Karl Brooks, EPA Region 7 Appointed by President Barack Obama as U.S. EPA Region 7 Administrator in February 2010, Brooks supervises agency operations in Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, and Kansas.
Brooks earned his Ph.D. from the University of Kansas in 1996, and joined the faculty in 2000, teaching American environmental, political, and legal history, as well as environmental law and policy. He is the author of Before Earth Day: The Origins of American Environmental Law, 1945-1970 (2009) and Public Power, Private Dams: The Hells Canyon High Dam Controversy (2006); editor of The Environmental Legacy of Harry S. Truman (2009); and has written many articles for newspapers, magazines, and scholarly journals. Brooks was elected in 1986 to the first of three terms in the Idaho Senate. From 1993 to 1996 he served as executive director and legislative liaison of the Idaho Conservation League, Idaho’s largest citizens’ environmental organization.
Brenna Findley, General Counsel, Office of Governor Branstad
Findley, 35, is from Dexter, and a graduate of Drake University, with B.A. in Political Science and History, and a minor in Russian. From there, Findley went on to earn her law degree at the University of Chicago Law School, where she served as symposium editor of the school’s law journal. Additionally, she helped entrepreneurs on Chicago’s south side start their own businesses.
Upon graduation, she worked as an attorney in private practice at a large, national law firm in Silicon Valley. She later served as Chief of Staff and Counsel to Congressman Steve King, R-Kiron. She returned to private practice with Whitaker Hagenow GBMG in Des Moines and was her party’s nominee for Attorney General in 2010. Findley is currently serving as Counsel to Governor Terry Branstad.
Dan Anderson, RJ Thomas Mfg Co Inc.
Dan Anderson is the plant manager of RJ Thomas Mfg Co Inc in Cherokee, IA, a manufacturer of park, street and campsite products. Dan is a 1976 graduate of Iowa State University with 14 years of experience in the produce industry in California returning to Iowa in 1993 to join RJ Thomas Mfg. Co.
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Kevin Armstrong, MWH Americas
Mr. Armstrong is a Project Manager in MWH's Des Moines, Iowa office. Mr. Armstrong has over eighteen years of experience in a variety of environmental and hazardous waste projects. His experience includes managing coal combustion products (CCP) projects; managing and conducting environmental compliance audits and due diligence projects; the planning and performance of remedial investigations in a variety of geologic environments; and groundwater assessments involving hydrogeologic testing and evaluation, monitoring and recovery well design, and contaminant characterization.
Specific project experience includes management and technical lead for the siting, permitting, and design of CCP and industrial landfills; the design and construction phase of landfill cells; and management of the capping and hydrologic monitoring of existing landfills and ash ponds. Mr. Armstrong has also provided long range planning assistance related to layout and lifetime of monofills and expansion options.
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Charles F. Becker, Belin McCormick, P.C.
Chuck Becker is a shareholder in the Des Moines law firm of Belin McCormick, P.C. He has practiced in the areas of environmental law and environmental litigation for more than twenty-five years. Mr. Becker has provided environmental representation to banks, property owners, industrial businesses, real estate agencies, developers, municipalities, petroleum manufacturers and environmental consultants. He is a contributor to “Brownfields: A Comprehensive Guide to Redeveloping Contaminated Property,” published by the American Bar Association and he has done extensive lecturing on environmental issues including storm water compliance, hazardous waste regulation and the purchase/sale of contaminated property. He is listed in “The Best Lawyers in America” for Environmental Law and is the past chair of the Environmental and Natural Resources Law Council of the Iowa State Bar Association. Mr. Becker received his B.B.A and J.D. degrees from the University of Iowa.
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Darren Fife, Barker Lemar Engineering Mr. Fife is a Project Manager with over five years project management experience. His current responsibilities include wetland assessment and delineation, Tier I and Tier II Site Assessments, and Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures (SPCC) Plans.
Facilities in operation on or before August 16, 2002, must maintain or amend their existing Plan by November 10, 2010. Any facility that started operation after August 16, 2002 must prepare and use a Plan on or before November 10, 2011.
Barker Lemar’s team of professionals and engineers have worked side by side with coops, manufacturers, quarries, farmers, bulk fuel facilities, and individuals across the Midwest to prepare SPCC Plans. Barker Lemar is well-versed in the complex SPCC regulations and can assist you to ensure your facility is in compliance.
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David Fulton, FDI Consulting, Inc. David E. Fulton has over two decades of experience in the technology sales and management field. During that time, he has specialized in providing business continuity and disaster recovery solutions, network and managed services, and information technology strategies for organizations of all sizes nationally.
David’s primary area of expertise has been in developing growth markets in resiliency solutions through his unique consultative style, advising organizations on data center configuration, facility operations and process optimization. David has consulted with Fortune 100 clients regarding disaster recovery alternate site considerations and specifications, developing and implementing continuity programs for public and private sector organizations, and emergency communications and employee preparedness strategies.
David is President of FDI Consulting, Inc.; a Midwestern based consulting practice specializing in Business Continuity, Disaster Recovery and Continuity of Operations Management Programs. David is the past chairperson for the Public/Private Partnership committee for the International Association of Emergency Managers, a non-profit educational organization dedicated to promoting the goals of saving lives and protecting property during emergencies and disasters. He has also served as director of public relations for the Great Plains Contingency Planners. David holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Iowa in Communications Studies.
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Mike Helak, Regional President, US Bank Mr. Helak joined U.S. Bank, N.A. in February 1998 as President of the central region including the Des Moines market. Primary duties include divisional responsibility for Consumer and Retail Banking, the middle market commercial lending unit, small business lending team, Commercial Real Estate group, Private Banking and Wealth Management Groups. In addition, the position coordinates the banks cross-functional marketing efforts.
In Des Moines, Mr. Helak is active in the community as member of 2030 TrasitTask Force, the United Way of Central Iowa as past campaign cabinet member and chair of the Focus Group, Executive Committee member, current Director and Finance Committee chairman for the Greater Des Moines Partnership, past Chairman and continuing board member of Choose Des Moines Communities, past Director of Des Moines Development Corporation, Past Chairman and current Executive Committee member of Junior Achievement of Central Iowa, past Chairman and current Treasurer of Greater Des Moines Committee, past Director Neighborhood Improvement Corporation, Past Chairman of March of Dimes of Central Iowa. Mr. Helak also serves as current Treasurer and executive committee member of the Board of Governors for the Iowa College Foundation and was appointed to the Prairie Meadows Board of Directors in November 2009 and serves on Finance Committee and chairs the Audit Committee. Mr. Helak also serves as the Chairman of the Business Advisory Council for Des Moines University and is a board member for US Bank Political Action Committee for Iowa and Nebraska. Helak also served on the legislative Committee for the Iowa Bankers Association.
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John Kulper, Wendling Quarries, Inc.
Attended the University of Dubuque with a major in Environmental Science then went on to attend Georgia Southern University studying Biology and Columbia Southern University majoring in Environmental Management.
Worked as an Environmental Consultant as a Certified Groundwater Professional focusing primarily in Leaking Underground Storage Tanks and Emergency Response for chemical spills. Currently the Safety and Environmental Director for Wendling Quarries Inc.
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Dr. Joe McGuire, OMG Midwest, Inc.
Education:
B.A. in Political Science from Benedictine College, Atchison, Kansas
M.S. in Education from NW Missouri State University, Maryville, Missouri
Ph.D. in Education from Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
Experience:
For the past 28 years I have worked in the construction aggregate production industry. During this time I dealt primarily with human resource matters and environmental permitting/compliance issues. In addition, I participated in many aggregate mine development and permit requests at the county level which required involvement in the public hearing process.
I have presented over 75 seminars or training events to industry in Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana as well as for National Stone, Sand and Gravel.
Publications:
Am primary author of two booklets on being successful in the zoning and permitting process and outlining strategies to deal with controversial issues. Have had several articles published in industry magazines.
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Dan Nickey, Iowa Waste Reduction Center
Dan Nickey is a Program Manager with Iowa Waste Reduction Center (IWRC) at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls. Dan has a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science from Wesley College and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Drake University. He joined the IWRC in November of 1994. His primary responsibility is the management of the Iowa Air Emission Assistance Program, that assists small business comply with air quality regulations.
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Jim Olson, Iowa Waste Reduction Center
Jim Olson is the Associate Director with the Iowa Waste Reduction Center (IWRC) at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls. Jim has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from the University of Northern Iowa (1977) and a Master of Science degree in Thermal and Environmental Engineering from Southern Illinois University (1984). Jim served two years as a municipal sanitary engineer and five years as an environmental engineer at a manufacturing facility operated under contract with the Department of Energy. Jim joined the IWRC in December of 1988. IWRC responsibilities include management of the center’s on-site small business technical assistance program, research and demonstration projects, and presentations at training programs and workshops.
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Mark Thimke, Foley & Lardner LLP
Mark A. Thimke, a partner with Foley & Lardner LLP, has been practicing environmental law for over 30 years. He is a member of the firm’s Environmental Regulation and Corporate & Enforcement Practices and the Energy Industry Team. Mr. Thimke works with clients throughout the Midwest on environmental issues, including air permitting issues in Iowa. Other work involves complex cleanup of sediments, enforcement defense and wastewater issues.
Mr. Thimke was selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® for environmental law and to the 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2010 lists of Wisconsin Super Lawyers® for his environmental work. He was also selected for inclusion in the 2010 edition of Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business. He is an active member of the Iowa Association of Business & Industry Environment Committee, and a speaks frequently at seminars addressing a range of topics based on his experience in the environmental field.
Dan Anderson, RJ Thomas Mfg Co Inc.
Dan Anderson is the plant manager of RJ Thomas Mfg Co Inc in Cherokee, IA, a manufacturer of park, street and campsite products. Dan is a 1976 graduate of Iowa State University with 14 years of experience in the produce industry in California returning to Iowa in 1993 to join RJ Thomas Mfg. Co.
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Chad Daniels, Stanley Consultants
Chad Daniel is a Project Principal and Senior Environmental Scientist with Stanley Consultants, a professional engineering, environmental, and construction services firm with over 1,100 member owners. He has bachelor’s degrees Physics, Meteorology, and a Masters Degree In Agricultural Meteorology in addition to being certified as a QEP by the Institute of Professional Environmental Practice.
With Stanley Consultants Chad has assisted clients with strategic environmental evaluations and coordination of environmental considerations into engineering design projects. His skills support the up-front integration of environmental considerations into the engineering design and options development phases allowing Stanley Consultants to provide a comprehensive package of services that will meet or exceed Stanley Consultants client’s needs.
Prior to joining Stanley Consultants Chad was a senior environmental specialist with the Iowa DNR Air Quality Bureau where he was responsible for long range planning and state implementation of regional air quality initiatives among other things.
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Becky Greenwald, SBA Regional Office of Advocacy
Becky Greenwald is the small business advocate for region VII, covering the states of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska. Greenwald is the chief counsel for advocacy’s direct link to small business owners, state and local government agencies, state legislators, trade associations, and small business organizations throughout the region. Greenwald was appointed to her post in January 2011.
Greenwald has worked in sales and marketing in the agricultural sector for over 20 years. As a marketing and services manager with Pioneer Hi-Bred International she promoted the change and adoption of critical new business initiatives for customers, field management, and sales force. Greenwald is a member of the National Agri-Marketing Association; past president of the American Forage and Grassland Council, Nexus Executive Women’s Alliance and has received two DuPont Volunteer Recognition Awards. Greenwald has a master’s in business administration from Drake University and a bachelor of science degree in family environment from Iowa State University.
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Mark Thimke, Foley & Lardner LLP Mark A. Thimke, a partner with Foley & Lardner LLP, has been practicing environmental law for over 30 years. He is a member of the firm’s Environmental Regulation and Corporate & Enforcement Practices and the Energy Industry Team. Mr. Thimke works with clients throughout the Midwest on environmental issues, including air permitting issues in Iowa. Other work involves complex cleanup of sediments, enforcement defense and wastewater issues.
Mr. Thimke was selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® for environmental law and to the 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2010 lists of Wisconsin Super Lawyers® for his environmental work. He was also selected for inclusion in the 2010 edition of Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business. He is an active member of the Iowa Association of Business & Industry Environment Committee, and a speaks frequently at seminars addressing a range of topics based on his experience in the environmental field.
