Mayor Byron Brown, Buffalo, NY
Mayor Byron W. Brown took the Oath of Office as the 58th Mayor of Buffalo, New York on December 31, 2005. Elected Mayor with over 60 percent of the vote in the November 2005 General Election, Mayor Brown came into office emphasizing greater accountability and efficiency in City Hall, improving the quality of life for all city residents and a commitment to strengthening and expanding the city’s economic development activities.
On September 15, 2009, Mayor defeated his Democratic primary challenger by 28% of the vote (26,314 vs. 14,866) and then was elected to a second four-year term as Mayor of Buffalo by running unopposed in the November 2009 General Election.
A surge of economic development activity occurred throughout the city following Mayor Brown’s election, including $1.3 billion in projects that have been completed, $1.5 billion that are under construction, which are part of a total of over $5.1 billion in planned, ongoing or completed development projects occurring throughout the City since 2006.
During Mayor Brown’s tenure, New Era Cap Company opened its international headquarters in Downtown Buffalo; Labatt USA relocated its national headquarters from Connecticut to Buffalo; BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York relocated its regional headquarters, along with 1,200 employees, to downtown Buffalo; the $120 million new federal courthouse project has commenced opposite City Hall on the City’s historic Niagara Square; and the $275 million Inner Harbor waterfront mixed-use development project has been initiated, including a Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World retail anchor store.
Since 2006, Mayor Brown has added 285 acres of cleaned-up brownfields, which puts approximately 500 acres of shovel-ready brownfields within the city’s boundaries. It is one of the largest portfolios of available, remediated brownfields among Great Lakes cities.
In his 2010 State of the City address, Mayor Brown announced that his Administration had commenced the complete overhaul of the city’s zoning code. On April 22, 2010, the Mayor unveiled the city’s new Green Code, which represents the most comprehensive overhaul of the city’s zoning code in fifty-nine years. The city hired nationally-recognized planning consultant from Chicago, Camiros Ltd., to oversee the development and implementation of the new zoning changes that will act as the foundation for the development of a new place-based economic development strategy for Buffalo’s neighborhoods in every section of the city.
Prior to his election as Mayor of Buffalo, Mayor Brown served five years in the New York State Senate. Sworn in January 1, 2001, Mayor Byron Brown became the first African-American elected to the Senate outside of New York City. He also made history by becoming the first minority member of the New York State Senate to represent a majority white district. Mayor Brown is a Silver Life member of the NAACP.
Dr. Soji Adelaja, Director, Land Policy Institute, MSU Land Policy Institute
Dr. Soji Adelaja is the John A. Hannah Distinguished Professor in Land Policy and Director of the Land Policy Institute at Michigan State University. He also directs the Michigan Higher Education Land Policy (MIHELP) Consortium, a network of university researchers involved in metropolitan policy research and outreach; and he co-directs the Michigan People and Land (PAL) Initiative, focused on regional prosperity in the state of Michigan. Dr. Adelaja holds joint faculty appointments as Professor in the departments of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics; and Community, Agricultural and Recreational Resource Studies; and the School of Planning Design and Construction. Prior to his work at MSU, he served as the Executive Dean of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dean of Cook College, Executive Director of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station and Director of Rutgers Cooperative Extension at Rutgers University, where he was on the faculty for 18 years. He previously served as Department Chair of Agricultural Food and Resource Economics and Dean of Research at Cook College at Rutgers University. Dr. Adelaja has a Bachelor's degree in Agricultural Mechanization from the Pennsylvania State University, dual Master's degrees in Agricultural Economics and in Economics from West Virginia University, and a Ph.D. in Economics from West Virginia University.
He has served on several commissions, advisory committees and task forces at the state, national and international levels. He was appointed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm to the Great Lakes Wind Council in 2009.
Among the recognitions he has received for his work and impact are the Outstanding Alumni Award from Penn State’s College of Agriculture, the Person of the Year Award from the National Prepared Foods Association, New Jersey Governor’s Recognition for Outstanding Contributions to New Jersey, the State of New Jersey General Assembly’s Citation for Outstanding Scholarship and Exceptional Service, the NAREA Excellence Award for Outstanding Contributions to Public Policy through Economics, Rutgers Presidential Award for Distinguished Public Service, and various excellence awards in research, outreach and teaching. In recognition of his service to Rutgers, he holds special status as the George Hammel Cook Dean Emeritus.
J. Scott Beckerman, PE, LEED AP, Senior Vice President & Group Manager,
Environmental Rick Management, Comerica Bank
Mr. Beckerman is a Senior Vice President and manager of Comerica Bank’s Environmental Risk Management Group; responsible for evaluating environmental risk and transactional due diligence for a wide variety of real estate based financial transactions, with concentrations in industrial properties, petroleum facilities, automotive dealerships, and brownfield redevelopments. Scott is also a member of Comerica’s Sustainability Council, and provides support Comerica’s Corporate Sustainability Program.
Scott is a member of the executive committee of the National Brownfield Association (NBA) – Michigan Chapter. In addition to NBA, Scott currently is a member of the Environmental Banker’s Association Board of Governors. Scott also chairs the EBA’s Legal & ASTM Committee, and is a member of the EBA’s Risk Management and Global Issues Committees. Scott serves as chair of the Environmental Affairs Committee of the Michigan Banker's Association and various regulatory advisory/stakeholder groups for the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.
Prior to joining Comerica, Scott worked as a consulting engineer with experience in the many facets of environmental due diligence, compliance, and remediation and served as the coordinator of the firm’s Brownfield Team. Scott holds a Masters Degree in Environmental and Water Resources Engineering and a Bachelors Degree in Mechanical Engineering, both from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Scott is a licensed Professional Engineer (PE) and LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP).
Andrew Brenner, Senior Project Director, Photo Science
Dr. Andrew Brenner is the Senior Project Director for Photo Science, a geospatial solutions company, that collects imagery, LiDAR and create data products and mapping solutions for a wide range of applications. Andrew has a Batchelor in Agriculture and Soil Science from the University of Reading, UK, and a Ph.D. in Environmental Physics from the University of Edinburgh, UK. Andrew taught GIS and Remote Sensing at the School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Michigan for five years before joining the private sector. Andrew has been developing innovative mapping solutions to a wide variety of problems over the last 12 years including, forest inventory, addressing, broadband mapping, stormwater runoff, water conservation and resiliency of communities. He most recently held the position of General Manager for Sanborn running the Ann Arbor and Portland, Oregon Offices.
Andrew’s experience covers developing national land cover datasets for USGS and NOAA, developing high resolution impervious, green infrastructure, and land and forest cover datasets for states, counties and cities. Recently Andrew has focused on mapping the vegetation cover of urban centers and using this information to support green infrastructure initiatives that preserve and increase vegetation in the urban centers to reinvigorate the urban environment to make it more sustainable.
Evelyn M. Brown, Senior Vice President, Gulf Region Rebuilding Initiative, LISC
Evelyn Brown, Senior Vice President and director of LISC’s Gulf Region Rebuilding Initiative, has more than 40 years of experience in community and economic development through various positions she has held at the national and local levels. Under her management, in less than three years, the Gulf Region program has made over $170 million in grant, loans and equity investments in the Louisiana and Mississippi Gulf region. Brown is also responsible for providing program oversight and guidance to LISC Chicago and the MidSouth Delta LISC programs. Prior to her present position, Brown served as LISC’s Senior Program Vice President overseeing a portfolio of nine local programs. Previously, she served as Vice President for the National Rural Program and as the founding Program Director for the Detroit LISC program.
Brown is a member of LISC’s Senior Program Management, Operations and Credit (Loan) Committees. She is also a fund manager for the Louisiana Loan Fund, a $22.5 million public/private acquisition loan fund.
Prior to returning to LISC, Brown served as Executive Assistant to Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer where she managed Detroit’s successful Empowerment Zone process that generated over $1 billion in private sector commitments and later, as Deputy Director for the City of Detroit’s Planning and Development Department. At the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, Brown served as Director of the Commercial Area Stabilization Program, a public/private partnership to revitalize Detroit’s neighborhood commercial areas and later as the Vice President for Public Affairs.
For nearly a decade, Brown held many positions in Washington, D.C. including Assistant Director for Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation’s Commercial Reinvestment Task Force, Staff Associate for the Council on Urban Economic Development; Research Associate for the American Institute of Planners and Assistant Project Director for the national League of Cities/U.S. Conference of Mayors.
Brown is a graduate of Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia and a Detroit resident.
Jon Brown, Regional Economist, USACE Buffalo District
Jon Brown has been in the Corps of Engineers for 33 years and currently serves as a regional technical specialist (navigation economics) in the Planning Branch of the Buffalo District. As member of the three Lake’s District’s Great Lakes Navigation Project Delivery Team, Jon provides economic metrics for federal GL ports and channels in support of the prioritization of the annual operation & maintenance budget, evaluating the economic viability of O&M on all Federal harbors on the Great Lakes. Jon has a M.A in Economics and a B.A. in Mathematics and is a USACE Planning Associates Program graduate, class of 2003.
Gregg Calpino, ASLA, Parks and Recreation Practice Leader, JJR
Mr. Calpino is a 1988 University of Wisconsin-Madison graduate and leads JJR’s Parks and Recreation practice with over $200 million in built master plans for parks, trails, and civic spaces. He has served as project designer and manager for major master planning and park design and renovation projects throughout the Midwest including the Marquette Plan that guides public space, connectivity, and re-investment throughout Northwest Indiana's entire 46-mile shoreline comprised of 17 diverse communities. Other major accomplishments include St. Louis’ Forest Park, Cleveland’s Lakefront, Chicago’s Jackson, Washington, South Shore and Lincoln Parks and Northerly Island. Mr. Calpino has been the recipient of over 30 national, regional and local awards.
Jill M. Casey, Sr. Community Planning & Development Rep, US HUD - Buffalo, NY
Jill Casey joined the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development in 1998 as Community Builder Fellow. Currently Jill is a member of HUD Buffalo’s Community Planning and Development Team. In this capacity, Jill works on the funding to Communities and organizations across upstate NY. Ms. Casey primarily serves as a troubleshooter – facilitating improved understanding of federal programs and providing direct assistance to municipalities, community groups, non-profits and developers as they plan and implement community development programs and projects.
Prior to joining the federal government, Jill’s experience included public, private and non-profit sector work in community development. Jill worked in local City government coordinating CDBG and economic development operations. Immediately prior to joining HUD, Jill was the Director of Housing & Community Economic Development at a Community Action & Development Agency. This experience included working hands-on with the rehabilitation, development and management of housing, operation of small business programs, employment programs and emergency services.
Robert Colangelo, Executive Director, NBA
Robert Colangelo, President of the National Brownfield Association, is an experienced brownfield redeveloper with extensive knowledge in all aspects of pre-development activities, including prospecting, valuation of impaired properties, acquisition and underwriting deals to secure financing. He is also an experienced provider of litigation support and expert witness testimony regarding financing, valuation and performance of due diligence related to environmentally impaired property transfers. He is a knowledgeable consultant and instructor and is able to perform research, conduct analysis, and communicate clearly and concisely with people of diverse backgrounds and levels of knowledge. Robert is an environmental entrepreneur, skilled in identifying specialty niche markets, raising capital and creating organizations that can capture market shares.
Robert has a wide array of professional experience including real estate development and consulting. He has redeveloped one million square feet of property. Notable relevant projects include the Chicago Bridge & Iron and 103rd & Vincennes in Chicago.
Robert is an experienced consultant with specialized expertise in policy development, strategic planning, and valuation.
He is an environmental entrepreneur and has founded several environmental organizations including the National Brownfield Association, NBA Canada, Environomics Communications, Inc., and the Green Sense Radio Show.
Dave Cowgill, Chief, Technical Assistance and Analysis Branch, US EPA - GLNPO
David C. Cowgill is an environmental scientist and Program Manager with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Great Lakes National Program Office in Chicago, Illinois. He is Chief of the Technical Assistance and Analysis Branch. His management areas of responsibility include contaminated sediment assessment and remediation (including implementation of the Great Lake Legacy Act), ecological protection and restoration, information management and data integration, and coordination of the Great Lakes Human Health Network with Canada. The Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO) is responsible for developing and coordinating the implementation of programs and plans to address the environmental issues confronting the Great Lakes, implementing the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.
Mr. Cowgill received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana.
Grant Cushing, President, Brownfield Restoration Group, LLC
Mr. Cushing is President and founder of Brownfield Restoration Group (BRG). He directs BRG’s overall business operations, which includes the coordination of resources for the management, acquisition and disposition of environmentally impaired properties. Mr. Cushing has over 20 years of business experience including multi-office consulting operations, strategic environmental management and oil industry experience. Mr. Cushing coordinates activities with strategic partners including finance companies, environmental and engineering companies, real estate brokers, end-use planners and consultants. In addition, he works with both corporate and outside counsel to coordinate legal issues related to real estate and environmental management.
Mr. Cushing has been instrumental in the successful transfer or more than 350 environmentally distressed properties since 1997. His experience in environmental risk management, environmental insurance, and Brownfield regulations has allowed BRG and its partners to become a nationally recognized firm for acquisition of environmentally challenging properties.
Mr. Cushing has a Bachelor of Science from Middlebury College and a Master of Science from State University of New York at Albany.
John Dondanville, Principal, D5 Group LLC
Mr. Dondanville is a Principal with D5 Group LLC, a Michigan-based real estate development and consulting firm. His responsibilities include all aspects of the development process, transforming raw land or obsolete facilities into top-performing real estate projects. His work involves both in-house developments as well as assisting third party clients with their real estate needs. Included are initial site selection and evaluation, purchase contract and lease negotiation, due-diligence, design development, governmental permitting and approvals, proto-type development, value engineering, construction and occupancy. He has experience with new development, adaptive re-use, large-scale mixed use, as well as urban in-fill and brownfield redevelopment projects. As a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Accredited Professional, Mr. Dondanville brings the ability to create projects of sustainable and responsible character.
He brings to D5 over twenty-five years of design, development, construction, and management experience in commercial, industrial and residential real estate.
For nearly twenty years prior to forming D5 Group, Mr. Dondanville worked for a number of real estate development and large chain-retail firms, responsible for both development activities and construction management. In his most recent position as Vice President with Talon Development Group, from 1996 through 2007, Mr. Dondanville was responsible for the performance of all construction activities, in addition to real estate activities. This included estimating, purchasing, contract negotiations, scheduling, cost control and project management.
Prior to his experience in real estate, Mr. Dondanville spent five years in the consulting engineering field with the firm Wiss, Janney Elstner Associates, in Northbrook, Illinois. With this internationally recognized firm specializing in failure analysis and investigation, Mr. Dondanville was involved as a Senior Project Engineer and Project Manager on a wide variety of structural engineering investigations, repairs and testing projects. His work involved primarily buildings and bridges in the U.S. and Mexico. Mr. Dondanville received a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering (Structures) from Stanford University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering, with honors from the University of Notre Dame. He is a Registered Professional Engineer in Michigan and Illinois, a Licensed Builder in Michigan, and is certified as a LEED AP by the Green Building Certification Institute.
Jeff Edstrom, Senior Water Resources Project Manager, Environmental Consulting & Technology, Inc.
Jeff Edstrom is a Senior Scientist with Environmental Consulting & Technology. He has over 18 years of experience in water resource management, watershed planning, environmental policy, project management, and regulatory analysis. He began his career at the Council of Great Lakes Governors in 1991, working on workforce development, water resources management, pollution prevention, and recycled product market development, and staffed the development of the Great Lakes Charter Annex, the predecessor agreement that led to the recent Great Lakes Water Resources Compact. He has worked as an environmental consultant since 2001 where has worked on such projects as the Lake Michigan Lakewide Management Plan, the water diversion application for Waukesha, Wisconsin, and environmental impacts of water use and conservation, among others.
Mr. Edstrom is a recognized expert in Great Lakes water quantity policy and management, watershed management, sustainability, environmental information, and integrated water conservation and protection strategies. His experience includes developing water resource protection plans, preparing and updating watershed management plans, water quality analysis and planning, developing surveys, document preparation, and developing innovative strategies for environmental protection and restoration. He has given seminars on water quantity and quality issues and has organized and led survey, database development, and analysis projects. He received a BA in History from the University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign and an MPA from Indiana University’s School of Public and Environmental Affairs.
Dave Flynn, ESQ, Partner, Phillips Lytle LLP
Mr. Flynn’s practice is concentrated in the areas of environmental law, energy and nanotechnology. With respect to environmental law, Mr. Flynn concentrates on brownfield redevelopment and remediation of contaminated sediment sites. He has written extensively on environmental topics including environmental issues related to nanotechnology development. He has been involved in the first successful conversion of a former industrial brownfield into a modern manufacturing facility in New York State, as well as the development of renewable energy projects on brownfields. In addition, Mr. Flynn advises clients on business development issues and the regulation of energy before state and federal authorities. He also advises clients on the development and siting of renewable energy, coal gasification and licensing of hydropower projects.
Phillips Lytle LLP and Mr. Flynn have been recognized by Chambers USA for excellence in environmental law.
Brooke Furio, Project Analyst, US EPA Region 5
Brooke Furio is the Sustainable Local Government Lead for USEPA Region 5’s Community & Land Revitalization Program. He is currently working on developing urban programs for Midwest local units of government that focuses on the overlapping polices of climate change, energy, transportation, infrastructure, real estate, water infrastructure, code enforcement, brownfields, superfund, and other programs that impact the interrelated development themes of the environment, economics, and social needs.
Brooke spent part of 2008 on an EPA Leadership & Professional Development Rotational Program Detail in which he implemented EPA Region 10's Climate Change Strategy. This was a temporary detail assignment in the Pacific Northwest working on climate change science and policy for the Director of the Office of Environmental Assessment. Prior to this assignment, Brooke spent three years on loan as an IPA to the City of Cleveland as the city's Land Revitalization Manager. His main responsibility was to design, implement, and manage the first land bank in the country that focused solely on industrial/commercial properties.
Prior to working for the EPA, Brooke served as a Volunteer for the U.S. Peace Corps in Guatemala. While in Guatemala, Brooke helped create environmental and economic development management plans for communities. Brooke has his MBA and a Certificate in Data Warehousing and Business Intelligence from Loyola University of Chicago.
Mayor Damian Goulbourne, Welland, ON
Mayor Damian Goulbourne was elected to Council in December of 2003. He is currently serving his second term as Mayor of the City of Welland. Mayor Goulbourne created the City of Welland’s first Economic Development Plan. He led council to invest record funding to improve roads, sewer and water infrastructure.
Mayor Goulbourne co-chaired the region’s adhoc Economic Development Plan in April 2005. He serves on the Transportation Strategy Steering Committee, Public Health Committee, Waste Management Planning Steering Committee, Integrated Community Planning Committee and is a board member of the Niagara Economic Development Corporation, Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority, Welland Hydro and the Welland Recreational Canal Corporation. He is also the chair of the region’s Waste Management Committee.
He has been employed as a Professor of Tourism with Niagra College since 1999. He received the Niagara College Award of Excellence for faculty in 2003. He has completed economic development tourism projects in India, Ecuador, Argentina, Chile, and South Africa. He holds a BA in Business Communications.
Mark Gregor, Manager, Environmental Quality Division, City of Rochester
Mark Gregor is the Manager of the City of Rochester’s Division of Environmental Quality. For the past 24 years he has been responsible for conducting and managing environmental site investigations, remedial projects, environmental regulatory compliance as well as site preparation, cleanup and related support for dozens of redevelopment projects for the City of Rochester. He has managed numerous USEPA and NYSDEC grant funded brownfield/voluntary cleanup projects, NYS Brownfield Opportunity Area projects, NYS Superfund cleanup projects, as well as joint cleanup/redevelopment projects with private developers. He is also currently responsible for managing the redevelopment of Rochester’s Port on the Genesee River and Lake Ontario; permitting, design, and construction of a new, 120 slip municipal marina; Port and marina facility sediment dredging; and the development of a harbor management plan. He has made numerous presentations on brownfield issues ranging from institutional controls to remedy selection. Mr. Gregor testified before the United States Senate Committee on the Environment and Public Works regarding the federal Superfund Program Completion Act.
Mr. Gregor holds a Bachelor of Science from the State University of New York at Geneseo, a Master of Science in Industrial Hygiene and Environmental Studies from the University of Rochester, and a Master of Public Administration from Syracuse University. He is a Certified Hazardous Materials Manager.
His professional affiliations have included the New York State Brownfield Coalition, National Brownfield Association, National Association of Local Government Environmental Professionals, National Brownfield Coalition, Brownfield Communities Network, American Waterfront Revitalization Coalition, NYS-EPA Brownfield Roundtable, ICMA Institutional Control Work Group, Kodak Park Community Advisory Council, Center for Environmental Information, Academy of Certified Hazardous Materials Managers, and the Air and Waste Management Association.
Jill Spisiak Jedlicka, Director of Ecological Programs, Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper
Ms. Jedlicka was born and raised in the Buffalo area and has spent the last 12 years working on Buffalo River restoration, seven years with the non-profit Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper, and five with the Erie County Dept. of Environment and Planning. She currently serves a dual role as Riverkeeper’s Director of Ecological Programs, and the federally-designated "Buffalo River Remedial Action Plan Coordinator." She holds a BS in Environmental Science and a Masters in Business Administration. Over the last seven years she has personally secured over $4 million in grants and helped leverage another $6 million in federal and private resources for the Buffalo River. Her proudest professional achievement is spearheading the effort to have Riverkeeper become the first non-profit organization to initiate a Great Lakes Legacy Act agreement and an Army Corps 312 agreement, both for the remediation of the Buffalo River. Her most recent success occurred this year, having helped Riverkeeper secure five federal GLRI grants totaling nearly $2 million, one of which is dedicated to the shoreline restoration of a former steel manufacturing/brownfield site in South Buffalo.
Dan Kildee, Cofounder and President, Center for Community Progress
The Center is a national organization dedicated to policy, research, and technical assistance to support the productive re-use and revitalization of vacant, abandoned, and underutilized property – particularly in America’s cities. The Center has offices in Flint, Michigan, and Washington, DC.
Prior to founding the Center, Kildee served as Genesee County Treasurer from 1997-2009. Before his election as Treasurer, Mr. Kildee served for 12 years as a Genesee County Commissioner, including 5 years as Chairman of the Board of Commissioners.
Kildee also has served as President of the Genesee Institute, a research and training institute focusing on Smart Growth, urban land reform, and land banking. Dan Kildee is a member of the Executive Committee of the National Vacant Properties Campaign. The Center for Community Progress is the successor to the Genesee Institute and the National Vacant Properties Campaign.
Kildee initiated the use of Michigan’s new tax foreclosure law as a tool for community development and neighborhood stabilization. He founded the Genesee Land Bank - Michigan’s first land bank, and a model for others around the nation - and serves as its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. In 2007, Kildee’s Land Bank program was named winner of the Harvard University/Fannie Mae Foundation Innovations in American Government Award for Affordable Housing. In 2009, Kildee was named one of the "GOOD 100" by the Los Angeles-based GOOD Magazine, recognizing him as one of the "the most important, exciting, and innovative people, ideas, and projects making our world better."
Dan Kildee grew up in Flint, and was educated at the University of Michigan-Flint, Central Michigan University, and was a Fannie Mae Foundation Fellow at the Kennedy School at Harvard University in 2005.
Norman G. Kurland, Managing Direct, Equity Expansion International, Inc.
Norman G. Kurland is a lawyer, post-Keynesian economist, and institutional design scientist. He serves as managing director of Equity Expansion International, Inc., an investment banking and consulting company for have-nots. EEI specializes in designing and implementing legal, financial, and institutional solutions that lift artificial barriers to enable workers and citizens to share equitably in the powers and profits of ownership in well-managed enterprises. He was described by the New York Times as “a one-man lobbying campaign” behind the passage by Congress of the first of over 20 laws encouraging leveraged employee stock ownership plans or ESOPs. He pioneered the first of several 100% worker-owned, 100% leveraged ESOPs repayable wholly with “future savings” (capital credit backed by the projected future profits of the company).
He also drafted laws for State legislators in East St. Louis, IL and Oklahoma City to enable all citizens to own and govern for-profit land planning and development enterprises, known as “Citizens Land Banks” or land cooperatives. The CLB, if backed with the same Federal tax advantages as ESOPs, could be used to attract local bank financing for brownfield redevelopment, community development, or even the creation or rebuilding of entire cities into 21st century models of green urban development, grounded on universal principles of economic and social justice..
Kurland also heads the all-volunteer Center for Economic and Social Justice (CESJ), a thinktank and global educational network that advocates a “Just Third Way” philosophy, combining the win-win justice-centered ideas of Louis Kelso, Buckminster Fuller, William Ferree, and Martin Luther King, Jr. This new development model, called “Capital Homesteading,” differs from conventional models through its unique combination of market-based solutions with universal access to capital ownership. Among his publications, Kurland co-authored the book Capital Homesteading for Every Citizen, a national blueprint to grow any economy in ways that everyone can share ownership, profits and governance power.
After studying law and economics at the University of Chicago, Kurland came to Washington to serve as a Washington lawyer in the civil rights and poverty initiatives of the early1960s. From 1965-68 he served as national planning director of the Citizens Crusade Against Poverty, a coalition of liberal union, civil rights, religious, academic and activist leaders headed by the United Auto Workers president Walter Reuther. In 1985 President Reagan appointed Kurland, a political independent, as deputy chairman of the bipartisan Presidential Task Force on Project Economic Justice, established by a bill he designed and orchestrated through the Congress.
Lorrie Louder, Director of Business & Intergovernmental Affairs, Saint Paul Port Authority
Lorrie Louder has over 25 years experience in executive positions in urban industrial, commercial, housing redevelopment, and energy efficiency initiatives. Her leadership has led to business and jobs growth, construction of several million square feet of industrial and commercial space, renovation and construction of several thousand housing units, significant energy conservation at Minnesota’s largest paper recycler, and legislative funding of a new commercial-industrial energy efficiency loan program.
Ms. Louder is the Director of Business & Intergovernmental Affairs for the Saint Paul Port Authority. She directs the Port’s legislative activities and is responsible for undertaking initiatives that add value to the Port’s lines of business: Brownfields Redevelopment, Fixed Asset Financing, Saint Paul Harbor Management and Commercial Navigation on the Mississippi River, and Employer Solutions, Inc. workforce training initiatives. Her leadership has resulted in international recognition of the Port Authority and several national, state, and regional awards to the Port Authority for its achievements.
On behalf of the Port Authority, Lorrie has spoken extensively in the Twin Cities and throughout North America about the Port Authority‘s cutting edge activities in distressed real estate redevelopment and business and job growth; brownfields remediation; and successful economic development legislative initiatives.
Ms. Louder is a Board member of the National Association of Local Government Environmental Profes-sionals and the Saint Paul Economic Development Company (SPEDCO), which packages small business loans. She served on the Minnesota Green Jobs Task Force and serves on the Saint Paul College General Advisory Committee and on the Minnesota Brownfields Advisory Committee.
Ms. Louder has a Masters Degree from the University of Minnesota and a Bachelor’s Degree, magna cum laude, from Boston College. Lorrie has professional certification from the National Development Council, and she is a member of the Urban Land Institute, the International Economic Development Council, and the Association of Metro Municipalities.
Brendan Mehaffy, Executive Director, Office of Strategic Planning, City of Buffalo
Brendan R. Mehaffy began work in the City of Buffalo as the Executive Director of the Office of Strategic Planning on April 19, 2010. With the position Mr. Mehaffy, also became the Vice Chairman of the Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency (BURA). Mr. Mehaffy is responsible for managing the City's HUD Entitlement programs as well as the City’s planning, housing and economic development programs.
Prior to his employment at the city, Mr. Mehaffy practiced in the areas of land use law as well as business and litigation matters.
Mr. Mehaffy's land use practice primarily assisted clients through the project approval process by identifying applicable laws and regulations and creating a strategy with the client for efficient project approval. Mr. Mehaffy also worked with the client to identify project financing and incentives. This practice involved work with zoning and subdivisions laws, the State Environmental Quality Review Act, wetland regulations, urban renewal laws, Brownfield remediation, Empire Zones, etc. Mr. Mehaffy also litigated many high-profile cases where the project permits had been improperly approved or denied.
Mr. Mehaffy also developed a practice counseling individuals seeking to start a new business. Mr. Mehaffy assists individuals with choosing an appropriate entity for the business, forming the business entity, and drafting contracts for the newly established business. As part of a continuing service to the newly formed businesses, Mr. Mehaffy handles commercial litigation issues and complaints by New York State's numerous administrative agencies.
Elaine Miller, Brownfield Opportunity Area's Program, NYS Dept of State
Elaine Miller has been a member of the Department of State, Division of Coastal Resources for more than six years, contributing to the successful launch of the Brownfield Opportunity Area’s program, (BOA). To achieve the objectives of the BOA Program, Miller and her colleagues are working in partnership with municipalities and community based organizations to foster area-wide redevelopment and return blighted land to productive use, while restoring environmental quality. BOA provides resources to address local brownfields providing area-wide brownfield redevelopment planning, access to expert environmental and economic analysis, and environmental site assessments for strategic redevelopment parcels. Located in a regional office in Binghamton established for this purpose, Ms. Miller is working with communities throughout Central and Western New York.
Prior to joining the Department of State, Ms. Miller was the Deputy Mayor of the City of Binghamton for more than 10 years. In that capacity, Ms. Miller was involved in all aspects of city operations and administration. During that same time, Ms. Miller served as Vice president of the Binghamton Local Development Corporation, which was founded to encourage the location and expansion of manufacturing, commercial, and professional office operations, creating job opportunities for local residents and leveraging private investment in the community. Ms. Miller has also held positions involving government finance and regional planning. She holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration and Public Policy Analysis.
To learn more about Department of State Division of Coastal Resources programs and activities, go to http://www.nyswaterfronts.com.
Brian Morris, Business Development Consultant, City of Hamilton, Planning & Economic Development
Brian Morris, Ec.D. is a Business Development Consultant and Brownfield Coordinator with the City of Hamilton's Economic Development & Real Estate Division. In this capacity, Brian's responsibilities include administration of the City's Brownfield Program and financial Incentives - ERASE, the City's LEED Grant Program, in addition to regular economic development functions of business retention, expansion and attraction. Brian has recently been involved with several projects with the Hamilton Port Authority and has a special interest in the West Harbour redevelopment initiatives in Hamilton.
Bruce Rasher, Vice President, Brokerage Services, CB Richard Ellis
Bruce Rasher is Vice President, Brokerage Services, within CB Richard Ellis’ Asset Repositioning Management Group headquartered in Detroit. CBRE is the world’s premier, full-service real estate company providing real estate finance, investment, brokerage, and development services. Operating globally, CBRE holds the leading position in virtually all of the world’s key business centers. CBRE’s Asset Repositioning Management Group specializes in providing clients with a seamless, comprehensive solution for the deactivation, decommissioning, repositioning, redevelopment, and acquisition or disposal of surplus assets.
Bruce joined CBRE in 2008, coming from Consumers Energy, one of the nation’s largest combination utilities providing electric and natural gas service to more than 6 million of Michigan’s residents. While with Consumers Energy, Bruce held management positions responsible for business development, economic development, corporate real estate and facilities, brownfield redevelopment, environmental compliance and policy, and renewable energy project development. Bruce chaired Consumers Energy’s internal working group responsible for all aspects of managing environmental liabilities and asset repositioning, including accounting treatment, financial disclosure, litigation, cost recovery, environmental remediation, asset recovery, demolition, government/community/media/employee communications, entitlements, business incentives, and real estate transactions. Bruce also served as President of Consumers Renaissance Development Corporation (CRDC), a 501c3 not-for-profit alliance with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, and Michigan Municipal League to promote the redevelopment of brownfields in Michigan. CRDC provided education, community assistance, and transaction facilitation services that helped close 111 deals valued at just under $3BB.
Bruce serves as Treasurer on the National Brownfield Association’s Board of Directors and previously served on the NBA’s Advisory Board and as the chair of the NBA’s Owner Section.
Bruce served two terms as Mayor of the City of Marshall, Michigan. He also served on Marshall’s Planning Commission, Board of Public Utilities, Marshall Area Economic Development Council and Chamber Board, and chaired the Marshall Area Development Alliance. Bruce is Chairman of Oaklawn Hospital’s Board of Directors in Marshall.
Bruce received his BS from Michigan Sate University in 1976 and MBA in Finance from Western Michigan University in 2002. Bruce was a 1999 Fellow at Michigan State University’s Institute for Public Policy and Social Research Michigan Political Leadership Program.
Rebecca Salminen Witt, President, The Greening of Detroit
Since 1996 Rebecca Salminen Witt has served as the President of The Greening of Detroit, a non-profit organization devoted to promoting planting, environmental education and environmental advocacy in the City of Detroit. In that time she has orchestrated the growth of the organization from a staff of three with an annual budget of $235,000 to a 24-person, $3.5 million per year operation, planting 5,000 trees, educating nearly 10,000 children and raising over 160 tons of food annually.
As President of The Greening, Rebecca develops and oversees the implementation of all current and prospective programming, supervises staff, ensures the fiscal integrity of the organization through budgeting and development work, and serves as the primary advocate and spokesperson for the organization. Prior to accepting her position with The Greening of Detroit, Rebecca practiced law in the city of Detroit working in the areas of corporate transactions, employment law, and environmental law. Earlier in her career Rebecca worked as a Summer Ranger for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. In this position she gained first hand experience with the kind of hands-on work that volunteers and student interns to do at the Greening.
Rebecca serves on the Board of Directors City Year Detroit, a National Youth Service Organization devoted to developing idealism in today’s youth. She also serves as the President of the Michigan Urban & Community Forestry Council and as an advisory committee member of The Detroit Studio, an urban design studio devoted to service learning projects for Architectural and Urban Design students at Lawrence Technological University. Recently, Rebecca was elected to the Wayne State University’s Advisory Board for Environmental Initiatives. She also serves as the President of the Board of Directors of the Communities Committee, a national 501c3 organization devoted to advancing U.S. National Policy on Urban and Community Forestry.
Roger Santiago, Sediment Remediation Program Coordinator, Environment Canada
Roger Santiago is Head of the Sediment Remediation Program for the Great Lakes Areas of Concern Unit. A graduate from the University of Waterloo in 1991 with a degree in Environmental Science, Roger has worked with Environment Canada from1991 to the present in various positions related to the field of contaminated sediment. In his current capacity he manages a $50 million federal sediment fund to work with local stakeholders for the development and implementation of sediment management strategies for 8 contaminated sediment sites in the Canadian Great Lakes Areas of Concern.
He has served as head of the technical group reviewing Annex 14 (Contaminated Sediment) of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement between Canada and the US and for the past eleven years has participated as a guest lecturer at the Dredge Engineering Short Course at Texas A & M University.
Marc Tuchman, Great Lakes Legacy Act Program Manager, US EPA – GLNPO
Marc Tuchman has been with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO) since 1992. He currently serves as the Program Manager for the Great Lakes Legacy Act as well as the Team Leader for GLNPO’s Sediment Assessment and Remediation Team. He has been working for the USEPA on Great Lakes contaminated sediment issues since 1989.
Ajit Vaidya, P.E., Environmental Engineer, Project Manager, US EPA - GLNPO
Evan Van Hook, Vice President, Honeywell
Evan is Corporate Vice President for Health, Safety, Environment & Remediation for Honeywell International and an Adjunct Faculty Member for International Environmental Law at Columbia Law School. He is a graduate of the Yale Law School and a former partner in the law firm of Sidley Austin. From 2002 until 2004 Evan served as Assistant Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. He is a former Chair of the Environmental Law Committee of the New York City Bar Association and a former member of the Board of Directors of the Paul Taylor Dance Company. He is currently a Trustee of the Dutchess County Land Conservancy and a Board Member of the Old Chatham Conservation Association, a member of the Advisory Board of the Yale Center for Business and the Environment, and a member of the Steering Committee of the Guangdong Environmental Partnership Program of the Institute for Sustainable Communities.
Jon Williams, President, Ontario Specialty Contracting
Jon M. Williams founded OSC, Inc. in 1997 as a full service specialty contracting provider. Today, OSC operates across North America with Corporate Offices in Buffalo New York, and Divisional Offices in Toronto, Ontario, and Winnipeg, Manitoba. OSC works mostly for private industrial customers with environmental remediation and demolition/dismantlement requirements.
Alongside of OSC’s contracting services, Mr. Williams has pursued Brownfield Re-development Projects which leverage OSC’s core competencies.
The Dowcraft Brownfield Re-Development in 1998 was the first Brownfield Re-Development for a manufacturing facility in New York State. The project involved the purchase, remediation, demolition, and construction of a new 180,000 square foot, state-of-the-art manufacturing plant.
Mr. Williams negotiated the purchase and lease back of the SKF Bearings Facility in Jamestown, NY. This 20+ acre facility had once housed an integrated Bearings production facility. Today the site is a multi-tenant facility with SKF still occupying the heat treat section of the plant. The environmental challenges of this site ranged from historical ground water issues to many above grade in plant issues.
Other Brownfield Re-development Projects include SGL Carbon Products in Niagra Falls, NY, the former American Axle Manufacturing Plant, and the former Buffalo Color Corporation.