2026 Annual Conference | Tentative Program 

 

We're thrilled to announce the selected sessions below for this year's Conference.

We are actively updating this page, so please check back in as we build out the program and agenda.

Networking Reception to take place Thursday evening.

~12 CEC Hours Available

View the PDF Program here.

Thursday, April 23

7:30-8:30am | Registration Opens & Light Breakfast  

8:30-8:45am | Welcome & Opening Remarks 

8:45-9:45am | Opening Keynote Session 

• Presentation from Secretary Bulova, Virginia Department of Natural and Historic Resources

9:50-10:45 | Concurrent Sessions 

Re-introducing the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Division of Floodplain Management

Angela Davis, CFM

No Adverse Impact: Making Virginia More Resilient Through NAI

Thomas Ruppert, Esq.

A Complex Resilience Solution in the Heart of Virginia Beach

Cameron Lancaster, PE, CFM

Yinghan Hua

10:35-11:05am | Networking Break 

11:05-11:50am | Concurrent Sessions

From One-Dimensional Assumptions to Urban Realities: Modernizing Floodway Analysis

Brett Laplante, CFM, PE

Virginia Flood Policy After the 2025–2026 General Assembly: Implications for Floodplain Managers

Ian T Blair

11:50am-1:30pm | Lunch & Plenary Session 

• More information coming soon!

1:30-2:15pm | Concurrent Sessions 

The Deluge of Data: Leveraging AI and Machine Learning for Proactive Floodplain Management

Denise Nelson, P.E., CFM, ENV SP, LEED AP; Jose Pillich

Flood Risk Mitigation and Resilience Planning in a Small City - Case Study on the City of Covington

Sherwin Zahirieh, PE, CFM, ENV SP

The Role of Marsh Vulnerability Assessments in Flood Resilience Planning

Daniel Proctor, PE

Pamela Mason

2:20-3:05pm | Concurrent Sessions 

From Planning to Action: Galax’s Innovative Path to Flood Resilience

Christina Hurley, AICP

Gavin Blevins, AICP, CFM, CZA

Doug Williams, AIA

Transforming Baltimore’s Middle Branch - Enhancing Shoreline Resilience Through Restoration

Justin Park, PLA, ASLA, WEDG

3:05-3:20pm | Networking Break  

3:20-4:05pm | Concurrent Sessions 

DCR’s Flood Resilience Resources for Floodplain Managers

Matt Dalon, PE, CFM

Outfall Canal Road Bridge Replacement

Jamie Monohan, PE, CFM

4:10- 4:55pm | Concurrent Sessions 

Developing NCDOT RAFT: Resilience Analysis Framework for Transportation

Thomas Williams, PE

From Exercise to Action: Enhancing Dam Safety and Flood Emergency Response in Henrico County

Kristin Owen, AICP, CFM

Debris in the Waterway - Yikes! Lessons learned from Helene

Robert Coates

Friday, April 24

7:30 -8:30am | Registration & Light Breakfast 

8:30-9:15am | Concurrent Sessions 

The Power of Openness: Improving Flood Hazard Management with Open Source, Standards, Data, and Science

Seth Lawler, PhD

A Flood Reduction Strategy that also Helps Attain Bay TMDL Reductions: Continuous Monitoring and Adaptive Control (CMAC) in Staunton, VA

Jason Murnock, CPESC, CPSWQ

Emma Blythe, EI

Building a Coastal Resilience Framework for Strategic Land Acquisition and Wetlands Migration

Genevieve Guerry

9:20-10:05am | Concurrent Sessions 

Crowd-Sourced Flood Data from Navigational Mobile Apps

Kristine Mosuela

FloodMapp and RISE Resilience Innovations Deploy an Operational, Impact-based Forecast and Early Warning System Across Virginia’s Blue Ridge Region

Michael Williams

Before the Storm: Building a Pre‑Disaster Voluntary Acquisition Program in Henrico County

Ross Weaver, AICP, CFM

Jen Pepson Elwood, ENV SP

10:05-10:35am | Networking Break 

10:35-11:20am | Concurrent Sessions

Planning for Climate Change: Approach to Estimating and Adapting Flooding Exposure for HRSD Facilities

Robert J. Martz, P.E.

11:20-1:45pm | Lunch, Plenary, & Panel 

• Film Screening of: "Built to Last: Buyer Beware" 

Watch the trailer here!

• Post Film Panel Discussion with:

Chad Berginnis

Executive Driector, ASFPM

Rob Young

Director, Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines, Western Carolina University

Moderating:

Thomas Ruppert, Esq.

Assistant Provost for Coastal Resilience & Director, Virginia Coastal Resilience Collaborative

1:50-2:35pm | Concurrent Sessions

Using of Advanced Local Modeling to Improve Stormwater and Floodplain Management and Regulatory Compliance

Benjamin McFarlane, AICP, CFM

Christopher Williams, CFM

Kristin Owen, AICP, CFM

Inside the Audit and Beyond: Essex County's NFIP Compliance and CFPF Funding

Anna Cherry, CFM; Savannah Newbern, CFM

Estimating the Number of People and Housing Units in High Flood Risk Areas in Virginia

Adam Gold, PhD

2:40-3:25pm | Concurrent Sessions

From Paper to Practice: How Henrico County Built a Floodplain Program That Works

Celinda Adair, CFM

Daven Patel, PE

Floodplain Monitoring and Resilience Strategies Using Real-Time Environmental Intelligence

Ted O'Connell

Approaches for Future Riverine Flood Risk Planning – Examples from New York

Stu Geiger, CFM