PROGRAM CO-CHAIRS

Kent Sharp and his firm specialize in the planning, design, and development of mountain and resort communities. Since 1958, his firm has provided a wide range of services to meet the needs of four-season resort communities, ski areas, and public land management agencies throughout the world.

Andrew L. Spielman practices primarily in the areas of public lands and natural resources permitting and leads his firm`s ski practice. Prior to private practice, he served as a Presidential Management Fellow at the White House and at the U.S. EPA. He currently serves as Chair of Colorado`s Regional Air Quality Council.

KEYNOTE PRESENTER

Horst G. Greczmiel is responsible for overseeing and implementing the NEPA and CEQ mandates to ensure that federal agencies integrate environmental values into decision-making. He served as the Director of the NEPA Task Force. Prior to joining CEQ, he worked in the Office of Environmental Law at Coast Guard Headquarters.

FACULTY

Catharyn Baird synthesized and formulated the ethical foundations upon which the EthicsGame simulations and assessments are built, and articulated them in the ground-breaking textbook, "Everyday Ethics: Making Hard Choices in a Complex World." She is also a professor at Regis University.

Steven W. Carothers is the founder of his firm. He is an aquatic and terrestrial biologist with over 30 years` experience in ecological research, environmental planning, ESA and NEPA compliance, and resource management. He currently serves as a senior scientist and principal-in-charge on large multidisciplinary projects for SWCA.

Robert D. Comer has served as Regional Solicitor, Rocky Mountain Region, for the Department of the Interior. He has provided advice for the strategic implementation of Department programs. He also has served as Deputy Federal Coordinator and General Counsel in establishing the Office of the Federal Coordinator for Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Projects.

Alexandra L. Davis works with the Colorado Division of Water Resources, the Colorado Water Conservation Board, the Division of Wildlife and other state agencies regarding interstate river compacts, state water rights issues and federal reserved water rights.

Denise A. Dragoo practices before the Utah State Engineer, the Utah Board of Oil, Gas & Mining, the U.S. Department of Interior Board of Land Appeals, and other state and federal administrative agencies. She is the Utah State Bar`s Trustee to the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation.

Daniel J. Dunn started with his firm in 1980. He serves as the chair of his firm`s Environmental and Toxic Tort Practice Group and Revenue Committee. His environmental services involve both counseling and litigation, and his experience spans a wide variety of subjects.

Andrew M. Hensler is responsible for the mountain division of Vail Resorts. He oversees the legal aspects of mountain development and expansion as well as the range of legal issues arising out of operations. Vail Resorts owns and operates the premier resorts of Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Heavenly.

Sheila Jones has 25 years as lead counsel representing clients regarding environmental enforcement matters, site remediation, project development matters, and the development of environmental policy. She has extensive experience with several environmental statutes, including NEPA, the National Historic Preservation Act, and the Endangered Species Act.

J.R. Murray is a 30-year ski industry veteran. He moved to Flagstaff in 1985 to manage the Arizona Snowbowl. The ski area defended its master plan through the administrative and judicial system in which the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals sided with the Forest Service and Snowbowl, allowing the ski area to upgrade facilities and make snow using reclaimed wastewater on a mountain considered sacred to Native American tribes.

Jeffrey Parsons has represented dozens of conservation groups and American Indian Tribes in NEPA, public land and environmental litigation. The Western Mining Action Project is the nation`s only nonprofit law firm specializing in hard rock mining and related environmental law.

Temple Stevenson has focused on various natural resource and public land issues for Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal since 2004. In addition to her work on the Governor`s staff, Ms. Stevenson is in her final year of law school at the University of Wyoming College of Law.

Denise M. Toombs has 24 years of experience in environmental planning and impact analyses, permitting, and economic analysis. She has extensive experience working in the energy, telecommunications, and utility industries managing complex, controversial projects in the U.S. West Coast, Caribbean, Latin America and Asia Pacific.

Rebecca W. Watson has more than 20 years of legal and policy experience in the fields of natural resources, federal environmental law, and conventional and renewable energy. She served as Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management at the Department of the Interior.