For SRC Regional Representative Elected from Region VI
Sean Michael Noonan
California Polytechnic University, Pomona
Master's Urban and Regional Planning (first year)
Transportation Planning and Policy Emphasis
Anticipated Graduation: May 2013
SmartGrowthSean@gmail.com
Leadership, Volunteer, and Planning-related Experience
List and describe briefly relevant leadership positions held at the local, regional, state, or national level.
Since 2008, I have held a number of professional leadership positions throughout the Los Angeles metropolitan region, including positions with the cities of Los Angeles and Anaheim.
With the City of Los Angeles' Environmental Affairs and Public Works Departments, I provided strategic assistance and oversight for urban greening projects, such as tree planting programs. My role included the development of grant applications, community outreach programs and project reporting.
Currently, as a member of the City of Anaheim's Transit Planning Division, I serve as part of the Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (ARTIC) project team. In this role, I have gained significant experience facilitating inter-agency agreements, permits and easements, and have managed the procurement of professional services for the facility.
List and describe briefly any relevant planning-related volunteer positions held at the local, regional, state, or national level.
Over the past two years I have assumed a number of volunteer positions in planning-related organizations including the American Planning Association, U.S. Green Building Council and Nature Reserve of Orange County (NROC).
I currently serve as the Education Chair for the Young Planners Group (YPG) in the Orange Section of the American Planning Association. In this position, I lead outreach efforts to encourage improved collaboration between partner universities and organizations throughout the region.
Also, I volunteer as the Professional Development Chair of the U.S. Green Building Council's Orange County Emerging Green Builders (EGB) group. Over the past six months, I have managed the drafting and adoption of a revised strategic plan for the group, including the development of chapter events, marketing strategies and university outreach efforts.
Finally, as At-Large Director on the Nature Reserve of Orange County (NROC) Board of Directors, I have assisted with the management of the organization's financial operating funds, and with the development of a long-range management plan for the nature reserve.
Describe your involvement in planning-related activities (community, nonprofit, planning student organizations, etc.)
I am an active member of a number of local planning-related organizations including: American Planning Association (state and local sections), U.S. Green Building Council and Urban Land Institute. Additionally, I participate in the Graduate Planning Student Association at California Polytechnic University, Pomona. As part of these organizations, I regularly attend profession development workshops and networking events. These experiences provide me with a well-rounded knowledge of key contacts and current affairs of urban and regional planning.
Additionally, I have assisted with planning and facilitations efforts as part of the non-profit Santiago Creek Greenway Alliance, working to develop a greenway and bicycle-pedestrian facilities along a riparian corridor in the City of Orange.
About APA and Planning
Describe how you have benefited from APA student membership to date.
My APA student membership has provided invaluable access to conferences, meetings and workshops, which have put me in connection with numerous contacts in the planning field. Additionally, the outstanding print and digital publications distributed to me as an APA member have provided me with the resources needed to stay current with recent best practices and court decisions. I believe I have acquired a greater understanding of the role of planners in the development and infill of cities, which would not have been possible without the APA.
Describe your qualifications for the SRC Regional Representative position.
The experiences I have gained in my educational, volunteer and professional capacities provide me with the skills and insight required to effectively serve as an SRC Regional Representative. Further, I have particular drive, determination, and dedication to the planning profession, which will help to motivate fellow representatives while we work together to assist young planners in acquiring the skills needed to successfully transition into the full-time working world. Finally, I am certified as a LEED AP with additional training in sustainable construction and connections to professionals in other disciplines, which would be of great use in bridging the divide between planning and associated professions.
How can APA and its student leaders assist planning students as they transition into planning careers?
Given the increasingly difficult job market for young planners, APA should focus on providing: skill workshops, networking events and mentoring programs. Skill workshops focusing on topics that many recent graduates need to acquire, such as GIS, Adobe Creative Suite, and Google SketchUp will provide students with skills necessary to differentiate themselves from other applicants. Networking events and mentoring programs will help facilitate this transition from school to career by helping these young professionals stay connected and develop relationships.
Why did you choose planning as a career path?
Ever since childhood, I have had a passion for studying the interconnection between human and natural systems, which led me to urban history, and then to environmental geography. While completing graduate research on low impact development, I realized that although history and geography are crucial to understanding the current state of our cities, I wanted to work in a field that allowed me an opportunity to make a difference in the future of those urban spaces. Rather than studying the past, I wanted to help be an innovative spark for reinvigoration and reinvention.
What have you learned from previous leadership experience?
My previous experiences have afforded me distinctive qualifications for this position. To begin, I have experience planning and facilitating meetings for professional organizations, community groups, and agency staff. Also, I have experience working in inter-agency contexts, providing me a thorough knowledge of how to work with entrenched bureaucracies. I believe that my qualifications distinguish me as a competitive candidate for the representative position.
