Makeover Montgomery 5 Speakers

Zubin Adrianvala is a Planner Coordinator with Mid-County Planning Montgomery County (Maryland) Planning Department.  In this role, Zubin works on master plans and qualitative research and analysis in service of the master plans. Prior to joining the Planning Department, Zubin led the City of Norfolk’s People First program. Zubin has also applied for and managed HUD, DOT, and EPA grants for the City of Norfolk. Zubin has a PhD in Urban and Regional Planning and Design from the University of Maryland, and master’s degree in architecture from the University of New South Wales, Australia.

Nohely is a Ph.D. candidate in Urban and Regional Planning and Design at the School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation at the University of Maryland, College Park. Her focus and interests include the intersection of immigrant communities, transnational planning, participatory community building, social justice, gentrification, and equity development. She is particularly interested in advocacy and radical planning pedagogy in her field and thinking of ways the gap between practice and academia in planning can be improved.

Dr. Hassan Ameli is an urban researcher, planner, and designer working at the intersection of people, place, and emerging technologies. With years of academic and professional experience in architecture, urban design, and planning, Hassan recently completed his Ph.D. in Metropolitan Planning, Policy, and Design from the University of Utah.

Bi’Anncha Andrews is a PhD Candidate in the Urban and Regional Planning and Design Program at the University of Maryland. Her research interests are focused on exploring the historic and present day impacts of displacement on vulnerable populations in gentrifying neighborhoods. More importantly, her work centers the critical roles that racism and sexism have played in shaping neighborhoods of concentrated disadvantage with limited access to effective social services and social safety. Bi’Anncha works as a graduate research assistant for Dr. Willow Lung-Amam and the National Center for Smart Growth (NCSG).

Mr. Aulestia is a certified Planner and a Partner in Torti Gallas and Partners’ Region and Town Planning Studio with over 24 years of experience. Mr. Aulestia has led numerous planning and urban design efforts throughout the United States and abroad. His work centers on Urban Planning at a variety of scales ranging from Corridor Plans, Neighborhood Plans, Downtown Plans, and Form-Based Codes and private sector Master Planning from 5 acres to 40,000 acres. His expertise includes Transit Oriented Development, Mixed-Use Town Centers, Urban Revitalization, Form-Based Codes, Traditional Neighborhood Design, Healthy Communities, and consensus building. Mr. Aulestia guest lectures often at the University of Maryland and Georgetown University on the topics of form-based codes, mixed-use, and place-making. Awards include the Driehaus Award from the Form Based Codes Institute for the Downtown Wyandanch Form Based Code, Charter Award from the CNU for the Downtown Wyandanch Revitalization, and Award of Merit from the CNU for the South Bend, Indiana West Side Corridors Plan. He recently led the development of The Community Health Report Card which is a tool that measures or predicts the comparative health benefits/reductions in chronic disease of a community based on its physical design.

Mr. Ayala is Principal Planner and designer of the Neighborhood Planning and Community Development (NPCD) Division for the City of Alexandria Department of Planning and Zoning, which he has held since 2016. His recent projects have included the North Potomac Yard and South Patrick Street Housing Affordability Strategies and managing the Eisenhower East and Arlandria-Chirilagua Small Area Plans. He was a commissioner-at-large for the Planning and Zoning Commission of the City of Orlando (FL). Jose has also served the City of Orlando Main Street Program pro bono and is an active accredited member of the Congress for the New Urbanism.

John is a Senior Principal, Community Development at Stantec. He is a city and regional planner specializing in the integration of spatial and infrastructure planning in urbanizing districts. Much of his experiences focus on creating walkable, vibrant mixed-use places that promote quality of life and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. John has prepared affordable housing policies and programs that promote the development of a broad range of multifamily housing types scaled to the surrounding urban context.

Ralph is a Professor Emeritus, School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, University of Maryland, College Park and chairs the Masters Thesis Committee there.

Shruti has been a grassroots advocate and organizer in Montgomery County for nearly two decades with a strong background in civic engagement. Her work has centered around equity and social justice and impacted policies at the County, State and Federal level. Shruti is committed to public service and has a proven track record of effective leadership. Her work in the community expands through her service on several nonprofit, community and political organizations. Shruti is a founding member of Maryland Welcomes Refugees and has worked with International Rescue Committee and other agencies and community groups to support resettlement of new families. Currently she is serving as the Chair and Executive team member of the Sierra Club Montgomery County Group and is a volunteer leader with the Maryland Chapter to impact policy changes that address climate change in Montgomery County and the State of Maryland.

Gloria is the Founding Director of the Office of Community Engagement at the University of Maryland College Park under the Division of Administration.  She and her team create connections between the University and the surrounding neighborhoods through advocacy, planning, service, partnerships, and storytelling. She has spent more than 25 years working at the University. Aparicio-Blackwell earned an associate’s degree in safety and fire science from InstitutoTecnológico de Seguridad Industrial in Venezuela, and a bachelor’s degree in industrial technology with a concentration in safety and fire science from the University of Maryland
College Park. In addition, Blackwell earned a master’s in management from the University of
Maryland Global Campus.

Grace Bogdan is an Urban Planner with the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) in Montgomery County. She manages comprehensive, urban development projects through the review process and serves as a liaison between the public and Planning Board. Prior to joining Montgomery County Planning Department in 2018, Grace worked as a Planner with other municipalities in Maryland, California and New Jersey. Grace holds a Master of Urban and Regional Planning from Rutgers University and a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from New Jersey Institute of Technology.

Omar is a Design Principal at Perkins Eastman who offers over 20 years of planning and design leadership, with a keen interest in the broader perspectives of building and planning, seeking value-added solutions at the intersection of design and programming. A highly versatile designer, he plays a vital role on landmark projects encompassing primary/secondary education, higher education, commercial, residential, and public facilities. His K12 work includes projects in the U.S., Europe, Asia, and South America. In addition to building this impressive portfolio of international work, Omar has served as a Fellow for the New York Foundation for the Arts and has received grants from the National Endowment for the Arts as well as the Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts.

Tom Corrado, LEED AP is a Senior Associate and architect at Hickok Cole, where he works for the firm’s Commercial Architecture practice. Tom’s designs emphasize a synergy between a building’s function and how it is experienced by the people who use it. This holistic inside-out and outside-in approach is shaped by his more than 18 years of experience. His expertise in urban studies, place making, digital fabrication, and sustainable design has been applied to projects ranging from large scale commercial interiors to build to suit. He currently leads Hickok Cole’s research into mass timber construction and is an advocate and educator for the firm and clients around the use of this emerging technology. His noteworthy projects include 80 M Street, Washington DC’s first mass timber office renovation, Anthem Row, 909 Rose Avenue, and the Center for Strategic and International Studies headquarters. Tom earned his Bachelor of Science and Master of Architecture at Clemson University.

Stephanie has 16 years of experience in conservation program design and evaluation. At the Environmental Finance Center (EFC), she helps communities finance and implement climate adaptation, natural infrastructure, stormwater, and flood mitigation projects and initiatives. Prior to EFC, she worked on projects in the Delaware River basin at the Pinchot Institute for Conservation, including source water and open space prioritization, forest management, Farm Bill programs, and valuing ecosystem services. She has also managed grant programs at the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. She has a Master’s degree from the University of Michigan School of Natural Resources and Environment.

Nicholas DiBella is a student and designer. He is currently working towards obtaining his Master’s of Architecture at the University of Maryland School of Architecture, Planning & Preservation.

John is an RA Principal Planner and has worked for Frederick County Government since 2005, where he focuses on analysis, design, and long term planning. He is a principal creator of the Livable Frederick Master Plan, and currently works on small area planning for redevelopment corridors in the County. He is a registered architect in the State of Maryland, and holds a BArch from VA Tech and a SMArchS from MIT.

Adam is the Planning Supervisor, Placemaking in the Prince George’s County Planning Department.  He has worked at local, regional and national Government levels in England and he wrote national legislation to simplify the plan making process in England in 2006, and then worked for the Planning Advisory Service, working with councils to improve their plan making and delivery. Since joining M-NCPPC he has taken the role of Supervisor in the Placemaking section, with a focus on implementing plan policies and strategies at the local level.

Philip is a member of AICP and is a Planner Coordinator in the Montgomery County Planning Department.

Michael Ezban is an architect, landscape designer, author, and educator. He is a Clinical Assistant Professor and interim Assistant Director of the Architecture program at the University of Maryland School of Architecture, Planning & Preservation.

Jeffrey Farner is Deputy Director, City of Alexandria.  He has over 20 years of planning, urban design and development experience.

Nima is the Executive Director at the Center for Social Value Creation in the Robert H Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland.  He oversees the strategic direction of CSVC, focused on educating, engaging, and empowering Smith students to make a better world through business.  One such focus is how a company’s environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) policies impact the world beyond just returning profits to shareholders.

Terron Ferguson is an initiative builder from Miami, Florida. He currently leads Project Equity’s Black Employee Ownership Initiative. He earned a B.A. in Philosophy from Morehouse College and a J.D. from New York University (NYU) School of Law.  He has worked on a vast set of challenges across an array of key issue areas including, economics, education, racial justice, and transatlantic affairs.

Steve Findley has held various positions with the Montgomery County Department of Parks and Montgomery County Planning Department for over 31 years. He has worked with the Parks Department as a Natural Resources Specialist and as a Nature Center Director, and with the Planning Department as an Environmental Planner. He currently works as a Planner IV with the Midcounty Planning Division focusing primarily on environmental planning issues. Currently, he works on sustainability recommendations for Master Plans including modeling greenhouse gas emissions, and reviews developments for compliance with the Forest Conservation Law and other environmental policies and regulations. In 2020, he became a Certified Climate Change Professional, a credential granted jointly by the Association of Climate Change Officers and the State of Maryland.

Nick is the Associate Director of the National Center for Smart Growth and an Assistant Professor in the School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation.  His primary interest is community development projects including work on housing and regional equity planning.  He also works extensively with the Purple Line Corridor Coalition on TOD policy, housing policy, equitable development, transportation and more. Nick has a Master’s of Community Planning and a PhD in Urban and Regional Planning and Design from the University of Maryland.

Pierre is an urban planner focused on increasing community sustainability and resilience. Prior to becoming a planner, he worked for over a decade as an attorney. Originally from Miami, FL, he studied political science and business at the University of Miami, and received degrees in law and international affairs from American University. In 2022, he graduated from the University of Maryland’s graduate program in community planning, winning the Melvin Levin Outstanding MCP Student Award. He lives in Fairfax, VA with his wife and daughter and loves exploring the outdoors.

Tory is a Transportation Planner with Fehr & Peers in Washington, DC. She earned a master’s degree in City and Regional Planning with a specialization in transportation planning from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Tory enjoys working on applied planning projects, research, and policy analysis, and has a strong interest in working on multimodal projects with an eye for safety, accessibility, and equity. Before switching careers to transportation planning, Tory was a fundraiser for higher education and nonprofit organizations, and brings her passions for community engagement, client relations, and attention to detail into her new career.

Kathleen is an architect and emeritus founding Principal of Bennett Frank McCarthy Architect.  She is a fellow at the American Institute of Architects and former Commissioner and Chair, Housing Opportunities Commission

Chris Gillis is the director of Policy and Neighborhood Development at Montgomery Housing Partnership (MHP), the largest non-profit housing developer in Montgomery County. In his role, he is responsible for managing the organization’s research and advocacy efforts on affordable housing at the local, state and federal levels, and also oversees all community development activities that the organization is engaged in. Prior to joining MHP in 2018, he served as a senior legislative aide at the Montgomery County Council, where he advised on a wide range of issues, such as transportation, housing, and tax & finance policy. He has more than 16 years of experience with Montgomery County politics.

Tim is a principal planner with the Frederick County Planning Department. His career in Frederick County includes code enforcement, development and subdivision review, and comprehensive planning, including current work on the Sugarloaf Treasured Landscape Management Plan and administering the County’s Water and Sewerage Plan. Tim has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland at College Park and a M.S. degree in Environmental Biology from Hood College in Frederick, Maryland.

J. Philip Gottwals is the Managing Member of ACDS, LLC and an economic development planner with 27 years of experience working in rural and resource-based economies. His recent projects include strategic and business planning for public and private sector clients in Maryland and Virginia; regional studies of food marketing systems in Pennsylvania, New York, and Maryland; and the redesign of several urban food marketing systems, including work in New York City, Baltimore, Maryland, and Columbia, South Carolina. Over the last decade, Mr. Gottwals has assisted clients in raising over $700 million in project financing for agricultural and food related projects. Philip is an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland College of Agriculture and Natural Resources where he teaches special topics related to the economics of local agriculture. Philip is also an instructor of entrepreneurship in resource-based industries and co-author of “Tilling the Soil of Opportunity.”

Rod Henderer FAIA, LEED AP is a Principal at Callison RTKL.  He is a world-class architectural talent whose work has brought design excellence to the highest profile government buildings through a graceful blend of classicism and modernism. Over a three-decade career, Rod has viewed federal commissions as an opportunity to express the democratic ideals of this country – freedom of access, freedom of assembly, and diversity – in a way that enriches local communities and advances the public’s perception of the federal government.

Dan Hibbert has over 30 years of experience in the public transportation and transit field, working for state, city, and county governments, as well as in the private transit industry.  He joined Montgomery County in 2003 and has progressively worked his way through the ranks of the Division of Transit Services in the Montgomery County Maryland, Department of Transportation, the last five years of which he has served as the Division Chief of Transit Services.  Under Dan’s leadership several innovative transit programs have been implemented; including limited stop express service, micro-transit service, and Bus Rapid Transit services. During his tenure, Dan has proven his leadership in overseeing the management of the County’s Ride On system, which includes 375 buses that operate from three geographic depots, serving over 10 million passengers each year.  He has also worked to foster a positive relationship with one of the County’s largest bargaining workforce units.  Dan holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree from Towson University, and a Master’s of Science in Urban Planning and Policy Design from Johns Hopkins University

Ming Hu is an Assistant Professor at School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, University of Maryland, College Park, affiliate faculty in the National Center for Smart Growth. She teaches technology courses focus on the integration of architectural design with structural, materials and building performance assessment.

She is an architectural practitioner, educator and researcher with vast experience in high-performance building design, lifecycle assessment and building performance measurement and benchmarking. She has more than fourteen years’ experience working on international high-profile projects with HOK from the firm’s Washington, D.C. office. Her background includes training in the architectural discipline and years of practice across disciplines, which gives her a unique perspective and ability to weave these fields together in her research.

Hiroyuki (Hiro) Iseki is an Associate Professor of Urban Studies and Planning at the University of Maryland, College Park. His research focuses on balancing efficiency, effectiveness, and equity in the provision of mobility and accessibility with special attention to the diversity of needs among different socioeconomic groups. Iseki’s current research includes the intersection of transportation, land use, and environmental planning toward the greenhouse gas reduction goals with an emphasis on the alternative vehicle adoption strategies at local and regional levels. Iseki holds a Master of Engineering degree from the University of Tokyo and a Ph.D. in Urban Planning from UCLA.

Molline “Molly” Jackson is a self-motivated visionary that is passionate about all things related to art, community advocacy, and public private partnerships (P3s) that enhance the quality of life throughout the Maryland/Washington, DC region. Native to this metropolitan region, she is a 2006 graduate of the Leadership Montgomery program and will be a 2021 graduate of the ULI Regional Land Use Leadership Institute. Strategically increasing her civic involvement and engagement in both Prince Georges and Montgomery Counties, she recently accepted two different State Governor appointed positions on the Maryland State Arts Council and Commission. Obtaining a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture and a Master’s in Real Estate Development from the University of Maryland College Park has enabled her long-term working partnership with the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) for over 11 years. Mrs. Jackson is a proud Prince George’s County resident where she lives with her beloved husband (married 6-years), two beautiful sons, and three fur babies in New Carrollton, MD.

Samantha Jamero is a graduate student at the University of Maryland pursuing a dual-degree in Architecture and Community Planning. She is interested in studying Traditional Ecological Knowledge and its role in coastal resiliency in Pacific Islands.

Heather is Director of Sustainability at Perkins Eastman.  She is inspired by the intersections between wellness and sustainability, and believes to truly move toward a more resilient society, we need a holistic approach that combines the wellness of both people and the planet. Her expertise in passive design, building science, indoor environmental quality, and pre/post-occupancy evaluations are valuable contributions to both the projects in which she is involved and the firm as a whole. As a firmwide resource, Heather leads discussions and research initiatives to educate and promote Perkins Eastman’s sustainable design practice.

Calvin is the Division Chief of Fleet Management Services for Montgomery County Government, Department of General Services in Maryland and has more than 30 years of industry experience in both public and private sectors. He leads a division of more than two hundred employees and contractors, including administrators, supervisors, and technicians collectively responsible for the acquisition, specification development, maintenance, management, fueling and disposal of approximately 3,500 vehicle and equipment assets: transit buses, public safety vehicles, administrative and service vehicles, and Class 6-8 trucks.

Dawn is the Dean of the School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation at the University of Maryland in College Park.  Dr. Jourdan is a land use attorney, city planner, and academic. Operating between these disciplines, Dawn has capitalized on the opportunity to influence the planning practice through the dissemination of scholarship and technical assistance to future planners, developers, and lawyers. Dr. Jourdan is the founder of the Academic Advisory Council for Signage Research and Education and the International Journal of Signage and Wayfinding.

Cat works at Harvest Share which is a 501-c3 organization that asks gardeners to grow a little more in their gardens and then donates the extra to community resources dedicated to reducing food insecurity.

As Vice President of Development for Washington Property Company, Ms. Kausner is responsible for coordinating all phases of development projects, including acquisition due diligence and underwriting, budgeting, management of the entitlement process, and coordination of project design teams. Prior to her position at Washington Property Company, Ms. Kausner provided historic preservation consultation on over thirty successful commercial, industrial and residential adaptive reuse projects. As an architectural historian, she advised on preservation laws and regulations and is considered an expert in National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) and National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) compliance. Ms. Kausner has received a Master of Science in Real Estate at Johns Hopkins University. She also holds a Master of Arts in Historic Preservation from Goucher College and a Bachelor of Arts in Art History from the University of Delaware.

Hooman Koliji, PhD is an interdisciplinary innovator, entrepreneur and educator working at the intersection of green technologies and the built environment. A distinguished fellow of the Academy of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of Maryland, Koliji developed the original Ecological Design Thinking curriculum in the ecological engineering field. Dr. Koliji is the founder of CREO and BioBulb, based in Sausalito, California and has built an innovative smart hardware-software product system that utilizes artificial intelligence to enable buildings to natively grow plants. BioBulb has been featured in VIVATech Paris June 2021(European Union’s largest technology and start up Expo), TEDx Marin among others. Dr. Koliji believes that the built environment—real estate — can combat climate change by employing smart living systems and incorporating nature into buildings systematically.

Daniel Koroma is the Business Liaison for the Montgomery County government. He is a member of the Business Advancement Team in the County Executive’s Office. The BAT team supports businesses to start, grow, and move into Montgomery County and works with various business resource partners to support economic development. Daniel manages the Montgomery County Business Portal and provides information on grants, classes, trainings, workshops, and counseling for startups and small businesses.

Ben Kraft is a Planning Research Coordinator at Montgomery County Planning, where he focuses on the economy, housing, and equity. Ben has previous experience working in community and economic development in Michigan. He has a Master’s Degree in Urban Planning from the University of Michigan and a Ph.D. in City and Regional Planning with a concentration in economic development from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Clark is a member of AICP and a Planner in the Upcounty Division of the Montgomery County Planning Department.

Yilin Lai holds an M.Sc. in Integrated Urbanism and Sustainable Design, and a B.A. in Landscape Architecture. She has over 5 years of progressive experiences and has specific expertise in sustainable urban design and planning. She also has a passion for participatory planning and interdisciplinary research related to community development and climate resilience. Yilin has used her knowledge and skills to conduct qualitative analysis for community feedback, provide a high level summary to inform the planning recommendations, engage the dialog with the community through the visioning phase, building trust and transparency, and strengthening the partnership.

Amy Lindsey is a landscape architect who focuses on site planning, open space design, environmental protection, and the intersection of health and the built environment. She has a Master’s Degree in Landscape Architecture from Morgan State University and has worked for the Montgomery County Planning Department for 21 years.

Natalie Nakasi Baziwana Mayanja, or “Nat” is proudly of Ugandan and American heritage, originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma. She resides in Rockville with her partner. My passion for nature-conscious + human-centered cultivated public spaces led me to the parks, trails, nature centers and community gardens of Montgomery County. The public space and educational programming have brought a wealth of relationships, peace, and beauty into her life. In 2016, She began experimenting with container gardening at her home and in 2020 began cultivating at the Rockinghorse Community Garden. In this role, she is excited to learn sustainable ways of urban farming as well as play an active role in the cultivation and donation of culturally relevant produce as one response to food insecurity. She enjoys staying active and exploring nature and welcome invitations to go hiking, tubing, jogging, kayaking, cycling, and/or nature walks to grow in recognizing Maryland trees, shrubs, plants and wildlife.

Cullen McCormick’s skills in transportation planning and information design allow him to unpack technical concepts and weave them into stories told through visuals and narratives. As the leader of Fehr & Peers Visual Communications group, he has developed communications strategies to discuss traffic safety with skeptical and hostile audiences; supported federal grant applications successfully yielding millions of dollars to local agencies; led evaluation studies and built tools to help communities better understand the holistic effects of complete streets; designed maps and wayfinding to enhance transit- and bike-riding experiences; and helped transit agencies communicate long-range service visions to stakeholders and decisionmakers.

Margaret McFarland, J.D. is Director of The Real Estate Center@Menlo College located in the Bay Area and a part-time Visiting Professor of Law and Real Estate. She retired from her position as Clinical Professor and the Director of the Colvin Institute of Real Estate Development at the University of Maryland’s School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation in 2018 where she developed a graduate real estate curriculum with a strong focus on sustainability and affordable housing. McFarland began her career as an urban planner in Toledo, Ohio, and after completing her law degree joined O’Melveny & Myers in private practice in Washington, D.C.  Dr. McFarland has an A.M. degree in Urban Studies from the University of Chicago and a J.D. degree awarded by the University of Michigan. She serves as an outside director of the Neighborhood Development Collaborative, a non-profit corporation with properties in Georgia, Texas, California and Nevada.

Helen McIlvaine has been the City of Alexandria’s Housing Director since 2015. Helen leads implementation of Alexandria’s Housing Master Plan, supports citywide planning initiatives to increase the preservation and production of affordable housing, and works with nonprofit and private developers, as well as the local housing authority to structure and finance developments that include affordable housing.

Melissa leads RK&K’s Healthy Communities team – focusing on human-centric design, stakeholder engagement, and public participation strategies. She is passionate about working with communities to create healthier places through acknowledging culture, context, and history. Melissa has 20 years of experience working with large and small communities in rural, coastal, and urban settings. Her design strategy begins with understanding how people move through space, who the end user will be, capabilities and funding for maintenance, potential future site development, adjacent land use, accessibility, and safety through the use of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles.  Melissa’s approach to site and roadway design is founded in the confluence of sustainability and human experience. She coordinates with the civil, structural, geotechnical, architectural, stormwater, natural resources, and cultural resources teams to explore every opportunity to employ appropriate solutions for site design including permeable paving, artful stormwater management, educational opportunities, equitable access, and safety for all users of all ages and abilities.

Justin is a second year dual degree graduate student at the University of Maryland studying Applied Anthropology and Historic Preservation. He grew up in Baltimore County, Maryland and attended the University of Maryland for his undergraduate degree as well. His main areas of interest are heritage, digital archaeology, and community based archaeology. He’s been working on the North Brentwood Digital Archaeology Project since the start of this year and has previously worked on other sites both in Maryland and abroad. Outside of archaeology, he has also done work mapping the presence of racially restrictive housing covenants across Prince George’s County, Maryland.

Paul Mortensen

Senior Urban Designer in the Director’s Office
paul.mortensen@montgomeryplanning.org
Paul Mortensen is a Chief and Senior Urban Designer in the Director’s Office at Montgomery Planning and is leading the Design Excellence efforts within the organization.  He is a registered architect in the states of California, Washington and Maryland, is a LEED Accredited Professional, a member of the Congress for New Urbanism, and is an Architect and Urban Designer of significant talent and experience with a strong emphasis on sustainable architecture design in urban settings.  His primary focus over the past thirty years has been on master planning and urban design of residential and mixed-use communities.   Mr. Mortensen was an Associate Principle with Torti Gallas and Partners in Silver Spring, Maryland where he served as a leading principal of the Planning and Urban Design Studio and was involved in a number of large scale, award winning master planning projects and new town designs such as the Crystal City, Virginia Master Plan and the Tacoma, Washington Salishan HOPE VI development.

Michelle Nelson is an ambitious, energetic woman of excellence, working in the local government sector, who is passionate about mentoring, diversity, and local food systems. Ms. Nelson is strategic in her approach to capacity building and project management. She utilizes relationship building and collective impact to connect different concepts and philosophies to create new exciting solutions, where everyone has a voice, and everyone is a contributor. Ms. Nelson’s expertise is in urban agriculture, local food systems, program development and management, and professional development for young professionals in STEM and environmental careers.

Manuel T. Ochoa has over 25 years’ experience in urban planning, housing, and community development. Manuel is Principal and Founder of the Ochoa Urban Collaborative. Previous to founding Ochoa Urban Collaborative, he has been a leader in community and economic development with a unique mix of experience in federal and local government as well as national non-profits. Since its founding in 2019, Ochoa Urban Collaborative has prepared fair housing plans for the City of Cumberland and Prince George’s County; a HUD Consolidated Plan and housing strategy for the City of Cumberland; a needs assessment for Coamo, Puerto Rico; advised the Foundation for Puerto Rico in implementing its Whole Community Resilience Planning program; and prepared a small business support strategy for the Purple Line corridor in Maryland.

Sean is a Principal and K12 practice area leader at Perkins Eastman. Through his work, he seeks to revolutionize schools, transforming expectations of their role in educating future leaders. He sees the school as the center of its community, and brings together civic architecture, sustainable design, and innovative educational planning to create high-performing, inspiring places where students learn and grow. A global thought leader in education design and co-director of the Consortium for Design and Education Outcomes, Sean conducts innovative research and speaks about transformative, sustainable learning environments around the world.

Beth Kuser Olsen is a research scientist at the Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland, College Park. Dr. Olsen is the Principal Investigator on two projects: “Development of a Community Guide to Assessing Non-Tidal Flood Impacts in Maryland” funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through Maryland Department of Natural Resources Chesapeake and Coastal Service’s Chesapeake Bay Implementation Grant Program; and a project centered around the Smith Island watermen community, “Societal Benefits of Engineering with Nature” sponsored by the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center and funded through a Chesapeake Watershed Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit award.

Adriana Penabad moved from Miami where she studied Hospitality and later Environmental Sustainability at Florida International University. She moved to Silver Spring in January with the mission to uplift food systems and provide food access to families in need. As Food Production and Donation Coordinator for MNCPPC’s community garden’s Grown@Pope program she has learned about Maryland, come to appreciate its history, and hopes to continue contributing to its success.

Russell Provost is a Planner III with the Countywide Planning & Policy Division at the Montgomery County Planning Department. Russell Provost received his bachelor’s degree from Virginia Tech in Public and Urban Affairs and a Master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Florida. Russell specializes in operationalizing planning theories and concepts using geographical information systems (GIS). Russell currently assists staff with advanced GIS analyses to measure the performance and connectivity of multi-modal transportation systems.

Delegate Lily Qi was elected in 2018 when she became the first Chinese immigrant legislator in Maryland. A Shanghai native, she was featured on NPR and The Washington Post for energizing immigrant voters through her campaign. Delegate Qi is Deputy Majority Whip and was named “Legislator of the Year” by the Maryland Tech Council in 2020. Before her elective office, she was Montgomery County’s Assistant Chief Administrative Officer for economic and workforce development and had a career in DC economic development and higher education. Delegate Qi is also a speaker and trainer on immigrant integration and government cultural competency.

Session Code: INC1

I’m an urban planner and community advocate who first testified before the Planning Board at 15. For 12 years I’ve written a blog called Just Up The Pike, which offers news, research, and advocacy on transit, smart growth, and social equity in Silver Spring, MD, a mix of urban and evolving, diversifying suburban communities north of Washington, DC. With a small army of over 7000 followers on Facebook and Twitter, we’ve led or participated in campaigns for everything from a proposed light rail line, to school equity, housing issues, and youth rights.

Matthew is a Masters Student in the University of Maryland’s Landscape Architecture program. He is an assistant in the University’s National Center for Smart Growth, working with the Partnership for Action Learning in Sustainability (PALS) where he helps bring sustainability-based problems faced by government and nonprofit agencies to campus for students to tackle.

Carter Reitman manages Maryland’s Sustainable Communities program at the State’s Department of Housing and Community Development. He completed his Master of Community Planning at UMD in 2022.

Matthew Ridgway has been involved in many of Fehr & Peers’ highest visibility and most complex land use-transportation and multi-modal projects. His key strength is his broad background and multi-modal approach. Many of these projects have involved the development of tools for assessing unique performance measures and design of innovative transportation facilities. Matthew founded Fehr & Peers’ San Francisco office in 2000 and established Fehr & Peers DC in 2015. He has contributed to a number of national publications.

Javier Rivas joined Latino Economic Development Center in February 2019 as a Small Business Coach & Liaison. Now a Senior Small Business Development Manager, he uses a wealth of professional and entrepreneurship experience to bring support to business owners facing challenges resulting from the rapid development and growth in the greater DMV area and Puerto Rico. Prior to LEDC, as a self-taught owner of two coffee shops, he enjoyed the process of learning a craft, tackling problems, and constantly finding more efficient ways of achieving his goals. More than anything, he is proud of having been able to serve his community, making long-lasting connections, and helping his employees gain confidence, vocational training, and personal growth. He spent his childhood in El Salvador and has been a resident of the DMV area since 1989. Javier holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Virginia.

Greg is a Mobility Policy Principal at Stantec. He leverages his unique legal, regulatory, and policy experience to assist clients with the development of policies and operational frameworks focused on the safe and effective deployment of transportation technologies into communities across the country. Greg has and is leading research and analysis on smart cities, next generation infrastructure, data governance, and automated vehicles. He serves on the board for Urban Movement Labs, is the Chair of the TRB Transit and Intermodal Law Committee, and is on the SAE Shared and Digital Mobility Committee. Greg is also a founding co-host of the Mobility Podcast.

Jonathan Ryder works as a Transportation planner with the Montgomery County Planning, Division of Countywide Planning and Policy. He has an undergraduate degree in geography/GIS from the University of Maryland in College Park and he has a Master’s of Urban and Regional Planning with a transportation focus from the University of New Orleans.

Founder and Chief Strategist, Rosy Owl Creative. Catherine Rytkonen has been utilizing social media, marketing and events to build strong, vibrant and connected communities for over a decade. She takes a unique and individualized approach to understand the intricacies of each community she works with: their small businesses, leadership and social outreach networks. She then implements thoughtful and creative ideas to inspire change, connect communities and create meaningful and progressive shifts.

Daniel Sams manages the PAMC (Planning Assistance to Municipalities and Communities) program with M-NCPPC’s Prince George’s County Planning Department, Community Planning Division.

Tina is a Senior Environmental Planner at the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission working to make communities in Montgomery County sustainable. Her present experience includes Smart Growth, carbon emissions assessments, transit-oriented development, STAR communities, site design, and environmental assessments.

Eileen Singleton, Principal Transportation Engineer, joined the Baltimore Metropolitan Council in 1998. Her work supports projects and committees that enhance the safety, security, reliability, efficiency, and equity of the region’s transportation network through the use of transportation system management and operations (TSMO) strategies and the congestion management process. Eileen is a member of the TRB Regional TSMO Committee and co-chair of its Resilient Emergency Transportation Operations Subcommittee. She is a graduate of the Operations Academy and the Maryland Climate Leadership Academy. Eileen is a registered Professional Engineer in Maryland.

Sheila is the Director of the Purple Line Corridor Coalition.  As Director, she mobilizes coalition partners to realize the vision of an equitable transit corridor.  She brings over fifteen years of experience in community organizing and engagement, specializing in economic strategy, social justice, affordable housing, neighborhood asset building and workforce development. She holds a Master’s of Urban Planning and Master’s of Public Health from the University of Michigan and a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Maryland, College Park.

As senior design principal of Shalom Baranes Associates, Robert Sponseller specializes in designing complex, mixed-use urban projects. Among his recent designs are CityMarket at O Street, 22 West, CityCenter DC apartments, Ritz Carlton Georgetown and redevelopment of the Fannie Mae headquarters. He focuses his efforts on designs that reconnect and restore sites to their neighborhoods, while embracing contemporary materials and aesthetic simplicity. He is active in public advocacy on issues such as contemporary design in historic districts, sustainable building practices and the incorporation of technology into design. He has served in a design review capacity for the DC Office of Planning and on numerous national design juries. He received a master of architecture degree from the University of Virginia and a bachelor of architecture degree from the University of Notre Dame.

Mussie is a Senior GIS Specialist in the Community Planning Division, Prince George’s County Planning Department, Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC). He provides support to a wide range of projects including sector and master planning. GIS analysis and mapping, data analysis and visualization and application development are some the tasks he enjoys. Prior to this assignment, he worked for four years with the State of Maryland as a GIS Specialist. He has a Master of Science degree in Geospatial Technologies from the University of Münster and is also a certified GIS Professional (GISP).

Kate is working as a Coastal Resilience Planner for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, working to advance community capacity to understand, plan for and advance preparedness related to flood hazards including nuisance flooding and sea level change. She promotes resiliency planning at a community and regional scale and delivers technical assistance for coastal management projects.

Mr. White is a Planner II with the Prince George’s Planning Department and prepares reports on subdivision and zoning applications to determine compliance with approved comprehensive plans. He is currently the community liaison for the Town of Upper Marlboro. He also was the Project Planner for the Town of Bladensburg Market Feasibility and Economic Analysis Study.

Jason Wright is an Associate Principal and Senior Project Architect at Hickok Cole with two decades experience designing, renovating, and constructing commercial and institutional buildings. Highly technical by nature, his specialty is focusing on detailing and how buildings are assembled to reinforce the design concept. Jason is an advocate for advancing building codes to support further progress and innovation in sustainable design and participates in the new code development process for The District of Columbia. Internally, Jason leads the firm’s Technology/AutoCAD and Quality Control Committees. Jason is a registered architect in Virginia and LEED AP B+C accredited. He is a member of AIA, DCBIA, and NFPA, as well as DCRA Technical Advisor Groups on Fire and Life Safety and Accessibility. Jason received his Bachelor of Architecture from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY in 2000 and a Bachelor of Building Science with a Psychology concentration earlier that year. Jason’s award-winning projects have been featured in a variety of design publications including retrofit, ArchitectureDC, Think Wood, and Bisnow. His most noteworthy projects include 80 M Street, DC’s first mass timber office renovation, Anthem Row at 700-800 K, and 1701 Rhode Island NW.