Garry V. Cooper and Associates, Community Planning Consulting.

Personal Statement

My professional expertise includes a variety of planning aspects and applications. Group facilitation is one of my fortes, and I have training in several group facilitation methods (e.g., visioning, consensus-building, action planning, and future search). In addition, I am a qualified/mentor ToP® (Technology of Participation) trainer and an NCI Charrette Planner®.

Grant writing, designing public involvement programs, planning studies, plan-making, and working with groups are applicable to any size jurisdiction. Working with small towns and rural areas is of special interest to me.

In summary, you can count on me to do quality work, and I welcome the opportunity to work with you and become an extension of your planning and management team.

Resumé

Planning Support Services

Summary	More than 30 years demonstrated leadership experience in successfully working with people and other resources to accomplish complex projects and tasks Extensive experience in team-building, participatory management, briefings, and public presentations Comprehensive knowledge of community and regional planning aspects and applications Strategic planning, group facilitation, charrette (NCI), and future search skills Proven teacher and excellent writer Award-winning planner
Education	Doctor of Environmental Design in urban and regional planning, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 1979 Master of Urban Planning, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 1976 US Army Command and General Staff College, 10 months intensive top-level executive development, equivalent to master's degree, Fort Leavenworth, KS, 1983 Bachelor of Arts in history, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 1971
Executive Management and Public Service	Deputy District Engineer, US Army Corps of Engineers (position equivalent to Senior Line Executive) to large, diverse organization of technical engineering and administrative personnel providing planning, design, contracting, construction, and operation of water resource facilities within five-state geographical area; initiated review and analysis system; championed leadership program that focused on team-building and participatory management Directed organizations conducting real estate operations and facility management (positions equivalent to Senior Line Executive); accomplished installation master planning and facility maintenance; reorganized and streamlined headquarters elements; automated operations and instituted improved reporting procedures; increased critical military leased housing in Europe by 36 percent (about 4,000 units) over two-year time period; established comprehensive system to identify and manage backlog of facility maintenance and repair Lieutenant Colonel, US Army Retired (Corps of Engineers branch) with 23+ years active duty service
Organizational Planning and Budgeting	Participated in long-range organizational and financial planning as member of a top-level management team Formulated – and adhered to – operating budget to control expenses Prioritized annual and long-range program requirements
Personnel Management and Leadership	Selected and appointed key personnel to manage divisions and offices within organizations ranging in size from 85-1,800 persons Approved selection of mid-level managers Decided all disciplinary cases Created a work environment that encouraged participatory management and developmental leadership
Teaching, Professional Planning, and Group Facilitation	Retired Professor in Department of Geography and Planning, Appalachian State University; collaborating responsibility for developing and teaching planning program of instruction leading to bachelor of science degree in community and regional planning; taught both graduate and undergraduate planning classes Teaching experience (technical planning): the planning process, land use controls, project management, planning methods and techniques, and group facilitation methods Mentor ToP® (Technology of Participation) group facilitation trainer NCI Charrette Planner® Future search, visioning, strategic, and neighborhood planning skills Member, American Planning Association Member and Fellow, American Institute of Certified Planners (FAICP) Former member, Town of Boone Planning Commission Prepared variety of technical planning studies and reports and presented research papers at professional conferences Prepared various grants, several relating to class projects involving students at Appalachian State University Strategic plan for Valle Crucis, NC won state planning award from NC Chapter of the American Planning Association Comprehensive plan, strategic plan, and capital improvement program for Maggie Valley, NC won state planning award from NC Chapter of the American Planning Association
Public Involvement	Participated in – and facilitated – public meetings, workshops, and briefings (several involving complex and sensitive political issues) Conducted public speaking engagements for both civic groups and governmental and quasi-governmental agencies

Professional Activities Listing

2000-2010

Research and publications

Growing Granite Falls ... One Step at a Time, Granite Falls, NC, Mar 10
Focus on Downtown, Action Planning Directions, Spruce Pine, NC, Jan 10
Capital Improvement Program Policy and Procedure Guide, Spruce Pine, NC, Oct 09
Spruce Pine Strong … and Proud, a Land Use Plan to Guide Growth and Change, Spruce Pine, NC, Sep 09
Looking Up and Moving Forward, 2009-11, BCAR® Action Plan, Brunswick County Association of Realtors®, Supply, NC, Sep 09
Summary Report: Community Meetings – Needs Assessment, Spruce Pine, NC, Feb-Mar 09
Making Connections, Focus Group Discussions, Banner Elk, NC, Jan 09
Creating Value thru Connections, A Shared Community Vision, Banner Elk, NC, Nov 08
Summary Report III: SFD-VR Study and Policy Recommendation, Lake Lure, NC, Sep 08
Reaching Out and Involving Others: 2008-09 Chapter Work Program, NCAPA, Greensboro, NC, Aug 08
Pipeline to Green: Pilot Curriculum and an Implementation/Action Plan for the Corporate and Continuing Education Department, Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute, Hudson, NC, Jul 08
Summary Report II: SFD-VR Economic Impact Workshop, Lake Lure, NC Jun 08
Summary Report I: SFD-VR Town Meetings, Lake Lure, NC, Jun 08
Summary Report, Technical Planning Studies, Mitchell County, NC, Mar 08
Planning Activities in Mitchell County , Mitchell County, NC, Mar 08
Board Retreat, Lake Lure, NC, Feb 08
Zero Waste – Changing the Course, Watauga County, NC Jan 08
Community Meetings – Needs Assessment, Mitchell County, NC, Dec 07
A Commitment to Serve: 2007-08 Chapter Work Program, NCAPA, Cullowhee, NC, Aug 07
Board Retreat, Mt. Pleasant, NC, Jul 07
Intergovernmental Retreat II, Boone, NC Jun 07
Intergovernmental Retreat I, Boone, NC May 07
Using GIS to Move Salisbury from Good to Great, Salisbury, NC, Dec 06
The New South – A Gateway to the Future: Our Strategic Plan for Growth and Change in the NC 115 Corridor Gateway Area, Statesville, NC, Mar 06
Inventory of Existing Conditions, NC 115 Corridor Gateway Area, Statesville, NC, Dec 05
Summary Report, Needs Assessment Community Meeting, NC 115 Corridor Gateway Area, Statesville, NC, Nov 05
Inventory of Existing Conditions, NC 115 Corridor Gateway Project, Statesville, NC, Dec 05
Using GIS to Move Salisbury from Good to Great, Salisbury, NC, Dec 04
Driving Miss Maggie, A Comprehensive Plan for Growth and Change, Maggie Valley, NC, Jul 04; plan received state planning award from NC Chapter of the American Planning Association in Oct 05
A Strategic Plan for Implementing Driving Miss Maggie, Maggie Valley, NC, Jul 04
Maggie Valley Capital Improvement Program: Policy and procedure Guide, Maggie Valley, NC, Jun 04
Working Together, action plan for developing better cooperation and coordination, Gastonia, NC, Mar 04
Hazard Mitigation Planning: Measures, Strategies, and Enhancements for Watauga County, NC, Boone, NC, Nov 03
Summary Report, Needs Assessment Town Meeting, Maggie Valley, NC, Oct 03
Affordable Housing Task Force: Special Project Report II, Boone, NC, Oct 03
NCAPA Summer Planning Institute and Leadership Retreat, reflection and evaluation of present practices, Boone, NC, May 03
Community Appearance Report: Findings and Recommendations for Town of Boone, Boone, NC, Dec 02
Affordable Housing Task Force: Special Report, Boone, NC, Nov 02
Summary Report: Changing Times Workshop, Town Meeting, and Visioning Workshop for Greenville, NC, Boone, NC, Jul 02
My Home is Watauga County, NC…Expanding Affordable Housing Horizons, Boone, NC, May 02, report on affordable housing in Watauga County
Strategic Plan for Valle Crucis, NC, Mar 02; plan received state planning award from the NC Chapter of the American Planning Association in May 02 and the L.E. Tuckwiller Award from Boone Area Chamber of Commerce in Nov 02
Visioning and Action Planning Initiatives, Boone Area Chamber of Commerce, Boone, NC, Jan 01
Chapter Retreat Action Plan, NC Chapter of the American Planning Association, Chapel Hill, NC, Aug 00
High Country Municipal Association, Banner Elk, NC, Jun 00

Community and university service

Member, Boone Area Chamber of Commerce Community Development Committee, 89-08; coordinator for the architectural award of merit program
Hosting of guest speakers: Thomas Hylton, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist (planning), Sep 02; Mayor Joe Riley, Charleston, SC, Jul 02; Mary Means, Main Street Program, May 02; Ed McMahon, Conservation Foundation, Feb 01

Presentations

"Planning Activities, Choice or Chance?", two public presentations, Mitchell County, NC, Mar 08 and Apr 08
“Making Tough Community Decisions”, a presentation and panelist discussion regarding land development issues in western North Carolina (hosted by the Asheville Citizen-Times and WWNC News Radio, Asheville, NC, Mar 07
“GIS Strategic Plan Update”, an information and decision briefing presented to the City of Salisbury City Council, Salisbury, NC, Feb 07
“Planning Survival Briefing for Elected Officials…and Candidates”, information briefing about planning, Johnston County, TN, Apr 06
“NC 115 Corridor Gateway Area”, an information and decision briefing presented to City of Statesville City Council, Statesville, NC, Mar 06
“Developing an Understanding of Place, South Statesville Project Area”, sponsored by Statesville Housing Authority and Iredell Statesville Community Enrichment Corporation, Statesville, NC Jan 06
“Linking Planning and the Environment”, Environmental Summit, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC, Sep 05
“Linking Planning Education and Planning Practice”, NC Chapter of the American Planning Association Annual Conference, Asheville, NC, Sep 04
“The Maggie Valley Planning Journey: Plan and Program Adoption”, Maggie Valley, NC, Sep 04
“Town Meeting and Planning Studies”, Maggie Valley, NC, May 04 (second presentation Jun 04 at request of client)
“Preserving Community Character”, Watauga Leadership Challenge training (sponsored by Boone Area Chamber of Commerce), Boone, NC, Sep 03
“Community Indicators, A Tool to Help Make Change Happen”, presentation to Partnership for Watauga’s Future, Boone, NC, Jan 03
Smart Growth”, Watauga Leadership Challenge training (sponsored by Boone Area Chamber of Commerce), Boone, NC, Sep 02
“To Plan or Not to Plan”, Wake Up Watauga meeting (sponsored by Boone Area Chamber of Commerce), Boone, NC, Mar 01
"Sustainable Development – How to Make It Happen", Sustainable Tourism Conference, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC, Sep 00

Teaching experience

Introduction to planning (undergraduate and graduate levels): principles (aspects and applications), philosophies, and theories of planning
Planning techniques (undergraduate level): studio class involving applied planning methods and techniques
Land use regulations (undergraduate level): constitutional and legal framework; zoning, subdivision, site plan review, environmental controls, etc.; negotiations and working with developers; public meetings; planning ethics
Project management (undergraduate and graduate levels): environmental analysis techniques; scheduling; project initiation, development, and presentation; grant writing; image analysis; and fiscal impact analysis
Senior seminar (undergraduate level): making of a professional (listening skills and managing priorities); marketing oneself; small group/independent research resulting in both oral and written presentations that utilize learned skills, knowledge, and abilities acquired in major
Group facilitation methods (undergraduate and graduate levels): use of the ToP® focused conversation method, consensus workshop method, and action planning method to maximize the collective power of groups and promote change and sustainability at both community and organizational levels

Other

Facilitated visioning workshop for pedestrian plan development, Granite Falls, NC, Mar 10
Facilitated series of meetings and workshops (two town meetings; changing times, visioning, community assets, community appearance, alternative futures, potential partnering organizations, and action planning workshops; walkability audit and image analysis/technical audit) to develop and implement a land use plan for Spruce Pine, NC, Jan 09 - Jan 10
Facilitated one-day leadership retreat and development of a work program for NC Rails-Trails, Highpoint, NC, Apr 09
Facilitated three focus group discussions relating to pedestrian plan development, Banner Elk, NC Jan 09
Facilitated visioning workshop for pedestrian plan development, Banner Elk, NC, Oct 08
Facilitated series of work group meetings to implement policy for single-family dwelling vacation rentals in Lake Lure, NC, Oct 08-Feb 09
Facilitated series of committee meetings, two town meetings, public workshop, and joint town workshop to develop policy for single-family dwelling vacation rentals in Lake Lure, NC, May-Sep 08
Facilitated one-day leadership retreat to review prior-year activities and develop new work program for NCAPA, Greenville, NC Aug 08
Facilitated two focused discussions and an action planning workshop in support of a going green initiative at Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute, Hudson, NC, Jun-Aug 08
Moderated an NCAPA-sponsored planner's roundtable for students at Appalachian State University, Boone, NC, Apr 08
Facilitated workshop to develop alternative scenarios and recommended action planning initiatives, Mitchell County, NC, Mar 08
Facilitated workshop to identify county assets, Mitchell County, NC, Mar 08
Facilitated workshop to identify changing times trends and implications, Mitchell County, NC, Feb 08
Facilitated workshop to develop shared community vision, Mitchell County, NC, Feb 08
Facilitated workshop to identify keys and guiding principles to building community character, Mitchell County, NC, Feb 08
Facilitated workshop to develop community core values, Mitchell County, NC, Feb 08
Facilitated half-day workshop to develop a 1-3-5 year work program for Zero Waste Watauga, Boone, NC, Jan 08
Facilitated workshop to develop vision and identify core values for Zero Waste Watauga, Boone, NC, Nov 07
Facilitated 7 town meetings in Mitchell County, NC, Oct-Nov 07
Facilitated half-day board retreat for elected officials in Mt. Pleasant, NC, Jul 07
Facilitated two intergovernmental retreats (involving multi-jurisdictions and a state educational institution) to improve cooperation and coordination within the region, May/Jun 07
Conducted 2-day group facilitation methods training for NCAPA in Gastonia, NC, May 06
Hosted panel of six practicing planners to talk with planning majors about planning career paths, Broyhill Inn and Conference Center, Boone, NC, Apr 06
Facilitated 4 strategic planning workshops (visioning, underlying contradictions, strategic directions, and implementation) in Statesville, NC, Feb-Mar 06
Facilitated community character workshop, Statesville, NC, Feb 06
Developed contact between university and Harold Poole, Jr. resulting in establishment of endowed scholarship for planning students, Feb 06
Facilitated town meeting, Statesville, NC, Nov 05
Facilitated half-day workshop for NCAPA Executive Committee to develop framework for 2-year work program, Jul 05
Coordinated NCAPA Summer Planning Institute and Leadership Conference; hosted about 79 practicing planners at Appalachian State university in Jul 05; complete responsibilities for facilities and program development; additionally conducted one-day citizen planner training workshop
Conducted 2-day group facilitation methods training for NCAPA in New Bern, NC, May 05
Conducted one-day citizen planner training workshop for North Wilkesboro, NC, Jan 05
Facilitated 2 strategic planning workshops for the Department of Health, Leisure, and Exercise Science, Appalachian State University, Nov 04 and Jan 05
Facilitated 3 action planning workshops to update the GIS master plan, Salisbury, NC, Dec 04
Editor, North Carolina Planning Newsletter, a publication of the NC Chapter of the American Planning Association, Sep 94 to Dec 04 (6 issues published annually reaching over 1,000 professional and citizen planners)
Facilitated 2 strategic planning workshops for the Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice, Appalachian State University, Apr 04 and Oct 04
Conducted 2 two-day group facilitation methods training workshops in Concord, NC and Boone, NC for NCAPA, Jul-Aug 04
Facilitated 4 workshops in support of strategic plan development, Maggie Valley, NC May-Jun 04
Facilitated community character photo interpretation workshop, Maggie Valley, NC, May 04
Facilitated visioning workshop for ASU Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice, Boone, NC, Apr 04
Facilitated one-day board retreat, Yadkinville, NC, Mar 04
Facilitated community assets workshop, Maggie Valley, NC, Mar 04
Facilitated 3 direction-setting and action planning workshops, Gastonia and Gaston County, NC, Feb-Mar 04
Facilitated town meeting, Maggie Valley, NC, Oct 03
Facilitated natural hazard planning workshop, Watauga County, NC Oct 03
Facilitated town meeting, Maggie Valley, NC Oct 03
Facilitated half-day workshop to discuss future directions for the NCAPA Summer Planning Institute, May 03
Facilitated 2-day leadership retreat for Cleveland County Commissioners, Boone, NC, Feb 03
Facilitated series of community appearance workshops for the Town of Boone, NC, Aug-Dec 02
Conducted 2 one-day citizen planner training workshops for Region O COG, Wilmington, NC, Oct 02
Committee chairperson and award program coordinator, Architectural Award of Merit, Boone Area Chamber of Commerce, Boone, NC, 96 to present
Facilitated community character photo interpretation workshop, Gastonia, NC, Jun 02
Facilitated visioning workshop, Greenville, NC, Jun 02
Facilitated town meeting, Greenville, NC Jun 02
Facilitated 2-day affordable housing charette, Watauga County, NC, May 02
Facilitated changing times workshop, Greenville, NC, May 02
Conducted citizen planner training workshop at NCAPA Summer Planning Institute, Greenville, NC, Aug 02
Received Executive Committee Service Award from NC Chapter of the American Planning Association, May 02
Conducted 2-day group facilitation training workshop for secondary school teachers, Boone, NC, Jul 02
Coordinated NCAPA Summer Planning Institute and Leadership Conference; hosted over 100 practicing planners at Appalachian State university in Aug 01; complete responsibilities for facilities and program development; additionally conducted 2-day group facilitation training
Received AICP continuing professional development certificate for completing 60 hours of professional training over 3 year period, Jun 97, May 00, Nov 01, and Oct 02
Facilitated community meeting and series of strategic planning workshops for Valle Crucis, NC, Nov 01 - Feb 02
Facilitated half-day session involving 18 JobLink partners, Watauga County, NC, Jan 02
Helped plan event activities, facilitated program session, and hosted affordable housing symposium in Watauga County, NC, Jan 02
Facilitated 1-day visioning and action planning workshop for Boone Area Chamber of Commerce, Boone, NC, Jan 01
Panelist, "Growth and Sustainability Challenges – Opportunities and Options", Sustainable Tourism Conference, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC, Sep 00
Facilitated 2-day action planning retreat for the NC Chapter of the American Planning Association, Chapel Hill, NC, Aug 00
Facilitated series of partnering workshops for communities of Banner Elk, Beech Mountain, Grandfather Village, Seven Devils, and Sugar Mountain, Banner Elk, NC, Jun 00
Conducted 2-day group facilitation methods workshop for Ashe County personnel involving community-based health assessment project, Mar 00

PO Box 1675
Arden, NC 28704
828-676-0252
E-mail: garry@cooperwww.com