Thank you for a successful 2025 GPA Fall Conference that was held on Wednesday, October 8 – Friday, October 10, at the Classic Center in Athens, GA.
Fall Conference
Bridging the Gaps: Planning for All came to life in Athens, October 8–10—and it’s all thanks to you! With close to 300 attendees, the energy, ideas, and collaboration created an inspiring three days that truly showcased the very best of Georgia planning. From the moment the doors opened at The Classic Center, the spirit of connection and community filled every room. Together, we explored how planners across the state are creating more connected, inclusive, and resilient places for all.
We’re deeply grateful to our sponsors, speakers, moderators, volunteers, and our generous host community in Athens for helping make this event such a success. Your dedication, creativity, and support made it all possible.
As we close out another amazing conference, we can’t wait to see how you carry this inspiration forward in your work and communities. Thank you for being part of the GPA family and for helping us continue to bridge the gaps—building stronger, more vibrant places across Georgia.
Contact GPA’s VP of Programs with questions.
Fall Conference Highlights
Wednesday evening set the perfect tone for the days ahead with a warm and inspiring welcome from Athens-Clarke County Mayor Kelly Girtz and Planning Department Director Bruce Lonnee, who reminded us why Athens stands as a shining example of creative community building and forward-thinking planning. A special thank you to our Keynote Panelists—Bruce Stiftel, Whitney Shephard, and Jason Jordan—for their thought-provoking discussion, Planners’ Legislative Advocacy. Their insights on how advocacy shapes planning at every level inspired us to think globally while acting locally.
The conference featured more than 30 dynamic sessions, four engaging student presentations, and seven exciting mobile workshops that brought Athens-Clarke County to life. Attendees experienced the city through the lens of creativity with our Creative Documentation exhibit, showcasing sketches, photography, and storytelling inspired by Athens’ vibrant urban fabric. Each day offered something new—from energizing morning wellness activities and lively Breakfast Talks to focused CM sessions on ethics, equity, law, sustainability, and resiliency.
Thursday’s lunch program featured the Annual Membership Meeting and GPA Awards, where we celebrated the outstanding people, projects, and initiatives shaping Georgia’s planning landscape. Later that evening, attendees gathered for a lively Happy Hour hosted by the Emerging Planners Group (EPG) and the University of Georgia’s Master of Urban Planning and Design program. The creative studio setting provided the perfect backdrop for networking and fun, and podcaster King David brought incredible energy to the night—his engaging presence was truly a highlight of the evening!
Complete Surveys in the Mobile Conference Guide
The GPA Conference program is paper free! You can still access the mobile guide and complete surveys for the individual sessions you attended as well as the survey for the overall conference.Â
Your input is important for planning future conferences including the Spring Conference and next year’s Fall Conference. Thank you!
Keynote Address
Planners’ Legislative Advocacy: Atlanta, Washington, Nairobi
A special thank you to our Keynote Panelists—Bruce Stiftel, Georgia Legislative Committee Chair; Whitney Shephard, Immediate Past GPA President; and Jason Jordan, APA’s National Policy & Advocacy Director and UN-Habitat delegate—for their thought-provoking discussion, Planners’ Legislative Advocacy. Their insights on how advocacy shapes planning at every level inspired us to think globally while acting locally.
Presentations
The 2025 Fall Conference presentations are available here for your viewing.
- 10X Downtowns: 10 Transformative Ideas for Revitalizing City Cores
- A Conversation about APA and AICP Policies and Programs
- A Year Without Dots: Kicking the Sticky Habit in Public Engagement
- Breaking the Planning Paralysis: Doraville’s Comeback Story
- Bridging the Gap: Integrating Infrastructure & Land Use Planning
- Climate Action Plans in Georgia
- Community 101: Proposing Change through Empowerment
- Delivering the Goods: Regional Freight Planning with a Local Focus
- Different Perspectives in Developing Policy: A Data Center Discussion
- Eradicate the FLU(M)!
- From Vacancy to Vibrancy: Financing the Revival of Georgia’s Forgotten Spaces
- LCI@25: Looking Back, Moving Forward
- Linking Layers: Improving Access in the Athens Entertainment District
- Local Actions for Sustainable Communities: An Interactive Dive into ARC’s Green Communities Program
- Making the Case for Design Guidelines
- Maximize the Benefits of the Urban Forest Through Best Practices and Better Ordinances
- Moving I-20 East Forward: Comprehensive Transportation Planning in Newton and Rockdale Counties
- Navigating a Changing Grants Landscape
- Neighborhoods at the (Urban) Core of Comprehensive Planning and Zoning
- Not the Stitch: Learning from two Atlanta Reconnecting Communities Projects Finding New Paths Forward
- Paradise Park: Reigniting a Historic Park to Showcase the World’s Most Diverse Ecosystem
- Partnerships as a Tool for Meaningful Planning and Plan Implementation
- Planners’ Legislative Advocacy: Atlanta, Washington, Nairobi
- Plugged In: Trends, Opportunities and Insights into Georgia’s E-Mobility Landscape
- Reflections on Planning and Leadership- A Conversation with GPA Presidents
- Restitching Communities: A Bold, Equitable Vision for the Stone Mountain Trail Corridor
- SS4A – Lessons Learned and Pathways to Implementation
- Streetcar Proposal in Athens, GA
- The Positive Social Impact of Public Art
- Thomasville’s Innovative Zoning Strategy to Revitalize Traditional Neighborhoods
- Towards a Resilient Georgia: How the Carl Vinson Institute of Government is Helping Communities Address a Changing Landscape
- Trust-Funded Futures: Housing Trust Funds as Tools for Affordability and Revitalization
 
