The Jobs Factor in TODs

Bio: Leslie is the Village of Skokie's Economic Development Specialist, having joined the Village in early 2010. Her primary responsibilities are to recruit retailers, restaurants and certain mixed use development within the Village’s three Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Districts, promote and analyze business incentive programs for small- and large-scale projects, assist the Village’s Marketing and Communications Director in the implementation of the Downtown Skokie Action Plan and the marketing of the adjacent Illinois Science + Technology Park, and to enhance the Village’s Downtown, Available Properties and Economic Development division websites. Leslie also functions as the small business ombudsman and acts as liaison to the Skokie Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Task Force, the Dempster Street Merchants Association, and the Nanotechnology Education, Employment and Economic Development Initiative (NE3I). Prior to joining Skokie, Leslie spent 27 years providing public finance/ economic development consulting services to local communities and private entities throughout the Midwest and as a senior planner for the City of Evanston, IL.

Education: Leslie has a Master’s Degree in Public Administration (M.P.A.) from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a B.A. in Government from Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, IN.

Key Publications: Assisted in the development of the recent Illinois Government Finance Officer’s Association publication – TIF, An Elected Official’s Guide.

Past Assignments: "Educational Institutions as Catalysts for Development", 2012 Ely Chapter Spring Chautauqua."TODs and Job Creation: Downtown Skokie and the Illinois Science+Technology Park", 2011 Illinois State APA Conference. "Reinvigorating Downtown Skokie", 2011 Village/IMODS Workshop.

Bio: Carrie is the Planner/CDBG Administrator for the Village of Skokie, IL, and has worked for the Village since 2010. She is a firm believer of mixed-use and transit-oriented development, and encourages aesthetically-pleasing and pedestrian-friendly building and site design. In addition, Carrie is responsible for administering the Community Development Block Grant program for Skokie to provide low/moderate-income residents and neighborhoods a better quality of life. Prior to joining Skokie, Carrie worked for Town Builder Studios in Riverside, IL; the City of Brookfield, WI; and the City of Glendale, WI.

Education: Carrie has a BS in Architectural Studies, a Master of Architecture, a Master of Urban Planning, and a Certificate in Urban Geographic Information Systems, all from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee.

Bio: Steve is the Planning Supervisor for the Village of Skokie, IL, and has worked for the Village since 1997. He prides himself on coming up with out-of-the-box solutions, walking the fine line of using both data and humor to disarm and educate, and focusing on progressive plans that can actually be implemented. He was responsible for developing the Village’s Downtown Science and Technology zoning district and the three surrounding mixed-use zoning districts. Prior to joining Skokie, Steve worked for North Chicago, IL.

Education: Steve has a B.A. in Urban Planning, B.S. in Finance, and Master of Urban Planning, all from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and holds a certificate in ornamental plant materials from the School of the Chicago Botanic Garden.

Key Publications: "Skokie Takes Suburban TOD One Step Further...Jobs" IL-APA News Blast!, July/August 2007.

Past Assignments: TODs and Job Creation: Downtown Skokie and the Illinois Science+Technology Park, 2011 Illinois State APA Conference. Ethical Dilemmas, 2011 Illinois State APA Conference.