Jamie’s top priority is always to complete the mission and achieve outstanding results. It’s his passion for communities, however, that drives him and our work. Perhaps that comes from his time as an Army officer. As founder and hands-on principal of our practice (formerly known as ACP Visioning+Planning), Jamie spent the past 30 years being inspired by the voices and commitments of the communities we serve. Today he strives to help communities of all sizes and conditions answer their most fundamental question: “What’s next?”

Jamie holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Architecture from The Ohio State University and a Master of Urban and Environmental Planning from the University of Virginia.

Sarah knows that planning is about people. As a project manager she is committed to broad engagement while moving the process forward.

Sarah also provides leadership at Planning NEXT for business development and research. Her Jill-of-all-trades orientation is informed by her background as a private sector planner in Boston and Dublin, Ireland as well as her nonprofit advocacy experience. An east coast transplant, she can be found in her free time exploring the region…by foot, bike, and ski!

Sarah holds a Bachelor’s degree in Government from Dartmouth College and a Masters in City Planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

It’s uncommon for someone to be both a talented planner and a gifted designer. Fortunately for us, Michael is that rare person. Masterful at simplifying the complex, he translates ideas, concepts and plans into visual communications with easy-to-understand graphics. For the past seven years, he’s made all of us—including our clients—“look good.” Proof positive? His work for Dublin, Ohio’s community plan, Abu Dhabi’s transportation vision and Cary, North Carolina’s “Imagine Cary” online initiative.

Michael earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from Mississippi State University and a Master of City and Regional Planning at The Ohio State University.

When it comes to creating momentum and movement, Sarah knows a thing or two. Our clients say she “keeps the train running on time.” We say she’s not only well organized but positively passionate for design and quality places. Which explains why Sarah is able to simultaneously make every client feel like our only client and lead numerous civic initiatives, including co-directing Columbus Design Week[s], an annual festival that gets the public thinking and talking about design in our city, and Camp Architecture, a multi-week summer program for elementary and middle school students.

Sarah holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Ball State University and a Master of Architecture and Urban Design from Columbia University.

For over 36 years, Vince has distinguished himself as an award-winning public planner and administrator, as well as a consultant in the field of comprehensive planning, urban design, zoning, and growth management. He has led the public planning departments of Columbus, Delaware and Dublin, Ohio. His broad experience has been built upon an ever-present motivation to have a positive and lasting impact on every place and community he has worked. As a consultant, Vince has worked at all levels of local government assisting communities with their planning. He served as the Vice Chair of the Franklin County, Ohio, Planning Commission and Board President of the Columbus Neighborhood Design Center.
Within the profession itself, Vince has dedicated time to the American Planning Association and the Urban Land Institute. He has served as a visiting professor at The Ohio State University Knowlton School of Architecture’s City and Regional Planning Section. Vince has been recognized as a Fellow of the American Institute of Certified Planners and has received a Distinguished Alumnus Award by The Ohio State University College of Engineering.
Vince holds a masters of City and Regional Planning from the Ohio State University, and a bachelors of Journalism with a minor in Economics from the University of Georgia.

Work hard, do good, stay positive. That’s Jordan’s modus operandi—and it serves both our clients and our team well. Because he’s a people-person who also has a methodical mind, Jordan successfully balances community needs with sustainable development. Jordan’s also a forward-thinker who see things from a 360-degree perspective, which makes him masterful at connecting the dots to bring forth the most relevant and agreeable growth-oriented ideas. Perhaps it’s the Eagle Scout in him, but Jordan is as disciplined, driven, and committed as they come. In fact, there’s little that Jordan puts his mind to that he can’t accomplish. Jordan’s also known for paradigm-shifting conversations that get to the heart of an issue, as well as building relationships rooted in trust and understanding. He especially enjoys sandwiching together smart solutions that, combined, build toward something great for our clients and their communities.

Emily is a remarkable planner who knows that innovative planning goes beyond big-picture thinking—it’s an invitation to help community leaders and citizens co-create what’s next. In addition to a clear, systematic perspective of land use and transportation planning, she has strong experience in and across both disciplines for some of the nation’s most vibrant cities. Moreover, Emily is exceptional at identifying opportunities and contextualizing concepts to make the future relevant to the here and now. Intentional and forward-thinking, Emily’s approach involves envisioning the impact of a project in all its forms, then executing with resiliency in mind. As adept at listening as she is leading, Emily taps into her creative and technical sides to evaluate impacts, promote an iterative process, and remake communities for the better.

Emily holds a Masters of Urban and Regional Planning from the University at Buffalo, and a Bachelors of Political Communication from the George Washington University.

Bailey believes in the power of community and understands that each place has a unique story. With a background in community development and economic regeneration, Bailey is focused on helping communities that are grappling with disinvestment and decline as well as those that are growing and changing.
Bailey holds a master’s degree in City and Regional Planning from the University of Glasgow and a bachelor’s degree in City and Regional Planning from the Ohio State University

Optimistic and tenacious, Andrew believes “the bigger the challenge, the better.” Throw a tough issue at him and, without question, he’ll do what it takes to figure it out to the benefit of our clients. More importantly, every idea is on the table when you work with Andrew. He lives for imagining the why-nots, what-ifs, and what’s next. Clients especially enjoy working with Andrew because they know his priority is helping them successfully address the needs of their communities. Andrew believes the best things happen when curiosity, collaboration, and creative problem solving collide. Whether he’s building upon ideas, thinking about environmental asset integration, or envisioning multiple versions of the future, Andrew’s always up for helping others think—and get excited—about the possibilities. In addition, his ability to bring a different lens to the work is one that both clients and colleagues alike truly value.

Maria does what it takes to plan flourishing communities. Whether she’s collecting and synthesizing data, promoting transparency in decision-making, or creating compelling visuals to showcase a concept or vision, Maria’s an affable go-getter and sincere collaborator. Even better, her architectural background, love of travel, and technical skills result in a powerful combination for planning that works well to the benefit of all. While Maria believes that the primary elements of urban planning—principles, theories, and best practices—play a pivotal role in the process, she recognizes there’s another, more important, one: the human element. Because she’s a good-natured people person, Maria goes into every project with purposeful intention to facilitate education, open dialogue, and advocate for the real experts, which are the people who make up a community.

Maria holds a Masters in Urban Planning from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, and a Bachelors in Architecture from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.

Josie’s been a research assistant for the Ghost Neighborhoods of Columbus Project, explored multimodal transit solutions in London and Amsterdam, and served as president of Block O, the largest student organization at the Ohio State University. While some might call her ambitious, that’s just Josie: enthusiastic, engaged, and forward-thinking. A gifted communicator, passionate storyteller, and galvanizing force, it’s Josie’s strength in listening and her ability to integrate diverse perspectives into our work that makes Josie an asset to both our team and our clients. As a natural-born people-person and big-picture thinker, Josie is as curious as they come. When she’s on a project, Josie’s among the first to dig in, ask all the right questions, and help others think bigger and imagine bolder. Her ability to translate what she hears and learns into finding common ground is rivaled only by her passion to help communities become better places to be.
Josie holds a Bachelors in City and Regional Planning from the Ohio State University.

Achieving high-reaching goals for the good of our clients is no small feat. Fortunately, we have Abigail in the role of Marketing Coordinator to help us do exactly that. A dedicated and enthusiastic go-getter, she’s always looking for the best way to showcase the transformative work of our teams and clients. Combine that with Abigail’s heart for creativity and head for business, and it’s easy to see why she’s involved in everything from research to proposals to designing impactful ways for us to connect with stakeholders and engage communities. If the work involves communicating with clarity, building trusted relationships, or visually translating facts and figures, Abigail is all-knowing—and all-in.

As the firm’s Office Manager, Erica handles the ins and outs of our day-to-day operations, bringing order and efficiency at every turn. A born list-maker and gifted coordinator, Erica keeps planning NEXT running like a well-oiled machine. Don’t be fooled by her get-the-job-done-right superpowers, though. Erica is as kind and caring as she is organized. From managing calendars to supporting human resource functions with good cheer, Erica thrives in the behind-the-scenes work that includes a wide variety of tasks. For us? Erica’s work is the foundation for all we do to serve our clients well.

Both artistic and articulate, Conner is a creative dynamo and multidisciplinary designer with a penchant for the built environment, public art, and strategic placemaking. He has an essential job: visually communicating the stories behind our firm’s transformative work. Get him talking about immersive experiences, brand marketing, or design strategy, and you’ll quickly find that his interests and thinking are as rich as his creative talent. Conner’s background in environmental communications had him collaborating with architects, interior designers, and strategists, which only adds valuable depth to his work here at Planning NEXT.