Featured Speakers

Chief Executive Officer | American Planning Association (APA)

Joel is CEO of the APA, a 40,000-member organization dedicated to creating healthy, prosperous communities for all. He works with the board of directors, volunteers, and staff to advance strategies that strengthen the planning profession and expand APA’s impact.

Director | Louisville Jefferson County Information Consortium

Trisha has over 30 years of leadership in information technology and geospatial technologies, with deep expertise in GIS, geospatial analysis, business intelligence, permitting systems, utilities, cartography, and mobile workforce solutions.

Senior Product Manager | Esri

Silvia is a product manager for ArcGIS Urban. She gathers requirements from users, manages the prioritization of the features that will be productized, and supports the development team in the evolution of ArcGIS Urban.

Director of Planning and Community Development | Esri

Keith has been a GIS professional since 1994. He has worked for planning and community development agencies at both regional and municipal levels. Prior to his current role, he was an account executive at Esri for 15 years, working with over 100 local governments.

GIS Manager | Cobb County Community Development Agency

Brad has been a GIS professional since 2005 with Cobb County government. He and his team work closely alongside the planning and zoning divisions to implement the most state-of-the-art resources in planning for Cobb County’s future.

Community Development Director | Cobb County, Georgia

Jessica leads a team of 125 professionals who provide planning, zoning, economic development, development review and inspections, erosion control, business licensing, and code enforcement services for her home county.

Partner and Cofounder | Houseal Lavigne

John has worked with hundreds of cities globally to solve complex urban planning challenges. He has received many prestigious national and state-level awards, such as the National Excellence Award from the American Planning Association.

Principal, Policy and Public Affairs | APA

Jason oversees public affairs programs for the APA. He is responsible for strategic outreach to decision-makers and influencers who interact with the planning profession and advancing the APA’s legislative and policy agenda.

Planning Director | Municipality of Princeton, New Jersey

Since joining the municipality in 2020, Justin has overseen the creation and adoption of Princeton’s first master plan overhaul in almost three decades. He is also currently overseeing a full zoning code rewrite for Princeton.

Strategic Storytelling Team | Esri

Madeline brings experience from both local government and the GIS industry. A former GIS planner with the Chester County Planning Commission, she’s now helps develop and deliver presentations, demos, and content for Esri conferences.

Faculty Consultant | NeighborWorks America

Sue’s planning career spans over four decades, with a focus on neighborhood revitalization and community-driven growth in Greensboro, North Carolina. An active leader in the APA, she previously served as president of the American Institute of Certified Planners.

Assistant City Manager | City of Anderson, South Carolina

Andrew supervises the City of Anderson’s economic development, planning, community development, parks and recreation, and capital project management functions. Prior to this role, he was the planning director for Columbia County, Georgia.

Senior GIS Specialist | Sherburne County, Minnesota

Jenna has 10 years of experience in spatial data management, mapping solutions, and GIS application development. She holds a degree in geography from the University of Wisconsin–River Falls, as well as a graduate certificate in GIS Programming.

Office Supervisor, Planning & Zoning Dept. | Sherburne County

Carrie’s professional background includes experience in postsecondary education administration, real estate investment and development, and more than seven years in her current role with Sherburne County.