know l e dge Committing to the With Dewberry’s recent expansion into Gulfport, Mississippi, Bryon Griffith explains why the firm is Gulf legislation will direct 80 percent of the BP oil spill fine money to the Gulf states. In the coming months, Gulf states and coastal community leaders will be challenged as never before with assessing enormous volumes of data and information in order to decide how to best use this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to address making their communities more resilient to ongoing and future threats. focused on the region. Griffith is the director of Dewberry’s Gulf Coast initiative and most recently served as deputy executive director of the U.S. President’s Gulf of Mexico Ecosystem Restoration Task Force. Why has Dewberry opened its third permanent location in this area? Dewberry has gained a keen appreciation for the technical and operational challenges that Gulf communities face in recovering from the effects of natural and manmade disasters. We have chosen to strategically expand our presence across the region to ensure ready local access and accountability to state and local clients. I’m thrilled to establish the Gulfport location and help integrate and make accessible our decades of experience in the region and its many technical service lines Gulfwide. In the coming months, we will also continue to invest in the region. You have focused your career on the region; why? The Gulf is arguably the most valuable marine ecosystem on Earth and the foundation of life and livelihood to over 50 million residents, including myself and four generations of my family. Helping Gulf communities effectively address the complex issues that threaten the future of this unique treasure is the most valuable and lasting inheritance I will leave my children and grandchildren. What opportunities are available to the region for recovery? Currently, there are a number of congressionally authorized programs and funding sources that will be made available to Gulf Coast states for recovery operations from recent disasters. Most notably is the Restore Act, signed into law in July 2012. This precedent-setting Questions about the Restore Act? Contact bgriffith@dewberry.com Fall 2012 3