2026 Florida Resilience Conference: Full Schedule

Nearly 15 years of experience in the Public Sector in Government Administration and Community Development. Strong Technical, Managerial, and Institutional Skills with Proven Experience as a Leader and Team Builder. Certified Floodplain Manager, Certified in Supervisory Management... Read More →

Wednesday September 23, 2026 1:35pm - 1:50pm EDT
Great Egret A

Opening General Session

1:50pm EDT

Engineering Florida’s Future: Navigation, Restoration, and Resilience

Wednesday September 23, 2026 1:50pm - 2:10pm EDT

Great Egret A

Speakers

Colonel Brandon Bowman

Commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District

Wednesday September 23, 2026 1:50pm - 2:10pm EDT
Great Egret A

Opening General Session

2:10pm EDT

The Value of Open Space to Resilience

Wednesday September 23, 2026 2:10pm - 2:40pm EDT

Great Egret A

Moderators

Meredith Budd

Live Wildly Foundation

Jason Lauritsen is the Chief Conservation Officer of the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation, overseeing land and water protection, science, and stewardship across the 18-million-acre Corridor. He previously led the Corridor Coalition as Executive Director and directed Audubon's... Read More →

Speakers

Nick Aumen

Visiting Research Professor, University of Florida

Mallory Dimmitt

CEO, Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation

Wednesday September 23, 2026 2:10pm - 2:40pm EDT
Great Egret A

Opening General Session

2:40pm EDT

Navigating the Tides of Public Opinion

Wednesday September 23, 2026 2:40pm - 3:00pm EDT

Great Egret A

Speakers

Stacy Ranieri

President and Chief Illuminator, The Firefly Group

Wednesday September 23, 2026 2:40pm - 3:00pm EDT
Great Egret A

Opening General Session

3:00pm EDT

Professional Exchange Break – Ice Cream Social

Wednesday September 23, 2026 3:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

Exhibit Hall - Great Egret B

Sponsors

Stantec Consulting Services, Inc

Wednesday September 23, 2026 3:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Exhibit Hall - Great Egret B

Professional Exchange Break, Ice Cream Social

3:30pm EDT

To Fill or Not to Fill, “When” is the Question?

Wednesday September 23, 2026 3:30pm - 3:50pm EDT

Royal Tern A

Speakers

Michael Poff, P.E.

President, Coastal Engineering Consultants, Inc

Michael Poff is the President of Coastal Engineering Consultants and has over 35 years of experience in coastal and ecosystem restoration, inlet and waterway management, and marine structures. He has been the Principal Engineer on several of the nation's largest living shoreline... Read More →

Matthew Logan

Project Manager, Charlotte County Public Works

Wednesday September 23, 2026 3:30pm - 3:50pm EDT
Royal Tern A

Beaches, B1

3:30pm EDT

SB 484 - Data Centers: What does it do and how will it be implemented?

Wednesday September 23, 2026 3:30pm - 3:50pm EDT

Palometa

Speakers

Kurt Schrader

Senior Attorney, Florida Senate

Wednesday September 23, 2026 3:30pm - 3:50pm EDT
Palometa

Energy, C1

3:30pm EDT

Tampa Bay Coastal Master Plan: Engaging Communities to Shape Flood Resilience

Wednesday September 23, 2026 3:30pm - 4:00pm EDT

Silver Perch

Speakers

Lara Milligan

Pinellas County Natural Resource Agent, UF/IFAS Extension

†Lara Milligan is the Natural Resources Agent for UF/IFAS Extension Pinellas County. Her work focuses on wildlife, water, and general environmental education.

Katie Mastenbrook

Senior Wildlife Policy Specialist Gulf Program, National Wildlife Federation

Katie Mastenbrook is the Senior Wildlife Policy Specialist for the National Wildlife Federationís Gulf Program, where she leads efforts to support resilient coasts and wildlife habitats across the Gulf Coast

Alana Todd

Principal Environmental Planner, Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council

Alana Todd serves as the Principal Environmental Planner for the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council. Alana supports the Councilís work on regional environmental management and resilience-related activities, including the Agency on Bay and Coastal Management, Bay Soundings, and the... Read More →

Ashira Pelt

Senior Associate, Consensus Building Institute

Ashira Pelt is a Senior Associate at the Consensus Building Institute, where she designs and facilitates multi-stakeholder mediation processes.

Wednesday September 23, 2026 3:30pm - 4:00pm EDT
Silver Perch

Smart Planning, A1

3:30pm EDT

Using Brownfields Remediation to Advance Smart Planning and Community Resilience: The Connor Park Redevelopment in Palmetto, Florida

Wednesday September 23, 2026 3:30pm - 4:00pm EDT

Great Egret A

Speakers

Elie Araj

President, Applied Sciences Consulting, LLC

President of Applied Sciences, focused in the design and engineering of a sustainable and resilient future for Florida.

Kevin Yue

Associate, Stantec Consulting Services Inc.

I'm an Associate and Senior Environmental Engineer at Stantec, focusing in contaminant assessment and remediation.

Joe Marsh

Senior Associate, Stantec Consulting Services Inc.

I'm a Senior Associate and Project Manager at Stantec, with experience in Brownfields redevelopment activities. †

Matthew Pleasant, AICP

Planning Manager, Applied Sciences Consulting, Inc.

Planning Manager at Applied Sciences, bringing resilience to urban planning.

Wednesday September 23, 2026 3:30pm - 4:00pm EDT
Great Egret A

Smart Planning, A1

3:50pm EDT

Planning Before Crisis - Energy & Water Resilience and Building Public Confidence for Data Centers in Florida

Wednesday September 23, 2026 3:50pm - 4:10pm EDT

Palometa

Speakers

Sandy Walters

President, Eco Legacy Solutions

Sandy Walters is the founder of Eco Legacy Solutions, LLC and has more than 35 years of experience navigating complex environmental, permitting, and stakeholder challenges for public- and private-sector projects. Her work focuses on aligning development objectives, regulatory requirements... Read More →

Wednesday September 23, 2026 3:50pm - 4:10pm EDT
Palometa

Energy, C1

3:50pm EDT

Beneficial Use of Dredged Material

Wednesday September 23, 2026 3:50pm - 4:20pm EDT

Royal Tern A

Speakers

Patrick Snyder, P.E., CFM

Chief, Shore Protection Section, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District

Greg Garis

Program Administrator, Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection, Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Andy Studt

Program Supervisor, Coastal Resources Management, Palm Beach County Department of Environmental Resources Management

Wednesday September 23, 2026 3:50pm - 4:20pm EDT
Royal Tern A

Beaches, B1

3:50pm EDT

Building a Community-Driven Coastal Watershed Resilience Plan to Maximize Flood and Wildlife Benefits in Miami Dade County

Wednesday September 23, 2026 3:50pm - 4:20pm EDT

Royal Tern B

Speakers

Roberto Rovira, RLA

Professor, Florida International University

Roberto Rovira is Principal of Studio Roberto Rovira, Professor, and former Chair of Landscape Architecture + Environmental and Urban Design at Florida International University. As a registered landscape architect with more than 24 years of experience in art, design, and landscape... Read More →

Tiffany Troxler, PhD, CFM

Associate Professor, Florida International University

Tiffany Troxler is an Associate Professor in the Department of Earth and Environment and Director of Science in the Sea Level Solutions Center in the Institute of Environment at Florida International University in Miami, FL. She is an ecosystem ecologist and sustainability scientist... Read More →

Ana Carolina Coelho Maran, PhD, P.E.

Division Director, South Florida Water Management District

Carolina Maran, Ph.D., P.E. is the Chief of District Resiliency with the South Florida Water Management District. In her role, she is responsible for coordinating resilience efforts across federal, state, regional and local agencies, advancing scientific research and data analysis... Read More →

Robert Colón, MLA, WEDG

Resilience Coordinator, Miami-Dade County

Raised in Tampa and trained in landscape architecture and science, Robert has dedicated his career to restoring Floridaís natural ecosystems while building resilience in the vulnerable urban communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis. He is currently a public servant in... Read More →

Wednesday September 23, 2026 3:50pm - 4:20pm EDT
Royal Tern B

Infrastructure, D1

4:00pm EDT

Upper Barataria Terracing Project - An Affordable Approach to Combat Interior Marsh Deterioration

Wednesday September 23, 2026 4:00pm - 4:20pm EDT

Great Egret A

Speakers

Kiara Horton

Coastal Engineer, Freese and Nichols

Kiara is a Coastal Engineer in Freese and Nichol's New Orleans office with 6 years' experience. She has extensive experience in H&H modeling as well as coastal projects including several marsh restoration and living shoreline projects.†

Matthew Salmon, PE

Senior Coastal Engineer, Freese and Nichols

Matthew is a Senior Coastal Engineer in Freese and Nichols' New Orleans office with 18 years' experience in coastal protection/restoration and environmental remediation. He has provided coastal design services for projects across the U.S. that included shoreline stabilization, marsh... Read More →

Wednesday September 23, 2026 4:00pm - 4:20pm EDT
Great Egret A

Smart Planning, A1

4:00pm EDT

From Commissioner Chambers to Classrooms – Why Effective Climate Resilience Education, Public and Stakeholder Engagement Matters

Wednesday September 23, 2026 4:00pm - 4:30pm EDT

Silver Perch

Speakers

Hannah Hart, PMP

Florida-Gulf Department Manager, Resilience Solutions, Dewberry Engineers Inc.

Hannah Hart is Florida-Gulf Regional Manager for Dewberry's National Resilience Practice. †She brings over 20 years of experience in natural restoration projects, legislative and policy advisement, and federal regulatory compliance.†

Alexandra (Ali) Howerton, LEED Green Associate

Resilience Program Manager, Hillsborough County

Alexandria (Ali) Howerton is currently the resilience program manager for Hillsborough County, Florida; she supports critical projects that promote economic stability and improve quality of life for county residents. Throughout her career, Ali has supported environmental programs... Read More →

Troy Salisbury, MPA, AICP

Hazard Mitigation and Resilience Manager, Hillsborough County

Troy Salisbury is Hillsborough Countyís Hazard Mitigation and Resilience Manager, bringing decades of experience in urban planning, climate adaptation, and community resilience. He also serves as an adjunct professor at the University of South Florida, where he teaches courses on... Read More →

Wednesday September 23, 2026 4:00pm - 4:30pm EDT
Silver Perch

Smart Planning, A1

4:10pm EDT

Resilient Infrastructure Options for Data Centers

Wednesday September 23, 2026 4:10pm - 4:40pm EDT

Palometa

Wednesday September 23, 2026 4:10pm - 4:40pm EDT
Palometa

Energy, C1

4:20pm EDT

Estero Island Beach Nourishment and Hurricane Recovery

Wednesday September 23, 2026 4:20pm - 4:40pm EDT

Royal Tern A

Speakers

Chadd Chustz

Marine Operations Project Manager, Town of Fort Myers Beach

Chadd Chustz is the Marine Operations Project Manager for the Town of Fort Myers Beach in responsible charge of the beach and dune management program, and assisting with the threatened and endangered species monitoring and protection plans.

Wednesday September 23, 2026 4:20pm - 4:40pm EDT
Royal Tern A

Beaches, B1

4:20pm EDT

From Code Change to Construction: How Regulatory Reform Enabled Living Seawalls in Miami Shores Village

Wednesday September 23, 2026 4:20pm - 4:40pm EDT

Great Egret A

Speakers

Anya Freeman

CEO, Kind Designs

3D-Printing Living Seawalls in Miami.

Jorge Loor

Project Manager, Public Works, Village of Miami Shores, FL

Leonard Barrera Allen

Project Director, Cummins Cederberg

Leonard Barrera is a coastal engineer with experience in the planning, engineering analysis, and design of coastal and waterfront development projects in Florida, the Caribbean, and Central America. His experience, ranging from project inception to construction, includes field investigations... Read More →

Wednesday September 23, 2026 4:20pm - 4:40pm EDT
Great Egret A

Smart Planning, A1

4:20pm EDT

Bayshore Drive 17 AC Boardwalk: Ecological Restoration, Performative Infrastructure and Public Open Space

Wednesday September 23, 2026 4:20pm - 4:50pm EDT

Royal Tern B

Speakers

Kevin Mangan

Senior Principal, Landscape Architect, Stantec

Kevin has practiced Landscape Architecture, Urban Design, and Land Planning in the United States and International marketplace since 1985. His passion for collaborative site design including complex and environmentally responsive projects are a hallmark of his career and a passion... Read More →

Brian Galligan

Vice President of Horticulture, Naples Botanical Garden

Brian is the Vice President of Horticulture at the Naples Botanical Garden and while serving at the Garden for the last 19 years brings his and the Gardens expertise to the surrounding community. He has played a leading role in the master plan for the garden working with a cadre of... Read More →

Christopher Stephens, PWS

Owner, Senior Ecologist, Natives of Corkscrew, LLC: Native Plant Nursery + Environmental Services

Chris has been an Ecologist in Southwest Florida since 2005 and the Owner of Natives of Corkscrew since 2015; by trade, is a FWC Gopher Tortoise Authorized Agent, FDACS Commercial Applicator in Natural + Aquatic Area is a Professional Wetland Scientist, No. 2254, and is a FDEP Professional... Read More →

Tami Scott

Project Manager II, Collier County Florida, Community Redevelopment Area

Tami is the Collier County Bayshore Community Redevelopment Area Project Manager. She has managed years of successful project work within the Bayshore area CRA that includes transportation improvement programs, streetscape and complete street projects, median landscape and irrigation... Read More →

Wednesday September 23, 2026 4:20pm - 4:50pm EDT
Royal Tern B

Infrastructure, D1

4:30pm EDT

Building Back Smarter: A Three Phase Approach to Fort Myers Beach Resilience

Wednesday September 23, 2026 4:30pm - 4:50pm EDT

Silver Perch

Speakers

Erica Harris

Climate Adaptation Leader, AECOM

Erica Harris is a Climate Adaptation Specialist at AECOM, where she develops strategies to help communities plan for, recover from, and adapt to climate-related hazards. She specializes in adaptation planning, coastal management, and translating complex environmental and social data... Read More →

Frankie Kropacek

Community Development Director, Town of Fort Myers Beach

Frank Kropacek is the Community Development Director for the Town of Fort Myers Beach, overseeing planning, redevelopment, and community improvement initiatives. He has over 30 years of experience in local and state government administration, managing projects, coordinating stakeholders... Read More →

Joseph Webb

Associate Vice President, AECOM

Joe Webb is a Senior Landscape Architect and Planner specializing in parks, public spaces, and community design. He focuses on creating functional, resilient, and engaging outdoor environments that enhance community connectivity, environmental stewardship, and quality of life.

Wednesday September 23, 2026 4:30pm - 4:50pm EDT
Silver Perch

Smart Planning, A1

4:40pm EDT

Miami-Dade County’s Coastal Storm Risk Strategy: The Miami-Dade Back Bay CSRM Project and Beyond

Wednesday September 23, 2026 4:40pm - 5:00pm EDT

Great Egret A

Speakers

Julie Grissett, E.I.

Coastal Associate, Moffatt & Nichol

Julie is a Coastal Associate at Moffatt & Nichol based in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

Christian Kamrath

Resilience Program Manager, Miami-Dade County Office of Environmental Risk and Resilience

Christian Kamrath is a Resilience Program Manager at the Miami-Dade County Office of Environmental Risk and Resilience.

Wednesday September 23, 2026 4:40pm - 5:00pm EDT
Great Egret A

Smart Planning, A1

4:40pm EDT

Lovers Key and Bonita Beach Nourishment and Hurricane Recovery

Wednesday September 23, 2026 4:40pm - 5:10pm EDT

Royal Tern A

Speakers

Michael Poff, P.E.

President, Coastal Engineering Consultants, Inc

Chuck Broussard

Vice President, Weeks Marine

Mike Campbell

Project Manager, Lee County Natural Resources Division

Southwest Florida project manager for Lee County Natural Resources, Mike Campbell has over 20 years of experience studying and managing coastal habitats. He has worked from Louisiana to South Florida managing projects throughout the Gulf Coast.

Wednesday September 23, 2026 4:40pm - 5:10pm EDT
Royal Tern A

Beaches, B1

4:40pm EDT

Data Centers: A Local Government Perspective

Wednesday September 23, 2026 4:40pm - 5:10pm EDT

Palometa

Speakers

Peter Abello

Associate Director of Public Policy, Florida Association of CountiesnOkeechobee County

Terry W. Burroughs

Commissioner, Okeechobee County

Wednesday September 23, 2026 4:40pm - 5:10pm EDT
Palometa

Energy, C1

4:50pm EDT

Trees as Infrastructure: Leveraging Mitigation Funds to Build Community Resilience

Wednesday September 23, 2026 4:50pm - 5:10pm EDT

Royal Tern B

Speakers

Brian Knox

Senior Forester Examiner, Development and Economic Opportunity, City of Tampa, FL

Brian Knox is an ISA-certified arborist who works as the Senior Forester Examiner for the City of Tampa, where he implements Urban Forest Management Plan which includes an ecological analysis of the Tampaís urban forest under the City of Tampa's Planning Department. He received his... Read More →

Tanner Haid

Senior Director, Urban Forestry Field Delivery, American Forests

Tanner Haid has spent more than a decade leading urban forestry initiatives, from community?based planting programs to international efforts advancing Tree Equity across cities. As Senior Director of Urban Forestry Field Delivery at American Forests, he leads a team in partnering... Read More →

Wednesday September 23, 2026 4:50pm - 5:10pm EDT
Royal Tern B

Infrastructure, D1

4:50pm EDT

Building Countywide Resilience: Comprehensive Multi-Hazard Vulnerability Assessment as the Foundation for Water Management in Charlotte County, Florida

Wednesday September 23, 2026 4:50pm - 5:10pm EDT

Silver Perch

Speakers

Brandon Moody

Water Quality and Resiliency Manager, Charlotte County Board of County Commissioners

As the Water Quality and Resiliency Manager, Brandon Moody is responsible for the implementation of Charlotte County's water quality monitoring strategy, development of the countyís water quality management plan (One Charlotte, One Water), evaluation of flood and surge resiliency... Read More →

Wednesday September 23, 2026 4:50pm - 5:10pm EDT
Silver Perch

Smart Planning, A1

5:00pm EDT

Florida’s Ports on the Frontlines: Advancing Resilience and Readiness in 2026

Wednesday September 23, 2026 5:00pm - 5:30pm EDT

Great Egret A

Speakers

Jose De Jesus, PE

Director of Engineering, Port Tampa

John D. Glass Jr., PE

Deputy Director of Engineering and Construction, SeaPort Manatee

Helga Sommer, PE, PPM

Chief of Engineering, Port Miami

Wednesday September 23, 2026 5:00pm - 5:30pm EDT
Great Egret A

Smart Planning, A1

5:10pm EDT

Development of a “Working with Nature: Flood Resilience Blueprint” for the Naples, FL Area

Wednesday September 23, 2026 5:10pm - 5:25pm EDT

Silver Perch

Speakers

Thomas Ries

President, Ecosphere Restoration Institute

Mr. Ries' 40+ years of experience is comprised of managing and restoring natural ecosystems. He formulated innovative public/private/partnerships (P3s) resulting in award-winning projects. He has designed over 150 habitat restoration projects ranging from a 1-acre spring restoration... Read More →

Danielle Irwin

Associate Principal, Cummins Cederberg

Danielle specializes in water resource management and has extensiveexpertise in working waterfronts (marinas/dry stacks, ports, cruise industry),beach front development, shoreline stabilization (seawalls to living shorelines),beach nourishment, inlet management, waterfront parks and... Read More →

Carrie Schuman

Climate Resilience Advisor, Conservancy of Southwest Florida

Carrie works under the environmental policy team at the Conservancy of SWFL and focuses on building local resilience to issues like flooding, including advocating for the use of nature-based solutions within local planning. Her background includes marine, fisheries, climate, and social... Read More →

Wednesday September 23, 2026 5:10pm - 5:25pm EDT
Silver Perch

Smart Planning, A1

5:10pm EDT

Coastal Resiliency Design and Implementation Following Multiple Major Storm Impacts in Naples Florida

Wednesday September 23, 2026 5:10pm - 5:30pm EDT

Royal Tern A

Speakers

Brett Moore

President, Humiston & Moore Engineers

Sophia Gutierrez

Coastal Geologist, Humiston & Moore Engineers

Coastal Geologist†

Wednesday September 23, 2026 5:10pm - 5:30pm EDT
Royal Tern A

Beaches, B1

5:10pm EDT

Powering the AI Era: Florida’s Path to Energy Abundance

Wednesday September 23, 2026 5:10pm - 5:30pm EDT

Palometa

Speakers

Daniela Delpino

Environmental Engineer, Florida Municipal Power Agency

Wednesday September 23, 2026 5:10pm - 5:30pm EDT
Palometa

Energy, C1

5:10pm EDT

Managed Retreat to Address Extreme Weather, Natural Hazards, and Climate Impacts

Wednesday September 23, 2026 5:10pm - 5:30pm EDT

Royal Tern B

Speakers

Arthriya Subgranon, PhD

Consultant, WSP

Dr. Arthriya Subgranon has over a decade of experience in resilience and risk assessment of building systems and coastal communities affected by natural hazards. Her expertise spans performance evaluation of wind-excited structures, real-time forecasting of hurricane impacts, and... Read More →

Chris Dorney, PhD

Vice President, WSP

Dr. Christopher Dorney†is a vice president in WSPís Resilience practice and has been engaged in extreme weather and climate change adaptation work for over 15 years. †Over this time, Dr. Dorney has assisted several federal agencies, state transportation agencies, local governments... Read More →

Wednesday September 23, 2026 5:10pm - 5:30pm EDT
Royal Tern B

Infrastructure, D1