Annual Report 2013
23
10
AICP
staff members
3
landscape
architects
1
licensed
architect
4
staff members
promoted in 2013
6
interns
Temple University community
and regional planning students
present
Aging in Place
Study.
A major part of the Montgomery County Planning Commission’s value to the
county is the proficiency and professionalism of our staff. The quality of our work
is a result of staff members who are knowledgeable about a variety of issues likely to
have an impact on the county and who have the exemplary communication skills
to thoroughly discuss them. To stay informed and current on emerging issues and
ideas, our staff participates in a variety of professional development and education
activities. Some of these activities are highlighted below:
•
Four staff members were promoted
in 2013. Mike Narcowich and Anne
Leavitt-Gruberger were promoted to Principal Planner. Dave Clifford and
Jon Lesher were promoted to Senior Planner.
•
Brian O’Leary served as president of the Pennsylvania Chapter of
the American Planning Association
for the second year. In his capacity
as president, he attended the 2013 American Planning Association
Conference in Chicago.
• Staff organized and attended
monthly seminars and webinars
on a
variety of emerging issues such as Complete Streets, Transit Oriented
Development, Managing Complex Relationships, and Reshaping Rural
Highways for Livability.
•
Wes Ratko qualified for AICP certification in 2013.
We now have 10
planners with AICP certification. Three staff members are certified through
the American Society of Landscape Architects, and one is a licensed architect.
• Throughout the year,
several staff members provided technical
presentations
at major seminars and conferences sponsored by the PA
chapter of the American Planning Association, PA State Association of
Township Supervisors, Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Institute
of Architects, the Montgomery County Bar Association, and various
state and regional organizations.
In 2013, we also had an opportunity to
share our planning knowledge and offer
first—hand experience to six interns
interested in a planning career. These
interns volunteered to assist our staff
with a variety of projects while honing
their own professional skills. Our 2013
interns were Lamar Arrington (Cheyney
University of Pennsylvania), Kristina
Frazier (University of Pennsylvania), Phillip
McBride (University of Pennsylvania), Ida
Qu (University of Pennsylvania), Ke Lin
(University of Pennsylvania), and Jennifer
Krouchick (Temple University). All of
their hard work was greatly appreciated.
