Permitting Innovators Expo (hosted by the Council on Environmental Quality)
On July 31, 2026, the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) will host the Permitting Innovators Expo — a full-day event focused on shaping the future of environmental review and permitting through public-private collaboration.
The event will feature high-potential tech solutions gathered through CEQ’s Call for Solutions, each with dedicated space to demo their technologies to federal agencies, policymakers, and industry leaders in environmental review and permitting.
The Expo will give federal agency staff an opportunity to learn about high-potential tech solutions, engage with the teams behind them, and assess how these solutions could support implementation of the Permitting Technology Action Plan.
Event programming will include keynote remarks and breakout sessions, where speakers will share lessons learned and best practices in technology modernization for environmental review and permitting. Confirmed speakers and high-level programming are listed below.
Attendance is free, but space is limited. Individuals interested in attending the Expo may submit an interest form through this page. Solution demo teams will receive a direct invitation, if selected to present.
Please note that photos will be taken throughout the event.
If you need an accommodation or have accessibility questions, please contact Hello@PermittingInnovators.com. To help us make arrangements, please submit accommodation requests by July 24.
Keynote speakers include:
Emily Domenech serves as the Executive Director of the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council (Permitting Council). Prior to her appointment as Executive Director, Domenech served as Senior Policy Advisor to Speakers of the House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy and Mike Johnson.
John Reiten serves as Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Executive Director of the National Energy Dominance Council. He advances the President’s energy dominance agenda to ensure reliable, secure, and affordable energy. Previously, he served as a Senior Policy Advisor to North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum.
Adam R. Telle serves as the 14th Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works). He has principal authority to establish policy direction and to provide supervision of all aspects of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Civil Works program for the Department of the Army. Previously, Assistant Secretary Telle served as the Chief of Staff to U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty of Tennessee.
Event programming (in ET):
9:15 a.m. Welcome and keynote remarks with federal leaders
Rachael McNitt, Chief of Staff, Council on Environmental Quality
Emily Domenech, Executive Director, Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council (Permitting Council)
John Reiten, Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Executive Director, National Energy Dominance Council
Adam R. Telle, Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
10:15 a.m. Fireside chat with technology leaders (followed by a 15-minute networking break)
Carter Farmer, Chief Information Officer and Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer, Environmental Protection Agency
Chad Whiteman, Vice President, Environment and Regulatory Affairs, U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Global Energy Institute
Maggie Ayrea, Senior Professional Staff Member, Senate Committee on Environmental and Public Works
Michael Drummond, Director for Permitting and Innovation, Council on Environmental Quality
11:15 a.m. Breakout sessions with subject matter experts
Monica Taylor, Senior Procurement Analyst, General Services Administration's Federal Acquisition Institute
David Yi, Acting Director for Permitting and Innovation, Council on Environmental Quality
Elizabeth Ayer, Director of Delivery, Workflow and Permitting Solutions, General Services Administration's Technology Transformation Services
Jordan Eccles, Deputy Director for Innovation, Council on Environmental Quality
12:00 to 3:30 p.m. Signature event: Demo floor of solutions
2:00 p.m. Technology pitch sessions (invite only)
3:30 p.m. Expo closes