12th Annual New Partners for Smart Growth:Building Safe, Healthy and Livable Communities Conference

Updated 1/15/13

Twale AbrahamsonTwa-le Abrahamson-Swan is the Air Quality Coordinator for the Spokane Tribe. Twa-le graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in Environmental Studies.  She is also active with SHAWL (Sovereignty, Health, Air, Water, Land) Society, a community-based environmental justice organization focused on uranium and radiation contamination on the Reservation. 

Jeff AkenJeff Aken works directly with cities on crafting flexible policy solutions, development codes and creative partnerships that allow for well-planned growth. His work has focused on enacting smart growth policies around the region that create healthy, livable, walkable communities. Jeff holds a Master of Urban Planning degree and Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Washington.

Wayne AldrichMr. Aldrich is the Uptown Development Director for the Town of Normal, Illinois. He was formerly employed by the Illinois Department of Transportation. Mr. Aldrich has a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois and is a Registered Professional Engineer in Illinois.

James AlexanderJames Alexander is a Senior Project Manager for Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. In this capacity, he works to advance the development of Affordable Workforce Housing and Community Benefits policy. He also works with communities and consultants to create long-range master plans throughout the Atlanta BeltLine. Prior to joining ABI full-time, James worked on a consulting basis to establish a foundation for the Atlanta BeltLine’s Program Management Office, a system that helps track and coordinate projects and decision-making.

Scott AllenScott Allen has been a local government planner for 18 years; Mr. Allen has a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science, with a Minor in Environmental Studies, from St. Olaf College (MN), and is completing a Master’s Degree in Community and Economic Development from Penn State University.

Beth Altshuler Beth is an Urban Planning and Public Health Specialist at Raimi + Associates. Beth facilitates participatory interdisciplinary partnerships that encourage public agencies and community organizations to integrate health, equity, and sustainability concerns into policy and actions. She uses spatial analysis, quantitative, and qualitative research to guide policy development and implementation. 

David Alumbaugh

Geoffrey AndersonGeoffrey Anderson is the President and CEO of Smart Growth America. Named by Partnership for Sustainable Communities as "One of the 100 Most Influential Leaders in Sustainable Community Planning and Development," Geoff came to his current position after 13 years at the US EPA where he helped to found and the Smart Growth Program and then directed the smart growth program.  He received a Masters in Resource Economics and Policy from Duke University’s School of the Environment.

John AndersonR. John Anderson leverages practical experience in the construction trades to align Smart Growth goals with the bottom-line demands of real estate development and finance. His specialty: Demonstrating the advantages of compact, walkable design approaches to private developers and municipalities in terms they understand and value.

Adam Arredondo

James BaconJames A. Bacon is the author of “Boomergeddon” and publisher of the Bacon’s Rebellion blog. Formerly the publisher of Virginia Business magazine, he launched Bacon’s Rebellion in 2002 to explore public policy issues – building more prosperous, livable and sustainable communities – in a Virginia context.

Oliver BainesOliver L. Baines III serves as a councilmember for the City of Fresno, representing District Three. Prior to joining in January 2011, Oliver served with the Fresno Police Department for 11 years, assigned to the Problem Oriented Policing (P.O.P.) unit in the Southwest District. Oliver co-owns AOP Embroidery with his wife LaShawn Baines.

Ben BakkentaBen specializes in long-range land use and transportation planning, growth management policy, and intergovernmental affairs. Ben currently manages the region’s Sustainable Communities regional planning effort. Ben holds a BA from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a Master of Urban Planning degree from the University of Washington.

Lisa BallardLisa has worked with a variety of communities, state DOTs, tribes, private-sector transit providers, non-profit organizations and the National Park Service to understand their needs and implement efficient, effective rural transportation services. Lisa has degrees in civil engineering from University of California, Irvine and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

Alexandra (Lexi) Bambas Nolen

Lexi is Director of the Center to Eliminate Health Disparities and Associate Director of the Global Health Center at UTMB. She served on the Secretariat of the WHO Commission on Social Determinants of Health from 2005-2007. Her work includes health equity, health in all policies, and health impact assessments.

Mark BantaMark Banta is the president of Klyde Warren Park, Dallas’ newest park, constructed over a freeway. Previously he was General Manager of Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta, where he developed the operations and staff from inception. Under his leadership, Centennial Olympic Park has become the new heart of downtown.

Jason Barron

Debra BassertDebra Bassert is the Assistant Vice President for Land Use and Design at the National Association of Home Builders. She manages the Land Use and Design Department, which provides critical analysis of and recommended strategies on federal, state, and local land use laws and regulations.

Lisa K. BatesLisa K. Bates, PhD is an assistant professor at the Toulan School of Urban Studies & Planning of Portland State University whose research focuses on social justice issues in housing and neighborhood policy and planning.

Eddie BautistaEddie Bautista is an award-winning community organizer and urban planner, and is currently the Executive Director of the New York City Environmental Justice Alliance (NYCEJA). In February 2010, Eddie resigned as Director of the NYC Mayor’s Office of City Legislative Affairs to take the reins at NYC-EJA.

Seth BeattieSeth Beattie services as CPAC’s Strategic Initiative Director. He oversees Artists in Residence, a pilot program exploring artist-based community development in Cleveland’s North Collinwood neighborhood. He previously worked to develop From Rust Belt to Artist Belt conference. Seth was the recipient of a 2008 Robert Bosch Fellowship, received his BA from Franklin College and his MPA from Cleveland State University.

Candi BeaudryCandi Beaudry, AICP, is the Director of the Planning and Community Services Department for the City of Billings and Yellowstone County, Montana. She has overseen the planning, building, code enforcement, community development and housing functions of city and county government, as well as the Billings Metropolitan Planning Organization.

Mark Bechtel

Chris BeckChris has been USDA’s liaison with the federal Partnership for Sustainable Communities since 2010. He has been exploring ways USDA programs become more focused small town main street revival. He is a native of Portland, Oregon. He worked at the Trust for Public Land and served in the Oregon Legislature.

John BelaJohn Bela, ASLA, is a landscape architect, artist, curator and teacher focused on creating public space, public art and community participation projects around the globe. John founded and directs Rebar, a design workshop and art studio based in San Francisco.

Terry BellamyAsheville citizens elected Terry M. Bellamy to serve as Mayor of the City of Asheville in November 2005. Since her election, she has made continuous efforts to improve city programs through lobbying our state and federal legislators.

Dena BelzerMs. Belzer is President and founder of Strategic Economics, an urban economics consulting firm specializing in analytic and decision-making tools for supporting sustainable development and equitable communities. Strategic Economics also partners with Reconnecting America and the Center for Neighborhood Technology to comprise the Center for Transit Oriented Development.

Ariel Ben-AmosAriel Ben-Amos is a Senior Planner and Analyst for Philadelphia’s Mayor’s Office of Transportation and Utilities (MOTU). Ariel has a long history working with community development corporations around Philadelphia and has been with MOTU since 2009. He has degrees in City Planning and in Government Administration and served in the Peace Corps (Albania). 

Nicholas BensonNick Benson is the Program Coordinator for the Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Communities at the University of Iowa. He holds a M.S. in Urban and Regional Planning and a J.D. from Iowa. Prior to beginning this position, he was the Community Development Projects Coordinator at the City of Iowa City planning department.

Danielle BergstromDanielle Bergstrom, Program Associate at PolicyLink, works with federal Sustainable Communities grantees to build capacity of local leaders to advance equity through community engagement and collective efforts to define and measure equitable outcomes. Danielle has a Masters in Regional Planning from Cornell University and a BS in Biology from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.

Keith BergtholdKeith Bergthold, born in Fresno, believes the San Joaquin Valley is a gift from God, to be sagaciously developed, or woe be to us and our heirs, completed two years graduate

course work in urban-regional planning, holds Master’s Degree in organizational development, is City of Fresno Assistant Director of Planning. 

Neha BhattNeha Bhatt is Deputy Policy Director for Smart Growth America, currently running the Local Leaders Council, a nationwide network of municipal elected leaders.  Previously, she was executive director of the National Association of City Transportation Officials; policy advisor on the DC City Council; and manager of the Sierra Club’s Challenge to Sprawl Campaign.

Roxanne BlackwellRoxanne Blackwell, Esq. is the Director of Federal Governmental Affairs for the American Society of Landscape Architects, where she directs and implements all federal government affairs programs and serves as the society’s lead lobbyist in Congress and the federal agencies. Roxanne received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and her Juris Doctor from Howard University.

Rusty BloodworthBloodworth is EVP of Boyle Investment Company, past Chair of the Urban Land Institute, Memphis District, former Knight Fellow and a member of the Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU).  He serves on the Board of the Memphis Regional Design Center (MRDC) and was Co-Chair of Complete Streets Task Force.

Jamie BlosserJamie Blosser, AIA, LEED AP, is an Associate at Atkin Olshin Schade Architects. She founded the Sustainable Native Communities Collaborative, and led development of the Smart Growth Award-winning San Juan Pueblo Master Plan. She has lectured throughout the country, and was a 2009 recipient of the Building Design + Construction 40 Under 40 award.

Nisha BotchweyNisha Botchwey is an Associate Professor of City and Regional Planning at Georgia Tech. She specializes in community development with an emphasis on local religious and secular institutions and public health promotion. Her multidisciplinary research is focused on community-based approaches to improving health by revitalizing unhealthy communities.

Fred BowersFred Bowers has a Masters in Urban and Environmental Planning from Arizona State University, Graduate Certificate in Multi Modal Planning from Arizona State University and a BS from Arizona State University in Urban Geography. Fred has twenty plus years working for the Arizona Department of Transportation including his work as a Traffic Engineering Specialist and in Traffic Operations. As well as 6 plus years of experience working for the FHWA, first at Eastern Federal Lands as a Community Planner and now at HQ as a Community Planner.

Michael BravermanMichael Braverman as Director of Baltimore Housing's Code Enforcement Legal Section, and now as Deputy Commissioner for Housing, Michael Braverman has played a key role in crafting many of Baltimore's neighborhood revitalization strategies. Michael has a J.D from the City University of New York and a B.A. from the Johns Hopkins University.

Ben BrownAfter two decades in newspaper and magazine journalism, Ben Brown turned to full-time Smart Growth advocacy in 2003. He served as communications director for the Mississippi Renewal Forum in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and for the Coastal Recovery Commission of Alabama after the 2010 Gulf oil spill.

Dan BurdenDan Burden, Executive Director and Co-Founder of the Walkable and Livable Communities Institute, is an internationally recognized authority on healthy streets, Safe Routes to School, traffic calming, and bicycle and pedestrian planning.  Dan's efforts getting the world "back on its feet" earned him lifetime-achievement awards from the New Partners for Smart Growth and the APBP, and TIME Magazine has named him one of the top six civic innovators in the world.

Roy Buol Since Roy Buol was elected Mayor in 2005, Dubuque, Iowa has been named an All-America City twice by National League of Cities, Most Livable Small City by U.S. Conference of Mayors, Best Small City to Raise a Family by Forbes, and a gold-standard community by International Awards for Livable Communities.

Diane BurnetteMrs. Burnette is the Executive Director of the Main Street Corridor Development Corporation (MainCor), Chief Administrator of the Main Street Community Improvement District (CID), the Managing Staff of the Penn Valley Park Conservancy and of the 39th and Main Business District Association. The Missouri Chapter of the American Planning Association has honored her contributions to the planning field with the Dwight D. Davis Award for a Citizen Planner. She also serves as the Urban Community Advisor for the Kansas City District Council of the Urban Land Institute, Chair to the Trustees of the Jackson County Land Trust and she sits on the Jackson County Tax Increment Financing Commission.

Tim Busse

Christine ButterfieldChristine Butterfield has served as the Community Development Director for the City of Cedar Rapids, Iowa since November 2007. She holds a Master’s Degree from the University of Wisconsin - La Follette Institute of Public Policy and Undergraduate Degrees from the University of Minnesota.

Lynda Callon

Lynda Callon has served as director of the Westside Community Action Network Center since 2000. The Westside CAN Center is a neighborhood improvement and community policing organization serving Kansas City’s Westside neighborhood. The Westside has become a neighborhood in transition experiencing gentrification as its proximity to Kansas City’s downtown arts district, the Crossroads.

Erik CallowayA principal at Freedman Tung + Sasaki, Mr. Calloway is experienced at developing effective solutions to revitalize city centers, retrofit stagnated commercial corridors and workplace districts, and create special public spaces that stimulate new investment and vitality.  His current focus is strategically restructuring cities to align with the innovation-oriented economy.

Juan CamiloJuan Camilo is NYC-EJA’s Policy Analyst and a Visiting Assistant Professor at the Pratt Institute’s Programs for Sustainable Planning and Development, introducing graduate students to qualitative and quantitative planning research. Before joining NYC-EJA, he was a Senior Planner and Geographic Information Systems Analyst at The Municipal Art Society Planning Center.

Regan Carrizales

Jean CarroonJean Carroon leads Goody Clancy’s extensive preservation and renovation practice. She has received national recognition for her special expertise in applying sustainable design technology to historic buildings. Her book, Sustainable Preservation; Greening Existing Buildings, was published in 2010 by John Wiley & Sons.

Laura Carstens As Planning Services Manager for the City of Dubuque, Iowa, Laura Carstens is responsible for development services, city planning, and historic preservation. Previously, she worked as a Planner and the Community Renewal Coordinator in Decatur, Illinois, and Economic Development Director for Maquoketa, Iowa.

Steven CastanerSteven Castaner has been involved in community long-term recovery assistance with nearly 50 communities and counties for nearly ten years including Greensburg, KS (2007); Iowa and Missouri Floods (2008), Florida Hurricanes (2004), Louisiana Hurricanes (2005). With a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Missouri-Columbia and over 15 years experience as an economic development director, city administrator and planning director, Mr. Castaner uses a variety of strategies and methodologies to encourage comprehensive recovery solutions.

Robert CerveroRobert Cervero is the Friesen Chair and Professor of Urban Studies Planning at the University of California, Berkeley, where he also directs the Institute of Urban and

Regional Development and the University of California Transportation Center. Professor Cervero’s research focuses on the nexus between urban transportation and land-use systems. Sammy ChuSammy Chu currently serves as the Commissioner of the Suffolk County Department of Labor. As Commissioner, Chu oversees the operation of various support & training programs for transitional workers. Chu previously served as the Director of the Town of Babylon’s Long Island Green Homes program. The Long Island Green Homes program, launched in 2008, was the first Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program designed to service energy efficiency needs in the nation. The Green Homes program to date has enrolled over 1000 participating homes and created more than 50 local jobs.

Cindy CircoCindy Circo was re-elected to a second term on the City Council in 2011.  She was appointed Mayor Pro Tem by Mayor Sly James. Mayor Pro Tem Circo is a member of the Planning, Zoning & Economic Development Committee, the Finance, Governance & Audit Committee and the Special Committee for Small Business. Cindy has two sons, Dominic and Mario, and a grandson, Jaxen.

Russell Claus

Cyndy ComerfordMs. Comerford joined SFDPH in 2004 and works as the Planning and Fiscal Policy Manager in Environmental Health. Her work focuses on planning and developing public health programs to incorporate public health considerations into federal, state and local planning decisions. She directs the planning and fiscal functions of her department and facilitates the Program on Health, Equity and Sustainability which works with residents, public agencies and private organizations to advance healthy environments and social justice.

Charles ConnerlyCharles Connerly joined the University of Iowa planning program in 2008 as professor and director.  In 2011, Chuck began a two year term as President of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning, the national learned society of planning schools, faculty, and students in the U.S.

Ryan CoonertyRyan Coonerty is the cofounder and chief strategist for NextSpace Coworking + Innovation.  He was twice elected as Mayor of Santa Cruz, California and is a lecturer on government at UC Santa Cruz.   He is the coauthor of Rise of the Naked Economy: How to Benefit from the Changing Workplace (Palgrave, 2013).

Judith A. CorbettJudith A. Corbett is the founder and for the past 30 years has served as Executive Director of the Local Government Commission. Judy has coauthored three books on

resource efficient land use and building design and published over 50 policy guidebooks for local government officials. The Ahwahnee Land Use Principles, spearheaded by Corbett, forecast the Smart Growth movement.

Kate CorwinA former telecom engineer and entrepreneur, Kate founded Green Works in 2007.  Kate has served on the Landmarks Commission and the Zoning Steering Committee for KCMO.  She currently serves on the board of MainCor and as Chair of the 43rd and Main TIF Advisory Board, overseeing $3M in TIF investments. 

William Cross

Daniel CucchiDan Cucchi is a California attorney practicing in land use and environmental law.  He was also a former county planner/project manager for the Yuba County 2030 General Plan Update. He earned his Master of Urban & Regional Planning from San Jose State University and Juris Doctor from McGeorge School of Law.

Caran CurryCaran Curry, Grant Manager for Little Rock, is an attorney and has been involved in federal, state and local grants for 35 years.  She has lectured on grant funding and management in over 25 states.  Curry has been led a wide range of change management projects in her career. 

Evelyn CurryMs. Evelyn Curry has been employed at the Stephenson County Health Dept. as a Social Worker in the Family Case Management Dept. for 13 years. Evelyn earned her B.A. degree from Columbia College. Evelyn has one son, Cory, who recently graduated from Rhema Bible College, Tulsa, OK with a 2 year degree.

Cameron CushmanCameron Cushman is a manager in Entrepreneurship at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, where he focuses his efforts on strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Kansas City region. He leads the Foundation’s efforts on the Big 5 initiative to make Kansas City America’s Most Entrepreneurial City.

Matthew DalbeyMatthew Dalbey is the deputy director of the White House Council on Strong Cities, Strong Communities (SC2). Prior to taking this position in August 2012 he was the director of the Federal and State Division in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Sustainable Communities.  He is a land use planner by training and has worked on smart growth issues since 2004.

Sarah Dale

Sarah Dale works as a special assistant in EPA’s Office of Sustainable Communities on a number of technical assistance projects around the country, as well as the White House America’s Great Outdoors Initiative. She holds a master’s degree from the London School of Economics and a bachelor’s degree from Tufts University.

Damon DanielDamon Daniel came to work for Communities Creating Opportunity (CCO) with over 12 years of experience in community outreach. His expertise ranges from community capacity building to union negotiations. Damon's educational background is in Urban Affairs with emphasis in community and social services, in addition to nonprofit management, courtesy of the University of Missouri Kansas City. Damon is CCO's Regional Organizer Director, working in both Missouri and Kansas. Damon is the chief convener of Kansas City Equity Partner Network under the Creating Sustainable Places initiative.

Bob DeanBob Dean is the Deputy Executive Director for Local Planning with the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP).  He oversees CMAP’s Local Technical Assistance (LTA) program and was the project manager for GO TO 2040, the long-range comprehensive plan for the Chicago metropolitan area. 

Nora De CuirMs. De Cuir is a managing director at PMC and leads the Community Engagement and Facilitation team.  She has focused her facilitation practice on discussions of energy efficiency, sustainability, transportation, land use and natural resource issues. Ms. De Cuir holds a BA  from UC Berkeley and a MS  in community development from UC Davis.

Tony DeFalcoTony DeFalco, Living Cully Coordinator at Verde, coordinating the nation’s first equity driven ecodistrict designed to re-interpret sustainability as an anti-poverty strategy in Portland, OR.

Mike DennisDirector of Community Organizing for the East LA Community Corporation (ELACC). Mike Dennis brings over 8 years of experience in social justice, labor, electoral and issue-advocacy organizing. Mike graduated in 2007 from California State University, Fullerton with degrees in Political Science and International Relations.

Jim DiersParticipatory democracy has been Jim Diers' preoccupation and his career for the past 30 years. In his work with grassroots community organizations, Jim has found ways to get people more involved with their communities and with decisions that affect their lives. Jim Diers graduated from Grinnell College in 1975 with a major in Colonialism and Nationalism in Third World Development.

Karl DinkelspielKarl Dinkelspiel, Senior Project Manager with the Portland (OR) Housing Bureau, leads affordable housing and mixed-use development projects. Karl also heads PHB’s annual Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA). Prior to PHB, Karl did similar work at the Portland Development Commission (PDC). Karl also has experience in land use and community development in Central Massachusetts and Dutchess County, New York.

Joe DiStefanoJoe DiStefano leads the regional and large-scale planning team at Calthorpe Associates. Building on two decades of regional planning experience, Joe is leading the development of cutting edge open source modeling tools that facilitate scenario planning and analyze the fiscal, environmental, and public health impacts of land use and transportation scenarios. 

Bob DixsonMayor Bob Dixson is a native Kansan and took office as Mayor of Greensburg in May 2008. He is leading the way in the process of rebuilding the community after the May 2007 tornado. Sustainable building, renewable energy and “green” technologies are thecornerstones of the recovery of Greensburg.

Linda Jo DoctorLinda Jo Doctor is a program officer at the W. K. Kellogg Foundation. She participates in the development of programming priorities, recommends proposals for funding, manages active grants, and designs and implements national grants initiatives and multi-year projects. Specifically, Linda Jo Doctor helps guide Foundation programming in Food, Health and Well Being.

David Dods

Emily DowdallEmily is a Senior Associate at Pew’s Philadelphia Research Initiative, and has authored two reports on closing and repurposing schools. Prior to joining Pew, she was a staff member at NYU’s Rudin Center for Transportation Policy and at the New York City mayor’s office. She has also worked for Bennett Midland LLC, a management consulting firm focused on public sector and nonprofit clients. Emily holds a Master of City Planning degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a B.A. in urban studies from New York University.

David DoyleDavid Doyle is with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Region 7 Office in Lenexa, Kansas where he is the Sustainable Communities Coordinator. David has a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Engineering from Syracuse University and a Master of Science degree in Environmental Health Engineering from the University of Kansas.

Steve Dubb

Steve Dubb is Research Director of The Democracy Collaborative. Dubb oversees the Collaborative’s www.Community-Wealth.org web portal and has authored many publications. With Ted Howard, Dubb conducted the initial strategic planning that led to the Evergreen Cooperative initiative in Cleveland, Ohio. Dubb currently works on similar efforts in other cities.

Elizabeth DurfeeElizabeth is a NOAA Coastal Management Fellow with the Michigan Coastal Zone Management Program and Michigan Sea Grant. She has a B.S. in Environmental Conservation from University of New Hampshire and an M.S./M.U.P. from the University of Michigan's School of Natural Resources and Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning.

Sheila EckmanSheila Eckman, a City Council representative for 10 years, transitioned to a new role as County Commissioner last November. Journalism major, her career has been varied, including physician recruitment, educational development consulting and Director of Alumni Programs at Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama. Environmental Issues led her to politics

Chad EmersonChad Emerson is the Director of Development for the City of Montgomery where he leads the City’s redevelopment efforts throughout key growth areas of the City.  He is the author of "The SmartCode Solution to Sprawl" and "Project Future: The Inside Story Behind the Creation of Disney World."

Abbie EmisonAbbie Emison has an extensive background in urban and economic development planning, specifically focusing on brownfield redevelopment. Ms. Emison has worked with a variety of public, non-profit, and private entities to facilitate the redevelopment ofcontaminated properties. Ms. Emison is an experienced project manager, grants writer, and brownfields coordinator.

Wayne FawbushWayne Fawbush is Program Officer of the Ford Founodation, and focuses on sustainable economic development in rural America. His work concentrates on helping families improve their livelihood and wealth-building opportunities through the employment of "triple-bottom line" development practices that promote positive changes in equity, environment and the economy. Before joining the Ford Foundation in 2007, Wayne was executive director of the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund.

Deeohn FerrisDeeohn Ferris is President of Sustainable Community Development Group, a nonprofit national research and policy technical assistance provider dedicated to advancing sustainability and public health through the green economy, equitable neighborhood

development and smart growth. She is an environmental lawyer who has extraordinary experience working with diverse communities from countries on five continents.

Bill FinchBill Finch was elected Mayor of Bridgeport in November 2007, after serving seven years in the State Senate representing the 22nd Senatorial District. As a state legislator and as Mayor of Bridgeport, Bill Finch has been one of the leading voices in Connecticut on tax reform. Mayor Finch received a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Connecticut.

Jeff FinkleAs President and CEO of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), Jeff Finkle contributes his expertise on community revitalization, business development and job creation to projects nationwide. A former Deputy Assistant Secretary in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Jeff writes and lectures frequently about economic development issues and advises Congressional Committees.

Zach FlandersZach is an urban planner with BNIM and is passionate for creating prosperous and sustainable communities. By harnessing the myriad data available in today’s world through statistics and visualization, he is helping city leaders make better decisions and more informed policies. Flanders leads the web development and social media outreach strategies.

Mark FochtMr. Focht is First Deputy Commissioner, Parks & Facilities, and a licensed landscape architect, responsible for operations, maintenance, planning, property management, urban forestry and ecosystem management for Philadelphia Parks & Recreation. He holds BS and Masters degrees in landscape architecture. He is the 2012-13 President-Elect of the American Society of Landscape Architects.

Theodore ForemanTheodore Foreman is currently the Business Outreach and Assistance Manager for the Lucas County Economic Development Corporation. His current position entails calling on companies located in Lucas County to address issues impacting their ability to prosper in Northwest Ohio. The LCEDC’s mission is to connect businesses to resources in a creative and mutually beneficial manner.

Ray ForsytheAs Planning and Development Director for the City of Moline, Illinois, Ray Forsythe is responsible for the Community, Economic and Land Development, Planning, Property Management and Main Street Divisions. He is certified as an Economic Development Finance Professional through the National Development Council.

Marci Francisco

Senator Marci Francisco represents the 2nd Senate District in Kansas (areas in Douglas and Jefferson Counties.) She is the ranking democratic member on the Senate Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Utilities Committees, as a member of the Senate Ways and means Committee and on the Joint Committee on Energy and the Environment. She recently retired from the KU Center for Sustainability.

John FreceJohn W. Frece is director of the Office of Sustainable Communities at the U.S. EPA. The office provides direct policy assistance to states, technical assistance to local governments, conducts research on smart growth policies and strategies, and oversees both the national Smart Growth Achievement Awards and the annual New Partners for Smart Growth Conference.

Kevin FreemanBorn and educated in the UK, Kev Freeman is a fierce proponent of innovative strategies that deliver measurable improvements in communities’ economic and social health. His department is targeting locations that can respond to public needs and catalyze market-driven redevelopment through well-thought-out infrastructure investment, coding and mixed-use cottage neighborhood design.

Brian FriedmanBrian A. Friedman is the Executive Director of Northeast Shores Development Corporation. Over the past eight years, he has developed and implemented programs to increase investment in the North Collinwood neighborhood, including the development of the Waterloo Arts and Entertainment District. Northeast Shores has secured more than $7 million in public and philanthropic support to move this initiative forward. Brian is a graduate of both The College of Wooster and The Ohio State University.

Eric Friedman

Robert FronczakMr. Fronczak is currently Assistant Vice President Environment & Hazardous Materials for the Association of American Railroads in Washington, DC. His responsibilities include the development and coordination of railroad industry environmental policy. He spent six years with the Milwaukee Road Railroad in Chicago, IL as Director of Environmental Engineering.

David FukuzawaAs Program Director with The Kresge Foundation, an independent, private grantmaking organization, David directs the Health Program area, which seeks to reduce health disparities through addressing inequities in social and physical environments of vulnerable populations and improving access to quality health care.

William FultonWilliam Fulton, AICP, is Smart Growth America’s Vice President & Director of Policy Development & Implementation. A former Mayor of Ventura, CA, Bill is the author of

several important books on urban planning and economic development. Bill is also a Principal in the California-based planning firm, The Planning Center | DC&E and a Senior Scholar at the Price School of Public Policy at the University of Southern California.

Mary FuseyamoreMary Fuseyamore is the Mayor of Pickensville, Alabama. She retired in 1996 after a 26-year career including tenure with the New York City Police Department as a Senior Police Administrative Aide among others. She was elected to the Office of Mayor in 2004 and is in her 3rd 4 year term.

John GaarWith more than 25 years of professional architectural practice in public and private development, John leads master planning and design efforts where his design and management skills are complemented by his extensive knowledge of building, site and construction issues. A principal of 360 Architecture, John applies his expertise on a wide variety of project types, including historic preservation, renovation and new construction.

Kim Gaddy Kim develops the NJ Environmental Federation/Clean Water Fund's EJ campaigns. She is the Chair of the Newark Environmental commission, NJDEP's EJ Advisory Council and founding member of the NJ EJ Alliance. Kim is a 2007 recipient of the EPA Region 2 Environmental Community award and graduate of Rutgers University.

Bill GallegosBill Gallegos is Executive Director of Communities for a Better Environment (CBE) one of the leading environmental justice organizations in the country. CBE recently achieved two important victories: preventing Chevron Oil from expanding their Richmond refinery to refine dirtier grades of crude oil; and stopping the construction of a 943 megawatt fossil fuel power plant in the City of Vernon in Southeast Los Angeles.

Carlos GallinarCarlos Gallinar, AICP, CNU-A, is the planning director for the city of El Paso. Carlos oversees all planning functions including one of the most expansive smart growth strategies in the southwest. Carlos is also a lecturer in the College of Health Sciences at the University of Texas at El Paso. Prior to this position, Carlos directed the development of Plan El Paso.  His professional experience includes affordable housing development, community revitalization, and participatory planning.  He holds a master's in city and regional planning degree from Rutgers University.

Veronica GaribayVeronica Garibay is the Community Education and Outreach Coordinator for the Community Equity Initiative (CEI), a program of California Rural Legal Assistance (CRLA). Veronica holds a B.A in Law and Society and Psychology from UC Santa Barbara and a Master of Public Administration from California State University, Fresno. 

Gordon GarryGordon Garry has been with the Sacramento Area Council of Governments since 1990, developing and managing an increasing array of data and forecasting programs to support the agency’s transportation, air quality, land use planning, and climate change efforts. He is responsible for modeling analyses in these areas that meet local, state, and Federal planning requirements.

David GaspersSenior City Planner in the Community Planning and Development Department of the City and County of Denver, Colorado has focused on transit planning, TOD planning, and implementation for the last six years. He is currently the project manager for the City’s update to its TOD Strategic Plan.

Jo Allen GauseJo Allen Gause is Senior Program Officer for the Transportation Research board of the National Academies.  Jo Allen brings over 25 years of experience in land use and transportation planning.  In her position, she facilitates subject matter experts and coordinates consultants to perform applied research to solve practical highway problems.

Salin Geevarghese

Marisa Ghani As a Senior Land Use Planner in the Land Use Division at the Atlanta Regional Commission, Marisa is responsible for housing, TOD, and the Livable Centers Initiative program. Prior to the ARC, Marisa worked in Washington DC at Transportation for America, a non-profit that reformed how transportation dollars are spent.

Frank GiblinFrank V. Giblin, AICP is the Director of the General Services Administration’s Urban Development Neighbor program, in GSA’s Office of the Chief Architect (Washington DC). The Program provides technical expertise policy guidance, and best practices to develop federal projects in ways that support community development goals.

Kristin Gisleson PalmerKristin Gisleson Palmer was elected District "C" Councilmember in February 2010. She is the founder and former President of the nonprofit organization Confetti Kids, Inc., and the former Executive Director of Rebuilding Together New Orleans. Councilmember Gisleson Palmer has been honored with numerous awards and selected to participate in prestigious national fellowship programs.

Daniel GlennDaniel Glenn, AIA, NCARB, has twenty-six years of experience in the design of affordable, sustainable architecture, including the LEED Platinum University of Montana Native American Center and the LEED for Homes Platinum Puyallup Longhouse Community. He is Principal of 7 Directions Architects/Planners, an Indian-owned design and planning firm based in Seattle, WA.

Laura GoddeerisLaura is a Specialist with the Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems. She is particularly interested in local and regional planning and policy opportunities for food system development. Her recent efforts have included a national survey of local governments in partnership with the International City/County Management Association.

Gil GonzalezGil joined the University of Texas - San Antonio’s Institute for Economic Development in 2009. His work focuses on rural community capacity-building and business development casework within the South-West Texas Border SBDC Network. Previously, Gil served as deputy undersecretary of the USDA’s Rural Development mission area in Washington, DC.

Paulina GonzalezPaulina is Executive Director of SAJE (Strategic Actions for a Just Economy), a Los Angeles based economic justice, community development, and popular education center building a powerful voice for residents of South Los Angeles. She has worked for over 15 years leading organizing campaigns to expand worker rights, immigrant rights, and the rights of low income and underrepresented communities of color. In her work with UNITE HERE, she played a lead campaign role in the successful Santa Monica hotel organizing and living wage campaigns and the LAX Century Blvd. hotel worker living wage campaign.

Barbara GoodeBarbara Goode works for Kansas State University Pollution Prevention Institute (PPI). At PPI, she mainly provides environmental compliance and pollution prevention assistance to businesses, institutions, and municipalities. She is currently managing two EPA-funded projects in the City of Salina, Kansas where she works and resides. Kim GrazianiKim Graziani is Vice President of Capacity Building for the Center for Community Progress, a national organization focused on the prevention, acquisition and repurposing of vacant, abandoned and foreclosed properties. Her career in local government, community development corporations and social service agencies has been focused on community engagement and revitalization.

Shelly GriswoldShelly Griswold has been Community Development Director for Freeport, Illinois since 2005. In that role, Griswold has managed programs in brownfields and environmental justice, economic development, sustainability, local foods, housing and neighborhood redevelopment, and public transit. Prior to 2005, Griswold worked in private sector strategic planning and business development.

Jon Grosshans

Jon Grosshans work within the Region 5 EPA Superfund Division to foster partnerships that lead to on-the-ground projects that build sustainable communities. Core sustainable development topics include brownfield redevelopment, brownfields area-wide planning, green infrastructure implementation, and green historic preservation.

Dave GulaDave was employed by WILMAPCO in September 2005. Recent projects include the Elkton (MD) Station Study, the Newport Station Study, the Newark Regional Transportation Center Study, and the Chesapeake Connector Rail Benefits Study. He also managed the Downtown (Wilmington, DE) Circulation Study. Previously, Dave was employed by Delaware Transit Corporation.

Stephen HardyStephen brings his experience staffing on Capitol Hill, working at the Conservation Fund, and pioneering BNIM’s community planning practice to his new role with MindMixer. As MindMixer’s Chief Community Builder, Stephen spends his time pondering, cajoling, and tinkering on behalf of better community process.

Brian HarnerBrian Harner is a principal at LAB, an architecture firm in Arlington, Virginia. Mr. Harner directed formulation of Amtrak’s Union Station Master Plan and is the current chair of the Arlington County Planning Commission. He holds an MArch degree from UCLA and a BA from the University of Michigan. 

Peter HarnikPeter Harnik, a member of the board of Smart Growth America, is director of the Center for City Park Excellence at the Trust for Public Land in Washington, D.C. His most recent book is Urban Green: Innovative Parks for Resurgent Cities. Previously he co-founded the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy.

Rodney HarrellRodney Harrell, PhD is the Senior Strategic Policy Advisor for Housing and Livable Communities for AARP’s Public Policy Institute.  In his position, he is responsible for developing AARP’s policy on housing and livable communities issues.  He also manages the housing policy research agenda and conducts independent research.

Eliza Harris Eliza is a planner at Canin Associates in Orlando where she focuses on active transportation, regional planning and coding.  She is a board member of the Congress for the New Urbanism, and former chair of the Next Generation of New Urbanists.  She received her Masters of Urban Planning from Harvard.

Bill HaslamOn November 2, 2010, Bill Haslam was elected to governor of Tennessee with 65 percent of the vote. Previously in 2003, he ran successfully for Mayor of Knoxville. Bill has balanced seven consecutive city budgets, tripled the Rainy Day Fund,

insisted that city government focus on providing services in an efficient manner, helped found key education initiatives, and recruited and retained thousands of jobs to the city.

Jeff HebertJeff Hebert is the Executive Director of the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority. A graduate of New York University, where he received a Bachelors degree in Urban Design and Architecture Studies, Jeff completed his graduate studies in City Planning at M.I.T., where he received a Master in City Planning (M.C.P.) degree with a concentration in City Design and Development.

Susan HerreSusan Herre is an architect and urban planner at the Federal Railroad Administration in Washington D.C.  For the High-Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail Program, Susan is responsible for state rail plans, station projects, and station area planning.  She is an FRA representative to the Federal Livability Partnership of HUD, EPA, and DOT. 

Nicole HeymanNicole is the director of the New Orleans Vacant Property Initiative (NOVPI), a program of Community Progress.  In 2008 she obtained her Master of Laws degree in environmental and energy law at Tulane University School of Law, where she studied legal issues related to vacant property reclamation in New Orleans. In addition to an LLM degree, she holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Louisiana State University and a Law degree from Loyola University School of Law.

Kimberley Hodgson Kimberley Hodgson, MURP, MS, AICP, RD is the founder of Cultivating Healthy Places, an international consulting business specializing in community health, social equity and sustainable food systems planning. As a certified planner and health professional, she conducts policy-relevant research and provides technical assistance on the design and development of healthy, sustainable places. Bonnie Holmes-GenBonnie Holmes-Gen serves as the Senior Director, Policy and Advocacy for the American Lung Association in California.  Since joining the association in 2000, Bonnie has been the lead California advocate for the lung association on air quality and environmental health issues in the legislative and regulatory arenas.  She leads the organization’s advocacy and outreach efforts on air quality, global warming implementation, healthy communities, cleaner vehicles and fuels, and other issues. Bonnie has over 25 years of experience working as a public interest and health leader working at both the state and local level.

Eileen HornEileen Horn is the Sustainability Coordinator for Douglas County and the City of Lawrence, KS. She coordinates both local governments’ sustainability initiatives in energy efficiency, renewable energy, recycling, and local food, and helps communicate

efforts to our citizens. Eileen holds an M.S. in Natural Resources from the University of Vermont.

Christina HoxieIntegrated design processes and community activism have been the building blocks of Christina’s career and volunteer activities in architecture, art, urban planning and interiors for the past two decades. While her work spans several scales, her primary focus is on stimulating vibrant community relationships informed by a systems-based approach.

Brent HughBrent Hugh is Executive Director of the Missouri Bicycle & Pedestrian Federation. Under his leadership, MoBikeFed has grown from an organization with a few dozen members and $500 annual budget to the current membership of over 1400 active members and over $400,000 budget.

Nancy Hughes Nancy Hughes is the executive director of The California Urban Forests Council which envisions California’s communities as cleaner, healthier and more prosperous through collaborative action and investments in urban forests and greening. Currently Nancy facilitates the “Direction, Connection – leading in your Community” workshop which assists attendees in developing time-tested advocacy techniques.

Pamela HurttPamela Hurtt is a senior consultant to the New Economy Initiative responsible for helping the NEI team to build a network of high technology commercialization and business acceleration services within southeast Michigan. Pam holds a Bachelor of Science in engineering from Michigan State University and a Masters in Business Administration from Spring Arbor University.

Shannon JaaxShannon serves as the Director of the Repurposing Initiative for Kansas City Public Schools. Shannon’s career has focused on community and economic development in the public, private and non-profit sectors. Shannon received a Master of Planning degree from the University of Southern California and a BSBA in International Business and Finance from American University, Washington DC.

Laura JacksonLaura Jackson Executive Vice President, Health Care Strategy and Policy joined Wellmark in 2002 where she is responsible for the management and compensation of the provider network and engagement, pharmacy, health and care management including wellness and health care sustainability.  Jackson’s responsibilities include the Blue Zones Project™ announced in September of 2011, as a cornerstone of the Healthiest State Initiative launched by Governor Branstad. 

Tom Jacobs

Tom Jacobs is Director of Environmental Programs at the Mid-America Regional Council, Kansas City's regional planning organization. He oversees regional planning efforts related to green infrastructure, energy, air and water quality, and solid waste management. Tom received graduate degrees in ecology and sociology from Duke University and Cornell University, respectively.

Sly JamesSly James was elected mayor of Kansas City on March 22, 2011, and sworn in on May 1, 2011.  He was born and raised in Kansas City, attended Bishop Hogan High School, Rockhurst College, and the University of Minnesota School of Law.  He has been married to Licia Clifton-James since 1981 and is the proud father of four children.  

Nate JohnsonNate K. Johnson is the President of Real Estate Solutions, a full service residential & commercial real estate brokerage with a commitment to helping clients achieve their real estate goals. Nate has been a proud member of the St. Louis Association of REALTORS (SLAR) since 1999 and is currently President.

Nora JohnsonNora Johnson is an ORISE policy fellow with the US EPA's Office of Sustainabile Communities. Her areas of work include economic development, historic preservation, small homes, and school siting. A graduate of Dartmouth College, Nora previously worked for a national environmental non-profit advocating on climate change.

Haile JohnstonHaile Johnston, works to improve the vitality of rural and urban communities through food system connectivity and policy change. He is a Founder and Co-Director of the Common Market, a nonprofit local food distribution company. Haile serves as a Food and Community Fellow with the Institute for Agriculture & Trade Policy.

Bridget Jones Dr. Bridget Jones is Executive Director of Cumberland Region Tomorrow, a non-profit citizen-based organization dedicated to planning for the future livability and economic vitality the ten county Middle Tennessee Region.  An economic and community development and higher education professional, she has lead major regional and community-level initiatives and projects across Middle Tennessee and now state-wide through the new Tennessee Regions' Roundtable Network.  Bridget's work has focused on effective use of collaborative vision and effort along with proactive project management strategies toward complex solutions to community and economic development problems through her career. 

Alex JoyceAlex is a project lead on developing the scenario modeling software called Envision Tomorrow, which allows users to paint land uses onto the landscape and track the impact of these decisions in real-time across a range of indicators, from housing and employment density to carbon emissions and water usage.

Dean KaterndahlDean Katerndahl is director of the Government Innovations Forum at the Mid-America Regional Council, the regions council of governments and metropolitan planning area. He is responsible for the activities of the First Suburbs Coalition, the regions inner ring suburb coalition, and coordination of their Creating Sustainable Places initiative.

Kevin KellerMr. Keller is a Vice President and Senior Professional Associate with HDR Engineering, Inc. in their Kansas City, Missouri, office. He has nearly 30 years of environmental and engineering experience in the transportation and freight logistics sector. Mr. Keller is a Board member of AREMA and ARDA.

Hilton Kelley

Eric Damian KellyDamian Kelly is a graduate of the United States Military Academy in 1973. He served in the Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army for 24 years. Damian has four post-graduate degrees; three from Stanford, one from Boston University. He is currently the Technical Director for Military Master Planning as well as the Sustainability Planning Director for HDR.

Katherine KellyKatherine has worked on local food systems in Massachusetts, Minnesota and Kansas for over three decades. She started her farming career as a field worker on organic farms in 1991 in the Boston area. In 2005, she co-founded the Kansas City Center for Urban Agriculture, now Cultivate Kansas City.

Michael KellyMichael Kelly is a Senior Program Officer with the Paso del Norte Health Foundation in El Paso, TX.  He administers major initiatives related to healthy eating and active living and also supervises, REALIZE, a transformational leadership program for health and human service professionals. He holds a Ph.D. in Health Education from Texas A&M University and is certified as a Health Education Specialist.  Recently Dr. Kelly represented the Paso del Norte Health Foundation in the writing of El Paso’s Comprehensive Plan.

Benjamin KennedyBenjamin Kennedy currently serves on The Kresge Foundation’s Detroit/Community Development team. In addition to grantmaking, he originates and structures program-related investments that support and advance Kresge’s strategic goals. Prior to joining Kresge, Benjamin was with JPMorgan Chase in Johannesburg, South Africa, as an associate on the firm’s mergers and acquisitions team. He also worked as an economic and political analyst within IHS Global Insight's sub-Saharan Africa country intelligence group. Benjamin earned a master’s in business administration from the Harvard Business School and a bachelor’s in economics from Morehouse College in Atlanta.

Malik Kenyetta YakiniMalik Kenyetta Yakini is an activist and educator who’s committed to freedom and justice for African people and humanity. Yakini is a founder and Executive Director of the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network. He also serves on the facilitation team of Undoing Racism in the Detroit Food System. 

Laura KeyesMs. Keyes, a certified-AICP Planner, works for the Atlanta Regional Commission in the fields of transportation, housing and aging. She manages Community Development for ARC’s Lifelong Communities Initiative. She is President for the Georgia Planning Association and recently published on Lifelong Communities in the Journal of Physical and Occupational Therapy in Geriatrics.

Sarah KlineSarah Kline, Policy Director at Reconnecting America, develops and advances policies that help build complete communities linked by transportation choices. Previously, she was Director of Government Relations for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, and spent eight years as counsel to the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. 

Kevin KlinkenbergKevin Klinkenberg, AIA is a Senior Planner with Olsson Associates. Since 1994, Kevin has explored his passion for walkable communities. He’s worked with developers, cities and non-profits, and led award-winning public involvement processes. He writes about urban design at www.newurbanismblog.com, and lives in Savannah, GA.

Doug KluckDoug Kluck is currently the Central Region Climate Services Director for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).  He has worked for NOAA since 1992 with 18 years in the National Weather Service.  Doug's region covers 14 states from Colorado to Michigan.  Doug's responsibilities include coordinating climate service activities among federal, state, tribal, ENGO's, academics and many others in the region. 

Aubrie KobernusAubrie Kobernus served as the Director of Governmental Affairs at the Memphis Area Association of REALTORS (MAAR). She has over ten years of experience in community development, real estate, and housing and banking policy. She earned her MBA in Finance and Nonprofit Management from the George Washington University.

Chris KochtitzkyChris Kochtitzky is the Associate Director for Policy and Planning in the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions National Center for Environmental Health, Division of Emergency and Environmental Health Services. Mr. Kochtitzky was hired as senior legislative analyst at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Environmental Health.

David Kooris

Ed KraemerDr. Kraemer is a family physician at Truman Medical Center Lakewood, in Kansas City, Missouri. He was founding Chair of the Livable Streets Advisory Board in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, serves as Co-Chair of Lee’s Summit’s Health Education Advisory Board, and is a member of Eastland Community Foundation’s Healthy Lifestyles Task Force.

Renee KuhlmanRenee Kuhlman works for the National Trust for Historic Preservation. She managed Helping Johnny Walk to School: Sustaining Communities through Smart Policy project which provided grants, technical assistance, and educational materials to encourage more community-centered schools. Kuhlman currently directs the organization's efforts to promote state tax credits for historic preservation.

Nick Kuhn Nick Kuhn is the Community Forestry Coordinator for the Missouri Dept. of Conservation. Being a City Forester has provided direct experience in managing rain water using LID techniques.  Kuhn is a Board member of the Society of Municipal Arborists and serves as technical advisor for the Sustainable Sites Initiative.

Gretchen KunkelGretchen H. Kunkel is the president of KC Healthy Kids, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing community solutions to reduce childhood obesity in Greater Kansas City.  Kunkel has nearly 20 years of experience addressing health, adult and childhood obesity, community development, food system and food insecurity issues.

Heidi Z. Kurtze As Vice President of Property Development for Artspace, Ms. Kurtze manages the development process for new Artspace projects, with responsibilities in the areas of financing, design, construction management, government approvals, and community engagement. She has a Masters Degree in Urban Planning from the Humphrey Institute at the University of Minnesota and has been working in the field of affordable housing, real estate development and urban planning for over 18 years.

Raymond LaiRaymond Lai is the Deputy Director of Economic and Community Development for the City of University City, Missouri and has over 25 years of experience. He was with AECOM (Asia), after serving as Director of Planning & Zoning for the City of Edwardsville, Illinois.

Sarah Landry

Denny LarsonDenny has twenty-eight years of experience as a community organizer and campaigner working with industrial communities fighting for justice.  He developed the Bucket Brigade community air sampling system that has empowered thousands of community members in 27 countries to monitor the air they breathe and win sustainable improvements.

Larry LaverentzManager of the Refugee Agricultural Partnership Program (RAPP) for 9 years in the HHS Office of Refugee Resettlement. Varied program experience during`19 ½ years in the Kansas City HHS Regional Office. Six years in VietNam as an agricultural volunteer and later as the USAID senior advisor to the province chief under the Pacification Program.

Kathryn LawlerKathryn Lawler is the external affairs manager for the Atlanta Regional Commission. She provides strategic and government affairs support to all of the agency’s work areas, including: transportation, land use, environment, workforce and aging. Most recently she helped manage the Regional Roundtable and its work to prepare a list of transportation projects that went before the voters in July 2012. Kathryn received a bachelor's degree from the University of Notre Dame and a master’s degree from Harvard University.

Elliott LawsElliott P. Laws was appointed Trustee of the RACER Trust in March 2011 and is a partner in the Washington law firm Crowell & Moring LLP. Mr. Laws is a former assistant administrator at the U.S. EPA, attorney with the U.S. Justice Department and president of safety, health and environment for Texaco Inc.

Frank LenkMr. Lenk is Director of Research Services for the Mid-America Regional Council, where he has worked for the past 33 years. He is responsible for maintaining and analyzing the economic, demographic and geographic information upon which MARC’s initiatives are based. His current focus is on tools and indicators that explain the economics of sustainable development.

Ramón LeónRamón León is the founding President and CEO of the Latino economic development center, a membership based/state wide, certified community development financial institution, member of the National association for Latino community asset builders and one of the pioneers of the economic development, and social justice movement in the Latino community of MN.

André LeRouxAs Executive Director of the Massachusetts Smart Growth Alliance, André has led efforts to reform zoning laws, increase transportation investment, and create a network of

great places. He has worked in planning and community development at the state and local level. He studied at Dartmouth College and El Colegio de México in Mexico City.

Matthew LeshMatthew is a Program Specialist in the Office of Mobility Innovation at FTA.  His interests in urban mobility and land use originate while working in California and being stuck in Interstate-5 congestion. He graduated from George Mason’s Graduate School of Public Policy. He manages FTA’s TIGGER Program among other duties.

Amy LevnerAmy S. Levner leads the Home and Community agenda for AARP.  She is responsible for AARP’s work on issues related to creating livable communities for people 50+ and their families.  Her portfolio includes managing partnerships, developing consumer education programs and serving as a thought leader and spokesperson on topics such as housing and universal design, expanding transportation options, and the benefits of livable communities for all. Amy has a background in social change marketing, program management and strategy development. 

Melissa LevyMelissa Levy is a Senior Associate at Yellow Wood Associates, Inc. and has been with the firm since May 2003. She has experience working closely with local governments, nonprofit organizations, foundations and businesses in the areas of community and economic development and natural resources. Melissa has worked with a wide variety of organizations in the area of measurement, using Yellow Wood’s You Get What You Measure® process. She is the co-author with Doug Hoffer of Measuring Community Wealth. Melissa received her Master of Science degree in Natural Resource Planning from the University of Vermont and her Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from the State University of New York at Binghamton. Melissa lives in Hinesburg, Vermont where she serves on the Hinesburg Conservation Commission. She is also a board member of the Vermont Environmental Consortium.

Michael LewynMichael Lewyn is an Associate Professor at Touro Law Center, where he teaches property and environmental law.  His scholarship is focused on issues related to sprawl and smart growth. 

Aneice LiddellMayor Aneice Liddell was elected Mayor of Moss Point, MS in July 2009 and recently assumed the office of President of Mississippi Conference of Black Mayors. She is the former chair of the local chapter of the NAACP and a board member of Jackson County Economic Development Foundation.

Jacob Lieb

Jacob is the Manager of Sustainability at the Southern California Association of Governments. He oversees sustainability programs including Compass Blueprint, the Sustainable Communities Strategy, electric vehicle planning, and the development of an open space strategy.  In prior work at SCAG, Jacob has been involved in CEQA Compliance, housing, and other issues.  Jacob also serves as lead staff to SCAG’s Energy and Environment Policy Committee, comprised of 25 elected officials. Jacob has a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of California – Berkeley.

Melissa Lin PerrellaMelissa has spent nearly ten years advocating for cleaner port and rail yard operations, and was instrumental in creating and defending clean air programs adopted by the Port of Los Angeles.  Before joining NRDC, she worked at a law firm.  She graduated from Georgetown University Law Center and U.C. Berkeley. 

John LovenburgJohn Lovenburg is vice president, Environmental for BNSF Railway. In this role, he leads a team of environmental employees responsible for environmental strategy and communication, sustainability, permitting and compliance, remediation, hazardous materials and emergency response, environmental litigation, and public policy leadership.

Beth LowBeth Low is Director of the Greater Kansas City Food Policy Coalition and Vice President of Policy and Public Affairs for KC Healthy Kids.   Low oversees policy initiatives, including increasing institutional purchasing of locally-grown foods and improving access to healthy, affordable foods in several area food deserts. 

Dan LurieDan Lurie is Senior Advisor to National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Rocco Landesman, and Director of Strategic Partnerships for the NEA. At NEA, Dan is revitalizing urban and rural communities through new place-based, comprehensive community development and new targeted economic development efforts that are strengthening communities' economic resiliency.

Jana LynottMs. Lynott is a Senior Strategic Policy Advisor on the Livable Communities Team in AARP’s Public Policy Institute. She focuses on a broad array of planning and policy issues including Complete Streets and the travel patterns of older adults.

William LyonsMr. William M. Lyons is a Principal Technical Advisor in transportation planning at the Department of Transportation's Volpe Center. Mr. Lyons' research interests include a broad range of topics involving integrated transportation planning and policy, including performance-based planning, planning for megaregions, and innovative ways to incorporate considerations of sustainability, public health, land use, or climate change in transportation decisions.

Jake MackenzieJake Mackenzie is the past chair of the Local Government Commission and is currently he is Vice Mayor for City of Rohnert Park. Exhausted from nobly fulfilling these responsibilities, he is currently working on persuading the cities of California to adopt the Ahwahnee Water Principles and in being Vice-chair of the RRWA and the NCIRWMP.

Tom MadreckiTom Madrecki is Smart Growth America’s Press Manager, joining the organization after a yearlong stint at United Parcel Service’s public affairs office in Washington DC. There, he oversaw the redesign of an internal newsletter sent to PAC-eligible employees and assisted in the writing of talking points and editorials for the world’s largest logistics firm.

Jeremy MadsenJeremy Madsen is the Executive Director of Greenbelt Alliance, the San Francisco Bay Area’s leading smart growth and land conservation advocacy organization. Since 2008, Madsen has led Greenbelt Alliance in protecting over a million acres of open space and shaping good development plans around the region. He holds degrees from George Washington University and the University of Oregon.

Anita MaltbiaAnita Maltbia is the director of Green Impact Zone, she oversees the staff responsible for implementing and coordinating a number of different initiatives in the zone; working with neighborhood leadership to coordinate programs and outreach in the zone; building partnerships with a wide range of stakeholders; and fiscal and program monitoring, evaluation and reporting. Anita focuses on business development, infrastructure, energy and water.

Camille Manning-BroomeAs Director of Planning at Center for Planning Excellence, Camille oversees statewide planning efforts that provide grants funding, technical assistance and model tools to communities creating community-driven plans based on Smart Growth principles. She also assists coastal communities with planning for restoration, protection, land use and water management.

Jan MarcasonJan Marcason is the Fourth District City Councilmember for Kansas City. As a councilmember, Jan was instrumental in crafting Kansas City’s EPA-mandated plan to solve sewage overflow issues, including incorporating green infrastructure and technology. Jan is currently vice-president of the Missouri Municipal League.

Matthew Marcus Matthew W. Marcus is the co-founder and CTO of Local Ruckus: the easiest way to discover and share local events. He's also attributed with co-founding KULA Causes and creating the #boomsizzle hashtag. In his spare time, he enjoys dreaming about the day when he will be a financially independent, professional philanthropist.

Bryce Maretzki Mr. Maretzki joined the Pennsylvania Housing Finance agency as Director of Business Development in 2011, where he leads the agency’s response to Marcellus Shale development and its effects on housing and community development. Prior to joining the PHFA, Bryce served as Deputy Secretary for the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.

Sandy MarkwoodSandy Markwood is the CEO of the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a), the organization which represents the nation's 629 Area Agencies on Aging and serves as a champion for the more than 246 Title VI Native American aging programs.  n4a is dedicated to build the capacity of its members to: advocate on behalf of older adults and their caregivers; take action to ensure that communities are equipped to support and enhance the well-being of older adults, persons with disabilities and their caregivers; and serve as the focal point in the community for answers on aging. 

Charles MarohnCharles Marohn is the executivie director of Strong Towns, a non-profit, non-partisan organization that helps America's towns achieve financial strength and resiliency. Marohn is a Professional Engineer (PE) licensed in the State of Minnesota and a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP).

Elliot MartinElliot Martin is an Assistant Research Engineer with the Transportation Sustainability Research Center at the University of California, Berkeley.  He earned a PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering at UC Berkeley.  He conducts research in the areas of transportation energy, freight, transit, shared-use mobility, and parking.

Adriano MartinezAdriano Martinez is a Staff Attorney for the Southern California Environmental Justice Project and the Los Angeles Urban Air Program.  His work focuses on improving air quality and reducing environmental impacts on communities in Southern California through the enforcement of state and federal laws, including the Clean Air Act and the California Environmental Quality Act, as well as through advocacy.

Carolina MartínezPolicy Advocate at Environmental Health Coalition, a San Diego/Tijuana-based nonprofit. Martínez is currently working on the implementation of a comprehensive community plan in the City of National City that includes phasing polluting industries out of a residential neighborhood and creating an affordable housing project. 

Megan McConville Megan McConville is a Policy and Planning Fellow in the U.S. EPA’s Office of Sustainable Communities, where she focuses on rural smart growth, equitable development, and the influence of federal policy on land use patterns. Prior to joining

EPA, Megan worked for the Sierra Club and the World Resources Institute and was a Fulbright Scholar in Lima, Peru.

Jenita McGowanAs Chief of Sustainability, Jenita McGowan is responsible for advising the City on policies related to sustainability and the oversight of the Office of Sustainability; leading the coordination of Sustainable Cleveland 2019, and reducing the City’s ecological footprint with solutions that also save the City money.

Sherri McIntyreSherri McIntyre is an Assistant City Manager working primarily on infrastructure related issues for the City of Kansas City, Missouri. She also serves as the Director of Public Works. She has a strong background in transportation and municipal infrastructure. She has eight years of previous service with the City, working in Public Works Engineering, and over 10 years with Missouri Department of Transportation.

Steve McNealy

Flo MeadowsFlo recently chaired the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce in a year focused on comprehensive planning. Other involvement includes Commissioner for Lafayette Economic Development Authority, Upper Lafayette Economic Development Foundation, and Council for a Better Louisiana.

Leslie MeehanLeslie A. Meehan, AICP is the Director of Healthy Communities for the Nashville Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). She specializes in bicycle and pedestrian policy, planning and education. Leslie was awarded the 2010 Association of Bicycle and Pedestrian Professionals - Public Sector of the Year award for her work.

Kate MeisKate Meis is an Associate Director at the Local Government Commission.Her work focuses on assisting local governments to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. Kate leads the Statewide Energy Efficiency Collaborative, LGC’s climate change program and was the lead on the Statewide Energy Upgrade California contract.

Roger MillarRoger Millar manages Smart Growth America’s Leadership Institute and the National Complete Streets Coalition. Projects in which Roger played a leadership role, particularly Portland’s Pearl District and the Portland Streetcar, are seen as national models. He has also led signature projects for rural, resort and gateway communities throughout the West.

Emily MillerEmily Miller is Policy and Planning Associate for KC Healthy Kids and the Greater Kansas City Food Policy Coalition. Previously a planner at BNIM, Miller has a

background in community organizing and program management for food system and environmental issues.  She has a Masters in Urban Planning from the University of Kansas. 

Joel MillsJoel Mills is Director of the Center for Communities by Design. His 20-year career has helped millions of people participate in democratic processes, visioning efforts, and community planning initiatives across the world. In the US, Joel has worked with over 100 communities, creating almost a billion dollars in new investment.

Joe MinicozziJoseph Minicozzi, AICP is the Executive Director for the Asheville Downtown Association. He is also the principal of Urban3, LLC, the consulting company within Public Interest Projects, Inc. (PIP). PIP is a private for-profit real estate development company focused on historic preservation, urban infill, and investing in business start-up in downtown Asheville, NC. Joe is a founding member of the Asheville Design Center, a non-profit community design center dedicated to creating livable communities across all of Western North Carolina. He received his Bachelor of Architecture from University of Miami and Masters in Architecture and Urban Design from Harvard University.

Ken MooreDr. Ken Moore, Mayor of Franklin is the 31st Mayor and second physician to head the City of Franklin. Ken practiced orthopedic surgery for more than twenty-eight years and gained recognition on a state and national level as a leader. In May 2012 he was elected to serve as the Chair of the Middle Tennessee Mayor’s Caucus and was given the Leadership in Regional Thinking and Action Award at the Power of Ten Summit.

Scott MooreScott Moore, AIA NCARB, is an architect, community builder, and grant writer currently working with the non-profit Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation on the sustainable communities planning project Oyate Omniciyé | Oglala Lakota Plan as well as the Wakinyan Opa Regenerative Community on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation of South Dakota.

David MorleyDavid Morley, AICP, is the American Planning Association’s Planning Advisory Service (PAS) Coordinator, a Research Associate, and Co-Editor of Zoning Practice. He is a frequent contributor to APA research projects and publications, and he holds a Master of Urban Planning and Policy from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Jed MoultonJed Moulton is the Urban Design Manager for the City of Omaha. His work primarily includes implementation and administration of the recently adopted urban design code, neighborhood conservation and historic preservation planning. He practiced architecture for 18 years prior to his current position in City government.

Alexandria MurnanAlexandria is a Masters candidate (2013) at the Department of City and Regional Planning at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC. Alexandria is currently a Community Revitalization Fellow with UNC School of Government’s Development Finance Initiative, providing expertise and supportive services to North Carolinian communities working on transformative economic development projects. She completed her BA at the University of Kansas in May, 2012 with a double major in Public Administration and American Studies..

Dennis MurpheyDennis Murphey is Chief Environmental Officer for Kansas City, Missouri. He manages the Office of Environmental Quality and provides leadership on integrating climate protection and sustainability into all city operations. He serves the City Manager, Mayor, and City Council as their primary advisor and source of information on environmental issues.

Eric MuschlerEric Muschler has been a Program Officer with the Region and Communities Program at The McKnight Foundation based in Minneapolis, MN since 2006. Eric has worked to advance the field of community economic development throughout his career as an affordable housing developer, managing a national initiative at United Way of America, Director of Community Economic Development for the United Way of Metro Atlanta, and as the Director of the Asset Building Policy Project and Michigan IDA Partnership (MIDAP) in Michigan from 2001 to 2006. He received his Masters in Community Planning (MCP) from the University of Cincinnati in 1991 and undergraduate degree in Urban Studies from Macalester College in St. Paul, MN in 1987.

Philip MyrickPhilip Myrick is a leader in helping cities develop comprehensive strategies, policies and procedures that help them achieve livability, economic competitiveness, and sustainability through Placemaking. Phil is leading PPS’ technical assistance program, in partnership with Livability Solutions, a partnership of 10 leading nonprofit organizations with deep experience in sustainable development.

Marlene NagelMarlene Nagel is Community Development Director for the Mid-America Regional Council, the metropolitan planning organization and association of city and county governments serving the bi-state Kansas City metropolitan area. She oversees a staff of 70 who work on a diverse group of programs--including development of the region’s first bicycle transportation plan and MARC’s Complete Streets initiative. Anu Natarajan

Vice Mayor Anu Natarajan has lived in Fremont for 14 years. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Architecture and a Masters degree in Urban Design and Planning from the University of Washington. Her professional experience includes working as an architect, public agency planner, and as an urban planning consultant.

Brenda NationsBrenda Nations has been the Environmental Coordinator for Iowa City since 2009. Her job focuses on environmental and sustainability issues facing the City. She has coordinated energy audits of the City’s buildings, calculates community-wide and municipal greenhouse gas emissions, is assembling a community-wide sustainability assessment, and manages City-owned native ecosystems.

Randy NeprashRandy Neprash is a civil engineer and stormwater regulatory specialist with Stantec Consulting.  He also serves as staff for the Minnesota Cities Stormwater Coalition of nearly 100 cities regulated under the State's MS4 permitting program. Over the last several years, Randy has worked to integrate urban trees with stormwater management.

Donna NeuwirthDonna Neuwirth is the co-founder and Executive Director of the Wormfarm Institute a non profit in rural Wisconsin. A self-described impresario, Donna has initiated several ambitious projects at the intersection of culture and agriculture. Wormfarm’s annual Fermentation Fest – A Live Culture Convergence is a national model for rural creative placemaking.

Dina NewmanDina is the Ivanhoe Healthy Kids Initiatives Project Manager/Advocate for Change for the Ivanhoe Neighborhood Council, a not-for-profit neighborhood improvement organization in Kansas City, Missouri. In partnership with KC Healthy Kids and The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Dina’s role includes implementing advocacy strategies that will successfully promote healthy, fit children.

Sarah NewstokSarah Newstok, Livable Memphis program manager, has a passion for making communities better places to live. In her current role, Sarah advocates for increased citizen input in planning and development decisions, for public policies that reduce urban sprawl and increase reinvestment in existing neighborhoods, and for safe, accessible public and active transit.

Aaron NewtonAaron Newton is the Local Food System Program Coordinator for Cabarrus County, North Carolina. He is the coauthor of A Nation of Farmers from New Society Publishers 2009. Aaron earned a degree in Landscape Architecture from NCSU. He operates Phoenix Farms, a certified organic vegetable production operation and raises city chickens illegally in his backyard.

Lisa NisensonLisa Nisenson has worked for 20 years in environmental protection and smart growth.  She undertook urban planning as a citizen activist, an interest that led to federal, state and local planning work on community building, watersheds and energy. Ms. Nisenson is writing a book on urban planning and writes for the blog Planning Edges.  

Christopher NormanAs Executive Director, Mr. Norman has led the restructuring of the Fulton County/City of Atlanta Land Bank Authority, Inc., expanding its programs and increasing its funding. He also serves as the President of the Georgia Association of Land Bank Authorities (GALBA). GALBA was instrumental in facilitating the passage of the Georgia Land Bank Act by the Georgia Legislature in 2012.

Nathan NorrisNathan recently became the CEO of the Downtown Development Authority for Lafayette, Louisiana.  Previously he served as the Director of Implementation Advisory for PlaceMakers where he helped municipalities and developers craft strategies for achieving their placemaking goals with an emphasis on placemaking as an economic development tool.  He is a member of the Transect Codes Council and the primary author of the Smart Growth Schools Report Card.

Kathy NothstineKathy Nothstine is an Associate Director at NADO. She manages research, training, and capacity building programs regarding regional planning, community and economic development, with a focus on rural and small metropolitan issues. She worked as a planner with a design firm with an MCP degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

Daniel O’ConnellDaniel O’Connell is the American Farmland Trust’s San Joaquin Valley Representative. He has integrated his academic background with broad, on-the-ground experience including work as a Peace Corps volunteer, UC Cooperative Extension Specialist, and Farmland Conservation Director for the southern San Joaquin Valley.

Elisa OrtizElisa M. Ortiz is Smart Growth America’s Deputy Director of Government Affairs and Outreach. She works with SGA's state and regional partners, manages federal advocacy work, helps implement state and local smart growth campaigns and provides capacity building and training to grantees of the federal Partnership for Sustainable Communities.

Beth OsborneBeth Osborne joined USDOT as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy in 2009. Since then, Osborne has overseen the implementation of the TIGER Discretionary Grant program, and has supported the Secretary’s livability initiative.  She is presently working on implementing the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act.

Maren OutwaterWith 26 years of progressive experience in managing complex model development efforts, Ms Outwater has developed and enhanced models to provide practical solutions for today’s transportation, growth, environmental and economic development challenges. Ms. Outwater currently leads the Advanced Forecasting Methods practice at RSG. 

Michael ParkMichael Park received his BSCE from the University of Missouri.  He has 13 years of experience in traffic engineering and transportation planning, a registered Professional Engineer and certified Professional Traffic Operations Engineer.  He has been with the City of Lee's Summit for the last 7 years, previously an engineering consultant. 

Daniel ParolekDaniel Parolek, AIA, is a nationally recognized thought leader in architecture, design, and urban planning, specifically in terms of creating livable, sustainable communities and buildings that reinforce them. His strong interest in diverse building types, at different scales that bridge architecture and urban planning, drove his desire to start Opticos in 2000- and he continues to create buildings and neighborhoods that can be future models to inspire and guide others.

John ParsonsMr. Parsons serves as the Director of Marketing and Planning for the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District for the past 20 years. NICTD provides commuter rail service between South Bend and Chicago. Prior to joining NICTD, Mr. Parsons spent 13 years with the Indiana Department of Transportation managing the state’s public transportation program.

Joan PasiukJoan Pasiuk of Transit for Livable Communities directs Bike Walk Twin Cities (BWTC) -- one of four sites of the federal Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program charged by Congress to demonstrate the effect of investments to shift driving trips into bicycling and walking trips.

Travis PateTravis Pate is a City Planner for the research and strategic planning division for the Baltimore City Planning Department. He researches initiatives in economic development, housing, public health, and environmental planning that focus on city-wide redevelopment strategies and prioritization analysis, and supporting public policy analysis related to Baltimore's food deserts.

Charles PattisonCharles Pattison, FAICP, President - As president, Charles is responsible to the Board for the day-to-day administration of the 1000 Friends' office which includes working with

Florida's citizens and communities. He also works with the state's executive and legislative branches on land use and long range planning issues.

Arthur PearsonArthur directs the foundation’s arts and environmental programs in the Chicago region. Arthur has published on a wide range of conservation issues in such publications as Archaeology, Chicago Wilderness Magazine, and Chicago Life. Before joining the foundation, he consulted for many years with several regional arts and environment funders.

Kevin PerryKevin Perry is an internationally recognized leader in integrating stormwater management with high-quality urban design. His project experience has helped policy makers develop a “toolbox” of green infrastructure design strategies for agencies nationwide.  Mr. Perry is the principal at the green infrastructure design firm Urban Rain | Design at the University of California, Davis.

India Pierce LeeIndia Pierce Lee joined the Cleveland Foundation in 2006 as program director for neighborhoods, housing, and community development. She oversees the foundation's Greater University Circle Initiative, a unique multi-institutional anchor-based partnership with Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals, the City of Cleveland, and philanthropic and non-profit organizations engaged in catalytic projects to revitalize neighborhoods that include transportation, wealth building and economic inclusion, employer-assisted housing, and community engagement.

Jordan PooleJordan Poole, Executive Director of the Paradise Garden holds both a Bachelors and Master’s degree in Historic Preservation.  Poole has worked with over 40 of the top endangered sites throughout Georgia as part of his work with the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation in cooperation with the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Julie PorterJulie Porter is the Executive Director for Greater Kansas City LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation) where she oversees all operations, develops partnerships to enhance community development, and marshals financial resources to support neighborhood revitalization. Under her leadership, LISC launched Neighborhoods NOW, a comprehensive revitalization program that has invested over $30 million to turn struggling Kansas City area neighborhoods into sustainable communities. Julie worked in banking for more than 17 years prior to joining LISC in 2000 and graduated from Wichita State University with a degree in Business Administration.

Donald PowersDonald Powers is the Founding Principal of Union Studio, a Providence, RI-based firm of 16 architects and community designers dedicated to saving the world from sprawl.  Union Studio’s national portfolio features master planning, community design and

architectural services, including civic and institutional buildings, walkable mixed-use centers, and housing of all types.

Ilana PreussIlana is the Vice President & Chief of Staff of Smart Growth America.  Ilana manages communications strategy and works to influence federal and state policies with a focus on federal financing of smart growth development.  Ilana has been featured in the New York Times and USA Today, and presented a TEDx talk – The Economic Power of Great Places.

Philip PugliesePhilip Pugliese became Chattanooga’s first bicycle coordinator in 2005. Philip is an active board member of the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals and has represented this organization on the National Complete Streets Coalition Steering Committee.

Wilma QuanWilma Quan is the Urban Planning Specialist with the City of Fresno. She currently serves as the project manager for the Fresno High Speed Rail Station Area Master Plan and the Downtown Plans and Code Project. Wilma has extensive land use planning experience in both the private and public sectors.

Kevin RamseyKevin Ramsey, Ph.D. is a Policy Research Fellow in EPA’s Office of Sustainable Communities. He oversees the development of GIS data products and tools that enable performance evaluation of alternative land use and development scenarios. He also serves on the Partnership for Sustainable Communities performance measurement work group.

Ruth Randleman

Jeremy Raw Jeremy Raw works in the FHWA Office of Planning, where he develops and deploys travel modeling and forecasting tools, and helps others use those tools more effectively.  He is currently leading an initiative at FHWA to increase access to analysis tools and models for bicycle and pedestrian planning.

Joe ReardonJoe Reardon is the 27th Mayor of the City of Kansas City, Kansas. Elected in April 7th 2009, he is currently serving his second four-year term as the Mayor/CEO of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas (UG). In 2012 the Kansas Mayors Association named Joe Reardon Mayor of the Year.

Dan J. ReuterAs Division Chief of Land Use Planning for the Atlanta Regional Commission, Dan Reuter is responsible for comprehensive and greenspace planning, housing and regional land use policy. Previously, Reuter was Planning and Zoning Director for Douglas and

Glynn Counties and Transportation Planner for Savannah-Chatham and Athens-Clarke County Planning Departments. Anna RicklinAnna joined APA in December 2011. She first worked in the nexus of health, sustainable living, and the built environment when she had a job promoting public transit, walking, and biking in Portland, OR. She later worked on transit planning and bike projects with the Baltimore City Department of Transportation, and completed a health impact assessment of a new light rail line. Anna came to APA with the aim to better integrate health into all aspects of planning practice, and has worked with members and partners to disseminate best practices that benefit public health, including solutions to the obesity crisis, access to healthcare, and traditional environmental health concerns. Anna earned a MHS from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and a BA from American University. She lives in Washington, DC.

Nora RiemenschneiderNora Riemenschneider oversees the HUD Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant projects that are part of Corridors of Opportunity, an initiative that supports development along transitway corridors to ensure access to jobs, housing and services for residents of all incomes and backgrounds.

Dennis RittenmeyerDennis’ forty-year career in higher education has largely been spent in urban settings attempting to link the resources of higher education with the challenges faced by urban America. Dennis retired from Calumet College of St. Joseph in Indiana in 2011 and was appointed Executive Director of One Region in 2012.

Toby RittnerToby Rittner, DFCP, EDFP, is the President & CEO for the Council of Development Finance Agencies. Mr. Rittner runs the day-to-day operations of the Council, which includes management of a 32 member Board of Directors, and the organization’s various educational, advocacy and research initiatives.

Phillip RodbellPhillip Rodbell is a program specialist for Urban and Community Forestry in the U.S. Forest Service Northeastern Area, located near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  He provides leadership in federally funded action to plant and improve community trees and forests in the Midwest, New England, and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. 

Donald RoeMr. Roe is currently the Acting Director of Planning and Urban Design for the City of St. Louis’ Planning and Urban Design Agency, having held senior management positions in the agency since its inception in 1999. He has an undergraduate degree in Environmental Design from the University of Colorado and a Masters in Urban Planning from the University of Michigan.

Euneika Rogers-SippEuneika Rogers-Sipp, Chief Regenerative Officer (CRO) of Sustainable Rural Regenerative Enterprises for Families (S.U.R.R.E.F),  has spent most of her professional career starting up social ventures or advising community based organizations on growth strategies in the field of sustainable development. Euneika has received a BA from the American College in London, is pursuing an IMA (Independent Masters) from Antioch College in Sustainable Rural Economic Development and is a Rural Development Leadership Network Fellow.

Steve RolingSteve Roling was appointed President/CEO of the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City in December 2004. This foundation was created when Health MidWest sold its hospitals to HCA. Steve obtained both his undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Missouri in Columbia.

Kalima RoseKalima Rose works with the infrastructure team to steer resources for transportation, housing, and key amenities to communities of opportunity. Rose helps local and statewide groups implement economic stimulus funds for greater workforce participation and new investments in underserved communities. Since 2005, she has led the organization’s Gulf Coast recovery work.

David RouseDavid Rouse, AICP, ASLA is a principal with WRT in Philadelphia and has over 30 years of experience in community planning and design. He is a trainer for APA’s Planning the Urban Forest workshop, which develops core knowledge and skills for planners to integrate urban forestry throughout local planning processes.

Guy Rousseau

Victor RubinVictor Rubin, Vice President for Research, leads knowledge-building, evaluation, and qualitative and quantitative analysis activities to build a strong research base for PolicyLink. Recently he has been particularly deeply involved in analyses of equity issues in infrastructure, and in strategies to address health disparities through improvements to the built environment. Rubin holds a BA in public affairs from the University of Chicago, and an MCP and PhD in city and regional planning from UC Berkeley.

Harrison RueHarrison Rue is an ICF Principal with over 30 years experience in smart growth and sustainable community development. He has created successful plans, programs, policies, training, and implementation strategies at the rural, urban, regional, and statewide level. Rue has researched and developed sustainable communities guidebooks, performance measures, tools, and technical assistance for several federal agencies.

Suzi RuhlB. Suzi Ruhl is currently Senior Attorney Advisor for the US EPA Office of Environmental Justice. In this capacity, she works to integrate environmental justice in NEPA, permitting and rulemaking, supports community based action, and fosters administration wide action that promotes healthy and sustainable communities for environmentally burdened and medically underserved populations.

Angela RussellAngela Russell is the Community Engagement Lead on the County Health Rankings project at the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. Ms. Russell helps lead communications and community engagement activities focused on the County Health Rankings and works with communities throughout the nation using the Rankings to improve community health.

Elisabeth RussellElisabeth Bertrand Russell is a founding team member that developed the structure and the programs of the AMBAG Energy Watch Partnership, which began in 2006.  Ms. Russell earned an MBA from the Monterey Institute of International Studies and a BA in Political Science from the University of Iowa.

Sara RussellSara Russell is a native Californian and Brownfields Project Manager at EPA's Pacific Southwest Region 9's office in San Francisco.  She is responsible for brownfield grants in San Joaquin Valley and southern California.  Sara also works on smart growth initiatives including the HUD/DOT/EPA Sustainable Communities Partnership.  

Chris RyanChris Ryan coordinates BCLC’s Environmental Innovation Network. In this role, he is responsible for building awareness about best practices regarding environmental issues and facilitating collaboration between the public, private, and non-government sectors. Chris is also responsible for implementation of BCLC's annual Sustainable Community Awards, underwritten by Siemens.

Taryn SabiaCo-founder of the Urban Charrette, Inc., a 501c3 non-profit organization in Tampa, Florida dedicated to educating community leaders about urban design best practices, encouraging them to take an active role in designing a more sustainable Tampa. She also teaches a course on The Sustainable City for the School of Architecture and Community Design at the University of South Florida.

Tony SalazarMr. Salazar is a principal with McCormack Baron Salazar, a national real estate development firm, which specializes in building and managing large-scale urban projects in distressed communities that involve mixed-use (housing and retail) and mixed-income housing (affordable and market-rate). The firm has developed over 16,000 housing units and 1.3 million square feet of retail space.

Rebecca SaldanaRebecca Saldaña leads Puget Sound Sage’s Community Benefits and Development program focused on equitable TOD. From organizing for janitor and farm worker justice to serving as Congressman McDermott’s Labor & Housing Liaison, Rebecca brings over 15 years of experience in building coalitions for economic and social change.

Ricardo SalvadorRicardo Salvador is the senior scientist and director of the Food & Environment Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS). He works with citizens, scientists, economists, and politicians to transition our current food system into one that grows healthy foods while employing sustainable practices.

Deidre SandersDeidre has been a part of PG&E’s Environmental Policy Group since September, 2007 and leads the effort to advance the implementation and institutionalization of PG&E’s Environmental Justice (EJ) Policy.  She is also the lead for the identification and development of company response strategies associated with EJ and new laws and regulations, such as California’s landmark climate change legislation, AB 32, as well as other emerging and operational issues.  Deidre also serves on US EPA’s National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC).

Ted SchettlerTed Schettler MD, MPH is Science Director of the Science and Environmental Health Network and the Collaborative on Health and Environment. He has addressed the connections between human health and the food, chemical, built, and social environments in numerous publications and presentations.  

Joseph SchillingProfessor Schilling leads the Institute’s Sustainable Communities and Urban Regeneration Initiatives that explore the intersection of policy, planning and collaboration in the development of sustainable regions, communities and neighborhoods. His field work serves as a living laboratory for research, service learning, and policy change by extracting and disseminating model programs and practices through case studies, policy roundtables and planning studios. Schilling is an accomplished public policy facilitator having organized dozens of research, policy, and community forums.

Lanny Schmid

Jasper SchneiderJasper Schneider was appointed by the President as North Dakota's State Director for USDA Rural Development. Prior to USDA, Jasper served in the state legislature, had a successful law practice and worked as legal counsel to U.S. Senator Kent Conrad. Jasper is a graduate of Hamline University School of Law. He and his wife have four children.

Jamie Schriner-Hooper

Jamie Schriner-Hooper is the Executive Director of the Community Economic Development Association of Michigan (CEDAM), where she oversees all aspects of a statewide trade association for non-profit community economic developers. Jamie has experience both in the public and private sector working to revitalize Michigan.

Jim SchuesslerJim is a land use planner and landscape architect. He is a versatile leader with project responsibilities ranging from site programming and analysis to master planning, from needs assessment to site design, construction documents and construction administration. His expertise in stormwater management, best management practice (BMP) design and urban planning as well as in the design of environmentally sensitive landscapes led to BNIM receiving a grant from the U.S. Green Building Council to study BMPs for on-site stormwater management.

1 Jim Schwab Mr. Schwab joined the American Planning Association in November 1985. Originally the assistant editor of Planning, APA's monthly magazine, he joined APA’s research department in August 1990. He serves as the co-editor of a monthly publication, Zoning Practice. He is the Manager of APA’s Hazards Planning Research Center in the Chicago office.

Brett SchwartzBrett Serves as a program manager at the NADO Research Foundation overseeing disaster recovery resiliency grants. His previous work with NADO included researching and writing the Vibrant Rural Communities case studies series. He is a graduate of the University of Baltimore School of Law where he focused on community development and land use issues. As a law student, Brett interned at the EPA’s Office of Sustainable Communities and Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley’s office.

Charlie SciammasCharlie is a community organizer with ¡PODER!, a grassroots membership based, environmental and economic justice organization based in San Francisco's Excelsior & Mission Districts.  PODER’s vision consists of a world where everyday people are doing extraordinary things to shape decisions and steward healthy development in their neighborhoods, local economies, and the natural environment. Charlie has an M.A. in Urban Planning from UCLA and was appointed by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors to serve on the Citizens’ Committee on Community Development.

Deborah ScottDeborah Scott, Executive Director of STAND-UP, and Founder of Trade-UP is a 2012 “White House Champion of Change for Greening Our Cities and Towns,” and a leader of initiatives to build green industries, forge a 21st century American workforce, and revitalize urban cores using principles of transit-oriented development and smart growth.

Julia Seward

Julie partners with clients across the country as Principal Consultant for Julia Seward Consulting. Her deep multi-sector leadership experience includes direction of LISC’s national state policy program, Vice President at Signet Banking Corporation, Policy Assistant to the Governor of Virginia, independent consulting for financial institutions and nonprofits. Her professional endeavors have included Chairmanship of the Community Advisory Committee of the Federal Reserve Board and Boards of multiple state and national organizations. She is a frequent speaker, program planner and mother of a daughter.

Tamar ShapiroTamar Shapiro is the Director of Urban and Regional Policy at the German Marshall Fund of the U.S. (GMF) and has more than a decade of experience working on state, regional, and local policies related to land use, housing, transportation, and the environment in the U.S. and Europe.

Martha ShielsMartha has over 18 years experience in resource economics and policy, project management, and permitting. She is known for her work in community advocacy, co-chairing an on-going zero-waste project for the Portland Public Schools, and participating in the City of Portland Sustainability Task Force. Martha’s expertise is critical to establishing the framework, assessments and documentation necessary to improve a project’s Triple Bottom Line.

Lilly ShoupLilly Shoup is a Policy Analyst in the Office of the Undersecretary for Transportation Policy in Washington, DC.  She supports the Partnership for Sustainable Communities and related livability initiatives at DOT. Ms. Shoup previously served as Research Director at Transportation for America and a Senior Associate at ICF International.

Erin SimmonsErin Simmons is the Director of Design Assistance at the Center for Communities by Design at the American Institute of Architects in Washington, DC. Her primary role at the AIA is to provide process expertise, facilitation and support for the SDAT and R/UDAT programs. In this capacity, she works with AIA components, members, partner organizations and community members to provide technical design assistance to communities across the country. Through its design assistance programs, the AIA has worked in over 200 communities across 47 states.

Suganthi SimonSuganthi Simon has been with the U.S. EPA for twelve years. She works with the private and public sector to manage environmental footprints and realize the resource savings of adopting sustainable strategies. Suganthi received a degree in Environmental Science from Wellesley College, and a Master of Environmental Management from Yale University.

Dani Simons Ms. Simons, Principal, Sustainable Streets Marketing and Communications, is a national expert in communications and marketing for sustainable transportation projects. While working at NYCDOT, she launched New York City’s Summer Streets program. She has developed numerous advertising and marketing campaigns to promote safe, sustainable streets. Dani has a B.S. from Brown and a Master’s from Yale. 

Colin SmithColin Smith is a transportation planner at Resource Systems Group. His emphasis is on using survey data and modeling tools to understand aspects of travel behavior such as interactions between urban form, household structure, and vehicle ownership, and to model the impacts of transportation choices such as greenhouse gas emissions.

Kenneth SmithMayor Kenneth Smith, Sr. is a native of Kingsland, Georgia. He served sixteen years as Councilman for the City of Kingsland and was first sworn into office as Mayor in January of 2002. Mayor Smith has prioritized the interests of Kingsland residents, families and businesses. He has made himself accessible to all of his constituents and works diligently as an ambassador for Kingsland and ultimately its well being.

Kristopher SmithKristopher Smith is a Director for Leadership Development with the Funders’ Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities, where he coordinates funder working group activities focused on Restoring Prosperity in Older Industrial Cities as well as a national philanthropic leadership development program entitled PLACES.

Nathaniel SmithNathaniel Smith serves as Director of Partnerships for Equitable Development at Emory University’s Center for Community Partnerships. Nathaniel also serves as Founder and Chief Equity Officer (CEqO) of Partnership for Southern Equity (PSE). PSE pushes for policies and actions that promote equity and inclusive prosperity in metropolitan Atlanta.

Lee SobelLee Sobel is the Real Estate Development and Finance Analyst at the US EPA’s Office of Sustainable Communities. Mr. Sobel’s work focuses technical assistance, outreach and education, and research and policy, related to real estate development that achieves smart growth goals and outcomes.

Kent SovernKent Sovern is the State Director for the 386,000 AARP members in Iowa. He brings over 30 years of management expertise in the fields of organizational development, association management, policy advocacy, K-12 education, local government administration, business advocacy and higher education to AARP. He is a decorated combat veteran of the Vietnam conflict. Kent served as Vice-Chair on the Plan and Zoning Commission for the City of Des Moines for 12 years.

Scot SpencerScot Spencer is Associate Director for Advocacy and Influence for The Annie E. Casey Foundation. From 2002 to 2010, Scot was Manager of Baltimore Relations at Casey where the Foundation’s work in Baltimore has been focused on the East Baltimore revitalization effort to strengthen community and economic development in an historic working class neighborhood. Scot’s previous experience includes Transportation Specialist for the Environmental Defense Fund; deputy director for Historic East Baltimore Community Action Coalition; and careers in private architectural practice, community development and university relations in upstate New York. He currently chairs The Funders’ Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities and is Vice Chair of Smart Growth America and serves on a number of other boards and commissions.

Barbara SpoonhourDirector of Energy and Environmental Programs, Western Riverside Council of Governments (WRCOG).  Ms. Spoonhour oversees the WRCOG Energy Efficiency and Water Conservation Program for Western Riverside County, referred to as HERO.  Over $60 million in projects approved and the Program will undertake the HERO Program statewide in 2013. 

Joel SpoonheimJoel Spoonheim is Healthways’ Director of Community Programs for the Blue Zones Project. A leader in community transformation, he has worked for city governments, a food manufacturer, healthcare companies, and non-profits directing major initiatives that require engaging diverse stakeholders and complex problem solving.  The Blue Zones Project initiative is currently transforming three cities in California and four cities in Iowa.  Blue Zones Project coordinates 10-15 concurrent initiatives to change people’s daily environments to make healthy choices easy. The initiative strives to improve well-being – physical, social, and emotional health, as measured by the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index.

Sharon Sprowls

Sharon Stanley Sharon is a team member with Building Healthy Communities, and Executive Director of Fresno Interdenominational Refugee Ministries (FIRM, Inc.).  A nationally trained PICO Community Organizer, she speaks intermediate Lao, has won numerous social justice awards, and lived thirteen years in a Fresno slum nicknamed after a refugee camp in Thailand. 

Mark StodolaMark Stodola was elected Mayor of Little rock, Arkansas in 2006 and helped bring more than $1 billion in new capital investment and a ranking as the fourth-best economy in the country. Mayor Stodola has worked hard to revitalize the city’s Main Street, while reducing the crime rate by 50%.

Suzanna StoikeSuzanna has a B.S. in Marine Science and Biology and a Masters in Marine Resource Management. In 2010, she joined the West Coast Governors Alliance. Suzanna works on implementing the WCGA’s Action plan, participates on the National Working Waterfronts Network, and helps coordinate the Working Waterfronts and Waterways Symposium.

Marilyn StricklandMarilyn Strickland was sworn in as Mayor of Tacoma in January 2010, and previously served as a city council member. Born in Seoul, Strickland is a graduate of the University of Washington and holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Clark-Atlanta University. She and her husband Patrick Erwin live in the downtown.

Terry SupahanTerry Supahan is a member of the Karuk Tribe and is intimately familiar with concerns of Native Americans. He serves as a financial adviser, grant writer, facilitator, and project manager. Terry assists the Tribal Representatives to the White Houses National Ocean Council and advises the West Coast Governor’s Alliance for Ocean Health.

Matthew SussmanMr. Sussman works with Manhattan Strategy Group to develop and implement an affordability index covering both housing and transportation costs for the HUD Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities. From 2009 to September 2011, Matthew performed research, data analysis and authored reports and other communications for the Center for Neighborhood Technology.

Erika SvendsenDr. Svendsen is a research social scientist with the US Forest Service, Northern Research Station (NRS) in New York City.  Her research focuses on urban environmental stewardship and issues related to governance, social-ecological resilience and human well-being.  Her work includes understanding the spatial, temporal and sacred aspects of stewardship systems.

Ashley SwearenginAshley Swearengin was elected Mayor of Fresno, California’s fifth-largest city, in 2008 after leading a number of economic development programs in the Fresno area.  Re-elected in 2012, Swearengin is a dynamic leader who focuses on building coalitions of experienced and capable experts to solve problems in honest and thoughtful ways. 

Bob SwettDr. Bob Swett is an Associate Professor at the University of Florida and the Florida Sea Grant specialist on boating and waterway management issues within Florida’s Cooperative Extension Service. His programmatic mission is to build a comprehensive extension and research program that fosters responsible use and management of Florida’s waterways.

Kathy SykesSince 1983, Ms. Sykes has held health and aging policy positions at the state and federal level. At EPA, she and launched a community recognition program for excellence in the built environment and active aging. She is the Senior Advisor for Aging and Sustainability in EPA's Office of Research and Development.

Erik TakeshitaErik Takeshita is a nationally-recognized leader on the use of art and culture to build stronger communities.  He is Deputy Director of the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) office in the Twin Cities and faculty for Intermedia Arts Creative Community Leadership Institute. Mr. Takeshita graduated from the Harvard Kennedy School and is Board President of Springboard for the Arts.

Shiraz TangriShiraz D. Tangri is the general counsel of LA Streetcar, Inc., a non-profit organization founded by Downtown Los Angeles property owners to promote development of a modern streetcar system.  He is a partner in Alston & Bird’s Environmental & Land Development Group and assists clients with the development of real estate, energy and infrastructure projects.

Scott TateDr. Scott Tate is an instructor, researcher and community development practitioner with Virginia Cooperative Extension and the Virginia Tech Institute for Policy and Governance. He has studied community change efforts in the United States and Northern Ireland and led community-based projects including Virginia's Stronger Economies Together Program.

Janet TharpOver the last 30 years, Janet has specialized in project management, comprehensive and special district planning, development and zoning codes, and public outreach and values research. She has developed plans with strong implementation mechanisms across the country and was a co-author of the Best Practices Manual for Development in Coastal Louisiana.

John Thomas

Sean ThomasSean Thomas is (since 2003) Executive Director of Old North St. Louis Restoration Group, a neighborhood-based, not-for-profit community development corporation with a mission to revitalize the physical & social dimensions of the Old North St. Louis neighborhood in a manner that respects the community’s historic, cultural, and urban character.  

Sharon Thomas

Sharon Thomas is a retired professor from Michigan State University.  She moved to Las Cruces, NM in 2003 and was first elected to the city council in 2007.  She is particularly interested in planning issues and the intersection between land use, transportation, and environmental issues.  She sits on the Las Cruces Metropolitan Planning Organization Policy Committee and is co-chair of the Camino Real Regional Sustainable Communities project.

Amanda ThompsonAmanda Thompson is the Planning Director for Decatur, Georgia. She has implemented smart growth zoning ordinances, built complete streets and discovered innovative ways to engage Decatur residents in sustaining their community. She led the team that conducted the first Health Impact Assessment in North America on a transportation plan. 

Lissa ThompsonLissa Thompson, ASLA, LEED AP, licensed landscape architect and principal with Ritchie Smith Associates in Memphis. Lissa earned her MLA from the Harvard Graduate School of Design and has 25+ years experience in urban/open space design. She contributed vision and technical expertise to the Complete Streets Policy Advisory Committee.

Nick TilsenTilsen is a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe and the founding Executive Director of theThunder Valley CDC, an Oglala led grassroots organization working to create a 34 acreregenerative community development in the heart of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.Tilsen is also currently the Project Director for Oyate Omnicye.

Scott TimmScott Timm is the Sustainability Coordinator for the City of Fairfield, Iowa; funded through a unique partnership with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and the City of Fairfield. He is an ISU Program Specialist in Community & Economic Development, with a focus on sustainability.

James TischlerJames Tischler, AICP, PCP is Director of the Michigan State Housing Development Authority’s Community Development Division where he is responsible for the State of Michigan’s Federal- and State-funded housing and community development programs, design of housing and neighborhood policy, and facilitating the State’s community planning and development activities. 

Tony ToExecutive Director of HomeSight, a non-profit community development corporation, Tony To is Vice Chair of the regional Growing Transit Communities Partnership and co-chairs the Equity Network. Tony serves as Secretary of the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance and the Washington State Affordable Housing Advisory Board as the non-profit developer representative.

Bruce TolarBruce was among those who shaped early designs for Katrina Cottages in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. He has since participated with development teams to turn cottage plans into real structures in real neighborhoods by planning, designing and constructing some 200 units in transit-oriented, infill locations along the coast.

Emily TrenholmEmily Trenholm is executive director of the Community Development Council of Greater Memphis (CD Council), a nonprofit association of organizations and individuals engaged in neighborhood revitalization. CD Council works in the areas of public policy and advocacy; capacity building programs for community development corporations; and community education and engagement.

Joanna TrotterJoanna joined MPC, a regional planning and policy organization, in 2004. She directs planning and implementation work in communities across the Chicago region. By providing support to communities, Joanna works to increase opportunities consistent with MPC’s broader policy goals of creating a more equitable, sustainable and competitive region.

Sarita TurnerSarita serves in the role of Sustainable Communities Fellow at PolicyLink, a national, equity-focused, research and policy advocacy organization. In her current role, Sarita works in partnership with local communities and on the federal level to support the development and implementation of equity-focused policies and to cultivate grassroots movement-building.

Hannah TwaddellHannah Twaddell, President of Twaddell Associates, has 25 years of experience helping people to work together to envision, plan, and sustain thriving communities and organizations. She has facilitated comprehensive and strategic planning projects, visioning processes, and sustainability initiatives with a variety of public and private organizations across the country, and has developed studies, books, articles, online toolkits, webinars, and workshops for national, state, and regional organizations.

Maria ValentiMs. Valenti is the national coordinator of the Healthy Aging and the Environment Initiative of the Collaborative on Health and the Environment. For over 20 years she has helped develop and manage national environmental health education and training programs and coauthored three major publications including Environmental Threats to Healthy Aging. Joan VanhalaJoan works in the following areas: community organizing, leadership development, policy, and teaching. Joan has a BA degree in Community Organizing, Leadership Development: Methods and Practices from Metropolitan State University. Joan serves as

the lead staff supporting environmental justice communities along planned transit ways with technical and organizing assistance.

Jeffrey VincentJeff Vincent, PhD is Deputy Director of the Center for Cities & Schools at the University of California, Berkeley. Jeff has a PhD in City and Regional Planning from Berkeley. His policy and research interests lie at the intersection of land use planning, community development, and educational improvement.

David VozzoloDavid Vozzolo is the National Streetcar Director for HDR, Inc., an industry leader in planning, design and delivery of transit projects.  He previously served as the Federal Transit Administration's Deputy Associate Administrator for the Office of Planning and Environment, and is currently supporting transit projects nationwide.

Dayne WallingMayor Dayne Walling, Flint, MI. Walling’s vision of a sustainable 21st Century community has attracted new investments and energy to the difficult challenge of turning around Flint. He serves on the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. He has worked in public, nonprofit and private sectors and was a Rhodes Scholar. Kristi Wamstad-EvansKristi Wamstad-Evans, LEED-AP BD+C, BPI, is Sustainability Coordinator for the City of Omaha. In over three years, she has led various projects, including Omaha’s first Comprehensive Energy Management Plan and $10 million+ in improvements. She is also Director of the reEnergize Program, an effort to transform the local energy market.

Trevina WangCurrently, Ms. Wang manages the King Street Station Rehabilitation Program. Preserving this regional landmark is a $50 million undertaking that includes seismic retrofit of the century old structure, incorporating sustainable elements without compromising the historic features. With multiple goals of preserving the historic character, upgrading the facilities to meet the needs of future transit users, and incorporating sustainable design, Ms. Wang has a very rare and unique role to play in linking the past and future of Seattle’s transportation system.

John WarbachDr. John Warbach is a Professor and Associate Director of the Michigan State University Land Policy Institute. He is Co-Chair, MSU Extension Greening Michigan Institute, Sustainable Community Prosperity Group, a team of faculty and field educators, and Chair of the MSU Creativity Initiative Health and the Built Environment group.

Larry WardLarry Ward has a bachelor’s degree (Planning, Public Policy and Management; Resource Development and Environmental Management) and a Master’s Degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Oregon, and is a member of American Institute

of Certified Planners, AICP. He is President of the Wisconsin Chapter of the American Planning Association.

Tyson WarnerTy Warner is the executive director of the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission.  NIRPC recently developed the three-county region’s first Comprehensive Regional Plan in 2011.  The plan includes long-range (2040) elements for the environment, economic development, land use and transportation. Ty spent most of his career in the Chicago region, including at NIRPC’s Illinois counterpart, the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning.

Clare WatsonClare Watson is community economic development coordinator in the City of Montgomery Mayor’s Office. She served as site coordinator for Montgomery’s Weed and Seed sites from 2000 to 2010. Clare has a bachelor’s degree from Auburn University and a master’s degree in community economic development from Southern New Hampshire University.

Jeni WebbSelected as a Presidential Management Fellow in 2011, Jeni is completing her fellowship at HUD’s Office of Public and Indian Housing in Fort Worth. Her work focuses on maximizing public housing occupancy, recovering troubled public housing agencies, and the Partnership for Sustainable Communities in Region 6.

Tommy WellsTommy Wells serves as a councilmember for the city of Washington, DC. Tommy has won support throughout Washington for his fundamental goal: creating a livable and walkable city for all. Whether bringing Ward 6 residents back to their neighborhood schools or creating the next generation of public transportation, Tommy works with the leadership and communities in every corner of Ward 6 to guide development that focuses on neighborhood needs.

Arthur WendelCDR Arthur M. Wendel, MD, MPH is Team Lead of the Healthy Community Design Initiative, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). He is a board-certified physician in family and preventive medicine, and a graduate of CDC’s Epidemic Intelligence Service.

Gil WhiteGil White is a 20-plus year real estate veteran and owns his own company.  He is a member of the Michigan United Conservation Club, the State Agricultural Preservation Fund Board and the People and Land Advisory Board.  White served on Gov. Granholm’s Michigan Land Use Leadership Council the summer of 2003.

Pamela J. Wideman

Pamela currently serves as an Assistant Director in the City’s Neighborhood & Business Services Department. Pamela received her Master’s Degree in Public Administration from UNC - Charlotte and her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Belmont Abbey College. She is also a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill’s Institute of Government - Municipal Administration Program.

John WilliamsCEO of Impact Infrastructure, LLC. based in NYC, John guided governments through development of infrastructure for 34 years. He led development of the SROI Investment Public Decision Tool as a CGI Commitment to Action. He is on faculty at Columbia University, advises Harvard’s GSD, and serves on Ceres’ President’s Council.

Clark WilsonClark Wilson is the senior urban designer with EPA’s Office of Sustainable Communities and co-manages the Agency’s popular “Greening America’s Capitals” program. Mr. Wilson’s area of focus is ecologically sustainable development. He has an undergraduate degree in Fine Arts, and graduate degrees in Architecture, Landscape Architecture and City Planning.

Frank Wilson Frank Wilson has been elected to the position of Mayor of the Town of Bolton in Columbus County, North Carolina, since January 1994. He oversees the operation of the Town and service a population of 692 residents. As a member of the North Carolina Elected Officials from across the State, the Mayor provides a forum for information on public policy, serves as an advocate for positive legislative change, promotes education in municipal government, and supports officials in the administration of their affairs.

Jase WilsonJase founded Neighbor.ly, the civic crowdfunding platform that lets people, companies and institutions invest in the places and civic projects they care about. He holds a BA in Urban Planning & Design from UMKC and a Masters in City Planning from MIT. 

Norman WrightNorman Wright, AICP, is the Development Services Director for Columbia, Tennessee. His work includes writing the first plan approved under the Partnership for Sustainable Communities and the first city-wide form-based code for a major town in Tennessee. His writings have been published in Practicing Planner, Planning, and Zoning Practice magazine.

Liz Yager Liz Yager is the Energy and Sustainability Manager for the County of Sonoma and the program manager of the Sonoma County Energy Independence Program, aka SCEIP, a national leader in Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing. Her background includes biomedical engineering, scientific instrumentation, IT, process engineering, building performance and golf.

Elizabeth YeampierreElizabeth Yeampierre, a Puerto Rican civil rights attorney of African descent born and raised in New York City, is Executive Director of United Puerto Rican Org of Sunset Park (UPROSE), Brooklyn’s oldest Latino community-based organization. Her vision for an inter-generational, multi-cultural and community led organization is the driving force behind UPROSE.

Laura ZabelLaura Zabel is executive director of Springboard for the Arts, an artist-led economic development agency based in Minnesota. Some of Springboard's programs include: Community Supported Art (CSA), which is based on the Community Supported Agriculture model, connects artists directly with patrons and has been replicated in more than 30 cities across the country; the Artists Access to Healthcare program, which was awarded the 2010 Social Entrepreneur's Cup; and the Irrigate project, a national model for how cities can engage artists to help reframe and address big community challenges.

  Kolu Zigbi As a Program Director at the Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation, Kolu Zigbi manages grants to catalyze an ecologically sustainable and socially just food system. She creates a more inclusive federal policy advocacy ecosystem and a philanthropic organizing project supporting “triple bottom line” strategies for New York City’s food shed. 

Chris ZimmermanCounty Board Member Christopher Zimmerman has been a resident of Arlington County since 1979. A former civic association president and planning commissioner, Mr. Zimmerman has been an advocate of the County’s legacy of transit-oriented development and managed growth, and a proponent of the principles of the New Urbanism. 

Paul ZykofskyPaul Zykofsky manages the Local Government Commission’s land use and transportation programs and has been Director of the Commission’s Center for Livable Communities since 1995. As director of the Center, he provides technical assistance to communities throughout the nation. He is co-author of documents on transit-oriented development and has edited documents on infill development, street design, traffic calming, smart growth zoning codes, compact development, revitalizing older suburbs and smart economic development.