2013 Speaker Bios

2013 Conference Speaker Bios

Jim Antonevich is the President and founder of Metrix Matrix, Inc. Jim has 20 years of market research experience, half of which has been utility sectors.  Jim has been actively involved in the Pipeline Safety efforts, having the only market research firm to have submitted comments to the Department of Transportation in 2004 regarding research concerns with the implementation of RP1162’s proposed effectiveness measurements.  Jim and his firm have performed surveys in over 20 states since the enactment of the regulation. In 2011, Metrix Matrix received recognition from the National Committee of Quality Assurance (NCQA) as a certified survey vendor.  Jim is a member of the American Association of Public Opinion Research, (AAPOR) and has recently been appointed to the Board of Ethics for the City of Rochester, NY, where he lives.  Prior to starting Metrix Matrix Jim served in the Air Force as an Arabic linguist, was a software Quality Assurance manager at Eastman Kodak and the Director of Technical support at Thomson Legal Publishing.

Jennifer Baker is a resident of the small town of Monkton, Vermont. Like many citizens, she had no interest in pipelines or pipeline safety until a new high-pressure gas transmission line was proposed to run through the middle of the village very close to her home. After contacting the Pipeline Safety Trust and Vermonters for a Clean Environment for expertise and advice, she organized the town’s residents to vocally and successfully push for the gas company to choose a safer, lower-impact route through the town.

David Barnett, a third generation United Association Pipeliner, began his career in 1976 with his father in Delta Junction, Alaska helping to construct the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. Working 30 years in the field as a pipefitter, he has worked on 55 different projects in 29 states and overseas. During this time he performed work on the Right of Ways for over 30 different Pipeline Transmission companies including Northern Border, All American, Kern River, and Alliance. These jobs included work with various welding processes comprising stick rod, wire, and mechanized welding on pipe ranging in size from 2” to 48” in diameter. His field career included new construction, take up and replacement, hydrostatic testing, Smart Pigging, HDD and emergency repairs including many as Crew Forman. On January 1^st, 2007 he put down his tools and began serving his Local Union Members of U.A. Local 798 as Financial Secretary-Treasurer and Trustee of their Health and Welfare and Pension Funds. On January 1st, 2012 he became a full time officer of the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters where he currently serves as the Special Representative in the Pipeline and Gas Distribution Department, serving the Pipeline Industry on a National level.

Bill Byrd is founder and principal of RCP Inc., an engineering and regulatory consulting firm serving the energy pipeline industry. Mr. Byrd enjoys a solid reputation for working with the public, corporate executives, legal representatives and regulatory agencies to resolve complex regulatory, integrity management, safety, and compliance management issues. He has a broad background in engineering, operations, management, economics and regulatory affairs. Mr. Byrd graduated with honors from Georgia Tech with B.S. and M.S. degrees in mechanical engineering, and is a licensed Professional Engineer in four states. He is the past chair of the ASME Pipeline Systems Division, incoming chair of the ASME Safety Engineering and Risk Analysis Division, and board member for the Pipeline Research Council International (PRCI).

Rebecca Craven joined the staff of the Pipeline Safety Trust in January 2011 as Program Director. She previously served for 3 years as a policy analyst for the Whatcom County Council (WA), working on a variety of growth and land use issues. She is an attorney, and practiced for many years in the northwest, representing Alaska Native villages and Indian tribes in matters ranging from water rights, federal land management, and cultural resource protection to taxation and child welfare. She graduated from Carleton College (MN) with a degree in geology, and obtained a J.D. from the University of Oregon School of Law with a certificate of completion in the Natural Resources and Environmental Law Program.  She has served on the PIPA Communications team for 2 years, and currently serves on PHMSA’s Public Awareness Program Working Group.

Linda Daugherty is the Central Region Director for the Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) Office of Pipeline Safety. Linda joined PHMSA’s Pipeline Safety Program in 1991 and has served in various operational and policy development functions. As Director of the Southern Region from 2003 – 2010, Linda worked with the engineering, technical and administrative professionals in her office and the state pipeline safety offices to achieve agency goals through inspections, investigations, special permit and construction evaluation, enforcement and technical studies. From 1994 – 2003, Linda managed the agency’s Compliance and Enforcement program, served as the Department’s pipeline security expert and coordinated the agency’s response to pipeline accidents and national emergencies. Prior to joining PHMSA, Linda worked for a hazardous liquid pipeline company. She was responsible for oversight of the pipeline company’s environmental compliance. Additionally, Linda served as the pipeline company’s right-of-way agent and coordinated the company’s damage prevention efforts throughout a seven state area. Linda is a Chemical Engineer from the University of Missouri – Rolla (School of Mines).

Carolyn Elefant is principal attorney in the Law Offices of Carolyn Elefant PLLC in Washington D.C. where she focuses on energy regulatory matters before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, state utility commissions and federal district and appellate courts. Since 2009, Carolyn has represented landowners, conservation trusts, small businesses, farmers and local governments across the country in FERC pipeline certificate cases and the related Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) litigation, easement negotiations and eminent domain proceedings.  In 2012 and 2013, Carolyn was recognized as an Energy Superlawyer for Washington D.C., the only small firm included on a list of large firms.  Carolyn is a graduate of Brandeis University and Cornell Law School. Her website is LawOfficesofCarolynElefant.com

Lois
 Epstein, P.E.
 Lois N. Epstein, P.E. currently is the Arctic Program Director for The Wilderness Society. Previously she worked as the Director of the Alaska Transportation Priorities Project from 2007 2010, and for Cook Inletkeeper as a Senior Engineer and an Oil and Gas Industry Specialist from 2001 2006. Before her time in Alaska she worked for Environmental Defense Fund in Washington, D.C. on pollution prevention and measuring industrial environmental performance. Prior to these positions, Lois worked for two private consulting firms and the U.S. EPA Region 9 Office of Water. She has presented invited testimony before the U.S. Congress on over ten occasions. Lois is a licensed Professional Engineer in the States of Alaska and Maryland and previously served on several federal advisory committees as a public member including the Office of Pipeline Safety s advisory committee on hazardous liquid pipelines. She has a masters degree from Stanford University in Civil Engineering with a specialization in environmental engineering and science, and undergraduate degrees from both Amherst College (in English) and MIT (in mechanical engineering).

Tim Felt joined Colonial Pipeline Company as President and Chief Executive Officer in 2009.  Felt ensures Colonial meets its commitment to serve customers with safe, reliable and efficient fuel deliveries and to safeguard the public and the environment.   Colonial owns and operates the world’s largest refined products common carrier pipeline system, transporting refined liquid products from Gulf Coast refineries through 13 states and the District of Columbia. Prior to Colonial, Felt served as the President and CEO of Explorer Pipeline Company, and prior to Explorer, Felt had served as Vice President of Mobil Pipe Line Company.  For seventeen years, he held positions in headquarters staff and management, environmental engineering and management, and marketing engineering and construction for Mobil Oil and Mobil Pipe Line. Felt has served as Chairman of the American Petroleum Institute Pipeline Committee, and is currently on the board of the API.  He is the past Chair of the Association of Oil Pipelines and past Chairman of the Board for the Common Ground Alliance, and is a member of both boards today.  He serves on the board for the National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE) International Foundation. Felt graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and received his MBA from Pepperdine University in California.

Tom Finch has been a Community Assistance and Technical Services (CATS) Manager for PHMSA’s Western Region, which is located in Lakewood, CO, since August 20, 2009.  He was the State Liaison Representative (SLR).  His role in the Office of Pipeline Safety focuses on enhancing communications with Stakeholders including the Western Region States Pipeline Safety Programs.  Mr. Finch attended the Colorado School of Mines from 1964-1968 majoring in Petroleum Engineering.  He has over 36 years of experience in the oil and gas industry.  Prior to October 1999, he was employed by Cathodic Protection Services, working mainly in the cathodic protection of well casings and pipelines. Mr. Finch NACE Certified Senior Corrosion Technologist and has been a member of the National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE) the past 35 years. He joined OPS on October 12, 1999.

Tom FitzGerald has been Director of the Kentucky Resources Council since 1984.  KRC is a non-profit environmental advocacy organization providing free legal, strategic and policy assistance to individuals, organizations and communities concerning environmental quality, resource extraction, energy, and utility issues. Fitz received his Juris Doctor from the UK College of Law in 1980 (Order of the Coif) and was a Reginald Heber Smith Community Lawyer Fellow with the Appalachian Research and Defense Fund of Kentucky from 1980-1982.  He is an alumni of Roger Williams College (now University), Bristol, Rhode Island with a B.A. in American Studies with distinction. Fitz has been a lowly Adjunct Professor of Energy and Environmental Law at the Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville since 1986, and has published a number of articles. He received the Environmental Quality Commission Lifetime Achievement Award in 2002; the Henry R. Heyburn Public Service Award from the UK College of Law in 2003, the Kentucky Nature Preserves Commission Biological Diversity Award in 2003, the inaugural Professional Achievement Award from the University of Kentucky College of Law Alumni Association in 2008, the 14^th Heinz Award in the Environment Category in 2008, and the Brennan-Haly Award from the University of Louisville Department of Political Science in 2012.

David Gallagher is a contractor and cabinet maker who lives on his property in Ceresco, Michigan. The Enbridge line 6b replacement project comes right through his property, within 12 feet of his home. He believes he and other landowners have been mislead, and taken advantage of, by Enbridge in their dealings with landowners as part of the 36″ line 6b replacement project.

Karen Gentile serves as a Community Assistance and Technical Services Manager for the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) Office of Pipeline Safety in the Eastern Region.  In this capacity, Ms. Gentile works to advance public safety, environmental protection, and pipeline reliability by helping to facilitate clear communication among all pipeline stakeholders, including the public, pipeline operators, excavators, and government officials.  Prior to joining PHMSA in 2008, Ms. Gentile worked as an engineer and program manager for the US Department of the Army.  Karen holds a bachelor’s degree from Rutgers College in environmental engineering and a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University in environmental engineering.

Stacey Gerard is a safety consultant working with companies to assess and improve their safety and organizational performance.  She is a public representative on the American Petroleum Institute’s team writing a standard for Pipeline Safety Management Systems.  Stacey Gerard served with the U.S. Department of Transportation for 20 years and retired in 2008 as the chief safety officer in the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Administration (PHMSA). Prior to working at US DOT, Ms. Gerard worked in the Federal Emergency Management Agency on programs to improve safety within the chemical and nuclear industry and with our nation’s first responders. She worked for the U.S. Army to prepare communities around chemical weapons sites. She worked with The Children’s Television Workshop,  the American Red Cross and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on public education about hurricanes, tornados, and earthquake. Her accomplishments include working to establish the National Fire Academy, working with the Coast Guard on a standard for oil spill preparedness, helping to initiate the Common Ground Alliance, and leading the safety culture review of Federal Railroad Administration,  the Federal Motor Carrier Administration and PHMSA in 2008. She received the Presidential Rank Award twice.

Mark Hereth is the Principal at Process Performance Improvement Consultants. Mark has over 30 years of experience in the energy, chemical and environmental industries as well as the oil and gas insurance industry. He has worked in the areas or risk management, management system development, pipeline operations, project management, process plant design and environmental and pipeline safety legislation and regulations. At the Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company, he was the Senior Vice President and General Manager in their pipeline division. In this capacity he has worked with pipeline companies, industry trade associations and research organizations to develop and improve the management of risk and maintenance of the integrity of pipeline systems in order to improve safety and environmental impact as well as improve the cost structure and reliability of these systems. Mark presently serves as a board member for the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America Foundation and is on the Faculty at the Transportation Center at Northwestern University. Mark has received numerous awards and recognitions from the Department of Transportation for his contributions in risk management and improvements to the Pipeline Safety Regulations. Mark has testified to the Congress of the United States on issues relating to pipeline Safety.

Jeffrey Insko writes and maintains the Line 6B Citizens’ Blog (http://grangehallpress.com/Enbridgeblog/), a resource for Michigan landowners affected by the Enbridge Line 6B pipeline replacement project, the same line that ruptured in Marshall, Michigan in 2010. He and his wife Katy Bodenmiller became active with pipeline safety after negotiating with Enbridge for the use of their property. Recognizing a lack of public awareness, regulatory oversight, and knowledge and communication among affected landowners, Jeff and Katy sought to help inform property owners and encourage greater scrutiny of the project, launching the blog as a source of information, contacting media outlets, encouraging local municipalities to hold public forums, and organizing fellow property owners. In addition to their public advocacy and informational awareness efforts, Jeff and Katy are members of the Protect Our Land Rights Legal Defense Fund (POLAR), a non-profit fund established by concerned landowners to assist those facing condemnation of their property. Jeff holds a PhD in English from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and is an Associate Professor of American Literature at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan.

Connie Jackson was appointed City Manager of the City of San Bruno, California in 2003. She previously served as City Manager in the California north coast community of Fort Bragg and as Assistant City Manager in Hercules, California. As San Bruno’s Director of Emergency Services, Connie coordinated the massive multi-agency response to the tragic September 9, 2010 PG&E gas transmission pipeline explosion and fire in one of San Bruno’s residential neighborhoods. Under Connie’s leadership in the months since the disaster, the City has successfully initiated and implemented a comprehensive response and recovery effort focused on meeting the complex and diverse needs of the victims and the community as a whole. Connie represented the City as a party to the intensive year-long National Transportation Safety Board investigation and she continues to actively represent the City’s interests with legislators and other agencies at the state and national levels. She has presented before numerous local and regional organizations on issues related to pipeline safety and the San Bruno experience. As a result of her work, Connie was recently recognized by her peers in local government throughout California with the 2011 Women’s Leadership Summit Lifetime Achievement Award.

Ann Jarrell is a mother, grandmother, and bee keeper, all of which inspired her initiative as a grassroots public health and pipeline safety advocate.  She is a resident of Mayflower, Arkansas and is a SME (Subject Matter Expert) that conducts training of new associates and associates learning new job duties, for computer and software used for a large company that has retail and manufacturing sites in several states.  Ann also posts and maintains a Facebook page titled “The Mayflower Oil Spill Diaries”.  News of spills, leaks, health concerns and information on detoxifying from chemical exposures are also made available at this site.  Ann has also been interviewed by several news stations, journalists, and reporters and has shared her story at several ‘Town Hall’ meetings.  She has been interviewed by journalists from InsideClimate News, Arkansas Times, and many more.  She was also interviewed by Abby Martin from the “Breaking the Set” TV and Online news station. Ann has also been nominated for Arkansan of the Year by Arkansas Life magazine.

David Johnson is a Technical Consultant in the area of pipeline safety and integrity at Energy Transfer.  Dave has a 40-year career in the energy industry, with almost 35 of those years related to the operation, safety and integrity of natural gas transmission pipelines.  He has been extensively involved in materials specification and testing, failure investigations, welding, coatings and corrosion control, testing and inspection, regulatory compliance, and integrity management program development and implementation.  He has worked on the development of several regulations, including the integrity management, operator qualification and control room management initiatives, and has made several presentations at advisory committee and other public meetings on pipeline safety.  He has also been heavily involved in pipeline industry research and development at both PRCI and GTI, the ASME B31.8 code committee, the SGA transmission programs, and is a past chair of the INGAA Pipeline Safety Committee.  He graduated from Purdue University with B.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Materials Science and Metallurgical Engineering and is a Professional Engineer in Texas.

Josh Joswick is a community organizer for the Oil & Gas Accountability Project (OGAP) assisting Colorado Front Range communities  and citizens groups in their efforts to deal with the onslaught of oil and gas development in that region. For over 25 years, as an elected official and community organizer, Josh has dealt with the impacts coal bed methane development has had on his community. That has meant working with federal, tribal, and state agencies, and legislative and administrative elected officials to ensure that the oil and gas industry is held accountable for its impacts on citizens, and land, air and water. Josh is a staunch advocate of local authority, since there is no federal and state political will to adopt and enforce meaningful regulation.  La Plata County was the first local government in Colorado to exert its land use authority over oil and gas operations through land use regulations. and has prevailed in court every time it was challenged by both the state of Colorado and the industry.  Josh has lived in southwest Colorado since 1977. He was the Mayor of Bayfield CO from 1988 – 1993, and a La Plata County Commissioner from 1993 – 2005.

Richard Kuprewicz is president of Accufacts Inc. based in Washington State, providing independent “Clear Knowledge in the Over Information Age.”  He brings over 40 years experience in the energy industry offering special focus on appropriate hydrocarbon based energy infrastructure design and operation in areas of unique population density or of an environmentally sensitive nature.  He is a certified experienced process hazard and operability (HAZOP) analysis team leader skilled in process safety management, as well as a veteran emergency response leader on hydrocarbon releases. He has represented numerous parties concerning sensitive energy matters.  The vast majority of these clients are public citizens, or representatives of local city, county, state, or federal governmental agencies, or organizations that need highly specialized expertise regarding critical energy system matters.  He is currently serving as a representative of the public on; the federal level Technical Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Standards Committee (THLPSSC), and at the state level, he has also served as a member of the Washington State Citizens Committee on Pipeline Safety to advise local, state, and federal organizations and agencies on all aspects of pipeline matters.

Samya Lutz joined the Pipeline Safety Trust as Outreach Coordinator in July 2013. She came to the Trust from county government, where she worked on long-range land use planning with a focus on agricultural policy. She is a member of American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), and has many years experience doing community outreach and organizing public participation in local government planning efforts. She grew up in many areas of the US as well as overseas, settling in the Pacific Northwest 20 years ago. Samya holds a bachelor’s degree from Western Washington University, and a master’s in urban planning from the University of British Columbia.

David Lykken is the state Director of Pipeline Safety, of the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC). David has been with the UTC pipeline safety program for 14 years having held positions as both Pipeline Safety Engineer and Chief Engineer before being appointed Director in 2009. Prior to joining the UTC, David spent 20 years with Puget Sound Energy’s natural gas utility as a Pipefitter, Field Representative, Construction Coordinator, and District Operations Manager. He is actively involved with the National Association of Pipeline Safety Representatives (NAPSR) currently serving as National Secretary. David has served on numerous boards and committee’s such as the American Public Gas Association – Security and Integrity Foundation, Common Ground Alliance – Advocacy, American Society of Mechanical Engineers B31Q Pipeline Personnel Qualification, PHMSA Plastic Pipe and Public Awareness Ad Hoc Committees, National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners Staff Sub-Committee on Pipeline Safety, and the Pipeline and Informed Planning Alliance (PIPA).

Shawn Lyon is the Vice President, Operations, for Marathon Pipe Line LLC.  He was appointed to his current position in July 2011.  Shawn started at Marathon in May 1989 as an engineer located in Indianapolis, IN.  While in Indianapolis, he worked in various components in the Transportation & Logistics and the Marketing & Transportation Engineering organizations.  In 1998, he was promoted to Engineering Manager of Marketing & Transportation Engineering, Emro.  Shawn then transferred to Findlay, OH as the Engineering Manager of Marketing & Transportation Engineering, Marketing Engineering, Speedway SuperAmerica LLC in March 2002.  In 2005, Shawn was named the Product Quality Manager in the Transportation & Logistics organization.  He then worked as the Operations Manager in Marathon Pipe Line LLC, Operations & Logistics in 2006.  Shawn was named District Manager in Transport & Rail Operations in 2008.  In July 2010, Shawn was named the Manager of Marketing & Transportation Engineering for Marathon Petroleum Company prior to his current assignment. Mr. Lyon graduated from Purdue University with a bachelor of science degree in Civil Engineering in 1989.  He is a registered professional engineer.  He and his wife, Connie, have three children, Mackenzie, Gabrielle, and Noah.

Scott Macey is a Program Director for the Department of Transportation Office of the Inspector General and is located in San Francisco, CA. Scott has over 20 years experience overseeing transportation safety reviews in the areas of aviation, hazardous materials, pipelines, and rail. In his role, Scott oversees the planning and execution of nationwide safety reviews conducted by staff in San Francisco and Washington, DC. Scott attended Utah State University where he earned a degree in Accounting.

Joe Mataich is a member of PHMSA’s Southern Region Community Assistance and Technical Services Team (CATS). As a CATS Manager, Joe is responsible for supporting PHMSA damage prevention and public awareness initiatives and routinely gives presentations to various pipeline safety stakeholder groups. He is responsible for responding to public inquiries and complaints and is recognized as one of PHMSA’s subject matter experts in the field of corrosion control. Joe has a BS degree in Chemical Engineering from The Ohio State University and has been a member of NACE International for over 30 years He is a NACE Certified Cathodic Protection Specialist and a Registered Professional Corrosion Engineer (PE) in the state of California.

Alan Mayberry is the Deputy Associate Administrator for Field Operations for the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration and is located in Washington, DC. In his role, Alan oversees PHMSA’s inspection program through five regional offices and its emergency response functions. Prior to his current role, Alan was PHMSA’s Director of the Office of Engineering and Emergency Support, where he supported PHMSA’s program and regional offices on hazardous liquid and natural gas pipeline issues. Alan’s 29 years of natural gas industry experience is split evenly between transmission/distribution engineering and operations roles. Alan attended the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where he earned a degree in Civil Engineering. He is also a registered professional engineer.

Don McCoy is a native of Georgia and graduated from Georgia Tech many years ago with a degree in aerospace engineering. Don joined Access Midstream (formerly Chesapeake Midstream) in early 2008 and is presently the Senior Advisor, Pipeline Safety, serving as a consultant.to the company’s EH&S staff on matters involving pipeline safety in regards to the requirements of CFR 49 Parts 192 and 195. Prior to his present position, Don was with PHMSA’s Office of Training & Qualifications, where he was a Senior Pipeline Safety Specialist and served as an instructor for Federal and State Government inspectors and industry personnel in the requirements of the DOT pipeline safety regulations.  Don had previously served as Program Manager of this office when it was DOT’s Transportation Safety Institute (TSI), Pipeline Safety Division, from 1977 to 1982. From 1982 until joining DOT in 1999, Don worked for Enogex Inc (now part of Enable Midstream), an intrastate natural gas gathering, transmission, and processing company also based in Oklahoma City. Don’s final position with Enogex was Vice President, Corporate Services, having overall management responsibility for the company’s safety, environmental, human resources, purchasing, and administrative functions. During his early career, Don also worked in the aerospace industry and as Pipeline Safety Manager for the Georgia Public Service Commission.

Robert Miller currently serves as the Pipeline Safety Supervisor of the Arizona Corporation Commission, Office of Pipeline Safety. Mr. Miller’s background includes over 17 years of state and regulatory experience working for the Arizona Corporation Commission, Office of Pipeline Safety.  Since joining the Commission in 1996 Robert served as a Senior Pipeline Safety Inspector until 2007 at which time he began his duties as the Pipeline Safety Program Manager. Prior to his employment with the Arizona Corporation Commission Mr. Miller spent the bulk of working carrier in the pipeline construction industry focusing on Natural Gas and LPG distribution systems design, installation, repair, replacement, operations and maintenance. In addition to his Commission duties Mr. Miller also serves on the National Association of Pipeline Safety Representative (NAPSR) national board of director as Vice-Chairperson and numerous other joint federal, state and industry committees including the API Safety Management Systems Standards Committee, Meaningful Metrics Task Force, Plastic Pipe Data Committee, Plastic Pipe Ad Hoc Committee, and several other joint PHMSA / NAPSR task groups.

Christie Murray is the Director of Program Development for the Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration, Office of Pipeline Safety in Washington D.C. In this capacity, Christie leads and directs the execution of various pipeline safety programs such as damage prevention, 811, public awareness, community Assistance and technical services (CATS), national pipeline mapping systems, PIPA, and other communication outreach initiatives.  She joined PHMSA in 2010 where she served as the National CATS Coordinator until June of 2013. Christie Murray also has a strong background in pipeline operations, engineering, and communications and outreach. Christie has experience in the pipeline industry including working for Siemens Energy & Automation, Colonial Pipeline, and Equilon Enterprises.  She holds an MBA in General Management, an MS in Computer Information Systems, and a BS in Electrical Engineering, and a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.

Ed Pawlowski is Mayor of Allentown Pennsylvania. In 2005, Ed was encouraged to run for mayor by business and community leaders. Voters in Allentown elected Ed and then showed renewed confidence by re-electing him by substantial margins in 2009 and 2013.  A February 2011 natural gas explosion in Allentown killed five people and destroyed eight homes.  The pipeline in that neighborhood was installed in 1928.  It is the threat of another explosion that keeps him up at night.  In the wake of that catastrophe Ed has urged the swift replacement of cast iron pipelines and has sought the sharing of more information from gas utilities concerning pipeline locations.  Ed is a founder of the Mayors’ Council on Pipeline Safety tasked with developing initiatives that improve safety through engineering, damage prevention, land use, public education and community awareness, emergency response preparedness and a system of open communications between cities throughout the country.  Ed received his master’s degree in urban planning and public policy from the University of Illinois and his bachelor’s degree from the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, where he met his wife, Lisa. They have two adorable children, Mercy and Alex who both attend Allentown public schools.

Cynthia L. Quarterman was sworn in November 16, 2009, by Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood as the third Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA).  As the PHMSA Administrator, Ms. Quarterman’s primary responsibilities are to advise the Secretary of the Department of Transportation on all matters pertaining to PHMSA and to direct PHMSA’s national program to protect against the risks to life and property inherent in the transportation of hazardous materials in commerce and of liquid, natural gas, petroleum, and other hazardous energy products by pipeline. Ms. Quarterman was most recently a partner in the Washington office of Steptoe & Johnson LLP, where she was a member of the Regulatory & Industry Affairs Department. She litigated and advised clients on matters associated with pipeline safety, royalty valuation, federal land minerals management, pipeline acquisitions, and Outer Continental Shelf oil, gas, and liquefied natural gas facilities.  She obtained her Juris Doctor degree from the Columbia University School of Law.  Prior to law school, she received an Industrial Engineering degree from Northwestern University and worked as an engineer for IBM.

Beth Wallace is the Community Outreach Regional Coordinator for the National Wildlife Federation Great Lakes Regional Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Beth works on the Energy and Climate teams providing community organization and outreach for initiatives that support and protect communities, natural resources and wildlife. She has been the lead organizer for NWF’s response to the Kalamazoo River oil spill, working to ensure proper response and accountability. Beth has testified before Congress on the impacts of the Enbridge oil spill and its effects on the environment, wildlife, economy, and local communities. Beth has also testified before the National Academy of Sciences to push for a study on the impacts of diluted bitumen spills and has helped to lead a rulemaking petition to the EPA and PHMSA for increased pipeline safety regulations. Beth’s National Wildlife Federation Wildlife Promise blog can be found here. <http://blog.nwf.org/blog/author/wallaceb/>

Carl Weimer is the Executive Director of the national Pipeline Safety Trust. He also serves on the Governor appointed Washington State Citizens Committee on Pipeline Safety, as a member of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Technical Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Standards Committee, and the steering committee for the Pipelines and Informed Planning Alliance. Carl has testified numerous times to both the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate on pipeline safety issues, organized six national pipeline safety conferences, pushed for stronger pipeline safety legislation on the national and state level, runs the national Safe Pipelines and LNG Safety listserves that include over 800 people from around the country, and regularly serves as an independent source of pipeline safety information for news media, local government, and citizens around the country. Carl was elected in 2005 and again in 2009 and 2013 to the Whatcom County Council. He has a degree in Natural Resources and Environmental Education from the University of Michigan, as well a degree in Industrial Electronics Technology from Peninsula College. He has 2 grown daughters, and lives along a salmon stream near Ferndale WA with his wife of 30 years, 2 dogs, 2 cats, and a flock of chickens.

Harold Winnie is currently a Community Assistance and Technical Services Regional Project Manager in the Central Region Office located in Kansas City, MO for the Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration (PHMSA) within the US Department of Transportation. Harold has been with PHMSA for 8 years. His work experience covers a broad range of activities, from gas and electric operations, to construction, to the development and operation of a materials testing laboratory which provided new product approval and failure analysis investigations. Harold’s current duties involve providing pipeline safety information at public meetings, participating in CGA national committee, participating in CGA regional partners, involvement in state damage prevention activities, communicating pipeline safety information to a variety of stakeholders and as an ombudsman working with landowners and operators to increase understanding and assist in the resolution of issues/concerns. Harold has a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Missouri at Rolla and a MBA in Business from Webster University.

Austin Yang is a Deputy City Attorney in the San Francisco City Attorney’s Office.  Since joining the office in 2009, Austin has advised and represented the City on energy matters ranging from the licensing of renewable energy projects to the public safety issues presented by inadequate streetlight maintenance.  Following the PG&E natural gas explosion in San Bruno, CA, Austin has advocated on behalf of the City for improvements to the PG&E natural gas system, cost containment for ratepayers and increased regulatory oversight.  Before joining the San Francisco City Attorney’s Office, Austin had the pleasure of working as a law clerk for the Hon. Judge Patrick Mahoney and the Hon. Judge Peter Busch.  Austin is a graduate of the University of California Hastings College of the Law and Wesleyan University.  No stranger to adversity, Austin has been a NY Mets fan since the early 1980s.