Speaker
Lauren Casey
Meteorologist, Formerly Climate Central & CBS3 Philly
Share:
ULI Philadelphia: Urban Resilience Forum 2025
Online registration has closed. Tickets can be purchased at the door. Please note day of ticket pricing ($20 addition to registration type) will be in effect.
AIA Philadelphia, Green Building United, Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia and ULI Philadelphia present the third annual Urban Resilience Forum to be held on Thursday, September 25, 2025, at Center for DesignPhiladelphia.
The Urban Resilience Forum brings together over 100 practitioners from across the real estate industry, including development, architecture, design, nonprofit, and government sectors to share and learn best practices for a more resilient and sustainable Philadelphia. This year’s event will focus on local and regional solutions to urban climate challenges in times of financial and national program uncertainty.
Through an open call for submissions, the half-day program will promote best practices, tools, and actionable strategies that can be implemented in Philadelphia, and throughout the region. Attendees will have opportunities this year to learn and meet with industry leaders through round table discussion topics, poster board presentations, and live demonstrations of the newest tools for combating climate change.
The program will include light breakfast, lunch and networking. AIA, APA, LA CES credits pending.
Members of partner organizations: AIA Philadelphia, Green Building United, and Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia, email [email protected] to receive discount code for registration to register at the member rate.
Agenda
Updated September 18, 2025. Additional updates TBA!
8:00 AM - 8:30 AM - Welcome, Registration, Breakfast
8:30 AM - 8:40 AM - Opening Remarks
8:40 AM - 8:55 AM - Heat Vulnerability at Multiple Scales in the Commonwealth
- Abby Sullivan, MRM, CFM, at the Office of Sustainability, City of Philadelphia
- Alec Bernstein, Senior Managing Consultant – Climate Resilience, at ICF
8:55 AM - 9:55 AM - Resilience Across the Region: Best Practices from Commonwealth Communities
- Mrinalini Verma, Associate, OJB Landscape Architecture - Small Ideas, Big Changes: Reimagining Transportation Corridors for Climate Benefits
- Susan Myerov, Director of Environmental Planning, Lehigh Valley Planning Commission - Small Ideas, Big Changes: Reimagining Transportation Corridors for Climate Benefits
- Kyla Prendergast, Senior Environmental Planner, City of Pittsburgh - Urban Climate Resiliency: Challenges, Strategies, and Innovative Solutions
- Marc Henderson, Principal, Meliora Design - Climate Change, Urban Flooding, and Green Infrastructure: A Case Study - Radnor Township
- Moderator: Lauren Casey, Broadcast Meteorologist and Environmental Science Communicator
9:55 AM - 10:15 AM - Break & Networking
10:15 AM - 10:45 AM - Stories of Impact: Best Practice Master Talks
- The Wetlands Institute (TWI) in Stone Harbor, New Jersey: Lenore P. Tedesco, PhD, Executive Director
- Bader Field: David Mazzocco, Project Director, The Sheward Partnership, LLC
- Pennsylvania Horticultural Society: Matt Rader, President
10:45 AM - 11:15 AM - Fireside: Energy & Policy
- Lisa Shulock, Director of Commercial Programs for the Philadelphia Energy Authority
- Kara Haggerty Wilson, Architect, Onion Flats Architecture
- Isabelle Coupet, Program Manager, Green Building United
- Moderator: Rich Freeh, Executive Director at Green Building United
11:15 AM - 12:15 PM - Resilient Neighborhoods
- Adriana Abizadeh, Executive Director, Kensington Corridor Trust: Building Networks of Care
- Jen Hurley, Director, Connect the Dots: Eastwick Flood Resiliency Strategy
- Moderator: Alexa Bosse, Founding Principal at Hinge Collective
12:15 PM - 1:30 PM - Lunch & Facilitated Table Conversation
- Demonstrations
- The Green Giant: Using Drones and other Technology to Combat Environmental Degredation
- Modeling Outdoor Thermal Comfort Scenarios for Heat Resilience in the Philadelphia Region
- Table Conversation Topics
- Preventing Disasters: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
- City Village: the Sustainability Imperative and the New American Suburb
- From Margins to Mainstays: A Lifecycle Stewardship Toolkit for Philadelphia's Public Art as Intangible Heritage
- Making the Witch: An Analysis of Disability, Gender, Sexuality, and Urban Planning in the United States
- Building Resiliency into Urban Spaces
- Green Building Tax Incentives: Major Changes to Support Sustainable Projects
- Resilience Across the Region: Best Practices from Commonwealth Communities
1:30 PM - 2:00 PM - Closing Remarks, Networking
Sponsorship Opportunities
New sponsorship level added! To increase the visibility of your firm and support the delivery of this program, please consider sponsorship. Click here to learn more about sponsorship opportunities for this event.
Thank you to our event sponsors
LANYARD
SUPPORTING
Speakers
Speaker
Eleanor Schnarr
Stuart Weitzman School of Design
Eleanor Schnarr's research combines a nuanced understanding of religious history with a lifelong studio practice as a fine artist. At the Stuart Weitzman school of design she is studying ways to apply the rich history of interconnected mystical traditions to the visionary public art which can be seen in the streets of Philadelphia. This collection of murals environments and sculptures is a testament to the creative and spiritual history of the city. In her work with the magic gardens, Eleanor will be completing vital documentation work for the preservation of Isaiah Zagar's visionary mosaics. Through a nuanced understanding of how Philadelphia's public art is aging into historical significance, she seeks to both preserve the wealth of cultural resources which occupy the marginal spaces of Philadelphia and ensure an affirmative continuation of the city's punk rock heritage.
Speaker
Daiyon Kpou
Urban Planner, Disability Advocate,
A public health professional with a B.Sc. in Biology and a B.A. in African Studies from Penn State University, Daiyon enjoys work that makes society more equitable for historically marginalized communities.
Daiyon became passionate about urban planning when she began working for the City of Philadelphia in 2019. In her former position in the City's Office of Transportation, Infrastructure, and Sustainability (OTIS), she collaborated with stakeholders to reconstruct imminently dangerous retaining walls.
Daiyon currently serves as Secretary for the Philadelphia Chapter of COMTO, a professional organization that advocates for transportation that serves all in America.
In her personal time, she enjoys crocheting, cycling, and studying the histories of women’s rights, disability justice, and LGBTQ+ movements.
Speaker
Brian Miller
Director, Miller Design
Brian Miller is a designer in the broadest sense of the term. With over 35 years of professional consulting experience, Mr. Miller has applied his skills to a range of architectural, planning, and urban design projects across 19 states. For the past seven years he has directed his own firm, Miller Design Group . Among other pursuits the firm has provided design expertise on a spectrum of complex town center, urban redevelopment, mixed-use, transit development, and waterfront projects.
Mr. Miller has abundant experience working with town councils, citizen groups, regulatory bodies and the like on both publicly-funded and private-sector initiatives. During the same period he has advanced his commitment to affordable and green housing through novel use of new materials, methods, and systems, as well as to building design and financial instruments that put home ownership within reach of a wider demographic.
Mr. Miller was trained in the Weitzman School of Design at the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied City Planning, Urban Design, and Architecture. He holds an M.Arch Degree from Penn, as well as a B.A. in English Literature from The University of Kansas. A native of the Midwest, Mr. Miller grew up in eastern Kansas where he developed a deep appreciation for the landscapes and history of the American prairie. Early in his career he directed two non-profits aimed at preserving extant tracts of native grassland. Those efforts led to the creation of the 11,000-acre Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve near Strong City, KS.
Landscape, natural setting, and social context figure greatly in Mr. Miller’s work. Breadth of experience and application support a design approach that is both expansive and fundamentally integrative. He continues to search for design dimensions and attributes of buildings, settings, and communities that can successfully meet new challenges on poverty, housing, access to jobs, and education -- all under new policy platforms that endorse efficiency, environmental sensitivity, and social coherence.
Speaker
Mrinalini Verma
Associate, OJB Landscape Architecture
Mrinalini joined OJB’s Philadelphia office in 2021. She earned a Master of Landscape Architecture and a Master of Environmental Building Design from the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Architecture from the School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi. As a Sustainable Design Specialist with OJB*lab, Mrinalini has a deep understanding of the intersection of evidence-based design and landscape performance. Her ability to examine a project’s setting and infrastructure, both within and outside the physical parameters of the site, is an asset in evaluating and measuring efficacy of landscape systems. She was a research assistant for the LAF Deb Mitchell Grant, gathering field data and monitoring for a study on the impact of air pollutants on landscapes adjacent to highways in Philadelphia. She is currently contributing to OJB*lab, where she is developing digital tools that are used in project sustainability evaluation as well as education within the firm.
Moderator
Alexa Bosse
Founder & Principal, Hinge Collective
Alexa Bosse is the founder and principal of Hinge Collective, a public interest design firm that centers community engagement and public participation in every aspect of its work. With master’s degrees in both Architecture and Landscape Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania, Alexa brings a multidisciplinary approach to building more equitable and inclusive public spaces.
Her work bridges design, facilitation, and policy, drawing on experience across the nonprofit and private sectors. As a skilled convener, Alexa has led collaborative, community-driven design initiatives with residents, youth, local businesses, and city officials—turning collective vision into action. Alexa brings a deep commitment to equity and participation, particularly at the intersection of design, community, and climate resilience. She also works closely with city resource providers to support project implementation and long-term impact.
In addition to her professional practice, Alexa has taught undergraduate and graduate-level studios with a focus on public interest design at the University of Pennsylvania’s Stuart Weitzman School of Design, Jefferson University, and Drexel University.
Speaker
Kevin Thompson
Owner & Senior Inspector, The Green Valley Group
Founded in 2007 by Kevin Thompson, The Green Valley Group specializes in stucco inspections, home inspections, thermal imaging and building envelope forensic consulting services. Since 2007, Kevin has continued his education as a home inspector through the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) and the National Association of Home Inspectors (NAHI) sponsored continuing education programs, and achieved certification through United Infrared to become a Certified US Thermographer. Additionally, he has sought additional education, training and certifications in specialty areas, allowing him to expand his offerings and offer specialized inspection services to meet the needs of homeowners, buyers and sellers.
Speaker
Dr. Xiaojiang Li
Assistant Professor, University of Pennsylvania
Xiaojiang is a tenure-track assistant professor at Department of City and Regional Planning, University of Pennsylvania. He was an assistant professor at Department of Geography and Urban Studies, Temple University. He was a Postdoctoral Fellow at MIT Senseable City Lab. He has been selected as the 50 Rising Stars in Geospatial World. He has been awarded the Global Young Scientist Award, World Geospatial Developers Conference. His research focuses on developing and applying geospatial analyses and data-driven approaches in the domain of urban studies. He has proposed to use Google Street View for urban environmental studies and developed the Treepedia project, which aims to map street greenery for cities around the world. He is working on HeatExpo using artificial intelligence, remote sensing, urban microclimate modeling, and urban analytics to investigate the different vulnerabilities to climate change across different neighborhoods in the U.S. He is also working on using human trace data to study human activities and investigate the connection between urban environments and human activities. His research interests include Urban Science, Spatial Data Science, data-driven urban environment modeling, mobility and travel behavior profiling, urban computing and spatial analyses, and remote sensing. His research aims to provide a better understanding of human and urban environment systems and explore using digital technologies to benefit human society. His work has been featured in popular media outlets, including TIME, Wall Street Journal, Scientific American, The Guardian, Forbes, Atlantic-Citylab, Associated Press, and MIT News.
Speaker
Isabelle Coupet
Program Manager, Green Building United
Isabelle supports Green Building United’s Building Energy Performance Program and helps to grow and support the Philadelphia 2030 District. She holds a bachelor's in architectural engineering from Drexel University. Isabelle is interested in sustainable building practices and designs for the purpose of developing and implementing sustainability goals.
Speaker
Marc Henderson
Principal, Meliora Design
Marc B. Henderson, P.E., is a Senior Civil Engineer and Partner at Meliora Design. Marc’s work includes full civil engineering design, municipal approvals and permitting for educational and institutional projects, with expertise in flood reduction, green infrastructure design, and sustainability. Marc currently leads Radnor Township’s stormwater planning and the design of several flood reduction and MS4 projects in the Township. He regularly provides Expert Testimony in cases related to stormwater management, resiliency, permitting, and sustainable site development.
Speaker
Jalon Alexander
Cyber Security Attorney, Alexander Cyber
Jalon Alexander is a Strawberry Mansion resident, cyber security attorney and former candidate for Philadelphia City Council At-Large. Alexander has written extensively about the use of drone technology to combat illegal dumping, environmental degradation and violent crime. Alexander's research and advocacy contributed to Philadelphia appropriating over two-million dollars for drone use in the 2024-2025 FY budget. Alexander professionally specializes in data privacy and public transportation issues and is extremely passionate about his pro bono practice. Most recently, Alexander successfully represented a holocaust survivor wrongfully denied benefits against the Social Security Administration. In his free time, Alexander enjoys traveling, playing jazz and exploring Philadelphia with his Corgi Bentley.
Speaker
Paul Thompson
Principal, BluPath Design
Paul Thompson, AIA, CPHC, is a principal of BluPath Design, an award-winning WBE architecture firm in Philadelphia. BluPath's current projects include passive house projects seeking certification and passive house-inspired retrofits. Paul, his partner Laura, their son and two cats live and work in an 1840s era historic passive house 4-unit retrofit, recently awarded the 2024 AIA Philadelphia COTE and 2024 PA AIA Merit awards. Paul has co-chaired Green Building United’s Passive House Community and spearheaded several demonstration projects. He plays bass, guitar and cajon and serves as co-chair of the South Philly Jam Board.
Speaker
Adriana Abizadeh-Barbour
Executive Director, Kensington Corridor Trust
Adriana Abizadeh is the executive director of Philadelphia-based Kensington Corridor Trust (KCT). The mission, duty, and purpose of the KCT is to utilize collective ownership to direct investments on the corridor that preserve culture and affordability while building neighborhood power and wealth in Kensington. Adriana is also a policy fellow at Princeton University and Rutgers University.
With deep interests in public policy, Adriana has taken every opportunity to utilize her privileged position as a nonprofit leader to speak out for what she believes in and to lift the voices of impacted community members. Immersed in policy initiatives, she has facilitated community collaboration to address the intersectionality between immigration status, housing, poverty, and race.
Adriana has a BA in Political Science from Rutgers University with a minor in Security Intelligence and Counter Terrorism. She also has an MS in Public Policy from Drexel University. She has committed herself to serving on several boards that reflect some of her deepest passions: immigration, racial and health equity, and youth development. When Adriana isn’t serving her community, she is at home with her two children and their dogs.
Speaker
Alec Bernstein
Senior Managing Consultant – Climate Resilience, ICF
Alec is an experienced climate change and water resources consultant, engineer, and entrepreneur with a background leading teams on multidisciplinary projects and helping stakeholders and clients understand physical climate risk and develop adaptations that improve resilience in the face of change. For more than 14 years, Alec has helped clients understand climate risks and the subsequent impacts on infrastructure, operations, regulatory requirements, the environment, and society. He has developed strategies to help manage these impacts by analyzing complex computational models, policies, and regulations and developing resilience frameworks and climate design guidance standards, all with extensive local stakeholder engagement. He has experience working across Pennsylvania, and was a main contributor to DEP's 2024 Climate Impact Assessment and Climate Action Plan. Alec has worked in Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley on climate planning initiatives and climate guidance developments. He has extensive experience across local, subregional, and national government levels with projects completed across the country and around the world in South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America. Alec has a strong ability to translate technical information for clients to make better decisions and improve resilience to climate change. Analyses and projects he has led have been crucial for governments at all levels to improve operational and infrastructure design decision making to manage climate risk.
Speaker
David Mazzocco
Project Director, The Sheward Partnership
David Mazzocco, LEED AP, is a Project Director at The Sheward Partnership with over 30 years of diverse professional experience. David’s background is in architecture and started his career as the owner of small construction and fabrication companies. In 2004 co-founded SchraderGroup Architecture using his experiences to blur the distinctions between architect and builder, functionality and craft, common sense and sustainability. His firms were recognized by educational clients for integrating sustainable architecture with project-based learning, and developing resilience standards for the Public Safety market.
Speaker
Stella Tarnay
Co-founder & Executive Director, Capital Nature
Stella Tarnay is a civic innovator and creative sustainability professional with 25+ years of experience in public engagement, educational programming, best-practice research, and government practice for human and community wellbeing. She is founder and co-facilitator of the Washington DC area BlueGreen resilience Corridors Working Group.
Co-Founder and Executive Director
Capital Nature January 2018 - present
Directs regional nonprofit that promotes positive nature experience for residents in the Washington DC area. Co-facilitates BlueGreen Resilience Corridors Working Group. Develops environmental engagement programs for DC Master Naturalists, neighborhood residents, and the general public. Facilitates partnerships with area organizations including DC Department of Parks and Recreation, District Urban Forestry Division, Green Spaces for DC, University of the District of Columbia, Casey Trees, Friends of Oxon Run Park, NoMa BID, The Nature Conservancy, iNaturalist, Smithsonian, and National Geographic.
Education:
Graduate Studies in City and Regional Planning, Cornell University
Bachelors in City and Regional Planning, University of Virginia
Master Naturalist, Arlington Regional Master Naturalist Program
Speaker
Susan Myerov
Director of Environmental Planning, Lehigh Valley Planning Commission
Susan Myerov, AICP, joined the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission in 2023, where she helped develop the region’s first-ever Priority Climate Action Plan for Transportation Decarbonization, which included a goal to add green infrastructure to the Lehigh Valley’s busiest highways. Susan’s current activities include working to develop the Greater Lehigh Valley Regional Climate Action Plan and updating the Stormwater Management Plans for the 15 watersheds in Lehigh and Northampton counties. Susan previously spent 10 years as Watersheds Program Director for the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, and before that was a Senior Planner for the Heritage Conservancy. She holds a Bachelor of Science from Penn State University and a Master of City Planning degree from the University of Pennsylvania. Susan serves as Vice-Chair of the Abington Township Environmental Advisory Council and as an Advisory Board member of the Tookany-Tacony/Frankford Watershed Partnership.
Speaker
Rich Freeh
Executive Director, Green Building United
Rich Freeh is Green Building United’s Executive Director. In this capacity he supports GBU’s staff, Board of Directors, and membership in achieving GBU’s vision to ensure an equitable transition to a climate-friendly and healthy built environment through education, advocacy, and strategic initiatives. Prior to joining GBU, Rich served as the Network Team Director at the Urban Sustainability Directors Network, a membership organization of city and county sustainability professionals in the U.S. and Canada, and as Senior Program Manager with the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Sustainability.
Speaker
Abby Sullivan
Chief Resilience Officer, City of Philadelphia Planning Comm / Dept. of Planning & Dev.
Abby Sullivan, MRM, CFM, Chief Resilience Officer for the City of Philadelphia leads the city’s resilience initiatives. Her work within the Office of Sustainability involves working with communities and City staff to prepare and mitigate the effects of climate change on communities across the city. Abby has been involved in many projects that span different scales, from the neighborhood-level to citywide policies and programs.
Speaker
Laura Blau
Principal, BluPath Design
Laura Blau, AIA, CPHC, CPHB, is a principal of BluPath Design, an award-winning WBE architecture firm specializing in passive house and low-carbon projects. She is a building envelope specialist and expert witness for plaintiffs with design and construction failures. BluPath's Italian Market Passive House won GBU’s 2019 Groundbreaker Award and PHIUS Merit Award. Laura lives and works with her partner, Paul in a 1840s Passive House 4-unit retrofit in Philadelphia, recently awarded AIA Philadelphia and AIA PA awards. She is Co-Chair of Philly AIA Committee on the Environment. She's been active in Green Building United for two decades and helped found the Passive House Community.
Speaker
Kyla Prendergast
Senior Environmental Planner, City of Pittsburgh, Department of City Planning
Kyla Prendergast, AICP is a Senior Environmental Planner with the City of Pittsburgh Department of City Planning in the Division of Sustainability and Resilience. Her work revolves around long term stormwater planning, permitting, and inter-agency coordination. She has been with the City for 5 years, and prior to her tenure in Pittsburgh she worked in Atlanta at the Georgia Department of Community Affairs while studying at Georgia Institute of Technology to earn her Masters of City and Regional Planning. Her interest in stormwater management originated through her studies and research in Environmental and Ecological Engineering at Purdue University.
Speaker
Ali Katal
CEO, Planete GreenLeaves
Dr. Ali Katal is the CEO and Co-Founder of Planète GreenLeaves (PGL), a climate-tech startup based in Canada that develops cutting-edge simulation tools to support sustainable and climate-resilient urban design. He holds a Ph.D. in Building and Environmental Engineering from Concordia University, where his research focused on multi-scale urban microclimate and building energy modeling for climate adaptation and decarbonization. He is also a former scientist at Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), where he contributed to national strategies for mitigating the effects of extreme heat, urban pollution, and changing land use.
Ali is the creator of CityDigitalTwin, a web-based urban simulation platform that integrates microclimate modeling, energy simulation, and urban form analysis. The platform empowers planners, architects, and municipalities to test design strategies for outdoor thermal comfort, energy use, solar access, and adaptation to heat waves. CityDigitalTwin has been deployed in both research and professional planning contexts, helping to evaluate the effectiveness of urban interventions ranging from tree planting and surface albedo changes to distributed energy systems and zoning policies.
Ali is passionate about enabling cities to plan for a changing climate using accessible, science-based tools. His interdisciplinary work supports the creation of healthier, cooler, and more resilient neighborhoods by putting simulation capabilities in the hands of those shaping the built environment. By combining software innovation with policy insight, Ali aims to make climate-smart design not only possible—but practical.
Speaker
Robert Fejeran
Principal, Urban Collaborative Studios
Robert Fejeran is a design-build developer and urban planner with over two decades of experience in revitalizing urban spaces through public-private partnerships, transit-oriented development, and adaptive reuse. His work spans projects in Los Angeles, Denver, and the Mid-Atlantic, integrating equity, sustainability, and economic resilience into real estate and infrastructure strategies. He holds a Master's in Urban and Regional Planning from Cal Poly Pomona and a Master's in Design Studies for Real Estate Development from Boston Architectural College. Robert is the author of the forthcoming book Building Resiliency into Urban Spaces, which outlines practical frameworks for infill, adaptive reuse, and resilient design.
Speaker
Kara Haggerty Wilson
Architect, Onion Flats Architecture
Kara joined Onion Flats in 2017 and is a registered Architect in Pennsylvania as well as a Certified Passive House Designer. Kara’s work experience with affordable housing and institutional projects, as well as her experience in energy modeling and passive house design, has supported Onion Flats’ own development projects as well as their high-performance building designs and passive house consulting efforts for clients. Kara has previously presented OFA's work on high performance buildings, including deep energy retrofits for many groups, including Passive House Institute United States' (PHIUS) ProForum, Passive House Accelerator, and Building Action Coalition/Enniscorthy International Forum.
Speaker
Alexis Martin
CEO, EPSA USA
Alexis Martin is the CEO of EPSA USA, Headquartered in Philadelphia, PA, a leading consulting firm specializing in Innovation Funding and Operational Performance. Since joining in 2021, Alexis has led EPSA USA’s mission to help small- and medium-sized businesses identify cash savings through tax credits and deductions.
His leadership, team efforts, and partnerships with AIA, ACEC, and CPA state organizations in Pennsylvania and nationaide ensure clients benefit from all available incentives, adhering to strict IRS guidelines. With over 20 years of experience in New York City, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia, Alexis has honed expertise in business optimization, strategy, and management.
Before EPSA USA, he founded and grew a consulting firm that assisted SMEs in Manufacturing and Distribution in setting up and expanding in the US. He then directed the European Desk at YER USA, aiding global companies in expanding their US operations through strategic recruitment.
Holding a Master’s degree in Management and Entrepreneurship, Alexis combines strategic vision with innovative thinking to drive EPSA USA’s growth. His active involvement with professional organizations, including CPA State Organizations (PICPA, WICPA, MASSCPA), the Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, and other industry associations, highlights his commitment to fostering industry education and advocacy.
Speaker
Jennifer Hurley
Director, Connect The Dots
Jen brings 25 years of experience in urban planning and public engagement, with a PhD and Masters in Human and Organizational Systems from Fielding Graduate University, a Master in Regional Planning from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from Bryn Mawr College. Jen was President & CEO of Hurley Franks & Associates, a planning and urban design firm, for over 20 years. She has been active in the new urban movement for over twenty years, working on numerous charrettes for regional planning, downtown revitalization, traditional neighborhood development, and form-based zoning. Jen teaches in the Growth and Structure of Cities Department at Bryn Mawr College, is a past fellow of the Knight Program in Community Building at the University of Miami School of Architecture and is a National Charrette Institute Certified Charrette Planner™. She serves on the Board of the Congress for the New Urbanism and the Form Based Codes Institute Steering Committee. When she is not working, Jen can usually be found watercoloring or dreaming about her next travel adventure.
Speaker
Carolyn Paone
Senior Technical Director, AKRF, Inc.
Speaker
Matt Rader
President, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
As the 37th President of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (aka PHS), Matt works to unlock the super-power embedded in each of us to use gardening to build a healthier, happier world. PHS’s mission of using horticulture to advance the health and well-being of Greater Philadelphia is powered by thousands of members, volunteers, and partners who invest their time, money, and passion. PHS works on the ground in 250 city and suburban neighborhoods, offers 20 public gardens and landscapes, produces the Philadelphia Flower Show, the country’s largest horticultural event, and offers education, community, and an award-winning magazine for plant lovers.
Matt received his Bachelor’s in Architectural History from the University of Virginia, a Master’s in Business Administration from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and a certificate in Non-Profit Executive Leadership from Bryn Mawr College. He is a 2020 Eisenhower Fellow and his professional experiences include the Fairmount Park Commission, Urban Land Institute, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and McKinsey and Company. He lives in Center City Philadelphia with his partner, Michael Smith, a conductor and organist.
Speaker
Lenore Tedesco
Executive Director, The Wetlands Institute
Dr. Lenore Tedesco is the Executive Director of the Wetlands Institute in Stone Harbor, NJ. Lenore has a PhD in Marine Geology and Geophysics from the University of Miami, Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science, and a bachelor’s degree in Geology from Boston University. Her research interests are in wetland, estuary and stream restoration, and environmental education. Current projects are focused on evaluating the impact of sea level rise on wetland and coastal ecosystems, designing and constructing beneficial use marsh restoration projects, and the use of nature-based solutions for coastal risk reduction and to build coastal resilience. She is a co-founder of the Seven Mile Island Innovation Laboratory along with the US Army Corp of Engineers and the State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
Speaker
Nando Micale
Principal/Director, LRK Inc.
Nando is a Principal in LRK's Philadelphia office. An architect and urbanist with more than 30-plus years of experience in transforming our country's cities through the design of vital, sustainable districts and neighborhoods, his award-winning work ranges from city-wide urban design plans like Omaha by Design, to waterfront districts in cities as diverse as Philadelphia, Nashville, Wilmington (DE), Camden and Trenton (NJ). One of his hallmark visioning projects is the 2008 Civic Vision for the Central Delaware Riverfront in Philadelphia, which has received national awards of excellence from ASLA, AIA, APA and CNU. His district projects include suburban smart growth strategies, transit-oriented development, brownfields redevelopment plans, green infrastructure planning, and urban infill projects. As one of the nation's leading designers of mixed-income multi-family communities, Nando’s experience in planning and architecture—totaling nearly 15,000 new homes—in cities such as Atlanta, Birmingham, Houston, Jacksonville, Jersey City, Kansas City, Louisville, Memphis, New Orleans, Oakland, Omaha, Orlando, Philadelphia, Richmond, San Antonio, and Seattle. An Adjunct Professor at the University of Pennsylvania since 1996, Nando leads second year planning studios focused on urban design and housing. His recent studio topics included social housing in Toronto, growth pressures in the Bakken oil and gas region of North Dakota, and resiliency and housing development in cities in Colombia. Nando has also served as design studio juror for architecture programs at Boston Architectural Center, Columbia, Drexel, Harvard, New Jersey Institute of Technology, University of Pennsylvania, Roger Williams, and Temple.
Speaker
Lisa Shulock
Director of Commercial Programs, Philadelphia Energy Authority
Lisa Shulock is Director of Commercial Programs for the Philadelphia Energy Authority (PEA). PEA is the C-PACE Program Administrator for Philadelphia. Lisa has managed the C-PACE program since 2020. She also leads PEA’s commercial solar initiative. She is an experienced program director with expertise in sustainability and clean energy. Her previous roles include program consultant to Indigenized Energy, research project manager at Penn State, and sustainability consultant for several design and engineering firms. She is an accredited LEED AP O+M. Lisa was elected to the Green Building United Board of Directors in 2019 and is the Immediate Past Chair. Lisa has her MBA from Yale University and B.A. from the University of Vermont.