As the Southwest Section of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Planning Association, we represent a diverse and far-ranging group of communities. From the bucolic farmlands of Fulton County to the urban core of Allegheny County, we are a group of planners and like-minded individuals who support healthy communities and vibrant places. Among other things, we share in common a desire to make great communities happen in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The counties that make up our section are: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Blair, Butler, Cambria, Fayette, Fulton, Greene, Huntingdon, Indiana, Somerset, Washington, and Westmoreland.
Focus Areas
In January and February of 2019, the newly elected Southwest Section Council worked together, in a series of strategic planning sessions, to establish some clear priorities for the Section. The product of this work identified two distinct Focus Areas for the Section. These Focus Areas will be used to organize our internal and external efforts over the next 12 months.
The first Focus Area is Mentorship. The Council defined Mentorship as all the activities that revolve around knowledge sharing and assisting students and less experienced planners in gaining expertise and building professional networks. Goals associated with this focus area include:
The second Focus Area prioritized by the Council is Capacity Building. The Council defined Capacity Building as training and educational activities designed to enhance the knowledge and skill of people interested in building successful communities at the local level. Goals associated with this Focus Area include:
Focus Areas
In January and February of 2019, the newly elected Southwest Section Council worked together, in a series of strategic planning sessions, to establish some clear priorities for the Section. The product of this work identified two distinct Focus Areas for the Section. These Focus Areas will be used to organize our internal and external efforts over the next 12 months.
The first Focus Area is Mentorship. The Council defined Mentorship as all the activities that revolve around knowledge sharing and assisting students and less experienced planners in gaining expertise and building professional networks. Goals associated with this focus area include:
- Developing a formal Mentorship Program for the Section
- Creating partnerships with regional colleges and universities
- Hosting events that include students, faculty, and staff from local institutions
- Creating opportunities to connect practicing professionals with students and less experienced planners
- Inviting representatives from other organizations with successful mentorship programs to interact with SW Section members
- Developing marketing materials for the mentorship program
The second Focus Area prioritized by the Council is Capacity Building. The Council defined Capacity Building as training and educational activities designed to enhance the knowledge and skill of people interested in building successful communities at the local level. Goals associated with this Focus Area include:
- Collecting ideas from Section members regarding potential capacity building topics
- Partnering with other organizations that have a capacity building mission and focus
- Developing a formal capacity building program and points of contact
- Creating a list of possible topics and associated presenters
Section Chair / Chapter Prof. Chap. Rep.
Laura Ludwig, AICP | HRG
Laura Ludwig's favorite part about working in the planning field, and specifically planning in local government, is that no day is ever the same. You never what types of questions you will get asked or who will stop in the office! Every day is a new adventure and she is constantly learning new things and being challenged to come up with solutions to different issues. Her passion for planning, like most planners, comes from a desire to make a difference and to make our communities a better place to live, work, play, and explore. In her spare time, Laura enjoys running, going to Orange Theory Fitness, biking and hiking on the vast array of trails around the region, and spending time with her husband Mike, daughter Alexandra (7), and son Evan (4).
Vice Chair
Jeff Raykes, AICP | City of Greensburg
Jeff Raykes is a professional planner who lives and works in the college community of Indiana, Pennsylvania, home to Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP). Currently Jeff is employed as Planning Director for the City of Greensburg and moonlights as an adjunct professor in the newly accredited Regional Planning Program (2012) at IUP and partner at Stuart Group Consulting, LLC. Over the last two decades Jeff’s professional and academic interests have revolved around the planning challenges unique to, but common among college towns. In his spare time Jeff enjoys hiking, camping, and fly-fishing with his family and exploring large and small college communities wherever he travels. Jeff holds graduate degrees from IUP and an undergraduate degree from Frostburg State University in western Maryland.
(Interim) Secretary
Amy Wiles, AICP | E. Holdings, Inc.
Amy Wiles is the Manager of Planning and Design at E. Holdings, Inc., a consulting firm in Pittsburgh. Amy serves as project manager for a variety of planning projects, including community visioning studies and wayfinding and signage master plans, along with assisting in regional community engagement efforts. Amy took over the Secretary duties after Rhiannon Haller stepped down to focus on her family in December 2019. Amy graduated from Pennsylvania State University and enjoys spending time with her family, traveling and being active outdoors with her dog.
Treasurer
Daniel Carpenter | Westmoreland County
Daniel Carpenter is currently the Assistant Deputy Director of the Westmoreland County Department of Planning and Development. He holds a Bachelor’s, Master’s, and graduate certificate from the University of South Florida. Daniel’s planning interests include urban design, land use, incremental development, transportation, and community outreach. His hobbies include shooting sports, photography, cornhole, and golf. Daniel lives in Greensburg with his wife Laurie and their two sons, Jackson (6) and Davis (2).
Professional Planner / Member-at-Large
Joshua Spano | Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission
Joshua Spano is a Transportation Planner at the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC), the MPO serving the greater Pittsburgh 10-county area. He leads and administers SPC’s safety programs including Road Safety Audits, Corridor Planning Studies, and Traffic Incident Management. He also is the Assistant Project Manager for SPC’s Regional Traffic Signal Program and contributes to Intelligent Transportation Systems planning. Joshua received his B.A. degree in Geography from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown and his M.S. degree in Geography, with concentration in Regional Planning and Environmental Planning, from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2011 and 2013, respectively. In addition, he is a weather geek, pizza addict, golf enthusiast, and a Pitt Football fanatic.
Professional Planner / Member-at-Large
Corey Young | Washington & Jefferson College
Corey Young is the Director of the Center for Energy Policy and Management (CEPM) at Washington & Jefferson College. Before coming to the CEPM, Mr. Young worked as a transit planner in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. There, he collaborated with municipal officials to establish rural access to BRT and promoted transit-oriented economic development. Corey earned his Master’s in City and Regional Planning from Clemson University. In addition to his work with the APA, he serves as the president of the Three Rivers Chapter of the United States Association for Energy Economics.
Professional Planner / Member-at-Large
** OPEN **
Laura Ludwig, AICP | HRG
Laura Ludwig's favorite part about working in the planning field, and specifically planning in local government, is that no day is ever the same. You never what types of questions you will get asked or who will stop in the office! Every day is a new adventure and she is constantly learning new things and being challenged to come up with solutions to different issues. Her passion for planning, like most planners, comes from a desire to make a difference and to make our communities a better place to live, work, play, and explore. In her spare time, Laura enjoys running, going to Orange Theory Fitness, biking and hiking on the vast array of trails around the region, and spending time with her husband Mike, daughter Alexandra (7), and son Evan (4).
Vice Chair
Jeff Raykes, AICP | City of Greensburg
Jeff Raykes is a professional planner who lives and works in the college community of Indiana, Pennsylvania, home to Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP). Currently Jeff is employed as Planning Director for the City of Greensburg and moonlights as an adjunct professor in the newly accredited Regional Planning Program (2012) at IUP and partner at Stuart Group Consulting, LLC. Over the last two decades Jeff’s professional and academic interests have revolved around the planning challenges unique to, but common among college towns. In his spare time Jeff enjoys hiking, camping, and fly-fishing with his family and exploring large and small college communities wherever he travels. Jeff holds graduate degrees from IUP and an undergraduate degree from Frostburg State University in western Maryland.
(Interim) Secretary
Amy Wiles, AICP | E. Holdings, Inc.
Amy Wiles is the Manager of Planning and Design at E. Holdings, Inc., a consulting firm in Pittsburgh. Amy serves as project manager for a variety of planning projects, including community visioning studies and wayfinding and signage master plans, along with assisting in regional community engagement efforts. Amy took over the Secretary duties after Rhiannon Haller stepped down to focus on her family in December 2019. Amy graduated from Pennsylvania State University and enjoys spending time with her family, traveling and being active outdoors with her dog.
Treasurer
Daniel Carpenter | Westmoreland County
Daniel Carpenter is currently the Assistant Deputy Director of the Westmoreland County Department of Planning and Development. He holds a Bachelor’s, Master’s, and graduate certificate from the University of South Florida. Daniel’s planning interests include urban design, land use, incremental development, transportation, and community outreach. His hobbies include shooting sports, photography, cornhole, and golf. Daniel lives in Greensburg with his wife Laurie and their two sons, Jackson (6) and Davis (2).
Professional Planner / Member-at-Large
Joshua Spano | Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission
Joshua Spano is a Transportation Planner at the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC), the MPO serving the greater Pittsburgh 10-county area. He leads and administers SPC’s safety programs including Road Safety Audits, Corridor Planning Studies, and Traffic Incident Management. He also is the Assistant Project Manager for SPC’s Regional Traffic Signal Program and contributes to Intelligent Transportation Systems planning. Joshua received his B.A. degree in Geography from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown and his M.S. degree in Geography, with concentration in Regional Planning and Environmental Planning, from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2011 and 2013, respectively. In addition, he is a weather geek, pizza addict, golf enthusiast, and a Pitt Football fanatic.
Professional Planner / Member-at-Large
Corey Young | Washington & Jefferson College
Corey Young is the Director of the Center for Energy Policy and Management (CEPM) at Washington & Jefferson College. Before coming to the CEPM, Mr. Young worked as a transit planner in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. There, he collaborated with municipal officials to establish rural access to BRT and promoted transit-oriented economic development. Corey earned his Master’s in City and Regional Planning from Clemson University. In addition to his work with the APA, he serves as the president of the Three Rivers Chapter of the United States Association for Energy Economics.
Professional Planner / Member-at-Large
** OPEN **
Please see below to read the Section's current bylaws adopted April 1, 2014.
| APA-PA SW Section Bylaws 04.01.2014 |