Orlando Metro Section

We are so excited to share with you that our Florida Planning Conference is going virtual for the first time ever! Our amazing team of volunteers is putting together an incredible opportunity for you to learn, connect, and be inspired so block your calendars for Sept. 9 – 11, 2020.

Why virtual?

We heard you! More than 500 members responded to our conference survey and overwhelmingly indicated a desire to have an online conference this year.

It’s more affordable. With no travel expenses and a reduced registration fee, the savings really add up. Employers: With all the savings, it’s the perfect opportunity to send emerging professionals to the conference; plus, they already excel at making connections in a virtual environment.

Improved accessibility! Not only is the technology robust enough to create a meaningful experience, but a virtual conference gives us a unique opportunity to engage all of our members. You will be able to access all of your favorite conference activities from the comfort of your front porch, your couch, or even your lake house (anywhere with an internet connection).  You will have access to great plenary speakers, 20+ breakout sessions, and networking and social opportunities all day long.

Participate live or watch the recording. It’s up to you. Say goodbye to agonizing over which breakout session to attend. A virtual conference lets you watch them all! Every session will be recorded for viewing at a later date. By making the videos available after the conference, attendees will be able to earn even more CMs than during our typical in-person conference.

We have the good fortune to build on NPC@Home’s proven success. More than 5,000 people participated in this year’s national conference.

Just so you know

Our conference team is diligently testing a myriad of digital event platforms to ensure you have an incredible online experience. We will share our choice with you soon!

Our Orlando-based Conference Chair has been engaged in every step of our decision-making process and the Local Host Committee has jumped into action to design a cutting-edge virtual event.

We are not alone. Nationwide, the majority of Chapters are moving their annual conferences online, and APA Florida is leading the effort to share best practices and novel ideas between us.

What’s next?

The Conference Team is hard at work building out the details. We’re asking for your patience while we redesign our schedule, develop updated sponsorship packages, and create new ways to connect with old friends and meet new people.

We will be reaching out to those of you who submitted session proposals as soon as possible. We know you are anxious.
And for our sponsors and exhibitors, we’re getting creative with your benefits so we’ll be reaching out shortly.

Stay tuned! Registration will open in mid- to late July.

First virtual conference? Don’t worry, we’ll host a training event before the conference to make sure you are comfortable with the technology and know how to take advantage of all the opportunities available to you in a virtual conference.

And finally a huge thank you to our conference volunteers and our scheduled host, the Orlando Metro Section, who have given so many hours to meeting with vendors, researching options, attending other virtual events, etc. Without them, APA Florida could not pull off such a huge change in such a short amount of time. We know that our members were really looking forward to being in Orlando this year, so we have negotiated with our hotel and reception vendors to return to Orlando in 2022 (we’ll be in Miami in 2021).

Stay well,
The APA Florida Executive Committee

Planning for the Food Economy

When: Wednesday, October 23, 2019, 6:00pm to 8:00pm

Where: Celery City Craft, 114 S. Palmetto Ave., Sanford, FL 32771

RSVP by October 21, 2019 to: snoto@lakemaryfl.com or call Steve Noto at 407-585-1440. 

Description of the Event: This event will discuss the role of planners in the development of regional food systems including how they can use food production industries like breweries, restaurants, and farmers markets to catalyze redevelopment and generate economic opportunities. The City of Sanford will be used as the session’s main case study.

Speakers: Luis Neives-Ruiz, Economic Development Manager, ECFRPC; Alicia Burke, Goldsboro Farmer’s Market Coordinator, Florida Department of Health; Greg Piecora, Owner of Wop’s Hops Brewing; Paul Williams, Owner of Celery City Craft and West End Trading Company, Sanford Tourism Board member; Moderator, Stephen Noto, City of Lake Mary Community Development Director.  

Presented by: Eliza Harris Juliano (Canin Associates), Ian Lockwood (Toole Design Group), and Gus Castro (City of Orlando)

When:  Friday, October 11, 3:30 - 5:00 pm (followed by happy hour)

Where:   Bitters & Bottles, 861 N. Orange Ave. Orlando, FL 32801

What:  North Quarter Transportation Vision 

RSVP Required: By October 9 to Sastuart@kcgcorp.com or call Scott Stuart at 407-898-7858

Orlando had a record-setting 75 million annual visitors in 2018, increasing 4.2% over 2017. What are the impacts of these visitors on our transportation system? How do we plan for them through our regional planning process?

On Wednesday, July 31, 2019, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., FDOT invites you to participate in this lively discussion focusing on the impacts of tourism on Central Florida’s transportation network and how their needs are accommodated by the public and private sectors. Bring your questions about how future planning efforts will address the millions of tourists that come to the region annually.

1.5 AICP CMs Approved! 

RSVP and Speaker information can be seen on the full event flyer by clicking here.

Get a comprehensive look at the success of the Orlando Metro Section in 2019.  You'll see a complete breakdown of the section's:

• Strategic highlights
• Financial highlights
• Operating highlights

Please join the Orlando Metro Section of APA-FL on Thursday, July 11, 2019 at 5:00pm for both the Annual Meeting of members, as well as a chat with representatives from Orange County, Florida Department of Transportation, and LYNX about autonomous vehicle transit in Central Florida. You may RSVP by July 6, 2019 by e-mailing oms.apa.fl@gmail.com. 

1.5 AICP CMs Requested.

The full event flyer PDF,  can be reviewed here. 

The voting period for the 2019 APA Florida Orlando Metro Section Executive Committee election cycle is now open. And you have until July 5, 2019 to submit your vote! The online ballot can be accessed via Survey Monkey here.

The positions up for election are:

• President
• 1^st Vice President (Professional Development)
• Secretary
• Orange County Director
• Sumter County Director
• Lake County Director
• Director At Large

The current Section Bylaws include a description of the responsibilities for each position (found here and downloads as a pdf.)

Elected officers will begin their term of office after the July 11, 2019 Annual Meeting, will serve on the Executive Committee for two (2) years as voting members, then as an ex-officio member until the APA Conference 2021 to allow for a smooth transition for any incoming officers.

If you have questions, please contact Jason Burton at oms.apa.fl@gmail.com.

Get a comprehensive look at the success of the Orlando Metro Section in 2018.  You'll see a robust breakdown of the section's:

• Strategic highlights
• Financial highlights
• Operating highlights

The Orlando Metro Section members voted for updates to the section bylaws. Those changes with approved on March 20, 2019.  Read or download the update bylaws here. 

Orlando Section Chair Josh DeVries, AICP, recently presented this ceremonial check on behalf of APA Florida and the section to the UCF MSURP Program, which is now a PAB Accredited Planning Program!

This Endowment will provide scholarships to many future planners and help further advance the profession! Truly an honor! Learn more about the UCF MSURP Program.