FIRST WORD

FIRST WORD

Eric Anderson, AICP

Hello Ohio Planners! As summer comes to an end, I hope you all were able to spend time with friends and family and recharge your batteries with some sun and fun. We’ve got a lot of great things going on in Ohio, and APA has all the education and networking opportunities to keep your skills sharp and your connections alive!

Congratulations to our new AICPs! APA Ohio is proud to welcome the following members to the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP): James Lenner, Caroyln Thurman, Mark Boswell Marissa Bechstein, Nicholas Eastham, Matthew Snow, Conor Willis, Anna Kelsey, Luke Orednik, Marc Rostan, Ella Donley, Agigail Sara, Emily Hays, Letitia Cetina and Jacob Miller.

2023 Annual Report. What a year! We gave out $5,000 in scholarships to students, held local education workshops in four cities, increased sponsorship levels to fund chapter events, and advocated for state and local policies that promote planners and the profession. Read the report here: ohioplanning.org/annualreport.

Chapter Strategic Plan Update. Your APA Ohio board is working to update the chapter’s strategic plan. We’ll be focusing our efforts, offering improved local education and social activities, and helping policymakers understand the value of planning. Watch out for the updated Strategic Plan later this year.

Housing Supply Accelerator Playbook. APA’s Housing Supply Accelerator Playbook is for local elected officials and community planners working to boost diverse, attainable, and equitable housing supply in communities nationwide. Get the playbook now: planning.org/housing-supply-accelerator.

IT’S BACK! The OKI Regional Planning Conference will be hosted in Ft Wayne, Indiana. Registration is now open. Don't miss out on this opportunity to exchange ideas and best practices and network with industry leaders. APA Ohio Members should use the code OH2024 when registering to receive the member discount! Visit www.oki2024. com for more information.

Central Ohio Planning & Zoning Workshop. Friday, October 11, 2024 at Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio. Now accepting session proposals until September 13! Learn more at www.ohioplanning. org/centralohioworkshop.

Northwest Ohio Planning & Zoning Workshop. Save the Date! November 15, 2024 in Bowling Green, Ohio.

Miami Valley Planning & Zoning Workshop. Save the Date! December 6, 2024 in Dayton, Ohio.

As always, please do not hesitate to reach out to me directly at any time to learn more about how APA can help you as a planner in Ohio. You can reach me directly at eric.anderson@kzf.com.

Eric Anderson, AICP, is the Director of Planning Services at KZF Design in Cincinnati and APA Ohio President. He can be reached at eric.anderson@kzf.com