The Federal Planning Division is proud to present the 2025 Annual Training Workshop program with the theme “Collaborative Planning for a Healthier Tomorrow” and more than 70 sessions.
View the full schedule with session and speaker details to plan the sessions you want to attend each day.
Angela Brooks, FAICP, is the Director of the Illinois office of the Corporation for Supportive Housing and the immediate past president of the American Planning Association (APA). She brings to the APA Federal Planning Division a unique and informed perspective on the future of Planning. She currently serves on the Chicago Board of Zoning Appeals, the Illinois Affordable Housing Advisory Commission, and is co-chair of the national Housing Supply Accelerator helping communities meet the housing needs of residents. Brooks is a native of Seattle and a graduate of Jackson State University, where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies, and the University of New Orleans, where she received a Master of Urban and Regional Planning. An active member of APA since graduate school, Brooks has held numerous leadership positions in the Housing and Community Development Division, Planning and the Black Community Division, Washington Chapter, and co-chair of the Housing Policy Guide. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and The Links, Incorporated.
Sue Schwartz, FAICP, is the Greensboro, North Carolina planning director, and current president of the American Planning Association (APA). As an active leader and former president of APA’s professional institute – the AICP Commission (2005-2007) – she is one of only six people who have held both offices in the organization’s history.
Schwartz holds a bachelor’s degree in geography and urban studies from the University of Pittsburgh and a master’s degree in geography from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She was inducted into the AICP College of Fellows in 2003, the profession’s highest honor bestowed upon a planner.
With over 40 years in the planning profession, Schwartz has witnessed significant shifts in community engagement and collaboration in today’s planning processes. In her new role as APA president, Schwartz aims to continue her focus on individual and professional resiliency, a theme that has been central to her career, and to further advance the organization’s role in advocating for zoning reform. Schwartz has dedicated her career to working with planners and using data for informed decision-making for communities. She has spoken at national and chapter conferences, bringing national attention to the work being done in Greensboro and showcasing the city’s planning department and its innovative approach.
Dr. Christopher Lemon will lead the Closing Keynote panel. Dr. Lemon is an emergency physician and thought leader working at the intersection of healthcare and Planetary Health, driving innovation and resilience in response to modern healthcare challenges, including the effects of extreme weather on communities worldwide. He co-chairs the Johns Hopkins Sustainability Leadership Council’s Healthcare Working Group. As the Faculty Director for Clinical Programs at the Johns Hopkins Institute for Planetary Health, he integrates Planetary Health into clinical education and healthcare operations.
Dr. Lemon’s work highlights the reciprocity between healthcare and other disciplines, fostering collaboration across policy, engineering, and education to develop transformative solutions that empower clinicians to lead in addressing global environmental challenges. He has presented on Planetary Health to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the Department of Defense, the Air Force, and academic medical centers, advocating for the integration of Planetary Health into strategy and practice. His efforts reflect a vision for healthcare systems that not only heal patients but also contribute to a livable future for all life on Earth.
Miguel A. Vazquez, FAICP, is an award-winning planner with 20+ years of experience in the public, private, and military sectors. As a planning and health integration expert at RUHS-Public Health, Miguel partners with diverse stakeholders to advance planning’s impact on health. His recognitions include the 2018 American Planning Association (APA) President’s Award, the 2020 APA California Distinguished Contribution Award, and the 2021 Dale Prize from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. In 2024, Miguel was inducted into the AICP College of Fellows, the highest honor the American Institute of Certified Planners bestows upon a member. Miguel holds a bachelor’s in Urban Studies and Planning from California State University, Northridge, and is pursuing a Master’s in Public Health at Johns Hopkins University as a Bloomberg American Health Initiative Fellow.
Sunny Wescott, Chief Meteorologist, Critical Infrastructure and Emergency
Response Operations. Ms. Wescott specializes in extreme weather events
impacting emergency response, supply chain, and critical infrastructure. During her time in the US Air Force as a Lead Meteorologist, Ms. Wescott trained on continental and oceanic weather as the Top Forecaster for her support region and is considered a
subject matter expert for multiple climatological events such as drought, subsidence,
wildfires, tropical cyclones, and winter storms. Ms. Wescott also graduated top of her
class for her degrees in Homeland Security Management, Public Safety Administration,
and Atmospheric Sciences. Ms. Wescott focuses on operational forecasting by
providing weather event impact reports for regions, sites, security, and key interdependencies such as energy and telecommunications before, during, and after
disasters.
The Mobile Tours below are available to register when you register for the Training Workshop. Make sure to select the tours you want now as they are limited to 50 people per tour and will sell out quickly.
TITLE: The Marshall Fire, Louisville and Superior, Colorado: Planning for Recovery!
DATE & TIME: Tuesday, 1 April 2025 from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm MT.
DESCRIPTION: The intersection of federal and local planning is rarely more evident than immediately following a natural disaster. Come learn about the relationship between federal and local planning roles during all phases of disaster recovery and planning through the experience of wildfire. This mobile tour will take you through the areas affected by Marshall Fire, which struck Boulder County, the Town of Superior, and the City of Louisville on December 30, 2021. The communities are deep into the recovery phase and have many lessons to share regarding disaster recovery, rebuilding, ongoing mitigation, and planning for the next disaster.
TRACT: Facilities Planning and Emergency Management & Preparedness
TITLE: The National Western Center: Master Planning a Year-Round Urban Hub for Food and Agriculture Discovery
DATE & TIME: Wednesday, 2 April 2025 from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm MT.
DESCRIPTION: A master plan envisioned by the City and County of Denver, Colorado State University System, the Western Stock Show Association, the Denver Museum of Nature & Science and History Colorado, the National Western Center Citizens Advisory Committee and outreach to the greater community. One of the largest projects in Denver, the National Western Center is a 2.2 million square foot campus designed to host innovation and research labs, farmers markets, international conferences, outdoor festivals, and everything in between. Take this tour and Explore a Year-Round hub of Events, Experience and Education!
TRACTS: Collaboration and Partnerships; Technology
TITLE: Flood Recovery Through Community Planning to Promote Resilience: The Resilient St. Vrain Project
DATE & TIME: Wednesday, 2 April 2025 from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm MT.
DESCRIPTION: The Resilient St. Vrain Project (RSVP) represents Longmont’s extensive, multi-year effort to fully restore the St. Vrain Greenway and improve the St. Vrain Creek channel to protect people, property, and infrastructure from future flood risk. The project began after Longmont experienced catastrophic flooding in September 2013. This project involved local, regional, state, and federal partners and built on many of the community wide planning efforts that were underway.
TRACTS: Collaboration and Partnerships
TITLE: The Tale of Two Cities: Brownfields Site Assessment Program – A Regional Approach
DESCRIPTION: The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) Brownfields Program is responsible for administering a $2,000,000 grant from the U.S EPA, with the City of Longmont to be applied towards environmental site assessments, regulated building materials surveys, and preparation of site cleanup/reuse plans for eligible public and privately owned properties. The area is also part of a FEMA flood recovery program. Collaboration and regional planning approaches are critical to success.
Tour #2
TITLE: Elevate Your Mind: Elevate Quantum may be the Largest Regional Consortium in America
DESCRIPTION: Tour Colorado’s only TechHub with Federal Labs. Elevate Quantum’s mission is to unite Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming to secure the Mountain West’s position as the global epicenter for Quantum development. Designated by the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration, Elevate Quantum seeks to solidify the region’s global leadership in quantum information technology (QIT) to enable progress in areas such as artificial intelligence, climate tech, and healthcare; and secure the Mountain West’s position as the global epicenter for QIT development and enhance U.S. economic and national security.
Tour #3
TITLE: Ride the Front Range: Past to Present – The Long-Term Vision of Connecting Colorado to New Mexico and Wyoming
DESCRIPTION: Take the 6 miles of commuter rail that transports riders from the historic center of Westminster to the dynamic Union Station Transit Center and hear about the Front Range Passenger Rail transportation solution – a new passenger train that will connect Front Range Coloradans to opportunities, adventure, and each other. Are you ready to leave delays and heavy traffic behind? Coloradans are too, so they’re planning for a future of safe, reliable, and climate-conscious travel, offering service from Fort Collins through Denver and south to Pueblo. The Front Range Passenger Rail (FRPR) intercity train service has the long-term vision of connecting Colorado to New Mexico and Wyoming.
Tour #4
TITLE: Weapons to Wildlife: Tour the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge
DESCRIPTION: With more than 330 species of animals and hundreds of species of native plants, the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge is one of the country’s few urban wildlife refuges. This now serene and nature-filled space is here because it was once a site for chemical weapon manufacturing.
Tour #5
TITLE: Delve into Denver: Trolley and Walking tour of 16th street mall, union station and other central Denver transportation-oriented locations.
DESCRIPTION: Downtown Denver is dominated by the 16th Street Mall, a pedestrian strip lined with gift shops, street food vendors and al fresco bars and restaurants. In the lively theater district, musicals, plays and concerts are staged at the Denver Performing Arts Complex. Nearby, the landmark Brown Palace Hotel offers weekly guided tours and is a popular spot for afternoon tea.
The Virtual Package Registration is now closed. If you registered for the Full or One Day Workshops or the Virtual Package, you should have received an email with a login to view the session recordings. Please contact info@fpdtrainingworkshop.com if you did not get the login email.
We hope to see you at the 2025 Training Workshop!
Sara C. Bronin was confirmed by unanimous consent by the United States Senate in December 2022 to serve as the 12th chair of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. A Mexican American, she is the first person of color to serve in this position.
Prior to her confirmation, Chair Bronin spent her career as a professor and public servant. Her interdisciplinary research in the areas of property, land use, historic preservation, and energy has focused on how law and policy can foster more equitable, sustainable, well-designed, and connected places. She has published five books and treatises and dozens of articles, book chapters, and shorter works on these topics. She also founded the National Zoning Atlas, which aims to translate and standardize information about how zoning regulates housing in around 30,000 jurisdictions nationally.
While chairing the ACHP, she is on leave from her tenured position at Cornell University, where she serves as Professor in the College of Architecture Art & Planning, Professor in the Rubacha Department of Real Estate, an Associate Faculty Member of the Law School, and a member of the Graduate Faculty in the Field of Architecture. At Cornell, she founded and directs the Legal Constructs Lab, serves as a faculty fellow of the Atkinson Center for Sustainability, and is an affiliate of the Cornell Center for Social Sciences. She has also held visiting positions at the Yale School of Architecture and the University of Pennsylvania Kleinman Center for Energy Policy.
Among other nonprofit service, she has served as an advisor to the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Sustainable Development Code, served on the board of Latinos in Heritage Conservation, and founded Desegregate Connecticut. In addition, she chaired Preservation Connecticut and led the nationally recognized efforts of the City of Hartford to draft and adopt a climate action plan, city plan, and zoning code overhaul. In addition, Chair Bronin has consulted for public and private entities, including on zoning reform, project construction, and litigation strategy.
Chair Bronin received a J.D. from Yale Law School, where she used her Harry S Truman Scholarship for Public Service. She received an M.Sc. in Economic and Social History from the University of Oxford, where she was a Rhodes Scholar. She received a B.Arch. and B.A. in the Plan II Liberal Arts Honors Program from the University of Texas at Austin.
Chair Bronin is a seventh-generation Texan, born and raised in and around Houston. She is the daughter of a public school teacher and civil engineer, and she grew up working in her grandparents’ Mexican restaurant.
As a Partner at FD Stonewater, Norman Dong plays a leading role within the firm’s third-party advisory and principal development platforms with a primary focus on federal, state and local government real estate transactions. As the former Commissioner of the GSA Public Buildings Service, Mr. Dong managed the nationwide asset management, design, construction, leasing, building management and disposal of approximately 372 million square feet of government-owned and leased space. In addition, Mr. Dong served as Acting Controller at Office of Management and Budget, where he was responsible for Federal real property management, and as Chief Financial Officer of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. In addition to his
Federal experience, Mr. Dong has held leadership positions at the state and local levels of government, including Deputy Mayor for Operations and City Administrator for the District of Columbia. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from Yale University and a Master’s degree from the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government.
Prior to her appointment as Director of the DC Office of Planning (OP), Anita Cozart served as Deputy Director of Community Planning and Design, her second tour of service at OP. In that role, Ms. Cozart oversaw OP’s work on neighborhood planning and urban design. Her teams have spearheaded the recent Comprehensive Plan update, commenced the next generation of neighborhood plans, and developed the Streets for People program to activate downtown public spaces and support economic recovery. As Director, Ms. Cozart looks forward to advancing implementation of the Comprehensive Plan, community plans, and zoning and preservation initiatives that support District goals around COVID-19 recovery, housing equity, resilience, civic resources and racial justice.
Ms. Cozart has a history of public sector work primarily focused on Washington, DC. She previously served at OP as a Neighborhood and Citywide Planner and Chief of Staff. Prior to her return to OP, she served as a managing director at PolicyLink, where she led place-based, equitable development initiatives in cities across the United States. She brings to her current work at OP a decade of experience utilizing a racial equity lens with community planning, housing, transportation and infrastructure policy.
Ms. Cozart holds a Master of City & Regional Planning from the University of California, Berkeley and a Bachelor of Science in Civil & Environmental Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh. She is a proud resident of Ward 5, where she lives with her spouse and children.
Elliot Doomes serves as the Commissioner of the Public Buildings Service at the U.S. General Services Administration.
As PBS Commissioner, he manages the nationwide asset management, design, construction, leasing, building management and disposal of approximately 360 million square feet of government-owned and leased space across the United States and six territories.
Doomes joined GSA as Regional Administrator for the National Capital Region in January 2023 after nearly 20 years of experience in the House of Representatives. In Congress, Doomes was the key liaison on GSA matters for both our House Authorizing and Appropriations Committees where his principal responsibility was to advise Committee Members on GSA’s real property activities.
Doomes began his career in the office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC). His signature staff work included passage of the Federal and District of Columbia Real Property Act of 2006, which executed a complicated land exchange between the District of Columbia, GSA, the National Park Service, and the Architect of the Capitol that has enabled hundreds of millions of dollars of economic development within the District of Columbia.
Doomes graduated from Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA, with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and earned a Juris Doctorate from the Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C.
Clark Mercer is Executive Director of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG). In this role, he is responsible for the nonprofit association’s overall administration, supporting the Board of Directors and policy committees, and representing COG before a variety of government, business, and other stakeholder organizations.
Mercer is an executive leader with more than 20 years of experience in the public, private, and civic sectors, including serving as a Chief of Staff to Virginia Governor Ralph Northam.
Born and raised in Alexandria, Virginia, Mercer received a Master of Public Policy degree from The George Washington University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale University.
| Monday, March 31, 2025 | |
| 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm | Exhibit Set Up |
| 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm | Opening Reception |
| Tuesday, April 1, 2025 | |
| 8:00 am – 9:00 am | Opening Keynote |
| 9:00 am – 5:40 pm | Breakout Sessions |
| 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm | Emerging Planner Mixer |
| Wednesday, April 2, 2025 | |
| 8:00 am – 5:40 pm | Breakout Sessions |
| 5:40 pm – 8:00 pm | Planning Awards Reception and Program |
| Thursday, April 3, 2025 | |
| 8:00 am – 11:30 am | Breakout Sessions |
| 11:30 am – 12:30 pm | Closing Keynote Panel |
APA Federal Planning Division
205 N Michigan Ave
Suite 1200
Chicago, IL 60601
