Carol Collier, executive director of the Delaware River Basin Commission, shares lessons learned and addresses the 18-year struggle over water between Georgia, Florida, and Alabama. The issue is explored further by panelists Chick Krautler, director of the Atlanta Regional Commission; Wilton Rooks, vice president of the Lake Lanier Association; Dick Timmerberg, executive director of the West Point Lake Coalition; Patricia T. Barmeyer, attorney with King & Spalding; and Dan Tonsmiere, Apalachicola Riverkeeper. WXIA-TV environment reporter Marc Pickard moderates. This 2008 Randolph Thrower Forum is presented by The Civic League for Regional Atlanta.
Ms. Collier was appointed Executive Director of the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) on August 31, 1998. The DRBC is an interstate/federal commission that provides a unified approach to water resource management without regard to political boundaries. Before joining DRBC, Ms. Collier was Executive Director of Pennsylvanias 21st Century Environment Commission. Governor Tom Ridge formed the Environment Commission in 1997 to establish the Commonwealths environmental priorities and to recommend a course of action for the next century. Ms. Collier has a B.A. in Biology from Smith College and a Masters in Regional Planning from the University of Pennsylvania. She is a Professional Planner licensed in the State of New Jersey, a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) and a Certified Senior Ecologist. In 1997 she was presented the Touchstone Award from the Society of Women Environmental Professionals and in 1998 the Woman of Distinction Award from the Philadelphia Business Journal. In 2007 the American Water Resources Association (AWRA) presented her with the Mary H. Marsh Medal for exemplary contributions to the protection and wise use of the nations water resources.
Charles Chick Krautler is the director of the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC). As head of the official metropolitan planning organization for the 10-county, 63-city Atlanta Region, he oversees and directs regional planning programs in the areas of transportation, air quality, the environment, land use, water supply and quality, as well as aging services and workforce development. Mr. Krautler began his work in regional planning councils as the executive director of the Baltimore Metropolitan Council. Before coming to ARC, he was President of the Triangle J Council of Governments. Earlier in his career Mr. Krautler served as manager of Public Affairs for the Washington Gas Light Company in Washington, DC and executive vice president of the Maryland Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Krautler is a member of numerous professional organizations. He currently serves as the President of the Georgia Association of Regional Development Centers (GARDC) and is a member of the National Association of Regional Councils (NARC); the Clean Air Campaign (CAC) Board of Directors; the Georgia Foreign Trade Zone Board of Directors; the Southeastern Regional Directors Institute (SERDI); the Metropolitan Atlanta Chamber of Commerce; the Atlanta Rotary Club and the Regional Leadership Forum (RLF).
Patricia Thrower Barmeyer is a partner in King & Spaldings' Atlanta office and the head of the firms Environmental Practice Group. She joined the firm in 1990 after serving 17 years as an assistant attorney general for the State of Georgia. At King & Spalding, Ms. Barmeyer has concentrated her practice in environmental litigation in the areas of water, waste, and air, as well as the defense of major environmental tort cases. Chambers USA Leading Lawyers for Business 2007 ranks Ms. Barmeyer as a Star Individual, and the top environmental lawyer in Georgia. Chambers also describes her as the consummate professional, the best out there, and mentions her amazing presentations in court.
Marc Pickard is a television reporter and anchor for 11Alive News, an NBC affiliate station in Atlanta, Georgia. Pickard has received several regional Emmy awards for his news reporting in Atlanta.