MSU Extension Septic System Education

Below you will find the biographies for the speakers at the Michigan Onsite Wastewater Conference.

Bindu Bhakta, MSU Extension

Bindu Bhakta is a Natural Resources Educator with Michigan State University Extension, based in Oakland County. She is a member of the MSU Extension Center for Lakes and Streams. Her main responsibilities include developing online and in-person educational programs for adults and youth that are delivered locally and statewide on a variety of topics including the conservation of Michigan ecosystems and natural communities, inland lakes and the importance of natural shorelines, and onsite wastewater. Across Michigan, she also coordinates the Michigan Conservation Stewards Program, which empowers individuals with the knowledge and skills needed to make a difference in their local communities. Bindu earned her Master’s Degree from Cornell University in the Department of Floriculture and Ornamental Horticulture in 2001, and a double Bachelor’s Degree from University of Michigan in 1995 in Natural Resource Management (School of Natural Resources) and Anthropology-Zoology (School of Literature, Science and Arts).

Rachel Burns, Michigan EGLE

Coming Soon

Casey Clement, Health Department of Northwest Michigan

Casey Clement, REHS, is a graduate of the Environmental Health program at Central Michigan University and has worked at the Health Department of Northwest Michigan since 2014. She is currently an Environmental Health Coordinator and oversees several programs, including Time of Transfers.

Faith Cullens-Nobis, MSU

In her role as an MSU Extension Educator, Faith works with farms impacted by PFAS contamination in Michigan. She works with farms to identify PFAS contamination risk, sources of contamination and mitigation strategies. Faith works closely with the MSU Center For PFAS Research advancing agricultural research on PFAS. Faith also works with commercial dairy producers and farm employees across the state, focusing on farm management, immunology, labor, water use efficiency, nutrition, and calf and heifer development.

Nishita D'Souza, MSU

Nishita D’Souza is an Assistant Professor-Research in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at Michigan State University (MSU). Her research focuses on a One Health approach, applying culture and molecular based environmental and water quality monitoring tools to understand the burden of human pathogens; improve the safety of water, sustainability of resources and monitoring for public health impact. Nishita earned her B.Sc., M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Microbiology from the University of Mumbai, India. She has experience in developing, validating microbiological methods, and working with waterborne bacterial, viral, and protozoan pathogens particularly in water/wastewater with a focus on detection and treatment. As a Post-doctoral Research Associate and currently, Assistant Professor, Dr. D’Souza works with the Michigan Network for Environmental Health and Technology (MiNET) to support funding acquisition, method optimization, quality assurance procedures, laboratory training and troubleshooting, data analysis and dissemination. Nishita has collaborated with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) on implementing wastewater monitoring for viral pathogens of concern and their variants including SARS-CoV-2, Influenza, Norovirus, Respiratory Synctitial Virus (RSV), Antimicrobial resistance targets through droplet digital PCR and sequencing approaches, in Michigan, for the CDC-NWSS program. She has also supported the development of similar monitoring programs in Philadelphia, Louisiana and India since 2020. Her research also focuses on understanding sources of fecal pollution through Microbial Source Tracking. She has worked with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes & Energy (EGLE) and local stakeholders to apply molecular tools to study anthropological and agricultural effects on water which can be used to inform and protect public health.

Derek DeLand, NSF

Derek DeLand is the Environmental Health Programs Manager in NSF’s Government Affairs Division. In this role he serves as a point of contact for local and state regulatory agencies and provides support with respect to NSF standards, certifications, and services. Derek came to NSF after 19 years at a local health department in Michigan where he served as a sanitarian and Environmental Health Director overseeing food safety, drinking water, onsite wastewater, and various other programs. He received his MPH with an environmental health concentration from the University of Illinois-Springfield and is a credentialed REHS/RS.

Marisa Faraldo, Michigan EGLE

Marisa has a Bachelor of Science in Geology and a Master of Science in Environmental Health. Both degrees were received from Old Dominion University. She also an REHS/RS with the National Environmental Health Association. She previously worked at Kent County Health Department as a general sanitarian before coming to Michigan Department of EGLE as an Environmental Quality Analyst in the Onsite Wastewater Program in 2021.

Casey Fiedler, Michigan Septic

Casey runs Michigan Septic with partner Matt Gustafson and is heavily involved with onsite education. Casey sits on the board for the Michigan Septic Tank Association, Wastewater Education, and actively integrates with the education arm of the National Association of Wastewater Technicians. These days Michigan Septic, based in Mason, MI, covers everything - inspections, installations, design, and operations and maintenance of onsite septic systems.

Cheryl A. Gross, Plant It Wild

Casey Clement is a graduate of the Environmental Health program at Central Michigan University and has worked at the Health Department of Northwest Michigan since 2014. She is an Environmental Health Coordinator and oversees several programs, including Time of Transfers.

Brian Hannon, Moore & Bruggink/MSPE

Coming Soon

Gary Hawkins, University of Georgia Extension

Gary L. Hawkins has been at the University of Georgia since 2001. He is an Extension specialist in the area of Water Resource Management and Policy. He is an Agricultural Engineer with an 80% Extension appointment and a 20% Research appointment. Extension programming involves water resource management, water conservation, stormwater management, well water, on-site waste treatment and alternative energy. Research is used to support his extension programming. Some projects include water conservation through conservation tillage, crop water use, and soil moisture management.

Sara Heathman, Michigan EGLE

Sara Heathman graduated from Michigan Technological University with a Bachelor’s in Forestry. Sara worked for the Western UP Health Department as a Sanitarian, Operations Supervisor, and Environmental Health Director and joined EGLE in June of 2024 as part of the Onsite Wastewater and Septage programs. Sara is licensed in Wisconsin as a Septage Hauler and Certified Soil Tester and is also a licensed REHS/RS through NEHA and on the Board of Directors for MEHA.

Nishaat Killeen, Michigan Saves

Coming Soon

Jacob Lesniak, Michigan EGLE

Jacob Lesniak is an EGLE Septage Program staff member in the Drinking Water and Environmental Health Division. He has a BS in Environmental Science from Lake Superior State University concentrating in Policy, Management, and Conservation. His past experiences include 5 years with District Health Department #10 working in onsite wastewater and well permitting/inspections, campground inspections, pool inspections, MDHHS licensed facility inspections, complaint investigations, soil evaluations, mortgage evaluations, and PFAS management

Benjamin Love, Michigan EGLE

Benjamin Love is an EGLE Septage Program staff member in the Drinking Water and Environmental Health Division. He has a B.S. in Environmental Science from LSSU. He has experience as an AmeriCorps member in the 'Armed to Farm' Program, onsite wastewater and water permitting experience as an Environmental Health Sanitarian at BHSJCHA, and as a municipal water and wastewater utilities GIS Technician.

Anne Mitchell, Michigan EGLE

Anne Mitchell graduated from Michigan State University in 2014 with a master’s degree in public health and toxicology, after graduating, Anne worked for the Ingham County Health Department as a registered sanitarian within the Land and Water Program for seven years, and began working for EGLE in October of 2023 as the Program Manager for the Septic Replacement Loan Program.

Jeffrey Ross, Michigan EGLE  

Jeffrey Ross graduated from Indiana University with a B.S. in Public Affairs. Prior to working for EGLE’s Onsite Wastewater Management Unit, he was a general sanitarian for the Kent County Health Department and an Environmental Health Specialist in Maricopa County, Arizona reviewing residential, non-residential, and alternative onsite wastewater treatment system plans as well as conducting inspections.

Alyssa Sarver, Michigan EGLE

Coming Soon

Laura Schultz, Illinois State

Laura Schultz is an Environmental Science Writer at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she works in the Illinois State Water Survey’s Water & Public Health program. This program oversees the family of websites run as a collaboration between the Illinois State Water Survey and the Rural Community Assistance Partnership, which are funded by the United State Environmental Protection Agency: WaterOperator.org, PrivateWellClass.org, and DecentralizedWastewater.org. Laura works on the communications team for each of the three programs — primarily running social media, writing monthly newsletters, and creating blog posts on various topics related to wastewater. She also works on the team entering data into WaterOperator.org and DecentralizedWastewater.org, and edits the “Tap Talk: The Drinking Water in Rural America Podcast.” Laura has been with the Illinois State Water Survey since 2023, and previously received a B.S. degree in Earth, Society, and Environmental Sustainability at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2018; as well as a professional M.A. degree in Journalism from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 2020. 

Kevin Sherman, SeptiTech, Inc.

Kevin Sherman is Director of Engineering and Regulatory Affairs for SeptiTech, Inc. out of Lewiston, ME. Dr. Sherman is a Professional Engineer and a Registered Sanitarian in Florida. Dr. Sherman is author or co-author of over 50 publications. He is a past-president of the Florida Environmental Health Association and the National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association. Dr. Sherman worked with the Florida Department of Health for fourteen years. From 1989 to 1992 he served as administrator of the onsite sewage program for the state. For six years, Dr. Sherman served as the Executive Vice President of the Florida Onsite Wastewater Association. Currently, he is a Director of Engineering and Regulatory Affairs for SeptiTech, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of BioMicrobics, Inc.

Larry Stephens, Stephens Consulting

Larry has spent over 50 years now in the onsite wastewater treatment industry, first as a state regulator for 12 years and then as the owner of Stephens Consulting Services, PC for the last 40 years. Stephens Consulting Services is a design engineering company located in Haslett, MI. Onsite wastewater treatment systems, both large and small, have become his focus and specialty. Larry holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Michigan State University and a Masters of Engineering from the University of Florida. He is a registered professional engineer in Michigan and Ohio. Larry is active and has held leadership positions in both the Michigan Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association and the National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association.

Mike Stephens, Guardian Wastewater

Mike works for Guardian Wastewater, formerly known as SCS Systems, LLC. He has been in the wastewater industry for 24 years, working in operations, maintenance, inspection, and product management.  Recently, he spent 2 ½ years as the Wastewater Product Manager for Valley Farms Supply & Milan Supply Company.  He received his Bachelor of Business Administration from Grand Rapids Baptist College (now Cornerstone University).  He is a licensed wastewater operator with the State of Michigan.

Dolores Thomas, MTA Safety Center

Dolores was a Commercial Vehicle Enforcement officer for 30 years with the Michigan State Police. She is now a safety specialist for the Michigan Center for Truck Safety and strives to share the knowledge she has accumulated throughout the past 35 years.

Vencent Woods, Michigan DNR Law Enforcement Division

Coming Soon

Alissa Yanochko, EGLE

Alissa has a BS in Environmental Engineering from MSU. She is an Environmental Engineer in the Groundwater Permits Unit of the Water Resources Division in EGLE. She completes engineer reviews of treatment systems and works on drafting permits under the groundwater discharge permitting program.