PATHWAY TO PLANNING PROFESSION 2012 F ALL C ONFERENCE C OLUMBUS, GA S EPTEMBER 27, T HURSDAY G EORGIA P LANNING A SSOCIATION

Pathway to Planning Profession, 2012 Fall Conference AGENDA  What is the Young Planners Group?  Panel Introduction  Student Participants  Building the Pathway  Q & A

Pathway to Planning Profession, 2012 Fall Conference Young Planners Group  Provides a forum for networking, learning new skills, and having fun too!  Quarterly newsletters and social meetings Previous events  Georgia State Water Plan and Water Wars  Historic Fourth Ward Park Tour/Beltline Update  Gulch Tour / MMPT Presentation  Sustainable Planning: What does it mean?, 2010 Spring Conference  Sustainable Affordable Housing – The New Trend, 2011 Fall Conference WHAT IS THE YPG?

Pathway to Planning Profession, 2012 Fall Conference PANEL INTRODUCTION Jamie Cochran Senior Vice President of Transportation Planning, Gresham, Smith, and Partners Rick Morris Planning and Community Development Director, River Valley Regional Commission Bob Begle Principal, Urban Collage, Inc. Dan Reuter Land Use Division Chief, Atlanta Regional Commission Addie Weber Associate Urban Designer, AECOM

Pathway to Planning Profession, 2012 Fall Conference Jamie Cochran  Senior Vice President of Transportation Planning, Gresham, Smith, and Partners  Areas of Specialization –  Community, regional and statewide planning  Transportation programs  Program management  Public transit  Transportation finance  Citizen and stakeholder involvement programs

Pathway to Planning Profession, 2012 Fall Conference JAMIE’S CAREER PATH Public Sector Private Sector FDOT Small Local Firm Big Nat’l Firm GRTA Small Local Firm Own Firm Mid-size Regional Firm +/- 1,000 Years Teaching at GA Tech

Pathway to Planning Profession, 2012 Fall Conference Rick Morris  Planning and Community Development Director, River Valley Regional Commission  Areas of Specialization –  Comprehensive planning  Historic preservation planning  Transportation planning  Geographic Information Systems  Zoning activities

Pathway to Planning Profession, 2012 Fall Conference Bob Begle  Urban Designer, Principal, Urban Collage, Inc.  Areas of Specialization –  Community master planning  Urban Redevelopment Plans  Housing and feasibility studies  Urban design  Architectural design

Pathway to Planning Profession, 2012 Fall Conference Dan Reuter  Land Use Division Chief, Atlanta Regional Commission  Areas of Specialization –  Comprehensive Planning  Transportation Planning  Livable Communities

Pathway to Planning Profession, 2012 Fall Conference Addie Weber  Associate Urban Designer, AECOM  Areas of Specialization –  Urban design  Transportation  Mentoring young professionals

Pathway to Planning Profession, 2012 Fall Conference STUDENT PARTICIPANTS Nearly 60 students signed up for the conference A brief survey with nine short-answer questions on SurveyMonkey Close to 30 responses from students of a variety of planning backgrounds

Pathway to Planning Profession, 2012 Fall Conference STUDENT PARTICIPANTS Planning Specialization* Economic Development – 42% Urban Design / Landscape Architecture – 35% Transportation Planning – 30% Community Development – 30% Land Use / Zoning – 23% * Some students have multiple specializations

Pathway to Planning Profession, 2012 Fall Conference STUDENT PARTICIPANTS Planning degree Most are graduate students in planning program Some are pursuing dual degree Employment in Planning Full time – 7% Part time / Internship – 55% GRA / TA – 30% None – 30%

Pathway to Planning Profession, 2012 Fall Conference STUDENT PARTICIPANTS Preference on Professional Sector Public Sector – 78% Private Sector SMALL Firm – 63% Non-profit organization – 52% Private Sector LARGE firm – 45%

Pathway to Planning Profession, 2012 Fall Conference PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE Level of professional guidance in academic environment LEAST Interview Tips Portfolio making Resume LITTLE – MODERATE Presentation Skills Communication Skills Networking Skills Writing skills

Pathway to Planning Profession, 2012 Fall Conference PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE Desired guidance in planning profession MODERATE Resume advice Interview tips MOST Planning employment / career Communication Networking Portfolio making Interview tips Resume advice

Pathway to Planning Profession, 2012 Fall Conference PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE Current resources for skill improvements Instructor/Professors Internet Peer group Networking with professionals Networking events In person

Pathway to Planning Profession, 2012 Fall Conference PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE Expectations from the session 1.Need help with resume and portfolio 2.How to market skills and professional experience 3.How to build and expand professional relationships with practitioners 4.How to transition to the work environment – research, presentations, networking activities 5.How to communicate project ideas concisely to professionals or future employers 6.What are the non-technical skills needed by planners?

Pathway to Planning Profession, 2012 Fall Conference NON-TECHNICAL SKILLS/QUALITIES  Personal/Professional Maturity  Advocates for Fair Solutions  Willing to “Pay Dues”  Good Team Member  Has the Team’s Back  Discretion  Knows When to Talk/When to Listen  Can Help Mediate Sides  Loyal and Reliable  Bias Toward Thoughtful Actions  Thinks Before Acting  Willing to Make Hard Decisions  Considers Impacts on Others