GPA members Recognized at National Planning Conference
This year at the National Planning Conference (NPC25) in Denver, during the Chapter President’s Council (CPC) business meeting, two of our own GPA members were recognized.
Whitney Shephard
Whitney Shephard, PE, LEEP AP, M.ASCE was awarded the CPC Lynn Jorgenson Award, which recognizes a chapter volunteer for service to our chapter, CPC, and advancing the professional development beyond the norm to advance the interests of their chapter and the planning profession.
She has served many leadership roles in the Georgia Chapter. Most recently, she has served as the Georgia Chapter President, which includes President-Elect and Past President from 2021-2024. Prior to being elected to the Presidential term, she served as the Georgia Chapter Board District 9 Director from 2014-2020. While a District Director, Whitney established the Chapter’s Mentor Program, which celebrated 10 years in 2024. She successfully transitioned leadership of the Mentor Committee to a new Chair, and the Program she helped establish has had over 150 participants from all career stages within the Chapter. Whitney served as one of the country’s first Emerging Planners Group chairs and supported the development of national guidance to support other chapters as they formed EPGs.
During her Presidential term, Whitney embraced the role of President and advocate for Planning, both in the State of Georgia but also across the U. S. She was an active participant in the APA “It Takes a Planner” campaign, working with APA staff on a pilot project to promote Planning in Georgia.
Whitney has served as a leader in planning and the planning profession both statewide and locally. As a planner working in the Savannah and Chatham County area, she has worked closely with elected and business leadership in Savannah, Georgia to integrate health considerations into planning. She has helped to communicate the need to plan for housing for the entire community.
Whitney has made significant contributions to local and regional nonprofits that focus on housing, mobility for all, equity, social justice, education, and policy advocacy. She brings planning insights and strategies to these organizations and their campaigns, demonstrating the value of data, mapping, deep public engagement and involvement of underserved populations to our joint efforts.
Erin Thorenson
Erin Thoresen, AICP was recognized as 2024 Outstanding Chapter Volunteer for her program contributions, innovation, and collaboration.
She has served as both the Georgia Chapter District 3 Director and the Chair of the Chapter’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee. Erin has been a very active member of the Georgia Chapter Board and has gone above and beyond in 2024.
In her role as District Director, Erin took the lead in 2024 to host a
District 3 event with the Georgia Section of ITE on the Safe Streets for All Program. The lunch and learn event featured a panel discussion with representatives from three metro counties and cities, and Erin served as the panel moderator. Over 100 planners and engineers attended the lunch, which included continuing education (CE) and CM credits. Erin also provided on-site assistance at the Spring Conference registration table and provided news updates for the Georgia Chapter newsletter throughout the year.
As Chair of the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee, she has worked with committee members to make meaningful contributions to planning in Georgia to advance the committee’s mission. Under her leadership, the committee membership has grown to a roster of nearly 30 participants, and the committee meets regularly on the 4th Friday of the month via Teams, which permits participation statewide. In 2024, the EDI committee has undertaken a number of initiatives
including conducting a panel discussion in March for International Women’s Day on March 8 and recommending to Georgia Chapter Board to consider requiring salary range information with jobs posted on GPA website to support pay equity and salary transparency, which the Board adopted.
Erin is always ready to lend a hand and step into assist whatever the task. Erin is committed to the planning profession, advancing planning, and contributing to the success of the Georgia Chapter of APA.
Thank you to Whitney and Erin for your service to GPA and the Planning Profession!