MEDA 2018 Summer Conference

Bruce joined Streetsense in 2003 as a Managing Principal, bringing more than 25 years of experience planning, designing, and executing mixed-use projects throughout the United States and Europe. Currently, Bruce leads Streetsense’s Architecture and Planning studios, and is involved in creating development strategies and solutions for several large mixed-use projects across the country totaling more than 30 million square feet. According to Bruce, “Planning is as much about strategy as it is about design.”

Prior to joining Streetsense, Bruce directed design for Cooper Carry’s Main Street office in Alexandria, VA, playing a key role in the design of many important projects such as Mizner Park, Bethesda Row, Santana Row, and Crocker Park. Bruce also served as Vice President at Starwood Urban Investments, where he was responsible for managing and directing the evaluation, strategy, and design of all new projects.

Today, Bruce actively writes and speaks about issues related to urban development. He’s served on the faculty for The University of Shopping Centers at The Wharton School of Business, and has co-authored multiple publications for the Urban Land Institute.

– See more at: https://www.streetsense.com/team/bruce#sthash.8y0GzKYU.dpuf

Kenneth C. Holt was appointed secr​etary of the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development by Governor Larry Hogan in 2015 after serving on the new administration’s transition team. As secretary, he manages the state’s housing finance, mortgage insurance, community development and building code programs.

Secretary Holt is a former member of the Maryland General Assembly where he served on the House Appropriations Committee and the subcommittee on education and economic development. During his 25-year career with Morgan Stanley in Baltimore, Secretary Holt served as senior vice president, branch manager and portfolio manager. He was previously chairman and chief financial officer of Traitify, a software development firm that was recognized by Maryland’s Technology Development Corp. as the “most innovative” start-up company of 2013.

Secretary Holt gained on-the-ground experience with neighborhood revitalization, development and housing issues as a past member of the Baltimore County Master Plan Advisory Committee and a past president of his neighborhood civic association. His experience on the Baltimore County Human Relations Commission gives him a strong foundation in issues of fairness and housing equity.

Secretary Holt earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland College Park. He and his wife Mary operate a family farm in the Kingsville community in Baltimore County. The couple has two children.

Alan McCarthy was elected as Cecil County Executive in November 2016, having previously served as a Cecil County Councilman representing the First District, which includes Cecilton, Chesapeake City and Earleville. Dr. McCarthy was selected to serve as Vice President of the council in 2012 and reappointed in 2014.

Dr. McCarthy earned his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland and received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Georgia, College of Veterinary medicine. Dr. McCarthy holds a current Veterinary license in Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Florida. His primary occupation was as an equine veterinarian for Winfield Farm and Woodstock Farm in Chesapeake City and several other horse farms in the area. During his career, he established and built five independent small animal practices in Maryland and Delaware with over sixty-five full time and part time employees. Additionally, he established an independent real estate company that sells and rents residential and commercial properties in Maryland and Delaware.

Executive McCarthy’s goals are to bring economic development, employment opportunities, and the placement of infrastructure in the growth corridor with balanced development that conserves the county’s rich resources.

Amy Menzer is Executive Director of Dundalk Renaissance Corporation (DRC), a community development corporation that mobilizes stakeholders to invest in greater Dundalk’s neighborhoods, economy, and quality of life. Since joining DRC in 2006, she has raised more than $11 million in grants and private financing to support the development and implementation of DRC’s revitalization strategy including a housing renovation partnership with private developers, home owner renovation loans and façade grants, marketing to attract the next generation, and main street business incubation. She is also the Past President of both the Community Development Network of Maryland, a statewide organization that focuses on policy issues affecting community development, building the capacity of its members, and promoting the value of community development, and of NeighborSpace Baltimore County, a community land trust. She holds a Ph.D from Johns Hopkins University in Geography and Environmental Engineering, where her dissertation focused on the revitalization of older suburbs.

Megan Oliver, AICP, is an Associate Planner at Mahan Rykiel Associates in Baltimore, Maryland. Megan started her planning career in the public sector and attributes the vibrancy of her professional experience to a rich foundation in sustainability planning working for the Baltimore City Office of Sustainability. There, she facilitated community participation for long-range planning efforts, composed planning reports, and monitored the City’s progress toward meeting greening, climate adaptation, and resiliency goals. Over the course of her career, she has also gained several years of experience working at architectural firms, where she had been involved with projects receiving LEED, Living Building Challenge, and Passive House Institute U.S. certifications.

With a holistic and human-centered approach, her expertise includes community engagement, economic development, and neighborhood and park master planning. Megan’s interest and passion in planning are what invest her into communities near and far; and her love of nature leads to efforts that support the vitality of the planet and all its inhabitants—human and non-human alike.

Combining her background in Fine Art and an extensive knowledge of social and environmental planning issues, she has developed a specialty in creative and equitable community engagement for master planning and urban design projects. As a passionate advocate for the under-represented voices, Megan carefully navigates her work to balance the needs and desires of a spectrum of stakeholders and has devoted her career to identifying win-win design and planning solutions.

Megan’s particular experiences have afforded her opportunities to present her work and speak at the National Planning Conferences of the American Planning Association (APA) in Atlanta (2014), Phoenix (2016), and New York (2017). She has also been a speaker at the Maryland Recreation and Parks Association Annual Conference (2016) and at APA state chapter conferences for Maryland and Delaware. She has been a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners since 2015.

Elizabeth Stahlman is the Community Development Director for the City of Frostburg who works with residents, entrepreneurs and existing or prospective businesses with the goal of improving the quality of life for those who live and work in Frostburg.

Elizabeth believes that with strong leadership, a clear vision for the future, and a commitment to the interests of citizens and businesses, a community, despite its challenges, can grow and prosper.

Elizabeth secured funding and the support to have the first University-based Target Industry Analysis and Marketing Plan prepared for Frostburg. Additionally, she has worked on several community development and infrastructure projects, most recently in the Braddock Road Corridor, which when complete will include road infrastructure upgrades, sidewalks and bike lanes, and mixed-use redevelopment directly across from the campus of Frostburg State University. Together, these improvements will serve as a modern gateway to the historic City of Frostburg, while providing new opportunities for economic growth.

Elizabeth was the recipient of the Western Maryland Jaycees Outstanding Young Professional Award in 2017. She holds a Master of Business Administration from Frostburg State University.