2011 Chapter Officers

Lance H. Bernard, President

APA Minnesota President, Lance Bernard has served on the APA MN board since 2006 as a conference chair and Treasurer. In 2009, he was elected as president and currently serving a second term. Lance has eight years of experience as a professional planner. He has worked for Anoka County, the Minnesota Department of Health and as a private consultant. Lance recently joined SRF Consulting Group, Inc. as an Associate in their Transportation Planning group. With a broad portfolio of planning experience, Lance brings a passion for community and transportation planning. His experience includes comprehensive planning, expertise in transit oriented development (TOD) and land use principles. In recent years, Lance has helped bridge the gap between planning and public health by using Health Impact Assessments (HIAs). HIAs are commonly defined as a process used to evaluate plans, policies and programs from a public health perspective.

Trisha Rosenfeld, Vice-President

Trisha's involvement with APA Minnesota includes the 2009 Co-Chair for the Annual Planning Conference. Until December 2010, and she was the APA Minnesota Webmaven for approximately two years.

Trisha is honored to serve as the Vice President of the APA Minnesota organization to continue her involvement with the organization. While both of her previous roles with the organization having concluded, it is important to her to be integral in the planning issues that affect the planners of Minnesota. Having previously been involved directly with the organization’s website, her experience would lend itself to fit well with this position’s roles. She is also committed to aiding to the decisions that affect Minnesota planners, while helping to obtain the necessary legalities in order to perform the job as planners with the appropriate tools.

Trisha Rosenfeld has been the Community Development Director with the City of Belle Plaine for nearly five years. Prior to working for the City of Belle Plaine, Trisha was employed by Greater Mankato Growth to assist with the coordination of the regional planning effort, Envision 2020. Trisha has her Master’s degree from the Urban and Regional Studies Institute at Minnesota State University-Mankato, with a focus in Management and Planning. Her undergraduate degree is in Marketing and Speech Communications. Prior to her career in community development and receiving her Master’s degree, Trisha worked in marketing for the private sector. Trisha serves on the education and legislative committees for EDAM, was the co-chair of the APA-MN annual conference in 2009 and also served as the web maven for APA-MN for nearly two years.

Jean Coleman, Secretary

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 APA Minnesota Legislative Committee, as APA Minnesota 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.

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 APA Minnesota 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 is a planner for the City of St. Louis Park.  As chapter treasurer Adam will work to ensure that the APA Minnesota organization continues to maintain an effective and transparent budget to serve members.  The APA Minnesota, 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.

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.

Bryan Gadow, AICP
Metro District Director

Thank you for the opportunity to run for one of the Metro District Director positions. For those you do not know me, I am the City Planner for the City of Wayzata, where I specialize in land use, zoning, and historic preservation planning. Prior to joining the City of Wayzata in 2007, I worked as a Planning Intern for the City of Golden Valley, and served as an L.P. Cookingham Municipal Management Fellow for the City of Kansas City, MO. I have a Masters Degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the Humphrey Institute at the University of Minnesota, and a Master of Public Affairs in City Management and Urban Policy and a Bachelors degree in political science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

I first became involved in APA MN in 2008 serving on the events committee for the State Planning Conference in Duluth. I also had the privilege of serving as a co-chair of the 2010 State Planning Conference in Mankato, where I worked with great volunteers to put together a fun and educational conference.

My interests in serving on the Board are to continue to strengthen partnerships between APA MN and other organizations, including the Association of Minnesota Counties and the Association of Metropolitan Municipalities. In addition, there are also opportunities to enhance our networking efforts to provide planners with avenues to learn about the unique and exciting work that is occurring around the state. Finally, I strongly believe that one of our most important directives is to provide high quality educational opportunities for our members.

Andy Gitzlaff, LEED, AP, Metro District Director

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 APA Minnesota 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 APA Minnesota Legislative Committee.

As Metro District Director, I plan to continue to build on my work with the Legislative Committee to ensure that the APA Minnesota 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 APA Minnesota. 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 APA Minnesota 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 APA Minnesota a more visible and vibrant organization!

Crystal Paumen, AICP, Central District Director

Crystal is currently the Senior Planner in the City of Watertown. Prior to coming to Watertown in 2006, she worked in economic development in the City of Hutchinson and planning in the cities of Jordan and Sauk Rapids. She graduated with honors from St. Cloud State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Community Development.

Crystal has been actively involved as a member of APA Minnesota and has participated in several committees including conference program committee for several years. She was appointed to the Board in 2001 as the Central District Director. The Chapter has taken great strides to offer members more opportunities to be engaged, informed, and educated through website updates, blogs, newsletters, legislation initiatives and training opportunities. Crystal appreciates the opportunity to serve and looks forward to continuing to be part of the Board as we take proactive steps in the coming years.

While on the Board in the next two years, Crystal would like to focus on increasing partnerships with St. Cloud State University and other key entities, offering diverse education/training opportunities for professional planners as well as citizen planners, and provide available opportunities for ongoing certification maintenance credits within the district. As the planning profession continues to change, we too as planners must change. APA Minnesota together with the Board can provide ways to “Ride the Waves of Change” as the most recent state conference was titled. As a board member, Crystal will continue to strive for innovative opportunities that meet the needs of the members, ways to network, and learn how others address the changing climate in the profession.

Bruce Peterson, AICP, Southwest District Director

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.

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 APA Minnesota 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 APA Minnesota. 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 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.

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 APA Minnesota members in Greater Minnesota and to work towards increasing membership in the Northwest District.

James Gittemeier, Senior Planner, AICP
Duluth-Superior Metropolitan Interstate Council

I have been an urban planner for nearly ten years, seven of which have been working at the Arrowhead Regional Development Commission (ARDC) on transportation planning issues. I have a Masters of Urban Planning degree from the University of Kansas. I have worked as a planning intern for the City of Chesterfield, Missouri, while pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Affairs degree at Saint Louis University. I have also worked as a city/county/MPO planner for the City of Topeka/Shawnee County, Kansas Planning Department. I am currently a Senior Planner for the Duluth-Superior Metropolitan Interstate Council (MIC) which is a division of ARDC. My work is primarily focused on bicycle and pedestrian issues that face the urban area of the Duluth-Superior region.

I have developed strong working relationships with the local and state planners in this area, including those with the City of Duluth, St. Louis County and Mn/DOT. In addition, a huge benefit of working at a regional development commission is that I have also been able to keep up in contact with the planners and the issues confronting the Arrowhead region.

My vision for this position is to continue the good work of Chuck Froseth, particularly in regards to providing regular opportunities for CM credits. In addition to continuing the good work Chuck has provided this district, I also plan to enhance our community discussions on planning issues as well as more actively involve the urban planning students in UMD’s Urban and Regional Studies Program.

I appreciate all the effort to improve Minnesota APA and look forward to working with all of you.

Greg Kruschke, AICP
SE District Director Candidate

I am the Planning Coordinator with the City of Faribault. I have been with the City of Faribault since 2003. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Community and Regional Planning from Iowa State University. Go Clones!!! In my free time away from work I enjoy spending time with my family and coaching basketball.

I am interested is bringing additional opportunities to planners in Greater Minnesota, more specifically southern Minnesota. Additional opportunities are needed for certified planners to be able to gain CM credits within their region. I also feel that educational opportunities need to be provided to allow for citizen planners as well as other professionals that often incorporate planning practices into their everyday activities.

Finally, I wish to increase membership throughout Southeastern Minnesota in APA Minnesota, first with planning professionals and secondarily with our citizen planners and other professionals who crossover into the planning realm. I will work with APA MN to bring additional opportunities to Greater Minnesota to help educate our citizen planners.

Cathy Waldhauser, Citizen Planner Director

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 APA Minnesota Citizen Planner Committee.

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 APA Minnesota 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 APA Minnesota, can be part of this effort.

Aubrey Austin
Student Representative

My name is Aubrey Austin and I am a graduate student in the Urban and Regional Planning program at the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs with a focus on Housing and Economic Development. My undergraduate degree is a Bachelor of Arts degree from Gustavus Adolphus College in Honors Geography and a minor in Gender, Sexuality, and Women Studies. I current work with the SPLASH research team as a research assistant collecting surveys of the Powerhorn Park neighborhood of Minneapolis. I have worked as an intern at Affordable Housing Connections in Saint Paul, MN creating trainings for owners and managers of low income properties around the Twin Cities area.

Through my work in various organizations in my undergraduate experience (Lacrosse, Campus Judicial Board, Women's Awareness Center) and in my professional experience, I have come to value collaboration between different organizations as a important role in building relationships. My goal of representing the APA is to be a connector between students and in the organization itself. Engaging planning students through social events and networking opportunities is an important goal for being an APA representative. These connections would not only be to students and professionals in the Metro area but throughout the State of Minnesota. Connections between professionals and students make the planning field strong and I hope to be a part of building those relationships.

Carolyn Braun, Past President

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.

Areas of special interest are housing, the environment, and urban design. While Carolyn is on the APA Minnesota 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.