2026 IIBEC Convention Presenters and Authors

Bas A. Baskaran, is a principal research officer at the National Research Council of Canada (NRC), where he researches the performance of roofing systems and insulation. He is an adjunct professor at the University of Ottawa and a member of the Roofing Committee on Weather Issues, the International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants (IIBEC), Single Ply Roofing Industry (SPRI), and several other technical committees. Baskaran is a research advisor to various task groups of the National Building Code of Canada. He was recognized by Queen Elizabeth II with a Diamond Jubilee medal for his contribution to fellow Canadians.

Jordan Beckner is the director of engineering services at Roof Technical Services Inc. (ROOFTECH) and a Registered Roof Consultant. He earned a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering from Baylor University and is a licensed professional engineer in eleven states. He has been working in the engineering field for more than 20 years, with more than 10 of those years specifically focused on roofs. He has investigated more than a thousand engineering projects related to storm damage, moisture intrusion, construction defects, structural failures, and building enclosure issues.

Clarissa is a principal at 4EA Building Science and is the office director for its Oakland, California, operations. She has 16 years of experience researching and consulting on the building enclosure. Her work in the industry began from the energy perspective, studying trends and correlations in building energy use. Her experience has expanded to include consulting on both new construction and existing building projects in climate zones across North America.

Robert “Bobby” Chamra is a Professional Engineer (PE) with 12 years of experience focused on structural restoration and building enclosure consulting in existing buildings. Chamra is currently serving as a voting member for the Masonry Society’s TMS 402/602 Building Code Requirements and Specification for Masonry Structures for the 2028 Code Cycle and is the secretary for the Veneer Subcommittee. He is also serving as a member of ASTM International Committee C15 Manufactured Masonry Units, Mortars, and Grouts. When not working in the existing built environment, he enjoys spending time with his family, playing golf, gardening, cooking, and eating.

Trent Cotney is a partner and construction team leader at Adams & Reese LLP, a national law firm, general counsel of the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA), and a senior fellow of the National Construction Policy Institute. Cotney is a Florida board-certified construction lawyer and is also licensed in Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wyoming, and Washington, DC. He focuses his practice on all aspects of construction litigation and arbitration, including OSHA defense, lien law, bond law, bid protests, and construction document review and drafting. He routinely represents roofing contractors in a variety of legal matters from coast to coast.
In addition to nearly 30 years of assisting his clients in their legal matters, Cotney is a zealous advocate for the roofing industry. In addition to serving as general counsel for NRCA, he is general counsel for more than a dozen roofing trade associations and organizations, including the Western States Roofing Contractors Association, the Florida Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractors Association (FRSA), Chicago Roofing Contractors Association(CRCA), and Tennessee Association of Roofing Contractors (TARC). He is a well-known advocate for the industry and has published best-selling books on OSHA defense and roofing law. He also co-hosts the #1 rated construction law podcast, “Law & Mortar.”
Cotney has received a variety of awards from the industry for his service, including NRCA’s Gold Circle Award for service to the industry (2014), FRSA’s Bob Campanella Memorial Award (2021) for lifetime achievement, and the Western States Hall of Fame Award (2024).

Rachael DeMeio is the insulation product manager at Holcim Building Envelope. DeMeio comes from a consulting background with a strategic focus within the protective coatings industry. Her diverse professional background includes more than 10 years of project management experience in new product development, formulation, and analytical focus. She has both a bachelor’s degree in biology and chemistry as well as an MBA with a concentration in product management.

Jose Estrada has 18 years of experience in the building enclosure consulting industry, with experience in all types of buildings—including single-family to multifamily projects, institutional projects to class A office, and much more. He has worked on projects across the United States, China, Mexico, and Canada.
José is passionate about building science and sustainability. When not working on a project, he enjoys researching global trends in the design and construction industry, writing articles on trending topics, and presenting at conferences and industry events such as this.

Alexis Garcia is a building envelope consultant and associate architect with over a decade of experience in architecture, project management, construction administration, and permitting. At Walker Consultants, she focuses on roofing, glazing, waterproofing, and moisture barriers for new and existing buildings, helping clients improve performance, reduce risk, and extend service life. Her work spans adaptive reuse, tenant interiors, parking garages, and existing commercial properties. Alexis Garcia brings a practical, technical approach to every project, combining design knowledge with construction insight. She is passionate about mentoring, collaboration, and helping teams deliver resilient, efficient, and durable building enclosure solutions.

Thomas A. Gentry is a licensed architect with over 50 years of experience as a forensic and design architect, tenured university professor, general and design-build contractor, and tradesperson. He has testified before the US Congress Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality and holds a US patent for a thermally active building system (TABS) that uses a modified capillary tube hydronic system and geopolymer cement concrete to provide heating and cooling with a low-carbon footprint.

Tom Gernetzke is principal consultant for Building Envelope Professionals Group LLC, located in Oregon, Wisconsin. BEPG provides professional building enclosure consulting services, including the analysis and design of roofing, waterproofing, and exterior wall systems. He has served on the RCI Board of Directors as Region III director, followed by the RCI Executive Committee and as the 2013–2014 president. Gernetzke was influential in the creation of multiple RCI chapters and the RCI Emerging Professionals Committee. He has served as a member and chair of the IIBEC Advocacy Committee, has participated in multiple task forces, and is currently serving as chair of the IIBEC Jury of Fellows.

Daniel Haaland contributes to RDH’s core practice areas of new construction, research, and sustainability while sharing his expertise as an author, speaker, and guest lecturer. Leading RDH’s advanced analytics team, Haaland guides projects in achieving energy-efficient, high-performance building designs. Widely recognized in the field of finite element analysis for construction, Haaland has authored multiple industry guidelines and standards, including CSA Z5010 and the THERM Passive House Window Simulation procedure.

Javeriya Hasan specializes in building enclosure performance and sustainability. She earned a BEng (Hons.) in civil engineering from the University of Nottingham, UK, an MSc in structural steel design and sustainable development from Imperial College London, UK, and both an MBSc and PhD in building science at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU). Hasan’s research spans solar enclosure zoning, energy-efficient neighborhoods, climate-resilient facades, and built environment resiliency, producing multiple peer-reviewed papers. She is an associate at 30 Forensic Engineering and lectures part-time at TMU, mentoring emerging professionals through workshops and collaborations.

Robert Hemphill is a building enclosure specialist with Salas O’Brien. He has extensive experience in roofing and waterproofing materials and is a Construction Specifications Institute Construction Document Technologist (CDT). He is a frequent speaker at industry seminars and conventions and a member of the International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants (IIBEC). In 1981, he became a California state licensed contractor and worked for 21 years in that capacity.

Tamara Higgins is the regional managing director for BEAM Professionals, a building science consulting firm. She spent 10 years of her career in manufacturing, specifically operations and engineering, then the next 25 years in the construction industry, including glass and glazing, and running her own business in exterior wall panel systems as a subcontractor. Higgins has been on the forefront of design-assist for building enclosure systems across multiple market sectors in the commercial construction and existing building industry. Her expertise includes sustainability, BECx, architectural plans and specifications reviews, new construction consultation, forensic investigations, historical building renovations, and property condition assessments.

Joseph Hughes is an Architect who received a Master’s Degree with emphasis on building science and architecture history in 2000. He specialized in public works design architecture from 2000 through 2010, and in 2011 began his focus on exterior enclosure consulting. With emphasis on forensic architecture, his work includes evaluation and diagnostic analysis of the design and installation of protective steel coating and barrier systems, rain screen and moisture managed cladding systems, waterproofing and roof assemblies. Joseph has been a litigation expert on numerous building failures, including moisture intrusion and building collapse, and he serves as a design consultant to Owners and Architects for development and maintenance of large-scale commercial buildings including museums, condominiums, and public facilities.

Richard Koziol has 40 years' experience as a licensed architect in five states, practicing in the areas of building enclosure assessments, investigation, construction period services, and research. He is a member of the ASTM Committee D08 Roofing and Waterproofing. He has published articles and papers on roofing and waterproofing subject matters as well as research papers involving low-rise foam adhesive for low-slope roofing.

Darbi Krumpos has over 28 years of experience with Socotec. She graduated from Seattle University with a bachelor of science in mathematics. She is a certified documents technologist and holds two building enclosure commissioning certificates. Project support includes code compliance and warranty support; coordination of private and public projects worldwide; litigation and remediation for condominium associations and owner; investigation and research related to construction deficiencies and litigation; specification writing and contract administration for new construction and remediation for both commercial and residential projects; building enclosure commissioning, field testing, and quality assurance; and quality control program management.

Wei Lam is principal and US East regional director at RDH Building Science. From Boston, he supports strategic growth across the eastern US. With over 25 years of experience, he specializes in designing and delivering high-performance building enclosure systems for healthcare, life science, academic, residential, and commercial projects. His expertise spans early design consulting, enclosure system detailing, construction-phase troubleshooting, forensic investigations for enclosure failures, and building science research.

Eric Lee is a Senior Staff Engineer in Terracon’s Facilities service line in Denver, CO office. Lee has extensive experience in field performance verification testing, including large whole-building air leakage and large-scale glazing water penetration testing, in addition to construction and commissioning observation services. Lee utilizes an engineering focused approach to performing testing services. Lee has a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Colorado Boulder.

Ivan Lee is a team lead of the Component Modeling Team at Stantec, with a focus on thermal and hygrothermal modeling. He applies his background in building science and modeling to the evaluation of thermal bridging of building enclosure details through 2D and 3D heat thermal simulations. He also helped in the creation of the Building Envelope Thermal Bridging Guide. Lee also uses his experience in hygrothermal simulations to evaluate risks of moisture-related deterioration of materials within building assemblies.

Xiaoran Li is a professional engineer licensed in California and a member of Simpson Gumpertz & Heger’s Building Technology group in the Los Angeles office. He provides enclosure consulting services for new design and for the investigation and repair of existing buildings across a range of markets. His expertise includes the design, specification, and testing of building envelope systems, including roofing; plaza and terrace decks; balconies; and above- and below-grade waterproofing. Mr. Li has extensive experience in material selection, detailing, and construction-phase services to ensure performance and durability of enclosure assemblies.

Weijie Liu is a building enclosure consultant who focuses on third-party consulting and building enclosure commissioning for new construction, as well as waterproofing design. Her expertise includes moisture management in the building enclosure and hygrothermal modeling. Her portfolio includes assessment, construction detailing, preparation of technical specifications, and construction administration. Outside of work, she enjoys cooking and eating, reading and playing board games.

David Lutz, PE is a senior facade engineer with eight years of experience in the facade and waterproofing industry. Since earning his bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the University of Illinois, he has applied his strong foundation in structural engineering and passion for good design to bring success to projects across North America and the Middle East, engaging in detailing, analysis, and inspection of custom facade systems. He recently served as the primary special inspector for the facade of the new Gilder Center at the American Museum of Natural History in NYC.

Heidi Mase is a licensed architect in Illinois and has broad-based experience in architectural and structural services. Since joining Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates Inc. in 2009, she has participated in field investigations, structural analysis and design, repair document preparation, construction observation, and field testing on several different structure types ranging from historic wood-framed, masonry buildings to modern precast structures. Her primary focus is in the roofing and waterproofing practice area, where she has worked on numerous projects involving condition assessments, water infiltration investigation, repair, and replacement design.

Aaron B. Nelson is the president of Roofing Technical Services (RTS). He started in the roofing industry just after graduating from high school by working as a sheet metal fabricator/installer. Working his way in to the office of a commercial roofing contractor in Seattle, Washington, he worked as an estimator/project manager for 10 years. In 2004 he joined the consulting side of roofing and started working on projects across the nation. Nelson and the team at RTS provide consulting and quality assurance observations for their clients throughout the nation, working with various code and climate conditions that make each project unique. Nelson also serves as the chair of the IIBEC Education Committee.

Jordan O’Donnell has been involved in projects related to facade investigation, condition assessment, structural failure investigation, and building enclosure consulting. His projects have consisted mainly of brick and stone masonry wall systems and conventionally reinforced concrete. He has conducted numerous evaluations to identify causes of distress in existing exterior wall systems and has contributed to the preparation of repair documents for various structures.

Andre Parnther is trained as an architect and has more than 25 years of experience engineering complex new building facades and landmark building enclosures. He provides expert facade investigation and consulting services through all phases of projects, with building typologies that include historic and new residential, commercial office, college and university, hospital and healthcare, and dormitory facilities. As a Certified Masonry Inspector by the International Code Council (ICC), he has delivered award-winning projects and continues to work with his clients to provide expert facade engineering advice in an engaging and collaborative manner.

Stephen Patterson, has been in the roofing industry for 50 years. He founded Roof Technical Services Inc. (ROOFTECH) in 1983 and has been an active consulting engineer and roof consultant ever since. He is a registered roof consultant and fellow of IIBEC and a licensed engineer. ROOFTECH has provided laboratory testing, including testing for hail damage and hail resistance of prepared roof coverings, since the late1980s. Prior to becoming a consultant in 1983, he was a technical director/director of engineering for two roofing manufacturers, and he managed a roof contracting company.

Darren Perry, director of technical support for SOPREMA US, leads the technical support team, to provide support and services for sales representatives, design professionals, and contractor customers. Additionally, he manages the codes and approvals team to engage with “outside” laboratory testing and agency approvals aimed at enhancing SOPREMA and private labeled products. He also provides management and technical oversight for the warranty department and collaborates across all SOPREMA US brands, and the SOPREMA Group worldwide, to build stronger organizational networks. Perry has been with SOPREMA since 2010.

Amy Peterselli earned a degree in communication and minor in political science from DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, before obtaining her law degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago Law School. After law school, she practiced community association law in Illinois before being admitted to the Wisconsin Bar in 2021. Peterselli joined the Wisconsin office for Kaman & Cusimano in 2024. Her areas of focus in community association law include contract and governing document review and preparation, administration, enforcement remedies. She is currently involved in Community Association Institute– Wisconsin Chapter Board of Directors and Legislative Action Committee chair.

With over 20 years of experience spanning architecture, engineering, and manufacturing, Sheri Pettoni is a seasoned leader in marketing and business development within the building industry. She has led growth for multiple building product manufacturers, particularly those focused on the building enclosure, through go-to-market strategy, AIA presentations, product approvals, and technical sales support. Since 2016, she has supported IIBEC-related initiatives through strategic work with manufacturers specializing in building enclosure solutions. Her career has been defined by her ability to position complex products in competitive markets, build trust with technical audiences, and drive measurable results across the full sales and marketing lifecycle.

Michael Ramos is the president at Raymond, a minority and veteran-owned small business that provides full architecture and engineering services. After joining Raymond in 2017, he has worked to grow Raymond’s engagement and presence in the federal market and leads Raymond’s internal research and development (IRAD) program, which is currently developing multiple AI-based and software solutions for the architecture, engineering, and construction (A/E/C) industry. Prior to Raymond, Michael was the director of analysis at DeWolff, Boberg & Associates and a senior associate with Booz Allen Hamilton. He holds a BS in chemical engineering from MIT and an MS in chemistry from Tufts University.

Dziugas Reneckis is a structural engineer with experience in building and parking structure investigation, condition assessment and renovation projects. He provides comprehensive solutions for the repair of steel, masonry, wood and reinforced concrete structures, as well as building envelope systems. His work encompasses services across various project stages, including investigation, design, construction administration and special inspections. He also supports façade and interior renovation projects and has experience designing custom glass, steel and façade structural systems.

Erica Reynolds is a licensed architect, professional engineer, certified fenestration master, and senior consultant at Walker Consultants. She joined Walker in 2025 and has over 12 years of experience. She has managed numerous projects, including building enclosure design and consultation for new construction and remodels, as well as investigations and evaluations of several building assemblies. She has presented several times at conferences, seminars, and workshops for the American Institute of Architects, Los Angeles Building Enclosure Council, and the International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants (IIBEC). Reynolds serves on the IIBEC Codes and Standard Committee and is the chair of the Hawaii Winter Workshop for the IIBEC Southern California Chapter.

Stephanie Robinson, PEng, is the director of building sciences, Eastern Canada for WSP Canada Inc. Based in Ottawa, Ontario, she has over 15 years’ experience in the building enclosure industry, including investigation, design, contract administration, and construction review of building enclosure components for new and existing construction in both Canada and the United States. She recognizes that there is more than one solution to every challenge and believes that careful consideration of every option will lead to a unique strategy to both fulfill a client’s needs and optimize a building’s performance. Robinson is a licensed professional engineer in Ontario and a Level 2 Certified Thermographer. She was one of the founding members of the IIBEC Quebec Ontario Chapter and currently sits on the IIBEC Board of Directors as director of Region VII.

Victor Rosenthal has over 25 years of experience in the commercial roofing industry, with a strong focus on technical consulting and system performance. He began his career with Weatherproofing Technologies before moving into technical sales and support roles with Upland Corp., representing Firestone Building Products in the New Mexico/El Paso region. For the past decade, Rosenthal has been with Elevate (formerly Firestone BP), where he now serves as national technical manager for EPDM and asphalt systems. In this role, he provides technical guidance to architects, contractors, and building owners across the country.

Cheryl Saldanha specializes in designing and evaluating building enclosures for new construction projects and existing building enclosure renovations. Her experience includes curtainwalls, rainscreen facades, roofing, and waterproofing systems on a range of building types. She is adept at using multiple computer software packages to simulate building systems and details for thermal, condensation, whole-building energy, and daylighting analysis. Saldanha has co-chaired the New York City Chapter of the International Building Performance Simulation Association and has served on the NYC Commercial Energy Code Technical Advisory Committee for the last two code cycles.

Andrea Shear is an Associate Principal at Murray Engineering and has over 20 years of experience performing condition assessment surveys, failure investigations, structural repair designs for restoration and adaptive reuse, and construction period services associated with a variety of structures, including high-rise and historic commercial and office buildings, parking structures, residential buildings, and civil infrastructure. She is a Qualified Exterior Wall Inspector (QEWI) and Qualified Parking Structure Inspector (QPSI) in New York City, has bachelor's and master's degrees in civil engineering from the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, and is a licensed professional engineer in multiple states.

Flonja Shyti, is a research council officer with the Construction Research Centre of the National Research Council of Canada. As part of the roofing and insulation group, her research focuses on the performance requirements for climate resilience of commercial and residential roofs and their integration into codes. She is a member of the Single Ply Roofing Industry (SPRI) and the International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants (IIBEC) and is registered with the Professional Engineers Ontario. She received her master’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Ottawa.

Jeff Speert is the managing principal of 4EA Building Science, an enclosure consulting firm with offices in Seattle, Oakland, and Vancouver. A licensed architect and building science generalist, Speert combines technical expertise with a deep understanding of design to advance high-performance, durable building enclosures. His background spans carpentry, architecture, and residential design/build. He is active in promoting mass timber and modular construction and is a frequent speaker at regional and national events.

Jennifer Stephan is the roofing operations manager for Benchmark Inc. Recently promoted; she has been a senior roof consultant with Benchmark since September 2018. She provides consulting services to clients throughout North America, with a primary focus on roofing and building enclosure solutions for industrial and food manufacturing facilities. She has been involved in the construction industry since 1998.

John Sutton attended Ball State University College of Architecture and Planning and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Design. Through his education and early professional employment he has worked at architectural, landscape, civil engineering, land planning, and surveying firms. Additionally, he worked seven years at Firestone Building Products as a quality assurance specialist, special projects coordinator, and technical coordinator. He then transitioned to a roofing specialist at IBP Inc., where he managed capital roofing replacement projects and provided technical support to the organization. After Tyson Foods purchased IBP, he continued in this role, expanding into the role of a thermal and moisture specialist and lead manager of enclosure asset management. He has been involved in the design and construction industry since 1984.

Chris Traynor is a building scientist in Terracon's Facilities service line in Denver, CO. His background includes building forensic investigation and evaluation, building enclosure commissioning services, and repair design with an emphasis on cold climates for clients in the commercial, institutional, governmental, multiunit residential, and light-industrial market segments. Traynor takes a fundamental approach to solving building enclosure problems, using a formal building science education complimented by years of experience. He also leads Terracon's national building enclosure testing practice.

Matt Walters is the marketing manager at VaproShield, where he leads the planning and execution of marketing campaigns across digital platforms and live events. He manages project timelines, develops social media content, updates product literature, and creates technical articles and presentations. He plays a key role in cross-departmental coordination and customer engagement. With over three years at VaproShield, he conducts training sessions and contributes to educational content. His efforts support both domestic and international outreach, ensuring consistent messaging and a strong brand presence across the building materials industry.

Emily C. Wartman, is a Project Consultant at Simpson Gumpertz & Heger, specializing in the design, investigation, and rehabilitation of building enclosures. She has consulted on a wide range of new and existing buildings across North America, with expertise in below-grade waterproofing, roofing, fenestration, and façade systems. Emily works closely with architects, owners, and contractors throughout all phases of construction and has contributed to both technical publications and industry presentations. She is a licensed Professional Engineer in California.

Scott Wood, senior building scientist at VaproShield, provides product technical support for staff and clients, runs the VaproShield laboratory, and evaluates products. A Level III thermography and principal of SWA Consulting, Wood provides Level I & II certification courses in building science thermography, infrared inspections, and hygrothermal modeling. Wood has authored numerous papers and AIA presentations covering thermography and building science, and he also serves in many other organizations, including as director of building science of IACT, as an active voting member for ASTM E06 and C16 committees, and as a member of SeaBEC.

Eliana Zhen Yan is a graduate enclosure consultant who focuses on new and existing building enclosures. Her expertise includes assessment and repair design for distress related to exterior wall assemblies and roofing systems. Yan is also experienced in developing construction documents and providing contract administration services for masonry facade projects. During her free time, Eliana enjoys travelling to new places, running, baking, and eating,reading and playing board games.