Abby Kinney
Abby Kinney is an urban designer and planning consultant at Multistudio, based in Kansas City, Missouri. She lends her expertise to a range of projects including urban design, incremental development consulting, and strategic planning processes. She also has a background working on zoning reform and design-based regulatory approaches. She views her professional experience as a source of constant learning and believes in dedicating her abilities toward the enhancement of urban life and the empowerment of citizens at the local level.
In her own community, Kinney works to advance bottom-up strategies that enhance both private development and the public realm. She founded Small Developers of KC to focus on building Kansas City's ecosystem of small-scale developers, hosts the popular Upzoned podcast with Strong Towns, is a member of The Congress for the New Urbanism, and is co-chair of the Young Leaders Group for the Kansas City chapter of the Urban Land Institute.
Take Back Your Streets: Tactical Urbanism in Kansas City, MO
May 31, 1:45-3:00 PM: Breakout 3
Alan Fisher
Alan Fisher is a content creator from Philadelphia who advocates both for good urbanism and transportation. Fisher's videos use examples from across the U.S.—with particular focus on the Northeast—to explain different planning concepts and ideas.
How To Use Social Media To Build a Movement and Create Change (Panel)
May 31, 9:15–10:30 AM: Breakout 1
Amy F. Stelly
Amy Stelly is an artist, designer, and planner. She rose to prominence as a freeway fighter when President Biden cited the Claiborne Expressway in New Orleans as an example of infrastructure that has divided and harmed communities. She is also a preservationist and land use expert who has led some of the city’s most powerful advocacy groups.
Stelly is a co-founder of the Claiborne Avenue Alliance, a coalition of residents, business owners, and professionals dedicated to the restoration of the Claiborne Corridor. She is the founder and executive director of the Claiborne Avenue Alliance Design Studio, a non-profit design studio that was born out of the advocacy work of the Alliance. The studio, founded in 2022, is a New Orleans, community-based architectural and urban design firm that is committed to providing access to the languages of design and land use for all.
Stelly has written about land use and zoning, the value of community engagement, and public accountability. She is also a contributor to the recently published Justice and the Interstates. Stelly is an avid swimmer and advocate for water safety and environmental stewardship.
How To Fight the Highway in Your Backyard (Panel)
May 31, 10:45 AM–12:00 PM: Breakout 2
Asia Mieleszko
Asia (pronounced “ah-sha”) Mieleszko serves as a staff writer for Strong Towns. A dilettante urbanist since adolescence, she's excited to convert a lifetime of ad-hoc volunteerism into a career. Her unconventional background includes directing a Ukrainian folk choir, pioneering synaesthetic performances, photographing festivals, designing websites, teaching, and ghostwriting. She can be found wherever Wi-Fi is reliable, typically along Amtrak's Northeast Corridor.
How To Fight the Highway in Your Backyard (Panel)
May 31, 10:45 AM–12:00 PM: Breakout 2
Bernice M. Radle
Bernice is a dreamer and a doer. Radle is a house renovator in Buffalo, New York, and president of Neighborhood Evolution LLC.
Creating the Ecosystem for Incremental Developers To Succeed
May 31, 9:15–10:30 AM: Breakout 1
Charles Marohn
Charles Marohn—known as “Chuck” to friends and colleagues—is the founder and president of Strong Towns. He is a land use planner and civil engineer with decades of experience. He holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and a Master of Urban and Regional Planning, both from the University of Minnesota.
Marohn is the author of Strong Towns: A Bottom-Up Revolution to Rebuild American Prosperity (Wiley, 2019) and Confessions of a Recovering Engineer: Transportation for a Strong Town (Wiley, 2021). He hosts the Strong Towns Podcast and is a primary writer for Strong Towns’ web content. He has presented Strong Towns concepts in hundreds of cities and towns across North America.
Strong Towns 101
May 31, 9:15–10:30 AM: Breakout 1
Daniel Herriges
Daniel Herriges serves as editor-in-chief for Strong Towns, writing feature articles and speaking across the country on behalf of the organization. He has been a regular contributor to Strong Towns since 2015 and is also a founding member of the organization. Herriges has a Masters in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Minnesota, with a concentration in Housing and Community Development. He grew up in St. Paul, Minnesota, before moving west to the San Francisco Bay Area, later east to Sarasota, Florida, and finally back home to St. Paul where he lives with his wife, daughter, son, and too many pets.
Herriges’s obsession with maps began before he could read; a general fascination with cities and how they work was soon to follow. He can often be found exploring out-of-the-way neighborhoods (of his own town or another) on foot or bicycle. His lifelong environmentalism can also be traced all the way back to age 4, when he yelled at his parents for stepping on weeds growing in sidewalk cracks.
Changing Minds in Your Community: What Works
May 31, 10:45 AM–12:00 PM: Breakout 2
Escaping the Housing Trap
May 31, 1:45-3:00 PM: Breakout 3
David S. Cantu
Alderman David S. Cantu is an educator with a master’s degree in professional technical education. He has been a resident of San Elizario, Texas, for most of his life (a fourth-generation resident), where he worked for the San Elizario Independent School District as a guest teacher for 12 years (2007–2019).
Cantu was part of the committee to incorporate San Elizario, and the city was established in November 2013. Cantu was elected to office as an alderperson in May 2014, and has served to the present day. He represents citizens at city and county levels, speaking for the people and safeguarding their interests. As Alderman, he heads the Grants Steering Committee, making crucial decisions on which grants to pursue and facilitating the research and work necessary to obtain funding to improve the quality of life for San Elizario residents, while at the same time easing the cost required by the city.
Cantu sits on several boards and advisory committees, volunteers with a number of nonprofits in El Paso County, and is a member of the Adventure Cycling Association.
Running for Office as a Strong Towns Advocate (Panel)
May 31, 1:45-3:00 PM: Breakout 3
Edward Erfurt
Edward Erfurt is the director of community action at Strong Towns. He is a trained architect and passionate urban designer with over 20 years of public- and private-sector experience focused on the management, design, and successful implementation of development and placemaking projects that enrich the tapestry of place. He believes in community-focused processes that are founded on diverse viewpoints, a concern for equity, and guided through time-tested, traditional town-planning principles and development patterns that result in sustainable growth with the community character embraced by the communities which he serves.
How To Start Your Own Crash Analysis Studio
May 31, 9:15–10:30 AM: Breakout 1
Safe and Productive Streets Walking Tour
May 31, 1:45-3:00 PM: Breakout 3
John Pattison
John Pattison is the community builder for Strong Towns. He is the author of two books, most recently Slow Church (IVP), which takes inspiration from Slow Food and the other Slow movements to help faith communities reimagine how they live life together in the neighborhood. John and his family live in Silverton, Oregon. You can connect with him on Twitter at @johnepattison.
How To Start a Strong Towns Local Conversation
May 31, 9:15–10:30 AM: Breakout 1
John Simmerman
John Simmerman, MS, is a veteran public health and health promotion professional with over 30 years of experience helping communities create more people-oriented places and a "Culture of Activity" through proven "All Ages & Abilities" design concepts, and evidence-based behavior change initiatives. Simmerman’s main focus is to inspire others by profiling the people, places, and programs making a difference globally, in the effort to create what he refers to as a “Culture of Activity for All Ages and Abilities” through his multi-platform media efforts, including the Active Towns channel on YouTube; his weekly podcast, Active Towns: Conversation About Creating a Culture of Activity; and public speaking.
How To Use Social Media To Build a Movement and Create Change (Panel)
May 31, 9:15–10:30 AM: Breakout 1
Joseph Minicozzi
Joe Minicozzi is an urban planner imagining new ways to think about and visualize land use, urban design, and economics. Minicozzi founded Urban3 to explain and visualize market dynamics created by tax and land use policies. Urban3's work establishes new conversations across multiple professional sectors, policy makers, and the public to creatively address the challenges of urbanization. Urban3’s extensive studies range geographically over 30 states, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Minicozzi holds a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Miami and Master of Architecture and Urban Design from Harvard University. In 2017, Minicozzi was recognized as one of the 100 Most Influential Urbanists of all time.
The Dollars and $ense of City Economics
May 31, 10:45 AM–12:00 PM: Breakout 2
Uncovering What’s Wrong With the Property Tax Assessment System and Holding Local Governments Accountable
May 31, 1:45-3:00 PM: Breakout 3
Kevin Klinkenberg
For 25 years, Kevin Klinkenberg has worked as an urban designer, planner, and architect. He has worked in the private, public, and non-profit sectors, and is now proud to lead Midtown KC Now as executive director. His past experience includes 10 years as a partner and co-founder of 180 Urban Design & Architecture in Kansas City, which worked on projects in 27 states for all manner of public and private clients. While living in Savannah, Georgia, Klinkenberg led the Savannah Development and Renewal Authority as Executive Director for four years. He also worked on his own as K2 Urban Design, with a goal to help public and private agencies make the transition to the next generation of planning and development. From the beginning, Klinkenberg has focused his energies on those who aim for successful walkable and sociable places.
Take Back Your Streets: Tactical Urbanism in Kansas City, MO
May 31, 1:45-3:00 PM: Breakout 3
Majora Carter
Majora Carter is a real estate developer, urban revitalization strategy consultant, MacArthur Fellow, and Peabody Award-winning broadcaster. She's responsible for the creation of numerous economic development, technology inclusion, and green-infrastructure projects; policies and job training; and placement systems. She is also a lecturer at Princeton University's Keller Center.
Reclaiming Your Community
May 31, 3:15-4:45 PM: Keynote Presentation (Grand Ballroom)
Michael Pasternock
Michael Pasternock is the video producer for Strong Towns. After graduating from the University of Missouri, he taught high school English and government in CoMo. Mike and his wife then moved to Arizona, making his side-hustle wedding filmmaking business his full-time job. Mike also worked as chief editor for several prominent YouTubers around the Phoenix area. After discovering Strong Towns and resonating with the message, he realized that his hometown of Chicago was a better fit for his family’s lifestyle. He now lives near the lake and loves to document his travels on camera, play board games with friends, and explore the many delicious restaurants near his lively neighborhood.
How To Use Social Media To Build a Movement and Create Change (Panel)
May 31, 9:15–10:30 AM: Breakout 1
Mike Keen
Recently, Mike Keen has joined Monte Anderson, Bernice Radle, and Jim Kumon to form Neighborhood Evolution LLC, which works with communities across the nation to revitalize their neighborhoods “one sustainable step at a time.”
Creating the Ecosystem for Incremental Developers To Succeed
May 31, 9:15–10:30 AM: Breakout 1
Monte Anderson
Monte Anderson is President of Options Real Estate Investments Inc., a multi-service real estate firm specializing in developing sustainable neighborhoods in Southern Dallas and Northern Ellis counties. He is also a founding member of Neighborhood Evolution, an organization that specializes in creating ecosystems between cities, developers, and local citizens. He is both an advocate and practitioner of incremental development and is often found speaking and teaching across the country on the cultivating of local neighborhoods. Monte and Options have been recognized by the Dallas Chapter of AIA, North Texas Council of Governments, the American Planning Association, Preservation Dallas, Preservation Texas, and the Greater Dallas Planning Council for their work. Award-winning projects have included Main Station Duncanville, DeSoto Market Place, Tyler Station, the Texas Theatre, Belmont Hotel, Beckley Settlement in Dallas and MidTowne Midlothian.
Creating the Ecosystem for Incremental Developers To Succeed
May 31, 9:15–10:30 AM: Breakout 1
Norm Van Eeden Petersman
Norm Van Eeden Petersman is the member advocate at Strong Towns. He is an energetic enthusiast for the work that Strong Towns members do around the world. He is a skilled communicator and community builder. He leads Deltans for People-Oriented Places, a Local Conversations group, and is a leader of the Strong Towns Toastmasters Club.
Norm has a Master of Divinity and a Bachelor in Political Studies. He spent 10 years pastoring churches in Canada as a preacher, teacher, and leader. He worked in communications for the second-largest city in British Columbia and carried out stakeholder outreach for Canada's Minister of Health in Ottawa.
Norm has published articles on housing, transportation, faith, and culture and his writing appears regularly on the Strong Towns site. You can connect with him on Twitter at @normvep or on LinkedIn.
Changing Minds in Your Community: What Works
May 31, 10:45 AM–12:00 PM: Breakout 2
Rachel Quednau
Rachel Quednau serves as program director for Strong Towns, managing the content team and hosting the Bottom-Up Revolution podcast. Trained in dialogue facilitation and mediation, she is devoted to building understanding across lines of difference. Previously, Rachel worked for several organizations fighting to end homelessness and promote safe, affordable housing at the federal and local levels. Rachel also served as content manager for Strong Towns from 2015–2018. A native Minnesotan and honorary Wisconsinite, Rachel received a Masters in Religion, Ethics, and Politics from Harvard Divinity School and a Certificate in Conflict Transformation from the Boston Theological Interreligious Consortium, both in 2020. She currently lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with her husband Jack and son Marshall. One of her favorite ways to get to know a new city is by going for a walk in it.
Running for Office as a Strong Towns Advocate (Panel)
May 31, 1:45-3:00 PM: Breakout 3
Ray Delahanty
Ray Delahanty is the creator behind CityNerd, a YouTube channel that explores urbanism, transportation, and all the things that make cities unique. The channel's point of view is strongly influenced by his professional background in transportation planning and traffic analysis. Prior to starting his YouTube channel in 2021, Delahanty’s career spanned 15 years as a planner and project manager for consulting firms and public agencies in Portland, Oregon, and he still keeps his AICP up to date, just in case.
How To Use Social Media To Build a Movement and Create Change (Panel)
May 31, 9:15–10:30 AM: Breakout 1
Tony Jordan
Tony Jordan is on a mission to change how people think about parking policy. It started when he read Donald Shoup’s The High Cost of Free Parking in 2010 and built a coalition of Portlanders for Parking Reform.
A labor organizer and software engineer, Jordan cofounded the Parking Reform Network in 2019. Its goal is to help people everywhere understand the impact of parking policy on climate change, equity, housing, and traffic. Jordan now leads PRN’s team of self-proclaimed parking nerds, working closely with its board of directors and advisory board.