Speakers: Marco Finazzi, PE PMP, Program Director, CIS & Roland Jones, Market Director, CIS

Session Time: 10:10-11:00 AM

Description: Our symposium kicks off with an Opening Plenary that introduces the Community-Based Partnership (CBP), a transformative delivery model designed to scale green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) while addressing the convergence of climate change, aging infrastructure, and social inequities. Using the nation’s first CBP—the Clean Water Partnership (CWP) in Prince George’s County, MD—as a primary case study, presenters will demonstrate how this model overcomes traditional procurement barriers to accelerate urban greening and concentrate economic benefits locally. Since 2015, the CWP has successfully implemented $350 million in GSI through over 200 projects, significantly impacting the local economy: 79% of contracts were awarded to local, women, and minority-owned businesses (WMBE), and 52% of labor hours were performed by county residents, generating an estimated $655 million in local economic impact. Attendees will explore how this model, now expanded to regions including Seattle and Chicago, empowers communities to solve complex stormwater challenges while driving long-term workforce development and climate resilience.

About the Speakers

Marco Finazzi, PE, PMP
Program Director
CIS

Marco Finazzi is a Program Director at CIS, responsible for leading a Community-Based Partnership with the Stormwater Authority of Chester, Pennsylvania and supporting program operations nationwide. He brings over a decade of experience advancing water and wastewater infrastructure improvements, watershed planning, flood resilience initiatives, and stormwater management solutions across North America. A licensed Professional Engineer in multiple states and a certified Project Management Professional, Mr. Finazzi combines strong technical knowledge with strategic program leadership to support effective implementation and long term community outcomes. He holds a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from Columbia University, and a Bachelor and Master of Science in Environmental Engineering from University of Brescia, Italy.

Roland Jones
Market Director
CIS

Roland Jones is the Market Director at CIS and serves as the Program Director for the Clean Water Partnership with Prince George’s County, Maryland, the first Community-Based Partnership in the nation. In this role, he oversees program delivery, stakeholder engagement, and coordination across multidisciplinary teams. Mr. Jones brings decades of leadership experience in public sector procurement, having served as Chief Procurement Officer for Prince George’s County, Director of Strategic Sourcing at the University of Maryland College Park, and Director of Procurement & Contract Management for the Maryland Department of Environment. Before entering the public sector, he built a strong professional foundation through roles at several Fortune 500 companies. A nationally recognized leader in supplier development and diversity, he is Chairperson Emeritus of the Capital Region Minority Supplier Development Council and remains active in community organizations. Mr. Jones holds a Master of Science in Procurement and Contract Management and a Bachelor of Arts in the Administration of Justice.

Reframing Laurel Hill’s Legacy Landscape Through Regenerative, Climate-Resilient Green Burial Design

Speakers: Karen Steenhoudt, RLA, Lead Landscape Architect, Land+, LLC & Nancy Goldenberg, Hon. ASLA, President & CEO, Laurel Hill Cemeteries & Laurel Hill Funeral Home

Session Time: 11:10-11:50 AM

Description: Once a traditional 19th-century landmark, Philadelphia’s 287-acre Laurel Hill Cemetery is undergoing a profound paradigm shift toward eco-sensitive, regenerative burial practices. This session explores how the cemetery is transforming its historic manicured lawn-scape into a climate-resilient “living landscape” through the integration of native meadows, memorial tree groves, and repurposed urban wood. By prioritizing natural burial methods over high-carbon conventional practices and expanding pedestrian-focused infrastructure, Laurel Hill has evolved into a vital community sanctuary and an educator in land stewardship. Attendees will discover how these sustainable transformations foster deeper connections between people and nature, creating a social and ecological asset that ensures the cemetery’s relevance for generations to come.

About the Speakers

Karen Steenhoudt, RLA
Lead Landscape Architect
Land+, LLC

Karen Steenhoudt, RLA, is a registered landscape architect and Principal at Land+ LLC, where her work focuses on ecological design for public spaces. Her portfolio spans public gardens, cemeteries, and zoological landscapes, with an emphasis on habitat restoration, climate resilience, and long-term stewardship of cultural landscapes. Karen serves as a board member and volunteer at the Delaware Botanic Gardens, where she contributed to the Inland Dunes Habitat Garden and the Living Shoreline Project, an award-winning initiative that integrates native ecology, green infrastructure, and public engagement. She is licensed in Delaware and Pennsylvania and holds master’s degrees in Bioscience Engineering, Environmental Engineering, and Landscape Architecture.

Nancy Goldenberg, Hon. ASLA
President & CEO
Laurel Hill Cemeteries & Laurel Hill Funeral Home

Nancy Goldenberg is the President & CEO of Laurel Hill Cemeteries & Laurel Hill Funeral Home, responsible for ensuring that the historic properties remain premier cultural and educational destinations and national leaders in the evolving death care industry.

Prior to joining Laurel Hill, Nancy served for 20 years in multiple executive positions at the Center City District, Philadelphia’s premier downtown business improvement district, planning and managing many high-profile public space capital improvement projects, including the renovation of the Rail Park, Sister Cities Park, Collins Park and Dilworth Park.  She also served as Chief of Staff for the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Program Manager for Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park Commission, and Assistant Township Manager for Lower Merion Township, PA.

A native of Cincinnati, Nancy has a B.A. from George Washington University and Master’s Degree in City Planning from the University of Pennsylvania. She is a board member of the Pennsylvania Cemeteries Cremation and Funeral Association, the Preservation Alliance of Greater Philadelphia, and serves on the Cemeteries Committee of World Urban Parks, an international organization working to improve urban open spaces world-wide. Nancy is also a member of Greater Philadelphia Gardens and co-chairs PA Gardens, a statewide network of public horticulture entities that amplifies the collective voice and impact of Pennsylvania’s public horticulture organizations.  She is an emeritus board member of the Fairmount Park Conservancy and previously chaired the Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Commission, the Philadelphia Cultural Fund, and co-chaired the City Parks Alliance. Nancy is most proud of being a founder of the Philadelphia Outward Bound School and an Honorary Member of the American Society of Landscape Architects, a lifetime achievement and among the highest honors that organization confers.

Symbiotic Subsurface Bioretention: Integrating Structural Soil Cells and Modular Storage for Dual-Purpose Urban Greening

Speaker: Steve Shiffer, PE, Engineered Solutions Specialist, Ferguson Waterworks & Rob Woodman, PE, NGICP, CPESC, LEED Green Associate, Director, Engineering & Green Stormwater Infrastructure, Ferguson Waterworks

Session Time: 1:00-1:40 PM

Description: This session introduces a cutting-edge conceptual model for urban greening that integrates structural soil cell technology with high-capacity modular stormwater storage to achieve dual-benefit climate resilience. By moving beyond siloed subsurface designs, this symbiotic approach creates un-compacted root zones that are passively irrigated by captured runoff, simultaneously supporting robust canopy growth and large-volume stormwater retention. Attendees will explore the engineering and environmental potential of combining systems—such as R-Tank Modular Units and UrbanForest soil cells—to maximize space efficiency beneath urban hardscapes while enhancing GSI performance through decentralized infiltration and peak flow reduction. Designed for civil engineers, landscape architects, and urban foresters, this presentation demonstrates how to unlock the full potential of nature-based solutions to deliver healthier, longer-living tree canopies and superior water management in dense, space-constrained environments.

About the Speakers

Steve Shiffer, PE
Engineered Solutions Specialist
Ferguson Waterworks

Mr. Shiffer brings over 12 years of experience in site civil development and green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) projects across both the private and public sectors in the greater Philadelphia region. His previous work involved designing and managing GSI projects as a consultant for the Philadelphia Water Department, one of the nation’s leading GSI programs, where he gained extensive expertise in innovative stormwater solutions. In his current role as an Engineered Solutions Specialist, Mr. Shiffer collaborates with engineers and designers throughout the greater Philadelphia area and the Chesapeake Bay Watershed to develop high-performing, sustainable stormwater solutions. He is committed to advancing green infiltration practices where appropriate, supporting the broader goal of achieving environmental, social, and economic benefits through resilient water management strategies.

Rob Woodman, PE, NGICP, CPESC, LEED Green Associate
Director, Engineering & Green Stormwater Infrastructure
Ferguson Waterworks

Mr. Woodman has more than 19 years of experience on a wide variety of engineering and site\civil development projects for private and public sector clients. In his current role as Director of Engineering & Green Stormwater Infrastructure at Ferguson Enterprises, Mr. Woodman strategically leads the business development and technical engineering and design support effort for the company throughout the US with regard to the implementation of innovative, sustainable and high performance stormwater management technologies for clients in the public, private and non-profit sectors from concept design through to value-engineering solutions. Mr. Woodman supports engineers and landscape architects across the country on a variety of challenging stormwater sites.

Right-of-Way Stormwater Projects in Tredyffrin Township

Speaker: Daniel Wible, Water Resources Engineer, Jacobs; Stephen Burgo,

Session Time: 1:50-2:30 PM

Description: This session explores Tredyffrin Township’s proactive, twenty-year journey in implementing green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) within the public right-of-way to address the dual challenges of aging infrastructure and intensifying rainfall. Guided by a comprehensive four-pronged strategy—improving water quality, reducing flooding, protecting infrastructure, and ensuring regulatory compliance—the presentation details the lifecycle of three recent residential projects, from grant acquisition and concept development to construction and monitoring. Attendees will learn how the Township leverages community input via its Citizens Advisory Task Force to transform flood-prone streets into climate-resilient landscapes that protect local watersheds. By sharing critical lessons learned and scalable design approaches, this session provides a practical framework for municipalities aiming to integrate high-performance GSI into established suburban environments.

About the Speakers

Daniel Wilbe
Water Resources Engineer
Jacobs

Daniel has over 25 years of experience in the advancement and design of innovative stormwater Best Management Practices and Green Stormwater Infrastructure. He has contributed to numerous stormwater projects for local municipalities and cities such as Tredyffrin Township, Radnor Township, Philadelphia, Chester, West Chester, Lancaster, and Harrisburg, as well as other cities such as Pittsburgh, New York, Newark, Boston, Syracuse, Atlanta, and San Diego. He has served as a senior technical consultant on several large-scale Green Stormwater Infrastructure implementation programs, most notably Onondaga County, NY’s Save the Rain Program and the City of Lancaster, PA’s green infrastructure program, and has contributed to various stormwater management manuals, guidance documents, and industry publications.

Stephen Burgo
Township Engineer
Tredyffrin Township

Biography coming soon!

Partnerships in Bloom: Financing a Resilient Community Reading Garden

Speakers: Le Xu, Innovation Director, SALT Design Studio; Sara Pevaroff Schuh, Principal, SALT Design Studio; Kimberly Leichtner & Stephanie Tomei, Co-Chairs, Penn Wynne Library Community Reading Garden; Kate Cronin, Owner, Oakleaf Ecological

Session Time: 11:10 AM-11:50 AM

Description: This session highlights the Penn Wynne Library Reading Garden as a powerful, replicable model for how neighborhood-led mobilization can transform underutilized land into high-impact social and ecological assets. Attendees will explore how a small group of volunteers leveraged strategic storytelling, inclusive design, and multi-stakeholder partnerships to raise over $400,000 for a resilient, community-focused sanctuary. By prioritizing transparency and diverse engagement—ranging from online surveys to localized storytelling—the project successfully integrated native greening and climate resilience into a beloved neighborhood hub. The presentation will share scalable fundraising strategies and leadership approaches that empower communities to navigate common hurdles and turn modest urban sites into meaningful public spaces that foster long-term stewardship and environmental health.

About the Speakers

Sara Pevaroff Schuh
Founder & Principal
Meliora Design

Sara Pevaroff Schuh is founder of SALT Design Studio, an award-winning, woman-owned landscape architecture practice focused on connecting people to place through design, tapping into community engagement as a catalyst for action. Applying sustainable strategies to mitigate the impacts of climate change and leveraging the landscape as a teaching tool is a hallmark of Sara’s practice. She has 30 years of experience with master planning and design for public parks, secondary schools, college campuses, streetscapes, and urban centers across the country. As a recognized expert in the field, her work has garnered awards and been exhibited as models for social impact and ecological design. Sara lectures frequently on urban design, professional practice and community engagement to school groups and non-profit organizations, and serves on design juries. She holds a Master of Landscape Architecture from University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Science in Political Communication from The University of Texas.

Le Xu
Innovation Director
SALT Design Studio

Le (Cindy) Xu, PLA is a licensed landscape architect and Innovation Director at SALT Design Studio. With a background spanning landscape architecture, planning, environmental design, and product design, she brings an international, interdisciplinary lens to creating landscapes that are visually compelling, functional, and equitable. Her portfolio ranges from schoolyards and cultural landmarks to national park master plans, corporate campuses, public art spaces, and higher education landscapes, with several projects recognized through LEED certifications. Beyond professional practice, Le frequently serves on design juries and participates in workshops at the University of Pennsylvania, and this year, is an invited juror for the 2025 Arizona ASLA Awards and 2026 Connecticut ASLA Awards. She is also deeply engaged in community work, volunteering as a translator and facilitator for engagement efforts in Philadelphia’s Chinatown. Le holds a Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Arts from Tongji University.

Kimberly Leichtner
Program Manager
The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania

Kim Leichtner’s professional experiences are in nonprofit management and leadership development. She’s a Program Manager with the Lipman Family Prize at the University of Pennsylvania, managing the relationships between global prize-winning nonprofit organizations and the university. As a trained facilitator, she moderates civic dialogues with undergraduate students from across Pennsylvania and adults through Keystone Civic Ventures. She’s also been a High Performing Team Facilitator for Wharton undergraduates, observing and coaching them on effective teamwork.

Kim enjoys volunteering in her community and served on the board of the Penn Wynne Library Association from 2018-2024. She joined the board as a co-treasurer and stepped up to be co-president during the COVID-19 pandemic to help the board meet its essential fundraising goals. She currently co-chairs the PWLA Community Reading Garden project. Kim holds a BA from Harvard College and a MPA from Penn’s Fels Institute of Government.

Stephanie Tomei
Public Relations/Communications Consultant
Former President and Board Member of the Penn Wynne Library Association; Co-Chair of the Community Reading Garden Committee

Stephanie has spent her professional career leading PR and communications efforts in both agency and corporate settings in the healthcare field. She currently works as a PR consultant supporting medical start-ups and societies. Outside of work, Stephanie is a passionate community volunteer and provides pro-bono PR support for local non-profit organizations. She served six years on the Board of the Penn Wynne Library Association (PWLA) in the roles of co-president, secretary and as the PWLA representative on the Lower Merion Library System Board of Directors. She served on the Boards of the Penn Wynne Civic Association and local Home and School Associations. She currently serves on the InterSchool Council and Co-Chairs the PWLA Community Reading Garden project. Stephanie has degrees in Public Relations & International Studies from the Pennsylvania State University, as well as a Spanish minor studying at the University of Salamanca.

Kate Cronin
Owner
Oakleaf Environmental

Kate Cronin is the owner of Oakleaf Ecological, where she blends stewardship with the creation of beautiful, dynamic spaces. Her work has been featured in The Philadelphia Inquirer for utilizing native garden design in small settings. Kate previously worked at Riverbend Environmental Education Center and Wissahickon Charter School, where she and her students cultivated a school garden. Kate serves on the Penn Wynne Library Association Board as co-chair for development of the Community Reading Garden. Kate holds a BA from Drexel University.

Competency as Capacity: Developing the National Stormwater Workforce

Speakers: Kaitie Evers, Stormwater and Watershed Training Coordinator, Center for Watershed Protection; Ian Ross, Industry Training-Programming, PowerCorps PHL

Session Time: 1:00-1:40 PM

Description: As urban areas accelerate the installation of green and gray infrastructure, a critical workforce gap has emerged in the capacity to operate and maintain these essential systems. This session explores how the Clean Water Certificate (CWC)—a nationally accredited, entry-level training program—addresses this challenge through strategic partnerships between municipal agencies, workforce organizations, and community-based instructors. Drawing on insights from a January 2026 literature review of national stormwater workforce trends, the presentation highlights competency-based training methods that reduce employment barriers and foster learner confidence through multi-modal instruction. Attendees will examine the operational requirements of maintaining an accredited program—balancing technical rigor with local relevance—and gain a roadmap for strengthening the workforce pipeline through regional modules and job task analysis.

About the Speakers

Kaitie Evers
Stormwater and Watershed Training Coordinator
Center for Watershed Protection

Kaitie Evers is a Stormwater and Watershed Training Coordinator with the Center for Watershed Protection, where she manages and delivers the nationally recognized Clean Water Certificate (CWC) program. Her work focuses on building workforce capacity in the stormwater and green infrastructure sector through professional training, instructor development, and strategic partnerships with municipalities, nonprofits, and industry leaders. Kaitie specializes in translating complex watershed science into practical, field-based learning experiences that support resilient communities and healthier waterways. She holds a B.S. in Plant Science from the University of Delaware and is passionate about environmental education, collaborative problem solving, and advancing sustainable stormwater management practices.

Ian Ross
Industry Training-Programming
PowerCorpsPHL

Ian Ross is the Industry Academy Team Lead at PowerCorpsPHL, where he has worked for 3.5 years. He oversees PCPHL’s workforce and technical trainings for the ‘Water Infrastructure and Land Management’ crews and Skilled Trades Academy.’ Ian also manages work order contracts with partners including the Philadelphia Water Department. Ian taught high school science for 5 years in Philadelphia and is currently studying for his arborist certification.

Reclaiming Land, Growing Resilience: Overbrook Environmental Education Center’s Climate Adaptation Model

Speakers: Michael Busch, Water Resources Engineer, Meliora Design; Jerome Shabazz, Executive Director & Founder, JASTECH Development Services, Inc; Tavis Dockwiller, Principal, Viridian Landscape Studio

Session Time: 1:50-2:30 PM

Description: This session explores the twenty-year transformation of West Philadelphia’s Overbrook Environmental Education Center (OEEC) from a derelict brownfield into a thriving model of community-led ecological restoration. Participants will examine OEEC’s sustained leadership in remediating environmental hazards, highlighted by two landmark initiatives: the recently completed Resilience Hub, which provides climate-adaptive shade and emergency solar power, and the Farmacy/NatureWorks Campus, a multifunctional green space currently breaking ground in 2026. By converting impervious auto yards into healing gardens, nature trails, and educational facilities, these projects demonstrate how strategic urban greening can strengthen neighborhood resilience and provide equitable access to nature-based solutions. Attendees will gain insights into how grassroots stewardship can effectively address public health and climate challenges in historically underserved urban corridors.

About the Speakers

Jerome Shabazz
Founder & Executive Director
JASTECH Development Services, Inc.

Jerome Shabazz is the founder and Executive Director of JASTECH Development Services, Inc., a notfor-profit organization developed in 1997, to promote environmental justice; encourage sustainable community development; and to promote public health in urban communities. In 2002, JASTECH established the Overbrook Environmental Education Center a community-based center dedicated to preserving the built and natural environments of Philadelphia.

Prior to working in the non-profit sector, Mr. Shabazz worked for 25 years at the Philadelphia Water Department and Philadelphia Gas Work in operations, engineering, and training. Mr. Shabazz is also an adjunct professor at Community College of Philadelphia. He is an active member of the PA Department of Environmental Protection’s – Citizen Advisory Council, Environmental Justice Advisory Board, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Board of Directors, and the EPA’s National Environmental Justice Advisory Council.

Michael Busch
Water Resources Engineer
Meliora Design

Michael Busch is a Water Resources Engineer with expertise in applying various hydraulic and hydrologic models to inform green infrastructure and flood reduction planning efforts and design projects. He has designed several large-scale flood reduction and green infrastructure projects that also provide ecological and community benefits.

Tavis Dockwiller
Principal
Viridian Landscape Studio®

Tavis Dockwiller, Principal, is the guiding influence for Viridian Landscape Studio®. Viridian heals ecological systems while making beautiful places for people. Tavis recognizes place-making as integral to the basic framework of society and understanding ecological systems as key to making place. Her work is built from an understanding of long-term strategy and strengthened by client investment in design. Tavis’ designs give people meaningful ways to engage with the environment – to play, learn and relax.

Closing Speaker to be announced soon.