Develop data tools and resources that help Arizonans understand how we are doing on issues of highest importance while designing and deploying resources that help frame dialogue, set priorities and pursue action.

As director of the Sustainable Landscapes and Communities team within Sonoran Institute, we enjoyed a long heritage of helping communities throughout the Southwest to better adapt to growth and to responsibly benefit from economic opportunities. Today we are working to advance five broad goals that can have long-term benefit to the Phoenix, Tucson and Prescott regions: including using reclaimed water for riparian restoration, promoting healthier communities, regional landscape-level conservation, promoting responsible renewable energy development, and work on smarter infrastructure corridors.The program included the following projects:Santa Cruz River: Researching the benefit of riparian restoration using available reclaimed wastewater both upstream from Nogales and Tucson.Renewable Energy: Removing barriers to implementing a robust and sustainable utility-scale solar energy industry in Arizona.Landscape-level Mitigation: Evaluating the impacts of infrastructure development in western Arizona and modeling a program to mitigate unavoidable impacts.Interstate 11: Advancing a new model of infrastructure development that has a lower impact on the environment and brings a broader portfolio of benefits to local communities.Military Base Preservation: Raising awareness of the impacts of incompatible development on Arizona's military bases, especially relating to publicly-owned lands and natural resource-related encroachments.White Tank Mountains Conservancy: We were among the leaders of this landmark initiative that seeks to conserve over 60,000 acres of Sonoran Desert lands that are directly in the path of urban growth.Healthy and Livable Communities: We helped to establish the Arizona Alliance for Livable Communities which is educating the community about the importance of social and environmental determinants of health while advocating for livable communities and the use of Health Impact Assessments.

I directed major public lands conservation projects including a 950,000 acre legislative campaign to protect urban interface lands under flight corridors from Luke AFB. Additionally I collaborated with public agencies, stakeholders, and public/private entities to develop mutually beneficial outcomes on regional planning processes, new public policy approaches, and major regional infrastructure projects.Leadership (Team Leadership): Working with a coalition of partners, I led teams from a variety of organizations on conservation initiatives. I also guided a reorganization effort toward a team-oriented workflow process and established new programs in the company. I was also a public spokesperson for conservation efforts including stints on television and lectures at universities and colleges.Accomplishments: Over the past few years I have published several reports evaluating specific projects while integrating the voices of stakeholders and diverse interests. I also coordinated an extensive public outreach process to evaluate the impacts of organizational initiatives and to develop support for regional conservation projects. In my tenure I developed our first annual reports and organized new marketing efforts including a newsletter redesign.Application: My time at AWC has allowed me to practice extensive skills in leadership, teamwork, and public participation while learning about coalition building, cooperation, and organizational effectiveness. I have been able to share a lot of skills developed from previous jobs and education with this small non-profit organization which has been highly rewarding and refreshing.

After a layoff from Jacobs Engineering, I began working as a contractor for a large land developer with projects around the state. During this time I processed major zoning applications including a 6,000 acre Community Master Plan with the Town of Buckeye. I also represented the developer on regional transportation issues and coordinated with other developers and public agencies.Leadership: As a representative of my client I exercised extensive leadership while protecting his interests and ensuring the long-term viability of our projects. I worked with a coalition of other developers on major transportation issues while searching for consensus results. Accomplishments: I redesigned the entire 13,000 acre community in response to new policy changes at the Town of Buckeye while accommodating a new parkway alignment and natural gas transmission line. I also wrote and processed a Community Master Plan and engaged in a public outreach process on the project. Application: As a private consultant I learned important skills in business management, client relations, and how to work effectively with other competing interests. I also had the opportunity to learn first-hand how challenging it can be to navigate the municipal planning and permitting process—leading me to some new conclusions about the administration of municipal government and the regulatory environment.

Desiring a change from the public sector, I went to Jacobs Engineering (then Carter and Burgess) to practice as a planning consultant. At Jacobs I designed large master-planned communities as well as smaller commercial and residential communities. I also wrote Community Master Plans including one for a 6,000 acre project in Buckeye and a 2,000 acre community in Maricopa County.Leadership (Team Leadership): At Jacobs I had the privilege of leading several teams of engineers, landscape architects, draftsmen, and planners on large and complex projects. I also worked with stakeholders including regional planning, transportation, and municipal organizations to ensure compliance with regulations and policies. Accomplishments: I designed and wrote the master plan for two major communities totaling nearly 10,000 acres while leading and participating in several multi-disciplinary teams. Application: At Jacobs Engineering I blossomed in my overall skill and holistic understanding of the planning profession. While public sector experience is excellent, my time as a consultant brought a breadth of knowledge and skills that has proved invaluable to my career and outlook.

As my first job out of college, I was privileged to have a “trial by fire” as a planner for the Town of Buckeye. Immediately upon my arrival, I began administering the Development Code and General Plan as I reviewed and processed hundreds of different development applications. I also did long-range planning, interfaced with a variety of Town departments, and led a number of special projects throughout the municipality.Leadership (6 Direct Reports): In my first year at the Town and in an interim management position, I hired and trained six employees while developing a collegial and stress-friendly work environment after the senior staff left the organization. I also integrated into a variety of other Town departments to integrate a planner’s unique perspective into a variety of Town projects. Accomplishments: I administered several revisions to the Development Code as well as multiple General Plan Amendments while processing numerous development applications. I recruited and guided several junior staff members; supervised their daily activities and provided leadership in a highly stressful environment. Application: As a leaping-off point in my career, the Town of Buckeye provided an excellent primer on municipal planning, regulation, and management that could be replicated nowhere else. As one of the busiest and most challenging planning departments anywhere, I gained an extraordinary amount of knowledge and experience in planning and municipal government while demonstrating excellent leadership skills and my ability to be a fast learner and excel in the most challenging of settings.