Planning, bUilDing, maRketing, anD SUStaining - The Delaware ...

Steve L. Nelson is a certified planner and his areas of expertise include economic development, open space preservation
and trail development, and strategic partnerships. He has extensive experience in county and local government,
serving in several high-profile positions including Director of Policy for Montgomery County and Acting Director of
the Montgomery County Planning Commission. While serving as Director of Policy, a senior level advisor to the County
Commissioners, Mr. Nelson helped develop several high-profile programs in Montgomery County, including a $150M
open space program, overseeing the construction of a 22 mile multi-use trail, a $50M revitalization program, a $100M
economic development program, a first time homebuyers program, the county’s first climate change action plan and a
county-wide arts and culture plan. He is a member of the American Planning Association, the Pennsylvania Planning
Association and the American Institute of Certified Planners. Mr. Nelson has a master’s in city planning from the University
of Pennsylvania and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Rutgers University. His civic interest have included:
chairman of a local planning commission, membership in several business and tourism organizations, the Bucks County
Bicycle Task Force, Montgomery County Workforce Investment Board, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission,
Horsham Land Reuse Authority, and Montgomery County Community College President’s Committee on Climate Change.
Bill Nesper oversees the Washington, DC-based League of American Bicyclists’ Bicycle Friendly America program,
which includes the Bicycle Friendly Community, Bicycle Friendly State, Bicycle Friendly University and Bicycle Friendly
Business recognition programs. In addition to leading the BFA program team, Mr. Nesper leads workshops and trainings
across the country to help people build great places for bicycling. During his ten-year tenure at the League, he has
worked on everything from membership to managing the League’s education and Bicycle Friendly America programs.
He holds an MA from George Mason University and is a proud member of the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle
Professionals.
Jeanne Ortiz Over the past two years, Mr. Ortiz has managed the Kittatinny Ridge and Appalachian Trail Project, in
partnership with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and through the Kittatinny Ridge Coalition. Prior to Audubon, Ms.
Ortiz worked for the Pennsylvania Environmental Council for 8 years managing the statewide Environmental Advisory
Council Network program. She has a Master’s Degree in City and Regional Planning from Cornell University and a
Bachelor’s Degree in Public and Environmental Affairs from Indiana University, Bloomington, IN.
Liz Pacheco is the managing editor with Grid Magazine in Philadelphia, a free monthly publication that covers
sustainability issues in the region. A Philadelphia-area-native, Ms. Pacheco returned to the city after spending time in
the Midwest where she received her masters in environmental journalism. Today, she writes and edits all things sustainability-related,
and has a particular passion for food and land use issues.
Erin Pierce is the Program Coordinator for the Susquehanna Greenway
Partnership. Before joining SGP staff, she served as the Greenway’s Ameri-
Corps volunteer through the Appalachian Coal Country Team.
She attended Penn State University and received her B.S. with honors
in Geography and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). She put her
passion for geographic education, conservation, and planning to work
as an intern for The National Geographic Society, the Clearwater Conservancy,
the Borough of State College, and the Centre Region Council of
Governments. In 2010 Ms. Pierce received her M.A. in Geography from Ohio
University with a thesis on the Smart Growth planning history of Baltimore
County, MD that was part of the Long-Term Ecological Research – Baltimore
Ecosystem Study (LTER-BES). Erin is currently conducting light repairs to a
single rowing shell and enjoys sculling on the Susquehanna River.
Steve Pohowsky Since 2006, Mr. Pohowsky has worked in his current position as PennDOT Safety Program Specialist
installing many low-cost safety improvements in District 5-0. He is also the district’s Bicycle/Pedestrian Coordinator.
In 2010, Mr. Pohowsky received the PennDOT Star of Excellence Award. He presented on trail crossings and shared-use
path agreements at both the 2011 Statewide Greenways and Trails Summit and the 2010 Lehigh Valley Trails Summit.
He has personally rode his bike or trike on every trail in his district.
Clint Randall works as a planner in a position funded jointly by the Planning and Public Health departments.
In this new role, he works to institutionalize the consideration of health outcomes in decision-making centered on the
built environment. This includes work on new policies and regulations like the Comprehensive Plan and zoning code,
conducting Health Impact Assessments of major projects and providing training to staff across departments, and
helping to implement projects focused on fresh food access and physical activity, including most recently a citywide
bicycle signage system. Mr. Randall earned his masters in city planning from the University of Pennsylvania and trained
in Health Impact Assessment with the San Francisco Department of Public Health.
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