ADVISORY BOARD DIRECTORY
INS ITUTE
WATER INSTITUTE
Directory Contents
Deb Backhus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Kathy DeGuilio-Fox. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Kevin Doyle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Rosalie (Rose) M. Herrera . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Kathy Luther . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Kay L. Nelson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
George Nnanna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Bruno L. Pigott . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Daniel Plath . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Mardanna Sota . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Bob Theodorou. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
ADVISORY BOARD DIRECTORY
WATER INSTITUTE
Deb Backhus
Senior Environmental Scientist/Engineer, Legacy Environmental Services
9800 Connecticut Drive • Crown Point, IN 46307
Phone: 219-644-3690
E-mail: dbackhus@sbcglobal.net
Dr. Backhus has devoted most of her 20+ year career to water related issued. She began her professional career
in academia spending 14 years as a professor of Environmental Sciences in the School of Public and Environmental
Affairs at Indiana University, Bloomington Indiana. Her research focused on lab, field and modeling efforts to
understand how pollutants move around the environment. Projects included studying the dynamics of PCB releases
into streams from superfund sites and pollutant transport through wetlands. Deb’s teaching portfolio included
Environmental Chemistry, Environmental Problems and Solutions, Exploring Bioavailability and Environmental
Engineering courses. The latter course had a significant focus on water and wastewater treatment processes. In
2006 Deb left her tenured faculty position to move to Northwest Indiana and head up a Research and Development
lab for Advanced Concepts and Technologies International (ACT I). Her water related projects in this position
included 1) evaluation of water treatment technologies to improve the US Army’s Reverse Osmosis-based portable
drinking water facilities and 2) development of a low cost, simple to use, high capability, field portable online
monitoring systems for detection of trace levels of toxic organic contaminants in water. Deb left ACT I in 2011 and
is currently pursuing a new passion in helping businesses, municipalities, schools and other organizations identify
sustainable practices that improve the environment while lowering costs. Dr. Backhus works on these efforts with
Legacy Environmental Services and an associated not-for-profit, South Shore Clean Cities. In this capacity, Deb
hopes to expand on current work at the water-energy nexus and broaden efforts with water and wastewater
treatment facilities in achieving cost savings through green initiatives.
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Kathy DeGuilio-Fox
Director, Purdue Technology Center of NW Indiana
9800 Connecticut Drive • Crown Point, IN 46307
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Phone: 219-644-3683
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E-mail: kjdeguilio-fox@prf.org
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Kathy began work with the Purdue Technology Center of NW Indiana as the Business Development Manager in July
2004 prior to the opening of the technology incubator in the newly established Purdue Research Park of NWI in
Merrillville. She served as Interim Director from February 2005 to June 2005 and then was named Director of the
Purdue Technology Center in February of 2009.
Kathy DeGuilio-Fox is responsible for the success of the business accelerator and incubation programs, includ­
ing services and facilities, at the Purdue Technology Center of NWI and the Purdue Research Park of NWI. She is
responsible for recruiting and working closely with the companies that locate or affiliate with the Purdue Technol­
ogy Center of NWI and focuses on providing direct assistance that supports growth and development of the Center’s
clients. Kathy coordinates the essential logistics and activities associated with the Purdue Portals business accelera­
tor program including assisting in the search for sources of capital, technical resource acquisition, organizational
development, structuring of financial aspects of new business ventures and establishing a network of resources
throughout the Purdue, local, and state communities. DeGuilio-Fox also coordinates the incubator companies’ use
of interns as well as their project collaboration with university faculty. And, as Director of the facility she is respon­
sible for decisions directly related to staff and the 60,000 square foot physical facility as well.
She has more than 20 years experience in project development, grant writing and fund raising, plus extensive rela­
tionships in business, economic development and governmental communities. In her previous position as Execu­
tive Director of Partners in Contracting Corporation Kathy worked with small businesses to secure government
contracts and trained clients to work effectively with government agencies. She also developed marketing strategies
to promote services, attracted grants, developed business partnerships, coordinated training seminars, and assisted
in economic and job development initiatives. During her years as a redevelopment commissioner for the Town
of Highland Kathy played an integral role in moving forward the downtown infrastructure renovations and the
streetscape projects. This facelift was the jumpstart to renewed life and increased commercial traffic for Highland’s
aging downtown.
DeGuilio-Fox is an Indiana University graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree and completed masters level courses
at Valparaiso University. She currently serves on a number of boards including Leadership Northwest Indiana (2003
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Kathy DeGuilio-Fox continued...
recipient of The Community Leadership Association Distinguished Leadership Award), the Lake County Advancement
Committee, NWI Small Business Development Center Advisory Board, Purdue University Calumet’s Engineering
Advisory Board, Purdue University Calumet Water Institute, and the Society of Innovators Board of Governor’s. She
also is a member of the National Business Incubator Association (NBIA) and earned NBIA certification from their
Incubator Management Certificate Program in June 2008.
Kathy is a native of Northwest Indiana and grew up in Hammond. She is currently a resident of Highland although
Kathy has lived in various communities in Indiana, the United States and in Geneva, Switzerland. DeGuilio-Fox has
one son, Sean. A graduate of Highland High School, Sean received his undergraduate degree in Economics from the
University of Notre Dame and a dual master’s degree from the Indiana University School of Public and Environmen­
tal Affairs, Bloomington. His primary focus of study was water resources and he is employed as an Environmental
Specialist for the State of Georgia.
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Kevin Doyle
Manager of Environmental Affairs, ArcelorMittal Indiana Harbor
3001 Dickey Road, Sta. 001 • East Chicago, IN 46312
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Phone: 219-399-1686
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E-mail: Kevin.Doyle@arcelormittal.com
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• Resident of Valparaiso Indiana with three children Meghan (Purdue graduate) Patrick (current Purdue student) and
Shannon who is a senior at Wheeler high school. My wife Carol a Pittsburgh native is employed by a local attorney.
• Graduate of Wirt high school in Gary Indiana and North Central College in Naperville IL.
• Been in the environmental field for over thirty years with USX, National, ISG and Arcelor Mittal.
• Currently Manager of Environmental Affairs for ArcelorMittal Indiana Harbor which is currently the largest steel
facility in North America.
• Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM)
• Certified Industrial Hygiene Technologist (CIHT)
Special Projects:
• Permitting of Several Landfills
• Construction and implementation of Habitat for Endangered species
• Negotiation of permits in all medias
• General issues chairman for the Indiana Manufactures Association
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Rosalie (Rose) M. Herrera
Environmental Team Leader, Waste and Waste Compliance, BP Products N.A. Whiting Refinery
MC 122 RSB204 • 2815 Indianapolis Blvd. • Whiting, IN 46375
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Phone: 219-473-3393 E-mail: Rosalie.Herrera@bp.com
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Rose has been in the professional environmental compliance field for over 20 years. She has been with BP for over 17
years working as an Environmental Air Specialist in BP Chemicals Port Lavaca,Texas, Environmental Permit Engineer
for Waste and Water, Environmental Planning Engineer and currently Team Leader for Water and Waste Compliance at
BP Whiting Refinery, Whiting, Indiana. She obtained her Industrial Engineering Degree from New Jersey Institute of
Technology (NJIT) and her MBA from University of Houston. Responsibilities include managing an engineering staff
for water and waste compliance, permitting for USACE, IDEM and DNR, engineering project reviews for environmental
impacts, monitoring changes in regulations both Federal and State for impacts to BP Whiting refinery, providing
regulatory interpretations, as well as reporting and recordkeeping for regulatory compliance.
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Kathy Luther
Director, Environmental Programs, Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission
6100 Southport Road • Portage, IN 46368
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Phone: 219-763-6060 E-mail: kluther@nirpc.org
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Kathy Luther has been the Director of Environmental Programs at the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning
Commission since 2006. She currently manages all environmental projects and programs for the organization.
These include a diverse variety of topics including environmental mitigation and consultation processes for
transportation projects, environmental education, air and water quality public outreach; diesel engine retrofits
projects, brownfield programs, watershed and water quality planning, and the Marquette Plan. In addition to
project and program management, she also serves as the Commission’s primary liaison with environmental and
natural resource agencies and advocacy groups. She has 15 years of experience as an environmental professional in
the region. After completing her MSES and MPA degrees from Indiana University in School of Public and Envi­
ronmental Affairs, Kathy was employed at the Northwest Regional Office of IDEM as the Lake Michigan Lakewide Management Plan Coordinator for seven years. In that capacity she worked with partners throughout our
local region as well as the larger Great Lakes basin to improve Lake Michigan through activities such as chairing
the E. coli Task Force. Prior to coming to NIRPC she worked as a Project Manager for Microbac Laboratories,
in Merrillville where she managed a wide variety of environmental testing projects for clients throughout the
Chicago metro area.
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Kay L. Nelson
Director, Environmental Affairs, Northwest Indiana Forum
6100 Southport Road • Portage, IN 46368
E-mail: knelson@nwiforum.org
Kay Nelson is a 1977 graduate of Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. She received a Bachelor of Science
Degree from the School of Agriculture in Natural Resources and Environmental Science. In the pursuit of her de­
gree, Ms. Nelson focused upon water quality issues.
Upon graduation, Ms. Nelson began her career with the City of East Chicago, Indiana Sanitary District. During her
eighteen years tenure with the city, Ms. Nelson was instrumental in the development of the Industrial Pretreatment
Program – a water quality program dedicated to protecting the receiving streams and Lake Michigan. In the late
1980s, Ms. Nelson served as the Grant Administrator for the Wastewater Treatment and Pumping Station Construc­
tion project. The resulting tertiary wastewater treatment plant which utilizes an ultraviolet disinfection process,
rather than traditional chlorination treatment, in conjunction with the successful Industrial Pretreatment Program
has resulted in freshwater salmon spawning in the Sanitary District outfall and the presence of a rare freshwater
sponge colony growing in the effluent chambers. As East Chicago is a landlocked community, Ms. Nelson was inte­
gral in the early days of Brownfield Redevelopment. In each of these roles, Ms. Nelson worked closely with multiple
offices within the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region V (Chicago) and the Indiana Department of
Environmental Management (IDEM). In recognition of Ms. Nelson’s work with the multistakeholders groups within
East Chicago, she was selected to participate on the Iron & Steel Sector Common Sense Initiative with US EPA.
Beginning in 1995, Ms. Nelson served as the Regional Office Director for the Indiana Department of Environmental
Management (IDEM) in Gary, Indiana. This position provided the opportunity to expand her work with multistake­
holders groups in a larger geographical area on various air, water and solid waste permitting issues. It was during
her tenure with IDEM that she began a concentrated focus on the Great Lakes Compact development process.
Ms. Nelson joined the Northwest Indiana Forum in 1998. The Northwest Indiana Forum is a non-profit regional
economic development organization. Currently, the Forum has 123 members representing a diverse base of small
business, municipalities, health care, financial institutions, legal firms, local universities and large industry within
Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties in Indiana. In total, the Forum members reflect over $40 Billion in commerce
annually on behalf of the state of Indiana. Recognizing the integral relationship between economic development
and environmental protection, Ms. Nelson’s role with the Northwest Indiana Forum is diverse. She is an active
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Kay L. Nelson continued...
participant during the new and/or expanding business process – working to assist understanding by the commu­
nity large of the impact and importance of economic development. Working on environmental issues affecting existing
members, Ms. Nelson provides a forum whereby regional position papers are developed. In this process, Ms. Nelson
represents the business community in discussions with environmental and community stakeholders to develop under­
standing and often consensus on important issues. The successful passage of Indiana Senate Enrolled Act 45 as signed
by Governor Mitch Daniels on February 20, 2008 reflects this unique collaboration Ms. Nelson works to affect.
In recognition of her Great Lakes Compact work, Ms. Nelson was awarded the Sagamore of the Wabash from Gover­
nor Mitch Daniels.
Ms. Nelson serves on multiple regional boards.
• Lake Area United Way Board of Directors (Lake County, Indiana)
• Indiana Dunes Environmental Learning Center
• Purdue University Calumet Water Institute
• The Times Advisory Board
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George Nnanna
Director, Purdue University Calumet Water Institute
Schneider Avenue Building • 2540 169th St. • Hammond, IN 46323
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Phone: 219-989-2071
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E-mail: nnanna@purduecal.edu
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George Nnanna is a professor and the Interim Head of the mechanical engineering department, and the Francis
and Elsie Meyer Named Professorship and director of the Purdue University Calumet Water Institute. His scholarly
work has resulted in more than seventy refereed technical papers in journals and conference proceedings in the
areas of membrane systems, transport phenomena in micro-and nano-porous media and applied optics; U.S.patent
application on an opto-chemical sensor; and a recognition of Fulbright Specialist Award from the U.S. Department
of State. His research has been funded by the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department.of Energy, and
industries. He earned his Ph.D.and Master’s degrees in mechanical engineering from the University of Texas at
Arlington, and his Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from Texas Tech University.
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Bruno L. Pigott
Assistant Commissioner, Office of Water Quality,
Indiana Department of Environmental Management
100 North Senate Avenue • Indianapolis, IN 46204
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Phone: 317-233-2550 • Fax: 317-232-8406
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E-mail: bpigott@idem.in.gov
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Bruno Pigott is the Assistant Commissioner in the Office of Water Quality at IDEM. He has worked at IDEM since
2000. Mr. Pigott previously worked as the chief of the Permits Branch, the Compliance Branch, and the State
Revolving Fund Section in the Office of Water Quality. He received his Masters Degree from Indiana University’s
School of Public and Environmental Affairs and his Bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University.
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Daniel Plath
President and Founder, Northwest Indiana Paddling Association (NWIPA)
Westville, IN
Phone: 219-647-5268 E-mail: dkplath@nisource.com
Dan is the President and founder of the Northwest Indiana Paddling Association (NWIPA), an American Canoe
Association Paddle America Club 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization of approximately 450 paddlers founded in 2009,
devoted to making the region a premier paddling destination through their efforts of organizing canoe & kayaking
events, education, and blueways stewardship. Dan is also a board member and former Vice-President of Shirley
Heinze Land Trust, a charitable trust that preserves and protects the unique ecosystems of the Indiana Dunes
region. In addition, Dan is past board member of the Northwest Indiana Quality of Life Council, a member of the
Trail Creek Watershed Steering Committee, the Indiana DNR Coastal Advisory Board, the NWI Regional Planning
Council’s Environmental Management Policy Committee (EMPC), the Indiana DNR trails Advisory Board, the
Indiana University Northwest SPEA Board of Advisors, the Northwest Indiana Steelheaders, Pi Alpha Alpha Honor
Society, the Indiana Grand Kankakee Marsh Restoration Project, the Grand Calumet River Area of Concern (AOC)
advisory committee (CARE), the Urban Waters Federal Initiative Steering Committee, the National Park Conserva­
tion Association’s Future of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore steering committee, and the Northwest Indiana
Forum environmental committee. Dan earned both a Bachelor and Masters Degree in Public Administration /
Environmental Policy through the Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs. Dan is a graduate
from the IU Institute for Innovative Leadership, former President of the IU Northwest Alumni Association, and is
a Certified Master Naturalist. While as an employee of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, he
was given the Commissioner’s Award for Environmental Excellence for his outstanding efforts on insuring drink­
ing water quality across Northern Indiana. In 2009, Dan received the Northwest Indiana Quality of Life Award,
and also was inducted into the Northwest Indiana Society of Innovators. In 2010, Dan received on the behalf of the
Northwest Indiana Paddling Association the prestigious “Stroke of Achievement Award” for outstanding program
development and achievement from the American Canoe Association – the highest award given to an ACA affiliate
paddling organization in the country. Over the past year, Dan spearheaded an effort that led to the designation of
the Lake Michigan Water Trail as a National Recreation Trail. Additionally, Dan received the National Park Service’s
2011 Midwest Region Excellence in Partnership Merit Award on the behalf of the Northwest Indiana Paddling As­
sociation. Most recently, Dan received the Northwest Indiana Times 20 Under 40 Award which recognizes twenty
leaders under forty across Northwest Indiana making an impact to improve the region, and the Leadership North­
west Indiana South Shore Impact Award.
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Daniel Plath continued...
Current efforts include building a coalition of organizations to protect and preserve the East Branch of the Little
Calumet River corridor and the creation of a water trail, and the completion of the 1600 mile Lake Michigan Water
Trail National Recreation Trail. Dan is an employee of NiSource as their Water Program Leader in the Corporate
Environmental, Safety, and Sustainability Department and is a member of the Sustainability Team. Dan lives in
Westville Indiana with his wife - Vicky, their four year old son - Eric, two year old daughter – Katie, and four month
old son - Matthew.
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Mardanna Sota
Environmental Manager, United States Steel Corporation Gary Works
One North Broadway - MS 70-A • Gary, IN
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Phone: 219-888-2339
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email: MDSoto@uss.com
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Bob Theodorou
Laboratory/IPP Manager, Gary Sanitary District
3600 W. 3rd. Avenue • Gary, IN 46406
Phone: 219-944-0595 • Fax: 219-944-4470
E-mail: btheodorou@garysan.com
Bob Theodorou is the Laboratory and Industrial Pretreatment Program (IPP) Manager for the Wastewater
Treatment Plant of the city of Gary, IN. He has worked for the city of Gary since 1990, as analytical chemist / supervisor
until 1997 and as laboratory manager thenceforth. He holds a class IV wastewater operator’s certificate from the
State of Indiana and has assisted with plant operations management and process control. Bob has received an
associate degree in applied chemistry from Greece and a bachelor degree in Science from Purdue University Calumet.
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Schneider Avenue Building
2450 169th Street • Hammond IN 46323-2094
219-989-8048 • waterinstitute@purduecal.edu
Dr. George Nnanna, Director
Nnanna@purduecal.edu • PWI: 219-989-8048 or Mechanical Engineering: 219-989-2071
Kasandra Tenbarge, , Program and Outreach Administrator
Kasandra.tenbarge@purduecal.edu • Phone: 219-989-8411
WATER INSTI