Candidate for President-Elect: Gerry Dedenbach, AICP
My experience, accomplishments, and enthusiasm for our shared profession have prepared me for the president-elect position. As a professional planner, working in both public and private sectors since 1990, I know the strength planners bring to communities. Obtaining American Institute of Certified Planners certification over 25 years ago has dramatically contributed to my accomplishments as a leader and champion for innovative plans.
Over the last 36 years, the relationships I've built provided opportunities for innovative policy and built environment collaboration and implementation. My experience in growing a multidisciplinary firm underscores my ability to lead complex organizations while building and maintaining relationships.
Serving as a second-term Section chair and sitting on our statewide executive committee provides keen insight into the workings of APA within the state and nation. Through multiple peer-industry collaborations, I know there are areas in which APA can grow and aspire to new success. APA Florida must communicate with stakeholders in the public interest to facilitate stronger and more resilient policy and legislative outcomes benefiting the State of Florida. A key to shared success, with greater relevance to its members and the public as a whole, depends on positive alignment and investment from all our valued members.
What are the three most important challenges facing APA Florida?
EDUCATION: In a quickly-evolving world, APA Florida must advance education, AICP Certification, and share knowledge to enhance our communities capacity to define the physical, social, and economic landscape for Florida's existing and growing population.
LEADERSHIP: APA Florida must extend beyond current spheres of influence into peer industries. Collaboration will increase APA Florida's relevance and ability to provide wholistic perspectives on issues and leadership for our shared future.
STEWARDSHIP: APA Florida, through its statewide membership, must endeavor and create stronger links between public- and private-sector practitioners, allied professionals, and Florida's academic institutions who teach and prepare the next generation of professionals
What do you most want to accomplish during your term?
During my term, I want to accomplish and establish stronger connections between the Executive Committee, sections, and our membership to ensure all have a voice and we achieve alignment throughout chapters and sections. I want us to engage and grow talent existing in our membership and identify new leaders entering the profession from our universities and institutions of higher learning internationally.
Connecting existing leadership with tomorrow's leaders is a key accomplishment for me. Finding passionate professionals who wish to lead APA through the next quarter century and produce a stronger organization and State of Florida is my main desired accomplishment.
How would you make sure your efforts are successful?
Having led employees, peers, stakeholders, and industry organizations, measures of success are realized in a variety of forms. Quarterly checks, aligned with achievable articulated strategies are the best mechanism to ensure success throughout our organization. Growing ownership, by clearly identified, shared, and communicated goals creates achievable accountability, which benefits and ensures our success.
I will establish achievable goals, such as increased AICP membership, greater section collaboration, and enhanced learning; which are quantifiable opportunities. Creating stronger bonds across sections is attainable, resulting in dividends experienced throughout the Chapter for members, associates, and the communities in which we live, learn, and work.