Speakers

Speaker	Biographical Information
Paul Ashburn	*ASHCO-ACORP* Paul is a native of Morgantown, WV, and is the President/CEO of Ashco-A Corporation. Ashco-A Corporation has been a designer, manufacturer, installer, and service provider of innovative and alternative wastewater treatment systems for more than thirty years. Paul has worked on, consulted, and installed systems on many national projects; such as NODP I through V, recirculating sand filters at Virginia Tech, Kentland Farm Research Institute, the Freshwater Institute in Shepherdstown, and in numerous sites nationwide. He is currently a member of the West Virginia Sewage Advisory Board, the Monongalia County Sewage Advisory Board, and is Chairman of the West Virginia Onsite Technical Review Committee. Ashco represents a private firm that provides operation and maintenance (O/M) services in West Virginia.
Chad Board	West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection Chad has been a member of the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection’s Groundwater Program for five years. He is currently the West Virginia Monitoring Well Driller Program Coordinator and has been the Acting Industrial Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program Coordinator. He has worked with the development of environmental regulations, assesses and cleans groundwater contamination sites, and informs the West Virginia State Legislature, Governor, and the US EPA of groundwater quality throughout the State. He also authored the Stormwater Management Structure Guidance Document as part of his Masters thesis. Chad received his Bachelor of Science degree in Geology from West Virginia University in 1999 and his Master of Science degree in Environmental Science from Marshall University in 2005.
Douglas G. Boyer	*USDA Agricultural Research Service* Dr. Boyer received his Ph.D. in forest hydrology at West Virginia University in 1980. Since that time Dr. Boyer has been employed with the USDA Agricultural Research Service in Beaver, WV as a research hydrologist. Since 1991 Dr. Boyer has been studying agricultural impacts on karst water quality and has been developing and testing best management practices for protecting groundwater quality in karst terrain. He has conducted research programs in surface mine reclamation hydrology, steep pasture microclimatology, and hillslope hydrology. He served as a cooperating scientist on an international team investigating karst agroforestry in Slovenia. He has published more than 50 scientific and technical papers and has presented his research to more than 100 audiences. His karst research work has also appeared in Agricultural Research, Stormwater, and Wonderful West Virginia magazines.
Terri Brown	*University of Tennessee* Professional geologist, Graduate student in hydrogeology program at University of Tennessee, organic farmer & caver.
Roger Canfield	*USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service* Roger Canfield is the District Conservationist for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Warm Springs, VA. He assists farmers and other landowners in Highland, Bath, and Alleghany Counties with conservation programs, planning, and technical assistance, and has served in that position since 1984. He started with USDA in 1980 as a soil conservationist and worked until 1984 in Accomack, Northampton, Henry, and Brunswick Counties. He served in the Peace Corps as a volunteer from 1977 - 79 doing reforestation and soil conservation with the Mayan Indians in the highlands of Guatemala. He was born and raised in Connecticut and has a BS degree in Natural Resource Conservation from UConn. He currently lives with his wife in Blue Grass, VA, is a member of the Blue Grass Ruritan Club, and enjoys outdoor activities such as gardening and motorcycling.
Twila Stowers Carr	*West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection* Twila is a graduate of WVU with a Masters in Safety and Environmental Management. She currently serves as WVDEP’s Groundwater Program Coordinator for the eight Eastern Panhandle Counties. She previously was employed by the Berkeley County Health Department for 12 years and acted as the Chief of Environmental Health. She also worked in environmental health for the Jefferson County Health Department and the Mercer Co Health Dept in West Virginia Twila is also a published author in Professional Safety Magazine and won the Manufactured Housing Associations achievement award for her publication on Safety and Environmental Standards. She is also a National Bell Atlantic Health Grant recipient for her web page design on Environmental Health. She continues to provide, schools and the community, groundwater education in the form of lectures and GIS mapping Instruction.
Douglas B. Chambers	*US Geological Survey* Doug Chambers has been a biologist with the United States Geological Survey West Virginia Water Science Center since 1992. Since 2002, Doug has also served as the Center’s Water-Quality Specialist. His work includes studies of wetland biogeochemical cycling, fluvial geomorphology, and bioaccumulation monitoring. He also served as the Lead Ecologist for the National Water-Quality Assessment of the Kanawha River Basin. Currently, Doug is investigating arsenic geochemistry in an agricultural basin in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and the occurrence and distribution of endocrine disrupting compounds in the South Branch of the Potomac River as well as serving as project chief for other water-quality monitoring projects.
George Dasher	*West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection* George has a B.A. in geology from Capital University. He has been employed by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection since 1991, and is the principal person who coordinates and oversees remediation projects for the Groundwater Program. George has also been a caver since 1975 and has held many positions within that community. He is a Director of the West Virginia Speleological Survey, the editor of The West Virginia Caver, has written several books on caving and West Virginia caving, and has surveyed approximately 60 caves within the state.
Bob Denton	*Specialized Engineering* Mr. Denton offers over 25-years of professional scientific experience, and is well versed in environmental issues, chemistry, materials characterization and geology. His responsibilities include oversight and management of geological and environmental projects and services including: Phase I and Phase II environmental site characterizations and risk analyses, contaminant release investigations and remediation, geological site assessments and hazard analyses, hydro geological investigations, and materials testing and analysis.
Tom Devilbiss	*Carroll County Bureau of Resource Management* Tom is Chief of the Bureau of Resource Management for Carroll County, Maryland. He earned his B.S. in Geology from the University of Maryland in 1981, and his M.S. degree in Hydrogeology from the Eastern Kentucky University in 1988. His responsibilities include the development, management, and implementation of the County’s resource protection programs. In addition he is directly responsible for the County’s sinkhole program which includes mapping, review, monitoring and repair.
Rick Eades	Rick Eades holds a B.S. (Geology, WVU), an M.S. (Hydrogeology, UMass), and completed a post-graduate education program at UNC Chapel Hill.At Science Applications International Corporation from 1980 to 1986, he worked on mine permits, well surveys, acid mine drainage, and military base and Superfund site investigations including the Denny Farm dioxin site. That site contaminated the underlying karst aquifer, downgradient streams, and fish for over 25 miles. Rick also evaluated human wastewater impacts in karst environments at Kimberling City, Missouri, where groundwater discharges contaminated Ozark area recreational waters. Following graduate school, Rick worked in New England (1988-1989) on petroleum cleanups; then at Midwest Research Institute (1989-1997), delivering training and guidance to 19 different states’ environmental regulatory programs. At MRI, he led the groundwater monitoring program at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and served as a technical reviewer for the journal Groundwater.Returning home to WV in 1999, he advocated for water quantity and spring water protections, supervised Duke, WVU, and Marshall interns; served as a stakeholder for blasting, quarrying, and mining regulations; and provided expert or legislative testimony over 25 times between 1999 and 2003, including for the National Academy of Sciences. Since 1999, Rick provided the strategy, data analysis and presentations to secure Congressional wastewater funding for the New River region. He helped prompt a landmark, statewide mercury fish tissue study, and laid the groundwork for the Water Resources Protection Act – the first such act in WV’s 141-year history. At CVI as a hydrogeologist and Source Water specialist, Rick serves research and educational initiatives in groundwater, source water, storm water, and stream restoration. His most passionate interests still center on spring water and headwater protection, risk prevention, and future management and economics of West Virginia and the Mid-Atlantic Highlands high quality and quantity waters.
Joey Fagan	*Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation* Joey Fagan works as a Karst Protection Specialist for the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation Division of Natural Heritage Karst Program. He serves as Secretary of the Virginia Cave Board and sits on the Board of the Cave Conservancy of the Virginias. He is one of the founding members of the Blue Ridge Grotto, a member and Conservation Chair of the VPI Cave Club, and is active in the Virginia Region of the National Speleological Society (NSS). He serves as the Caving Coordinator for the Girl Scouts of the Virginia Skyline Council Adventurers Program and is a member of the NSS Youth Group Liaison Committee. Joey is an active caver for more than 35 years and is a Fellow of the NSS.
Joseph A. Fischer	*P.E., PhD, GeoScience Services* Mr. Fischer has over 40 years experience in the applied earth sciences. The scope of projects range from the definition of geologic and hydrogeologic constraints at sites of “new towns”, aquifer analyses, geotechnical studies for over 100 various karst sites from the Great Lakes to the Caribbean. He functions as a consultant to a number of municipal, county and state organizations in New Jersey, Maryland and Pennsylvania and has authored or co-authored more than 150 technical papers. Fischer is a graduate of The Cooper Union, NYC.
Mike Futrell	*Draper Aden Associates* Mike has over 22 years experience surveying and mapping caves, karst and related hydrological resources. Mike has coordinated the data management and mapping efforts for numerous projects. He routinely compiles a wide variety of information and results in geographic information system platforms and creates 2D and 3D computer visualizations to facilitate the communication of complex relationships. Mike is active in dye tracing and hydrological investigations and has long been focused on the most significant karst systems in Virginia. He also regularly assists in biological collections and archaeological and paleontological documentation. Mike’s current research includes automated generation of surface flow paths and watersheds for individual sinkholes and dolines using existing digital terrain models. Mike has been participant in 14 international expeditions, visiting 9 foreign countries, in support of karst related research. Mike is a Fellow of the National Speleological Society and a Director of the Virginia Speleological Survey. Mike has received numerous cartography and surveying awards and is a recognized leader within the speleological community.
Joshua W. Holloman	C.P.G., Triad Engineering, Inc. Josh received his Bachelors of Science degree in Geology from North Carolina State University and his Masters of Science degree from Auburn University. He is now Director of Drilling Services and the Sr. Engineering Geologist for the Winchester, VA office of Triad Engineering, Inc. and is responsible for the scheduling of drill crews and supervision of drilling personnel and equipment in addition to geotechnical and geophysical investigations.
William Jones	*Environmental Data* Mr. Jones is a consulting hydrologist with Environmental Data in Charles Town, West Virginia. He studies physical hydrology of surface and ground-water resources with an emphasis on areas underlain by carbonate (karst) aquifers. He has studied karst areas across North America, France, Eastern Europe, China and Southeast Asia. Mr. Jones is the author of over twenty papers on karst hydrology and water tracing. He is the author of the “Karst Hydrology Atlas of West Virginia” (1997) and served as the guest editor for a special issue of the National Speleological Society Bulletin on water tracing using fluorescent tracers (1984). He wrote the chapter on water tracing for the “Encyclopedia of Caves”(2005). He is the first author of “Recommendations and Guidelines for Managing Caves on Protected Lands” (2003) prepared for the U.S. Department of the Interior. He is a consultant to the US Army Environmental Center on the remediation of hazardous wastes in karst aquifers on military bases. He also studies ground-water movement in fractured aquifers and statistical characterization of water resources. Mr. Jones holds a BSF degree in Forest Management from West Virginia University (1973) and an MS degree in Environmental Science (Hydrology) from the University of Virginia (1989). He was an adjunct professor of hydrology (1993 – 2003) at the American University, Washington, DC and is a director of the Karst Waters Institute, Charles Town, West Virginia.
William Kochanov	*Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources* Bill is a Senior Geologist with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Topographic and Geologic Survey, Geologic Mapping Division. Since starting with the Survey in 1985, Bill has been actively mapping sinkhole-prone areas as well as compiling karst data within the limestone regions of central and southeastern Pennsylvania. Bill also has completed bedrock-mapping projects in the Lackawanna Valley of northeastern Pennsylvania and carbonates of the Chester Valley in southeastern Pennsylvania. He has conducted numerous seminars and short courses to geologists, hydrogeologists, engineers, and teachers on topics primarily pertaining to geologic hazards, land-use planning, and general geology. In 1989 he was part of a writing team to develop nationwide curriculum standards for earth science education and since then has been strongly involved with the Survey’s educational outreach programs.
Mark Kozar	US Geological Survey Mark is a hydrologist with the U.S. Geological Survey and is currently based in the USGS District Office in Charleston, WV. He is the WV District Groundwater Specialist and has oversight responsibilities for USGS water resources investigations conducted by the USGS in West Virginia. He holds both B.S. and M.S. degrees in Geology from West Virginia University and has over 20 years of experience as a hydro geologist. He has completed numerous investigations related to groundwater flow and quality in karst terrain and is currently conducting hydro geologic investigations at the USGS Leetown Science Center in Leetown, WV. Mark is a current member of the National Ground-Water Association and has an active interest in groundwater flow processes in fractured rock, especially the fractured Cambro-Ordovican carbonate rocks of West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle.
Rosanna Long	*West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection* Ms. Long is the state coordinator for the Project WET program. Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) is a national K-12 water education program that provides teachers with effective classroom materials through training workshops. Project WET’s goal is to help young people gain the knowledge and commitment they will need to make informed decisions about water. Project WET West Virginia is sponsored by the state Department of Environmental Protection. Rose has been involved with the education and outreach aspects of the DEP’s groundwater and nonpoint source programs since 1988. She holds an M.S. degree in Environmental Studies from the Marshall University Graduate College and a B.A. in English from the University of Salerno, Italy. She is a native of Italy and a West Virginia resident since 1974. For more information on Project Wet, visit the website: www.projectwetusa.org
Lisa A. McClung	*West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection* Lisa is a graduate of West Virginia Institute of Technology with a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. She has worked for the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Air Quality (DAQ) since 1994. During her tenure at the DAQ, Lisa has held the positions of Manager of the Title V Operating Permits Program, Assistant Director for Permitting, Deputy Director heading up the Planning and Permitting Section and most recently named Director of the WVDEP, Division of Water and Waste Management. She is currently working toward completion of her master’s degree in Environmental Engineering at Marshall University. Lisa is also an alumnus of the Penn State Executive Program for Natural Resource Managers
James G. McWhorter	*P.G, GeoScience Services* Jim is a registered professional geologist with over 35 years of technical experience in geologic and engineering geologic investigations. His domestic and international experience includes: site characterization studies for nuclear power plants, regional aquifer analysis in Saudi Arabia, water supply studies in the NJ Coastal Plain, eastern Pennsylvania and the middle Atlantic States, karst geology and quarry reserve estimates. Jim served as Chairman to the Advisory Committee to the New Jersey Geologic Survey and received his B.S in Geology from Clemson University and his M.S. in Geology from Rutgers University (N.B.)
Matthew T. Mullenax	*Berkeley County Planning Department* Matthew is a Planner I/GIS Specialist for the Berkeley County Planning Department in Martinsburg, WV. He is currently the county’s comprehensive plan coordinator, and is also developing the plan’s GIS and cartographic components. In addition, Matt is a graduate student at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA, and has nearly completed his M.S. in Geographic and Cartographic Sciences. While at GMU, he was a graduate teaching assistant and taught cartography and GIS courses. Matt has also conducted graduate research in such areas as suitability modeling and spatial autocorrelation. Prior to graduate school, Matt was a NGO GIS Associate at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown, WV. While there, his duties included developing and instructing GIS and GPS courses, as well as conducting GPS accuracy research. Matt holds a B.S. in Environmental Studies from Shepherd College (now University) in Shepherdstown, WV. He is a member of the Society for Conservation GIS.
Wil Orndorff	**Virginia Department of Conservation & Recreation, Virginia Division of Natural Heritage** Wil has worked with the Virginia DCR Karst Program for 5 ½ years, the last 4 as karst protection coordinator. He performs and oversees a wide array a data development, technical assistance, and outreach activities. Before coming to DCR, Wil worked as ‘Mister Mom’ while his wife Zenah completed her doctorate, and also moonlighted as a geological consultant and test preparation instructor. Wil has a Bachelor’s degree from Johns Hopkins and a Master’s degree in Geological Sciences from Virginia Tech, and spent a year as interim Geology Professor and head of the Department of Physical Sciences at Concord College, WV. Wil is a native of the Shenandoah Valley.
Paul D. Pinkerton	*ECS Mid-Atlantic, LLC* Paul has been employed by the Frederick, Maryland office of ECS Mid-Atlantic, LLC as the Geophysical Manager for 5 years. He graduated from the Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelors of Science in Geosciences, and has worked on numerous projects throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.
Jesse J. Richardson, Jr.	*Virginia Tech, Urban Affairs and Planning* Jesse is an Associate Professor in Urban Affairs and Planning at Virginia Tech. He is also an attorney in private practice. Prior to his appointment at Virginia Tech (1998), he practiced law in Winchester, VA, both with a large firm, and later, as a sole practitioner. He is admitted to practice in both Virginia and West Virginia. His teaching at Virginia Tech includes courses in Urban Growth Management, Land Use Law, Principles of Real Estate, and the Law of Critical Environmental Areas. He also serves as coordinator of the Real Estate Minor at Virginia Tech.His research focuses upon land use law and environmental law issues. Specifically, he addresses farmland protection, conservation easements, growth management, karst issues, groundwater law and takings. He received his B.S. in Agricultural Economics, magna cum laude, and his M.S. in Agricultural and Applied Economics from Virginia Tech. he received his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law, where he received the Edwin S. Cohen Tax Scholarship. His teaching experience includes services as an adjunct lecturer at the University of Virginia School of Law in Agricultural Environmental Law.Additionally, Mr. Richardson has made numerous presentations on legal and economic issues to lay and professional audiences across the country. His many publications include law review articles and papers published in professional proceedings. He received the 1999 American Agricultural Law Association Award of Excellence for Professional Scholarship and the 2004 William E. Wine Award for a history of teaching Excellence from Virginia Tech. he serves on the Virginia Farmland Preservation Task Force and the Virginia Water Policy Technical Advisory Committee.
Richard Shaver	*West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection* Rick has been a geologist for 27 years and has had experience in government and consulting work in West Virginia and Florida. Rick has worked on regulation, assessment, and cleanup of sites in karst and non-karst geologic areas. His background includes the management of aboveground and underground storage tanks and he currently works on groundwater protection for WVDEP.
David Watkins	*West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection* Dave is a native of West Virginia and a graduate of West Virginia University. He is currently the Regulatory Programs Section Manager, which includes the Groundwater and Underground Injection Control programs, the 401 Certification program, and the Laboratory Certification program. As Groundwater Program Manager, Dave oversees those programs that deal with groundwater protection plans, groundwater remediation, monitoring well driller certification, monitoring well installations and abandonments, ambient groundwater quality monitoring network, and the Underground Injection Control Permitting program. Dave coordinates all groundwater protection efforts with various state agencies, such as the Department of Agriculture, Bureau for Public Health, local health departments, local planning commissions, etc… He is also responsible for assessing the State’s groundwater quality and reporting to West Virginia Legislature.
Beth Wheatley	*The Nature Conservancy of West Virginia* Beth Wheatley has over ten years experience working in various capacities for conservation organizations. She currently works wears two hats for The Nature Conservancy. She works as Conservation Manager to develop and lead land protection and habitat restoration efforts in the Greenbrier Valley. She also serves as Interim Government Relations Director to coordinate efforts to strengthen strategic land conservation work in the state. Beth is the former Executive Director of West Virginia Land Trust. Prior to returning to her home state of West Virginia, Beth focused on large-scale forest conservation in Maine after spending her college years in the caves of Tennessee. Beth holds a masters degree in Natural Resource Policy from the University of Michigan. She resides in Charleston.
V. Leanne Woodson	*Triad Engineering, Inc.* Leanne received her Bachelors of Science degree in Geology from Appalachian State University and her Masters of Science degree in Geology from West Virginia University. She now works as Staff/Project Geologist with Triad Engineering, Inc. of Winchester, VA.
Carol Zokaites	*Virginia Department of Conservation & Recreation* Carol started caving in 1973 while attending Virginia Tech. She has participated in many cave mapping and karst conservation projects. She has helped create several karst publications including "Living on Karst," and the Project Underground Activity Guide. She is a fellow of the National Speleological Society and has the received the National Speleological Society's Conservation award. She is now the National Coordinator of the karst education program - Project Underground and the Karst Education Coordinator for the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.