Presenter Bios

PRESENTER BIOS PLENARY SPEAKERS Charles Marohn- Founder and President, Strong Towns Charles Marohn is the Founder and President of Strong Towns. He's a Professional Engineer (PE) licensed in the State of Minnesota and a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP). Marohn has a bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Minnesota's Institute of Technology and a Master of Urban and Regional Planning degree from the University of Minnesota's Humphrey Institute. Marohn is the lead author of Thoughts on Building Strong Towns — Volume 1, Volume 2 and Volume 3 — as well as the author of A World Class Transportation System. He hosts the Strong Towns Podcast and is a primary writer for Strong Towns’ web content. He has presented Strong Towns concepts in hundreds of cities and towns across North America and in 2017 was named one of the 10 Most Influential Urbanists of all time by Planetizen. Ellen Dunham-Jones- Director of the Urban Design Program, Georgia Tech Ellen is Director of the Master of Science in Urban Design degree, an authority on sustainable suburban redevelopment, and a leading urbanist. Author of over 60 articles linking contemporary theory and practice, she is co-author with June Williamson of Retrofitting Suburbia: Urban Design Solutions for Redesigning Suburbs, (Wiley, 2009, 2011). Its documentation of successful retrofits of aging big box stores, malls, and office parks into healthier and more sustainable places received a PROSE award as the best architecture and urban planning book of 2009 and has been featured in The New York Times, Time Magazine, Harvard Business Review, NPR, PBS, TED and other prominent venues. She serves on several national boards and committees, is former Chair of the Board of the Congress for the New Urbanism, lectures widely and conducts community workshops. Nisha Botchwey, PhD, MCRP, MPH, Associate Professor of City and Regional Planning- Georgia Tech Botchwey is an Associate Professor of City and Regional Planning at the Georgia Institute of Technology and an adjunct professor in Emory University’s School of Public Health. An expert in health and the built environment as well as community engagement, she holds graduate degrees in both urban planning and public health. Dr. Botchwey co-directs the National Physical Activity Research Center, PARC, both the Atlanta Neighborhood Quality of Life and Health Dashboard and the data dashboard for Health, Environment and Livability for Fulton County, and directs the Built Environment and Public Health Clearinghouse. Dr. Botchwey has won distinctions including an NSF ADVANCE Woman of Excellence Faculty Award, a Hesburgh Award Teaching Fellowship from Georgia Tech and the Georgia Power Professor of Excellence Award, a Rockefeller-Penn Fellowship from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Nursing and a Nominated Changemaker by the Obama White House’ Council on Women and Girls. She has also served on the Advisory Committee to the Director for the Centers of Disease Control Prevention, is a Social Sciences Panel Member for the Ford Foundation’s Fellowship Program, and member of the Voices for Healthy Kids Strategic Advisory Committee for the American Heart Association. BREAKOUT SESSION PRESENTERS Aaron Fortner, Owner Aaron has 20+ years of experience in community planning and design, Aaron works with neighborhoods, local governments, and organizations to create vibrant and sustainable communities. His skill set covers master planning, corridor planning, urban design, land use and zoning, community engagement and community branding. His true passion is in helping communities discover their truest competitive advantage - that unique identity that each community possesses which enables it to stand out amongst the competition. Aaron resides in Atlanta, GA with his wife and 2 children. Aileen Daney, Senior Planner, Transportation Access and Mobility- Atlanta Regional Commission Aileen Daney is a Senior Planner with the Atlanta Regional Commission’s Transportation Access and Mobility Group. Along with her talented peers, she leads ARC’s safety, equity, and performance measures analyses. Her background is in active transportation planning and design with emphases on equity and health. Aileen is motivated by a deep commitment to advance walking, bicycling, and transit as safe, enjoyable, equitable, and accessible means of transportation. Andrew Heath- State Traffic Engineer, GDOT Andrew Heath joined the Georgia Department of Transportation in 2008. He has held numerous positions within the Department including within the Office of Planning, Executive Assistant to the Chief Engineer, and, most recently, as State Traffic Engineer within the Division of Operations. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from Auburn University in Civil Engineering and is a licensed professional engineer in the State of Georgia. Ann Abramowitz- Decatur Active Living Board, City of Decatur Ann is co-chair to the Decatur Active Living Board. In her professional life, Ann is a Psychology Professor at Emory University and works as Chief of Staff to a state legislator. Ann is an avid walker in Decatur. Beth Tucker- Urban Planner/Designer, Kimley-Horn Beth Tucker has worked for Kimley-Horn for six years, specializing in connecting and integrating land use patterns and urban design principles with transportation infrastructure to create great places. She also focuses on developing robust but scalable public engagement programs as well as designing targeted branding, communications, and marketing campaigns for planning efforts. Beth earned her Bachelor of Arts in English and Masters of Urban Environmental Planning + Design from the University of Georgia. Britt Storck- Principal, Alta Planning + Design Britt is a professional landscape architect with a background in natural resource-based recreation projects, greenway and trail design, and active community design and planning. Britt is Alta’s Atlanta office leader, greenway and trail expert, and NICP CPTED professional. With over 13 years in practice, she has managed projects across the nation and cultivated an instinctual understanding of the complexities associated with design of open spaces and public trails in all landscapes. She approaches her work with the belief that each project provides the opportunity for community to activate, transforming its health, stimulating its economy, and boosting overall quality of life of its people. Byron Rushing- Bicycling & Walking Program Manager- Atlanta Regional Commission Byron Rushing is a planner at the Atlanta Regional Commission focusing on walking, bicycling, trails, and livable communities. He has degrees from Georgia Tech and Vanderbilt University and is the past president of the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals. Most of his walking and biking trips are with his wife and two children. Caleb Racicot- Senior Principal, TSW Caleb is a community planner specializing in the interdisciplinary fields of place making, outreach and consensus building, master plans, and development regulations. He has practiced in both rural and urban areas, and understands the central role of the consultant as listener and facilitator. Caleb has worked in both the public and private sector, which provides him with a unique appreciation for the role that government, the private sector, and citizens play in shaping communities. He holds a Master of City and Regional Planning from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Caleb is an avid urbanist, and has not owned a car since moving to Downtown Atlanta in 1997. Carla Harris, Director of Volunteer Support- GirlTrek Carla has a heart to serve and lives by Dr. Martin Luther King's quote, "Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?' Before joining the GirlTrek National team where she is currently the Director of Volunteer Support, she volunteered for over a year as City Captain for GirlTrek Atlanta where she inspired a city-wide takeover, and led the growth of the city by hosting hikes in the Stone Mountain area, and inspiring women all over Georgia to be change-makers and health advocates in their communities by leading hikes and walks. Cate Kitchen, Downtown Manager- City of Norcross After graduating from the University of Georgia with a Master’s degree in Vocational Rehabilitation and Counseling, Cate Kitchen made Atlanta her home. Through the writing of the book, “Norcross,” Cate became immersed in the rich history of Norcross. She has made many new friends through her work with the City and has enjoyed the experience immensely. Her duties have grown to include the Norcross Cultural Arts & Community Center, The Rectory and the position of Downtown Manager. Cate coordinates many cultural and historical events and activities that draw interest to Cultural Arts in Norcross. Charletta Wilson Jacks, Mayor’s Deputy Chief of Staff Charletta Wilson Jacks is Deputy Chief of Staff for Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottom, where she focuses on policy and legislation. Prior to this appointment, Ms. Jacks served as Director of the Atlanta Office of Zoning and Development, overseeing transportation, historic preservation and strategic planning, geographic information systems services and zoning and development review. Ms. Jacks was also appointed as the first female African-American to serve as Zoning Administrator for the City of Atlanta. Chris McIntosh- Urban Planner II, City of Atlanta, Department of City Planning Chris McIntosh is an Urban Planner in the City of Atlanta’s Department

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