Our Team

David R. Smith is a consultant as well as a retired industry leader with a 29-year career at the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute (ICPI). He helped establish ICPI as a leading authority on segmental concrete and permeable pavements, advocating for durable, functionally superior paving systems by contributing to research, national standards, manuals, and certification programs.

Over his career, David supported thousands of projects through technical guidance, education, and training, including the development and instruction of installer certification programs and influential publications on interlocking concrete pavement design, construction, and maintenance. His contributions to AASHTO, ASTM, CSA, ACI, APWA, FHWA, ASCE, AIA and ASLA as well as to ICPI has left a lasting impact on the industry and users, advancing technical innovation and professional education in sustainable and resilient permeable pavement systems.

Erik Meyer is a Senior Advisor with The Conservation Fund, where he has spent more than two decades advancing climate adaptation, water sustainability, and nature-based resilience strategies. His work has emphasized urban land and water conservation, coastal ecosystem restoration, and green infrastructure in historically underserved communities. He serves in leadership roles with the Maryland Climate Commission’s Adaptation and Resilience Workgroup, the Urban Waters Federal Partnership, and the Delmarva Restoration and Conservation Network.

Earlier in his career, Erik served as Vice President and General Counsel at the Environmental Law Institute, where he developed national programs on wetlands and corporate sustainability. His expertise in conservation, climate resilience, and policy continues to inform innovative approaches that connect environmental protection with community needs.

Michael Burke is President of Quest2 Consulting, LLC and Director of Business Inclusion & Capacity Development for the Clean Water Partnership, where he leads the nationally recognized Mentor-Protégé Program. Over the past eight years, he has helped grow the capacity of more than 60 small and minority-owned businesses in the green infrastructure sector, with many successfully competing for and delivering stormwater projects across Prince George’s County and beyond.

With more than 20 years of experience in sales, management, and leadership development, Michael combines his expertise as a certified leadership coach with his deep commitment to workforce and business inclusion. His work has kept investment in local communities, created job opportunities, and expanded the network of contractors advancing stormwater green infrastructure. He also serves on the boards of ecoLatinos and Employ Prince George’s, where he is Board Chair.

Steven Roy, LEED AP, is a Senior Technical Leader with Weston & Sampson, where he leads efforts in climate adaptation and stormwater green infrastructure. With more than 45 years of professional experience, he has advanced water resource management at the local, state, and federal levels, with a focus on groundwater protection, stormwater management, and climate resilience.

Steven brings deep expertise in innovative stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs), green infrastructure design, and the development of programs and projects that help communities adapt to climate impacts. His leadership and technical insight continue to shape forward-looking strategies for water management and climate adaptation.

Adriana Caldarelli serves as the LID Center’s Senior Advisor for Environmental Finance and Policy. She brings deep experience in environmental management, stormwater policy, and green infrastructure implementation. Before joining the LID Center, Adriana served as Deputy Director at the Prince George’s County Department of the Environment, where she helped advance key environmental programs and policy initiatives. Prior to her work with the County, she served as Director of the Stormwater Institute at the Water Environment Federation, where she also led the National Green Infrastructure Certification Program, a national workforce development initiative supporting high-quality green infrastructure construction, maintenance, and inspection. Earlier in her career, Adriana spent 17 years with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, focusing on stormwater and water quality policy and permitting. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resource Management from Rutgers University, a Master of Science in Environmental Policy from the New Jersey Institute of Technology, and a Master of Business Administration from Virginia Tech.

In addition to her part-time advisory role with the LID Center, Ms. Caldarelli serves full-time as the Director of the Water Infrastructure Finance Administration at the Maryland Department of the Environment.

Blair Danies is a Landscape Designer and Environmental Planner at the LID Center. She has a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (BLA) and a minor in Sustainability Studies from the University of Maryland, College Park. Blair has experience in stormwater design, urban design projects, and community revitalization throughout the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area. Her background in design and sustainable practices gives her a unique perspective on how to address the current state of the environment while maintaining its beauty and functionality.

Charles Griffith, PE, is the Director of Infrastructure Programs for the LID Center. Charlie has more than 20 years of experience with civil engineering projects specializing in stormwater management, flood control and green infrastructure.

Charlie holds a BS in Civil Engineering from the University of Arizona. He is a registered PE in Arizona, District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia.

Emily Clifton, AICP, is the Executive Director (and President of the Board) of the Low Impact Development Center, bringing over 25 years of experience in environmental planning and science across the Washington, D.C., and Mid-Atlantic regions. She oversees the Center’s operations, including project management, budgeting, staff supervision, and client relations, and leads its planning efforts with expertise in design manuals, technical training, community outreach, and master plan development and review. Her work focuses on practical solutions to improve water quality, address flooding, and support community resilience. Emily holds an M.S. in Environmental Science, a Master in Public Affairs, a B.A. in Business Administration, a B.A. in Philosophy, and is a certified planner through the American Planning Association.

Emma is an environmental planner with over 10 years of experience working with communities throughout the Chesapeake Bay Watershed to improve water quality and protect and enhance natural resources. She has experience with community planning, grant management, outreach, GIS analysis and green infrastructure planning.

She holds a B.S. in Environmental Science and Policy and a M.A. in Community Planning, both from the University of Maryland, College Park.

Megan Blakeslee is the Director of Operations and Programs at the LID Center, working closely with the Executive Director in contributing to future growth of the organization and ensuring efficient operation of the office. In addition to overseeing company policies and preparing corporate documents, Megan is responsible for the tracking of grants, working with staff to ensure timely completion of project tasks within budget. She also participates in the grant proposal process and quality control for deliverables. Megan has a B.A. in Communication and a B.S. in Marketing from the University of Maryland.

Mitchell Kleckner is a Civil / Environmental Engineer specializing in water resources. Before the LID Center, they worked as a water resources engineer on stream restoration and green stormwater infrastructure projects. At the LID Center, Mitchell acts primarily as a design engineer on projects including outdoor learning spaces, green streets, and micro-bioretention facilities. Mitchell holds a B.S. in Environmental Health and Engineering from Johns Hopkins University.

Neil Weinstein is a founding member and Director Emeritus of the LID Center. Previously serving as Executive Director, he led the advancement of sustainable stormwater solutions and low impact development practices for over 30 years. As one of the nation’s leading experts in low impact development, Neil co-chaired the first national ASCE conferences on Green Highways and Green Streets and was an original signer of the EPA Green Infrastructure Statement of Intent. He has received national recognition, including awards from USEPA and FHWA for his leadership in stormwater management, and has authored numerous publications and guides on sustainable development and stormwater management. Neil holds an M.S. in Environmental Engineering from Johns Hopkins University and an M.L.A. from the University of Georgia.

Terra Virsilas leads the LID Center’s planning and policy work, guiding local governments to meet community, environmental, and clean water goals. She has led diverse projects, from grant management for Prince George’s County to a DoD-funded resilience planning effort in St. Mary’s County, and brings expertise in urban forestry, transit-oriented development, affordable housing, and nature-based solutions. Her work spans community engagement, grant programs, and the planning and implementation of green infrastructure and resilience projects.