: 1:40 – 2:40 PM

Description: Efforts to manage stormwater management for improved water quality and reduced flooding can be complicated by the fact that stormwater fails to respect municipal boundaries. This session will provide a roadmap of strategies and best practices employed by experts and community representatives for collaboration between small and disadvantaged communities and neighboring municipalities to create opportunities to share costs and resources, gain a competitive advantage in funding applications, and pursue shared regulatory goals. Challenges likely arise from any collaboration, including issues of trust, political and financial influence, and alignment of goals and priorities. A case study of success in addressing these challenges and reinvigorating a multi-municipal planning process for stormwater management in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania will be presented with input from experts and community representatives.

Navigating Green Infrastructure Maintenance with Capitalized Establishment Costs

Speakers: Emerson O’Donnell, Program Manager, WaterNow Alliance; Peter Hill, Senior Policy Advisor, Environmental Policy Innovation Center (EPIC); Caleb Stratton, Assistant Business Administrator & Chief Resiliency Officer, City of Hoboken, NJ

Session Time: 2:45 – 3:45 PM

Description: This session will discuss how to maximize the potential of green infrastructure (GI) in stormwater management to make a substantial impact in communities by addressing the funding barrier hindering its scalability. Join this session for an in-depth exploration of a groundbreaking approach from Hoboken, New Jersey, where the establishment periods for GI projects were treated as capital costs, unlocking access to significant financing options and providing actionable recommendations for decision-makers aiming to incorporate this strategy into their projects. 

Serving as an introduction to GSI operations and maintenance in land care, this module provides attendees with the practices and concepts needed to identify different SMPs and their components, understand the function and regulatory context of GSI, and standard landscape best practices. The section also covers the foundational knowledge of design and construction to ensure the long-term operation of GSI systems and an overview of adaptive and prescriptive management and its role in the maintenance of GSI.

Courses include:

1.0 Regulatory Context & Stormwater Basics 

1.1 Definition of SMP Types & Anatomy

1.2 O&M Agreements 

1.3 Design Considerations

1.4 Construction Considerations

Serving as an introduction to GSI operations and maintenance in land care, this module provides attendees with the practices and concepts needed to identify different SMPs and their components, understand the function and regulatory context of GSI, and standard landscape best practices. The section also covers the foundational knowledge of design and construction to ensure the long-term operation of GSI systems and an overview of adaptive and prescriptive management and its role in the maintenance of GSI.

Courses include:

1.5 Intro to Adaptive & Prescriptive Management

1.6 Soil Management

This module covers routine operations and maintenance tasks, how and why they are performed, and recommend task frequencies for different types of SMPs. This section will also cover the diagnosis of common issues and how to tell if an issue requires evaluation for further intervention.

2.2 Debris Removal

2.3 Crew Safety & Communications

2.4 Public Safety & Performance Issues

This module covers routine operations and maintenance tasks, how and why they are performed, and recommend task frequencies for different types of SMPs. This section will also cover the diagnosis of common issues and how to tell if an issue requires evaluation for further intervention.

Courses include: 

2.0 Planting, Transplanting, & Seeding

2.1 Watering & Mulching