2026 Conference Agenda

FAWQC 2026 Conference Agenda – Day 1

Wednesday, June 17, 2026

1:00 PM Opening Remarks

Scott Deitche (Geosyntec), FAWQC President

Jay Haas (SurvTech), FAWQC Vice President & Technical Program Chair

1:10 PM Session 1 – Power Industry

Moderator – Ashley Nichols, TECO

    • – Daniela Delpino (Florida Municipal Power Agency) – Florida Energy Policy Outlook

    • – Sean McGinnis (Lakeland Electric) & Kelley Samuels (AECOM) – Siting/Environmental Permitting for Small Modular Nuclear Reactors

    • – Aditi Swain (Orlando Science High School) – Novel Bio-Materials for Algal Toxin Removal

    • – Rachel McGraw (Duke Energy) – Weathering the Storm: Environmental Cleanup and Power Plant Restoration After a Hurricane

3:00 PM Break (Sponsored by Geosyntec)

3:15 PM Session 2 – Mining and Minerals Industry

Moderator – Devin Lawrence, Mosaic

    • – Phong Vo (Ardaman) & John Coates (FDEP) & Herb Donica Esq. (Donica Receivership Services, LLC) – Final Chapter of Piney Point

      – George DeStefano (Ardaman) – Cracking the Core: Cutting-Edge Tools for Deep Well Core Sampling

    • – Scott Wuitschick (Mosaic) – Tailings Management

    • – Neil Beckingham (Mosaic) – Mosaic 2030 Sustainability Targets

5:00 PM – 6:30 PM Welcome Reception in Exhibition Area (Sponsored by Black &  Veatch)

Dinner “On Your Own”

9:00 PM Cigar Reception (Sponsored by Moretrench)

FAWQC 2026 Conference Agenda – Day 2

Thursday, June 18, 2026

7:00 AM Fun Run (Sponsored by Verdantas)

8:00 AM Continental Breakfast (Sponsored by ACT)

8:30 AM Opening Remarks

Scott Deitche (Geosyntec), FAWQC President

Jay Haas (SurvTech), FAWQC Vice President & Technical Program Chair

8:35 AM    Session 3 – Coastal

Moderator – Alex Reed, FDEP

    • – Marcus Beck (Tampa Bay Estuary Program) – Evaluating the management paradigm for Tampa Bay: What’s Old is New

    • – Chadd Chustz (Town of Ft Myers Beach) & Gisselle Gutierrez (Kimley-Horn) – Assessing Vulnerability and Resiliency Planning on a Barrier Island

    • – Jenna Phillips (Cummins Cederberg) – Engineered Nature-Based Solutions for Coastal Resilience & Water Quality Improvements

    • – Lara Bracci (FDEP LBSP Coordinator) – Kristin Jacobs Coral Aquatic Preserve (KJCAP)

10:15 AM Break (Sponsored by SurvTech & AECOM)

10:30 AM  Session 4 – Nature-Based Solutions

Moderator – Carrie Kelly, Verdantas

    • – Jovana Radovanovic (Geosyntec) – Plans, Policy, & Practice: How Orange County Integrated Low Impact Development

    • – Wendy Conn & Lauren Leverett (Plummer) – East Fork Wetland: Lessons Learned from 15 Years Operation of a 1,800-acre Treatment Marsh

      – Kim Tapley (Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County) – Encouraging Native Based Solutions for Shoreline Stabilization Projects

12:00 PM  Lunch (Sponsored by Ardaman & Associates)

FAWQC E2 Grant Presentations

Keynote Address – Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida

1:30 PM    Free Time

5:30 PM    Banquet (Sponsored by Mosaic) – Optional Event ($119 pp) 

FAWQC 2026 Conference Agenda – Day 3

Friday, June 19, 2026

7:45 AM Sponsor Recognitions and Awards

Scott Deitche (Geosyntec), FAWQC President

Jay Haas (SurvTech), FAWQC Vice President & Technical Program Chair

8:00 AM    Sit-Down Breakfast (Sponsored by Pure Polymer Solutions)

Keynote Address – Kristen Nowak, Florida Wildlife Corridor – Everything’s Connected: Benefits of Protecting the Florida Wildlife Corridor

9:15 AM    Session 5 – Agriculture and Water Policy

Moderator – David Brown, RESPEC

    • – Dr. Jason Evans (Stetson University) – Alachua Conservation Trust’s five-year 2021-2026 “Surface to Springs” Regional Conservation Partnership Program

    • – Keenan Baldwin (Stolen Saddle Ranch) – Sheep Pen Marsh in Stolen Saddle Ranch, DeSoto County, Florida

10:45 AM Break (Sponsored by Gunster & ES Integrated)

11:00 AM Session 6 – Legislative Update

Moderator – Mike Petrovich, Gunster

    • – Rafe Petersen (Holland & Knight) – Federal Legislative Update

    • – Alexandria Kernan (Arrow Group) – Florida Legislative Update

12:00 PM  End of Conference Technical Sessions, Exhibitor Raffle Drawings