June 2022 - ACEC/MW Annual Conference
Our President and 2022-2023 Board of Directors
(From Left: Mac Cannon, Jim Hoffman, Beth Bryan, Arthur Jones-Dove, Mugdha Tipnis, Keith Foxx, Erin Donovan, Joe Monahan, Aaron Briggs, Aaron Smith; Not Pictured: Michelle Cavucci)
Presentation Files
Concurrent Session Presentation Files:
Roads & Bridges
Energy Grid
Rail / Transit / AviationWater Infrastructure
Awards Luncheon:
MWCOG Presentation
Overall Event Info
Attendee List
Event PhotosOur Keynote Speakers
Previously, she worked as Associate Administrator for Regional Operations and Program Delivery at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In that role, she oversaw the agency’s 10 regional offices and grant management and operations office, where she was responsible for about two-thirds of NHTSA’s budget, about $600 million annually, to help State Highway Safety Offices advance traffic safety across the country.
Prior to joining NHTSA, Pfister spent 16 years at the FTA and served in a variety of roles. She oversaw the safety of one of the country’s largest heavy rail systems – Washington DC’s Metrorail – and the delivery of FTA’s grant portfolio of approximately $7 billion. During her tenure at FTA, she also spent nine years in FTA’s Atlanta office working closely with the state transportation departments and transit stakeholders across eight southern states, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
Pfister has a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, and a master’s degree in business administration from Georgia State University.
Chuck Bean - Executive Director
Twitter: @Chuck4theRegion
Chuck Bean is an executive and civic leader with more than 25 years of experience in government, nonprofits, and philanthropy. Since 2012, Bean has served as Executive Director of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG), one of the country’s prominent regional councils and metropolitan planning organizations. COG is an independent, nonprofit association that brings area leaders together to address major regional issues, including economic development, land-use, human services, public safety, and environmental and transportation planning. Its membership is comprised of 300 elected officials from 24 local governments, the Maryland and Virginia state legislatures, and U.S. Congress. Bean previously served as President of the Nonprofit Roundtable of Greater Washington and the Director of the Community Capacity Fund. Bean earned his Master of Public Policy from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.
Transportation Infrastructure - Roads & Bridges Session
Christopher Lawson, District of Columbia Division Administrator
Since 2010, Chris Lawson has served as Federal Highway’s Division Administrator for the District of Columbia Division. In this role, Chris partners with the District Department of Transportation to deliver the $200 million Federal-aid Highway Program. Chris has dedicated 28 years of service to FHWA, and has served in several leadership capacities including: Acting Director of the Office of International Programs; Special Assistant to the Federal Highway Administrator; Research and Technology Program Coordinator for the Office of Safety; Contract Administration Engineer in the Office of Infrastructure; and several field positions in the Virginia, Hawaii, and Pennsylvania Divisions.
Chris earned a Master of Science in Public Administration from Central Michigan University and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Morgan State University.
District Department of Transportation (DDOT)
Ravindra Ganvir, PE - Deputy Chief Engineer
Mr. Ravindra Ganvir, P.E., is the Deputy Chief Engineer for Washington D.C.’s District Department of Transportation (DDOT). In this position, he has the dual responsibilities of helping oversee the agency’s Infrastructure Project Management Division (IPMD) and leading its Anacostia Waterfront Initiative (AWI) Program, which is creating a world class waterfront in our Nation’s capital. With the AWI Program, Mr. Ganvir administers the planning, design, engineering, maintenance and construction of some of the largest bridge, highway, street, trail and other multi-modal transportation projects in the District of Columbia’s history. In helping oversee the IPMD, he supervises DDOT’s Storm Water Management Program, Mega Projects/Special Projects, DC Plug Program, Green Infrastructure Team, Right-of-Way Team, Utilities Team, and the Materials Quality Control Division.
Mr. Ganvir has more than 38 years of experience in transportation and civil engineering, previously having worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at the Philadelphia District, the U.S. Installation Management Command at Fort Belvoir, Virginia and the Maryland Department of Transportation/State Highway Administration as the Assistant District Engineer of Construction and Project Development. He completed the two-year Advanced Leadership Program at the Maryland Department of Transportation. In addition, he attended the National Leadership Institute’s prestigious Leadership Program at the University of Maryland, College Park. More recently, he also attended the AASHTO National Transportation Leadership Institute at the Indiana University in Indianapolis, Indiana. He has also represented District of Columbia at the AASHTO’s Annual meetings. Mr. Ganvir and his wife of 35years, Pamela, reside in Salisbury, Maryland. They have two daughters Malini and Serena, who are practicing attorneys in the state of Maryland.
Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT)
R. Earl Lewis, Jr. - Deputy Secretary for Policy, Planning & Enterprise Services
R. Earl Lewis, Jr., was appointed on January 20, 2016, to serve as Deputy Secretary of Policy, Planning, and Enterprise Services for the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT), which is comprised of The Secretary's Office, State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA), Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA), Motor Vehicle Administration (MDOT MVA), Maryland Port Administration (MDOT MPA), Maryland Aviation Administration (MDOT MAA) and the Maryland Transportation Authority.
As Deputy Secretary, Mr. Lewis oversees the administration of twelve offices in the Secretary's office. He also chairs MDOT's Public Private Partnerships Steering Committee, reporting directly to the Secretary on the oversight of P3 initiatives by MDOT's transportation business units. In 2017, he was certified as a P3 Foundations Professional by APMG International, a global accreditation agency. Mr. Lewis represents the Secretary as Chair of the State of Maryland's Zero Emission Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Council, The National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board and often represents the Secretary on several other groups such as the Maryland Commission on Climate Change (MCCC) and the Commerce, International Affairs, and Smart Growth Sub-Cabinet as well as the Maryland Economic Development Corporation (MEDCO).
In 2018, Mr. Lewis received the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials National Corporate Executive of the Year Award, as well as the Baltimore Chapter of WTS Honorable Ray LaHood Man of the Year Award for being supportive of careers of women in transportation.
Mr. Lewis has a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Virginia and an MBA and a second Master's degree in Information Systems from the University of Maryland's Smith School of Business.
Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT)
John Lynch, PE - NOVA District Engineer
As the District Engineer for the Virginia Department of Transportation’s (VDOT) Northern Virginia District, John Lynch, P.E., oversees the largest capital improvement, maintenance, and operations program in the Commonwealth. It includes the engineering, construction, maintenance, operations, and business functions for the counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William.
Prior to his role in the Northern Virginia District, John was the District Engineer for VDOT’s Culpeper District, which is comprised of nine counties in Central Virginia. Projects of note in the Culpeper District included the Route 29 Solutions project in the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County, as well as the Commonwealth’s first diverging diamond interchange in Zion Crossroads, located in Louisa County.
Before joining the Culpeper District in 2013, John served as the Director for VDOT’s Northern Virginia Megaprojects office and was responsible for providing on-time, on-budget, and safe delivery of $5 billion in transportation projects including the 495 Express Lanes, 95 Express Lanes, and the Woodrow Wilson Bridge project. Previous to his time with the Megaprojects office, John served as the District Construction Engineer and the District Location and Design Engineer.
John also has over 20 years of progressively responsible design engineering experience in several private firms, after starting his career with Caltrans in the Los Angeles area.
John received a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Delaware and a Master’s in Civil Engineering from George Mason University.
Energy Grid Session
United States Department of Energy (DOE)
Carla Frisch - Director of the Office of Policy
Carla Frisch is the Acting Executive Director and Principal Deputy Director of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Policy; she has served in this capacity since February 2021. As the leader of the DOE Office of Policy, Frisch is on point for domestic energy and climate policy. She works closely with the White House and Capitol Hill. She previously led the U.S. Program at RMI, focusing on state, city, and business climate action. Before joining RMI, Frisch worked at DOE for ten years directing policy and analysis offices focused on climate and environment, energy efficiency, renewable energy, clean transportation, and electricity systems. Frisch has worked extensively on climate vulnerabilities and solutions, including on the National Climate Assessment and U.S. Midcentury Strategy. She holds a Master of Environmental Management from Duke University and a BA from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is an Adjunct Professor at Northwestern University.
Washington Gas
Kevin Murphy, PE - Vice President, Asset Management, Engineering & Supply
Kevin Murphy, PE is the Vice President of Asset Management, Engineering and Supply for the Washington Gas Light Company. Kevin began his employment with Washington Gas in January 1994, as Staff Engineer. In the subsequent 28 years, Kevin’s leadership responsibilities have spanned the value chain from wellhead to burner tip, including engineering, design, integrity management, system planning, materials management, transmission operations, storage operations, underground storage, dispatch, work planning, field service operations, Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems, Wide Area Networks (WAN), as well as the planning, procurement, and transportation of natural gas supply.
A lifelong DMV native and University of Maryland alumnus, Kevin now resides in Annandale, VA. Kevin is a father of two daughters, enjoys boating with his friends and family and is passionate about local youth sports, especially when his girls are competing.
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA)
Amy Mesrobian - Director, Zero-Emission Vehicles
.jpg)
Amy Mesrobian is the Director of Zero-Emission Vehicles for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, leading the transformation of Metro’s fleet of more than 1,500 buses to zero-emission buses. Prior to Metro, Amy was a supervisor at the California Public Utilities Commission, a state agency that regulates energy utilities. While at the CPUC, Amy oversaw the development and implementation of a number of climate and equity policy areas including large-scale energy R&D programs, utility climate adaptation planning, and consideration of equity in energy program design. As an analyst at the CPUC, Amy worked on utility charging infrastructure programs, electricity rates, and incentives for electric vehicles.
Prior to that, Amy worked on energy efficiency at Pacific Gas and Electric and through the Environmental Defense Fund’s Climate Corps Program. Amy began her career in Arlington, VA as a contractor for the US EPA’s Brownfields Program.
Amy holds a Master of Public Policy degree from Duke University and a bachelor degree from the University of Virginia.
Transportation - Rail / Transit / Aviation Session
Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority
Roger Natsuhara, PE - Senior Vice President and Chief Engineer and Development Officer
Roger M. Natsuhara joined the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority in October 2014 and is the Chief Engineer and Development Officer. Mr. Natsuhara is responsible for the planning, design, construction, and capital development projects for the Airports Authority, including the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project (Metro Silver Line Extension).
Mr. Natsuhara joined the Airports Authority from the Department of the Navy where he spent five years serving as the Acting Assistant Secretary of the Navy and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations & Environment. In these positions, Mr. Natsuhara developed Department-wide policies, procedures, advocacy, and strategic plans related to all Navy and Marine Corps installations, construction, real estate, safety, energy, and environment programs.
Mr. Natsuhara retired from the Navy as a Captain, Civil Engineer Corps, and was a senior engineer in the 757 Flight Test Integration Group for the Boeing Commercial Airplane Company in Renton, Washington prior to his service in the Navy.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley and a Master of Science in Financial Management from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. He is a registered professional engineer and has completed the University of Michigan Executive Program.
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA)
Coree Cuff Lonergan - Vice President of Project Development and Implementation Planning
Coree Cuff Lonergan is a seasoned executive with extensive experience in field operations, infrastructure construction and maintenance, complex negotiations, and top line growth strategies. With experience in four major industries -- transportation, energy, engineering services and health care, Coree has been a trailblazer for change and credited with sustainable bottom line improvements. As an innovative leader, she has held positions in both the private and public sectors, has voluntarily served on several nonprofit boards and is an ongoing advocate for education.
Coree has worked in three Fortune 500 companies, CSX, Exelon Energy, and Fluor Daniel, holding management and executive leadership positions. In addition to these private sector assignments, Coree has worked for the fifth largest public transportation company in the United States, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), in Philadelphia, PA. In her various roles, Coree has led large, multidisciplinary, high performing teams with over 1,400 employees and has had budget accountabilities for well over $700 million.
Coree is currently the Vice President of Project Development and Implementation Planning (PDIP) with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, (WMATA), where she is responsible for early works planning for capital projects. Her team determines, the scope, schedule, budget, and delivery strategy for many of Metro’s high-dollar, high-profile, and safety-critical state infrastructure projects. Here team is also responsible for the mid-range scheduling and forecasting track access needs for these projects. She also leads a team that manages task order contracts for project management and construction management services; and general engineering and architecture contracts valued at about $500M. Her team is also focused on expanding access to Metro business opportunities to vendors, suppliers, fabricators, engineering service providers, etc., for all forms of businesses -- large, small and disadvantaged business.
Coree is a firm believer in education earning her Bachelor of Civil Engineering from the University of Delaware, an executive leadership professional certificate from the Wharton School of Business, and pursued a Master of Organization Dynamics from the University of Pennsylvania. She also believes that diversity and inclusion are critical to the future of businesses and has most recently completed a diversity and inclusion course from Yale University.
Coree is married to her husband, Richard, and their daughter, Chloe, attends the University of Michigan.
Maryland Department of Transportation - Maryland Aviation Administration (MDOT MAA)
Paul Shank, PE, CM - Chief Engineer
Mr. Shank has served as the Chief Engineer at the Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Aviation Administration (MDOT MAA) for over 15 years. During that time, he has led the planning, design and construction of the multibillion-dollar capital improvement and systems preservation programs at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport and Martin State Airport. As Chief of the Division of Planning and Engineering he oversees MAA’s Office of Engineering and Construction, Office of Planning and Environmental Services, Office of Environmental Compliance and Sustainability, and the Office of Architecture.
A University of Maryland graduate of the Glenn L. Martin School of Engineering, Mr. Shank has over 40 years of experience in airport development and associated transportation, commercial and institutional development. His accomplishments are measured in the billions of dollars of projects completed throughout the United States and overseas.
Mr. Shank is a licensed Professional Engineer and a Certified Member of the American Association of Airport Executives. He was a past recipient of the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials President’s Transportation Award for Aviation; the Federal Aviation Administration’s Henry “O” Award; and was the 2021 recipient of the American Council of Engineering Companies Maryland President’s Award. Mr. Shank is a commercial pilot, flight instructor and aircraft owner. Aviation is his passion.
Greater Washington Partnership
Joe McAndrew - Vice President for Government Relations and Infrastructure
Joe is the vice president for government relations and infrastructure at the Greater Washington Partnership where he steers the Partnership's policy and engagement work with federal, state and local elected officials, and leads efforts to achieve a 21st-century regional mobility and infrastructure ecosystem in the Capital Region. Prior to joining the Partnership, he served as legislative assistant for the Senate Commerce Committee and Senator Brian Schatz. Before working on Capitol Hill, Joe served as the policy director for Transportation for America. He holds a bachelor’s degree in management from Luther College and a master’s degree in community and regional planning from the University of Oregon. He lives in Arlington, VA with his wife and daughter.
Water Infrastructure Session
Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC Water)
Mike Harmer, PE - Chief Engineer
.JPG)
Mike Harmer is an innovative Engineer with a broad base of infrastructure experience ranging from consulting, construction, and owner administration. He has managed various types of projects ranging from sewer system rehabilitation, wastewater treatment, storm water flood mitigation, and buildings/ facilities.
He is employed as the Chief Engineer for WSSC Water responsible for a budget of over $580 million, over 370 employees, and approximately 100 contract employees. He was a past WSSC Water Regulatory Services Division Manager and their Development Services Division for many years. During his stay at Regulatory Services he managed the Pretreatment, FOG, Cross Connection, and Plumbing Design Reviews/ Inspections Programs. In the Development Services Division, he was responsible for permitting, hydraulic capacity, pump station and water/ sewer extension design reviews, and various aspects of the development process producing numerous Customer Service improvements. Prior to WSSC Water, he worked for New Castle County where he worked in Engineering and Operations. He managed the County $300 million Brandywine Hundred Sewer Rehabilitation Program removing excessive I/I, was recognized for ideas in energy savings, and was selected as the State of Delaware Government Engineer of the Year. He has designed or led the design on several design and build projects. His engineering expertise is augmented with his extensive field experience gained while working with his tools and operating heavy machinery in industrial and site/environmental construction.
Felicia Glapion is a licensed Professional Engineer and Envision Sustainability Professional. She currently serves as the Director of Enterprise Utility Asset Management for AlexRenew where she is responsible for the administration, leadership, and management of AlexRenew’s Engineering and Planning team as well as the implementation of the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and the Improvement, Renewal, and Replacement (IRR) Program. She has successfully served the water industry for over 19 years in a mix of public, private, and volunteer roles and aspires to leave the world a litter better than she found it.
Fairfax Water
John Kingsbury III, PE - Deputy General Manager
Mr. Kingsbury is the Deputy General Manager (DGM) for Fairfax Water, Virginia's largest public water system, serving 2 million people in Northern Virginia. He oversees the Production, Transmission and Distribution, and Laboratory functions and serves as the principal staff assistant to the General Manager in planning, directing, coordinating, and overseeing operations. Prior to becoming DGM, Mr. Kingsbury served as Director, Transmission and Distribution and Manager, Water Distribution at Fairfax Water. Before joining Fairfax Water in 2000, he served in a variety of supervisory and management positions in the areas of construction management, distribution, engineering, loss control, production and water quality during a 15-year career with American Water. Mr. Kingsbury has a B.S. in Chemistry from Marshall University and an M.S. in Environmental Sciences and Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. He is a licensed Waterworks Operator and Professional Engineer and is a member of American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), American Water Works Association (AWWA), where he has served on committees at the local and national levels, and Project Management Institute (PMI).
DC Water
Kishia Powell, PE - Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President
Kishia L. Powell joined DC Water in May 2020 and serves as the Authority's Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President, overseeing all operating departments, as well as the Customer Care and Shared Services clusters. Ms. Powell is responsible for oversight of the Authority’s $6.4B capital improvement program including the DC Clean Rivers program, Lead Free DC and other projects to modernize and improve critical water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure. She is leading a team to develop a clean energy portfolio and the Authority’s focus on climate and cyber resilience on behalf of DC Water. Ms. Powell currently serves as the President of the National Association of Clean Water Agencies and Chair of the US Water Alliance’s One Water Council. She has been recognized as a Global Water Leader with a passion for water equity, and expertise in sustainable infrastructure management and utility operations serving communities across the US and in London, England. This year, Ms. Powell was voted by her peers as one of the Top 10 COOs and operating professionals nationwide, regardless of industry. She was the sole representative of the water sector among the Top 10 honorees for this remarkable professional achievement. In 2021, she earned the distinction of testifying before both the Senate and the House of Representatives in support of the Infrastructure Bill. In 2019 and 2020, she was recognized as one of Georgia’s Top 100 Influential Women in Engineering Georgia Magazine. Throughout her career she has maintained a strong sense of ethics and has distinguished herself as a leader, blending global reach, local knowledge, strategic thinking, and technical excellence to deliver sound solutions.
ACEC Speakers
ACEC/MW Board Chair
James Hoffman, P.E., LEED AP O+M, CEM - President Of Summer Consultants, Inc.
Jim Hoffman is President of Summer Consultants, Inc., a small business providing mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection engineering and commissioning services for the design of government, higher institutional and historic facility projects. Jim is a licensed mechanical engineer with 33 years of design and consulting experience including heating, air conditioning, refrigeration, steam, plumbing, and automatic temperature control systems. Jim holds a Bachelor of Architectural Engineering from Pennsylvania State University and a Masters of Engineering Management from The George Washington University. He is a LEED accredited professional, a Certified Energy Manager, and a member of the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE). Jim is also a member of ACEC Metropolitan Washington, currently serving as Chair of the Board of Directors.
ACEC/MW Board Chair-Elect
Keith Foxx, PE - Principal of FOXXSTEM
ACEC National
Linda Bauer Darr - President and CEO
Linda Bauer Darr’s career spans over 30 years focusing primarily on transportation and infrastructure policy. In her current role, she works with a federation of 52 state and regional organizations. ACEC is the business association of the nation’s engineering industry.
Prior to ACEC, Linda served at the helm of two other trade associations: one for the railroad industry and one for the moving and storage industry. Her association work began at the American Trucking Associations heading up ATA’s international trade policy. From there she was appointed to serve as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Budget and Programs at USDOT in the Clinton Administration presiding over a $50 billion budget and helping the President build initiatives to drive development in the Mississippi Delta. Post-DOT, she spent 7 years overseeing policy, communications, and research at the American Bus Association. Linda serves on the Board of the University of Denver Transportation Institute, the Management Committee of the Americans for Transportation Mobility Committee and the Transportation Construction Coalition and sits on the US Chamber’s Committee of the top 100 trade association CEOs.
Linda has proudly served as ACEC’s CEO since August 2018 defending the interests of its 5,600 member firms that drive the design of America’s built environment and its transportation, water and energy infrastructure.
ACEC National Immediate Past Chair of the Executive Committee
Robin Greenleaf, PE, LEED AP, FACEC - CEO of IMEG Corp.
.png)
Ms. Greenleaf is a Senior Principal of Architectural Engineers now IMEG in Boston, MA.
She has served as President of ACEC/MA and serves as PAC Co-Champion for ACEC/MA. She is former Chair of CAMEE, the Coalition of American Mechanical and Electrical Engineers.
She holds a BS in Civil Engineering from Oregon State University, and an MS in Structural Engineering from Drexel University.