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.

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.

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.

Ethan is a planner who sees the big picture—and makes it easier for everyone else to see it, too. With a talent for visual storytelling and a mind for spatial data, he brings planning concepts to life through maps, graphics, and thoughtful engagement tools. At Planning NEXT, Ethan is known for turning complex information into clear, human-centered insights. Even better, he’s always on time, always on point. Whether diving into GIS analysis or building out a public engagement website, his work is driven by one core belief: the best plans come from listening first. Detail-oriented, curious, and quietly tenacious, Ethan helps communities see not just where they are, but where they’re going next.

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.