Speaker Biographies. Robert Cox, General Manager, Pomeroy Grain Growers P.O. Box 220, Pomeroy, WA 99347, (509) ,

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1 Patricia Akiyama, External Affiars Director, Port of Seattle P.O. Box 1209, Seattle, WA 98111, (206) , Patricia Akiyama joined the Port of Seattle in 2010 as the External Affairs Director where she leads the government relations, public affairs and regional transportation groups. Prior to joining the Port, Akiyama was director of government and community relations for Russell Investments, where she had primary responsibility for engaging elected representatives in the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate and the Washington State Legislature. She also oversaw Russell s corporate sponsorships and charitable grant-making programs, including Russell s focused giving initiative that awarded grants locally and globally to innovative programs that address gaps in child welfare and financial literacy. Before joining Russell in 2008, Akiyama worked with Weyerhaeuser Company as a government and community affairs manager, later becoming director of government affairs for Quadrant Homes, Weyerhaeuser s Puget Sound real estate subsidiary. A former chief of staff for U.S. Senator Patty Murray from 1995 to 1999, Akiyama also served as Senator Murray s press secretary and later as senior staff coordinator for Rep. Frank Chopp when he was co-speaker of the Washington State House of Representatives. She held roles in public information for the Washington State House of Representatives and the Washington State Senate, served as the legislative liaison for the Washington State Department of Trade and Economic Development, and worked for a Seattle public affairs consulting firm. Akiyama is a member of the Community Development Roundtable, the Alki Foundation board and is a program mentor for Executive Development Institute. She earned a bachelor s degree in Telecommunications & Film from the University of Oregon. She is an alumnus of the Senior Managers in Government Program, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University; Alki Political Involvement Institute; and Leadership Tomorrow. Dr. Ken Casavant, Professor of Economic Sciences, Washington State University P.O. Box , Hulbert Hall 101, Pullman, WA 99164, (509) , casavantk@cahnrs.wsu.edu Ken Casavant is a Professor in the School of Economic Sciences and a nationally renowned transportation economist, after spending 42 years at Washington State University (WSU). He has received numerous teaching, research and service awards throughout his tenure at WSU, including recipient of the "Lifetime Achievement Award" from the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute 2006, the "Washington State University Sahlin Faculty Excellence Award" 2004 and being named Distinguished Scholar by the Western Agricultural Economics Association in Ken also serves as the Faculty Athletic Representative to the President for WSU. Mark Clemons, Director of Project Development, Group Mackenzie RiverEast Center, Suite 100, 1515 SE Water Avenue, Portland, OR 97214, (503) , MClemons@grpmack.com Mark has more than 25 years of experience in site selection and real estate development, economic and business development, urban renewal and community development, and public policy. He has worked extensively with the planning of sites with significant barriers to redevelopment. Mark has been an active participant in regional land use policy and brings significant regional industrial development planning and policy experience to his projects. Before joining Group Mackenzie, Mark was Director of Economic Development at the Portland Development Commission. While with the PDC, Mark worked with elected offi cials, community groups, and business organizations on economic development policies, business development programs, and community and regional economic development strategies. He led negotiations with numerous regional and national businesses regarding development investments. Robert Cox, General Manager, Pomeroy Grain Growers P.O. Box 220, Pomeroy, WA 99347, (509) , pomgrain@pomeroy-wa.com; Robert Cox grew up in a farming family in Garfield County and officially started his own farm in the fall of In 1998, after 18 years of successful farming, Robert went from 1800 acres of tillable farm ground to 600 acres. With more time available, he decided to look for additional opportunity and found that at Pomeroy Grain Growers (PGG). He began his career at PGG as an office manager, where he was able to buy and sell grain and build productive relationships with

2 Robert Cox (continued) farmers in the country and merchants in Portland. After seven years with PGG Robert became the General Manager, a role he continues to enjoy serving in. Robert is a graduate of Pomeroy High School and holds a degree in Ag Mechanics from Walla Walla Community College. He and his wife Resa live in Pomeroy, WA and have 6 sons. Robert continues to farm 600 acres of wheat, just to keep himself out of trouble. Matt Cutts, Critical Infrastructure Program Manager, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Portland District P.O. Box 2946, Portland, OR 97208, (503) , matthew.e.cutts@usace.army.mil Matt Cutts became the Critical Infrastructure Program Manager for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Portland District in 2010 and retired as a Captain in the U.S. Coast Guard that year. He graduated from the Coast Guard Academy in 1983, and served as Operations Officer in Coast Guard Cutter BLACKHAW in San Francisco, and Executive Officer in Coast Guard Cutter SEDGE in Homer, Alaska. He was an Investigating Officer and Port Operations Officer at Marine Safety Office Los Angeles/Long Beach, and later completed his Masters Degree in Civil Engineering at the University of Illinois. Mr. Cutts was stationed at Civil Engineering Unit Oakland, Civil Engineering Unit Cleveland, and Civil Engineering Unit Honolulu. He was the Facility Engineer at Integrated Support Command Honolulu before assuming command of Civil Engineering Unit Honolulu in In 2002 he was assigned as the Coast Guard District Planning Officer in New England, and was Commanding Officer, Integrated Support Command Honolulu from 2004 to Mr. Cutts served in a leadership role in the Coast Guard Pacific Area Command from 2007 to 2010, first as the Chief of Resources and Performance Management and then as Director of the Force Readiness Command Implementation Team. In March 2009, Captain Cutts completed his Masters Degree in Homeland Security at the Naval Postgraduate School Center for Homeland Defense and Security. Mr. Cutts is a Certified Facility Manager and a registered Professional Engineer in the State of Ohio. Rick Finn, Federal Affairs Manager, Port of Portland 7200 NE Airport Way, Portland, OR 97218, (503) , rick.finn@portofportland.com Rick Finn joined the Port of Portland in June 1999 as the Federal Affairs Manager. In that position, he advocates for the Port s federal interests within the U.S. Congress and Executive Branch. Before joining the Port of Portland, Rick served as the Senior Country Director for Korea in the Office of the Secretary of Defense in Washington, D.C. He provided analysis and recommendations on the wide range of security matters that concerns the United States on the Korean Peninsula. Beginning in 1981, Rick served on the professional staff of the Senate Armed Services Committee. During his 14 years on the Committee staff, Rick assisted three different Chairmen of the Committee Senators John Tower, Barry Goldwater, and Sam Nunn. His responsibilities included several international security issues. Rick also worked on the Committee s threeyear project ( ) to reorganize the Defense Department, which culminated in the Goldwater-Nichols Department of Defense Reorganization Act of Rick received his undergraduate education at the University of Georgia and then studied in the Master s program at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. Susan Gilson, Executive Director, National Association of Flood & Storm Water Management Agencies (NAFSMA) 1333 H Street, NW, West Tower 10 th Floor, Washington, DC 20005, (202) , sgilson@nafsma.org Susan Gilson has worked with the National Association of Flood and Stormwater Management Agencies since 1989 and has served as the organization s Executive Director since She has an extensive background in water resources policy issues and works closely with the congressional staff, and officials of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Federal Emergency Management Agency/Department of Homeland Security and others on legislative and regulatory issues. Prior to becoming NAFSMA s Executive Director on a full-time basis in January 2008, Susan was a managing associate in the Water Resources, Transportation and Environment Practice at Carmen Group, Inc. Prior to joining Carmen Group, she

3 Susan Gilson (continued) was an assistant city representative for the National Center for Municipal Development, where she analyzed federal legislation and regulations on behalf of local government clients. She also worked on a special project with the Roosevelt Center for American Policy Studies. Susan graduated cum laude in 1979 from Westminster College, with a degree in political science. Laura Hicks, Chief, Planning & Project Management Branch, USACE, Portland District P.O. Box 2946, Portland, OR 97208, (503) , laura.l.hicks@usace.army.mil Laura Hicks is the Chief of the Planning and Project Management Branch in the Portland District for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The planning component of her position entails leading a staff of planning managers and economists on a variety of projects including: Continuing Authorities Program, Planning Assistance to the States, General Investigations Program for single and multiple-purpose water, environmental and ecosystem restoration, and related land resource development projects, major rehabilitation and major maintenance, and Support for other programs. The project management component of Laura s position entails her leading a staff of project managers who execute the Portland District Columbia River Fish Mitigation Projects, Large Capital Projects, construction efforts for specifically authorized projects by Congress, and Non-routine Operation and Maintenance projects. During Laura s 25-year career with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, she has worked the majority of that time in Planning and Project Management. She has successfully brought two major navigation projects (Coos Bay Channel Deepening and the Columbia River Channel Improvement Project) through the study phase obtained Congressional authorization for construction and moved them through the construction phase. She has brought numerous Continuing Authorities Projects from the study phase through construction, including the Portland/Vancouver Anchorage, Section 107 project, Trestle Bay, and Fischer Butte Waterfowl Impoundments, Section 1135 projects, Winchester Bay Section 111 project, and jetty rehabilitations at Coos Bay, Yaquina Bay, and Tillamook Bay, as well as the Project Manager for the Mouth of the Columbia River Jetties Major Rehabilitation Study. Through Laura s leadership the Columbia River Channel Improvement prevailed in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Laura received her BS in Civil Engineering from the Ohio State University in Laura is a certified Project Manager Professional. Charles Hudson, Director of Government Affairs, Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (CRITFC) 729 N.E. Oregon Street, #200, Portland, OR 97232, (503) , hudc@critfc.org Charles Hudson is the Director of Government Affairs for the Portland, Oregon-based Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission. The Commission is the policy and technical coordinating agency for the Columbia River Treaty Tribes (Yakama, Umatilla, Nez Perce & Warm Springs). Charles, a member of the Mandan/Hidatsa tribe of Fort Berthold, North Dakota, has spoken throughout North America on treaty rights, salmon and environmental justice. His passion for tribal issues is derived from his family's multi-generational fight for treaty rights and justice on the Missouri River chronicled in the 2004 novel "Coyote Warrior" by Paul Vandevelder. Charles also serves on the Boards of Oregon Public Broadcasting and the Open Meadow alternative school. Charles is currently a American Leadership Forum of Oregon Fellow. Prior to his CRITFC service he spent several years working in media and American Indian education in the Pacific Northwest. He is a 1984 graduate of Washington State University. Charles has three sons, Charles III, Cray and Stone. Patsy Martin, Executive Director, Port of Skagit P.O. Box 348, 1180 Airport Drive, Burlington, WA 98233, (360) , patsy@portofskagit.com Patsy Martin is the executive director of the Port of Skagit (headquarters in Burlington, WA). In that capacity, she supervises a staff of 25 and directs the operation of Skagit Regional Airport, La Conner Marina and Bayview Business Park. A Skagit County native, Patsy graduated from Mount Vernon High School in 1979 and then earned a bachelor s degree in geology at Western Washington University. She received her master s degree in political science and environmental studies from WWU in 1993.

4 Patsy Martin (continued) Patsy began her port career in 1987 as property manager for the Port of Anacortes and eventually became environmental manager. She left the Port of Anacortes in 1994 and started working for the Port of Skagit the following year. Since then she has worked in a variety of capacities for the Port of Skagit and became executive director in Patsy states, It is both satisfying and challenging to serve the public, to help make the Skagit Valley the best it can be, to provide jobs, but also to protect the tremendous quality of life that we enjoy today. Tom McCollough, Vice President and Branch Manager, Moffatt & Nichol 600 University Street, Suite 610, Seattle, WA 98101, (206) , tmccollough@moffattnichol.com As a Vice President, Tom is the Branch Manager for Moffatt & Nichol s Seattle office. He has participated in the marine transportation and port development community for over 30 years. He has been a member of the Pacific Northwest Community since 1984, including a term on the Board of Directors circa Tom has managed the Seattle office for Moffatt & Nichol since 1999, where the skills of the engineer, the economist, the planner, and the scientist are applied to meet our clients needs where water meets the land. Tom s professional affiliations include: Pacific Northwest Waterways Association (PNWA) - Member Washington Public Ports Association (WPPA) - Member American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Ports and Harbors Committee (local and national) The World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure (PIANC) Member Tom has worked on projects across the U.S. and abroad, never further than ¼ mile from the water. Project assignments have included everything from economic and technical feasibility analyses and permitting through detailed construction plans and specifications and construction. Margie McGill, Project Manager, Planning Branch, USACE, Walla Walla District 201 N 3rd Avenue, Walla Walla, WA 99362, (509) , margaret.a.mcgill@usace.army.mil Margie McGill was selected in August 2005 to be a Project Manager in Planning for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Walla Walla District. Prior to this appointment, Mrs. McGill served as an Engineer for the USACE geotechnical branch which was preceded by being a Project Manager for an international consulting company based out of Seattle, Washington. Mrs. McGill joined the Corps of Engineers as an engineer in April She served as a design engineer in the Geotechnical Design Section of the Walla Walla District. As an engineer, Mrs. McGill worked closely with planning on general investigation studies, lower Snake River Comprehensive Planning projects and Continuing Authorities projects while working for Lower Monumental on investigating reliability issues with the navigation lock concrete. In early 2005, Mrs. McGill was given project management responsibilities on Lower Monumental projects that lead to her accepting a developmental assignment in Planning in late From here, Mrs. McGill worked on the Lower Monumental Navigation Lock Major Rehabilitation Project and other planning studies (Continuing Authorities Programs and Major Maintenance Reports). It was her work with the product delivery team that lead to approval of the major rehabilitation project in September of Currently, Mrs. McGill is the lead project manager for the Columbia River Treaty 2014/2024 Program and the lead planner/project manager for the Walla Walla River Basin General Investigation FR/EIS. Mrs. McGill has also been the ATR review lead for two ecosystem restoration GI feasibility reports for the Albuquerque District. Prior to working with the Corps of Engineering, Mrs. McGill served as a project manager for a major international consulting company. She worked in the telecommunication and information technology field where she became a certified java and HTML programmer. It was here that Mrs. McGill attuned her skills in project management and found her passion for the field.

5 Margie McGill (continued) Mrs. McGill earned a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering with a minor in environmental engineering from the University of Washington in Mrs. McGill currently is a level 1 certified project manager with the Corps of Engineers and has her Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. Larry Pedersen, Principal, IronWolf Community Resources LLC SW Tookbank Court, Portland, Oregon 97224, (503) , larry@ironwolfcr.com Mr. Pederson has over 25 years experience in national and international economic and business development. He has worked extensively in overseas market development and international investment attraction in Asia, Europe, and South America. Transportation, micro technology and alternative energy technology are three of his areas of specialization. He has held senior management positions in both the public and private sector. Before founding IronWolf Community Resources LLC, Pederson served as economic development director for the City of Hillsboro, Oregon (home of Intel s largest and most sophisticated site worldwide), and was involved in notable large lot recruitment projects like Genentech and SolarWorld. In addition, the Hillsboro Airport is one of the busiest general aviation airports in Oregon and many businesses (both related to aviation or independent from it) are located within the airport district. Pederson also served as manager of regional business development at the Portland Development Commission for six years, and as such worked extensively with regional partners like Clackamas County, Gresham, Tualatin, Beaverton and Hillsboro and business residents of those communities. He also was with the Port of Portland for several years as general manager of international business development, which included recruiting businesses to locate to the vicinity of Portland International Airport and the general aviation airports in Hillsboro, Troutdale and Mulino as well as in the Rivergate district near the ocean shipping terminals. Sara Simmons, Graduate Student & Research Assistant, Transportation Research Group, Washington State University P.O. Box , Hulbert Hall 101, Pullman, WA 99164, (509) , svsimmons@wsu.edu Sara Simmons received her Bachelor of Science in Economics from Central Washington University in She is currently working on an M.A. in Applied Microeconomics at WSU. Sara s interest in transportation was sparked by her parents work with the Corps of Engineers and the Federal Aviation Administration. Her research interests are Transportation Economics and Natural Resources. Kevin Watkins, Engineering Vice President, PNGC Power 711 NE Halsey, Portland, OR 97232, (503) , kwatkins@pngc.com Kevin Watkins is the Engineering Vice President for PNGC Power, a position he has held for 14 years. Mr. Watkins leads and manages the information technology (IT) activities of the company, including wide-area network planning and operations, development of specialized software applications to support power operations, disaster recovery planning and implementation. He also manages the operations and capacity expansion planning for the Coffin Butte Resource Project, a 5.7 MW landfillgas-to-energy generation facility. Kevin is responsible for directing technology demonstration activities and supporting the evaluation of emerging and conventional generation resources for inclusion in integrated resource planning. Mr. Watkins manages a 10 percent ownership interest in the Boardman Coal Plant and the associated capacity scheduling rights on the California-Oregon AC Intertie, a highvoltage transmission system interconnecting the Pacific Northwest and California. And, he directs the implementation of the company s Smart Grid Investment Grant that was awarded by the U.S. Department of Energy. Mr. Watkins has been appointed to and currently serves on the following regional committees involved with power system planning and regulatory activities including: Generating Resource Advisory Committee for the Northwest Power and Conservation Council Small-Scale Energy Loan Program Advisory Committee for the Oregon Department of Energy Financial Advisory Committee for the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality Utility Market Initiative for the Oregon Wave Energy Trust