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Allara Mills Gutcher, AICP (Candidate for Treasurer)

allara mills gutcher treasurer
Professional Experience: 

  • Over 20 years professional planning experience in both the public and private sectors. 
  • Managing Principal, The Planning Collaborative (2011 – present)
  • Planning and Community Development Director, Gadsden County (2013 – 2016)
  • Manager, Planning Services, City of Panama City (2006 – 2011)
  • Senior Planner I – PBS&J (2003 – 2006)
  • Planner I, II, and III – Bay County  Board of County Commissioners (2000 – 2003)
  • Planner – City of  Callaway (1998 – 2000)

Educational Background:

  • Georgia Institute of Technology, IEDC Basic Economic Development Course
  • North Florida Economic Development Academy
  • University of Oklahoma, Masters of Regional and City Planning
  • Florida State University, Bachelor of Science 

APA Florida/APA Experience: 

  • Member, Planning Accreditation Board Site Visitor Pool (2018 – present)
  • Project Manager, Florida Planners4Health project (2017)
  • Vice President of Certification Maintenance, APA Florida (2016 – 2018)
  • Treasurer, APA Florida  (2008 – 2012 and again 2016)
  • APA Florida Legislative Policy Committee (2006 – 2008)
  • APA Florida Delegate – APA National Conference (2007)
  • APA Florida Executive Committee (2002 – 2004, 2008 – 2012, and 2016 – 2018)
  • Immediate Past Chair, Emerald Coast Section of APA Florida (2004 – 2006)
  • APA Florida Marketing Committee (2002 – 2006)
  • Chair, Emerald Coast Section of APA Florida (2002 – 2004)
  • Chair-Elect, Emerald Coast Section of APA Florida (2001 – 2002)

Position Statement

First, I would like to take this opportunity to thank each of you for allowing me to serve you over the years. I have enjoyed my time working in various positions on the Executive Committee, beginning at the Section leadership level and growing into Treasurer and VP of Certification Maintenance.  I have thoroughly enjoyed working for you, and now I seek to help our organization grow and continue to be the foremost respected organization for professional land use planners.


With a couple of breaks in service, I have worked on the Executive Committee of APA Florida for the past several years. I seek to represent you once again as Treasurer.  In this role I will bring our past experiences forward, using our history as a learning tool for the betterment of our organization. I will ensure we are fiscally responsible, and work with the Chapter office and the Executive Committee to continue to provide the popular annual conference and the annual Public Policy Workshop even through economic challenges. With the huge hurdle of recent global events causing uncertainty, we need to stay the course with our fiscal responsibility to you and to create large reserves for potential down times.   


I bring to this position a wealth of experience and knowledge of the Chapter’s past several years activities.  I will continue to promote the initiatives that we have worked toward, and look to you for input regarding how we can better serve the membership.  I am requesting your vote for election so that I can continue to serve again as Treasurer.  With my experience, I am confident that I am the best candidate for this position.