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Mallory BachesPresidentMallory B.E. Baches, AICP LEED-AP CNU-A is the President of the Congress for the New Urbanism. Celebrated for her previous practice as an urban designer, Mallory brings twenty-five years of international work in urban planning and community development to her role, as well as a wealth of experience in nonprofit leadership, having served as a staff member, a special advisor, and on the governing boards of organizations making an impact through urban change. Mallory is accredited with the American Planning Association (AICP), the U.S. Green Building Council (LEED), and the Congress for New Urbanism (CNU-A). Her knowledge of urbanism was first developed at the University of Notre Dame’s School of Architecture, including a year spent at the Rome Studies Program. She earned an MSc in Sustainable Urban Development from the University of Oxford, which is delivered in partnership with the Prince's Foundation for Building Community. Her original research dissertation on the intersection of historic preservation and social sustainability received honorable distinction and was included in CNU’s New Urban Research selection in 2019. Mallory served as the inaugural CNU-A Fellow at the University of Miami School of Architecture. She was named a member of the 2013 Next Urban Vanguard class by Next City, and is a former board member and President of the Association for Community Design, is the interim Vice Chair of the PLACE Initiative, and is a member the Urban Guild. She has been profiled on the Design Feast series Designer Quest(ionnaire) and on Next City. She is a contributing author to Smart Cities Policies and Financing: Approaches and Solutions (Elsevier). Her urban design work has been featured by Next City, and she speaks and writes on architecture, planning, and urban sustainability. Email: mbaches@cnu.org |
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Margaret GattisExecutive DirectorMargaret Gattis is the Executive Director, where she is responsible for building a strong, thriving, and sustainable organization that achieves the strategic plan and the vision provided by the President. She manages all internal operations of the organization and leads staff in achieving our goals through programs, membership, communications, and outreach. In leading CNU, Margaret combines her passion for cities, architecture, and people-centered design with over 15 years of experience developing and leading multidisciplinary teams in nonprofit membership organizations. After serving initially as Program Director in 2018, Margaret provided steady leadership to CNU as Deputy Director through two virtual Congresses and a significant leadership transition, ushering in an era of stability and growth. Prior to this work, she spent over a decade advocating for the reuse of older and historic buildings at the National Trust for Historic Preservation, leading on-the-ground technical assistance projects across the country and contributing to groundbreaking research about the environmental, economic, and social value that older, smaller buildings contribute to cities for the Trust’s Preservation Green Lab. Margaret holds a Bachelors of Arts in political science from Clemson University’s College of Behavioral, Social, and Health Sciences and a Masters in Community Planning from the University of Maryland’s School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation. Email: mgattis@cnu.org |
Operations
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Scott ShieldsComptrollerAs the Congress for the New Urbanism convenes the diverse sectors of our movement, CNU's Comptroller serves a similar function, coordinating the operations of CNU and the activities of the Resources, Engagement, Implementation, and Executive teams. A dedicated member of the CNU staff since 2019, Scott brings over two decades of experience in organizing and activism. Prior to joining the CNU staff, Scott’s career centered around non-profit organizations, local government, elected officials, and the labor movement. A long time new urbanist himself, he grew up in the New York metropolitan area, experiencing both the benefits of vibrant, walkable urban spaces, and the negative impacts of suburban sprawl. He lives in New Jersey with his partner, two children, and an ever-expanding menagerie of pets, constantly on the lookout for new hiking trails and music venues. Email: sshields@cnu.org |
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Adilah Abdul-MatinMembership ManagerAdilah is the Membership Manager at the Congress for New Urbanism and has contributed to the development and retention of CNU members and supporters. Her strategic and creative approach to membership brings her unique voice and perspective to CNU, contributing to its growth and stability. With over a decade of experience in various sectors such as state government, education, and non-profit organizations, Adilah brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her role. She is passionate about creating new strategies to increase membership engagement and retention and building more connected communities. Adilah's commitment to fostering a sense of community and belonging extends beyond her professional work, as she firmly believes in elevating diverse marginalized voices and building authentic and long-lasting relationships. With her boundless energy and enthusiasm, Adilah is dedicated to making a positive impact on the world around her, one step at a time. Adilah enjoys spending her weekends exploring cafes with the best matcha, on local hiking trails or attending music festivals. Email: aabdul-matin@cnu.org |
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Sarah Chen-KimOperations ManagerSarah Chen-Kim is the Operations Assistant at the Congress for the New Urbanism where she provides support for various administrative activities and assists with finance and operations, programming and events, board and executive management, and implementation of development strategy. Prior to CNU, Sarah worked with local nonprofits in Houston for four years, helping with fundraising, grant management, and development. In her free time, Sarah enjoys playing board games, birdwatching, and taking long walks around her neighborhood in Sugar Land, TX with her husband. Email: schen-kim@cnu.org |
Resources
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Marsha GarciaDirector of ResourcesMarsha Garcia is the Director of Resources for the Congress of the New Urbanism and is responsible for developing and delivering tools and education outreach materials to support existing members, and grow the next generation of new urban designers and leaders. Prior to CNU Marsha was the University of Rhode Island’s first Campus Sustainability Officer where she created and instituted outreach and engagement initiatives related to sustainability at the University; a role she served for over 12 years. Before her arrival on campus, she held various positions in the environmental field in the Washington, DC, area. She was the manager of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Community by Design's Sustainability Design and Assessment Teams programs, a position she held after initially managing the education and outreach programs for the AIA Knowledge Communities including the Committee on the Environment, Building Science & Performance Committee, and the Design-Build Community. She came to AIA after working for the U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) as an assistant manager jump starting the LEED Education Programs in 2001 at its national headquarters. Previous to USGBC she coordinated programs at the National Wildlife Federation in Virginia. Marsha obtained a Master of Science in environmental sciences and policy, with a focus on environmental planning, from the Johns Hopkins University in Maryland, and a Bachelor’s degree from Drew University in New Jersey. She lives just outside Philadelphia, PA, with her husband, daughter, and two dogs, where they enjoy the many hiking trails, green spaces, and cultural opportunities the area has to offer. Email: mgarcia@cnu.org |
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Lauren MayerAssociate Director of ResourcesLauren Mayer is the Associate Director of Resources at the Congress for the New Urbanism where she helps to produce and maintain the New Urbanist knowledge base. She documents New Urbanist best practices with the annual Chater Awards, provides oversight for the delivery of CNU’s Legacy Projects program, and works to bring New Urbanists together at the annual Congress. Her work also includes leading CNU’s Highways to Boulevards program which offers a path forward for communities impacted by burdensome urban highways to repair, rebuild, and reknit. Prior to joining CNU, Lauren was an ORISE fellow with the U.S. EPA doing communications work in the Office of Water. Lauren holds a BA in Environmental Studies and Media & Cultural Studies from Macalester College in St. Paul, MN. Lauren enjoys walking and biking around her home in Washington, DC, in addition to reading, traveling, and camping. Email: lmayer@cnu.org |
Engagement
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Robert SteutevilleDirector of PublicationsRobert Steuteville is CNU's Director of Publications and editor of Public Square. He also produces CNU’s webinar series, On the Park Bench. He is a CNU Fellow. Steuteville has been writing, editing, and publishing in the field of New Urbanism since 1996, when he founded New Urban News, the long-time trade publication. He authored or co-authored four editions of New Urbanism: Best Practices Guide, which is used for CNU accreditation. He founded Better Cities & Towns, a 501c3 nonprofit that led a consulting team in writing form-based codes for the City and Town of Ithaca, New York, initiating planning charrettes, and carrying out other planning and education missions. Steuteville is a signer of the Charter of the New Urbanism, which was unveiled in Charleston, South Carolina, when New Urban News was launched. He participated in the Mississippi Renewal Forum, when new urbanists made plans for 11 communities devastated by Hurricane Katrina. He lives in Ithaca, New York, with his family. Email: rsteuteville@cnu.org |