Plenary Panel Discussion

James Drummond, Esq., Attorney-Advisor, Civil Rights and Finance Law Office, Office of General Counsel, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

James Drummond is a failed retiree who spent most of his Federal legal career in EPA's Office of General Counsel handling financial assistance law issues including serving as the national grants attorney for Brownfields and EPA’s Underground Storage Tank program.  Mr. Drummond spent several years in EPA’s Senior Environmental Employment program and recently returned to the Office of General Counsel as a reemployed annuitant to assist with implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act.    

Jim entered Federal service in 1979 in the Presidential Management Intern program. He has a law degree from Catholic University, a Master of Public Administration from the University of Memphis and received his undergraduate degree from Rhodes College. Mr. Drummond is a member of the Maryland Bar.

Tiffany Kesslar, Esq., Partner, Brustein & Manasevit, PLLC

Tiffany W Kesslar, Esq, advises her clients on fiscal and programmatic compliance with
federal grant programs under the Uniform Guidance, the False Claims Act, etc. 
She conducts mock monitoring reviews, policies and procedures and internal control reviews, and regularly serves as a keynote speaker. Ms. Kesslar serves as a Co-Chair on the ABA PCL Grant Law Committee, previously served on the Board for NGMA, and serves as President of the Board for a local non-profit.

Dismas “Diz” Locaria, Esq., Partner, Venable LLP

Diz Locaria assists government contractors and grant recipients in all aspects of doing business with the federal government. Diz has extensive knowledge of government contract and grant regulations, enabling him to help organizations qualify to become federal contractors or grantees. He represents clients in compliance with various federal procurement and grant requirements, including ethics and integrity; mandatory disclosures; False Claims Act; responsibility matters, such as suspension and debarment; small business matters; and General Services Administration (GSA) Federal Supply Schedule contracting.

Andrew Victor, Esq., Attorney Advisor, Acquisition & Assistance, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)

Andrew Victor is an Attorney Advisor in the Office of General Counsel at the U.S. Agency for International Development.  He focuses on acquisition and assistance matters.

Melissa Prusock, Esq., Of Counsel, Greenberg Traurig, LLP

Melissa Prusock focuses her practice on investigations, litigation, and counseling related to federal government contracts and grants, including False Claims Act matters, Office of Inspector General audits and investigations, suspension and debarment proceedings, internal investigations, and mandatory disclosures. She also assists clients with assessing, developing, and implementing compliance programs, and advises federal award recipients on compliance with the Uniform Guidance and other requirements associated with the expenditure of federal funds.