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2025 Annual Environmental Conference

October 28, 2025 | 8:00 AM TO 3:30 PM

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Agenda

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Description

EVENT DESCRIPTION

Join us for the PA Chamber’s Annual Energy and Environmental Conference, an event bringing together industry leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders to provide critical updates on environmental policy in the Commonwealth. This always popular, highly anticipated day of information-sharing will also explore insights and aspirations for the future of energy and infrastructure investment in Pennsylvania, as well as what that future holds for the state’s emerging policy landscape.

This event provides a unique forum for collaboration, professional development, and networking among business leaders who are navigating innovation trends and changes to Pennsylvania’s regulatory landscape.

AGENDA

Click here to view agenda.

Sponsorship

Click here for information and pricing regarding valuable sponsorship opportunities that are available for the 2025 Energy and Environmental Conference. To learn more, contact Oona Burke Johnson at objohnson@pachamber.org.

Time & Place

Tuesday, October 28, 2025
8:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Sheraton Harrisburg Hershey
4650 Lindle Road
Harrisburg, PA 17111

Price

Investor Member: $199
Advocacy Member: $298
Non-Member: $398

Price varies by membership level.

REGISTRATION

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CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS

CERTIFICATION GROUPTYPE OF CREDITSNO. OF Credits
Continuing Legal Education BoardCLEs4
American Board of Industrial HygieneIndustrial Hygiene CM Points0.75
Board of Certified Safety ProfessionalsContinuance of Certification Point0.5
PA Registration Board of Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors and GeologistsProfessional Development Hours (PDH)4

Featured Speakers

Stephen M. DeFrank was nominated to serve as Commissioner by Governor Tom Wolf on September 20, 2022, and confirmed by the Pennsylvania Senate on October 19, 2022.  Once on the Commission, he was elected as Vice Chairman on October 27, 2022, and appointed as Chairman on August 30, 2023, by Governor Josh Shapiro. He was renominated by Governor Shapiro on March 24, 2025, and confirmed unanimously by the Senate on June 4, 2025. His term expires on April 1, 2030.

Some of Chairman DeFrank’s board and committee memberships include: Chairman, National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners’ (NARUC) Committee on Gas; NARUC Board of Directors; Mid-Atlantic Conference of Regulatory Utilities Commissioners (MACRUC) Board of Directors; Organization of PJM States, Inc (OPSI) Board of Directors; Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority; Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) Federal-State Joint Board on Jurisdictional Separations; New Mexico State University Center for Public Utilities (CPU) Board of Directors; Gas Technology Institute Public Interest Advisory Committee (GTI PIAC); NARUC Advanced Nuclear State Collaborative; and NARUC Electric Vehicles State Working Group.

Chairman DeFrank earned his bachelor’s degree in public policy from California University of Pennsylvania.  He resides in the Harrisburg area with his wife Colleen and their two daughters Brynn and Paige.

Amy Van Blarcom-Lackey serves as EPA’s Region 3 Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator, tasked with overseeing the implementation of federal environmental laws in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington D.C., and West Virginia. She is the first woman appointed to lead the EPA Mid- Atlantic Region in the agency’s history.

Amy’s commitment to sustainability began over 30 years ago when she founded a county-wide environmental group focused on watershed management and agricultural best practices. She also served as the first Agricultural Ombudsman in the state of Pennsylvania, where she was as a crucial link to agriculture communities, addressing conflicts related to agriculture, land use, and environmental planning.

Amy brings more than a decade of experience as a lobbyist for both state and federal agricultural interests and over 20 years of experience in finance and business management. A lifelong conservationist, Van Blarcom-Lackey was raised in rural Pennsylvania and the Chesapeake Bay Watershed on her family’s dairy farm. Her successful tenure managing her own family enterprises, along with her work in the financial industry, equipped her with a keen understanding of the intersection between business, environmental, and community needs. Amy has a Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University and a Master’s in Governmental Affairs from the University of Pennsylvania and resides in Philadelphia with her family.

Stephen Bennett is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in regulatory and legislative affairs within the energy sector. Currently serving as a Senior Manager at PJM Interconnection since July 2017, Stephen previously held roles such as Managing Director at Energy Advocacy, LLC and Senior Manager in Markets and Regulatory Policy at PPL Energy Supply/Talen Energy. Throughout a career that includes significant positions at Exelon and consultancy work at The Structure Group and Accenture, Stephen has demonstrated expertise in government relations, policy advocacy, and project management. Stephen earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering with an Environmental Concentration from the University of Maryland.

Andrew Bockis helps clients obtain and defend environmental permits for their projects.

Industrial projects are subject to ever-changing rules and increased agency review time. Whether related to industrial warehouses or oil and gas facilities or renewable energy projects, many business leaders are frustrated with the uncertainty created by complex environmental regulation. The situation is magnified when there is public opposition to a project.

Based on his prior experience as counsel to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and Pennsylvania Environmental Hearing Board, Andy helps clients in a variety of industries minimize project delays and secure the permits they need. When projects are challenged, Andy helps companies defend their permits in court.

Andy also helps clients navigate their interactions with regulatory agencies.

This often includes creating customized plans to address agency requests for information or strategies to address project opposition. This helps clients minimize extra costs and avoid drawn out permit review times so that they can commence construction and operate with confidence.

Clayton Bubeck is the President and CEO of RETTEW, a multidiscipline engineering firm with ten offices across the United States. He joined the firm in 2000 and has a diverse background in environmental engineering, oil and gas, and renewable energy services. Mr. Bubeck works closely with RETTEW’s chief operations officer and regional vice presidents and managers to lead the company’s growth and profitability and has been instrumental in growing RETTEW to a staff of more than 300 employees. He guides RETTEW’s strategic business development efforts in the energy, transportation, industrial, and development markets. Previously, as a senior vice president, Mr. Bubeck helped evolve RETTEW from a mid-Atlantic-based firm to one developing and delivering service offerings throughout the United States.

Mr. Bubeck has served on RETTEW’s Board of Directors for more than ten years, and as a licensed Professional Engineer in more than 30 states, he has developed an in-depth understanding of our business and the architecture, engineering, and construction industries. He is a recent graduate of the American Council of Engineering Companies’ Senior Executive Institute and received a certificate from the Wharton School of Executive Education, having completed coursework geared toward emerging leaders in organizations like RETTEW.

Bruce Brubaker serves as Manager Engineering – Project Delivery at Pennsylvania American Water, a subsidiary of American Water, the largest investor-owned water utility in Pennsylvania. In this role, Bruce leads a project delivery team responsible for executing water and wastewater infrastructure projects across Central Pennsylvania, supporting the company’s mission to provide safe, clean, and reliable service.

Bruce has served with Pennsylvania American Water for more than 11 years, bringing a strong foundation in engineering and project management. He also worked in consulting as a Project Manager, gaining valuable experience in infrastructure design and execution. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Geneva College and a Master’s degree in Environmental Engineering from The Pennsylvania State University. He is also a Licensed Professional Engineer in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Bruce resides in Dillsburg, PA with his wife and three children.

William desRosiers serves as the Manager of External Affairs for Coterra Energy, where he leads public relations, government affairs, and community engagement efforts across Pennsylvania, New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma. He also oversees Coterra’s philanthropic endeavors, with a particular focus on expanding investments in STEM and energy education, as well as managing the company’s endowment at Lackawanna College’s School of Petroleum & Natural Gas.

Having initially joined Coterra’s precursor, Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation, in 2012, William brings a wealth of experience to his current role. Prior to his tenure at Coterra, he played a pivotal role at FTI Consulting, advocating for natural gas development in the Marcellus Shale region of New York and Pennsylvania, effectively engaging and educating stakeholders.

William holds a Bachelor of Science in Management, a Bachelor of Arts in History with a pre-law specialization, and an MBA from Misericordia University. Currently, he is pursuing a Master of Science in Business Analytics, complemented by additional graduate coursework in corporate finance.

Steven Kratz serves as the president of the Pennsylvania Chemical Industry Council (PCIC), the statewide business organization representing the commonwealth’s chemical, plastics and related industries. Collaborating with PCIC’s board of directors and staff, Kratz oversees operations, advocacy and initiatives of the council. 

Kratz brings nearly 20 years of political, advocacy and economic development marketing experience to the council, with an extensive background in advancing projects, policies and initiatives, and leading diverse coalitions. 

As PCIC president, Kratz works to foster an economic and regulatory environment that encourages investment and growth in technology and innovation, and advances the chemicals and related industries as a whole. 

In addition to his role with PCIC, Kratz is a senior director and heads up the Advocacy Practice for Bravo Group, a Harrisburg-based national public affairs and communications firm. He served as the director of communications and press secretary for the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development and led or supported several political campaigns in southeast Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley. He is a graduate of Lebanon Valley College.  

Jeremy Kriger is an environmental compliance specialist with over 20 years of experience, including 13 years as a consultant and 7 years as an EHS professional. He is currently a Senior Specialist with Merck’s Global Safety & Environment team at their West Point facility serving as the site’s subject matter expert for several environmental programs including Safe Drinking Water, stormwater, wastewater, groundwater remediation, storage tanks, and spill prevention/response. He has been a member of the PA Chamber’s environmental committee for 10 years, served as Water Issues Co-Chair for the past 3 years, and presented on environmental compliance topics at three previous Annual Energy and Environmental Conferences. 

Justin Ladner is president of Pennsylvania American Water, the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water and wastewater services to approximately 2.4 million people. In this role, he reinforces and strengthens customer, regulatory, and local government relationships; drives the company’s operational and financial results; and leads the company in providing safe, clean, affordable, and reliable water services to help keep customers’ lives flowing.

Prior to this role, Ladner served as president of Illinois American Water from 2020 to 2022, where he led the company’s Illinois subsidiary serving approximately 1.3 million people. Ladner joined American Water in 2018 as director of National Regulatory Affairs. In this national role, he was responsible for developing and implementing strategies, practices, and processes related to national regulatory affairs and positioning the company as an industry leader with utility commissioners across the nation.

Before joining American Water, Ladner served in multiple roles at Southern Co., including attorney for Southern Nuclear and governmental affairs and policy manager, project manager for the Integration Management Office, and assistant to the executive vice president of Nuclear Development at Southern Power. Prior to joining Southern Co., Ladner was an associate attorney for Huie, Fernambucq & Stewart in Birmingham, Alabama. He also worked for U.S. Steel as a metallurgical engineer.

Ladner currently serves on the boards of directors for the American Water Charitable Foundation and Pittsburgh Works. He is also the current board vice chair for the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry. He has been recognized as one of Pennsylvania Business Central’s Top 100 People and named to the Pittsburgh Power 100 by City & State Magazine and is a member of the 2024 Class of Henry Crown Fellows within the Aspen Global Leadership Network at the Aspen Institute.

Ladner received his law degree, cum laude, from the University of Alabama School of Law, as well as a master’s and a bachelor’s degree in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering with honors from the University of Alabama. He is married and has two daughters.

Jenny Netherton is an officer on Pew’s energy modernization project, leading state campaigns to advance solutions for transmission infrastructure in the United States.

Before joining Pew, Netherton was the Louisiana senior program manager at Southeastern Wind Coalition. She focused on facilitating offshore and land-based wind energy development and related transmission. As an attorney, Netherton worked on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances contamination and coastal restoration issues.

Netherton holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Centenary College of Louisiana and a Juris Doctor from Tulane University School of Law with a certificate in environmental law. 

David Raphael is a partner in the firm’s Environmental, Land, and Natural Resources practice. Prior to joining K&L Gates, David served as Chief Counsel of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) where he provided legal counsel to the Secretary and executive staff of the DEP. In this role, he oversaw a statewide team who represented the department on a variety of environmental compliance, litigation and transactional matters. His experience as an environmental practitioner–spanning more than 25 years in both the public and private sectors—has made him a trusted advisor on some of the largest and most complex energy and petrochemical projects in Pennsylvania.

While in government service, David provided legal advice to the Governor of Pennsylvania and Secretary of PADEP regarding environmental permitting matters related to the siting and construction of an ethylene cracker plant in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. The US$14 billion-dollar project is one of the largest construction projects completed in Pennsylvania since World War II. Since returning to private practice, David has provided legal counsel on environmental permitting matters for the expansion of the natural gas liquids facility, Marcus Hook Terminal (formerly the Marcus Hook Industrial Complex), where he advised on Title V air permitting, air modeling, and NPDES permitting. The Marcus Hook Terminal includes processing units, 3 million barrels of NGL storage, and four export docks with a capacity of 400,000 barrels per day.

Most recently, David has been retained to provide environmental permitting counsel for the Homer City Redevelopment Project—the largest natural gas–fired data center campus in the United States. This project will entail the construction of a 4.4 gigawatt natural gas-fired facility for a 3,200 acre AI and high-performance computing data center campus.

David represents clients in environmental litigation matters before the Environmental Hearing Board, various state and federal courts, and administrative boards. He also provides environmental counsel on complex transactions and a wide range of environmental compliance issues, including the implementation of environmental compliance and audit policies.

Gary Steinbauer is a shareholder in the Environmental Group of Babst Calland. Mr. Steinbauer advises clients on a wide variety of matters arising under major federal and state environmental regulatory programs. He provides strategic advice on permitting matters, day-to-day compliance needs, government investigations, and enforcement actions. Mr. Steinbauer regularly works with companies in the chemical, mining, metals, oil and gas, petroleum refining, power generation and distribution, and other industrial sectors.

Mr. Steinbauer devotes a significant portion of his practice to advising clients on issues arising under the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and related state programs regulating air emissions and wastewater discharges. He handles air and water permitting matters and appeals and helps clients facing federal and state enforcement actions.

Prior to joining Babst Calland, Mr. Steinbauer served as an attorney in Region 5 of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. While at the U.S. EPA, he handled civil enforcement matters brought under major federal environmental laws, including the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act, Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, and Toxic Substances and Control Act. Mr. Steinbauer also advised EPA on permitting matters arising under the Clean Water Act’s NPDES program and the Clean Air Act’s Title V program.

Mr. Steinbauer began his legal career practicing commercial litigation at an international law firm and as a judicial law clerk in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.

 Mr. Steinbauer earned his law degree, magna cum laude, from the University of Toledo College of Law in 2006, where he was elected to the Order of Coif and served as the managing editor of the University of Toledo Law Review. He graduated from the Ohio University with a B.S. in Environmental Biology in 2002.

 Mr. Steinbauer is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania, Illinois and Michigan, as well as before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. He is actively involved in leadership roles within the American Bar Association’s Section of Environment, Energy and Resources and the Allegheny County Bar Association’s Environment and Energy Law Section.

With more than 20 years of experience working on regulatory and other matters related to air quality, Kate Vaccaro now co-leads the firm’s air practice group.  She works with a range of clients, from petroleum refineries, power plants, and chemical and other product manufacturers, to commercial and development entities.  She is able to draw on her background in applied science, including hands-on experience in the chemical manufacturing and pharmaceutical sectors, to deliver legal advice that reflects an understanding of her clients’ technical operations.  Kate has extensive experience in counseling clients on compliance issues under federal and state air pollution control regulations, including virtually all aspects of the Title V permitting program.  In recent years, she has spent considerable time negotiating agency enforcement actions alleging violations of regulatory requirements, including on behalf of several complex industrial facilities.  Kate has also handled litigation matters, with a particular focus on defending environmental permits against third-party appeals and other administrative challenges.

Kate shares the firm’s commitment to community involvement.  She is an active member of the Environmental and Energy Policy Council of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry.  She also serves on the Tredyffrin Township Planning Commission.  Kate has served for nearly a decade as a member of the Board of Directors of the Brandywine Valley SPCA.  She was previously elected to the Board of Directors of the Women’s Energy Network Greater Philadelphia Chapter.  She also previously served on the Upper Merion Township Environmental Advisory Council, including as Chair, for several years, and the Board of Directors of Delaware Valley Earth Force. 

Kate has spent her entire legal career at the firm, beginning as a summer associate, and then working part-time while finishing law school.  Now she works closely with more junior attorneys at the firm as a partner mentor and served as the firm’s associate workload partner for five years.  In 2014, Kate graduated from LEADERSHIP Philadelphia’s Core Program.  In law school, she was a member of the Temple Law Review, and in college at Drexel, Kate was selected for the Honors Program, eventually earning the highest grade point average among all biology majors in her graduating class.  Outside of work, Kate and her husband have a young daughter and two adopted golden retrievers and enjoy spending time outside, especially kayaking and swimming at their favorite lake.

Senator Gene Yaw was elected to represent the 23rd Senatorial District in Bradford, Lycoming, Sullivan, Tioga, and Union Counties in November 2008.

Prior to running for the Senate, Yaw served as Lycoming County solicitor for 17 years and was named County Solicitor of the Year in 2004. He has also served as general counsel to the Pennsylvania College of Technology for more than 20 years. In 2013, he was elected Chairman of the Pennsylvania College of Technology Board of Directors. 

Senator Yaw serves as Chairman of the Environmental Resources and Energy Committee. He is also Vice Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and a member of the Agriculture & Rural Affairs, Banking & Insurance, Community, Economic & Recreational Development, Rules & Executive Nominations, and the Majority Policy Committees.

Senator Yaw serves on a number of Boards and Commissions including as Chairman of the Center for Rural Pennsylvania, a member of the Chesapeake Bay Commission, a member of the Environmental Quality Board, a member of the Pennsylvania Aggregate Advisory Board, and a member of the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority.

Senator Yaw is a member of the Lycoming Law Association and Pennsylvania Bar Association, Pennsylvania Association for Justice, and a former member of the Board of Directors of Susquehanna Legal Services. He serves as “Of Counsel” with the McCormick Law Firm in Williamsport, a prominent firm which has been in continuous existence for 150 years.

A U.S. Army veteran, Yaw enlisted and went on to graduate from the United States Artillery and Missile Officer Candidate School in Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He served an overseas tour of duty as an artillery officer and was honorably discharged as a 1st Lieutenant.

He graduated from Montoursville High School, attended Bucknell University, and earned degrees from Lycoming College and the American University School of Law in Washington, D.C.

Senator Yaw has coached Little League Baseball and coached and refereed for the American Youth Soccer Organization. He is a member of the National Rifle Association, Ducks Unlimited, the Nittany Lion Club, the Williamsport-Lycoming Chamber of Commerce and the Central PA Chamber of Commerce. He received the 2010 Distinguished Citizen of the Year Award from the Susquehanna Council, Boy Scouts of America, the 2011 Lycoming College Alumni of the Year Award, the 2011 CAPPA Community Partner Award, the Central Pennsylvania State of Israel Bonds 2012 Israel Unity Award, the 2013 Pennsylvania Winery Association Industry Supporter Award, the 2014 Pennsylvania College of Technology Centennial Leadership Award, the 2015 Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health Legislator of the Year Award,  the 2019 Pennsylvania Water Environment Association Public Official of the Year Award and the 2021 Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts Legislator Leadership Award.

More recently, Senator Yaw received the 2023 WVIA Good Neighbor Award, the 2023 Marcellus Shale Coalition Shale Gas Advocate Award and was selected as the 2023 Clean Water Champion by the Choose Clean Water Coalition. Additionally, he received the 2025 Karl Brown Award for Ag Conservation Leadership and the 2025 W. Howard Hartman Little League Friendship Award. 

Yaw has also been recognized by the National Federation of Independent Business as a Guardian of Small Business for several legislative sessions and by Americans for Prosperity – Pennsylvania for his consistent conservative legislative voting record. In May 2023, Sen. Yaw was named to the City and State Pennsylvania 2023 Energy and Environment Power 100 list.

A Loyalsock Township resident, Yaw is married to Ann S. Pepperman, Esquire. Together they have two children, Scott and Mackenzie, and four grandchildren.

Ramez Ziadeh started his career with DEP in January of 1994 in the Southwest Regional Office as a Civil Engineer in the Soils and Waterways Section of the Water Management Program.  Since then, he served as the Permitting and Technical Services Chief in the Watershed Management Program in the Southcentral Region, Chief of the Project Inspection Division in the Bureau of Waterways Engineering and Wetlands, Director of the Bureau of Waterways Engineering and Wetlands, Executive Deputy Secretary of Programs and Acting Secretary during the last 7 months of Governor Wolf’s term.  Ramez is a licensed professional engineer in the States of Pennsylvania and California.  He received his B.S. degree in civil engineering from the University of Pittsburgh in 1993.

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