Updated Mission, Vision Statements

In an era of rapid change and growing complexity, this chapter stands as a steadfast advocate for Florida’s enduring prosperity. Grounded in time-honored principles and a commitment to the common good, our organization’s renewed direction reflects a thoughtful and disciplined approach to leadership, service, and stewardship.

Earlier this year, the APA Florida Executive Committee undertook a thoughtful review and update of the Chapter’s Purpose, Mission, and Vision statements. Guided by our core values, this effort reflects a renewed commitment to deliberate leadership and service. These updated statements now guide our daily work, reinforcing our dedication to helping members grow, lead, and contribute meaningfully to Florida’s future.

Purpose | We exist to champion a stronger tomorrow, together.

This purpose affirms a shared responsibility to build a better future—not through fleeting trends or individual ambition, but through collective resolve, mutual respect, and a long-term vision for the state’s economic and societal well-being. It underscores the belief that strength is found in unity and that progress must be both principled and inclusive.

Core Values

• Advocacy: Defending and promoting what’s important. A principled stand for what matters — guided by facts, experience, and the public interest.
• Expertise: Advancing skills for improved outcomes. A commitment to lifelong learning and professional excellence as the foundation for wise action.
• Ethics: Upholding professional principles and conduct. Integrity, accountability, and respect for the rule of law are non-negotiable standards.
• Collaboration: Uniting for a shared benefit. Working across differences to achieve common goals, grounded in mutual respect and civic duty.
• Leadership: Inspiring meaningful progress. Leading not for recognition, but for result — measured by the lasting impact on people and communities.

Vision | We see a Florida where our communities, economies, and environments all thrive.

This vision reflects a balanced and sustainable outlook—one that appreciates the interconnectedness of people, prosperity, and natural heritage. It calls for a Florida where families flourish, businesses grow responsibly, and the environment is preserved for future generations. It is a vision rooted in stewardship, civic responsibility, and prudent planning.

Mission | We are the leading voice for Florida’s future.

This mission statement positions the Chapter as a trusted and influential advocate for the long-term interests of the state. It speaks to a leadership role—one that is earned through credibility, expertise, and a commitment to ethical conduct. As the leading voice, the organization seeks to inform, guide, and inspire sound decision-making at every level of society.

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Welcome to APA Florida!

APA Florida welcomes you! Thank you for visiting our website and allowing us the opportunity to provide you information to learn more about us. We hope you find this site easy to navigate, but if you need additional info please don’t hesitate to reach out.

As a professional organization averaging 3,000 members, we believe that planning for our communities is paramount to the health of our places in Florida. Whether that relates to economic opportunities, environmental protections, mobility alternatives, or other practices that support measures to enhance our future, we work to responsibly care for our natural and built environment systems. We are comprised of a mixture of private and public sector dedicated planning professionals, more than half of whom are guided by an ethics code through a professional certification by the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP).

APA Florida provides many services to our members, including two annual professional and career development opportunities. These include our annual conference held each fall, and our Public Policy Workshop (PPW) held in Tallahassee early in the calendar year.

We also annually host Florida’s Great Places competition, a public effort to recognize places within Florida that provide a model for amazing standards of community; those with a sense of place that attract visitors and residents alike. Please check here for past winners, with descriptions of their dynamic stories.

To better serve our membership, and because we are such a large state, we instituted geographical sections within APA Florida. There are twelve (12) sections in total, each of which also hosts events and professional opportunities on a regional level.

We also recently initiated a program to assist disadvantaged communities to better their future. The Community Planning Assistance Team (CPAT) is a collaboration of volunteer planners from Florida that come to a community to partake in work sessions and presentations with local stakeholders. In doing so, the CPAT provides achievable results through an action plan with implementable solutions. The final output is a document of strategies to assist the community in moving toward success by achieving an identified goal.

We also adopt a legislative platform, budget, and strategic plan to guide our mission as an organization.

If you have any questions about APA Florida, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I look forward to hearing from you.

Best regards,

Allara Mills-Gutcher, AICP

APA Florida President 2025-26