2026 ACEC Virginia Summer Conference & Annual Meeting Sessions

Thursday June 11th, 9:30-10:30am

Speakers

• Lee Ann Wheeler - Vice President Client Executive
  Lee Ann Wheeler is Vice President of ACEC client relations with Greyling Insurance Brokerage., a Division of EPIC. Lee Ann specializes in the placement of Business Insurance Lines and Professional Liability to Engineering companies across the country including firms that are members of the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC). She possesses over 25 years' experience in the insurance industry specializing in professional liability. Lee Ann grew up in rural South Dakota and is a graduate of South Dakota State University.

Thursday June 11th, 11:00am-12:00pm

Speakers

• Justin Deel - Regional Dam Safety Engineer, Virginia Department of Conservation & Recreation
  Justin Deel has served as a Regional Dam Safety Engineer with the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) for the past six years. Prior to joining DCR, he spent a decade building professional experience across both the public and private sectors, with work spanning dam safety, geotechnical engineering, land development, and construction. Justin holds a Master of Science in Civil Engineering, with a geotechnical engineering focus, from Virginia Tech.

Thursday June 11th, 11:00am-12:00pm

Speakers

• Mike McLaughlin - Chief Operating Officer, Virginia Passenger Rail Authority
  "Michael McLaughlin joined the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA) as its Chief Operating Officer (COO) in April of 2021. At VPRA Michael oversees Planning, Programming, and Design & Construction of over $4.5 billion in rail projects. These projects will implement the agreements with CSX, Amtrak, Norfolk Southern, and VRE that will lead to the doubling of State-Supported Amtrak service and increase VRE service, including new late night and weekend service. Virginia is also acquiring over 400 miles of right of way and over 250 miles of track and is constructing over 37 miles of track and bridges in the next decade, including the $2.7 Billion Long Bridge project over the Potomac River. Previously Michael was the Chief of Rail at DRPT where he oversaw statewide rail planning and passenger and freight programs, and played playing a lead role in the CSX and NS negotiations before moving over to VPRA to continue his work. Prior to joining DRPT, Michael was the Deputy Chief of Staff at the Chicago Transit Authority, overseeing Planning, Infrastructure, Finance, and Government Relations for the nation’s second largest transit agency. Michael also worked on Capitol Hill for over 12 years as a senior transportation aide to Authorizing and Appropriations committee members in both the House and Senate. Currently, Michael resides in Fredericksburg, Virginia with his wife Sarah and their six children. He holds his undergraduate degree from the University of Iowa and his Master’s Degree in Public Policy from Indiana University."
• Dallas Richards - Deputy CEO & Chief Engineer, Virginia Railway Express

Thursday June 11th, 11:00am-12:00pm

Speakers

• Mike Coppa - Director, Division of Engineering & Buildings / Department of General Services
  Mike Coppa has been the Director of the Division of Engineering and Buildings (DEB) for the Department of General Services since 2005, where he also serves as the Commonwealth’s State Building Official. With over 40 years of architectural and construction experience, he oversees statewide capital outlay management, building code compliance, and serves as managing editor of Virginia’s Construction and Professional Services Manual. His earlier roles at DEB include leading the Architectural and Civil/Structural Engineering Review Group as an Architectural Supervisor and serving as a State Review Architect. Before joining state service, Mike spent a decade in private practice as a project architect, project manager, and construction contract administrator. Mike is a Licensed Professional Architect in Virginia and holds certifications as an ICC Certified Building Official and Virginia Construction Contracting Officer. He earned a Master of Architecture from Virginia Tech and a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Virginia.

Thursday June 11th, 1:30pm-2:30pm

Speakers

• Jamie Lynn Robb - Water Operations Director , Virginia Department of Environmental Equality
• Erica Duncan - Manager, Office of VPDES Permits and Compliance, Virginia Department of Environmental Equality

Thursday June 11th, 1:30pm-2:30pm

Speakers

• Terry Short - Division Director / Local Assistance Division, VDOT

Thursday June 11th, 1:30pm-2:30pm

Speakers

• Bradley Saull - Vice President, Federal & International Programs, ACEC
  "Bradley leverages his more than twenty years of experience in the public and private sectors to demonstrate the value of government contractors with government stakeholders. He leads the Council’s advocacy and federal agency activities relating to the federal marketplace, including federal contracting policy and market opportunities. Additionally, he promotes U.S. engineering industry policies, priorities, and market opportunities in the international sector, working with Congress and international agencies as well as educating ACEC member firms about global affairs impacting U.S. engineering interests. Bradley was the Vice President for Civilian Agencies at the Professional Services Council (PSC), an association of over 400 government contractors representing the diverse technology and professional services industry. He led the association’s policy and programming for federal civilian departments with a particular focus on the Departments of Homeland Security, Veterans Affairs, Health and Human Services, as well as Energy and Natural Resources. He has led and coordinated numerous federal acquisition training programs in a “Reverse Industry Day” format where industry shares acquisition lifecycle perspectives on topics such as the company bid/no bid decision, performance incentives, how industry interprets solicitation requirements, innovation and contract administration post award. In recent years, Bradley gained additional experience working across a broad portfolio of civilian agencies providing strategic business consulting to companies seeking to grow in the federal market. In the federal government, Bradley advised the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security on matters related to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) management lines of business. He also previously served as Deputy White House Liaison at DHS, where he recruited candidates for political appointment, worked within the interagency to communicate policy issues, strategic messages, grant announcements, and the implementation of Homeland and National Security Presidential Directives. Bradley also served at the U.S. Department of Justice and in various positions in state government in Ohio. He received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree from the Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University. He continues to mentor undergraduate students participating in The Ohio State University, John Glenn College of Public Affairs Washington Area Internship Program. Bradley is a member of the National Contract Management Association (NCMA)."

Thursday June 11th, 2:45pm-3:45pm

Thursday June 11th, 2:45pm-3:45pm

Speakers

• Nando Gomez

Friday June 12th, 9:30-10:30am

Friday June 12th, 10:45-11:45am

Speakers

• Patrick Cushing
  Patrick Cushing is an attorney and lobbyist representing businesses, corporations, trade associations, and non-profits as they navigate the Virginia General Assembly, Governor’s Administration, and state agencies. Throughout his career he has worked as an attorney for the General Assembly, managed trade associations in a small lobbying firm, and represented a broad array of clients as a partner in one Virgnia’s largest law firms. He now represents clients through a lobbying firm he founded in 2023, Fall Line Strategies. Patrick graduated from James Madison University with a double major in Integrated Science and Technology and Political Science. He graduated from Roger Willaims University School of Law and was admitted to the Virginia Bar in 2005.