Ohio Engineers Legislative Day 

SCHEDULE

8:00 am    Registration & Coffee

8:40 am    Welcome
                  Joe Cherry, PE, President, OSPE
                  Joe Warino, PE, PS, FNSPE, VP of OSPE Legislative & Government Affairs

8:45 am    Working With State Agencies to Develop Ohio’s Infrastructure - Panel
                   Jason Wilson, Governor’s Office of Appalachia, Director, Ohio Development Services Agency
                   Glenda Bumgarner, Deputy Director, Ohio Department of Transportation Jobs & Commerce
                    Ben Kepple, Community Development Analyst, Ohio Development Services Agency

10:15 am    Legislative Update
                     Rep. Louis Blessing, III, PE, District 29

10:45 am    10 Minute Break 

10:55 am    Actions Ohio is Taking to Address Water Quality – Panel
                     Craig Butler, Director, Ohio Environment Protection Agency
                      David Daniels, Director, Ohio Department of Agriculture
                      James Zehringer, Director, Ohio Department of Natural Resources

11:40 am    Project Status Report
                     Randy Cole, Executive Director, Ohio Turnpike Commission
                     Jennifer Townley, Deputy Director of ODOT’s Division of Planning

12:25 pm    10 Minute Break

12:35 pm    Lunch & Speaker
                     National Transportation Funding
                     Brian Pallasch, CAE, Lobbyist, American Society of Civil Engineers, Ohio Council

1:35 pm    Plan Stamping and Industrial Exemption Update
                   John Greenhalge, Executive Director, Ohio State Board of Registration for PE and PS

2:20 pm    Legislative Visits

TOPICS & SPEAKERS 

 Working With State Agencies to Develop Ohio's Infrastructure - Panel

Participants will learn:

• Funding opportunities for infrastructure projects in Appalachian Ohio
• Steps for submitting project grant applications
• How to maximize economic development strategies in your community
• About Local Government Innovation Fund                                                                                                                    
  

                         Jason Wilson was appointed by Governor Kasich as director in November of 2011.  The agency is Ohio’s lead agency for fostering job creation and development in Ohio’s 32-county Appalachian region.  The Governor’s Office of Appalachia is focusing aggressively on economic development and workforce development.  Prior to his appointment, Wilson represented Ohio’s 30th Senate district.  Wilson is the Senior Vice President of Wilson Funeral and Furniture Company.  He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from The Ohio State University and earned a Master of Business Administration from Wheeling Jesuit University.  He lives in Columbiana with his wife Leah and their three children.  As an advocate for Ohio’s Appalachian region, the Governor’s Office of Appalachia works with the Appalachian Regional Commission in Washington, D.C. to promote the region’s assets and support local, regional, state, and federal initiatives.

Glenda is the deputy director of the Office of Jobs and Commerce at the Ohio Department of Transportation.  She manages a statewide team that provides economic development expertise and funding assistance to Ohio’s businesses and communities, specifically to increase employment opportunities for Ohio’s citizens. Prior to joining the ODOT, Glenda served at the Ohio Department of Development. She also worked at IBM Corporation and Columbia Gas of Ohio, where she managed economic development and local governmental affairs.  Glenda will earn her doctorate degree in management in May 2015.  She holds a master’s degree in public administration, and bachelor’s in management.

I'm still waiting on his biography but wanted to get something in here so I could place his picture.  So here goes nothing.

Participants will learn:

• Legislative issues relevant to engineering
• Update on current bills OSPE is following 
  

Louis W. Blessing, III, PE, State Representative, 29th House District, 131st General Assembly
Rep. Blessing is serving his second term in the Ohio House.  His District includes portions of western Hamilton County.  Rep. Blessing has an extensive background in electrical engineering.  He currently works as an engineer at Super Systems, Inc. in Cincinnati and previously worked for Duke Energy and Nova Engineering.  He earned his BA in mathematics and BS in electrical engineering at the University of Cincinnati.  He is a licensed professional engineer and is a member of the Ohio Society of Professional Engineers.  He currently resides in Colerain Township.

Actions Ohio is Taking to Address Water Quality

Participants will learn:   

• About monitoring of phosphorus discharges & Optimization Study 
  
• Alternative uses for Lake Erie dredge material
• The need for new & efficient technologies to address nutrients in wastewater discharge
• New treatments to address the microcystin from harmful algae blooms
• About creating a Certified Water Quality Professional (CWQP) Program
  

Craig Butler, Director, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency

On February 21, 2014, the Governor appointed Mr. Butler as Director of Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.  Butler has served as interim director of the Agency since early January.  He previously served as the Assistant Policy Director for Energy, Agriculture and the Environment in Governor Kasich’s administration.  A public servant of more than 24 years, he previously served as District Chief of both Ohio EPA’s Central District Office and its Southeast District Office.  He is a past member of the Board of Directors for the Ohio Alliance for the Environment.  Mr. Butler graduated Mansfield University in Mansfield Pennsylvania with honors with a BA in Geography and Environmental Science.  After receiving a scholarship from Ohio University he also graduated from Ohio University with a Masters in Environmental Science. 

David Daniels, Director, Ohio Department of Agriculture 

Director Daniels was formally appointed Ohio Agriculture Director by Governor John R. Kasich on February    15, 2012.  He is a native of Greenfield, Ohio, where he and his family managed Daniels Brothers farm.  During his career of public service he fought against unnecessary red tape and regulations and to foster a healthy business climate to create new opportunities for jobs.  Following four terms in the Ohio House of Representatives, he was elected to the Ohio Senate in 2010 to serve the families of the 17th Ohio Senate District.  In addition to providing leadership for the agricultural industry, the director of agriculture administers numerous regulatory, food safety, and consumer protection programs for the benefit of all Ohioans.  Director Daniels lives in Greenfield with his wife Karen.  They have four children and six grandchildren.

James Zehringer, Director, Ohio Department of Natural Resources 

Mr. Zehringer was appointed the director of the Ohio Department Natural Resources (ODNR) on Nov. 15, 2011.  He is the former owner of Meiring Poultry and Fish Farm in Fort Recovery, Ohio, and he previously served as the director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA).  As a state agency, ODNR focuses on regulation and recreation.  ODNR regulates the shale development industry and oversees recreational activities such as hunting, fishing and boating.  Key priorities for Director Zehringer include regulating shale development responsibly, addressing water quality issues statewide and promoting, updating and preserving Ohio State Parks. 

Ohio Turnpike and ODOT:  Partners for Ohio's Transportation Future

Participants will learn:

• An update on Turnpike Revenue Bonds
• Ohio Turnpike Capital Improvements 
  
• Turnpike Mitigation Program Funding
• MBE/DBE program update
• Transportation Review Advisory Council Project Status Report (ODOT)
• Q & A
  

Randy Cole, Executive Director, Ohio Turnpike Commission

Randy Cole was appointed as Executive Director of the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission on Dec. 15, 2014.  He previously served as Controlling Board President and Policy Advisor to Office of Budget and Management (OBM) Director Tim Keen.  Prior to OBM, he served for two years as Director of Audit Services and Technology for Auditor of State Mary Taylor.  He supervised Local Government Services (LGS), the Performance Audit Section, and Information Technology Section.  Randy was Chief of Staff to the Summit County Engineer for three years, where he also served as the Director of Intergovernmental Affairs beginning in 1993.  Randy has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Public Policy Management from the University of Akron and completed graduate coursework at the John Glenn School at The Ohio State University.  He and his wife, Cyndra reside in Akron with their four children.

Jennifer Townley, Deputy Director of ODOT's Division of Planning

Jennifer Townley has been employed with the Ohio Department of Transportation for 25 years serving in various capacities and on numerous committees.  She previously served as the Administrator for the Office of Systems Planning and Program Management as well as Major Program Manager for the Safety and Major New program.  She is currently serving as Deputy Director of the Division of Planning and is responsible for continuous, comprehensive, and coordinated transportation planning on a statewide basis.  The division provides the best context of information and resources for ODOT management to use in deciding both long term and short term investment policies and programs. Ms. Townley received a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Ohio University in 1990.

 National Transportation Funding  (Lunch Speaker)

Participants will learn:

• Funding Options
  

Brian Pallasch, CAE, American Society of Civil Engineers - Ohio Council, Managing Director of Government Relations & Infrastructure Initiatives, Washington, DC Mr. Pallasch has been responsible for managing the ASCE’s government relations department including federal and state legislative affairs, regulatory affairs, grassroots, and policy development, since 1999.  Pallasch is currently responsible for managing ASCE’s strategic initiatives regarding infrastructure including development of the Report  for America’s Infrastructure.  Additionally, Pallasch serves as the Co-Chair of the Water Resources Coalition. Pallasch holds a MA degree in International Affairs from the American University, and a BA in Journalism and International Affairs from the University   of Southern California.

Plan Stamping and Industrial Exemption Update

Participants will learn:   

• The requirements for signing & sealing engineering work 
  
• About taking over projects that are incomplete or where the original professional is no longer available to complete the project
  
• What to look for when reviewing engineering work
• What Ohio law requires when a licensee becomes aware of a potential violation of Ohio's registration act
• About the industrial exemption as it pertains to Ohio and recent developments
  

John Greenhalge, Executive Director, Ohio State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Professional Surveyors 

Cancellation/Change Policy:  Registrants may withdraw from the event with full refund less $25 processing fee provided OSPE is notified in writing at least 72 hours prior to the event's start.  After that time, registrants are responsible for the full registration fee.  Substitutions of attendees may be made at any time.  Schedule and speakers are subject to change.