Fall Planners Day
4 CM credits total
Speaker Bios
Session1- New York State Reforming the Energy Vision (REV) and
Community Development Opportunities
Reforming the Energy Vision (REV) is a major decision-making process
underway now to transform the retail electricity market and overhaul
New York's energy efficiency and renewable energy programs. The
stated goal of the proceeding is to create a cleaner, more affordable,
more modern and more efficient energy system in New York, through
the increased development of distributed energy resources, like
rooftop solar, energy efficiency, and battery storage. REV will be and is
already providing significant opportunities in planners efforts to
revitalize neighborhoods and promote smart growth opportunities.
This session will provide a brief overview of REV and how the CNY
RPDB is preparing to utilize strategies and REV resources.
Speaker
Chris Carrick- Central New York Regional planning and Development
Board (CNY RPDB)
Chris Carrick directs the Energy Management Program for the Central
New York Regional Planning and Development Board, a public agency
that provides a range of services associated with the growth and
development of communities in Central New York. In that capacity,
Chris promotes the use of energy efficiency and conservation
measures and is actively engaged in the development of clean energy
projects throughout the region. Chris received his Master’s degree in
Community Development from the University of California-Davis and
was a Fulbright Scholar and Ford Foundation Fellow as a doctoral
student in City and Regional Planning at Cornell University. He has
over fifteen years of experience in energy project management,
community and economic development and environmental planning.
Session 2- Enhanced Transit Planning in New York State
Across the country, municipalities and transit agencies have increased
their consideration of two transit applications (Bus Rapid Transit [BRT]
and Light Rail Transit [LRT]) for connectivity and economic
development purposes. This session will provide a brief overview on
BRT and LRT, the role MPOs may play in project development and,
focus on recent enhanced transit planning activities complete or
underway in the Albany, Buffalo and Syracuse metropolitan areas.
Speakers
Rachel Maloney Joyner- Buffalo NFTA
Rachel Maloney Joyner is a transportation planner at the NFTA in
Buffalo, NY. She is responsible for multiple long term planning
projects; formal and informal public outreach; oversight of sub
recipient projects as well as developing polices to ensure compliance
with federal and state regulations. She had a significant role in the
establishment of the Citizen’s Advisory Committee and is responsible
for the continued success of the committee. Rachel received her
bachelor’s in Political Science at Gannon University and her Masters of
Urban and Regional Planning at SUNY Buffalo. She is very interested in
all modes of transportation including transit, biking and walking. She
lives in South Buffalo with her husband.
Mario Colone- SMTC
Mario Colone is the Program Manager with the Syracuse Metropolitan
Transportation Council, the Syracuse area’s Metropolitan Planning
Organization. With over 13 years of experience focused on the
advancement of transportation planning, he has led a multitude of
projects including transit feasibility studies and coordination efforts.
Mario is also a member of the Accessible Transportation Advisory
Council formed by and housed under the Central New York Regional
Transportation Authority to discuss and identify potential actions for
the public transit system’s paratransit service.
Ross Farrell- CDTA
Ross Farrell is the Director of Planning for the Capital District
Transportation Authority where he manages projects and staff
associated with strategic planning and service planning initiatives. He
is currently project manager for Washington-Western Bus Rapid
Transit and River Corridor Bus Rapid Transit lines. Ross received his
Master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University at
Albany in 2007.
Sandy Misiewicz, AICP- CDTC
Sandy Misiewicz, AICP is a Senior Transportation Planner II with the
Capital District Transportation Committee (CDTC). She has been with
CDTC since 1998 when she received her Master’s degree in Urban and
Regional Planning from the University at Albany. Among other tasks,
Sandy currently manages the Community and Transportation Linkage
Planning program and assists CDTA on regional transit planning
initiatives.
Session 3 – How Green Are We? Sustainability in the “Green”
Industry
Bruce Zaretsky, Zaretsky and Associates, Inc.
Bruce is a New York State Certified Nursery and Landscape
Professional and a 1983 graduate of Alfred University in New York
(B.A. Chemistry). He has worked in the landscape design and
construction industry since 1979, with vast experience in the
construction of landscape features, including large-scale retaining
walls, paving, lighting and water features. Bruce’s design skills and
creativity are well-known not only in the Rochester area, but also
nationally. He is certified by the Chicago Botanic Garden in Health Care
Garden Design, which focuses on horticultural therapy gardens for
assisted living, Alzheimer’s care, children and the physically disabled.
The owner of his own firm since 1989, Bruce has been driven to
educate his colleagues as well as his clients in the proper techniques of
construction and design. His monthly column, On the Level, is featured
in the professional trade journal WaterShapes, which is read nationally
and internationally by members of the landscaping industry. Bruce has
published over 100 articles on the design and construction of water
features, retaining walls, low-voltage landscape lighting and landscape
design in such journals as American Nurseryman, and The Journal of
Light Construction. The company newsletter, "Dirt Digger", is a threetimes-yearly compilation of construction and design tips for clients
and colleagues and was used for many years as a regular feature in
Pond & Garden magazine. Bruce was also an Editorial Advisor for
Scapes Magazine, a project publication of the Medill School of
Journalism at Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois.
Bruce is the Landscape Consultant to the Town of Penfield, Monroe
County, New York, responsible for review of landscape design and
installation of all municipal, subdivision and commercial projects
proposed in the confines of the town. His steadfast commitment to
the environment is leading the Town of Penfield to consider the use of
more sustainable and environmentally sound development of its
lands, including water management and green roof technologies.
He has given numerous lectures locally and nationally, (including at
the International Pool and Spa Expo, New England Grows, CENTS and
at ANLA’s annual Management Clinic), and is on the faculty of the
Chicago Botanic Garden, Iowa State University Short Course Program
and Ohio State University. Bruce also teaches numerous courses for
the Rochester Civic Garden Center's horticultural education programs.