Jeff Raser
CHAIR

Jeff Raser, AIA, is the owner of Cincinnati Urban Design and Architecture Studio (CUDA Studio) and has worked as an architect and urban designer in a 30+ year career.

Jeff was a co-chair of CNU-32 in Cincinnati – a Congress which brought 1600 urbanists from around the country to Cincinnati, Ohio. He first joined the Congress for the New Urbanism in 2002 and the first Congress he attended was CNU XI held in Washington DC. He has served on the CNU Midwest Board of Directors for several years and currently serves as its Chair.

Jeff is an advocate for the design and codification of pedestrian friendly, mixed-use places. He has written and lectured about, and practices the fundamentals of good urban design – all of which are well described in the Charter for the New Urbanism. 

Jeff has master-planned new communities, created urban design plans for existing urban neighborhoods, overseen large community engagement efforts, and designed many new urban-infill buildings – and restored historic ones – helping communities realize their full potential. 

Maggie Connor
VICE CHAIR

Maggie’s interest in architecture and urban design is rooted in a passion for social and environmental responsibility and creating sustainable communities that deliver equity in the quality of design – whether repairing a built environment or designing a new one. Her affinity for complex problem-solving can be seen in the diverse array of projects in which she’s been engaged, from revitalization plans for depressed urban neighborhoods to brand-new neighborhoods, villages, and towns. Leading a process-oriented, multidisciplinary team, Maggie’s dedication to achieving consensus in her client’s goals and stakeholders’ vision has significantly contributed to the successful development of numerous projects that, among other considerations, successfully incorporate traditional architecture and planning.

Maggie’s 25-year career has looked at creating vibrant and sustainable urban places from many angles: the perspectives of gender, the archive, and the development as a Principal and Senior Urbasenior urban designer of Urban Places. Her home is in Pittsburgh, PA.

Angie Schmitt
TREASURER

Angie Schmitt is a Cleveland-based writer and urban planner. She is the author of Right of Way: Race, Class and the Silent Epidemic of Pedestrian Deaths in America, which was published in 2020 by Island Press and named one of the top urban planning books of 2020. She is the founder of 3MPH Planning and Consulting, which works with leading change-makers around the country to advance safer policies and infrastructure. Her writing has appeared in Slate, Vox, The New York Times, CNN Business, and other publications. She is a mother of two and hasn’t owned her own car in nearly a decade.  

Jeffery Justice
Clerk

Jeffery Justice is a lifetime resident of the Appalachian Region of Kentucky. He started his career in finance as a financial advisor serving the Eastern KY market before entering the economic development industry and local government.

Justice founded Pine Mountain Partnership (PMP) with local government and business leaders in 2022. PMP focuses on the strategic redevelopment of small towns in east KY. Justice serves on several boards including Treasurer of HOMES Inc. a non-profit housing developer, Chairman of Letcher County Airport Board which is beginning construction of a general aviation airport to serve 2 counties. Justice is also Chair and co-founder of Letcher County Community Foundation established in late 2023.

Justice is a dedicated leader, focused on reshaping communities and instilling urbanist principles in future generations.

Justin Mondok
OPERATIONS

Justin is a Planner with the Eastgate Regional Council of Governments, where he has worked on projects relating to the dam removals along the Mahoning River, community wastewater planning, the Youngstown SMART2 Network, improving transportation in the region through the lens of multimodal accessibility and active transportation, and has been a part of the Healthy Community Partnership of the Mahoning Valley at the Steering Committee and Action Team level for the past few years. He also spends his time volunteering as the Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director of Thrive Mahoning Valley, a Board member and Mill Creek Maple volunteer for the Rocky Ridge Neighborhood Association, and a member of the Wean Foundation's Neighborhood SUCCESS Resident Council. The common thread through Justin's professional and volunteer work is that those efforts result in a better quality of life for the people who are often overlooked or ignored by the system. He believes that people deserve safe and equitable access to resources and should have the autonomy and dignity to do so on their own terms.

MICHAEL BARNES AT-LARGE

Let's start with the simple things. I'm Michael Barnes, soon to be Michael Everwyn. I'm changing my name to create a new family with my wife, Jenna. I just turned 40 this year and I am most defined by my environmentalism. I have 2 sons, Simon & Sebastian and I'm excited as they get to grow and find what this world has to offer. In my life, I've done many things; Student, traveler, Eagle scout, naval engineering, process engineering, worked in a pizza shop, electrical construction engineering, worked in a restaurant, father, political activist, dancer, runner, dance instructor, substitute teacher, & licensed engineer. I have seen the ways that cities work for and against people from my time living in cities like Cincinnati, where I grew up nearby, to Louisville, where I went to college, to Portland, OR where I started my career, and most recently, Indianapolis & Lexington. Between that and my travels across the US, visiting 43 of the 50 US states, and abroad, Europe, Mexico, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, I have a breadth of experience of cities and how people shape them and are shaped by them.

Baird Bream
CHICAGO SUBCHAPTER REPRESENTATIVE

Baird Bream is a Senior Associate at Cambridge Systematics, Inc. (CS) team with a specialization in human services transportation planning, regulatory compliance and performance management. He has experience applying regulatory standards to operational environments, organizational frameworks, and planning processes to ensure compliance with Federal and state program standards and to encourage the adoption of best practices. He has developed project prioritization and policy analysis frameworks to support long-range planning efforts for transportation departments and transit agencies across the country, with a focus area on emerging mobility solutions for non-traditional transit markets and populations.

Thomas Dietz
At-large

Professionally educated at the University of Notre Dame School of Architecture, with further graduate studies in architecture principally conducted under Renaissance historians at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, notably as Henry A. Millon’s last student. Additional studies in the humanities were completed at the University of Chicago Graham School, and in business through the Quantic School of Business and Technology. Architectural internships executed under the design directorship of Duncan G. Stroik, Mary Kay Lanzillotta of the Washington-based partnership of George E. Hartman and Warren J. Cox, and 2013 Richard H. Driehaus Prize laureate and former Yale School of Architecture Dean Thomas H. Beeby. Now a design architect with the office of David Kuhlman.

ABBIE EMISON AT-LARGE

Abbie Emison, AICP, NCI is a Principal Planner and Ohio Office Lead with McKenna, a multidisciplinary planning and urban design firm. Based in Columbus, she leads downtown revitalization, zoning reform, and corridor design projects across Ohio, helping communities translate design principles into actionable plans.

Abbie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Political Science from Wellesley College and a Master’s Degree in City Planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where she developed her passion for design-based planning and interdisciplinary collaboration. Her career includes experience in both public- and private-sector planning, giving her a comprehensive understanding of how policy, design, and development intersect to shape successful places.

An NCI-certified charrette facilitator, she is recognized for her creative public processes that help residents see how new urbanist ideas can strengthen economic vitality, housing options, and neighborhood character.

A champion of CNU’s mission to make great places for people, she’s passionate about connecting regional practitioners, supporting emerging professionals, and showcasing Midwestern leadership in design and implementation.

BRETT MORGAN AT-LARGE

Brett Morgan is Director of Development at Meyer Najem, a construction and development firm headquartered in Fishers, Indiana. He joined the team in 2025 after leading transformative capital projects across Indiana’s public and private sectors. A graduate of Indiana University Bloomington with a degree in Public Administration, Brett is currently pursuing his MBA at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. His career spans over a decade of civic and economic development, including leadership roles at the Indiana Economic Development Corporation and the City of Indianapolis.

Brett brings deep expertise in stakeholder engagement, political navigation, and strategic project delivery. He has played a pivotal role in shaping governance frameworks for major developments like LEAP and OneHealth and is known for guiding projects from vision to execution with precision and purpose. He values Meyer Najem’s collaborative culture and its commitment to community impact.

Brett lives in Indianapolis with his wife and daughters.

KELVIN MARITA OBURI STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE

I was born and raised in Kenya, where I spent my childhood sketching, building things, and solving puzzles. That love for creativity and problem-solving led me into design. After high school, I joined the University of Nairobi to study design, planning to specialize in interior design. I later transferred to Andrews University, where I studied interior design for a year before realizing architecture was my true calling.

My interest in New Urbanism budded at Andrews, largely thanks to my mentor and professor, Mark Moreno. He changed how I viewed design, helping me see it as a tool to solve human problems and not just aesthetic ones. I learned (and am still learning) core principles about human-centered design that shaped how I now think about cities, communities, and the spaces we share.

I served as treasurer and a member of the social events committee for NOMAS (National Organization of Minority Architecture Students). Our team successfully organized student trips, firm tours, guest lectures, and social events that made the club one of the most active and well-loved among architecture students, surpassing even AIAS in engagement. Those experiences taught me how leadership and collaboration can build strong communities.

Katy Shackelford
AT-LARGE

Katy is an award-winning urban planning professional and funding specialist with more than ten years of experience. She specializes in transportation planning, economic development, and public policy in distressed and disadvantaged communities. She has a talent for creating catalytic community impacts using infrastructure investment. As a member of Stantec’s North American Funding Program, Katy helps clients navigate complex funding opportunities and position their projects for maximum community benefits.

Skilled in project management and policy analysis, she ensures impactful and meaningful community-driven outcomes in all her work. Katy is passionate about building places people love and has helped communities and clients secure over $240M in federal, state, and private funding to bring their ideas to life.

Jeff Siegler
At-Large

Jeff Siegler is an author, speaker, elected official, and consultant concerned with the powerful role “place” plays in our lives. He is the founder of the civic pride consulting firm, Revitalize, or Die and co-founder of the organization Proud Places. After obtaining his Master's in Urban Planning from Virginia Commonwealth University, Jeff went to work on Main Street. First as a downtown manager, and later as the Ohio Main Street State Coordinator. His first book, “Your City is Sick” was published in September of 2023 . Jeff and his wife Amber and their four kids call Pittsburgh home.

Ben Simmons
AT-LARGE

Ben Simmons is a results-driven project leader with more than 20 years of experience in the architecture and construction industry, having designed and managed some of the largest, most complex projects in the Midwest. He is a strategic thinker, communicator, and motivator who enjoys cultivating an environment that maximizes potential and elevates overall output of project processes through trust and collaboration.

Ben leads Schmidt Associates’ Community Studio in Kentucky with specialized expertise in community and workplace design. He believes the best projects emerge from strong partnerships, and he eagerly seeks out those individuals and groups who believe in the power of design and what it can do to elevate physical and cultural environments.

Wade Splinter
At-large

Wade Splinter serves as a Senior Technical Coordinator and Associate Principal at STL Architects, Inc., focusing on educational and community development projects. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a Master of Architecture from DAAP at the University of Cincinnati.

Wade has been instrumental in delivering key educational and community projects at STL Architects, such as the Taft Freshman Academy, Beard Elementary School, and Cragin Park Fieldhouse. His professional background includes roles at GLUCK+, 4240 Architecture, and EDCO Design London where he focused on public realm design and landscape masterplans.

Licensed as an Architect in six states, including IL, IN, WI, and a LEED AP BD+C accredited professional, Wade is a member of the American Institute of Architects, Urban Land Institute, and Strong Towns. He also contributes to leadership groups at the Friends of the Chicago River (Planning) and the High-Speed Rail Alliance (Ambassador). Beyond his professional commitments, Wade enjoys both birding, paddling and supporting the Arsenal Football Club.

CASEY TERRY AT-LARGE

Casey Terry is the Research Manager for Greater Ohio Policy Center, where she develops and manages research projects focused on legacy city revitalization and assists communities with planning and analysis work. She has been with GOPC for three years.

Casey is an AICP certified planner with a Master in Community Planning from the University of Cincinnati’s College of DAAP. Prior to her role at GOPC, she spent three years as the Planning Project Manager at Urban Fast Forward, a Cincinnati consulting firm. Her work there focused on neighborhood business district activation, urban design, and community engagement. Casey has designed and managed a variety of planning projects including neighborhood plans, market studies, and comprehensive plans.

Casey is an alumnus of the Cincinnati Chamber’s Cincy Next Class 9 and the ULI Cincinnati Real Estate Accelerator Lab (Cohort 5.0). She also serves as ULI Cincinnati’s TAP (Technical Advisory Panel) report writer. Casey served on the Local Host Committee for CNU 32 in Cincinnati, as chair of the Volunteer Committee.

Casey and her family live in Norwood, Ohio.

TERRY WENDT AT-LARGE