Dr. Ekka serves as the vice president and director of innovation at Gradient PLLC, a stormwater engineering consulting firm. His professional experience over the last 20 years spans private sector, local government, and academic research. As an engineer and scientist, Dr. Ekka has successfully led multi-disciplinary technical teams to deliver projects ranging from watershed planning and stormwater asset management to design and construction of green stormwater infrastructure practices and urban drainage systems. He has published in peer-reviewed journals and delivered technical presentations both locally and internationally. Dr. Ekka holds a PhD from North Carolina State University (stormwater engineering), M.S. degrees from Virginia Tech (land and water resources engineering), and the University of Arkansas (ecological engineering), and a bachelor’s degree in agricultural engineering from India.
Dr. William F. Hunt III is a William Neal Reynolds Distinguished University Professor and Extension Specialist in North Carolina State University’s Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering. Hunt holds degrees in civil engineering (NCSU, B.S., 1994), economics (NCSU, B.S., 1995), biological and agricultural engineering (NCSU, M.S., 1997), and agricultural and biological engineering, (Penn State, Ph.D., 2003).
Since 2000, Hunt has assisted with the design, installation, and/or monitoring of over 150 stormwater control measures (SCMs), including bioretention, stormwater wetlands, innovative wet ponds, green roofs, permeable pavement, water harvesting/cistern systems and level spreaders. He teaches 20-25 short courses and workshops each year on stormwater design, function, and maintenance throughout North Carolina and the United States.
