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  4. Nominations for Statewide Officers Extended to March 8

Ali Ankudowich, AICP (Candidate for Vice-President of Continuing Education)

Professional Experience:

  • Senior Planner, Community Planning & Design Benesch (formerly Tindale Oliver), Tampa, FL (2017-Present): Prepare comprehensive plan and land development code amendments; conduct case study research, policy analysis, fieldwork, public outreach/communications for plans and supporting documents (related to redevelopment, parks, affordable housing, comprehensive, small area, public finance, transportation).
  • Research Assistant, The Liberty Hill Foundation, Los Angeles, CA (2016): Conducted interviews, reviewed documents, mapped spatial data in ArcGIS for select California Climate Investment programs involving renewable energy, low-carbon vehicles, transit, affordable housing, energy efficiency; synthesized findings in report to promote program uptake, benefits, engagement in Environmental Justice communities.
  • Sustainability Intern: Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), CA (2015-16)Synthesized Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities funding information on MTA website; assembled information for Countywide Sustainability Annual Report; catalogued urban greening, low-impact development, first-last mile strategies related to transit.
  • Transportation Planning Intern: Tindale Oliver, Tampa, FL (2015): Assisted with Long Range Transportation Plans: reviewed documents, organized goals/objectives, edited maps in ArcGIS, analyzed outreach surveys in Excel, created result visuals in Excel and Word; conducted interviews and literature review on fiscal considerations of “smart growth” policies.

Educational Background:

  • University of California,  Los Angeles, Master of Urban & Regional Planning (2017)
  • Smith College, Bachelor of Arts, French Studies, Magna Cum Laude (2012)

APA Florida/APA Experience:

  • Urban Planning Book Club Coordinator, APA Florida Suncoast Section, Tampa, FL (2018-Present): Organize and facilitate quarterly book club to explore and discuss urgent/emerging planning issues. Awarded an APA Florida Suncoast Section Certificate of Appreciation (2021).
  • Presenter, APA Florida Planning Conference, Miami, FL (2021): Presented for session on advancing affordable housing: “Pink Tape: Code Hacks, Leveraging Cash, and Forging Relationships to Build Missing Middle and Affordable Housing.”

Position Statement

I am pleased to run for Vice President for Continuing Education. Our members have vast experience and capacity to tackle big problems, and I would love to further facilitate the learning and knowledge exchanges that take place within our community and beyond.

A primary responsibility of the role is to oversee the chapter’s Certification Maintenance activities and database. One of my strengths is attention to detail and process, which I will apply to ensure that back-of-house operations for certification maintenance run smoothly and that all involved with these processes have the information they need for success.

This role is also heavily involved in professional development, which is crucial for the education of our practitioners, the advancement of our field, and the betterment of our communities. My belief in the importance of continuing education is one reason I run the APA Suncoast quarterly book club. I will build on this experience to support meaningful and effective opportunities for professional development that speak to both age-old and emerging issues of our time.