Dennis is the Director of Planning and Development for McHenry County, Illinois, where he is responsible for the County’s overall planning, zoning, stormwater management, and construction permitting functions. Prior to joining McHenry County in 2008, Dennis spent 10 years with the Lake County, Illinois, Planning, Building, and Development Department. For the last nine years he was a Deputy Director responsible for managing the Planning and Support Services Division. Dennis has additional planning and GIS experience in Kansas, New York, and New Jersey.

Dennis received a B.S. in Geography and a Certificate In Environmental Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He received a Master of City and Regional Planning degree from Rutgers University.

Dennis is the author of a URISA Quick Study Report entitled Development Management Systems (1999) and has given numerous presentations at planning, NACO, and GIS conferences.

In that capacity, she assists local governments in achieving their conservation objectives through ecological and economic analysis. She is active as an NACP Board member and in the North Carolina Chapter of APA.

Ms. Francis has B.A. and M.A. degrees from Colorado State University and has focused her career on environmental issues and has been involved in numerous conservation activities of regional and national significance. Her work involves establishing partnerships between multiple levels of government, as well as non-governmental entities and non-profit organizations. In 2005, she was awarded the Local Government Conservationist of the Year award by the North Carolina Land Trust Council. Ms. Francis is also an adjunct faculty member at Warren Wilson College in Asheville, North Carolina where she teaches her students about historic and current planning techniques, the responsibilities of citizenship, and the role of democracy in the planning process. She and her family live in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina where they enjoy fly-fishing on some of the world

Mike has served in leadership positions in many of the professional organizations to which he belongs. He was President of the Nevada Chapter of the American Planning Association, Commissioner on the AICP Commission, and President of the Sierra Nevada Chapter, American Society for Public Administration. He is currently the Nevada Chapter, APA, representative to the Western Planning Resources, Inc. (and a member of the executive board); a member of the site review team pool for the Planning Accreditation Board; and Treasurer of the County Planning Division, APA.

Lake Tahoe has been an important part of Mike’s planning experience. He was Chair of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency’s Advisory Planning Commission and Chair of the State of Nevada Commission: Purchase of Land in the Lake Tahoe Basin. He served four terms as Chair of the Tahoe Transportation District/Tahoe Transportation Commission, and was Washoe County’s permanent alternate to the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency’s Governing Board since 1981.

Assisting with planners’ professional development and planning officials training has led Mike to a second career of teaching. As APA Nevada Chapter president he assisted in the creation of a planning commissioner’s primer. Mike served as both the APA Nevada Chapter’s Professional Development Officer and Planning Officials Development Officer. As an APA Planners Support Network member he participated in the development of a presentation on career related issues particular to professional planners. In recognition of his service to APA and AICP, Mike was inducted into the AICP College of Fellows in 2004 and received the Nevada Chapter’s President’s Award for Outstanding Service in 2009. Mike is a National Business Institute faculty member, lecturing on planning statutes in Nevada; and adjunct faculty in the University of Nevada, Reno’s Geography Department. Mike frequently conducts planning commissioner training at the state planning conference. Mike has a Bachelor’s degree in History and a Master of Public Administration degree. He is married to Vickie and has two grown sons.

Joe spent another decade as a professional planner for both Kootenai County, Idaho and Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Throughout his career Joe has represented county issues on numerous professional, legislative and rule-making bodies covering such areas as growth management planning, environmental standards (e.g., air quality standards, biosolids utilization, environmental review processes) and natural resource utilization (e.g., sand and gravel supply protection, urban and community forestry resources).

Joe has been steadily involved with professional organizations throughout his career, including NACO, NACP, American Planning Association, and the Urban Land Institute. He has served on both the boards of the Inland Empire Section (charter) and Puget Sound Section of the Washington Chapter of APA, including time as President of the Puget Sound Section and member of the Washington Chapter Board. Joe was on the Host Committee and Co-Chair of Hospitality Committee for APA’s 1999 National Conference in Seattle. Joe regularly serves on ad hoc and special purpose committees for APA and ULI.

Joe has Bachelor and Master Degrees from the University of Idaho, additional graduate studies from Eastern Washington University, and a variety of certificates for specialized training in planning, environmental, group facilitation and management. Away from the planning profession and his work, Joe has served on numerous community and academic boards and commissions. Joe is currently completing seven years on the Board of Directors for the Tacoma-Pierce County Humane Society (including three as President), and four years on the Board of Directors chartering the new South Pierce County Boys and Girl Club Branch.

He is now serving a two-year term as Immediate Past Chairman of the County Planning Division of APA and is also a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP). In 1997 he was appointed to the national “Growing Smartsm^sm” Directorate, a 20-member panel charged with drafting model planning enabling legislation for use by states, the first time this had been done since 1915. This project was funded cooperatively by five federal agencies, two private foundations, and the Siemens Corporation, with the final product published in the spring of 2002.

Charlie is co-creator of “KIDS CITY” (a planning education program for kindergarten through grade 12) and “Our Town” Mock Hearings (Planning Commission and Zoning Board training), both demonstrated at the 1996 American Planning Association Annual Convention. He is the 1994 recipient of the APA Distinguished Planner Award for South Carolina and the 2003 recipient of the Conservation Award for Environmental Protection presented by the Lexington Soil and Water Conservation District.

Charlie has a Bachelor of Science in Architecture and a Master of City and Regional Planning from Clemson University.

Frank’s department primarily oversees the County’s land development program including such functions code enforcement, zoning, planning, environmental management, landfill inspection, IEPA certified inspection services, municipal and educational recycling efforts, storm water management and supports other county operations such as economic development and transportation planning.

Frank is a graduate of Southern Illinois University with a BS in Local Government and an MPA in Government and Public Affairs. He formerly served as District Chief of Staff for U.S. Congressman Jerry Costello (IL-12) and was the City Administrator for O’Fallon, Illinois, Chief Deputy and Comptroller for the Third Judicial Circuit of Illinois and started his career with the City of Edwardsville, Illinois serving as the Director of Development Administration and City Planner. He is currently serving as a Township Trustee for Edwardsville Township and serves on the Board of Directors for the Edwardsville Township Senior Services organization. As Chief of Staff for a US Congressman, Frank has extensive knowledge of the federal system and has secured over 20 million in grants for the City of O’Fallon, Illinois. His interests include environmental management and has focused on “green” education and environmental excellence programs for the County.

Keith has been President of the Association of Oregon County Planning Directors (AOCPD) three times, 1982, 1997 and 2006. Keith was twice the President of the National Association of County Planners (NACP) 1994 and 2002 and currently serves on their Board of Directors. He is a charter member of the American Planning Association (APA) and the County Planning Division. In 2005, Keith received the Oregon Chapter APA Distinguished Leadership by a Professional Planner award. His local program has received special recognition for its customer service focus and he has spoken at National APA conferences on how to achieve effective planning programs. Keith is a graduate of Portland State University and has continued his education and professional development through postgraduate studies at the University of Oregon and numerous workshops and seminars.

Keith believes one of the greatest gifts you can give someone is a foundation for the future and to implement that belief promotes professional development for planners including leading workshops on leadership, customer service and The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.

Keith served as an elected member of the Roseburg School Board for 18 years. He is a Certified High School and College Soccer Referee, and a youth sports coach. Keith has also been involved with Scouting for over 40 years and in 2000 received one of scouting’s highest awards the Silver Beaver Award for distinguished service to youth. Keith and his wife, Barbara, have three grown children and four grandchildren.

Mr. Kayes is also the immediate past president of the New York State Association of County Planning Directors, a past President of the Upstate New York Chapter of the American Planning Association and a member of the Board of Directors of the New York Planning Federation.

In October, 2003 Mr. Kayes received the New York Upstate Chapter of the American Planning Association Award for Professional Planners Distinguished Leadership and in September of 2002 was awarded the New York Planning Federation Heissenbuttal Award for Planning Excellence. The Distinguished Leadership Award is for sustained contributions to the planning profession through distinguished practice, teaching and writing. The Heissenbuttal Award is for outstanding accomplishments in the planning field. These are the highest Awards a professional planner can receive in Upstate New York.

Robert is the incoming (2010) Treasurer of the South Dakota Planners Assocaition (SDPA). He has a BS and MS in Geography from South Dakota State University, the other SDSU.

Robert retired from the United States Army and continues to serve as a Disabled Veteran Advocate. He is currently serving his second year as the State Commander of the Department of South Dakota, Disabled American Veterans (DAV).

Robert and his wife, Kil Suk, have two grown sons and two grandchildren.

Tim earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Indiana State University in 1981 and an M.P.A. from the University of Central Florida in 1990. In 1994, Tim was admitted to the American Institute of Certified Planners. Tim is also a member of the Florida Planning & Zoning Association, the American Society for Public Administration and 1000 Friends of Florida.

Tim is currently Chair-elect of the Emerald Coast Section, Florida Chapter, American Planning Association. Tim previously served as the Chair of the Emerald Coast Section from 2006 – 2008. In addition, Tim has served on APA Florida’s Legislative Policy Committee, By-Laws Committee, Nominating Committee, Awards Committee and currently serves on the Ethics Committee and is the current Chair of the Awards Committee. At the national level, Tim has served on the AICP’s Continuing Education Committee and on the APA National Award Jury.