The Great Connections Conference offers an exciting opportunity to acquire the latest information on  erosion and sediment control in just a matter of days. The chance to network with other professionals in the field and see firsthand new technologies in action was invaluable.

Curt Meine is a conservation biologist, environmental historian, and writer.  He serves as Senior Fellow with the Aldo Leopold Foundation in Baraboo, Wisconsin, and with the Chicago-based Center for Humans and Nature.  He is also a Research Associate with the International Crane Foundation in Baraboo and an Associate Adjunct Professor in the University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology.

Meine received his B.A. in English and History from DePaul University in Chicago, and his M.S. and Ph.D. in Land Resources from the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Meine’s work explores the relationship between people and the landscapes they manage, offering insights directly relevant to erosion control, stormwater management, and watershed resilience. Drawing from natural sciences, environmental history, and ethics, his broad perspective helps connect technical practice with long-term land stewardship outcomes for the communities we serve.

October 14

8:00 AM - 12:00 PM - Iowa Certified SWPPP Designer (ICSD)Training - Separate Registration Required

October 14

10:00 AM - 12:00 PM - Exhibitor Set Up

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM - Registration Open

1:00PM – 1:10 PM   - Welcome & Housekeeping Logistics

1:15PM – 1:45PM - A Geologic Welcome to Your Chapter Regions - Dale Easley, PhD, Professor Emeritus, University of Dubuque

1:45PM – 1:55PM          BREAK

2:00PM – 3:00PM - Keynote: Doing Better: From Commitment to Action - Curt Meine, PhD; Senior Fellow, Aldo Leopold Foundation

3:10PM – 4:00PM - Ultra-Urban Ecosystem Restoration - Chicago's Northerly Island 10 Years Later - Jonathan Koepke, ENCAP, Inc., President

4:00PM – 4:30PM - Pollinator Monitoring  in Dubuque Urban Pocket Prairies- Aditi Sinha, PhD, Loras College

4:30PM – 6:30PM - Exhibitor Reception

6:30 PM - ? - Young Professionals - Backpocket Arcade Bar. APS Sponsored  

7:00PM - ? - Informal Happy Hour at Jubeck New World Brewing

Thursday, October 15, 2026

8:00AM – 8:15AM - Welcome & Housekeeping Logistics

8:15AM – 8:45AM - The Nature of Soil and Water Conservation Ecological Repair of Anthropogenic Impacts Redux – Thomas Hunt, PhD; , University of Wisconsin

8:15AM – 8:45AM  - Assessing the Functional Longevity of Erosion Control Products – Koby Hagen, PhD Student, Barney Lab, Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, University of Minnesota

8:50AM – 9:15AM - Nature-Based Engineered Earth Armoring Solutions for Riverbank Stabilization: A Successful Case Study on the West Fork Des Moines River  – Danny Schertz, Solmax, Engineering Business Manager

8:50AM – 9:15AM - Modernizing SCM Design for Linear Transportation Systems: Lessons from KDOT's Version 2 Manual – Dale Kirmer, Kansas Dept. of Transportation, Engineer

9:45AM – 10:00AM - BREAK

10:00AM – 10:30AM - Soil Health Strategies for Successful Revegetation in the Upper Midwest U.S - Sonny Johns, MSc, REP, CPESC, CIHECP, CPIESC, CISEC, CESSWI, Profile Products LLC, Regional Business Manager

10:00AM – 10:30AM - Effective Sediment Design – Kellyn Campbell, CPESC, Faircloth Skimmer, Business Development

10:30AM – 10:55AM - Innovative Stormwater Treatment Technology - Grace Kerr, Ph.D. Candidate, Auburn University, Graduate Research Assistant

10:30AM – 10:55AM - Removal of Nitrogen and Recovery of Phosphorus Using Modified Geotextiles – Aidan Bosman, Graduate Research Assistant, Auburn University, Graduate Research Assistant

11:00AM – 12:00PM - Doing Better Together: Turning Clean Water Commitments into Job-Site Action - Joe Moore, CPESC, MS4 CECI , Erosion & Construction Solutions, Founder | Chief Brand Ambassador

11:00AM – 12:00PM   - BMP Fails and Alternatives – Paul Mueller, CESSWI, GRIECA Former President

12:00PM – 1:00PM  - Lunch

1:00PM – 2:00PM  - Juggling Lessons from Ecological Stream Restorations in Iowa—Design Criteria, Construction Timing, Erosion Risks,Vegetating Challenges…Sustainable Maintenance Implications - Ivo Lopez, Ph.D., P.E., Snyder & Associates, Inc., Senior Water Resources Engineer

1:00PM – 2:00PM  - Assuring Our Erosion and Sediment Control Products are Wildlife Friendly - Matthew Welch, CPESC, CIHECP, CESSWI

2:00PM – 2:30PM - Multiplying Benefits Through Statewide Partnership - Loulou Dickey, Ph.D, ISWEP, Executive Director and Dean Mattoon, Urban Watershed Coordinator, Dubuque County Watersheds

2:00PM – 2:30PM - Streambank Armoring – Bill Murphy- P.E., Quick Supply Co.

2:30PM – 2:45PM - BREAK

2:45PM – 3:45PM - Beyond Recycling: Iowa Waste Exchange and the Future of Sustainable Materials Management- Rebecca Kauten Ph.D, Iowa Northland Regional Council of Governments (INRCOG) and Lindsey Given-Egli, MA, East Central Iowa Council of Governments (ECICOG)

2:45PM – 3:45PM- Turf Reinforcement Mats: How Materials Impact Performance. Plus - Slope and Channel Stabilization, Installation and Anchoring Tips – Jon Healy, American Excelsior Company, Territory Manager

3:45PM – 4:15PM -

From Pilot to 20,000 Acres: Scaling Conservation in Dubuque County - Eric Schmechel,  Dubuque SWCD and Allisen Freihage 

3:45PM – 4:15PM - Construction Stormwater Compliance: Challenges and Solutions for Utility-Scale Solar Development – J.B. Dixon, Westwood Professional Services, Construction Stormwater Permitting Manager

4:15PM – 4:15PM  - Wrap Up & Conclusions

Participating as a tradeshow exhibitor offers your organization an opportunity to connect with hundreds of industry delegates and to showcase your company’s products and services to key decision makers in the stormwater management and erosion and sediment control industry. Exhibiting at IECAGC also positions your organization as a leader in your field.

Great Connections 2026 will provide your organization the unique opportunity to increase its visibility, enhance its strategic marketing objectives, and reach key market segments in this 10-state region and beyond. Whether your organization is large or small, national or international, sponsorship is the perfect opportunity to engage, network and expand your business.

Exhibit space and sponsorships are limited. We encourage you to take advantage of this unique opportunity to maximize exposure for your company and connect with industry professionals in the public and private sectors. To register, visit the event website or contact a member of the conference organizing committee and ensure your company’s participation in Great Connections 2026.