Aaron Westling Email & Phone Number

Madison, Wisconsin, United States

Madison, Wisconsin, United States

• Conceived, secured funding for, and now lead the Mayors Institute on Pedestrian Safety, a partnership between the Mayors Innovation Project, AARP Livable Communities and Smart Growth America to help a cohort of nine mayors from across the country create communities that are safe, vibrant, and equitable for people of all ages. • Conducted research for and co-wrote a Transportation Research Synthesis for the Minnesota Department of Transportation with the aim of understanding current initiatives, opportunities, and challenges experienced by local communities throughout Minnesota regarding efforts to reduce VMT and improve multimodal accessibility• Coordinated logistics and handled all communications for a transportation focused climate policy cohort in partnership with NRDC. The cohort was designed to challenge traditional paradigms on how federal and state infrastructure funds are spent and accelerate actions and policies that promote affordable, healthy, and low-carbon transportation solutions.• Secured funding to continue and currently lead the Mayors Innovation Project’s water affordability efforts including planning and executing virtual community of practice events to help mayors, utility leaders, and city staff create affordable, efficient, resilient, and equitable water systems.•Led the Mayors Innovative Design Cohort, a partnership with The American Institute of Architects (AIA) to help mayors build zero-carbon, resilient, healthy, and equitable cities.• Created original content for the State Smart Transportation Initiative’s blog including pieces focused on parking policy, pedestrian safety, zoning reform, and transit funding.•

• Managed Brand and Communications – coordinated cohesive messaging across channels; follow communication standards and annual editorial calendar; generate original content; maintain website and social media accounts; secure consistent positive earned media coverage for Central Eastside and its members.• Marketed and Promoted District – promoted Central Eastside activities, events, businesses, identity and economic impact; continue ongoing marketing campaigns for shopping local and sidewalk and transportation management services; attend business district events; work with external partners including Prosper Portland, Travel Portland, Travel Oregon and Venture Portland to promote district.•Published Newsletter – write and produce monthly photo-rich e-newsletter and as needed district alerts; grow newsletter subscriber list and ensure all stakeholders receive communications; assess subscriber/readership metrics and trends.•Managed Community Engagement Events – ensured all community engagement activities engage the district’s diverse stakeholders and volunteers: annual membership campaign launch, monthly volunteer clean-ups, and September member networking event, among others.

Portland, Oregon Area

• Supported project management, collaborative problem solving, strategic planning, public outreach and engagement, and communications processes with private sector and public agency clients for community development, transportation, and environmental projects.• Led document production, coordination, and logistics for multi-party facilitation and stakeholder engagement processes including the I-5 Interstate Bridge Replacement Program. • Developed and executed strategic communications plans and strategies and craft meaningful messaging and content for The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s effort to cap and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. • Conducted proactive business development, including proposal strategy and development.

Client: Mobility Development Partners • Researched and distilled information for the Los Angeles Department of Transportation to support their shared mobility RFI process.• Compiled and mapped census data to determine preferred site locations for Miocar, an electric car share program in the San Joaquin Valley in California.• Supported site selection and other operations of E-Rive, a company that makes electric vehicles available to ridehail drivers.• Lead research to inform a response to the Clean Mobility in Schools Pilot Project grant solicitation provided by the California Air Resources Board.Client: Brink Communications • Synthesized progressive parking policy best practices for Central Atlanta Progress to aid the creation of their transportation policy agenda.

Greater Chicago Area

• Coordinated stakeholder interviews and background research to help create a shared mobility action plan for the Twin Cities region. Provided content and editing to the final plan document and presented findings to community partners in the public, private, and non-profit sectors.• Developed relationships with stakeholders throughout the Twin Cities to implement the goals of the shared mobility action plan including reducing car ownership and the costs and environmental impacts of mobility, and ensuring that low-income populations and neighborhoods benefit from an expanding menu of mobility options.• Managed research and phone interviews with Federal Transit Administration grantees and organized site visits with public, private, and non-profit stakeholders around the country. Launched an online collaboration platform allowing grantees to share documents, advice, and lessons learned.• Co-wrote a business plan for a rural ride-sharing organization in the Central Valley of California designed to transport farmworkers to and from medical appointments.• Updated and maintained the Shared-Use Mobility Center’s Policy Database with best practice shared mobility strategies from around the country.

The Shared-Use Mobility Center (SUMC) is a public-interest organization working to foster collaboration in shared mobility (including bikesharing, carsharing, ridesharing and more) and help connect the growing industry with transit agencies, cities and communities across the nation. Through piloting programs, conducting new research and providing advice and expertise to cities and regions, SUMC hopes to extend the benefits of shared mobility for all.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

• Conducted research and created policy content on topics including public transportation, affordable housing, and transit-oriented development• Communicated with and recruited members of the Local Leaders Council, a national organization of elected officials dedicated to smart growth policies• Organized the Local Leaders Council’s annual conference by setting agenda items, coordinating member attendance and creating marketing materials

Greater Milwaukee Area

• Underwrote multifamily development projects throughout Wisconsin• Researched and utilized state distributed low income housing tax credits• Worked with architects to develop feasible project designs with positive community impacts

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

• Participated in the day-to-day operations of a newly launched bikeshare program• Supported marketing and operations efforts, including event staffing, site selection and installation, and customer service• Researched and responded to RFQ’s from local municipalities

• Executed content creation for the Fundrise education section and blog• Worked with the Design, Development, and Engineering teams to develop and produce assets for a variety of media

New York, New York

• Identified key decision-makers at target companies and conducted email and phone outreach• Drove long-term revenue growth by laying the foundation for strong, long-lasting relationships• Developed excellent interpersonal skills through constant communication with executive level developers as well as national tenants in New York City

Master Of Public Policy - Mpp, Minor: Urban And Regional Planning

Bachelor Of Arts (B.A.), Economics And Political Science