Candidate for Vice President for Conference Services Casey Dendor, AICP
My planning career began in public service with the City of Oviedo. In St. Johns County I developed a foundation in regulatory process, clear communication, and community-focused decision-making. Today, as a planner and project manager at England-Thims & Miller, I lead a team supporting land development and entitlement projects across Central and Northeast Florida. My work consists of coordinating clients, local governments, agencies, and stakeholders every day. APA Florida has shaped my professional growth. For the past seven years I've worked to give back through leadership and service by serving as Secretary and Chair of the First Coast Section. I had the privilege of chairing FPC23 in Jacksonville, where our team launched the Student Poster Contest. This program has grown into a successful annual tradition. I continue to serve on the State Conference Committee. These experiences have given me a unique perspective on what makes a conference succeed. I've been an attendee, volunteer, section leader, sponsor partner, and conference chair. I bring organization, follow-through, and a commitment to creating meaningful professional development for planners across Florida.
What are the three most important challenges facing APA Florida?
APA Florida faces three interconnected challenges. First, delivering professional development that keeps members informed and equipped as planning practice evolves. These shifts range from legislation and policy changes to emerging trends in housing, mobility, and land use. Second, building real engagement and leadership pipelines that exist outside the annual conference. Especially for emerging professionals juggling demanding careers. Third, running events that are financially sound, accessible, and high quality; balancing increased costs and member availability. Meeting these challenges requires continued intentional programming, inclusive outreach, and stronger coordination between state leadership, sections, committees, sponsors, and members throughout the year.
What do you most want to accomplish during your term?
My focus is strengthening the quality and accessibility of the conference experience. I will work to develop a clear submission rubric and supporting resources to help members craft stronger session proposals, bringing more diverse voices and relevant content to the program. I will create more intentional programming pathways so attendees can build a purposeful experience aligned with their practice area and career stage. I will also strengthen the feedback loop between session evaluations and future programming decisions, so each conference improves over time. The goal is a conference that truly reflects and serves the full breadth of Florida's planning community.
How would you make sure your efforts are successful?
Success starts with the right tools and the right people. I will begin by collaborating with Chapter leadership, the conference committee, and section representatives to ground each initiative in member needs. The submission rubric and speaker resources will be developed with input from experienced planners and past session reviewers to ensure they are practical. I will track progress through session evaluation data, submission trends, and sponsor and attendee feedback. I will use that information to make intentional improvements year over year. The measure of success isn't just a strong conference, but a stronger, more engaged planning community across Florida.