2026 Georgia Elections Results
The results are in. Please join us in congratulating and welcoming new and returning members to the Georgia Planning Association Board of Directors!
President-Elect
Erin Thoresen, AICP
Erin will serve as the next President-Elect of the Georgia Chapter. She will serve a four-year term, starting as President-Elect in 2027, President in 2028-2029, and Past-President in 2030. Erin is a project manager in Gresham Smith’s Transportation Market, where she currently leads the Georgia Planning team. Her broad background includes a degree in art and art history, years of work in the nonprofit community planning sector, and more than ten years in transportation. Erin is motivated by her love of cities, travel, and improving health, mobility, and safety. She currently serves as the Chair of GPA’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee and previously served two terms as District 3 Director from 2022 to 2025.
AICP Director at Large
Jessica Guinn, AICP
Jessica has been a planner in both public and private sector roles for over twenty years. In 2019, she was selected as Community Development Agency Director for Cobb County, where she leads a team of approximately 130 planning, permitting and inspections, business license, code enforcement, economic development, and GIS professionals.
AICP Director at Large
John Thompson, AICP
John brings a background in transportation planning, including experience at HNTB in Atlanta, and a master’s in City and Regional Planning from UNC-Chapel Hill. He is passionate about supporting Georgia’s planning community.
District 8 Director
Alexandra Arzayus
Alexandra is a Regional Planner with the Southern Georgia Regional Commission, where she works with communities throughout South Georgia on hazard mitigation, zoning, land use planning, and community development initiatives. She is committed to advancing the planning profession through collaboration, mentorship, and service and looks forward to representing the interests of planners throughout District 8.
Congratulations to District 2 Director Lara M. Parker, District 4 Director; Amanda Jensen, AICP, CFM; and District 6 Director Carla Delaney, MPA, AICP; on their reelection to serve on the GPA Board. All board terms will commence on January 1, 2027. We extend gratitude to Gregory Brown, Elena Oertel, and Dana Spayde for their 2026 board nominations as well as to Richard Osborne, AICP; Tate Wilson, AICP, and Bridget Lidy, AICP who served on the 2026 Nominations and Elections Committee.
Kristen Wescott, AICP
Past-President and Chair of the 2026 GPA Nominations and Elections Committee