Yolanda is the former Chief of Brownfields and Land Revitalization USEPA Region 5 and worked with diverse communities on every aspect of the brownfield redevelopment process. Her company, Revitalized Communities, focuses on engaging the community and working in historic main street districts. Yolanda teaches at UIC’s School of Public Health & has a BA in Journalism, an MBA in Program Management, and post graduate certifications in Historic Preservation and Interior Design. She is also a partner with KSU’s EPA funded TAB (Technical Assistance to Brownfields) program.

Matt is the Remediation Team Leader in BBJ’s Chicago office and has over 20 years of environmental consulting experience in the Chicago metropolitan area. His skills include regulatory strategy development, project management, technical and quality review, project scope definition, and translating technical concepts to communicate with a variety of stakeholders and audiences. He is experienced at building and leveraging multi-disciplinary teams to achieve project and client goals.

A five-time Phoenix award winner, Ignacio leads elements of the Center for Creative Land Recycling (CCLR) technical assistance program for brownfields reuse and restoration. Ignacio spent 20 years with the City of Emeryville (California) Redevelopment Agency, leading the city’s Brownfield Program. He has over 30 years of experience in public sector development including: affordable housing, infrastructure, climate change, stakeholder participation, public financing, project development planning and outreach. With CCLR, he has assisted cities, tribes and states obtain more than $150 million in state and Federal grants over the past 10 years. He also teaches sustainability, livability and resilience at Golden Gate University, and is a member of the California Association for Local Economic Development (CALED).

Patricia Gage has been in commercial real estate for more than 30 yrs, working as a developer, lender, and contractor on major new urbanist redevelopment, public/private partnerships, and senior debt on all property types. This work has included development, capital procurement, banking and investor relationships, global capital planning, loan origination, loan portfolio, project and asset management. Ms. Gage earned an MBA from Univ of Denver & undergrad degrees from Black Hills State University in S Dakota. She is Vice Chair on the Board of Commissioners, Denver Urban Renewal Authority, on the Colorado Charter Facilities Solutions Board, is a member and former Chair of the ULI Public-Private Partnership Council, & is on the Metropolitan State University of Denver Foundation Bd.

With over 15 years of planning experience, Joelle is an accomplished rural, urban, and regional planner with exceptional experience in managing complex brownfields redevelopment projects. She has successfully secured over $2 million in grants and developed comprehensive Brownfields Programs bringing about meaningful “shifts” to stimulate economic development. Her projects have earned local, regional, and national recognition including a Phoenix Award. As the former Community Development & Long-Range Planning Manager for Adams County, Colorado, she spearheaded its first Brownfields Program, created its 2018 Balanced Housing Plan and oversaw numerous community development programs including the creation of over 400 affordable housing units. A published author and speaker, Joelle has been a strong advocate and supporter of brownfields programs and their ability to bring lasting changes and socioeconomic benefits to communities. Joelle holds a BS in Biology from The University of Richmond and a MURP from the University of Colorado.

Sheryl Gonzales has over 35 years of experience working with communities throughout California and Northern Nevada supporting community & economic development. Before joining CCLR, Sheryl was the Exec Dir for Western Nevada Development District (WNDD) where she created and managed the brownfields program and provided economic development support to a seven county and seven city region of Northwest Nevada. She has extensive experience in community outreach and marketing, training, and grant management. Sheryl has launched several new initiatives for local and statewide audiences including the development of the Nevada Economic Development Conference as well as most recently creating a comprehensive economic recovery and resilience plan in response to the pandemic, involving over 150 unique agencies from the private, nonprofit and government sectors.

Campbell Environmental Group has over 20 years of experience working in the environmental consulting industry in New England and works in many smaller & tribal communities. Rich holds Masters (Univ. Idaho) & Bachelors (SUNY at Stony Brook) Geology degrees and professional experience in the fields of applied geology, hydrogeology, and computer applications. He has worked on projects that include environmental assessments, hydrogeologic investigations of hazardous waste and coal tar sites, and site remediations.