Pacific Northwest Environmental Industry Summit IX

October 15, 2026, 9am-4 pm, Washington Athletic Club, 1325 6th Ave, Seattle, WA 98101

Presented by Environmental Business Journal and produced in partnership with 2020 Environmental Group and 2026 Summit Series Sponsors

Where: Washington Athletic Club, 1325 6th Ave, Seattle, WA 98101: Johnson Lobby Lounge on 1st floor

When: Thursday, October 15, 2026, 9am-4pm
(Informal networking and offsite social event follows nearby)

Agenda Outline

8:30 – 9:00am – Coffee/Mixer

Sessions and Interactive Panels:

• Environmental Market Report: Latest EBJ & executive perspective on key industry trends in the environmental industry and major services and client categories.
• PFAS Panel: Markets and Technology in Testing, Water & Remediation
• AI, Digitalization and Technology Applications Impacting Service Delivery
• Climate Resilience and Energy Transition Market Trends and Opportunities
• Strategic Growth thru M&A – Insights from Sellers and Buyers

Lunch served in the conference room and informal cocktail hour after the event

Panelists to be announced

Registration page

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(Previous agenda with panelists included as representative of the 2026 1-day meeting)

Pacific Northwest Environmental Industry Summit VIII

October 3, 2024, 9am-4 pm, Washington Athletic Club, 1325 6th Ave, Seattle, WA 98101

Presented by Environmental Business Journal and produced in partnership with 2020 Environmental Group.

Where: Washington Athletic Club, 1325 6th Ave, Seattle, WA 98101: Johnson Lobby Lounge on 1st floor

When: Thursday, October 3, 2024, 9am-4pm
(Informal networking and offsite social event follows nearby)

2024 Agenda

8:30 – 9:00am – Coffee/Mixer: Washington Athletic Club, 1325 6th Ave, Seattle, WA 98101: Johnson Lobby Lounge on 1st floor
9-10am: Welcome & Introductions: Meeting Chair, Grant Ferrier, Editor of EBJ
Environmental Market Report: EBJ & executive perspective on key industry trends in environmental services, water, IT, AI, technology, BIL & infrastructure funding, climate resilience and the Energy Transition. Moderator: Grant Ferrier, with panel:

• Richard Price, Program Manager, EA Engineering Science & Technology
• Clint MacDonald, SVP, Business Leader of Sonoma Technology (Spheros)
• Jerry Boyd, Principal Geologist / Market Director, Environmental Engineering, Construction, and Remediation, TRC
• Leif Embertson, President, Natural Systems Design

10-11am: PFAS Panel: Markets and Technology in Testing, Water & Remediation

• Taryn  McKnight, VP, PFAS Practice Leader, Eurofins US
• Keith Munsey, Northwest Technical Manager, Regenesis
• Audience Q&A and participation

11-12.15: Brownfields: Leveraging Funding for Brownfields, EJ & Climate Justice
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Justice40 and Inflation Reduction Act represent historic levels of investment for disadvantaged communities overburdened by pollution, climate impacts, and a legacy of discriminative development practices. Panelists share how your organization and clients can take advantage of these transformative opportunities, and best practices to build successful and sustainable restoration, redevelopment, revitalization, and resiliency programs.
Panelists:

• Chris Gdak, Brownfields & Community Revitalization Leader, Montrose
• Ryan Givens, Revitalization Planner and Urban Designer, Montrose
• Anthony Palagyi. Senior Consultant, CTEH
• Steve Koenigsberg, Senior Principal, Koenigsberg and Associates

Lunch

Afternoon Sessions & Panels:

1-1.30pm: Open Discussion on AI & IT

1.30-2.15pm: Natural Resource Management and Ecological Restoration driving Strategic Growth in the Environmental Industry
Moderator – Al Spiers, CEO, 2020 Environmental Group
Panelists
John Toll, CEO, Windward Environmental
Jim Stamatis, CEO, True Environmental

2.30-4pm: Strategic Growth thru M&A – Insights from Sellers and Buyers
Panelists
Dan Spiers, Managing Partner, 2020 Environmental Group
Scott Slessman, Strategic Growth Officer, SWCA
Scott Wright, former Principal with River Design Group, and part of SWCA
Brian Stanford, former CEO of PBS Engineering and Environmental, and now part of Apex Companies
Paul Howard, Corporate Development Director, Triumvirate Environmental

4-6+ pm: Off-site networking event on site or in walking distance

Agenda topics for 2024

• Regional Market Report: EBJ & executive perspective on key industry trends
• Panel Topics: Infrastructure funding; IRA, Climate Resilience & the Energy Transition
• PFAS demand scenarios: Remediation & Water/Wastewater markets
• Brownfields, EJ and new EPA funded programs
• Policy & Politics Outlook for 2024-2026: State & Federal
• Growth strategy in the PNW: HR, M&A
• Technology: AI & Digital strategy for clients and internal capacity

Previous panelists for reference

Grant Ferrier, EBJ
Ankur K. Tohan, K&L Gates
Melissa Malstrom, K&L Gates
Amanda Shellenberger, Anchor QEA
Chris Swan, TRANSEARCH International
Dan Spiers, 2020 Environmental Group
Dave Tiernan, TRC
Thom Morin, TRC (formerly EPI)
Gwen Santos, RES
Dave Meurer, RES
Andra Kidd, Verdantas
Annika Wallendahl, Geosyntec
Amy Essig Desai, CEO, Farallon Consulting
Jason Harris, CEO, Triton Environmental
Erich Fisher, SVP, Corporate M&A, ESA
Keith Steele, Sitka Technology Group acquired by ESA, and now VP, ESA Technology Director
Andrew Romolo, VP, Terraphase (and  acquisition of Robinson Nobel in Seattle WA)
Kristi Tahmasiyan, Corporate M&A, Terracon
Nimish Desai, CEO, SoundEarth Strategies, Inc.
Gary Lester, CEO, EcoAnalysts
Ryan Liebe, President, Triton Environmental (Canada)
Rebecca Maco, VP Client Services, Brown and Caldwell
Aaron Porter, Senior Coastal Engineer, Mott MacDonald
Richard Price, Program Manager, EA Engineering Science & Technology