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2010 Chapter Officers
Lance H. Bernard, President In order to meet our member’s needs, the board will need to continue to address specific issues. These items include continuing education credits for certified planners; providing legislative updates and educational opportunities; outreach to members, students and citizen planners throughout the state; and providing social events. I feel I can provide the organization the leadership needed to help carryout these items. I’ve been a planner with Hoisington Koegler Group, Inc. (HKGi) since 2006. Prior to HKGi I started my planning career as a Transportation Planner in Anoka County. My background has been in transportation and I received a Community Development degree from St. Cloud State University. Outside of the “planning” world I enjoy hiking and camping with my wife Adrienne and if it’s baseball season you can usually find us at a Twins game. Mike Darrow, Vice President Secondly, I will work with the board and the legislative committee to increase our efforts at the State Capitol. We can all agree that there are many issues facing our towns, cities and counties throughout the state, my focus will be in ensure that our collective voice is at the table during important legislation activities at the Capitol. Finally, I want to work with the Board to ensure that the MnAPA remains solvent for years to come. I will work with members to ensure that our membership funds are being spent wisely in these difficult economic times. While I can't guarantee lower taxes, free health care or cheaper gas, I can ensure that the MnAPA Board of Directors makes sound financial decisions in the months and years ahead. I have been a planning consultant for several years working in towns, cities and counties throughout the Minnesota and the Upper Midwest. Since 2006, I have worked with Short Elliott Hendrickson as a project manager and planner. In addition to being a consultant, I have also taught planning classes at the University of Minnesota and Minnesota State University. Jean Coleman, Secretary There are two simple reasons why I ask you to elect me Secretary of the Minnesota Chapter of the APA. First, as co-chair of the Legislative Committee I have come to appreciate the unrealized potential for MnAPA to become a leader on planning issues in the State. As Secretary I will work with Chapter leadership to increase the status of planners in state-level policy discussions that directly impact our profession. I will work to initiate policy discussions rather than just react to discussions led by others who may not have good planning at heart. Second, believe it or not, I enjoy the coordination and recording responsibilities that are the core work of Secretary of the Board. I have served as secretary for two corporations and several boards so I am familiar with the scope of the responsibility. The secretary is critical to efficient meetings and reliable communication. It is important to have consistent and timely communication notifying board members of meetings, establishing agendas, summarizing meetings, and recording actions. Adam Fulton, AICP, Treasurer Adam has a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Design and a Master’s Degree in Urban and Regional Planning, both from the University of Minnesota. Adam never thought the course he took titled “financial management of non-profits” would be of much use – so this is a unique opportunity. At St. Louis Park, Adam works on a wide variety of development and redevelopment projects together with a healthy amount of current and long-range planning. Gina Mitchell, AICP, Metro District Director I appreciate the opportunity to fill this vacant position until the next election later this year. My interests in the position include providing a forum for planners to network with one another to share their expertise and experiences, as well as helping planners meet their educational needs. In addition to my responsibilities as District Director, I am co-chairing the 2009 State Planning Conference. Andy Gitzlaff, LEED, AP, Metro District Director
As Metro District Director, I plan to continue to build on my work with the Legislative Committee to ensure that the MnAPA general membership has a relevant voice in policy discussions taking place at the regional, state and federal level. I also believe that inter-agency and inter-disciplinary cooperation and collaboration just make “good planning sense.” I will work to connect metro planners together and with other professional organizations through both networking events and identifying project and initiative partnerships. I also intend to listen to individual planners about their professional interests and concerns in order to help better tailor future conference programs and sessions to the planning practitioner’s prospective. Thank you for the opportunity to represent you as a Metro District Director. Suzanne Rhees, AICP, Metro District Director
My experience includes over 20 years in community planning and zoning, with an emphasis on urban design and innovative development codes. Since moving to Minnesota in 1992, I have worked as a consultat with municipal and county goverment, nonprofits and neighborhood organizations throughout the state and sometimes as far afield as Wisconsin and Iowa. Currently, I am employed as a Senior Urban Planner in the Urban Design Studio at Cunningham Group Architecture in Minneapolis. I hold a Master's Degree in City and Regional Planning from the University of Pennsylvania. My residence in Minneapolis with husband, two teenagers, and three cats (which everyone agrees is one cat too many) and am an enthusiatic bicycle commuter, boulevard gardener, and player of traditional Irish music. This is an exciting time to be involved with the MnAPA. Since the National Conference this spring, interest in planning and engagement of planners in the organization seem to have reached a new level. I’ve been involved with the Chapter for as long as I’ve lived in Minnesota, as a newsletter editor, member of various committees, and most recently as committee co-chair for the national conference’s AICP Community Planning Workshop. I currently serve as secretary of the Legislative Committee, and am encouraged by the growing interest in establishing a role for the Chapter as a resource on all planning-related issues at the Legislature. As a district director, I would work on strengthening relationships between MnAPA and related organizations such as the U.S. Green Building Council chapter, MASLA, AIA and the CNU. I would also continue to work with the Legislative Committee and assist in organizing the annual conference and other training opportunities for members. As the author of various articles in local and national planning publications, I would continue to write for the newsletter and other publications on topics of interest to the profession. All that and the occasional happy hour or social event can continue to make MnAPA a more visible and vibrant organization! Anita Rasmussen, AICP, Central District Director Bruce Peterson, AICP, Southwest District Director During his tenure with the City of Willmar, Bruce led the City through a period of rapid growth with multiple, complex annexations. The focus of his department continues to be working to meet the residential, economic and social needs of a large region, while maintaining the attributes of a small city. Another challenge met and addressed was the cultural diversification of the community. Major development projects have included a new regional airport, the redevelopment of the former airport as an industrial park, the redevelopment of the regional treatment center as a technology campus, and numerous large scale residential, commercial, and institutional projects. As a MNAPA Board Member, Bruce is a voice for greater Minnesota planners. He served on the Board of the Minnesota Planning Association, an organization representing citizen planners, whose functions have now been absorbed by MNAPA. A special interest is educating rural staff and planning commissioners in the procedural, legal, and technical aspects of planning and land use regulation. Wayne T. Hurley, AICP - Northwest District Director Wayne began work as WCI's transportation planner in 1998. He is currently responsible for supervising all of WCI's planning activities, including the transportation planning, community development and GIS programs. Wayne graduated with Honors from St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, Minnesota with a Bachelors degree in Local and Urban Affairs. In addition to his duties at WCI, Wayne serves on the City of Fergus Falls Planning Commission, and has previously served on the City of Fergus Falls Heritage Preservation Commission and various city and school district committees. Wayne lives in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, with his wife and their two daughters. As Northwest District Director, Wayne's primary interests are to promote planning in Northwest Minnesota, to make the Chapter more accessible to MnAPA members in Greater Minnesota and to work towards increasing membership in the Northwest District. Charles Froseth, AICP, Northeast Director
Now, as to a statement of qualifications: I have over thirty years of experience in the planning field and hold a Master’s Degree in Community Planning from the University of Cincinnati. Currently, I am a Senior Planner with the City of Duluth, a position I have held since February, 1998 working in both the City’s Planning Division and Community Development Division. In addition, I have the AICP certification, and like some of you, am working hard to secure 32 credits before the end of the year. As for a statement on issues, Northeast Minnesota is an extremely diverse part of the state. It seems to me planners should tell the story of how planning and the planning process can benefit their community through the media and direct outreach. This is assistance MnAPA and the District Director should be able to provide on an as needed basis. As planners, we need to refresh old skills and develop new ones, as well. This can be done via our statewide conference, District Brown Bags, and electronic avenues as well. Minnesota APA has made measurable improvements in providing services to its members over the past two years. I strongly support previous improvements and will consider and support future improvements to MnAPA services. Finally, I appreciate the effort and time each of you do for planning and ask for your vote of support for the Northeast District Director position. Chris Moates, Southeast District Director
As Planning Director in District 6 for four years and previously as Senior Planner starting in 2001, I have established very good working relationships with the cities, counties and MPOs in southeastern Minnesota, as well as other stakeholders. I have ensured that a regional presence exists through the hosting of planner meetings in the Mn/DOT district headquarters offices in Rochester and making my staff available for informational outreach opportunities to planners, administrators, engineers and chambers of commerce. I have city, county, regional, and state planning background that includes transportation, land use, and social services. As Planning Director, I have managed a staff with expertise in program delivery, project management, development review, transit, GIS and traffic forecasting. I would like to increase membership in the Minnesota Chapter of APA in the Southeast District, at both the professional and elected and appointed official level. I would also like to increase the interest level in planning activities among our regional partners, not only for planners but also the administrators and engineers who delve into planning matters. I would also continue to work on professional development of planners and those interested in planning in the region through continuation of regional meetings, whether they are brown bag lunches or morning meetings. While transportation has been a key issue in the region, there are many other issues involving land use, zoning, historic preservation, redevelopment, etc., that our partners need to share. Finally, I will advocate for training opportunities within the region for AICP credit in an effort to assist those who are hard-pressed in meeting the minimum continuing education requirements, and I will work with others in MnAPA to try to have more opportunities closer to home to maintain their AICP. Cathy Waldhauser, Citizen Planner Director
I became involved in community planning because I was concerned about the future of older communities like Golden Valley and Minneapolis and the upper Midwest as a whole. I have been fortunate to be able to attend several MnAPA state conferences, as well as Brown Bag seminars and other planning-related seminars. Minnesota communities should continue to be models of healthy living, fulfilling employment, world-class education and environmental stewardship. Every successful community should be working to help a less successful neighbor. Citizen planners, with support from MnAPA, can be part of this effort. Cynthia Yuen, Student Director Although I am originally from Minnesota, I attended undergrad at Emory University in Atlanta, where I worked with several non-profits in the green-building consulting field as well as with the City of Atlanta in city planning and community revitalization efforts. These experiences exposed me to the inner workings of the planning field in Atlanta, and fueled my desire to attend graduate school in the same field. Additionally, my experiences as a high school and middle school teacher in Los Angeles have fine-tuned my communication and analytical skills. I believe that I should be elected to the position of Student Director, not only because of my strong communication skills, but also because I can bring another perspective to the table as I have primarily done planning work outside of Minnesota. Understanding and utilizing the strengths of another city's projects is just one way of enhancing the work that planners do in Minnesota. As I was involved in the planning field in Atlanta and have recently moved back to Minnesota for graduate school, I want to become involved with the MnAPA so that I can get to know the city again. Additionally, I believe that students should be exposed to the workings of the MnAPA because interacting with planners will not only teach them something new, but also expose them to new ideas and information, thus enhancing their professional education. As Student Director, I will work to improve the already-strong relationships that the MnAPA has with planning students so that they may take advantage of professional development options to further their careers. Lyssa Leitner, Student Representative
I feel that my experiences with multiple professional and student organizations as well as my professional career give me the skills to be a very successful MnAPA Student Director. I have extensive experience working in the landscape design field where I gained key knowledge of planning as it relates to the landscaped environment, as well as experience dealing with multiple stakeholders on a project. As an undergraduate student I was the President of the American Institute of Architecture Students and the secretary of the Interdisciplinary Transportation Student Organization. Both of these positions required me to link multiple disciplines and interests to enhance a common goal. I feel that these skills will be very beneficial in keeping contact strong, not just between the planning students at the Humphrey Institute, but also the students at both St. Cloud State and Mankato State University and the MnAPA. I believe that the relationship between professional organizations and students in any field is very important to the overall strength and continued growth of a profession. I saw this first hand as an undergraduate student at the University of Minnesota when I was a board member of the American Institute of Architects, Minnesota. I became the link between the profession and the students and was able to initiate relationships and events that benefited not only the students, but also the professionals. Students are the future of the profession and I feel that creating a strong bond between the two will continue to improve the planning profession not only through the MnAPA, but also throughout the larger planning community in the United States. Carolyn Braun, Past President Areas of special interest are housing, the environment, and urban design. While Carolyn is on the MnAPA Board she will concentrate on increasing involvement with citizen planners. When Carolyn is not at work she keeps busy writing and doing genealogy research. She is also busy teaching a course at St. Cloud State University.
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I’ve had the pleasure of volunteering with the Minnesota APA Chapter for the last five years on various boards, such as Conference Co-Chair in 2006 and Conference Advisor in 2007 and 2008. In the last two years I have dedicated my time as the Chapter’s Treasurer and the 2009 National Conference. Overall my experience with the Chapter has exposed me to many activities and planning functions. I feel this experience has given me the background necessary to continue to meet the needs of our members.
I am interested in the Vice President position within the MnAPA for several reasons. First, as co-chair of the MnAPA membership committee for the past two years, I understand
the importance of our members throughout the state. As Vice-President I will work to ensure that our members are kept abreast of planning issues and work with the Board to increase
our membership through promotion, advocacy and training.
Jean Coleman is In 1987, Jean received an M.A. in urban and regional planning and a J.D. from the University of Iowa. As a planner and attorney, Jean has
worked with local governments and state agencies in Minnesota for sixteen years as a policy advocate and zoning consultant. The current focus of her work is
better integration of natural resource information in land use decisions and improving land use codes. Jean particularly enjoys working with small cities and
counties throughout Minnesota. Jean serves as co-chair of the MnAPA Legislative Committee, as MnAPA representative to the Minnesota Shoreland Rules Update
Project Statewide External Advisory Committee, and has presented the legislative update at the state conference for the past three years. Before forming CR
Planning in 2003, Jean was a partner with Biko Associates and previously worked for the American Farmland Trust in Chicago and the Trust for Public Land in New York
City.
Adam is a planner for the City of St. Louis Park. As chapter treasurer Adam will work to ensure that the MnAPA organization continues to maintain an
effective and transparent budget to serve members. The MnAPA, as a non-profit organization, already provides an exceptional value to members –
and Adam will work to continue and expand upon that level of quality that members expect. Priorities as treasurer would include furthering the goal
of reaching out to citizen planners, working with the legislative committee to reach its goals and objectives for the organization, and, with the help of
the organization’s great volunteers, continue to provide a quality state-level conference each year.
I am a planner with Bolton & Menk, Inc. with over thirteen years of transportation and land use planning experience. Currently, I am responsible for leading public involvement and consensus building efforts, completing corridor and sub-area transportation studies, city and county transportation plans, environmental reviews, and airport planning and zoning projects. Clients I work with range from outstate and metro communities to counties and state agencies. Prior to joining Bolton & Menk, I worked in city and county government on urban and rural land use planning and zoning activities and transportation projects. I hold a Bachelors of Science degree from Minnesota State University Mankato and an AICP certification. 
Hello, my name is Andy Gitzlaff and I am a transportation planner with Washington County specializing in transitway planning and development. I graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in Urban Studies and Economics and began my career interning with the Cities of Maplewood and Hugo. I also worked as a consultant with Landform, where I was involved in planning projects in numerous communities across the metro and was able to gain a key understanding of the unique issues and opportunities faced by metro cities, townships and counties. I have been a member of MnAPA since 2005 and have become increasingly more involved in chapter activities over the past few years. I previously volunteered on both the State and National conference planning committees and more recently have taken an active role in the newly reenergized MnAPA Legislative Committee.
Bruce has served as Director of Planning and Development Services in Willmar
for over 21 years. Prior to that time he held a number of municipal, county,
and regional planning positions. Areas of specialization include growth
management, economic development, environmental planning, development design
and project management.
Wayne Hurley is the Planning Director for West Central Initiative (WCI), a regional
foundation that serves nine counties in west
central Minnesota. Following the dissolution of the Regional Development Commission in the region, WCI took on some of the planning
functions that the RDC used to perform.
Before I provide my statement of qualifications, I would like to take a moment to say a big thank you to Holly Butcher, current Northeast District Director, for her outstanding work and the leadership she has provided over the past years. Holly, thank you. 
I am the Planning Director for Mn/DOT District 6 in Rochester and currently on a one-year mobility assignment in St. Paul as the Assistant to the Transportation Ombudsman. My past planning experience includes work as a Senior Planner with the Metropolitan Council, Senior Planner for Mn/DOT District 6, Planner for Dakota County and Transportation Coordinator for the Welfare to Work Initiative in Dakota County. I have received a B.A. in geography from the University of Minnesota and a M.A. in Urban and Regional Studies from Mankato State University. Outside of work, I enjoy family time with my wife and son, meteorology, bicycling, traveling and coaching youth baseball.
I am a lifelong resident of Minnesota and owner of a landscape design company. I have over 30 years experience as an insurance executive, actuary and strategic planner. I have served on the Golden Valley Board of Zoning Appeals and currently serve as Vice Chair of the Planning Commission. My volunteer experiences include serving as a board member of the Golden Valley Historical Society, former board member and chair of the Finance Committee for Gustavus Adolphus College, volunteer and former board chair of the North Minneapolis chapter of the Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity. I am also a member of the MnAPA Citizen Planner Committee.
After being informed of the MnAPA Student Director Position by my professor, Carissa Schively Slotterback, I am submitting my interest in the
position. Currently, I am in my first year at the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs in the Masters of Urban and Regional Planning
Program, where I am concentrating in Housing and Community Development. Additionally, I plan to get my certificate in
Metropolitan Design from the University of Minnesota's Metropolitan Design Center.
My name is Lyssa Leitner and I am interested in becoming the Student Director of the Minnesota Chapter of the American Planning Association. I am a first year Master of Urban and Regional Planning student at the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs. It is my plan to use my undergraduate education in architecture and my master’s in education to become a leader in the transportation planning and design field. 
Carolyn is currently the Planning Director for the City of Anoka.
Carolyn lives in Princeton, where she was born and raised.
Carolyn has a B.A. in Local and Urban Affairs from St. Cloud State University and a M.P. from the Humphrey Institute. Carolyn
became interested in planning when she served as chair of a city planning commission.