Legislative and Regulatory Summit

Description

Our profession is greatly affected by government action, both in the legislative branch and by regulatory agencies. We have invited a strong group to address what they see coming in the future. We’ll learn about action on the federal level from ACEC’s Director of Government Affairs, and what to expect from regulatory agencies and crystal ball potential state/federal policies and regulations that may be coming in the future.

Opening remarks and Welcome - Randy Morris, ACEC/MN Lobbyist 
8:00 - 9:00 am - Steve Hall, Vice President, Government Affairs, ACEC National
9:15 - 10:15 am - John Stine, Commissioner, MPCA
10:30 - 11:30 am - Mark Fuhrmann, Program Director, Rail Projects, Metro Transit

Steve Hall
Steve will discuss ACEC's role in Washington, its legislative goals and issues facing the profession on the federal level. He will discuss how the newly passed tax bill will affect member firms as well as the new administration's policies and actions that are being proposed or have gone into effect.

Steve joined ACEC in 2001, and serves as Vice President of Government Affairs. He is a fourteen-year veteran on Capitol Hill, having worked as Chief of Staff and Legislative Director for Congresswoman Sue Kelly (R-NY), Senior Legislative Assistant for Congressman Bill Zeliff (R-NH), handled transportation and infrastructure issues and passage of ISTEA in 1991 for Congressman Matthew Rinaldo and began his career in 1987 in the office of Congressman John Hiler (R-IN).

John Stine
Commissioner Stine will provide an overview of recent regulatory initiatives at MPCA and a preview of the 2018 legislative session. He will also discuss how changing priorities at the federal level have sifted the regulatory landscape for state environmental agencies. 

John Linc Stine was appointed Commissioner of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) by Governor Mark Dayton effective May 14, 2012 after joining the Agency in March 2011 as Deputy Commissioner. Prior to joining the MPCA, John served six years at the Minnesota Department of Health where he was responsible for public health protection. John also worked for 25 years at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. John received a Bachelor of Science degree in soil and water resource management from the University of Minnesota.   He is married with two adult sons.

Mark Fuhrmann
Mark will be presenting on legislative and regulatory updates. He will also cover:

• Development along the light rail lines
• Long-term constructions plans (3-5 years)

Mark Fuhrmann has served as deputy general manager of Metro Transit in Minneapolis-St. Paul since 2004. In this capacity, Mark serves as program director for New Starts rail projects. Fuhrmann has been an executive leader for all five New Start rail projects over the last 16 years, including the successful on schedule, on budget start-ups of the Blue Line, Green Line and Northstar Commuter Rail. Currently there are two active LRT projects in Engineering. First is the $1.858 billion Green Line extension light rail project connecting four southwest suburbs to downtown Minneapolis, the University and St. Paul. Second is the $1.536 billion Blue Line extension connecting four northwest Minneapolis suburbs with downtown, MSP airport and the Mall of America. Fuhrmann has more than 25 years of public transit management experience. Prior to joining Metro Transit, he worked in the Washington D.C. area on the Metrorail system.