2023 Land Use Update: Economic Development, Water, Housing & More

Christine Mackay is the Economic Development Director of the City of Phoenix, Arizona. Read More

Christine Mackay is the Economic Development Director of the City of Phoenix, Arizona. Read Less

Samantha Keating is a Deputy Housing Director for the City of Phoenix. While at the City of Phoenix, Samantha has also held roles in the Planning and Development Department’s current planning, long range planning, site planning and sign divisions. Prior to joining the City of Phoenix, Samantha served as a … Read More

Samantha Keating is a Deputy Housing Director for the City of Phoenix. While at the City of Phoenix, Samantha has also held roles in the Planning and Development Department’s current planning, long range planning, site planning and sign divisions. Prior to joining the City of Phoenix, Samantha served as a land use planner for a commercial developer. Read Less

Dr. Sharon Medgal is the Director of Water Resources Research Center at the University of Arizona. Read More

Dr. Sharon Medgal is the Director of Water Resources Research Center at the University of Arizona. Read Less

Sarah Meggison, AICP has over 10 years of experience in community development and has become extremely passionate about the built environment and housing. Her mission is to expand affordable housing and opportunities for those across the housing continuum through development, policy, and advocacy. Read More

Sarah Meggison, AICP has over 10 years of experience in community development and has become extremely passionate about the built environment and housing. Her mission is to expand affordable housing and opportunities for those across the housing continuum through development, policy, and advocacy. Read Less

Joshua serves as Director of the City of Phoenix Planning and Development Department. Joshua has worked at the City of Phoenix for 22 years. Joshua has a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from the University of Arizona and a Master's in Urban and Environmental Planning from Arizona State University. Read More

Joshua serves as Director of the City of Phoenix Planning and Development Department. Joshua has worked at the City of Phoenix for 22 years. Joshua has a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from the University of Arizona and a Master's in Urban and Environmental Planning from Arizona State University. Read Less

Koren Manning serves as Deputy Director for the City of Tucson Department of Planning and Development. In this role she helps the department advance goals of sustainability, equity, and economic growth as well as excellence in customer service and inclusive community engagement.  

In her previous role as Planning Administrator for …

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Koren Manning serves as Deputy Director for the City of Tucson Department of Planning and Development. In this role she helps the department advance goals of sustainability, equity, and economic growth as well as excellence in customer service and inclusive community engagement.  

In her previous role as Planning Administrator for PDSD, Koren and her team honed the City’s tools to spur transit-oriented, mixed-use development, undertook significant code streamlining efforts, facilitated a code change to allow Accessory Dwelling Units, and oversaw substantial new infill development in Tucson. Koren and her team advance goals of sustainability, equity, and economic growth and promote vibrant, livable neighborhoods through corridor and neighborhood planning, code changes, rezoning, and historic preservation. The department is currently working on an update to the City’s General and Sustainability Plan, Plan Tucson, as well as code updates to encourage redevelopment of transit corridors and promote low-impact development, among other planning efforts. 

Koren was previously a Senior Planner and Team Leader in the Brooklyn Office of the NYC Department of City Planning. In this role she served as project manager for the East New York Neighborhood Plan, a comprehensive plan and rezoning to facilitate the development of over 6,000 units of housing as well as commercial space and community infrastructure to foster inclusive growth and sustainability. 

Koren received her Masters of Urban and Environmental Planning from the University of Virginia and a Bachelor’s in Geography from the University of Arizona. 

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Jennifer has worked in community development at the City of Flagstaff for 10 years. After making the switch from planning to housing in 2016, her focus has been assisting in the development of mixed income and affordable communities. New adventures await with City of Flagstaff’s first ever affordable housing bond. Read More

Jennifer has worked in community development at the City of Flagstaff for 10 years. After making the switch from planning to housing in 2016, her focus has been assisting in the development of mixed income and affordable communities. New adventures await with City of Flagstaff’s first ever affordable housing bond. Read Less

Genevieve Pearthree, AICP, is a Resilience Analyst with the City of Flagstaff Sustainability Office. In this role, which she began in February 2023, Genevieve will assist in the implementation of the city’s plan to be carbon neutral by 2030. Previously, she worked for the City of Flagstaff Community Development Division … Read More

Genevieve Pearthree, AICP, is a Resilience Analyst with the City of Flagstaff Sustainability Office. In this role, which she began in February 2023, Genevieve will assist in the implementation of the city’s plan to be carbon neutral by 2030. Previously, she worked for the City of Flagstaff Community Development Division in the Current Planning section, most recently as a Senior Planner, and she worked as a Project Manager for several national and international National Science Foundation projects to enhance the sharing and management of scientific data. She has a M.S. in Sustainability and a Master of Urban and Environmental Planning, in addition to a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Justice and Environmental Science. In her free time, Genevieve enjoys all the amazing outdoor activities that Flagstaff has to offer. Read Less

Tom Dorn, President of Dorn Policy Group Inc., has a diverse background in government and politics at the federal, state, county, municipal, district and tribal levels. His firm represents numerous multi-national corporations, trade associations and government entities. Major current and previous clients include 3M, American Medical Response, American Insurance Association, … Read More

Tom Dorn, President of Dorn Policy Group Inc., has a diverse background in government and politics at the federal, state, county, municipal, district and tribal levels. His firm represents numerous multi-national corporations, trade associations and government entities. Major current and previous clients include 3M, American Medical Response, American Insurance Association, Arizona Diamondbacks, Aviation Coalition of Arizona, Barstool/Penn Gaming, Becton Dickinson, Cigna Healthcare, City of Phoenix, GlobalMed, HDR Engineering, Macquarie Capital USA, McLane Company, Netjets, Peabody Energy, Roche Diagnostics, Stride/K12, and The CORE Institute. Prior to starting Dorn Policy Group, Inc. in November 2000, Tom was a Partner for three years at the Arizona public affairs firm Jamieson Gutierrez. There he was the chief legislative strategist and lobbyist for the firm’s notable clients including America West Airlines, City of Tucson, Cox Communications, Fiesta Bowl, Hitachi Data Systems, Hopi Tribe, Reliant Energy and Southwest Student Services. From 1994 to 1997, Tom served as the State and Federal Lobbyist for the Arizona Department of Transportation under Republican Governor Fife Symington where he was instrumental in the STEP 21 Coalition, a Washington D.C.-based effort to secure equitable highway financing nationwide. Tom also initiated development of federal legislation enabling the ultimate construction of the Hoover Dam Bridge now spanning the Colorado River. These significant policy efforts have led to subsequent opportunities for increased commerce along the CANAMEX Corridor and the future Interstate 11 connecting Phoenix and Las Vegas. From 1990 to 1994, Tom served Democrat Governor Rose Mofford as Legislative Director for the Arizona Department of Commerce where he advanced business legislation pertaining to international trade, housing, finance, economic development and sports promotion. He also served as Legislative Director for the Arizona State Land Department where he advocated for policies relative to natural resource management, water, grazing leases, forestry, urban planning and environmental protection. Early in his career, Tom served as a Congressional intern Washington for the late Arizona Congressman Jay Rhodes and then as a Government Relations Assistant to legendary Arizona lobbyist, Ambassador P. Robert Fannin from whom he learned honor, knowledge, skill and tenacity are the pillars of successful advocacy. Tom holds both a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Arizona State University (ASU). He is active in numerous organizations including the Arizona Tax Research Association, Arizona Town Hall, Economic Club of Phoenix, Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, Scottsdale Bible Church, State Society of Arizona and serves on the boards of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce, Arizona Highway Users and Paradise Valley Christian Preparatory. Tom has three daughters and lives in Phoenix. Read Less

Hannah Bleam, AICP is a land use planner at the law firm Withey Morris Baugh, PLC. Prior to joining Withey Morris Baugh PLC, she held positions with the City of Phoenix Planning and Development Department as the sign section supervisor and a Village Planner for Central City, Encanto, Paradise Valley … Read More

Hannah Bleam, AICP is a land use planner at the law firm Withey Morris Baugh, PLC. Prior to joining Withey Morris Baugh PLC, she held positions with the City of Phoenix Planning and Development Department as the sign section supervisor and a Village Planner for Central City, Encanto, Paradise Valley and North Mountain villages. These positions provided her with extensive knowledge of rezonings, planned unit developments, general plan amendments, text amendments, signage, community outreach, zoning adjustments, and other land use matters. Read Less

Cameron is a “lawyers’ lawyer” who specializes in participating on specialty legal teams, and applying his impressive legal experience to motions and appeals. He has a particular affinity to leading appeals in the fields of private property rights, municipal affairs, incentives and development agreements. His focus areas extend to health … Read More

Cameron is a “lawyers’ lawyer” who specializes in participating on specialty legal teams, and applying his impressive legal experience to motions and appeals. He has a particular affinity to leading appeals in the fields of private property rights, municipal affairs, incentives and development agreements. His focus areas extend to health care, administrative law and land use litigation. Read Less

Christina Rubalcava is the Senior Assistant City Attorney for the City of Flagstaff, Arizona. Read More

Christina Rubalcava is the Senior Assistant City Attorney for the City of Flagstaff, Arizona. Read Less

Brianne Fisher is the Interim Sustainability Director of the City of Tempe, Arizona. Read More

Brianne Fisher is the Interim Sustainability Director of the City of Tempe, Arizona. Read Less

Joy Rich has been a public servant all her adult life, rising through the ranks of local government to become the first female County Manager in Maricopa County’s 150-year history. She served as the county’s chief executive for nearly seven years prior to her retirement in April 2023. In this … Read More

Joy Rich has been a public servant all her adult life, rising through the ranks of local government to become the first female County Manager in Maricopa County’s 150-year history. She served as the county’s chief executive for nearly seven years prior to her retirement in April 2023. In this position, she reported to the Board of Supervisors and oversaw all administrative functions, including a $4.5 billion budget and 13,000 employees. Prior to her appointment as County Manager, she held various positions in the organization, such as Deputy County Manager, Assistant County Manager, Planning and Development Director and Planning Manager. Before joining Maricopa County, she worked for the Cities of Glendale and Phoenix as a Planner and Neighborhood Programs Manager. Joy holds Bachelor of Science in Geography and Master of Public Administration degrees from Arizona State University. She is a member of the American Planning Association, the American Institute of Certified Planners, the Arizona Planning Association, and the Arizona City/County Management Association. Read Less

Sarah Porter is the Director of the Kyl Center for Water Policy in Tempe, Arizona. Read More

Sarah Porter is the Director of the Kyl Center for Water Policy in Tempe, Arizona. Read Less

Alexandra Arboleda is an Attorney and Board Vice President of the Central Arizona Water Conservation District (CAWCD). Read More

Alexandra Arboleda is an Attorney and Board Vice President of the Central Arizona Water Conservation District (CAWCD). Read Less

Alex Hayes is an attorney with Withey Morris Baugh PLC in Phoenix, Arizona. Read More

Alex Hayes is an attorney with Withey Morris Baugh PLC in Phoenix, Arizona. Read Less

Nicole Antonopoulos is the Sustainability Director of the City of Flagstaff, Arizona. Read More

Nicole Antonopoulos is the Sustainability Director of the City of Flagstaff, Arizona. Read Less

Jason Barclay Morris is a graduate of the University of Arizona, College of Law, and a founding partner at the law firm of Withey Morris, PLC. His past experience includes work as a congressional staff member, and as partner with the Land Use Section for a major Phoenix law firm. … Read More

Jason Barclay Morris is a graduate of the University of Arizona, College of Law, and a founding partner at the law firm of Withey Morris, PLC. His past experience includes work as a congressional staff member, and as partner with the Land Use Section for a major Phoenix law firm. Mr. Morris’s practice is exclusively in land use, planning and zoning and government relations in the Phoenix metropolitan area, as well as the outlying counties and municipalities. His client list includes several national homebuilders, master plan developers, commercial-industrial landowners and Fortune 100 companies. Mr. Morris has also successfully litigated land use cases on behalf of property owners against Arizona municipalities. He served as Chair of the City of Phoenix License Appeals Board and is the District 3 representative to the Maricopa County Transportation Advisory Board. He was also appointed by the Mayor to serve on the City of Phoenix Development Advisory Board. Mr. Morris was past-chair of Valley Leadership’s State Legislative Committee. In that capacity, he worked extensively on the Growing Smarter Legislation as well as opposing the Citizen’s Growth Management Initiative. He also served as an Ad Hoc Committee-member advising on the combination of the Planning & Development Services Departments at the City of Phoenix. His outside boards and activities include Valley Leadership, Metro Phoenix Boys & Girls Club, Urban Land Institute and Arizona Town Hall. He also serves as Chairman of the Arizona Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs. Read Less