Our 2018 Convention done in conjunction with the Michigan Association of Planning in Grand Rapids was a huge success. We had more than 1,000 attendees learning about everything from municipal finance to social media to urban planning. Below is a list of presentations given during the Convention.
Click here to view photos from the 2018 Convention.
2018 Convention Presentations
Click on the speaker’s name to download their presentation.
General Sessions
Empowering Communities to Set Their Own Destinies
The New Localism: Utilizing Public, Private, and Civic Partnerships to Become a Change Engine
Civic Engagement Strategy: Inclusivity for the Win
Breakout Sessions
Thurs., Sept. 20
HR Up in Smoke: The Intersection Between Marijuana Legalization and Employment Law
Hit Them With Your Best Shot: Attracting Businesses and Developers
RFPs: Finding the Perfect Fit
- Bradley Strader, AICP, PTP, MKSK
- Sarah Traxler, AICP, NCI, Vice President, McKenna
- Carmine Avantini, AICP, President, CIP Planning, Inc.
- John Enos, AICP, Partner, Carlisle | Wortman Associates, Inc.
MOBILE WORKSHOP: Envision Ada – Transforming a Suburban Strip Commercial Center into an Integral Part of an Historic Village
- Jim Ferro, AICP, Ada Township
- Pete Lazdins, ASLA, Progressive AE
- Steve Groenenboom, P.E., Moore and Bruggink, Inc.
Fri., Sept. 21
Tactical Innovation for Small and Rural Towns
CNU Rules for Great Places: The Project for Code Reform
- Richard Murphy, AICP, Program Coordinator, Civic Innovations, Michigan Municipal League
- Mary Madden, AICP, Principal, Ferrell Madden
- Heather Seyfarth, AICP, Community Engagement Specialist, Ann Arbor; VP, Michigan Association of Planning
- Brett Hanlon, AICP, MEDC
- Mallory Baches, AICP, LEED-AP, CNU-A Congress for the New Urbanism
Fostering an Inclusive Community
Hosted by the Michigan Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials (MBC-LEO)
- Oronde Miller, Program Officer, W.K. Kellogg Foundation
- Stacy Stout, Assistant to the City Manager, Grand Rapids
- Howard Walters, Program and Evaluation Officer, W.K. Kellogg Foundation
From Bills to the Ballot Box – Legislative Insights from the League’s Lobbying Team
- Chris Hackbarth, Director, State and Federal Affairs, Michigan Municipal League
- John LaMacchia, Assistant Director, State and Federal Affairs, Michigan Municipal League
- Jennifer Rigterink, Legislative Associate, Michigan Municipal League
Social Media Pitfalls and Upsides for Communities
- Matt Bach, Director of Communications, Michigan Municipal League
- Jim Thorburn, Detective/Social Media Director, Allen Park Police Department
Improving the Tone and Quality of Our Civic Discourse
- John Bebow, President & CEO, The Center for Michigan/Bridge Magazine
- Melanie Piana, Councilmember, Ferndale; Vice President, Michigan Municipal League Board
- Civic Discourse in Michigan: Insights from Local Leaders – Preliminary Findings from the Michigan Public Policy Survey
Master Planning: The Critical Role of Elected Leaders and the Planning Commission
- Chris McLeod, AICP, City Planner, Sterling Heights
- Gerald (Jerry) Rowe, Sterling Heights Planning Commissioner
- Mark Vanderpool, City Manager, Sterling Heights
- Adam Young, AICP, Senior Project Manager, Wade Trim
Smart, Accessible, Connected
- Kelly Bartlett, Senior Policy and Legislative Advisor, Michigan Department of Transportation
- Zahra Bahrani Fard, Transportation Systems Analyst, Center for Automotive Research
- Dr. Jonathan Levine, Professor of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Michigan
We Need More Parking! (But Do We Really?)
- Tom Brown, Principal, Nelson\Nygaard
- Bradley Strader, AICP, PTP, Transportation Planner, MKSK
- Nicole VanNess, Manager, Traverse City DDA
Leading Change vs Managing Change
Ten Ways a Zoning Ordinance Discourages Quality Development, Part Two
- Christopher Khorey, AICP, Principal Planner/West Michigan Manager, McKenna
- Patrick Sloan, AICP, Senior Principal Planner, McKenna
The Sky’s the Limit: Big Data, Drones, and the Internet of Things
- Daniel Brooks, Co-Founder, Quantifly
- Adrianna Jordan, AICP, Co-Founder, Quantifly
- Zachary Halberd, Co-Founder, Quantifly
Sat., Sept. 22
Elected Officials Academy 101
- Marlon Brown, Mayor Pro Tem, Mason
- Sandra Howland, Commissioner, Walker
- Kelly Warren, Director, Membership & Affiliate Engagement
It’s Budget Time. Do you Know Where Your Revenue Is?
- Jacob Kain, City Planner, Mount Pleasant
- Richard Murphy, Program Coordinator, Civic Innovations, Michigan Municipal League
- Ellis Seide, Assistant to the City Manager, East Lansing
Approaches to Resilience in Michigan: A New Way Forward
- Jeffrey Andresen, PhD, Professor and State Climatologist for Michigan, Michigan State University
- Claire Karner, AICP, Associate Planner, Beckett & Raeder, Inc.
- Emily Rhodes, Community Specialist, Delta Institute
MOBILE WORKSHOP: Farmers Markets and Food Halls as Catalysts for Business and Real Estate Development
- Mark Miller, AIC AICP, Managing Director of Planning & Design, Downtown Grand Rapids, Inc.
- Ted Lott, AIA, Principal, Lott3Metz Architecture