Dr. Brett Hartis is the Lead Hydro Licensing Project Manager for Duke Energy’s Water Strategy and Hydro Licensing Team, based in Charlotte, North Carolina. He oversees Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) licensing of Duke Energy’s hydroelectric assets, and works at the intersection of energy, natural resources, and environmental stewardship. Hartis has expertise for bringing practical, science‑based solutions to complex, stakeholder‑driven challenges—balancing technical requirements with the diverse needs and perspectives of communities, agencies, and various other user groups.

Andrew Huddleston is a Fisheries Biologist at the Albeni Falls Dam in Oldtown, Idaho. He is responsible for overseeing the design, construction, and operation of the future AFD Fish Passage Facility, which is currently in the design process for future implementation. Andrew also serves as the Northwestern Division (NWD) Invasive Species Leadership Team (ISLT) co-representative, alongside his colleague, Kyle Ruona, in Kansas City District. Andrew is responsible for Zebra/Quagga Mussel (ZQM) monitoring and reporting for NWD, and he also works alongside the USACE Engineer Research and Development Center’s (ERDC) toxicologist, Damian Walter, and Albeni Falls project staff to administer flowering rush treatments in the Pend Oreille Basin.

Dr. Robert Richardson is a Professor and Extension Specialist, Aquatic and Non-Cropland Weed Science, North Carolina State University. Dr. Richardson is responsible for the development of aquatic weed management and invasive plant management programs in non-cropland. This position is critical for development of integrated and sustainable weed management programs for reservoirs, lakes, ponds, other bodies of water, and non-cropland in North Carolina and the surrounding region. Vegetation on these sites must be managed in an environmentally sound manner to improve or maintain fish and wildlife habitat, improve biological diversity, and reduce the size and scope of alien plant invasions.

Kyle Ruona is a Conservation Biologist with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District, where he has dedicated 19 years to environmental stewardship. His career, spanning both field and office, has equipped him with extensive practical and technical expertise. In his current role, Kyle leads the district's comprehensive invasive species program, addressing terrestrial, aquatic, and pathogenic threats. He also serves on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' national Invasive Species Leadership Team, shaping research, policy, and program management.

Michael Stevenson is the Resource Professional Leader for Idaho Power Company. Michael manages crews that monitor resident fish populations and ESA listed aquatic snails. He has worked on regional aquatic invasive species issues since 2006. Recently, Idaho Power has been actively involved with a large-scale chemical treatment of the Snake River that was implemented by Idaho State Department of Agriculture in 2023, 2024 and 2025. Michael holds a Master’s of Science degree from Ohio University (1995).

Brian Wood is the Senior Land Manager at FirstLight Power whose team oversees uses of Company lands that include three of the largest lakes in Connecticut along the Housatonic River and the upper reaches of the Wild & Scenic Housatonic River, the Connecticut River from the Turners Falls Dam in Massachusetts up into southern New Hampshire, Vermont and upper reaches of the Allegheny River in Pennsylvania. His role includes maintaining and improving stakeholder, NGO, Agency, public and elected local, state and federal officials communication and negotiating complex resolutions to land management and natural resource challenges.