PPD Conversations Archive
October 2024 Conversation - Ron Littlefield
Ron Littlefield, a former Mayor of Chattanooga and our PPD Conversation’s Subject Matter Expert, shared insights from his career, beginning as a planner before moving into politics. During the discussion, we addressed the role of planners in helping politicians understand community impacts, particularly when political pressures conflict with the AICP Code of Ethics. Ron agreed that by listening to all affected parties, planners can offer a range of options for consideration. Planners also emphasized the importance of avoiding surprises on issues with political ramifications and the need for clear consultant roles to prevent conflicts of interest. Ron noted that planners’ public listening skills make them well-suited for politics but advised greater flexibility when political compromises are necessary. He concluded by endorsing a Tennessee statute requiring annual training for planning officials to ensure well-informed decisions that benefit the public, planners, and officials alike.
Click here to view the October 2024 Recording
September 2024 Conversation - Ralph Willmer, FAICP
Along with his take on the Ethics Chapter of the 2023 Private Practice Handbook, Ralph advised us on conflict of interest issues that affect planners in private practice, and the AICP Code of Ethics in relation to contingent fees. Many of our peer professionals, including architects, landscape architects, surveyors and attorneys, receive higher levels of compensation for their work if a land development application is approved. Ralph commented on how the AICP Code of Ethics addresses this issue.
Click here to view the September 2024 Recording
June 2024 Conversation - Allara Mills-Gutcher, AICP
Allara shared her inspiring journey as a small business owner. Allara, a Certified Planner is the Principal of The Planning Collaborative and FL APA President- Elect. Through her personal story, filled with both challenges and victories, she shared insights that every PPD member can apply to their own career and professional aspirations. Her passion can ignite a fire within you to reach for your dreams and conquer any obstacles in your path.
Click here to view the June 2024 Recording
May 2024 Conversation - Mike Anikeeff
The discussion led by Stephen Tocknell and Mike Anikeeff focused on the compensation disparities faced by private sector planners compared to other professionals in the development process. The conversation highlighted the ethical constraints limiting planners' compensation, the potential benefits of licensing and professional liability insurance, and the challenges of maintaining professional standards amidst increasing citizen planner involvement. Participants emphasized the need for greater recognition and promotion of AICP certification, explored the idea of creating a licensing system for planners, and planned a future session with the APA Ethics Officer to address these issues and develop strategies for fairer compensation.
Click here to view the May 2024 Recording
April 2024 Conversation - Rod Arroyo, FAICP Class of 2024
Rod Arroyo, FAICP will discuss the challenges of running a planning consulting organization, from a senior leadership perspective.
Click here to view the April 2024 Recording
March 2024 Conversation - What APA Leadership Needs to Know About PPD Planners
Steve Tocknell, FAICP, PPD Chari, will be representing APA members in private practice at the leadership meetings that will be held as part of the upcoming National Planning Conference. From past meetings, surveys and conversations, members discussed what they expect from the APA in return for their dues and involvement, about how the APA is handling equity diversity and inclusion issues, and how these issues are affecting PPD members on a day to day basis.
Click here to view the March 2024 Recording
February 2024 Conversation - PPD Mentorship Program
We want to hear from you about how we can bring PPD members together to share new planning concepts, and to reflect on lessons learned from experience in the field. Our conversation about private practice mentoring will be led by Mentoring Committee Co-Chairs Owen Beitsch and Armin Aryafar.
Click here to view the February 2024 Recording
December 2023 Conversation - Updated PPD Handbook
We’ll roll out the newly updated PPD Private Practice Handbook. Deana Rhodeside, PPD Past Chair and handbook editor, will present an overview and highlights of the new handbook. As with the previous edition, the revised handbook will only be available to PPD members. With the holidays coming up, this will be our final PPD Conversation for 2023.
Click here to view the December 2023 Recording
October 2023 Conversation
Our October 27 PPD Conversation was about improving relationships between primes and subs. It was moderated by longtime PPD member Owen Beitsch, with Divya Gandhi, a board member the APA Transportation Planning Division (TPD), leading the conversation on behalf of primes, and Robert McHaney, the TPD Chair, leading the conversation on behalf of subs. A takeaway from the conversation was that to develop stronger and more rewarding relationships with primes, subs need a good marketing plan, a business plan, and a defined rate schedule. As professional planners, we should all be emphasizing the importance of partnering with planners who are APA and AICP members.