LEADING MARKET SERIES
Expediting Project Success: Mastering Municipal Approvals
A Joint Event With
Join us for an exclusive opportunity to hear directly from planning directors across multiple municipalities on how to navigate and streamline the city approval process.
This event is essential for developers, architects, planners, zoning attorneys and contractors who depend on swift project approvals to keep their work on track.
Co-hosted with the AIA Phoenix Metro chapter, this event brings together the industry’s best minds to discuss practical strategies, share insider tips and offer solutions that can significantly impact the efficiency of your projects
Thanks to our Sponsor:
September 11, 2024
9:00-10:00 AM
SkySong Scottsdale
EVENT REGISTRATION
AIA Members: Buy tickets on the AIA Phoenix Metro website at a reduced rate.
Non-members must register through the BEX Events website using the button above.
Prefer to register for this event offline?
No problem! Please call or email Monica Tapia at (480) 848-3673 or mtapia@azbex.com to pay with a credit card or request an invoice for payment by check.
Please note: Refunds are offered without exception up to three days prior to the event. Unfortunately refunds are not offered within three days of the event.
CONFIRMED SPEAKERS
Joshua Bednarek | City of Phoenix | Planning and Development Director
Joshua is the Planning and Development director for the city of Phoenix, the fifth largest city in the United States. The Department works with the community to develop the long-range vision of the city and administers the zoning ordinance as well as reviews all plans, issues permits and inspects all construction projects. The Department also includes the Historic Preservation Office, which manages the city’s historic resources and historic neighborhoods. Planning & Development has a $101 million annual budget and employs 545 staff for a 519 square-mile city. Joshua has been working in various positions within the planning field for more than 20 years and has held several board positions with the Arizona Chapter of the American Planning Association. Joshua has a Bachelor in Political Science from the University of Arizona and Masters of Urban and Environmental Planning from Arizona State University.
Michael Clack | City of Scottsdale | Building Official
Michael Clack currently serves as the building Official for the City of Scottsdale, Arizona. He has a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Texas Tech University. Prior to joining Scottsdale Michael was employed by the City of San Antonio, Texas from 1987 to 2004. He progressively advanced to positions of increasing challenges and responsibilities as Building Inspector, Chief Building Inspector and as the Assistant Director of Development Services starting in 1990. Michael has been an active member of the International Code Council (ICC) since 1990. He has served on the International Code Council Evaluation Committee (ICC-ES) for over 7 years and is currently a member of the ICC-ES Board of Managers (over 12 years). In addition to the over 35 years of in building code enforcement, Michael has 10 years of experience in the field of Architecture having worked for various architecture firms in San Antonio. Most notably he has written specifications for a wide range of commercial projects.
Brian Craig | City of Buckeye | Development Services Director
Brian Craig serves as the Development Services Director for the City of Buckeye, guiding a Department inclusive of Planning, Building Safety, Civil Engineering, and Permitting staff. Before relocating to Arizona, Brian received bachelor’s degrees in Geology and Environmental Geography from the University of Northern Iowa and an Urban Planning Master’s degree from the University of Iowa. Since taking on his current role in Buckeye in 2021, Brian has focused the Development Services Department into one which prioritizes speed to market and responsive communication, improving service delivery to development partners in a community consistently ranked amongst the fastest growing mid-sized cities in the country. Brian has more than 17 years of public sector planning and development experience and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP).
Ryan Levesque | City of Tempe | Deputy Community Development Director - Planning
Ryan Levesque is the Deputy Community Development Director – for the Planning Division. For the past 10 years, Ryan has lead the Planning Division in all Zoning and Design Review cases, Code Text Amendments, processing the General Plan, as well as Historic Preservation and other Long Range Planning efforts. Ryan is a 24-year career with the City of Tempe. Started out as Intern while attending ASU and never looked back. Ryan has a Bachelors of Science in Urban Planning and is a Certified Public Manager, all through Arizona State University. My most recent claim to fame, I was in a featured article for the American Planning Magazine, and one of my photos was selected for the cover page for the Summer 2024 publication. Check it out: Planning Magazine Summer 2024 The article: https://www.planning.org/planning/2024/apr/bringing-culdesacs-car-free-vision-into-focus/
Shawn Swisher | Jones Studio | Senior Associate - MODERATOR
Shawn Swisher joined Jones Studio in 2018 as an architect and designer, becoming a Senior Associate in 2022. Born and raised in Phoenix, he earned degrees in architecture from the University of Southern California and University of California, Berkeley, before returning to the desert. Shawn has a diverse breadth of experience working on projects in the US and abroad, developing designs from the earliest concept stages through construction. As an architect and designer, he brings project designs to life and into the built environment. Shawn has taught design studios at the University of Arizona and has been a guest critic at UA, ASU, USC, and Berkeley. As an advocate for equitable design solutions and innovative, resilient design, he currently serves as the chair of the City of Tempe Sustainability & Resilience Commission. Shawn is also the co-creator and co-host of the podcast Tracing Architecture, which explores the architecture industry’s various interdependent layers. In 2023, he received the AIA Arizona AIA10 Award, recognizing his contributions to the profession through his service and design work.
REGISTERED ATTENDEES
| First Name | Last Name | Title | Company |
| Elvia | Aldaco | Business Development | Amenity Pool |
| Monica | Anderson | Office Administrator | BEX |
| Chase | Anderson | CEO | A.T. Meridian |
| Nathan | Anderson | Project Manager | A.T. Meridian |
| Matt | Avila | Sr. Market Development Manager | Mortenson |
| Spencer | Bates | Project Designer | Jones Studio |
| Joshua | Bednarek | Planning and Development Director | City of Phoenix |
| Robin | Benning | Architect & Partner | Sketch Architecture Company |
| Mike | Bontrager | VP/GM | Alston Construction |
| Robert | Burgheimer | Principal | Sketch Architecture Company |
| Brandon | Campbell | Project Manager | Derek Builders |
| Brandon | Campbell | Project Manager | DEREK BUILDERS |
| Sergio | Carrasco | Associate | Holly Street Studio |
| Tanya | Carrazco | Business Development/Client Relations | Wright Engineers |
| Chris | Cathcart | VP / Director of Operations | YSC Paving |
| Alex | Chavez | Project Captain | Butler Design Group |
| Michael | Clack | Building Official | City of Scottsdale |
| Radames | Cocco | Principal Electrical Engineer | Spectrum Engineers |
| Casey | Cody | Managing Partner | White Space Development |
| Russ | Combs | Director of Design | GLHN Architects & Engineers, Inc. |
| Kelsey | Cooper | Project Manager | CHASSE Building Team |
| Brian | Craig | Development Services Director | City of Buckeye |
| Vanessa | Cruz | Business Development & Marketing Coordinator | Danson Construction |
| John | Czarnecki | Executive Director | AIA Arizona |
| Jason | Danielak | Senior Architect | Mor Studio |
| Jay | Dee Woods | Owner | 312 Architect and Design |
| April | Didlake | Director of Business Development | SmithGroup |
| Rob | Dorris | Business Development | Redden Construction, Inc |
| Travis | Dunn | Project Manager | Dibble |
| Randy | Eskelson | Vice President Business Development | Gray Wolf |
| Chase | Farnsworth | Project Development Executive | Mortenson |
| Hector | Fimbres | Principal | Fimbres Studio |
| Hayley | Freestone | Business Development Manager | A.R. Mays Construction |
| Bryan | Galli | West Coast Market President | Archall Architects |
| Deann | Gates | Director of Business Development & Marketing | Martin White Griffis Structural Engineers |
| Tiffany | Gorrell | Sr. Marketing Coordinator | GLHN Architects & Engineers, Inc. |
| Susan | Gray | Principal | BWS Architects |
| Juan Carlos | Gutierrez | Architect | Holly Street Studio |
| Shannon | Hanna | Director of Operations | triARC Architecture & Design |
| Maurita | Harris | Senior Architect | PHX Architecture |
| Jeremy | Harrs | Senior Project Manager | A.T. Meridian |
| Delbert | Hawk | Business Development Manager | Spectra Electrical Services |
| Bill | Headley | Senior Vice President | Holder Construction |
| Chad | Hilke | Architect | BWS Architects |
| Eva | Hoffman | Senior Manager | SCS Engineers |
| Michele | Hollenbaugh | Principal Architect | Carollo Engineers, Inc. |
| Andrea | Howard | Market Researcher | BEX |
| Dean | Howard | VP Business Development | Chanen Construction |
| Danielle | Intorf | Business Development | Sundt Construction |
| Everett | Jesse | VP/CFO | Signature Projects |
| Brianna | Johnson | Market Researcher | BEX |
| Edward | Jones | Owner | Jones Studio |
| Elissa | Kelly | Director, Business Development | ARCHSOL |
| Taz | Khatri | Principal/Owner | Taz Khatri Studios |
| Kurt | Kindermann | Managing Principal | MBJ |
| Aaliyah | Koelzer | Market Researcher | BEX |
| sin hei | kwok | Owner | SinHei Kwok, AIA I HKIA |
| Colin | Laisure-Pool | Sales Engineer | MPSW |
| Erica | Lange | Business Development Coordinator | Arrington Watkins Architects |
| Jen | LaPointe | Owner | Take Flight, LLC |
| Ryan | Levesque | Deputy Community Development Director – Planning | City of Tempe |
| Sarah | Levi | Membership Manager | AIA Arizona |
| Eric | Loeffler | Project Manager | CHASSE Building Team |
| Anna | Madrid | Business Manager | Derek Builders |
| Abby | Madrigal | Associate/Project Director | Butler Design Group |
| Helaman | Madrigal | Controller | A.T. Meridian |
| David | Maldonado-Camou | Senior Project Manager | Bowman |
| Thomas | Maples | Project Executive | DPR Construction |
| Kelsey | Marks | Events and Marketing Coordinator | BEX |
| Ken | Martinek | Architectural Sales Representative | YKKAP |
| Delia | Martinez | Project Captain | Butler Design Group |
| Scott | Mattern | Director of Business Development | A.T. Meridian |
| Todd | McMillen | Project Executive | Kitchell |
| Donna | Mertes | President | GLHN Architects & Engineers, Inc. |
| Chris | Moore | General Manager | Ryatt Construction |
| Rebekah | Morris | President & Founder | BEX |
| Roland | Murphy | Managing Editor | BEX |
| Kim | Murphy | Business Development | CHASSE Building Team |
| Amanda | Murray | Market Researcher | BEX |
| Kris | Ontiveros | Owner | 312 Architect and Design |
| Lya | Parrish | DATABEX Manager | BEX |
| Tyler | Paulsen | Technical Leader – Engineering | Olsson |
| Jonathan | Peiffer | Architect & Production Manager | Sketch Architecture Company |
| Jacob | Phillips | Graphic Designer | BEX |
| Crystal | Pierce | Business Development Rep | FFKR Architects |
| Rob | Previte | Sr. Project Manager | Kitchell |
| Taylor | Radford | Project Manager | Butler Design Group |
| Chad | Schleicher | Director of Business Development | Adolfson and Peterson Construction |
| Lindsey | Schultz | Associate | Meyer Borgman Johnson |
| Steve | Shaw | Project Director | Kitchell |
| Nick | Sherman | Architecture Dept Manager | Paradigm Design, PC |
| Diana | Smith | Director of Local Chapters | AIA Arizona |
| Nathan | Sonoskey | Development Manager/Architect | Blue Lantern Development |
| Nick | St. Clair | Project Manager | Arizona Corporate Builders |
| Trennis | Stanley | Project Manager | DCS Contracting, Inc |
| Raegina | Steele | Sales Associate | BEX |
| Scott | Swenson | President | YSC Paving |
| Shawn | Swisher | Senior Associate | Jones Studio |
| Hansen | Thornley | Estimator | A.T. Meridian |
| Taylor | Townsend | Architect | Weddle Gilmore |
| Joseph | Vallejo | Sales Manager | Agate Steel |
| Ethan | Washburn | Structural Engineer | Kimley Horn |
| Gabriella | Weiss | Client Relationship Manager | Concord Inc. |
| Korey | Wilkes | Principal | Butler Design Group |
| Chase | Woosley | Project Architect | Cotton Architecture |
| Shay | Wright | Director of Business Development | HP Engineering |
| Kayla | Zimmerman | Project Manager | A.T. Meridian |
Last Updated 9/10/2024
AGENDA
8:30 – 9:00 AM
Registration Opens & Networking
9:00 – 10:00 AM
Panel Discussion
10:00 – 10:30 AM
Networking
LOCATION
ASU SkySong Scottsdale
1365 N. Scottsdale Road; Building 3, Scottsdale, AZ 85257
Synergy Conference Room I & II