SAVE THE DATE : MAY 23, 2024 AT 10:00 am
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AARP GA & SWGRC Presents: Age-Friendly Complete Streets Webinar
AARP Georgia co-hosts Age-Friendly Complete Streets webinar in partnership with its first Age-Friendly Regional Partner, Southwest Georgia Regional Commission (SWGRC). This educational webinar has been designed for any government and elected officials; transit professionals and advocates; policy makers and community leaders to better understand the importance, values, and benefits to implementing an effective Complete Streets Program in our urban, suburban, and rural communities. Webinar to feature Guest Speakers from GDOT, Age-Friendly Regional Commissions and other partners.
MODERATORS
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GUEST SPEAKERS & Moderators BIOS
Ron Knezevich - GDOT State Safety Engineering Supervisor
Ron Knezevich is the State Safety Engineering Supervisor at the Georgia DOT.
He uses data-driven practices and leverages a safe systems approach to reduce roadway fatalities in Georgia. Ron’s key roles include assisting in the management of GDOT’s Safety Program which leverages FHWA’s Highway Safety Improvement Program funds.
Additionally, he oversees the road safety audits within the state, serves as the Task Team leader for the Pedestrian and Bicycle Task Teams, and is the Coordinator for GDOT’s Safe Routes to School Program.
Previously, he served as the State Pedestrian Bicycle Engineer. Prior to this role, he worked as a research assistant specializing in data science and emerging technologies within traffic safety. Ron strives to utilize innovative and proactive approaches to reduce roadway fatalities in Georgia.
Nicole Smith - America Walks Operations & Program Manager
Nicole Smith (she/her), is a writer and a public health professional who is passionate about making connections with the people and organizations she serves and sharing their stories.
Nicole holds a Bachelor of Science degree in biology with a minor in general chemistry and a Master of Public Health degree with a concentration in nutrition.
Nicole is also an alum of the 2019 America Walks National Walking College. As a former Community Health Specialist for the City of York, Pennsylvania Bureau of Health, Nicole led various community health initiatives focused on walkability and increasing safe physical activity through policy, systems, and environmental changes.
Nicole lives in Marietta, GA, and delights in caring for her epic houseplant collection, improving her conversational Spanish, walking, and spending time with her senior dog. She is also an avid reader and enjoys creating book-related content for her ‘bookstagram’ account on Instagram @booked4joy and co-hosting book podcasts.
Chip Battle - Pecan City Pedalers Ride Director
Chip has been an active member of the Pecan City Pedalers (PCP) since 1987.
During this time, he has held the positions of Vice President and President. Currently, Chip is the Ride Director and Administrator of the PCP Face Book page. In the past, he has been responsible for organizing the Club’s annual 100-mile event, which was the Lowenbrau Century for many years, but known as the Nut Roll for at least the past 10 years.
As Ride Director, Chip regularly organizes daily evening rides, as well as weekend tours. He has planned 100s of routes which are available on mapmyride.com and ridewithgps.com. Chip and a dedicated team of Route Scouts have investigated most dirt roads in Southwest Georgia and marked those available for public use on gravelmap.com.
He regularly participates in cycling advocacy efforts including Georgia Rails to Trails, League of American Bicyclist National Bike Challenge, and Scenic Byway designation of the Old Dixie Highway. Chip regularly is seen on the local news promoting events and bicycle safety.
Amy Martin, VLMPO - Senior, Transportation Planner Valdosta-Lowndes Metropolitan Planning Organization
Ms. Martin has been employed with the Southern Georgia Regional Commission for 8 years.
Ms. Martin’s responsibilities include Transportation Network and Transit Analyses, Multi-modal Transportation Planning, Public Participation Implementation and Transportation Related Grant Writing for the Valdosta-Lowndes Metropolitan Planning Organization and the 18-county Southern Georgia Region.
Ms. Martin received her Master of Public Administration with an emphasis in Public Sector Management from Valdosta State University.
Julio A. Portillo, Jr. - Executive Director of MidTown, Inc
Julio Portillo was born and raised in San Salvador, El Salvador. His first introduction to Columbus, GA, was in 1991, when his father was stationed at Ft. Moore (formerly Ft. Benning). 19 years later, Julio moved to Columbus, Georgia to attend Columbus State University where he obtained a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing and a Master of Public of Administration in Government Administration.
In July of 2018, he became the third Executive Director of MidTown, Inc. Prior to joining MidTown, Inc., he spent 12 years at River Valley Regional Commission as a Senior Transportation Planner, covering an area of 16 counties in Southwest Georgia, and in 2014, he began serving as an adjunct faculty member in the College of Science and Letters at Columbus State University where he taught public administration, public policy, and community development, through 2019.
Julio served as a member of the leadership team for MidTown, Inc.’s Knight Cities Challenge-winning Minimum Grid project; and has served as a board member and advisor for local and statewide organizations which focus on economic development and community planning initiatives. He is a member of the Rotary Club of Columbus and serves as an ex-officio board member for Bicycle Columbus, Trees Columbus and Historic Columbus, and as a board member for the Coalition for Sound Growth and the Chattahoochee Sailing Club.
For over 10 years, Julio and his wife Maggie, along with their 2 children – Edee (7) and Jude (5)- and their four dogs and a cat, have called Midtown home.
Barbara Reddick - SWRGC, Deputy/ Planning Director
Barbara joined the Southwest Georgia Regional Commission in May 2000. Barbara holds a Masters of Public Administration Degree from Albany State University and a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree from Valdosta State University. She has worked in general planning including comprehensive planning, regional planning and grant writing. She also coordinates all housing programs including all educational outreach efforts. Prior to coming to the RC, she worked in an administrative capacity in healthcare and social services. She currently serves on the Mitchell County Board of Education. Previously she served on the Board of Easter Seals and the Flint River Arts Council. Barbara currently resides in Mitchell County with her husband.
Kay Sibetta : Associate State Director - Community Outreach AARP
Kay Sibetta joined AARP Georgia in July 2017. Prior to joining AARP, she was the Volunteer and Human Relations Coordinator for Gwinnett County Government where she successfully launched Volunteer Gwinnett, an award-winning countywide volunteer program recognized by the National Association of Counties (NATO) with the 2013 Achievement Award in the “Volunteer Category”.
A seasoned Community Engagement and Marketing Communications professional, she leads AARP Georgia’s Livable Communities and Financial Resilience Initiatives statewide and secured Georgia as the #1 state three years in a row in enrolling the most communities into the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States & Communities. Georgia currently has 115 designated Age-Friendly Communities. She has also served as a Marketing professional for national nonprofits and cultural institutions like the American Heart Association, International Spy Museum, and the Maryland Zoo and National Aquarium. Kay serves on several Committees, Advisory Boards, and Task Forces. She is a Board Member for MicroLife Institute and Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in Corporate Communication from the University of Baltimore and is a graduate of Leadership Gwinnett Class of 2016.
Myrtle S. Habersham: Owner of M. S. Habersham Consulting Services
Myrtle S. Habersham, owner of M. S. Habersham Consulting Services, has more than three decades of professional, community/civic and mentoring/leadership service that has been recognized repeatedly through key appointments and special recognitions. She retired from federal government after over 18 years as a member of the elite Senior Executive Service (SES)corps. Her executive leadership includes Commissioner of the two largest Regions in the Social Security Administration - eight State Southeastern Region and six State Midwestern Region, Regional Inspector General for the eight state Southeastern Region of the Department of Health and Human Services, and Associate Director for the Office of Management Planning in the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). Habersham is a three-time recipient of the U. S. President’s Executive Rank Awards and recipient of numerous other awards for professional/community service achievement, including AARP’s highest volunteer honor recognition, the Andrus Award. She currently serves as the State President for AARP Georgia as well as Chair and/or Board Official for United Way of Central Georgia, Macon Bibb County Hospital Authority, Macon Chamber of Commerce, Middle Georgia Workforce Board, Atrium-Navicent Health’s Carlyle Place, Central Georgia Boy Scouts, Community Foundation of Central Georgia, Macon-Bibb Pedestrian Safety Review Board, Women In Unity, Bike Walk Macon, Macon Bibb Revitalizing the Civic Commons, and founding board member of the Otis Redding Dream Academy Foundation. She and her husband (Alex) reside in the Macon-Bibb area.
Sheena Stephens: SWGRC Planning Assistant
Sheena Stephens has been hired as a Planning Assistant. She is pursuing a Digital Marketing & E-commerce certification from Google. Her previous work history includes experience in the areas of administration and leadership, human resources and multimedia design. Mrs. Stephens is a Certified Adobe Illustrator, which she earned at Trinity Technical College, South Carolina. She is active in her community and resides in Albany, Georgia. We are excited to welcome her to our team
EIN : 58-0940910
E-verify #52681
RESOURCES
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GIS RESources
Miscellaneous Resources
Our Partners
USDA- https://www.usda.gov/
DCA- https://www.dca.ga.gov/
GMA-
https://www.gacities.com/
EDA-
https://www.eda.gov/
ACCG-
https://www.accg.org/
AARP-
https://www.aarp.org/
RPN -
https://www.rural.gov/