2025 Conference Presenters 
 

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Anthony Alston

​Prince William County Government

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Native of White Plains, New York, Tony Alston currently serves as Assistant Director of Countywide Planning with Prince Willian County Government Planning Office. Holding a Bachelor of Science degree in Architecture and a Master’s degree in City & Regional Planning from Morgan State University, he is primarily responsible for oversight of the Countywide Planning division which crafts zoning and land use policies such as the zoning ordinance and Comprehensive Plan.

Earl W. Anderson​, AICP, CZA
County of York, Virginia

Earl W. Anderson, AICP is the Deputy Director Planning and Development Services, responsible for managing and providing direction to the staff of the Development Services Division, which includes the site and subdivision plan review function and zoning and code enforcement. He directs the activities of professional, technical, and administrative staff engaged in plan review to ensure compliance with applicable County Codes and design criteria in an expeditious manner. He has worked as the Chief of Development Services and as a Planner and Senior Planner in the York County Planning Division, a Utility Planner in Richmond, Virginia, and as the City Planner, Senior Planner, and Planner in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Earl is currently the Past President of the Virginia Chapter of the American Planning Association and has served on this Board in various other positions since 2004. Mr. Anderson received a Bachelor of Science degree from Appalachian State University in Community and Regional Planning in 1999.

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Caitlin Aubut, AICP

York County

*More information coming soon

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Ian Baxter

University of Virginia Institute for Engagement & Negotiation

Ian Baxter is a Senior Associate at IEN. After college, he worked in political organizing and voter registration, working specifically with high school-age students in the Richmond area to register, vote, and help turn out their peers to increase young peoples’ involvement in the political process. Ian began work as a Regional Planner at the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission (TJPDC), working on regional housing, transportation, and environmental issues after graduating from UVA with a Masters of Public Policy. His work at the TJPDC included coordinating eviction prevention efforts, hazard mitigation planning, affordable housing development, and other regionally focused initiatives. At IEN, Ian's work focuses on community resilience, renewable energy, historic preservation, and policy development, as well as project management, facilitation, and proposal development.

Sam Baxter 
POWER Engineers, Inc.

​​Sam Baxter is an environmental planner with POWER Engineers, Inc. and has experience providing land use planning for various industries. His experience includes siting, routing and permitting energy, data center and generation facilities as well as conducting land use and local comprehensive plan reviews and environmental due diligence. Sam received his Bachelor of Science in Urban Planning and a Certification in Sustainable Innovation from Virginia Commonwealth University.  ​

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Paolo J Belita, AICP, PTP, RSP1

Prince William County Department of Transportation

Paolo Belita is an Assistant Director of Transportation with the Prince William County Department of Transportation and oversees the Planning, Traffic Safety, and Inspections Division. Mr. Belita and his team are responsible for efforts related to transportation planning, development plan reviews, traffic safety engineering, and transportation inspections. Mr. Belita first began working for Prince William County in 2011 and has also worked for Fairfax County as a Transportation Planner. Mr. Belita received his Bachelor’s Degree in Urban and Regional Studies from Virginia Commonwealth University and his Master’s Degree in Transportation Policy, Operations and Logistics from George Mason University. Mr. Belita is also certified by the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) and certified by the Institute of Transportation Engineers as a Professional Transportation Planner (PTP) and Roadway Safety Professional (RSP1)

Matthew Bolster, AICP
Virginia Housing

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Matthew Bolster, AICP is Senior Strategic Housing Officer in the Community Outreach division of Virginia Housing, Virginia’s housing finance agency.  He has worked in the planning, community development, and housing world since 1993, starting in land use administration in Spotsylvania County.  He later held planning and project management positions focused on community revitalization and housing in private consulting and with the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority.  He joined the Strategic Housing team at Virginia Housing in 2016.  Matt has a bachelor’s degree in history from the College of William and Mary and a master’s degree in city and regional planning from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
 

Chenice Brown

City of Richmond Office of Equitable Transit & Mobility

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Chenice Brown is a community engagement program manager and community listening guru working for both OETM and her non-profit, Just C. She recently led the community outreach for the award-winning Richmond Connects plan, ensuring that the voices of Richmonders often left out of planning processes were heard and prioritized in the planning process. Prior to joining OETM in 2021, she managed a team of City of Richmond Community Ambassadors whose goal was to reach and build relationships with the some of the City’s most marginalized residents. She also runs a non-profit, JustC, that supports youth in underserved communities through recidivism prevention, youth community programming, and youth home-needs support.

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Renee Burton, AICP
City of Danville

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Renee Burton is the Division Director of Planning for the City of Danville. She has served the City of Danville in multiple roles for over twenty (20) years and has held the position of Director for the past two (2) years. Renee obtained her undergraduate degree from Virginia Tech in Environmental Policy and Planning and her master’s degree in business administration at Averett University.

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W. Keith Cannady, AICP

City of Suffolk

Local government planner in Hampton Roads with about 40 years of experience: Cities of Norfolk, Hampton, Suffolk and HRPDC. MURP from VCU and BA/Economics from Hampden-Sydney College.

Alex Carroll

City of Alexandria

Alex Carroll is passionate about fostering walkable, livable, human-scaled communities. In her role as Complete Streets Program Manager for the City of Alexandria, Virginia, Alex plans and implements projects to enhance mobility, access, and safety for people of all ages, abilities, and modes, and she oversees the City’s Vision Zero Program to eliminate traffic fatalities and severe injuries. She has led major projects including corridor redesigns, intersection improvements, sidewalk installations, multi-use trails, automated speed enforcement, speed limit reductions, and more. Prior to her work with the City of Alexandria, Alex worked with the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization and with the University of South Florida’s Center for Urban Transportation Research. She holds a Master’s Degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of South Florida.
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Chase Cartwright 
University of Virginia

Chase Cartwright is a second-year undergraduate student in the Urban and Environmental Planning program at the University of Virginia. Originally from the Denver, Colorado area, he is passionate about understanding how planning shapes both rural and urban communities. He is developing skills in GIS mapping, graphic design, and hand sketching to better visualize and communicate planning concepts. Chase is eager to gain hands-on experience and a deeper understanding of the profession, exploring how planning decisions impact different settings and scales.

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Kimberly Chen 

City of Richmond 

Kim Chen currently serves as the Senior Manager for the City of Richmond’s authentiCITY Studio, a division of the Department of Planning and Development Review. She has worked for nearly 50 years in the fields of architectural history, historic preservation, architecture, and urban planning. Kim has a wide range of experience in cultural resources management and design while working for State and Federal historic preservation agencies and small architectural firms. Kim holds a bachelor’s degree in architectural history with a minor in architecture and a Master of Urban and Regional Planning with a concentration in Urban Revitalization. She also taught four graduate level courses in Historic Preservation Planning at Virginia Commonwealth University for 10 years.
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Catherine Clarke 
SmithGroup

Catherine Clarke is an urban designer at SmithGroup working at a range of scales, from regional comprehensive plans to site specific redevelopment.​​

 

Dironna Moore-Clarke

City of Richmond Office of Equitable Transit & Mobility

 

Dironna Moore-Clarke is a 19-year transportation veteran whose previous experience includes serving as the Multimodal Transportation Policy and Planning Manager for the Virginia’s Secretary of Transportation Office and as a Transit General Manager, for the City of Petersburg. Prior to this, she worked with the State of Tennessee Department of Transportation assisting local and regional agencies in public transportation options, as alternatives to roadway and highway improvement choices. She also has extensive experience working with Boards comprised of local elected and appointed officials and other agency representatives, on urban and regional transit issues, system improvement, operations, and maintenance. She is a graduate of Virginia Tech and received a Master in Management from American Public University Systems. Moore Clarke has also served as the Multimodal Transportation Manager for the City of Richmond two years before taking on the role of Administrator of the Office of Equitable Transit and Mobility in 2020 and Department of Public Works Deputy Director in 2023.

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Jennifer Cobb, CZA
City of Suffolk

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Jennifer Cobb is the Assistant Director of Community Development for the City of Suffolk. She oversees a majority of the development team, including Building and Plan Review, Zoning and Enforcement, Property Maintenance and the permitting staff. Jennifer has over 20 years working in municipal government across 3 different cities. She holds multiple certifications including Certified Zoning Administrator, Certified Transportation Manager and Property Maintenance Official. She is currently working towards her Certified Building Official designation, further strengthening her expertise in the community development field and regulatory compliance.

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She earned her bachelor’s degree in Human Services Counseling from Old Dominion University, which has enhanced her leadership skills and ability to navigate complex conversations with confidence and diplomacy. Throughout her tenure in the City of Suffolk, Jennifer has demonstrated a commitment to excellence, progressing from Assistant Zoning Administrator, to Zoning Administrator, and ultimately her current role as Assistant Director overseeing 40 plus staff.

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Will Cockrell, AICP
​EPR, PC

Will Cockrell is a Principal Planner at EPR PC with extensive experience in local government and regional planning. He spent ten years with the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission, managing MPO, rural transportation, and environmental planning programs. He has held leadership roles with the Virginia Chapter of the American Planning Association and the Virginia Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations. Since 2013, he has taught planning and government methods at UVA’s School of Architecture. Will is recognized for his leadership and expertise in implementing planning goals and processes.

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Brittany Colyer

City of Suffolk

 

Brittany Colyer is the Current Planning Manager for the City of Suffolk, Virginia, where she leads
a team of planners responsible for reviewing development plans, rezonings, conditional use
permits, and projects within Chesapeake Bay Preservation Areas and Wetlands. Since joining the
City in 2018, Brittany has advanced through several roles—starting as a Planning Technician and
progressing to Planner I, Senior Planner, and now Planning Manager—demonstrating her
leadership and deep expertise in municipal planning.

She began her career in the private sector in 2012 as a research analyst and CAD operator,
supporting the creation and preparation of development plans across a range of project types. This
early experience provided her with a strong technical foundation that complements her public
sector work.

Brittany holds a Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning from Arizona State University. With over a
decade of experience in both public and private planning environments, she is passionate about
sustainable growth, effective policy implementation, and shaping well-designed, thriving
communities.

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Jack Cramer

ATCS

Mr. Cramer’s specialized knowledge in air quality and noise analysis spans both the public and private sectors, making him an invaluable asset in a variety of projects. He has consistently engaged with public officials, project team members, stakeholders, and local community members to present findings and ensure that concerns are addressed. Mr. Cramer’s ability to collaborate with diverse teams has resulted in the implementation of aesthetically pleasing solutions, many of which were constructed as part of the projects he led. Jack holds a degree in Geo-Environmental Studies from Shippensburg University and is also an active member of ACEC PA.

 

JB Crowley 

Hilton Village Main Street
Executive Director

*More information coming soon

Tanya Denckla Cobb
University of Virginia Institute for Engagement & Negotiation

Tanya Denckla Cobb is Director of the UVA Institute for Engagement & Negotiation (IEN). She has deep experience in mediating and facilitating challenging public policy issues, drawing on her work in international labor rights, community mediation, and as a former community forestry nonprofit director. At IEN since 1997, she has facilitated and mediated significant issues that support resilient and equitable communities including coastal resilience, sustainable agriculture, food systems, forestry, watersheds, public health, environmental justice, and alternative energy. A co-founder of The Resilience Adaptation Feasibility Tool (RAFT) in 2015, she has worked with 26 localities across Virginia as well as 3 tribes and an additional 6 localities currently undergoing RAFT. She co-founded in 1999 and serves as teaching faculty for the Virginia Natural Resources Leadership Institute.​

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Brian Donahue 

City of Portsmouth, Virginia

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Brian Donahue is the Director for Portsmouth Economic Development. Brian provides oversight of the office’s business recruitment, retention and workforce development efforts for the City of Portsmouth. He also serves as Secretary for the Portsmouth Economic Development Authority and Portsmouth Port & Industrial Commission.

Brian has 20 years of experience in economic development, community development and real estate across the Commonwealth of Virginia. Prior to joining the Portsmouth Economic Development team in 2018, Brian was the Director of Development for the Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing Authority, overseeing residential and commercial redevelopment and revitalization initiatives throughout Portsmouth. He also spent three years in planning and community development roles with the City of Suffolk, Virginia. Brian began his career with a privately held real estate development firm based in Richmond, Virginia. He has proudly called the Hampton Roads region home since 2006.

Brian holds a Bachelor of Science in Urban Studies and Planning from Virginia Commonwealth University.​

Lauren Doran, PLA 
Green Infrastructure Center Inc.

Lauren Doran works with communities, local governments, state agencies and land trusts to help them locate and assess their natural resources, as well as create plans to enhance and conserve them. Ms. Doran is a landscape architect with 12 years of design experience at landscape architecture firms in North Carolina and Virginia. Ms. Doran has a BA degree in Anthropology from the University of Delaware and a Master’s degree in Landscape Architecture from Virginia Tech

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Jason Epley, AICP 
Benchmark Planning 

Jason Epley, President, Benchmark Planning, specialties include Urban Design, Comprehensive Planning, Military Community Planning, Economic Development, and Downtown Development.

Ramzi Farhat 

Goochland County

Ramzi is the Principal Planner for Goochland County, where he oversees a range of responsibilities, including long-range planning, Comprehensive Plan updates, ordinance amendments, and sectoral studies. A California transplant, Ramzi previously served for over 12 years on the faculty at California State Polytechnic University – Pomona. During this time, he also consulted with cities on developing small area plans.

Karen Firehock, AICP
Green Infrastructure Center Inc.

Ms. Firehock directs the national Green Infrastructure Center Inc. since 2007 to map, model and create strategies to conserve or restore natural resources in both wild and urban landscapes to create more resilient communities. She has implemented hundreds of community projects, and authored several books on green infrastructure such as Strategic Green Infrastructure Planning: A multi-scale approach, and Green Infrastructure: Map and Plan the World with GIS, case studies, videos and webinars. She is also adjunct faculty at the University of Virginia where she teaches planning and landscape design. She has a B.S. in Natural Resources Management from UMD and a M.P. Urban and Environmental Planning from UVA.

Daniel Fraser, PE
POWER Engineers, Inc.

Daniel Fraser is a civil engineer and project manager with POWER Engineers, Inc. who has routed, designed and permitted electric transmission facilities ranging from 69 kV to 500 kV. He has knowledge of the special requirements of planning, designing and constructing transmission facilities in constrained urban areas as well as remote mountainous terrain. Daniel completed his Bachelor of Science in civil engineering at Clemson University and is a registered Professional Engineer in South Carolina.
 

Jenna French
Shenandoah County

Jenna French is the Director of Tourism & Economic Development for Shenandoah County, where she leads efforts to strengthen the local economy, support businesses, and promote the county as a premier destination. A dedicated advocate for rural economic growth, she serves on the Board of the Virginia Economic Developers Association (VEDA), where she chairs the Rural Special Interest Group (SIG) and contributes to the Communications Committee. Jenna is also deeply involved in the community, serving as Chairman of the Shenandoah Memorial Hospital Foundation and Shenandoah County Library Foundation, as well as a member of the Woodstock Enhancement Committee, the town’s Main Street affiliate program. Her work focuses on creating opportunities for sustainable growth while preserving the county’s unique character and heritage.
 

Sean C. Garrigan

Stromberg Garrigan & Associates, Inc.

Sean Garrigan is a professional planner and landscape architect with 30 years of experience focused on the planning, design, and construction of urban revitalization projects, with a special emphasis on brownfields redevelopment. His expertise is focused on determining the physical and market potential of real estate projects, especially the redevelopment of abandoned or under-utilized large-scale industrial parcels such as manufacturing, railroad, and chemical production facilities as well as small main street sites such as dry cleaners and gas stations. His brownfields redevelopment planning work includes plans for smaller urban and rural communities in Virginia and more than twenty states as a contract provider of direct technical support for the U.S. EPA, including for the Offices of Brownfields and Land Revitalization and Smart Growth.

Jeremy Goldstein, AICP
*More information coming soon
 

The Honorable Shannon E. Glover

Mayor of Portsmouth, Virginia

*More information coming soon

Nancy L. Grden 

Hampton Roads Executive Roundtable

*More information coming soon

Laura Greenleaf, MPA
Self-employed

Laura Greenleaf, MPA, is the volunteer leader of DarkSky Virginia. Since 2013 she has supported DarkSky members and other advocates statewide in their efforts to address light pollution and improve lighting policies and practices in their communities. She has delivered more than forty presentations on light pollution, responsible outdoor lighting, and night sky/nightscape conservation.

Aaron Grisdale 
Town of Woodstock

Aaron Grisdale has been the Town Manager of Woodstock since 2021, following two years as Deputy Town Manager. He previously spent thirteen years with the City of Winchester, serving in various roles, including six years as Director of Zoning & Inspections. In addition to his local government service, he also dedicated nine years to the U.S. Army Reserves. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Government from the University of Virginia, and Local Government Management Certificate from Shenandoah University. Aaron lives in Woodstock with his wife, Kate.

Chris Gullickson
The Port of Virginia

Chris Gullickson joined The Port of Virginia in August of 2013. He currently serves as Director of Development Engagement, with the responsibility of engaging the Commonwealth, regions, and cities to promote and secure industrial land zoning to grow port-related development.

Anna Hammond
City of Hampton, VA

Anna Hammond is a planner and serves as the Resiliency Specialist with the City of Hampton VA. She has worked on resiliency efforts in Hampton VA for several years and engaged city residents and agencies in the effort to create the Natural Infrastructure Resiliency Plan.

Lemuel Hancock, MLA
Shenandoah County
*More information coming soon 

Sheila Herlihy

Virginia Interfaith Center

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Sheila Herlihy Hennessee (she/her) has more than a decade of experience engaging faith communities in the work of advocacy, especially around housing. She currently serves as the Director of Faith Organizing for the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy where she focuses on engaging congregations in the work of justice and advocating for affordable housing policies statewide. She is the author of the book, "Virginia Congregations Develolping Affordable Housing: A Match Made in Heaven" and has spoken about using faith land for housing to congregations, legislators, and development professionals. Previous to her work at VICPP, Sheila served for eight years at a bilingual church, coordinating 15 ministries, including advocacy and community organizing. She is a professed Secular Franciscan (OFS), an order in the Catholic church following the spirituality of St. Francis of Assisi and committed to living in the spirit of simplicity, humility, and peacebuilding.

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J.D. Hines, PE, ENV SP

VHB

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​J.D. is a Principal and Water Resources Director for stormwater and utility engineering projects in the Mid-Atlantic region of VHB. He is a Professional Engineer registered in Virginia, North Carolina, and Maryland, as well as an Envision Sustainability Professional. His experience on complex multi-disciplinary projects enables him to assemble design teams that deliver resilient and sustainable solutions. J.D. is skilled in water resources master planning and engineering, MS4 Program Management, H&H modeling, scenario analysis and reporting, water distribution system design and wastewater collection and pumping systems.

Tyler Hinkle, AICP
ERP PC

Tyler Hinkle, AICP, is a Senior Planner at EPR, PC, where he works with towns, counties, and regions across Virginia and beyond to develop comprehensive plans, refine zoning, strengthen local efforts, and guide investment in the places that make communities unique.

Prior to joining EPR, Tyler served as the County Planner for Shenandoah County, leading the development of Shenandoah 2045: A Future Together, one of the most ambitious comprehensive plans in the county’s history. His work focused on ensuring that planning decisions were shaped by the people they serve, with an emphasis on strengthening the county’s towns, villages, and hamlets while protecting the surrounding countryside.

In 2023, the American Planning Association, Virginia Chapter, recognized Tyler with the Distinguished New Professional Award. In 2024, the Lord Fairfax Soil And Water Conservation District recognized him with the Conservation Leader award. Since 2021, Tyler also serves as the Shenandoah Valley Section Director for the Virginia Chapter of APA.

Tyler also teaches at the University of Virginia School of Architecture, where he explores the relationship between urban and rural spaces. He earned a Master’s in Urban and Environmental Planning from UVA in 2020 and a Bachelor’s degree with highest distinction in History and Latin American Studies, with a minor in Urban and Environmental Planning, from UVA in 2019
 

Missy Hockman
Shenandoah County

Missy Hockman is a dedicated public servant with over 32 years of tax administration experience, currently serving as Shenandoah County’s Commissioner of the Revenue. Before joining the office as a tax compliance officer, she spent 28 years as a field agent for the Virginia Department of Taxation and previously worked in both the Winchester Treasurer’s and Commissioner of the Revenue offices. A lifelong Shenandoah County resident, Missy holds an associate’s degree from Laurel Ridge Community College and is deeply rooted in the community, living on a historic family farm near Strasburg. She is committed to ensuring fair and equitable tax assessment while preserving the traditions and values of Shenandoah County.

Taylor Holden
Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT)

Taylor Holden is currently the Rail Planning and Data Manager at Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT). He specializes in leveraging GIS for planning and was instrumental in the creation of the 2022 Virginia State Rail Plan and the redesign of the Virginia State Rail Map.

Sara Hollberg, AICP
Self-employed Planning Consultant

Sara S. Hollberg, AICP, is a consulting land use planner based in Staunton, VA. Her career has focused on land conservation, development design, agricultural viability, and historic preservation. She has worked for regional organizations including the CSPDC, Alliance for the Shenandoah Valley, and Valley Conservation Council, where she oversaw the Better Models for Development program, delivering materials and presentations to local governments in an 11-county region. She has extensive experience in research and in organizing planner training on timely topics and developing reports, publications, and presentations. She has a special interest in light pollution issues and improving walkability.

Daniel C. Hyer, PE
Line and Grade

Daniel is a civil engineer, accomplished project manager, and the founder and CEO of Line and Grade. With a passion for problem-solving and a keen eye for detail, he has built a reputation for delivering complex projects across a spectrum of professional typologies. Daniel blends data-driven analysis with creative thinking to navigate challenges, developing innovative solutions that balance technical precision with real-world practicality. As a leader, he excels in fostering collaboration among multidisciplinary teams, ensuring that all stakeholders remain aligned and engaged throughout the project lifecycle. Committed to excellence, efficiency, and community impact, Daniel continues to shape infrastructure and urban development with a focus on smart, sustainable solutions.

Kendra Hyson, ASLA 
SmithGroup

Kendra Hyson is an Associate Planner and Urban Designer with SmithGroup, committed to community-based planning and social equity. As Co-Founder and President of the Urban Studio, she supports designers of color working with communities of color to create healthy, vibrant, and just communities. Kendra serves on various ASLA National committees and is an emeritus member of the Landscape Architecture Foundation's Board of Directors. She holds a Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of Arizona and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Spelman College.

Nicola Ianeselli
WGI

Nicola Ianeselli, M.Sc. Eng., M.Sc. Arch, is the Virtual Design & Construction and Innovation Leader at WGI, specializing in BIM and global project delivery. With over a decade of experience, he excels in integrating Blockchain, AI, and Machine Learning to improve operational efficiencies. Nicola holds dual Master’s degrees in Engineering and Architecture from the University of Trento, Italy, and is actively pursuing additional professional certifications. Fluent in multiple languages, he is a recognized leader and trusted advisor, with numerous publications in leading industry journals.

Eldon James

Eldon James & Associates

*More information coming soon

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Charlie Jones
City of Chesapeake

Charlie Jones is an environmental planner in the Comprehensive Planning division of the Chesapeake Planning Department. They are passionate about using GIS in city planning to understand complex topics and create data-driven planning tools.

Meredith Keppel
University of Virginia Institute for Engagement & Negotiation

Meredith Keppel joined IEN in June 2024 after spending 2 years in Fredericksburg working as the Environmental Planner for the Planning District Commission. Prior to working at the Planning District, Meredith worked at a variety of different conservation organizations. Whether on technical advisory committees or tabling at farmers markets, her excitement about creating sustainable futures has led to award-winning research, engagement campaigns, and presentations. Meredith is a certified mediator with a social justice framework and enjoys putting these skills into practice in her projects, including her work on the RAFT in the Historic Triangle and IEN's Foundations of Community-Based Facilitation training.

Amanda Klepper, AICP
3TP Ventures

Amanda is an analytical planner with international experience in transportation planning, spatial analysis, statistics, and modeling. After completing a master’s degree in City and Regional Planning, she moved overseas to work in New Zealand and Australia, and has brought innovative ideas home to apply to her work in North Carolina. She is now a senior planner at 3TP Ventures in Chapel Hill.

Matthew Lindsay, CZO
Botetourt County

Matthew Lindsay is an emerging planning professional from Botetourt County with diverse experience across both private and public sectors. Specializing in outdoor recreation planning, long-range planning, GIS/cartography, and placemaking, Matthew is equipped to address the unique needs of rural, urban, and suburban communities throughout the Commonwealth. Holding a Master of Forestry with a concentration in outdoor recreation planning, along with two Bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and Geography from Virginia Tech, he brings a robust understanding of planning principles, environmental stewardship, community engagement, and innovative technologies. His career, spanning outdoor recreation research, environmental education, and collaborative community-building with a variety of public and private organizations, reflects his passion for strengthening rural communities.

Eric Mai
HousingForward Virginia

Eric has worked in the field of research for over a decade. Before entering the affordable housing industry, Eric worked as a field archaeologist in the Mid-Atlantic for six years. He received his Masters of Archaeology and Heritage Management from the University of Leicester and later his Masters in Urban and Regional Planning from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Courtney Mailey
Va. DHCD

Courtney Mailey is the Program Manager of Virginia’s Main Street America Coordinating Program. In addition to leading the VMS team, Courtney is a passionate small-scale real estate developer, and she has been working in community and economic development for 20+ years. She loves old buildings, fresh ideas and more. Courtney has worked with the International Economic Development Council, the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, The Flax Trust of Northern Ireland, and the Virginia Wine industry.

David McGettigan, AICP

​Prince William County Government

David McGettigan, Sr. AICP is the Deputy Planning Director for the Prince William County Planning Office. In this role he supervises the Countywide Planning, Land Use Review and Community Planning and Revitalization divisions. Recent projects include a major update to the Prince William County Comprehensive Plan, development of numerous small area plans, and leadership in review of a number of very large data center rezonings. Mr. McGettigan has a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Affairs from Virginia Tech and a Master of Planning from the University of Virginia.
 

Kendra Moon, PE

Line and Grade

Kendra is a highly organized and results-driven professional with a strong track record of leadership and operational excellence. As the head of Line and Grade’s Charlottesville Studio and Director of Land Development, she is known for her strategic, composed approach to challenges, ensuring efficiency, productivity, and seamless project execution. A natural leader, Kendra fosters a collaborative and goal-oriented work environment, empowering teams to achieve success through meticulous planning and attention to detail. With a steadfast focus on efficiency and high-quality outcomes, Kendra continues to play a vital role in advancing Line and Grade’s mission and impact of creating common ground within communities.
 

Lorna Parker, FAICP

Michael Baker International

*More information coming soon

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Meg Pittenger

City of Suffolk

 

Meg Pittenger has been involved in the urban planning for 12 years and has worked in local government in Hampton Roads for over 35 years.  She is currently is the Assistant Director of Planning for the City of Suffolk and previously was the Assistant Director of Planning for the City of Portsmouth and also was Portsmouth’s floodplain administrator. She worked in the City of Portsmouth’s Parks and Recreation Department for 26 years overseeing the City’s citywide park, public grounds, landscape, tree, athletic, and recreation maintenance. She is a Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM) and Certified Zoning Administrator (CZA) and has a BS in Biology from Old Dominion University.

Paige Pollard
Commonwealth Preservation Group

Paige Pollard is the Principal-In-Charge and Senior Architectural Historian for Commonwealth Preservation Group. Paige received her undergraduate degree in City Planning with a minor in Architecture from the University of Virginia, and a graduate degree in Historic Preservation from the University of Georgia. Paige has extensive experience in preservation planning and design, historic rehabilitation tax credit, and historic resource and National Register nomination consulting services.

Amanda Poncy, AICP
EPR, PC

Amanda Poncy is a Principal Planner at EPR PC with 20 years of experience in multimodal transportation planning and project implementation. She previously served as Charlottesville’s first Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator, leading initiatives in complete streets, accessibility, and active transportation planning. Her consulting work spans regional scenario planning, comprehensive planning, and public engagement. Amanda also teaches at UVA’s Urban and Environmental Planning Program and the Virginia LTAP Safety Circuit Rider Program.

Courtney Powell, AICP
WGI

Courtney Powell, AICP, specializes in urban and community planning with a strong understanding of local government operations and a passion for creating tailored processes and a sense of place through creative and implementable solutions. She holds degrees from Furman University and Clemson University and currently works as the Urban and Community Planning Manager for WGI, leading a team passionate about creating places where everyone can safely thrive.

John Provo

Virginia Tech's Center for Economic & Community Engagement

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John Provo is the executive director of Virginia Tech's Center for Economic & Community Engagement. Provo provides leadership for the university in the design and implementation of its economic engagement mission. A “pracademic,” he has almost 25 years of experience in higher education and government. He builds relationships between businesses, communities, and the university and leads a team that delivers applied research projects that create economic opportunities.

Provo received his Ph.D. from the School of Urban Studies and Planning at Portland State University. He received a master's degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1999 and a bachelor's degree in government from the College of William and Mary in 1989. While in Richmond, he worked for Virginia's Secretary of Commerce and Trade on implementation of revisions to the state's workforce development system.   

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Shubha Punase, AICP, LEED Green Associate
M-NCPPC

Shubha Punase, AICP, LEED Green Associate, is the State Director for the Planners’ Advocacy Network (PAN) and Board Member with the Virginia Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA-VA). In her role as PAN State Director, she leads the chapter’s national advocacy efforts on APA’s Federal policy and advocacy priorities. She possesses over 14 years of experience in urban planning and architectural design, working across both public and private sectors. Currently, she is a Lead Park Planner / Project Manager at the Prince George’s County Department of Parks and Recreation, Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC). She has served as a volunteer on several professional committees and taskforces at the local, state, and national level to advocate for equity, sustainability, and innovation.
 

Rick Reinhard

Niagara Consulting Group

Rick Reinhard is principal of Niagara Consulting Group, focusing on house-of-worship reuse and redevelopment and broader economic-development initiatives. For more than three decades, Rick led business improvement districts and redevelopment agencies in five US and UK cities and served as chief of staff to the mayor of Buffalo. More recently Rick joined leadership of the United Methodist Church at its social-justice agency on Capitol Hill and working for the bishop of the Greater New Jersey Conference on real estate issues. He has taught city planning and urban policy at six major research universities.kelli 
 

Kelli Rowan, AICP

City of Richmond (Contractor)

Ms. Rowan is a planning professional with 9 years of public sector project management and program administration experience. Her passion for the intersection of culture and the natural world drives her love for, and specialization in, sustainable and equitable planning! She is an AICP Certified Planner, and founder and president of her SWaM and DBE certified business, Commonwealth Community Connections, LLC. Through her work for local governments via her LLC and her previous role with the Virginia Office of Intermodal Planning and Investment, she has extensive program administration and project management experience in innovative multimodal transportation planning. She is a multilevel stakeholder outreach expert, implementing goals of elected and appointed leaders - ranging from City of Richmond Mayor to Secretaries of Transportation and Governors - through skilled outreach and coordination of state, regional and local agencies. Past project highlights include the completion of the Path to Equity: Policy Guide for Richmond Connects, Richmond Connects: Action Plan (rvaconnects.com), founding the free-rides-to-work program and the Lighter/Quicker/Cheaper program for the City of Richmond, and the reestablishment and administrations of the Urban Development Area grant program for the State of Virginia.  

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Thomas Ruff, PE, PTOE, AICP

Timmons Group

Thomas is a Senior Project Manager within the Timmons Group Traffic Analysis & Planning Group and has over a decade of experience providing expertise in multiple areas of traffic engineering, transportation planning, and roadway design, including corridor studies, innovative intersection design, and multi-modal infrastructure development. He has provided localities and state DOTs with experience in evaluating strategies for improving safety and increased mobility for all modes of transportation. Thomas is routinely responsible for operational analysis, traffic impact analysis, traffic calming, safety studies, roundabout and alternative intersection design, traffic signal timing (optimization/coordination), and evaluating intersection modifications.

Rhonda L. Russell, AICP
City of Portsmouth, Virginia

Ms. Rhonda L. Russell, a life-long resident of the Commonwealth of Virginia, currently serves as the Portsmouth, Virginia Planning Director. Ms. Russell has studied at Virginia Tech (Urban Planning), Blacksburg, Virginia, Old Dominion University (Public Administration), Norfolk, Virginia and Nova Southeastern University (Organizational Leadership/Human Services), Fort Lauderdale, Florida where she earned a doctoral degree in Organizational Leadership/Human Services Administration.

Justin Sanders, AICP, CZA, CTM

Montgomery County

Justin D. Sanders, AICP serves as the Assistant Director of Planning and GIS Services for Montgomery County, Virginia. Justin has been part of the Planning and GIS Services team since 2020, previously holding the positions of Development Planner and Senior Planner before assuming the Assistant Director role in July 2024. Justin has over 17 years of experience in promoting planning, community development, and historic preservation initiatives to strengthen communities and encourage citizen participation in the planning process through positions in local government and the nonprofit sector. He is a proud graduate of Virginia Tech, where he studied Architecture and Urban and Regional Planning. He currently serves on the boards of the Virginia Association of Zoning Officials and the Virginia Chapter of the American Planning Association and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners.

Steve Schmidt, AICP, PE
Timmons Group

Steve is a Principal and Senior Project Manager in the Traffic Planning and Engineering group at Timmons Group with 20+ years of experience in traffic planning and engineering. He expertise includes all aspects of transportation planning including long-range thoroughfare plans, comprehensive plans, bicycle and pedestrian master plans and safety improvements, transportation demand management, campus planning, and shared parking analysis. Steve routinely leads the public involvement on these planning efforts and enjoys engaging with citizens throughout the process.

 

Sue Schwartz, FAICP

American Planning Association

*More information coming soon

Jeanne Sgroi
County of York, Virginia

Jeanne Sgroi is a Senior Planner with the Planning Division. She serves as a staff member to the Planning Commission and the staff liaison for the Historic Yorktown Design Committee. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Communication with a concentration in public relations, advocacy and persuasion and a minor in Political Science from Old Dominion University in 2019. She earned her Master of Public Administration degree from Old Dominion University in 2021.
 

Sharon Shroff

City of Virginia Beach, Virginia

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Sharon Shoff is a graduate of James Madison University and received a Master’s of Urban and Regional Planning from Virginia Tech. She worked for a non-profit in Virginia Beach that provides affordable housing to families, veterans, and persons with disabilities for 22 years before coming to work at the City of Virginia Beach in 2019. She is the Housing Development Manager at the Department of Housing and Neighborhood Preservation, with a focus on facilitating the development of affordable and workforce housing in the City of Virginia Beach, and also oversee the City’s Owner Occupied Rehabilitation Program. 

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Sam Skrimpz

City of Richmond Office of Equitable Transit & Mobility

 

Skrimpz currently works with the City of Richmond’s Office of Equitable Transit and Mobility to design and paint road murals that promote pedestrian and cyclist safety. These projects are created in collaboration with Richmond Public Schools, where he gathers drawings and ideas from students, transposes their contributions into large-scale works, and hosts community paint days through the City to install the murals. By centering youth voices in public space, these murals are vibrant markers of shared ownership and belonging. Organizing for trans rights, facilitating art gatherings, and fostering connection are all essential parts of Skrimpz’s creative practice. He leads workshops and classes for artists of all ages and backgrounds, often creating spaces where collective making becomes a tool for play, expression, and shared experience. Through education, collaboration, and public art, Skrimpz’s work is rooted in the belief that creativity can help reimagine the world we live in. His work is about participation, building relationships, and creating moments of joy, reflection, and possibility.​

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Douglas L. Smith

Hampton Roads Alliance 

*More information coming soon

Alan Steinbeck, AICP
3TP Ventures

Alan’s 20+ years of experience includes overseeing and delivering projects and programs integrating issues of transportation, spatial analysis, physical planning, strategic thinking, and placemaking. He has managed multimodal transportation plans, area and master plans, corridor studies, forecasting projects, and area revitalization strategies. Alan founded 3TP Ventures in 2017 and works out of the Chapel Hill, NC office.

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Timothy Stromberg, PLA, ASLA

Stromberg Garrigan & Associates, Inc.

Timothy Stormberg is a landscape architect with extensive experience leading community revitalization and brownfields reuse plans for a variety of uses ranging from parks and public spaces, mixed-use urban infill, to industrial complexes. He is currently the Project Manager for the firm’s work supporting VA DEQ’s brownfields program, including overseeing projects across the Commonwealth. Tim holds a Master of Landscape Architecture degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a B.S. in Horticulture and Environmental Design from Delaware Valley University. He is a Certified Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional Trainer and steering committee member.
 

Silas Sullivan

City of Alexandria

Silas Sullivan is an expert at making riding the bus more convenient and accessible. He is in charge of two projects to upgrade bus stops and add bus shelters citywide, including funding, engineering design, community engagement and program management. He has worked with transit agencies across Northern Virginia, researching micromobility, assisting with grant programs, and interviewing transit executives nationwide. Silas has a master’s degree from Virginia Tech in Urban and Regional Planning.

Michael Todd, AICP
Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation

Mike currently serves as the Rail Programs Director for the Department of Rail and Public Transportation where he manages a nearly $20 million annual programming budget to implement rail construction projects and planning and engineering studies throughout Virginia. Much of Mike’s career in transportation planning has focused on presenting information to various groups, including organizing and hosting large-scale public hearings; gathering feedback from diverse groups of stakeholders and technical experts; serving as the Chair of the Safe and Healthy Streets Commission for the City of Richmond; and currently presenting regularly to the Governor’s appointed Commonwealth Transportation Board, recommending funding allocations for rail construction projects throughout Virginia.

Mausharie Valentine, AIA
SmithGroup
 

Mausharie is an architect and urban designer committed to designing imaginative, holistic environments that elevate the urban fabric and quality of life for all communities. Mausharie desires to create equitable and inclusive places that are beautiful and well-loved. She does this through empathy and listening during intentional community engagement, continual market research, collaborative team effort, and visionary thought leadership in problem-solving.

“Placemaking should be approached with artful enthusiasm, capturing and reflecting a community’s unique needs, aspirations, and identities,” says Mausharie. “This results in cherished places, beloved and enduring, that truly resonate with their inhabitants.”
Mausharie’s interest in architecture and urban design began as a teenager and a lived experience in a new urbanist community in Denver, CO. The freedom, sense of community, and beauty of the built environment around Mausharie inspired a desire to serve others by designing places people love, especially communities that empower young people.
Mausharie works at Smith Group in Ann Arbor, MI, with a focus on Urban Design and community engagement. She enjoys connecting with family and serving within her faith community.

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​Alex Venegas, AICP, CPM, CZA

Prince William County Planning Office

Alex Vanegas is the Assistant Director of Current Planning for Prince William County, where he oversees all land use entitlement cases for the Planning Office. With a career dedicated to public service, Mr. Vanegas has held key roles in local government and authorities, including Public Works Director, Capital Projects Manager, and Compliance Officer. Mr. Vanegas is an AICP-certified planner and a member of the American Planning Association (APA). He is also a Certified Zoning Administrator (CZA) through the Virginia Association of Zoning Officials and a Certified Public Manager (CPM) through the Regional Executive Development Program accredited by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. Additionally, he is an affiliate member of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA). Mr. Vanegas holds a Master’s Degree in Urban & Environmental Planning from the University of Virginia and a Master’s Degree in Organizational Management from George Washington University. He also holds a Graduate Certificate in Executive Leadership Coaching from George Washington University.

Tanya Washington, AICP
Prince William County Government

Tanya M. Washington, AICP, is Director of the Prince William County Planning Office for Prince William County, VA, the second largest county in the Commonwealth of Virginia and one of the most diverse in the nation. Ms. Washington leads Prince William Planning’s efforts to provide innovative and equitable land use planning and development review for rapidly growing Prince William County, near Washington, DC. Ms. Washington holds a master’s in city planning from the University of Pennsylvania and is certified through the American Institute of Certified Planners and as a Certified Public Manager. She is a member of the American Planning Association, Lambda Alpha International and the Urban Land Institute (ULI).

Karen Weber, Licensed Geologist

Virginia Department of Environmental Quality

Karen Weber is a licensed geologist with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ) Voluntary Remediation Program (VRP) and serves as the DEQ’s Brownfields Coordinator. She currently serves on the Virginia Brownfields Restoration and Economic Redevelopment Fund (VBAF) review committee, a collaborative effort with the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP). Karen earned a BS in Geoscience and a MAED with a focus on learning and motivation both from Virginia Tech. She currently serves as Adjunct Faculty in Virginia Tech’s Department of Geosciences.

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​Jennifer Wilsie, AICP
New River Valley Regional Commission

Jennifer Wilsie, Director of Housing, has been with the New River Valley Regional Commission since 2007 and specializes in affordable housing and community development projects across the region. She works closely with state and federal funders such as the Department of Housing and Community Development, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Virginia Housing.

 

Karen Wolf, FAICP

AICP Commission

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Karen Wolf is the Immediate Past-President of the AICP Commission.  Karen has dedicated her career to public stewardship and advancing the benefits of planning. She recently retired from King County, Washington, where she served as a trusted advisor to elected leaders for more than 30 years. She has demonstrated her commitment to planning through mentoring, volunteering, and teaching new planners and graduate students. Within APA, she has served in several leadership roles, including the AICP Ethics and Exam Committee, APA Washington Chapter, and CM Equity Credit Task Force. Additionally, Wolf is an affiliate instructor at the University of Washington and serves on the UW Professional Council for Urban Design and Planning. She also served as the chair of the Advisory Committee for Children's Hospital of Seattle providing input on the development of the hospital campus. Wolf has a master's degree in urban planning and a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Washington.

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Michelle Wren

Portsmouth Partnership

*More information coming soon
 

Kevin Wyne, AICP

City of Suffolk

 

Born and raised in Powhatan, Virginia, Kevin has been a professional land use planner for past 18 years and currently leads the Planning and Community Development department for the City of Suffolk. He is a 2006 graduate of the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Urban Studies and Geography.  He achieved certification as a certified planner through the American Institute of Certified Planners in 2016, and is a 2024 graduate of the UVA Virginia Institute of Government LEAD program through the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Affairs. He has served as a local government planner exclusively in the Commonwealth of Virginia, having worked with the City of Hopewell, Town of Warrenton, City of Poquoson, and for the last nine years, the City of Suffolk. Over his career his work has included nearly every facet of planning at the municipal level with key areas of focus including land use analysis, plan implementation, and zoning. He resides in Suffolk with his wife Linsey, two daughters, Addy (13) and Ellie (7), and their two golden retrievers, Ivy and Waffles. During his spare time he enjoys performing Improv, coaching his girls softball and soccer team, watching one of his oldest daughter’s many musical theater productions, traveling with his family, playing the guitar, cooking, and planning his family’s next trip to Disney World. Kevin also enjoys watching a wide variety of sporting events and particularly enjoys going to Richmond to cheer on his VCU Rams!

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Kevin Wyrauch, AICP

Prince William County Department of Transportation

Kevin Wyrauch is currently the Transportation Planning Manager for the Prince William County Department of Transportation with over 12 years in the transportation and transit field. Mr. Wyrauch currently oversees the Transportation Planning Section which consists of review of entitlement cases, rezonings, special use permits, site plan, traffic impact studies, and public facility plans. Mr. Wyrauch is certified by the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP). He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Manhattan University and his Master’s Degree in Urban and Regional Planning from UC Irvine.​

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Christopher Ziemann, AICP

City of Alexandria

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Chris Ziemann, AICP is a community engagement specialist. He leads the Transportation Planning Division, overseeing six different programs. Under Vision Zero, Alexandria saw its first zero fatality year in 2023 and a 65% reduction in serious crashes. Under transit planning, Alexandria approved the third Bus Rapid Transit corridor. Under Long Range Planning, the City updated the Alexandria Mobility Plan. All of these projects required intense community engagement, gathering the opinions of hundreds of residents in various ways to tell the story that safety improvements, transit improvements and planning for access, equity and sustainability are what most Alexandrians want.

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