Jason Polk, Ph.D., is a professor of Environmental Geosciences in Western Kentucky University’s Department of Earth, Environmental, and Atmospheric Sciences. His research includes karst environments, climate change, water resources and sustainability, isotope hydrology and geochemistry, and environmental geoscience issues. He has conducted research in various places all over the world, including the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, South America, and Iceland.

Polk is the 2021 recipient of the Geological Society of America Karst Division’s Distinguished Service Award, presented to an individual in recognition of distinguished personal service to the karst profession and to the GSA Karst Division. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of South Florida.

Mark Palumbo, president of HRS Water Consultants Inc. in Lakewood, Colorado, has more than 40 years of experience as a consulting hydrogeologist. His areas of expertise include groundwater hydrology, hydrogeology, aquifer storage and recovery, well hydraulics, well installations, aquifer testing, development of augmentation plans, water resource development and planning, and groundwater computer modeling.

An expert in technical aspects of Colorado water law and regulations, Palumbo has been involved in numerous water court applications and objections, plans for augmentation, and water resource valuations around the state. Specializing in Denver Basin hydrogeology, he has designed and supervised the installation of dozens of municipal water wells throughout the basin, and has completed numerous aquifer tests in Denver Basin aquifers. In addition, he’s also completed municipal augmentation plans, surface water and groundwater water rights projects including lawn irrigation return flows, water accounting, and other hydrogeologic projects.

Palumbo holds an M.S. in hydrology from the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology and a B.A. in sociology from St. Bonaventure University.

R. Jeffrey Davis, PE, CGWP, Integral Consulting Inc., has 25-plus years of experience with hydrogeology and civil and environmental engineering. A Utah native, he has worked on numerous groundwater-related projects in the state, as well as across the country and globally. Davis has developed and applied numerous groundwater models for municipalities, states, and industrial clients, and serves on the board of directors NGWA’s Scientists and Engineers Section, as well as on the board of the Utah Ground Water Association.

Stacy Timmons is an associate director for Hydrogeology Programs, New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, New Mexico Tech, in Socorro. As a hydrogeologist working with, and managing, the Aquifer Mapping Program for the last 16 years, Timmons has worked around the state on hydrologic and geologic research topics. Her work has ranged from collecting water quality and quantity data, mapping aquifers, and helping to build an understanding of the state’s complex hydrogeology. In 2019, Timmons also began leading the implementation of the Water Data Act, a statute that works to improve management, sharing, and integration of the state’s water data from multiple agencies and organizations.

Brian Waldron, Ph.D., is an associate professor of civil engineering in the University of Memphis Herff College of Engineering, as well as the director of the Center for Applied Earth Science and Engineering (CAESER). He had been the associate director for the Ground Water Institute (GWI) from 2007 to early 2011 and has been a faculty member of the university since 1999. The primary focus of Waldron’s research pertains to groundwater migration and contaminant transport through field investigations and numerical modeling. All of his research is multidisciplinary crossing many departments and academic institutions. Numerous students are involved in his research, allowing them to exercise what they have learned in the classroom in an applied field environment. Waldron holds three degrees in civil engineering — a B.S. and an M.S. from the University of Memphis, and a Ph.D. from Colorado State University.

Melissa Dunkle, CPA, is a principal at Rea & Associates in Dublin, Ohio, responsible for the oversight of tax engagements, review of the staff’s work, staff development, and developing new business for the firm. Her areas of expertise include partnership tax, S-corporation tax, individual income tax, nonprofit taxation and governance, and tax planning. Dunkle has more than eight years of experience in the accounting industry. Prior to joining Rea, she worked for Brady Ware, GBQ, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio. Dunkle earned her bachelor’s degree from Ohio State University with a major in accounting and a minor in finance.

Jonathan Kim, Ph.D., is the state geologist for the Vermont Geological Survey. He has made presentations and conducted field trips in conjunction with previously held NGWA Groundwater and Fractured Rock Conferences. Kim earned his bachelor’s degree from Colgate University, his master’s degree from the University of South Florida, and his Ph.D. from the University at Buffalo, all in geology/Earth science.

Robert E. Mace, Ph.D., PG, is the executive director and chief water policy officer of The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment and a professor of practice in the Department of Geography at Texas State University. He has more than 30 years of experience in hydrology, hydrogeology, stakeholder processes, and water policy. Mace has a B.S. in geophysics and an M.S. in hydrology from the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology and a Ph.D. in hydrogeology from the University of Texas at Austin.

Larry D. McKay, Ph.D., is the associate dean of research and facilities in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He is also the Jones Professor of Hydrogeology in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences. McKay works with the heads, directors, and faculty in the college to help provide them with the infrastructure, funding, and support needed to reach their goals in research and scholarly achievements. This often involves working closely with facilities services, the office of research, and the space committee. He is also a member of the dean’s cabinet, where he helps with many of the joys, challenges, and opportunities that are part of the life of the largest and most vital college on campus. McKay received his Ph.D. in earth sciences in from the University of Waterloo, Ontario, and was a postdoctoral researcher at the Geological Survey of Denmark.

Geno Mammini, RG, is a senior hydrogeologist with Clear Creek Associates LLC. He has 21 years of experience in hydrogeologic and environmental consulting — 15 with Clear Creek, where he is responsible for managing hydrogeologic projects including groundwater investigations and hydrologic studies for groundwater supplies. Mammini has managed the design and construction of numerous public supply wells, ASR wells, vadose zone injection wells, and groundwater recharge basins throughout the Southwest. He has also authored many technical presentations on water supply well design, well evaluation and rehabilitation, groundwater recharge, and water resources planning. Mammini holds a B.S. in geology from California State University Sonoma.

Kenneth R. Bradbury, Ph.D., is Wisconsin’s state geologist and the director of the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey, part of the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Division of Extension. He’s worked on groundwater issues in Wisconsin since 1982, with a focus on applied problems. Bradbury’s research has included investigations of virus transport in groundwater, groundwater flow in fractured rocks, aquitard hydrogeology, groundwater recharge processes, wellhead protection, regional groundwater simulation, and the hydrogeology of glacial deposits. He received his B.A. in geology from Ohio Wesleyan University, his A.M. in geology from Indiana University, and his Ph.D. in hydrogeology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

John K. Seaberg, PG, CGWP, is a hydrogeologist and groundwater specialist for the Groundwater Technical Analysis Workgroup of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). He has more than 35 years of experience working in both environmental consulting and state government. While working for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, he was the technical lead for the development and application of the first regional Twin Cities Metropolitan Area Groundwater Flow Model (Metro Model 1). Seaberg currently provides technical and regulatory oversight for DNR’s permitting program for high-capacity groundwater appropriations. Additionally, he serves as DNR’s technical lead for the State of Minnesota/3M legal settlement, working to provide sustainable and safe drinking water supplies for communities and individuals impacted by PFAS contamination. Seaberg received his B.S. in geology and geophysics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and his M.S. specializing in hydrogeology with a minor in civil engineering from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.

Karl Taboga, PG, has more than 17 years of experience in surface water and groundwater hydrology, environmental studies, and wetland and wildlife assessments. Prior to joining the Wyoming State Geological survey, he worked for environmental consulting firms in Wyoming, Colorado, and New Jersey, specializing in environmental permitting, produced water and wastewater management, and surface water and groundwater modeling. On behalf of his industry clients, Taboga worked along with the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality to formulate state water policies pertaining to water coproduced with oil and gas development. He oversaw the work of hydrogeologists, field technicians and consultants, and prepared special reports related to surface and groundwater resources.

John A. Yellich, CPG, director of the Michigan Geological Survey at Western Michigan University, has more than 40 years of geologic experience in mineral exploration and development, environmental consulting, business operations, and safety compliance. He has worked in more than 30 states conducting mineral, petroleum, and environmental assessments in the United States, in addition to Canada, Australia, and China, now with a focus on water resources and impacts in the Great Lakes region. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from WMU and his professional geologist certification from the American Institute of Professional Geologists.

James J. Butler Jr., Ph.D., is a senior scientist and chief of the Geohydrology Section of the Kansas Geological Survey at the University of Kansas. His major research focuses on high-resolution subsurface characterization, well responses to natural and anthropogenic stresses, and assessment of aquifers that support irrigated agriculture. During the last 20 years, he has led numerous projects focused on the use of direct-push technology for characterization of the hydraulic properties of unconsolidated sediments.

Well-known for his teaching and outreach activities throughout the groundwater industry, Butler served as the 2007 Groundwater Foundation’s Darcy Lecturer, was an associate editor of Groundwater® from 2002-2017, and has given 120-plus lecturers in more than 14 countries on applied hydrology. In 2020, Butler received NGWA’s M. King Hubbert Award, which is presented to those who have made major scientific or engineering contributions to the knowledge of groundwater through research, technical papers, teaching, and practical applications.

Butler received a B.S. in geology from William & Mary and a Ph.D. in hydrogeology from Stanford University.

Chuck Kile is the director of marketing at Adapt Digital Solutions, a digital marketing firm that specializes in the groundwater industry. With a background in residential construction, he has made his way up in the marketing world by mastering the fundamentals, starting with his family’s remodeling company. Kile’s message is simple — businesses that have found success offline are sitting on a goldmine when it comes to upgrading their online presence. A solid marketing foundation is all most groundwater businesses need in order to turn the people searching online into happy customers.

Kyle E. Murray, Ph.D., a hydrogeologist for the Oklahoma Geological Survey at the University of Oklahoma, has more than 20 years of experience working as a consultant and researcher on water resources, water management, environmental protection, energy production, and seismicity. He is partnering with other geoscientists and engineers to overcome new challenges including water reuse, resource recovery from produced water, and to mitigate seismicity.

Murray has published his groundwater-related work in several journals including Groundwater®, Environmental & Engineering Geoscience, Environmental Earth Sciences, Environmental Science & Technology, and Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering. He earned an M.S. in hydrogeology from Wright State University and a Ph.D. in geological engineering from the Colorado School of Mines.

Dylan Eberle, Ph.D., a scientist at Geosyntec Consultants, assists clients with the characterization and remediation of soil and groundwater contaminated with both priority pollutants and emerging contaminants. His work with emerging contaminants includes working on sites impacted by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and 1,4-dioxane, along with lead authorship on articles appearing in Chemosphere and Environmental Science and Technology.

Eberle’s PFAS experience has included leading site investigations for clients, development and evaluation of conceptual site models, environmental forensics, litigation support, risk assessment, and research into destructive remediation technologies. He has helped develop standard operating procedures for PFAS sampling and has led field investigations at military bases, airports, and manufacturing facilities.

In addition, Eberle has worked on several confidential PFAS litigation support cases involving industrial facilities, landfills, airports, and drinking water supplies. His litigation support experience includes conducting research regarding contaminated site history, regulatory compliance, drinking water distribution networks, remedial efficiency, contaminant exposure and duration, and forensic evaluations. His findings have been used to assist expert witnesses in developing their professional opinions.

A specialist in PFAS and emerging contaminants; innovative remediation technologies; environmental hydrogeology; and litigation support, Eberle holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in environmental and Earth sciences, and a B.A. in geology.

Sara Brock is a program manager with the Groundwater Foundation. Since 2016, she has managed the Groundwater Guardian program, a grassroots network of volunteers who conserve, protect, and educate communities on the importance of groundwater. She provides resources and learning opportunities to experts and the public, demonstrating groundwater education tools that complement existing curriculum and standards. As founder and former president of a college-based community engagement group, Drake University’s Community Action Board, Brock trained individuals and groups to build strong relationships with the public with the goal of fostering a meaningful exchange of information and bringing about positive, long-term change.

Jason C. Bellino is a hydrologist and currently the project chief of the Floridan Aquifer System Groundwater Availability Study at the U.S. Geological Survey Caribbean-Florida Water Science Center. His interests are in groundwater flow modeling and he has extensive experience with ArcGIS and enjoys developing python code for data analysis. He received both a bachelor’s degree in environmental science and policy and a master’s degree in geology from the University of South Florida.