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Keynote

Air & Waste Management Association's 118th Annual Conference & Exhibition, Collaborating for an Equitable, Resilient Environment, June 9-12, 2025, Raleigh, NC


Opening Keynote Plenary Session: Fostering Collaboration for Environmental Resilience

Tuesday, June 10, 8:30 am – 10:30 am ET, Ballroom A 


Keynote Panelists:

H. Christopher FreyH. Christopher Frey, Futrell Distinguished University Professor of Environmental Engineering, North Carolina State University, and Former Assistant Administrator of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
 
Chris Frey is an engineer, researcher, science advisor, and leader working on energy and environmental issues mostly in academia and government. From 2021-2024 he served in leadership roles, including as Assistant Administrator of Research and Development, at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. He has been on the engineering faculty at NC State for over 30 years and is currently associate dean for research in the College of Engineering. His research focuses on improving relevance of scientific and technical information to inform decisions via sensitivity and uncertainty analysis, and on reducing uncertainties via measurement and modeling of vehicle emissions and human exposure to air pollution. He served on numerous national and international expert and advisory panels. He has a Ph.D. in engineering and public policy from Carnegie Mellon University. He has been a member of A&WMA since 1989. 

David HainesDavid Haines, President, North Carolina Manufacturers Alliance

David has 18 years experience leading and managing programs focused on energy, sustainability, and the environment. He has served as senior energy policy expert as a legislative fellow for Brookings Institution. David was a Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Office of Land & Minerals Management during the Obama administration and was Global Sustainability Advisor for Shell Oil, where he developed a cross-functional coalition with environmental groups, government agencies, academics, and industry.


Sushma MasemoreSushma Masemore, Deputy Secretary for Environment, North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
 
Sushma Masemore was named Deputy Secretary for Environment in May of 2021. She guides DEQ’s regulatory divisions through the complex issues facing North Carolina and brings more than 30 years of public and private sector experience to the role. Masemore oversees the development and implementation of major policy initiatives for programs such as:  permitting of discharges to surface waters; issuance of air emissions permits; grant programs for wastewater and drinking water projects; remediation of contaminated soil and groundwater, permitting of coastal development; and regulation of animal operations, mining operations, and energy development projects. As the State Energy Director, Masemore led statewide initiatives related to energy and climate change, including the development of the NC Clean Energy Plan and Risk Assessment and Resilience Plan. Masemore joined DEQ as a permit engineer and has managed teams of engineers and scientists through program design, standards development, and implementation phases. Her private sector experience includes building partnerships with technology developers, industry representatives, and government officials to collaborate on environmental solutions that made good business sense while protecting public health. Masemore earned a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from University of Maryland Baltimore County, and is a licensed Professional Engineer in North Carolina. 

Eric Larmore, Environmental Manager, Nucor Corporation
In his 25 years with Nucor, Eric has worked at steel mills in Indiana, Alabama, Florida, West Virginia and now works at the corporate office in Charlotte. Prior to joining Nucor, Eric spent seven years as a regulator in Indiana working in water quality, hazardous materials, and emergency response. Eric is also Chairman of the Steel Manufacturers Association Environmental Committee.




Moderator: Leah Blinn, A&WMA President, and Vice President, Civil & Environmental Consultants

Ms. Blinn is a Vice President with Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc. and is the Corporate and Pittsburgh Office Air Practice Lead.  She obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering with a minor in Environmental Engineering from The Pennsylvania State University and has over 24 years of experience in managing and executing air quality and sustainability work for various industries.
 
Her primary focus is in air dispersion modeling, emission calculations, permitting and compliance.  She has supported sustainability projects related to emissions calculations and stakeholder reporting for the manufacturing industry, public entities, steel plants, natural gas production, and midstream operations throughout the country.  Ms. Blinn has held numerous offices for Air & Waste Management Association in the Allegheny Mountain Section and served the International Board of Directors as Vice President and Finance Committee Chair.  She is currently a Student Scholarship Trustee, a member of the Webinar Committee, and the 2025 President of the A&WMA.

Welcome by John Nicholson, Chief Deputy Secretary, North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality

John Nicholson returned to service as the Chief Deputy Secretary, North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality in January 2025.  Nicholson previously served as the Chief Deputy Secretary for the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality for five years (2017-2022). In this capacity, he led projects including securing the largest coal ash clean-up in United States history and supporting efforts to clean-up of the Cape Fear River, which had been contaminated by PFAS.  He was also the agency’s lead on disaster recovery, marine fisheries, risk and resilience planning, economic development coordination and modernizing all aspects of the department’s environmental permitting processes.

From 2022-2025 Nicholson served as the Chief of Staff for EPA’s Southeast Region (Region 4) where he was in direct support of EPA efforts to protect public health and the environment for the region spanning Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and six federally recognized tribes.

John is a retired Colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps where he served on active duty for 28 years. Upon his retirement he assumed the role of military affairs advisor to two North Carolina governors. John earned a master’s degree in national security and strategic studies from the U.S. Naval War College, a master’s degree in military studies from the U.S. Marine Corps Command and Staff College and a bachelor’s degree in political science from San Diego State University.