Candidate for Vice President for Communications Ashley Karpf, AICP, LEED GA

My career path has prepared me for this role, having worked in both the private and public sectors. I started my career in accounting and finance before a shift to roadway design and civil site design. While working as a design technician for an engineering firm, I obtained my MSP from FSU and started working as a land use planner. In each role, it has been important to learn the best way to communicate with any given audience, knowing that effective communication has many considerations: timeliness, understanding of the audience, visual appeal of communication materials, user friendliness of website content, message consistency, along with context-dependent factors.

I currently work as a Land Use Planner and Project Manager at Michael Baker International, in which role the importance of communication and consistency are key, whether communicating information internally or preparing client deliverables. In addition to my professional role, I serve as a social media ambassador for my company, sharing our brand and accomplishments on social media; I also serve as a member of the APA Florida Legislative Policy Committee, where ensuring consistent messaging has been crucial to the Chapter's influence on planning policy in the state.

What are the three most important challenges facing APA Florida?

The three most important challenges facing APA Florida that I've seen in my experience are addressing legislative actions that affect planning in Florida, addressing affordable housing challenges that are increasing in our state, and addressing climate resilience implications in our most vulnerable areas of the state. All three of these challenges require nuances in communicating both issues and solutions, which I have already been a part of through my role as a member of the Legislative Policy Committee.

What do you most want to accomplish during your term?

During my term, I am committed to helping the Chapter and Sections in improving communications for both existing members and potential future members to increase participation and membership. Communication can always be improved, such as ensuring that legislative implications are adequately communicated to members as a call to action and that Chapter and Section events are communicated to members in an effective and timely manner through social media, email, and the Chapter website.

How would you make sure your efforts are successful?

To make sure my efforts are successful, I will commit the time necessary to improving communication efforts and maintaining message consistency. I will take the time to reach out to stakeholders, such as other Executive Committee members, Section Chairs and leadership, representatives from other Chapters, and Florida Chapter members receiving these communications, to get input to ensure best practices are implementable at both our Chapter and Section level.