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Now meets NEXT.

Even through uncertainty, every community has the potential to become better.
We make it easy for communities to do hard things.

 Planning as usual? That’s not really our thing.
That’s why we set out over two decades ago to think about community planning differently. Better. It’s not just what we do. It’s who we are. We’re planning NEXT.

Success is what comes from collaboration.

Theodore Roosevelt said it best: “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” We’re passionate about helping teams, staff, committees and stakeholders share a sense of purpose and place. From comprehensive planning to integrated visioning to facilitating complex, multi-jurisdictional efforts, we help create more enduring, prosperous and livable communities.

Services

Pre-Planning
Strategic Planning + Visioning
Comprehensive Planning + Urban Design
Social Media + Web-Based Communication
Community Engagement  (in-person + virtual)
Visual Communication

This is what passion for community looks like.

Our team is curious, civic-minded and creative.
Our clients say we envision the realm of what’s possible.
We say it’s all in a day’s work.

Principal

Jamie Greene, AIA FAICP

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.

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.

Director

Sarah Kelly, AICP

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

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.

Director

Michael Curtis, AICP

It’s uncommon for someone to be both a talented planner and a gifted designer. Fortunately for us, Michael is that rare person.

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.

Director

Sarah Bongiorno

When it comes to creating momentum and movement, Sarah knows a thing or two. Our clients say she “keeps the train running on time.”

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.

Principal Planner

Vince Papsidero, FAICP

Vince wants to help communities identify challenges and opportunities, understand their options, and make informed decisions that lay a path forward towards the better future.

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.
Planner

Cyrille Viola

Cyrille has the macro-level problem solving skills of a community planner and the design orientation of a landscape architect.

Cyrille has the macro-level problem solving skills of a community planner and the design orientation of a landscape architect. With these combined capabilities, she delivers only the highest quality products for our clients. Hailing from one of North America’s most dynamic cities—Toronto—Cyrille has learned a thing or two about promoting livability, building quality places, celebrating diversity and enhancing the cultural and amenity value of a community.

Cyrille holds a Masters in Landscape Architecture from the University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada and an undergraduate degree in planning from the University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.

Planner

Gabrielle Smith

A native of Columbus, Gabrielle understands the importance of making great places. Her love of learning and willingness to think differently help her to push projects to be better.

A native of Columbus, Gabrielle understands the importance of making great places. Her love of learning and willingness to think differently help her to push projects to be better. At the same time, working quickly and efficiently, she delivers results that are clean, concise, and easy to understand.
Gabrielle holds a Bachelor’s degree in City and Regional Planning from the Ohio State University, where she further explored her passion for creativity with her three minors in Theatre, Pop Culture Studies, and Architecture.
Planner

Bailey Morlan

Bailey believes in the power of community and understands that each place has a unique story.

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
Our core team has a great support crew to help deliver what’s next.

It’s an honor to share.

Award-winning work makes headlines. While we’re humbled to have won six prestigious awards in nearly as many years, we prefer to celebrate the teams, communities and clients that make our work both professionally lauded and personally rewarding.

Award-winning work led or supported by the planning NEXT team.

2023 APA Indiana

Outstanding Outreach & Communication

Vibrant Communities
Elkhart, IN

2022 STaR National APA

Vernon Deines Award

Envision Lebanon
Lebanon, OH

2022 STaR National APA

Vernon Deines Award

Age-Friendly Strategic Plan
Summit County, OH

2022 APA Indiana

Outstanding Outreach & Communication

Vibrant Communities
LaPorte County, IN

2021 APA Ohio

Comprehensive Planning

Wayne Onward
Wayne County, OH

2021 National APA

Award of Merit

Wayne Onward
Wayne County, OH

2021 APA Alabama

Outstanding Plan

Framework
Tuscaloosa, AL

2020 APA Alabama

Outstanding Plan

Envision Montgomery
Montgomery, AL

2020 STaR National APA

Vernon Deines Award

Wayne Onward
Wayne County, OH

2019 APA Virginia

Resilient Community of the Year

Build One Portsmouth
Portsmouth, VA

2019 STaR National APA

Vernon Deines Award

Vibrant Communities
Elkhart County, IN

2018 APA Alabama

Outstanding Plan

One Decatur
Decatur, AL

2018 APA Georgia

Outstanding Plan Process

Envision Athens
Athens-Clarke County, GA

2018 APA Indiana

Outstanding Plan Process

Vibrant Communities
Elkhart County, IN

2017 APA Ohio

Outstanding Plan

Grove City 2050
Grove City, OH

2017 APA Alabama

Outstanding Plan

Map for Mobile
Mobile, AL

2017 APA North Carolina

Inspiring Places Plan

imagine Cary
Cary, NC

2017 APA North Carolina

Outstanding Plan

Horizons 2026
Greenville, NC

2017 APA Indiana

Outstanding Plan

Creative District
Valparaiso, IN

2016 APA South Carolina

Outstanding Plan

Plan Together
Columbia-Richland County, SC

2015 APA Alabama

Outstanding Plan

One City, One Vision
Anniston, AL

2015 APA Indiana

Outstanding Plan Process

ValpoNEXT
Valparaiso, IN

2014 National APA

Outstanding Plan

Plan Cincinnati
Cincinnati, OH

2014 National APA

Innovation in Economic Development and Planning

East Franklinton Creative Community District
Columbus, OH

2013 National CNU

National Honor

East Franklinton Creative Community District
Columbus, OH

2009 APA Ohio

Outstanding Plan

Dublin Community Plan
Dublin, OH

2011 APA South Carolina

Outstanding Plan

Guiding the Future for a Lasting Lowcountry
Charleston County, SC

2009 APA Hawai’i

Outstanding Plan

Kona Community Development Plan
Kona, Hawai’i

2011 APA Alabama

Outstanding Plan

Lee County Comprehensive Master Plan
Lee County, AL

2009 National IDA

Award of Distinction

Downtown Plan
Fort Wayne, IN

2007 APA Pennsylvania

Outstanding Plan

Growing Together
Lancaster County, PA

What’s NEXT for your community? Say Hello