The Center for Creative Land Recycling (CCLR) is honored to host its fourth National Leadership Breakfast at the Brownfields National Training Conference. Join colleagues for a delicious breakfast, industry insights, a cutting-edge panel offering legal and environmental perspectives on emerging contaminants and recognition of three standout leaders who have helped shape our field.
Join us Thursday, August 7, 2025 from 7 a.m. – 8:45 a.m in room E353B at McCormick Pl in Chicago.
Nominate an Awardee
Our awardees for Lifetime achievements in Thought Leadership, Redevelopment and Public Service are nominated by you! Please complete this survey no later than July 7th. Awardees must be able to attend the CCLR’s Leadership Breakfast on August 7th at 7 a.m. in Chicago. Registration to the Brownfields 2025 Conference is not required.
About the Lifetime Achievement Awards
- Excellence in Redevelopment: a developer or local entity that successfully orchestrated the vertical build up of a property in ways that benefited the community.
- Excellence in Public Service: an individual affiliated with a government or community entity who has created or contributed to the development of an exemplary brownfields program that delivered success with talented staff, diverse funding, and stakeholder engagement.
- Excellence in Thought Leadership: an early innovator who developed, spoke or wrote about new perspectives in redevelopment that advanced industry practices.
Our 2023 Awardees included:
Lifetime Achievement in Redevelopment: Kofi Bonner, Chief Executive Officer | Bedrock Detroit
Lifetime Achievement in Public Service: Jim Tischler, Development Director | Michigan State Land Bank Authority – Award accepted by Ms. Michelle Aniol | Community Development Director for the City of Dexter, Michigan
Lifetime Achievement in Thought Leadership: Barry Hersh, Clinical Professor | Schack Institute of Real Estate, New York University
If you have any questions, please reach out to Jean Hamerman at [email protected]. We look forward to seeing you at the Leadership Breakfast!
Partner, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner
Erin has led environmental strategy at high-profile brownfield redevelopment sites such as former coal plants, manufacturing facilities, and a former refinery. This notably includes the negotiation of significant environmental management agreements with third parties and prospective purchaser agreements with government agencies as well as complicated post-closing remediation and permitting matters. Erin advises clients on emerging regulatory topics, including PFAS in environmental media and in the supply chain. Erin serves as the Managing Partner of BCLP’s Chicago office and leads the office’s strategic direction and community engagement.
Wisconsin Operations Lead, Langan
Jeff Ramey is a chemist and the leader of Langan’s operations throughout the state of Wisconsin. He is also a PFAS subject matter expert with over 20 years of versatile experience as chemist in the environmental industry. Jeff works with the Midwest team to grow Langan’s practice in the region and support PFAS and forensic projects locally, nationally, and internationally. Throughout his career, he has managed and supported PFAS site characterization and investigation, remediation, analytical forensics, strategy, and risk management for private and public sector clients dealing with established, emerging, and/or absent regulations.
Associate, Godfrey & Kahn
Bill Nelson is a highly skilled environmental attorney with deep expertise in navigating complex regulatory landscapes and advising clients across the full spectrum of environmental issues. From transactional matters involving site remediation and permitting, to supporting clients in high-stakes litigation, Bill delivers comprehensive legal counsel to commercial, industrial, municipal, and tribal clients. His regulatory and technical knowledge, particularly in areas involving per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and experience in disputes with state and federal agencies, makes him a valuable asset to any project facing environmental risk.
Thank you to our Sponsors!
McCormick Place
