Pavese Law Firm attorneys to present American Planning Association’s annual conference

July 10, 2012 - PRLog -- Pavese Law Firm attorneys Katherine R. English, Esq.; Neysa Borkert, Esq.; and Kathleen Oppenheimer Berkey, Esq., AICP will present at the Florida Chapter of the American Planning Association’s (APA) annual conference to be held Sept. 12-15 at the Waldorf Astoria Naples. The attorneys are members of Pavese Law Firm’s Land Use and Local Government practice area, which includes assisting clients in all aspects of the comprehensive planning, zoning, and development order process.

Planning professionals, business, government, and industry leaders from across the state will attend the conference to learn and discuss innovative planning techniques related to transportation, environment, redevelopment, and economic development relevant to Southwest Florida’s growth management practices. The event is hosted by the Florida Chapter of the APA, an independent, not-for-profit educational organization that aims to advance the art and science of planning at the local, regional, state, and national levels.

On Friday, Sept. 14 from 10-11:15 a.m., Kathleen Oppenheimer Berkey, Esq., AICP will serve as a co-presenter on renewable energy in Florida. The presentation titled “What the Scuttlebutt is All About: Opportunities and Incentives for Renewable Energy in Florida” will begin with an introduction to renewable energy including brownfield reuse. A panel of industry leaders will then: explore Florida’s potential for solar, photovoltaics, biofuel, wave-energy, and wind energy; discuss how to best select a site and prepare it for development; and discuss steps local governments can take to promote renewable energy in their communities. The panelists will include Paul Woods, Co-Founder and CEO of Algenol Biofuels; Bruno Andreis, Sr., CEO of Safrema Energy; J.L. “Buck” Martinez, Senior Director for Project Development of Florida Power & Light; and Dr. Joseph H. Simmons, Ph.D., Eminent Scholar and Florida Gulf Coast University Backe Chair in Renewable Energy.

On Friday, Sept. 14 from 1:15-2:30 p.m., Kathleen Oppenheimer Berkey, Esq., AICP will co-present on job search strategies for professional planners. The presentation titled “Batten Down the Hatches: Tips for a Successful Job Search in Today’s Economy” connects employed, professional planners from the public and private sectors with job seekers to discuss tactics for best marketing yourself and your skills to find a satisfying job in planning. Topics to be discussed include effective job searching, resume drafting, cover letter drafting, networking, and online branding.

On Saturday, Sept. 15 from 8:30-9:45 a.m., Pavese Law Firm attorneys Katherine R. English, Esq. and Neysa Borkert, Esq. will share their presentation: “You say Tomato, I say Tomato - The Challenges of Planning for Farming in Urban, Suburban and Rural Settings.” They will provide an in-depth analysis of the challenges of planning for agriculture in urban, suburban and rural areas, along with a discussion of the need for balance between regulatory standards and the right to grow and produce one’s own food. This session will address conflicts that may arise between personal growers, commercial growers, private communities, and regulatory bodies through a group planning exercise.

   
For more information on the conference including registration details, visit: http://www.floridaplanning.org/conference/index.asp.


Pavese Law Firm is a full-service law firm with offices in Fort Myers, Cape Coral and West Palm Beach. The firm provides a broad range of legal services for individuals, families, small businesses and large corporations. Practice areas include agricultural, banking and finance, bankruptcy, business and taxation, civil litigation, community association, employment, environmental and water, estate planning, probate and trust, family, land use and government, and real estate law. Established in 1949 as a one-person general practice firm, Pavese Law Firm has grown into one of the largest legal practices in Southwest Florida. With a long history of service to Southwest Florida, Pavese Law Firm has played a significant role in the growth of local businesses, communities and major development projects. For more information, call 239- 334-2195 or visit www.paveselaw.com.