2025 GKC Industry Day

Presented by: Jeff McDonough – CDM Smith

Room Location: Empire A

The pace of research and development advancing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS)-relevant destruction technologies (RDT) is significant. Within the past 10 years, novel mechanisms have progressed from inaugural bench-scale proof of concept studies to commercial offerings that are now relevant at the scale of environmental remediation (i.e., 1,000s to 10,000s of gallons per day). Through dedicated funding from the Departments of Defense and Energy through the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP) and the Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP), PFAS-RDT is now viable at the field-scale as a terminus to serial treatment trains and as a waste disposal option.

The goal of this presentation is to provide a Remediation Program Manager relevant overview of PFAS-RDT for liquids by succinctly and pragmatically narrowing the landscape to those destructive mechanisms with field-scale commercial offerings. The state of the practice of hazardous waste incineration of PFASs associated with liquids will be briefly mentioned as well as the development of new Environmental Protection Agency gaseous sampling methodologies. Remaining questions regarding the degree of certainty of incineration to achieve PFAS mineralization has an influence on the continued development of PFAS-RDT. The technologies will be discussed in terms of their destructive mechanism and applicability to PFASs in liquids rather than any commercial offering. No one PFAS-RDT will be promoted; instead, an unbiased assessment of the field-scale PFAS-RDT will be provided highlighting both strengths and weaknesses. Central to this discussion will be why the scope and scale of environmental remediation is both strategically advantaged and disadvantaged for PFAS-RDT versus the municipal sector.

The presentation will begin with a salient description of influential physical and chemical properties of PFASs. The purpose of this discussion is to make the subsequent applicability of the PFAS-RDT approachable and is not intended to be a reiteration of common knowledge regarding PFASs. The presentation will then introduce the spectrum of PFAS relevant destruction mechanisms and how the various technologies have evolved into field-scale availability. This portion of the presentation will serve to justify focusing the remaining discussion on electrochemical, hydrothermal, ultra-violet mediated advanced reducing processes, and non-thermal plasma treatment. The presentation will then conclude with practitioner insight regarding the deployment of this focused PFAS-RDT cohort, with selective inclusion of case study demonstrations for the purposes of conveying operational successes and challenges.

The goal of this presentation is to share knowledge accrued by tracking the advancement of PFAS-RDT for more than a decade. Three learning objectives for the audience of this presentation are: 1) Explore the available forms of destructive mechanisms relevant to PFAS; 1) Identify those PFAS-RDT with current field-scale capabilities; and 3) Describe what constitutes a viable PFAS relevant destruction mechanism.

Presented by: Brian Hoye – Burns & McDonnell

Room Location: Empire A

This presentation highlights a successful, multi-phase remediation effort at an active grain elevator facility impacted by carbon tetrachloride releases. Attendees will learn how Dual Phase Vapor Extraction (DPVE), Surfactant-Enhanced Extraction (SEE), and In-Situ Chemical Reduction (ISCR) were strategically integrated to overcome persistent source zone contamination in challenging site conditions. Key outcomes include significant contaminant mass removal, accelerated groundwater quality improvements, and the successful shutdown of the DPVE system following regulatory approval. The session will offer valuable insights into combining remediation technologies for complex sites, real-time field adaptation strategies, and lessons learned to inform future remediation projects.

Benefits of Attending:

Understand the advantages of integrating multiple remedial technologies for source zone treatment.
Gain practical knowledge of field-implemented surfactant-enhanced and in-situ chemical reduction strategies.
Learn best practices for overcoming access limitations and maximizing contaminant mass recovery.
Take away actionable lessons to apply in other complex remediation scenarios.

Presented by: Jeff Sickles – Olsson

Room Location: Empire A

Watershed managers face significant challenges in making decisions related to stream conditions, needs, and project prioritization. Remote sensing and drone technology promise to provide quick and reliable information, but does it provide enough data to make informed decisions? Utilizing a framework based on stream function, which considers hydrology, hydraulics, geomorphology, community values, and ecology, an on-the-ground approach to stream conditions assessment and asset management has been developed that provides rapid and flexible assessments to deliver stream function data in easily accessible web, desktop, and dashboard interfaces. This approach combines asset conditions assessment and use of the Mile High Flood District’s Urban Stream Assessment Procedure, a framework for quantifying stream function metrics
The data assists watershed managers in understanding where streams are displaying symptoms of poor function, where preservation should be prioritized, and where hazards exist that need immediate attention. Additionally, adaptive management frameworks have been developed to assist managers in making data-informed planning and management decisions.
The project approach and outcomes for the following elements will be explained both in terms of what worked and what was a challenge for the project team:

Progressing from assessment data to defining problems and stream improvement projects
Using a combination of on-the-ground and desktop assessment, streams can be actively managed by organizations to improve stream function and maintain stormwater infrastructure. This presentation provides an approach, strategies, lessons learned, and practical applications of stream assessment and asset management in urban stream systems.

Selecting assessment metrics

Employing efficient data collection methods using GIS processing and rapid field assessments including 360o imagery within the stream

Displaying large data sets using online webmaps in a useable format

Matching data collection efforts to management and program goals

Presented by: Kevin McEvoy – Cam-Dex

Room Location: Empire C

Our session will cover:

What does contract maintenance look like, and how do you handle an audit? Our goal will be to instruct small business owners and operators in the benefits and process of the attaining a GSA Contract. Additionally, attendees will have a better understanding of how the contract is established, defined, used, and maintained. I think, with GSA being in the news so much, right now, it would be valuable to better understand their function.

Who is the GSA, and why do they establish small business contracts?

What is the process for earning a GSA Contract, and how long does it take?

Once a company has a GSA Contract, how do they market it?

Presented by: Timothy Laughlin – Schoonover & Moriarty, LLC

Room Location: Empire C

If there is a word that best describes government contracting in 2025 its uncertainty. Hundreds upon hundreds of contracts are being terminated or cancelled in the name of efficiency and cost savings. Such decisions are likely to disproportionately impact the small business and the contracting community as a whole. While this presentation cannot offer certainty, it can hopefully provide clarity. We’ll discuss the spate of Executive Orders, including the order to end affirmative action programs; strategies to stay in compliance with policies that are a moving target; concerns about what to do in the face of termination and what this means for the future and growth; and other legal concerns and updates that businesses must consider as they plan for their future.”

Presented by: Kevin McEvoy – Cam-Dex; Dave Caldwell – Pond

Room Location: Atlanta Ballroom

A moderated conversation with USACE and GSA personnel addressing current, pending, and future needs and how industry can provide for those needs. Dave Caldwell (Pond) and Kevin McEvoy (Cam-Dex) will work as moderators and work the audience for questions to advance the discussion. Our goal for this session is to improve the fluency of potential contractors with government and military procurement operations and protocols. We believe that allowing government personnel to speak freely on the topic and to address questions will enhance potential partnership opportunities. The IGE Committee will be drawing on governmental resources and professionals that can give additional, industry-specific information and guidance.

Presented by: Tim Tipton, Jr. – Arctiq

Room Location: Empire B

For small businesses in the Defense Industrial Base (DIB), CMMC is more than a compliance exercise—it’s a strategic inflection point. Most organizations aren’t failing due to a lack of effort; they’re failing because they misinterpret their system boundaries, underestimate the risk exposure of third-party vendors, and delay formal gap assessments until it’s too late.

This session demystifies some of the most misunderstood areas of CMMC Level 2 readiness: identifying what’s in scope, mapping out assets across fragmented environments, and holding service providers to a security standard that doesn’t put your contract pipeline at risk.

We’ll walk through real-world strategies to:

• Define system boundaries beyond just technical diagrams—including data flow, people, and shared infrastructure.
• Distinguish between FedRAMP-authorized cloud providers and MSPs or SaaS vendors who may still be processing Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) without proper controls in place.
• Conduct targeted gap assessments that don’t overwhelm your team but do provide a clear path to remediation and readiness.

Attendees will also see how innovative automation platforms can assist in asset discovery, control tracking, and continuous monitoring—turning what feels like a regulatory burden into an operational advantage.

Whether you’re a small business prime, a subcontractor just entering the DIB space, or supporting these organizations through consulting or services, this session will give you practical guidance and decision-making frameworks to stay compliant, stay competitive, and stay ahead of the next DFARS clause.

Presented by: Sheila Paczosa – USACE Engineer Reseach & Development Center

Room Location: Empire B

Presented by: David Gutierrez – Black & Veatch

Room Location: Empire B

A moderated conversation with USACE and GSA personnel addressing current, pending, and future needs and how industry can provide for those needs. Dave Caldwell (Pond) and Kevin McEvoy (Cam-Dex) will work as moderators and work the audience for questions to advance the discussion. Our goal for this session is to improve the fluency of potential contractors with government and military procurement operations and protocols. We believe that allowing government personnel to speak freely on the topic and to address questions will enhance potential partnership opportunities. The IGE Committee will be drawing on governmental resources and professionals that can give additional, industry-specific information and guidance.