Team of Experts & Distinguished Professionals in a Variety of Industries
Introducing the CPES Board of Directors
The Continuing Professional Education Services, Inc. Board of Directors is comprised of experts and distinguished professionals from a variety of fields including legal, environmental consulting, LSRP, development, construction, energy, health & safety, and business advocacy.
Members are invited to serve as representatives of the CPES Board of Directors to aid in achieving the overall mission of CPES to provide accessible, quality, innovative and relevant educational opportunities to a diverse populations of professionals. Members are also contributors and instructors who can provide valuable insight and recommendations based on their first-hand knowledge and business experiences.
The role of the Board of Directors is to provide our organization with pertinent advice and experienced input in the following areas:
- Program development
- Strategic Planning
- Company policy
- Course Instruction
- Marketing strategies and social media development
- Leadership
- And More!
Jeff Casaletto, Esq.
Jeff Casaletto is Vice President and General Counsel of Interstate Waste Services, Inc., a solid waste management company based in Teaneck, New Jersey. The IWS family of companies serves customers throughout northern and central New Jersey, New York City and its metro area, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. With over 1900 employees, IWS is a vertically integrated regional leader in solid waste collection and disposal with hundreds of trucks in its fleet, dozens of solid waste facilities and support facilities, rail operations, and landfill operations.
Prior to joining IWS, Jeff was Co-Chair of the Environmental Practice Group at Norris McLaughlin where he practiced environmental law for almost 20 years. His practice focused on environmental issues in litigation, regulatory and transactional matters. He often served as New Jersey counsel for large transactions involving site remediation (mostly Industrial Site Recovery Act matters) and solid waste utility issues unique to New Jersey. During his time in private practice, Jeff was elected to and served on the Borough of Stockton Council where he was appointed to the Stockton Planning Board and to the head of the Stockton Water and Sewer Committee.
Before his private practice years, Jeff was awarded the Michael F. Vaccaro Fellowship Attorney position by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region III. Based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he served as Assistant Regional Counsel, where he focused on cost recovery at Superfund sites and prosecuting matters related to community right-to-know laws and spill prevention planning.
Jeff received his J.D. from Pace University School of Law (Elisabeth Haub School of Law), where he was a member of the Pace Environmental Litigation Clinic as a student practitioner. Jeff also received a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and a master’s degree in environmental engineering from the Pennsylvania State University.
Rayna Laiosa, CHMM, CPEA
Rayna Laiosa has more than 20 years of experience in EHS management, with particular focus on environmental compliance and policy. Currently, she is working for The Chemours Company as Regulatory Affairs Senior Manager to lead regulatory advocacy focusing on environmental across the United States.
Since 2012, Rayna has been actively participating for Industry with NJDEP in various stakeholder groups, including the Soil Standards workgroup, Ground Water Quality Criteria and Ground Water Use and Classification workgroups, Remedial Action Permits, and Site Remediation Advisory Group (SRAG). Rayna is the former Site Remediation Industry Network (SRIN) Chair, representing Industry.
In addition to her work experience, Rayna is a member of the Passaic County Brownfield Commission and Chair of the Hawthorne Environmental Commission and Green Team. Currently, Rayna is a Board Trustee member for the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions (ANJEC), representing the Borough of Hawthorne. Rayna was an Executive Committee Member of the former Economic Development Association of New Jersey (EDANJ), representing the Borough of Hawthorne.
Rayna holds a Masters of Engineering degree from Stevens Institute of Technology and a Bachelor of Science degree from The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey. She is a member of the Alliance of Hazardous Materials Professionals and Board of Environmental, Health, and Safety Auditor organization.
Irene Kropp
Irene Kropp is currently the President of Kropp & Associates, LLC providing regulatory consulting services in a variety of environmental areas. Ms. Kropp possesses extensive technical, administrative and management experience in all areas of environmental protection. She worked for 30 years at the NJ Department of Environmental Protection holding staff and managerial positions in the Water Supply, Water Resources, Compliance and Enforcement, Information Resources Management, Human Resources & Budget, and Site Remediation before being promoted to Deputy Commissioner in 2010. Ms. Kropp worked for Langan Engineering and Environmental Services after her retirement from NJDEP.
Ms. Kropp was the NJDEP lead for working with the NJ Legislature on developing the Site Remediation and Reform Act. She worked with multiple stakeholder groups in developing the Act as well as the Licensed Site Remediation Professionals program.
Ms. Kropp holds a Master of Science degree in Water Resources Engineering from Villanova University and a Bachelor of Science degree from The State University of New York – Cortland.
Robert J. Lippencott, PhD., LSRP, CHMM
Dr. Lippencott is a Senior Principal Consultant for TRC Environmental Corporation (TRC) and the Technical Director for TRC's New Providence, NJ office, with over 35 years of continuous experience and progressive responsibility in environmental science testing, investigations, remediation and project management. His experience includes all phases of environmental assessment and remediation, analytical data management, QA/QC review, statistical analysis, federal and state regulatory review and compliance, discharge and wetlands permitting, and litigation support. Dr. Lippencott's professional history covers technical and regulatory environmental compliance issues at a broad spectrum of industrial and non-industrial facilities, including oil refineries, pharmaceutical facilities, printing concerns, chemical facilities, dry cleaners and brownfield sites, as well as undeveloped and natural areas.
His experience includes all remedial phases from preliminary assessment and Phase I through remedial investigation and remedial action in addition to permitting, litigation support, regulatory strategy development, and CERCLA/Superfund cost allocation. In addition to managing some of TRC's key projects, Dr. Lippencott provides senior technical support and direction to clients and legal counsel, and to TRC's project managers and senior staff. As the TRC Group Lead for Ecological Evaluation, Risk Assessment and Data Management, Dr. Lippencott oversees numerous ecological evaluations, including risk assessments and remediation in environmentally sensitive areas. Dr. Lippencott previously served as an adjunct professor in the NJIT Chemistry and Environmental Science Department and is an original appointed member of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's Science Advisory Board since its establishment in 2010. Dr Lippencott has developed and presented several courses for Continuing Professional Education Services covering topics focused on the NJDEP's LSRP program including remediation of ecological sensitive areas, environmental statistics, and regulatory updates for emerging contaminants (e.g., PFAS).
We provide accessible, quality, innovative and relevant educational opportunities to a diverse population of professionals. Register for courses online today!
Anthony Russo
Anthony Russo is president of the Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey (CIANJ), a business association representing the interests of more than 900 companies. In this capacity, Mr. Russo is responsible for all aspects of the association. Mr. Russo is also the CEO and publisher of COMMERCE Magazine. COMMERCE magazine is a business to business magazine with a readership of more than 40,000 professionals.
Prior to his current position, Mr. Russo served as Executive Vice President of Government Affairs and Communications for CIANJ as well as Deputy Executive Director of the National Lime Association in Washington, DC representing the interests of mining companies producing calcium oxide (aka lime) at the federal level.
Mr. Russo started his career at the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection as a senior engineer issuing water quality permits. He then spent 5 years as an environmental consultant working for two firms, GES and ERM. He began his government affairs career when he served as Director of Regulatory and Legislative Affairs for the Chemistry Council of NJ, representing chemical and pharmaceutical companies in Trenton on legislative and environmental matters.
Mr. Russo is a graduate of the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) with a degree in mechanical engineering.
Stephen J. Souza, Ph.D.
Dr. Stephen J. Souza is the Owner of Clean Waters Consulting, LLC. He is also the Founding Partner of Princeton Hydro, LLC. From its inception in 1998 through 2018, he served as President of Princeton Hydro, retiring from the company in 2019. Over the past 35 years he has dedicated his career to the management and restoration of aquatic ecosystems, in particular lakes, ponds and reservoirs.
Dr. Souza received his B.S. in 1974 from the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, his M.S. in 1976 from Rutgers University, and his Ph.D. in 1981 from the University of Connecticut.
Dr. Souza has served over the past 25 years as an instructor and course coordinator for the Rutgers NJAES Office of Continuing Professional Education, developing and implementing multiple short courses focused on the management and restoration of aquatic ecosystems. He is also an Adjunct Professor at Temple University (Ambler Campus), teaching a graduate studies course in the Department of Landscape and Horticulture (Tyler School of Art and Agriculture). Dr. Souza also conducts a professional continuing education course focusing on green infrastructure stormwater management for Continuing Professional Education Services, Inc (CPES).
Dr. Souza is a past president of the North American Lake Management Society (NALMS) as well as the Pennsylvania Lake Management Society (PALMS). He serves on the Board of Trustees of the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions (ANJEC). Dr. Souza achievements include the NJ-American Water Resources Association Peter J. Homack Award (2012), the NALMS Lake Management Success Story Award (2017), the NYS Federation of Lake Association Lake Tear of the Clouds Award (2018) and the NJ Highlands Coalition Life Time Achievement Award (2019). He is a frequent guess speaker for the NJ Coalition of Lake Associations, as well as NJDEP, NYSDEC and other entities dedicated to the protection, restoration and management of water resources. Dr. Souza is a member of American Soc Civil Engineers, American Water Works Association and American Water Resource Association.
Tracy Straka
Tracy Straka is the Executive Vice President at Creamer Environmental Inc., one of the Nation's Top 200 Environmental Firms. She has been with Creamer Environmental, Inc. since its inception more than 25 years ago, and is responsible for all aspects of the organization's operations. Over the course of her career, she has managed over one thousand environmental projects involving solid and hazardous waste issues, regulatory compliance, Brownfields redevelopment and innovative technologies. Tracy earned her undergraduate degree from the George Washington University with a major in biological sciences and has completed many continuing education classes in environmental sciences.
Tracy has been involved with numerous start-ups, acquisition evaluations and corporate reorganizations, has served on and chaired many diverse boards, and actively participates in organizations that support business, environmental, women's leadership, mentoring, education and animal welfare issues. She is the founder and chair of the Environmental Business Council, the state's largest environmental trade association; was the first female to chair the Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey, a 95-year old free enterprise business association and remains an active board member.
Tracy has been the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions including: one of three Inaugural inductees to CIANJ's Environmental Hall of Fame and Recipient of their lifetime achievement award, inducted into the Free Enterprise Hall of Fame, selected by LWE as a Top 25 Leading Women Entrepreneur, Recognized by Gov. Christie as a "Woman of Influence in NJ", and named by NJBIZ as "Best 50 Women in Business. Tracy volunteers as a mentor to active duty military members who are transitioning to private sector careers in engineering, safety and environmental disciplines. Prior to her employment with Creamer, she was the Vice President of a nationally recognized environmental consulting firm. As that firm's first employee, she was instrumental in its growth and success.
Dennis M. Toft, Esq.
Dennis M. Toft is Chair of the Environmental Law Group with Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC. He is a renowned environmental lawyer who applies a keen understanding of science and the complexities of regulatory process when addressing the wide range of issues that his clients face. He provides counsel on all aspects of environmental law, including regulatory counseling, environmental due diligence, permitting, enforcement and environmental litigation, development and redevelopment and environmental insurance.
Dennis is highly regarded as one of New Jersey's leading Brownfields redevelopment practitioners. He was appointed to serve on the New Jersey Brownfields and Contaminated Site Remediation Task Force, a group created by state law to identify and market Brownfields sites and in 2002, he became chairman of the task force. Dennis was also appointed by Governor Richard Codey to serve on the New Jersey Solid Waste Advisory Council. Dennis played a key role in the adoption of the New Jersey Brownfields and Contaminated Site Remediation Act. More recently, Dennis was instrumental in the development and adoption of the New Jersey Site Remediation Reform Act (SRRA), which establishes a Licensed Site Remediation Professional Program in New Jersey and in the recent amendments to that statute. He is currently serving on the Board and Executive Committees of the New Jersey State Chamber of Commerce where he monitors and reports on environmental issues.
Dennis received his J.D. from Columbia Law School, where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar and served as a staff member and administrative editor of the Columbia Journal of Law and Social Problems. He earned a degree in physics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he was elected to Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Society. He has been elected to be a Fellow of the American College of Environmental Lawyers and a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation.
Joanne Vos, Esq.
Joanne Vos is partner at the law firm of Maraziti Falcon, LLP were she focuses her practice in environmental law, including compliance and transactional matters, environmental litigation, sustainability and land use as well as redevelopment and transactional work. She routinely counsels clients regarding environmental liability in connection with Purchase and Sale Agreements, Lease Agreements, Asset Purchase Agreements, Access Agreements and Redevelopment Agreements. She also counsels clients on various contamination and remediation issues including Federal and State due diligence requirements and ISRA compliance. Prior to joining the firm, Joanne practiced environmental law and litigation, including toxic torts, at several large law firms in New Jersey. From 1998 to 1999, she served as Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Stephen E. Mochary, J.S.C., in Essex County.
Joanne has repeatedly been recognized as a Super Lawyer, an accolade that is bestowed upon less than 5% of attorneys in the State of New Jersey and involves a nomination as well as a vetting process including an assessment by peers. Joanne is the receiptent of the Tranactional Lawyer of the Year Award from the Middlesex County Bar Association and Recognized by Real Estate New Jersey as a “Women of Influence.”
Joanne has a Bachelor of Arts from Montclair State University and Law Degree for Seton Hall University School of Law. Joanne was admitted to the State of NJ Bar in January, 1999.