2024 Environmental Spring Forum
Wednesday, May 15, 2024
The registration deadline is Friday, May 10
The ACEC/MD Environmental Spring Forum is an event hosted by the American Council of Engineering Companies of Maryland (ACEC/MD) that brings together professionals from the engineering and environmental industries. The forum allows attendees to discuss and learn about the latest developments, challenges, and solutions related to environmental engineering and sustainability.
8:00 am – Continental Breakfast / Registration
8:45 am to 12:00 pm – Forum Program
Speakers Lunch Immediately After Forum
Registration Costs:
- $80 – ACEC/MD Member
- $120 – Non-member
- $60 – Government
Agenda (subject to change)
8:00 AM Registration & Continental Breakfast
8:45 AM Welcome
- James Deriu
- ACEC/MD President (2023-2024)
- Erica Adamski, QP
- Chair, ACEC/MD Environmental Committee
9:00 AM Presentations
- Christopher Beck
Deputy Program Manager, Climate Change Program
Maryland Department of the Environment
Presenting: Maryland’s Climate Pollution Reduction Plan
- Lise Luchsinger
Resilience Program Specialist, Disaster Risk Reduction
Maryland Department of Emergency Management
Presenting: Solutions for Financing Resilience Hazard Mitigation Measures
- Toria Lassiter
Division Chief, Innovative Planning & Performance Division
MD State Highway Administration
Presenting: Creating Resilient Infrastructure to Meet Climate Goals at SHA
10:00 AM Break
10:35 AM Presentations
- Stacy Schaefer
Executive Director, Resilience Authority of Charles County MD
Presenting: Charles County Resilience Authority – Equitable Climate Change Adaptation
- Horacio Tablada
Director, Department of Environmental Protection and Sustainability (EPS), Baltimore County
Presenting: Resiliency through the Years
11:15 AM Speakers Q/A
11:45 AM Conclusion
Speakers
Christopher Beck
- Deputy Program Manager, Climate Change Program, Maryland Department of the Environment
Chris Beck is the Deputy Manager of the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) Climate Change Program. Chris’ current focus is on the implementation of Maryland’s nation-leading climate pollution reduction plan to meet the most ambitious GHG reduction goals of any US state. His expertise is in policy making; air quality; building partnerships between government and stakeholders; as well as strategy in climate mitigation. He holds a graduate degree in environmental health science from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Lise Luchsinger
- Resilience Program Specialist, Disaster Risk Reduction, Maryland Department of Emergency Management
Lise Luchsinger is currently working as the Resilience Program Specialist at the Maryland Department of Emergency Management (MDEM), proudly collaborating with an incredible team to advance the newly created Resilient Maryland Revolving Loan Fund program. During her career, Luchsinger has also served governments as an attorney, worked in management and brokerage of commercial real estate focusing primarily on high-performing buildings, and lead nonprofits dedicated to service and sustainability. Luchsinger’s personal and professional passions are making communities more resilient by being efficient with our resources and planning for, withstanding, and recovering from natural hazards. Historically, Maryland has been adversely affected by flooding, hurricanes, tropical storms, tornadoes, and snowstorms, to name a few. Luchsinger strives to provide communities with the information and tools to prepare for those natural hazards so that they may recover stronger, faster, and more efficiently.
Toria Lassiter
- Division Chief, Innovative Planning & Performance Division, MD State Highway Administration
Toria Lassiter is Chief of the Innovative Planning and Performance Division (IPPD) at the Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA). Toria manages SHA’s Federal Transportation Performance Management and Asset Management Planning Programs, while also overseeing the management of the Climate Risk and Resilience and Freight Planning Programs. As manager of these programs, she facilitates the coordination, data collection, and analysis required to establish statewide performance targets, draft the state Transportation Asset Management Plan for NHS Bridges and Pavement, develop strategies for incorporate risk and resiliency into SHA planning, design, maintenance and operations, and work with partners and stakeholders to improve freight movement through the state and the region. She represents MDOT at Metropolitan Planning Organization meetings and national peer exchanges to advance performance-based planning and programming. Toria holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Morgan State University and worked as a civil engineer in Maryland, Mississippi, and Louisiana before joining SHA as a Transportation Project Manager in 2014, managing Design-Bid-Build and Design-Build projects.
Stacy Schaefer
- Executive Director, Resilience Authority of Charles County, MD
Stacy Schaefer is the Executive Director of the Charles County Resilience Authority – the first Resilience Authority in Maryland. Ms. Schaefer holds a Juris Doctorate degree from the George Washington University Law School and began her professional career as a corporate attorney with the Washington, D.C. law firm Arnold & Porter. After a decade of practicing law, Ms. Schaefer transitioned to a career with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR). As DNR’s Associate Director for Land Conservation from 2009 to 2021, Ms. Schaefer directed the team responsible for the Maryland Rural Legacy Program and Program Open Space State-Side, developed DNR’s first climate change adaptation conservation easement, and integrated climate change considerations into all land acquisitions. In 2022, Ms. Schaefer served as the Maryland land conservation liaison for Resource Environmental Solutions (RES), an ecological restoration firm that works across the country. In addition to her role as Executive Director of the Charles County Resilience Authority, Ms. Schaefer serves on the City of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County Resilience Authority Board of Directors.
Horacio Tablada
- Director, Department of Environmental Protection and Sustainability (EPS), Baltimore County
Horacio Tablada currently serves as Director of the Department of Environmental Protection and Sustainability in Baltimore County. Prior to this appointment, in July 2023, he served as Secretary of the Environment and previously as Deputy Secretary until his retirement in January 2023. Horacio worked at MDE since 1985 (before MDE was established) and served in various management and technical capacities, including Director of the Land and Materials Administration. Mr. Tablada holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological and Agricultural Engineering from North Carolina State University, a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Maryland, and a Master of Divinity from Capital Seminary and Graduate School.