Our Instructors

CPI is taught by volunteer instructors who are experts in the public, private and non-profit sectors. Citizen Planners also return to the classroom to share their knowledge and experience. We choose CPI presenters who are not only experts in their fields but have the talent to make complex topics easy to understand.

Have an idea for a class? Email us!
The speakers who came to class provide so much insight, advice and knowledge. It’s a great way to learn and become empowered to 'make things happen'. It takes all of us to make this city great! Fall 2014 Participant

Past Instructors

*taught multiple classes, †Citizen Planner, ‡Advisory Board Member

  • Kasim Ali, Acting Chief Traffic Engineer, Department of Streets
  • Darnetta Arce, Exec. Director, Brewerytown Sharswood Community Civic Association, NAC †*
  • Dr. Faye Allard, Assistant Professor of Sociology, Community College of Philadelphia
  • Jennifer Barr, AICP, Manager of Long Range Planning, SEPTA
  • Suzanna Barucco, AIA, principal, sbk + partners, LLC
  • Kirtrina Baxter, M.A., Community Organizer, Garden Justice Legal Initiative, Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia
  • Ariel Ben-Amos, Green Infrastructure Partnership Manager, Transportation, Philadelphia Water Department
  • Ruth Birchett, Stadium Stompers/No Stadium No Deal Coalition*†
  • Kiki Bolender, Principal, AIA, Bolender Architects*
  • Brandy Bones, V.P. and Treasurer of Bella Vista Neighbors Association, member of the Philadelphia Crosstown Coalition†
  • Jeannette Brugger, AICP, Bicycle & Pedestrian Coordinator, Office of Transportation & Infrastructure Systems
  • Amy Laura Cahn, JD, Staff Attorney, Conservation Law Foundation
  • Garlen Capita, Urban Designer / Senior Associate, Wallace Roberts & Todd LLC*
  • Kistine Carolan, Data Services Director, Office of Digital Transformation and Open Data
  • Donna Carney, Director, Citizens Planning Institute, Philadelphia City Planning Commission*
  • John Carpenter Jr., Independent Consultant*
  • Jeff Carpineta, Board Member, East Kensington Neighbors Association†
  • Tempest Carter, Director of Community Development, Achievability †
  • Charlotte Caste, Vision Zero & Neighborhood Programs Coordinator, Office of Transportation & Infrastructure Systems
  • Stacey Chen, AICP, Senior Associate, Interface Studio
  • Andrew Ciampa, Life Community Association Land Trust
  • Christi Clark, Organizing Director, Women’s Community Revitalization Project*
  • Sarah Clark, Executive Director, Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia
  • Beverly Coleman, Assistant VP for Community Relations & Economic Development, Temple University
  • Jack Conviser, AICP, LEED GA, City Planner, Urban Design Division, Philadelphia City Planning Commission
  • Sarah Cordivano, Project Manager, Azavea
  • James Crowder, Senior Associate, PolicyLink
  • Jeanette Cuevas, Co-op Business Developer, Philadelphia Area Cooperative Alliance
  • Joanne Dahme, General Manager for Public Affairs, Philadelphia Water
  • Miaya Darby, Business Financial Resources Manager, Dept of Commerce
  • Keith F. Davis, City Planner, Philadelphia City Planning Commission
  • Martine Decamp, City Planner, Philadelphia City Planning Commission*
  • Patricia DeCarlo, Board Member, Advisory Board, Philadelphia Pre-K, Mayor’s Office of Education
  • Jen Devor, Civic Impact Manager, The Economy League †
  • Alex Dews, LEED AP BD+C, Executive Director, Delaware Valley Green Building Council
  • Danielle Dileo-Kim, AIA, Launch Director, Danielle Dileo-Kim LLC for USA250
  • Ariel Diliberto, Program Manager, Citizens Planning Institute, Philadelphia City Planning Commission*†
  • Akeem Dixon, Consultant, Little Giant Creative Marketing and Branding †
  • Emaleigh Doley, Co-Founder & Organizer, The W Rockland Street Project; Commercial Corridor Manager, Germantown United Community Development Corporation; Producer, TEDxPhiladelphia* † ‡
  • Aine Doley, Co-Founder & Organizer, The W Rockland Street Project†
  • Kimberlee Douglas, ASLA, RLA, LEED AP, Director of Landscape Architecture, Jefferson University
  • De’Wayne Drummond, President, Mantua Civic Association*†
  • Randy Duque, Deputy Director, Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations
  • Patty Elkis, Planning Division Director, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission
  • Lisa Jo Epstein, Executive Director, Just Act†
  • Nic Esposito- Zero Waste & Litter Director, Philadelphia Managing Director’s Office*
  • Troy Everwine, Board member, Tacony CDC†
  • Tony Ewing, Principal, Development and Construction, Shift Capital
  • Anne Fadullon, Director, Department of Planning and Development
  • Karen Fegely, Deputy Director of Neighborhood & Business Services, Commerce Department
  • Brett Feldman, zoning attorney at Klehr, Harrison, Harvey Branzburg LLP and Spruce Hill RCO Zoning Committee
  • Will Fernandez, Director of Audits and Investigations, Dept of Licenses & Inspections
  • David Ferris, Education Team – Economics & Governance, Highlander Research & Education Center
  • Erica Smith Fichman  – TreePhilly Program Manager, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation
  • Lynn Fisher, Community Preparedness Program Manager, Office of Emergency Management
  • James Flaherty, (retired) Senior Manager of Economic Development Initiatives, Commerce Department
  • Cheyenne Flores, Climate Resiliency Fellow, Office of Sustainability
  • Veronica Ayala Flores, Community Development Assistant, LISC Philadelphia
  • Owen Franklin, AICP, Pennsylvania State Director, The Trust for Public Land*‡
  • Larry Freedman, Zoning Committee Chair, Northern Liberties Neighbors Association,
  • Rich Freeh, City Energy Project Manager, Mayor’s Office of Sustainability*
  • Andrew Frishkoff, Executive Director, Philadelphia Local Initiatives Support Corporation
  • Shannon Garrison, Preservation Planner, Philadelphia Historical Commission†
  • Jamie R. Gauthier, Third District Councilmember, City of Philadelphia
  • Tina Geary, Passyunk Square Civic Association Zoning Committee
  • Emma Giardina, Community Resilience Coordinator, Office of Emergency Management *
  • Lauren Gilchrist, President, Director of Research for Philadelphia, JLL
  • Penelope Giles, Executive Director, Francisville Neighborhood Development Corporation
  • Olivia Gillison, Community Preparedness Program Manager, Office of Emergency Management (OEM)
  • Arthur Gimenez, Director of Business Development, Small Businesses and Neighborhood Development, PIDC
  • David Goldfarb, East Passyunk Crossing Civic Association†
  • Jonathan Goins, RCO Coordinator, PCPC
  • Lorraine Gomez, NAC Coordinator, Mount Vernon Manor CDC; Secretary, Centennial Parkside CDC†
  • Maria Gonzalez, President, HACE CDC
  • Tonnetta Graham, President, Strawberry Mansion Community Development Corporation †*
  • Ebony Griffin, Staff Attorney, The Public Interest Law Center
  • Abdul Qadeer Gulzari, Director of Business Financial and Technical Assistance, Dept of Commerce
  • David Gould, Deputy Director, Community Engagement & Communications, Rebuild Philadelphia
  • Rose Gray, Director for Development, Asociación de Puertorriqueños en Marcha (APM for Everyone)*
  • Jenny Greenberg, Executive Director, Neighborhood Gardens Trust
  • Alan Greenberger, FAIA, Distinguished Teaching Professor, Architecture, Drexel University*
  • Marty Gregorski, Director, Development Division, Philadelphia City Planning Commission
  • Donna Griffin, Community Capacity Builder Consultants*‡
  • Ebony Griffin, Staff Attorney for Environmental Justice, Public Interest Law Center
  • John Grossman, Philadelphia Green Program Director, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
  • Anuj Gupta, General Manager, Reading Terminal Market Corporation
  • Karen Guss, Director of Communications, Department of Licenses & Inspections
  • Dana Hanchin, President and CEO, Housing Development Corp. MidAtlantic
  • Jason Hammer, Public Health Preparedness Planner, Philadelphia Dept of Public Health
  • Jeffrey Harley, Called to Serve CDC †
  • Caroline Harries, AICP, Associate Director, The Food Trust
  • Andrew Hart, Assistant Professor of Architecture, Jefferson University †
  • Patrick Hauck, Realtor, Berkshire Hathaway
  • Tim Haynes, Senior Lead GIS Analyst, Office of Innovation and Technology
  • Ian Hegarty, City Planner, Philadelphia City Planning Commission*
  • Greg Heller, Executive Director, Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority*
  • Rachel Hildebrandt, Program Manager, Partners for Sacred Places †
  • Sheila Howard, Community Development, Tioga United †
  • Kevin Hunter, Senior Policy Analyst, Division of Development Services
  • Mike Jones, Member & former President, Powelton Village Civic Association
  • Aviva Kapust, Executive Director, Village of Arts & Humanities
  • Melissa Kim, Deputy Director, LISC Philadelphia
  • Stephanie Kindt, Senior Consultant, Change Management, Penn Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Health System†
  • Josh Klaris, Executive Director, North10 Philadelphia and the Lenfest Center*
  • Larissa Klevan, City Planner, Philadelphia City Planning Commission
  • Christine Knapp, Director, Office of Sustainability‡*
  • Nancy Kohn, Food Systems Strategist, Kohn Strategies; Adjunct Professor of Food Security in Public Policy, Delaware Valley University
  • Drew Kondylas, former volunteer, Francisville Neighborood Development Corporation†
  • Rebecca Lopez Kriss, Deputy Commissioner, Philadelphia Dept of Revenue
  • Tiffany Ledesma, Office of Watersheds & Public Affairs, Philadelphia Water Department*
  • Ben Leech, Preservationist, Architectural historian and Illustrator
  • Molly Lester, Research Associate, PennPraxis
  • Heidi Segall Levy, Director of Design Services, Community Design Collaborative
  • Ian Litwin, LEED-AP, City Planner, Philadelphia City Planning Commission*
  • Melissa Long, Director of Programs, Division of Housing & Community Development
  • Kenneth Luu, Deputy Service Officer, Mayor’s Office of Civic Engagement & Volunteer Service
  • Brett Martin, Inspector, Department of Licenses & Inspections
  • Sara Mattio, Lead GIS Analyst, Office of Innovation and Technology
  • Barbara McCabe, Director of Parks Stewardship Program, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation
  • Deborah McColloch, (retired) Director, Division of Housing & Community Development
  • Kelli McIntyre, MA, Physical Activity Coordinator, Get Healthy Philly, Philadelphia Department of Public Health
  • Andy Meloney, Senior Planner for Implementation, Philadelphia City Planning Commission*
  • Stephanie Michel, Director, North 5th Street Revitalization Project †
  • Amy Miller, Associate Planner, City of Santa Monica*
  • Beth Miller, Executive Director, Community Design Collaborative
  • Drew Miller, Riverward L&I Coalition †
  • Javier Mojica, Business Services Manager, Office of Business Services, Dept of Commerce
  • Mary C. Morton, AICP, Urban Designer + Planner, WRT
  • John Mondlak, Deputy Director, Department of Planning and Development*
  • Crystal Morris, President wynnefield Residents Association †
  • Gwen Morris, Mantua Civic Association
  • Carolyn Moseley, Tourism Committee Chair, Eastwick Friends and Neighbors Association†
  • Aazim Muhammad, President & CEO, Sister Clara Muhammad Community Development Corp.†
  • Denis Murphy, Director, Commercial Corridor Development, Commerce Department
  • Leah Murphy, Senior Associate, Interface Studio
  • Margaret Nersten, Deputy Campaign Director, Philadelphia Tenants Union
  • Tania Nikolic, Program Manager, Major Stations Planning & Development, Amtrak
  • Josh Nims, Operations Manager, Schuylkill River Development Corporation*
  • Jessica Noon, AICP, LEED-AP, Manager of Green Infrastructure Partnerships, Philadelphia Water Department*
  • Kelly Offner, Executive Director, Keep Philadelphia Beautiful
  • Kathryn Ott Lovell, Commissioner, Philadelphia Parks and Recreation
  • Nicole Ozdemir, City Planner, Philadelphia City Planning Commission*
  • Gabriella Gabriel Paez, Education and Community Development Coordinator, Esperanza
  • Bridget Palombo, Senior Associate, Consulting, The Food Trust
  • Scott Page, Principal, Interface Studio‡
  • Romain Paumard, Engagement Specialist, Mayor’s Office of Labor
  • Ebony Powell, Graduate student of University of Pennsylvania and Graduate Assistant at the Center for Public Health Initiatives †
  • Amelia Price, Corridor Manager, Called to Serve CDC †
  • Mathen Pullukattu, Real Estate Developer, Francisville Neighborhood Development Corporation member†
  • Daniel Ramos, Community Engagement Coordinator, Philly311
  • Clint Randall, Research Analyst, JLL*
  • Majeedah Rashid, Chief Operating Officer, Nicetown Community Development Corporation†*
  • Rick Redding, (retired) Director of Community Development, Philadelphia City Planning Commission*
  • Toki Rehder, Developer, Penrose Properties, LLC †
  • Naomi Roberson Reid, Community Engagement, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation†
  • Ash Richards, City Planner, Philadelphia City Planning Commission*
  • Mike Rispoli, News Voices Director, Free Press/Free Press Action Fund
  • Jennifer Rodriguez, President & CEO, Greater Philadelphia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
  • Angel Rodriguez, Executive Director, Philadelphia Land Bank
  • Antonio Romero, Community Schools Coordinator, Office of Education†
  • Charlene Samuels, Community Liaison, Councilperson Helen Gym
  • Anthony Santaniello, Supervisor, Transportation Planning & Analysis Unit, Streets Department
  • Rick Sauer, Executive Director, Philadelphia Association of Community Development Corporations
  • Shanta Schachter, Independent Consultant*
  • Sara Schuh, RLA, ASLA, Principal, SALT Design Studio
  • Dan Schupsky, Outreach Specialist, Philadelphia Water Department
  • Indira Scott, Deputy Commissioner for Administration, Licenses & Inspection
  • Julie Scott, Greening Lea Co-Chair, West Philly Coalition for Neighborhood Schools
  • Natalie Shieh, AICP, Project Director, 30th St. Station District Plan‡
  • Andrew Simpson, Transit Policy Planner, Office of Transportation, Infrastructure and Sustainability (OTIS)
  • Joyce Smith, Community Development Coordinator, Viola Street Residents Assoc.; Vice President, Centennial Parkside CDC*† ‡
  • Alex Smith, City Planner, Urban Design Division, Philadelphia City Planning Commission
  • Jarrett Smith, Campaign Director, Philadelphia Tenants Union
  • Laura Spina, Planning Division Director, Philadelphia City Planning Commission*
  • Megan Schmitt, Preservation Planner, Philadelphia Historical Commission
  • Dr. H. Ahada Stanford, Director of Neighborhood Business Development Strategies, Commerce Department
  • Angela Steele, Senior Project Manager, Stone Sherick Consulting Group †*
  • Heather Strassberger, AICP, Healthy Communities Planner, Philadelphia City Planning Commission
  • Kira Strong, Deputy Director of Design and Construction, Rebuilding Community Infrastructure (Rebuild), City of Philadelphia*
  • Salima Suswell, CEO, Evolve Solutions, LLC; National Diversity Director, Council for the Advancement of Muslim Professionals
  • Rebecca Swanson, Planning Director, Department of Licenses & Inspections
  • Kay Sykora, Destination Schuylkill Director, Manayunk Development Corporation
  • Joseph Syrnick, President & CEO, Schuylkill River Development Corporation† ‡
  • Eboni Taggart, Community Organizer, Women’s Community Revitalization Project
  • Owen Taylor, Director, Philadelphia Seed Exchange, in partnership with the Free Library of Philadelphia; Founder, Truelove Seeds
  • Vaughn Taylor, Director of Business Development, Small Businesses and Neighborhood Development, PIDC†
  • Maya Thomas, Dox Thrash House Project
  • Karen Thompson, Planner/Project Manager, Delaware River Waterfront Corporation
  • Brad Thorton, Project Manager, LRSLAstudio
  • Michael Thorpe, Executive Director, Mount Vernon Manor CDC†*
  • Tiffany W. Thurman, Chief of Staff, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation†
  • Andy Toy, former Board Member, Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation
  • Verna Tyner, Co-Founder & Business Agent, Tioga United; Chief of Staff, Councilman Greenlee
  • Jasmin Velez, Community Outreach Coordinator, Esperanza, Board member Neighborhood Gardens Trust
  • Paul Vernon, Managing Principal, KSK Architects, Planners, Historians Inc.
  • Stephanie Wall, Deputy Director of Community & Economic Development, People’s Emergency Center*
  • Judy Walterson, member of West Powelton/Saunders Park Registered Community Organization (RCO)†*
  • Kimberly Washington, Esq., Executive Director, Frankford Community Development Corporation *
  • Mindy Watts, Principal, Interface Studio LLC*
  • Marisa Waxman, AICP,  Budget Director, City of Philadelphia
  • Ken Weinstein, President of Philly Office Retail, LLC, entrepreneur & real estate developer*
  • Andrea Wenzel, PhD, Assistant Professor, Klein College of Media and Communication, Temple University
  • Mark Wheeler, interim Chief Information Officer, City of Philadelphia* ‡
  • Venise Whitaker, Constituent Services Representative, Office of Council President Darrell Clarke †*
  • Ron Whyte, Project Coordinator, Trash Academy, Mural Arts
  • Thomas Witt, Attorney, Cozen O’Connor*
  • Jacqueline J. Wiggins, Committee person, 32nd Ward*†
  • Janice Woodcock, AIA, President, Woodcock Design, Inc.
  • James Wright, Director of Community, Economic, and Real Estate Development, People’s Emergency Center Community Development Corporation
  • Sarah McKinstry-Wu, Deputy Director for Planning, Mayor’s Office of Sustainability*
  • Matt Wysong, City Planner, Philadelphia City Planning Commission
  • Kelley Yemen, Director, Complete Streets, Office of Transportation & Infrastructure Systems