LAI Executive Committee
Kathline King is an accomplished urban planning, environmental and land development executive with over thirty years’ experience leading and implementing community-based, multi-disciplinary solutions for complex urban and regional projects. She currently serves as Senior Airport Planner for Los Angeles World Airports leading the environmental and land use planning efforts for major capital projects at LAX and Van Nuys airports.
Ms. King joined the City of Los Angeles in 2019 with extensive professional planning experience in the public and private sectors and organizations such as the County of Los Angeles, Los Angeles City Planning Department, Public Building Commission of Chicago, Fort Sheridan Joint Planning Commission and Psomas.
She previously served as Chief of Planning for the Los Angeles County Department of Parks & Recreation where she directed the Department's parkland planning and real estate functions for the most populous county in the nation. Notable accomplishments include launching the trails.lacounty.gov internet and mobile website, mapping over 350 miles of trails information for millions of trail users.
She has served on numerous professional boards including Lambda Alpha International, Habitat for Humanity--Chicago, Women in Planning & Development--Chicago, and Los Angeles Headquarters.
Born and raised in Chicago, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Urban Studies from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. She later received a master's degree in urban and Regional Planning/Public-Private Partnership from the University of Southern California.
Ms. King joined the City of Los Angeles in 2019 with extensive professional planning experience in the public and private sectors and organizations such as the County of Los Angeles, Los Angeles City Planning Department, Public Building Commission of Chicago, Fort Sheridan Joint Planning Commission and Psomas.
She previously served as Chief of Planning for the Los Angeles County Department of Parks & Recreation where she directed the Department's parkland planning and real estate functions for the most populous county in the nation. Notable accomplishments include launching the trails.lacounty.gov internet and mobile website, mapping over 350 miles of trails information for millions of trail users.
She has served on numerous professional boards including Lambda Alpha International, Habitat for Humanity--Chicago, Women in Planning & Development--Chicago, and Los Angeles Headquarters.
Born and raised in Chicago, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Urban Studies from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. She later received a master's degree in urban and Regional Planning/Public-Private Partnership from the University of Southern California.
Craig is a Partner of Hemson Consulting. The Toronto-based firm specializes in providing planning and finance advice to a range of public sector clients in Ontario and across Canada. Craig has over three decades of professional consulting experience and holds a Masters of Philosophy degree in Political Economics from the University of Glasgow and a B.A. in Economics from Queen’s University. His particular areas of expertise include economic and financial impact modeling and analysis, user fee calculations, local government policy, land use economics, and development impose fees. As an expert in land economics, Craig regularly appears as an expert witness in municipal finance matters before the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT). Craig is a sessional instructor and frequent guest lecturer at Toronto area universities. Craig has previously served as Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer for LAI International.
John Schlichting is the Director of Planning and Code Administration for the City of Gaithersburg, Maryland after 27 years as one of the most active real estate developers of mixed-use projects in the Washington DC metropolitan region. He holds a BS in Architecture from the University of Virginia and an MBA from The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
John is the 2024-2025 Treasurer of Lambda Alpha International and the Immediate Past President of the Washington DC Chapter. He is also a member of the Urban Land Institute, the Congress for New Urbanism, and the American Planning Association. He is a past Chair and Board Member of the Kentlands Community Foundation, served on the Boards for the Downtown DC Business Improvement District, the Washington Architectural Foundation and the Dulles Corridor Rail Association.
John is the 2024-2025 Treasurer of Lambda Alpha International and the Immediate Past President of the Washington DC Chapter. He is also a member of the Urban Land Institute, the Congress for New Urbanism, and the American Planning Association. He is a past Chair and Board Member of the Kentlands Community Foundation, served on the Boards for the Downtown DC Business Improvement District, the Washington Architectural Foundation and the Dulles Corridor Rail Association.
Mark Conway is the President of NBLC a real estate advisory firm in Toronto, Canada.
Mark is a professional planner and land economist with over 40 years of experience in development feasibility, transit-oriented development, master plan development and land use policy. Mark has worked across Canada and Europe and is an advisor to Canada’s federal government as well as the Province of Ontario on housing issues. Mark’s team at NBLC have been advisors on some Canada’s most high profile and complex redevelopments. Mark has been a member of LAI since 2010.
Mark is a professional planner and land economist with over 40 years of experience in development feasibility, transit-oriented development, master plan development and land use policy. Mark has worked across Canada and Europe and is an advisor to Canada’s federal government as well as the Province of Ontario on housing issues. Mark’s team at NBLC have been advisors on some Canada’s most high profile and complex redevelopments. Mark has been a member of LAI since 2010.
Richard Wilson is an architect and city planner who leads the City Design Practice of Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture in Chicago. Richard has +30 years of experience working with public and private sector clients to master plan, design, construct and operate large scale urban districts and redevelopments in historic and emergent cities worldwide. Richard is the 2024-2025 Secretary of Lambda Alpha International and the Immediate Past President of the Chicago Region Chapter. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Historic Pullman Foundation and Friends of the Chicago River, and on the National Parks Conservation Association Advisory Council.
Laura is an architect, urban designer and property development professional passionate about delivering complex sustainable projects with an emphasis on community and creative uses.
Her technical expertise is complemented by a creative approach to design and a recognised ability to generate consensus among varied stakeholders.
Her experience spans a breadth of geographies from Japan, China, Hong Kong, to the UK as well as the fields of architecture, urban design, property development and project management.
A published author and articulate industry specialist, she is an experienced keynote speaker at high-profile international conferences. She has in the past been a design peer reviewer for UK local authorities and a guest critique on top UK and Asian architecture, urban development and design programmes.
Laura is also a fervent advocate for diversity in the construction and development industry and actively participates in industry-related mentorship programmes.
Her technical expertise is complemented by a creative approach to design and a recognised ability to generate consensus among varied stakeholders.
Her experience spans a breadth of geographies from Japan, China, Hong Kong, to the UK as well as the fields of architecture, urban design, property development and project management.
A published author and articulate industry specialist, she is an experienced keynote speaker at high-profile international conferences. She has in the past been a design peer reviewer for UK local authorities and a guest critique on top UK and Asian architecture, urban development and design programmes.
Laura is also a fervent advocate for diversity in the construction and development industry and actively participates in industry-related mentorship programmes.
Claudia is a global marketing-advertising entrepreneur specializing in real estate development and prestige brands.
Her early career as a Creative Director and Designer culminated with the launch of Hands On Design in 1998. In 2004, Claudia became a partner and principal of The Sieb Organization. She leads the firm’s full-service marketing-advertising agency and functions as Chief Marketing Officer for select real estate developers. Her strengths include implementing buyer research, branding, go-to-market strategies and sales lead generation. Claudia oversees media, public relations, social media, and crisis management with her clients.
Claudia is a member of the Urban Land Institute (ULI), having served as Chair, Vice Chair and Memberships Chair for the Urban Revitalization Council Gold. She serves as Leader Emeritus for ULI Arizona Women’s Leadership Initiative. She serves on the Executive Board of Lambda Alpha International as Communications Director and is a member of the ASU President’s Club and Valley Partnership. Claudia has served on The Audubon Arizona Business Advisory Board, Westminster College Business Advisory Board, as Charter Member of WIRED; Women in Real Estate Development, and past member of Arizona Association for Economic Development, American Institute of Graphic Arts, AZ Advertising Club, National Golf Foundation and the Executive Women’s Golf Association.
Claudia lead an in-classroom and on-site program, with Cadence as the case study, that took students through each aspect of development including land assessment, financing and purchase, entitlement, land planning, builder and amenity selection, horizontal and vertical construction, costs, and marketing.
In the past two years, she also completed the branding, identity systems, video work and website for ASU’s new Smart City, Novus Innovation Corridor as well as ASU’s Innovation Zones website featuring six Innovation Zones throughout the valley.
Claudia has served in leadership for ULI for the past 10 years, serving as Chair, Vice Chair and Memberships Chair for the Urban Revitalization Council, effectively more than doubling its membership, among other accomplishments. She is currently beginning her tenure as Emeritus Leader with ULI AZ WLI.
Her early career as a Creative Director and Designer culminated with the launch of Hands On Design in 1998. In 2004, Claudia became a partner and principal of The Sieb Organization. She leads the firm’s full-service marketing-advertising agency and functions as Chief Marketing Officer for select real estate developers. Her strengths include implementing buyer research, branding, go-to-market strategies and sales lead generation. Claudia oversees media, public relations, social media, and crisis management with her clients.
Claudia is a member of the Urban Land Institute (ULI), having served as Chair, Vice Chair and Memberships Chair for the Urban Revitalization Council Gold. She serves as Leader Emeritus for ULI Arizona Women’s Leadership Initiative. She serves on the Executive Board of Lambda Alpha International as Communications Director and is a member of the ASU President’s Club and Valley Partnership. Claudia has served on The Audubon Arizona Business Advisory Board, Westminster College Business Advisory Board, as Charter Member of WIRED; Women in Real Estate Development, and past member of Arizona Association for Economic Development, American Institute of Graphic Arts, AZ Advertising Club, National Golf Foundation and the Executive Women’s Golf Association.
Claudia lead an in-classroom and on-site program, with Cadence as the case study, that took students through each aspect of development including land assessment, financing and purchase, entitlement, land planning, builder and amenity selection, horizontal and vertical construction, costs, and marketing.
In the past two years, she also completed the branding, identity systems, video work and website for ASU’s new Smart City, Novus Innovation Corridor as well as ASU’s Innovation Zones website featuring six Innovation Zones throughout the valley.
Claudia has served in leadership for ULI for the past 10 years, serving as Chair, Vice Chair and Memberships Chair for the Urban Revitalization Council, effectively more than doubling its membership, among other accomplishments. She is currently beginning her tenure as Emeritus Leader with ULI AZ WLI.
Holly's eclectic career path includes multiple faucets ranging from the corporate arena (Arthur Andersen Auditor & Trammell Crow Controller) to the foodservice industry (owner of corporate catering business & restaurants) to sustainability-industry leader (Zero Waste Zones & Elemental Impact Founder). In addition, Holly is an avid nature & documentary photographer and respected journalist with featured articles and photographs featured in national publications.
Jason is the Regional Vice-President for the Central North America Region. In his professional life, he is a municipal and planning lawyer and is the co-Managing Partner of Kagan Shastri DeMelo Winer Park LLP. Jason assists property owners, developers and municipalities on official plan, zoning, subdivision, severance, variance and site plan matters throughout Ontario including acting for some of the largest and most prominent developers in Ontario. Jason has repeatedly been recognized by both Lexpert and Best Lawyers as a leading lawyer in Property Development and Municipal Law.
Jason joined Lambda Alpha International in 2010 and is currently on the Board for the Simcoe Chapter. He was previously a past President of the Chapter from 2019 to 2020. He is past Chair of the Ontario Bar Association’s Municipal Law Section Executive and previously the Chair of the Board of Directors for HF Connecting Health Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic. He has also previously been on the Boards of Hong Fook Mental Health Association and Summit Golf and Country Club.
Jason joined Lambda Alpha International in 2010 and is currently on the Board for the Simcoe Chapter. He was previously a past President of the Chapter from 2019 to 2020. He is past Chair of the Ontario Bar Association’s Municipal Law Section Executive and previously the Chair of the Board of Directors for HF Connecting Health Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic. He has also previously been on the Boards of Hong Fook Mental Health Association and Summit Golf and Country Club.
Nick Koch has been a Lambda Alpha Minnesota member and Board member since his hair was brown and has served in almost every Board position. Recruited by Russ Nelson, he retired from HGA Architects and Engineers and RSP Architects, but is still working on meaningful callings—like LAI. What inspires me most about LAI are the wonderful, interesting people and the multi-disciplinary nature of the organization. I am happy to serve in this new position and look forward to working with all of you.
Susannah Bergmann is a personable, dedicated business owner and community volunteer with more than 25 years of business and nonprofit experience. She owns Kaliber Construction, Inc. a Baltimore-based general contractor and owner’s representation firm. She is a results-oriented business owner, creative problem-solver, and a lifelong learner who brings dedication, hard work, tech-savvy, and consistency to every endeavor.
I am committed to having a positive impact upon our community/world. I serve on several boards focused on local and international education, clean water, and a women’s giving circle. With LAI I have enjoyed being a Baltimore Chapter president, chair of its 2018 Land Economics Weekend, member on the Global Initiatives and Gatherings Committees, and being the Regional Vice President enthusiastically supporting our East Region chapters. Hope you will join me in engaging with all our members to share our best practices, connections, knowledge, and expertise!
I am committed to having a positive impact upon our community/world. I serve on several boards focused on local and international education, clean water, and a women’s giving circle. With LAI I have enjoyed being a Baltimore Chapter president, chair of its 2018 Land Economics Weekend, member on the Global Initiatives and Gatherings Committees, and being the Regional Vice President enthusiastically supporting our East Region chapters. Hope you will join me in engaging with all our members to share our best practices, connections, knowledge, and expertise!
A member of the George Washington Chapter for many years, now retired, I am a Landscape Architect who spent most of her career as a city planner. I worked in large Maryland planning departments as an urban designer, division chief and acting director, and was the Planning Director for Alexandria, Virginia. I’m especially proud of the Waterfront Plan, now largely built out, that transformed the Historic District’s primary public space.
As the Assistant Regional VP, I’m committed to helping our Eastern Region chapters reach their potential to connect professionals, share knowledge and advance best practices, alongside our RVP, Susannah Bergmann. I’m also excited by the opportunity to work with the Onboarding Subcommittee to improve membership engagement.
As the Assistant Regional VP, I’m committed to helping our Eastern Region chapters reach their potential to connect professionals, share knowledge and advance best practices, alongside our RVP, Susannah Bergmann. I’m also excited by the opportunity to work with the Onboarding Subcommittee to improve membership engagement.
Robert has over 30 years’ experience in all stages of real estate development including: negotiations for land acquisition, project formulation and financial structuring, concept development and project appraisals, design development and construction stage project direction and implementation.
Prior to coming to the UK and after obtaining his MSc. (Pl) from the University of Toronto he was a senior planner for the City of Toronto and subsequently worked as a lead consultant on major mixed use commercial development projects in downtown Toronto and New York City. In the late 1980s he came to the UK with Olympia & York to embark on the development of the first phase of Canary Wharf.
Commencing in 1993 Robert established a specialist urban regeneration consulting firm advising public and private sector clients in the areas of development, planning and urban regeneration. He has undertaken senior management roles on a number of the UK’s most significant urban regeneration initiatives, including Canary Wharf, Greenwich Peninsula, Liverpool Waterfront and Manchester City Centre.
Prior to coming to the UK and after obtaining his MSc. (Pl) from the University of Toronto he was a senior planner for the City of Toronto and subsequently worked as a lead consultant on major mixed use commercial development projects in downtown Toronto and New York City. In the late 1980s he came to the UK with Olympia & York to embark on the development of the first phase of Canary Wharf.
Commencing in 1993 Robert established a specialist urban regeneration consulting firm advising public and private sector clients in the areas of development, planning and urban regeneration. He has undertaken senior management roles on a number of the UK’s most significant urban regeneration initiatives, including Canary Wharf, Greenwich Peninsula, Liverpool Waterfront and Manchester City Centre.
With a distinguished track record of more than 20 years in the coworking and flex office industry, my focus is on constantly seeking solutions and generating value for the projects I am involved in. Throughout my career, I have held various leadership positions in key organizations in the industry and, currently, I have the privilege of leading a highly talented and results-oriented team at NETWORKIA Workspaces
Juanjo Martínez is Founder & CEO in Networkia Business Center. With a distinguished track record of more than 18 years in the coworking and flex office industry, his focus is on constantly seeking solutions and generating value for the projects I am involved in. Throughout his career, he has held various leadership positions in key organizations in the industry and, currently, he has the privilege of leading a highly talented and results-oriented team at Networkia Business Center, one of the main Coworking Operators in Spain.
In his role as CEO of Networkia, he leads a team dedicated to delivering innovative solutions in the field of flexible workspace and office services. They are committed to providing high quality flexible spaces in premium locations, offering companies a highly competitive alternative to traditional office rentals. In addition, they provide a wide range of services, from virtual offices to meeting rooms and corporate event services.
Juanjo Martínez is Founder & CEO in Networkia Business Center. With a distinguished track record of more than 18 years in the coworking and flex office industry, his focus is on constantly seeking solutions and generating value for the projects I am involved in. Throughout his career, he has held various leadership positions in key organizations in the industry and, currently, he has the privilege of leading a highly talented and results-oriented team at Networkia Business Center, one of the main Coworking Operators in Spain.
In his role as CEO of Networkia, he leads a team dedicated to delivering innovative solutions in the field of flexible workspace and office services. They are committed to providing high quality flexible spaces in premium locations, offering companies a highly competitive alternative to traditional office rentals. In addition, they provide a wide range of services, from virtual offices to meeting rooms and corporate event services.
Andrew Fogg is the Co-Team Leader of Cox, Castle & Nicholson’s Land Use and Natural Resources Team. Andrew has extensive experience in representing developers in the land use entitlement process and related areas, including all aspects of planning, zoning, and environmental review, in cities and counties throughout California.
Prior to joining the firm, Andrew spent several years as an in-house counsel at Amgen, Inc., a Fortune 500 global biotechnical company, where he provided legal support on land use and real estate matters for the company's locations world-wide.
Prior to working in house, Andrew was an attorney in the real estate, land use, and appellate groups at Irell & Manella, LLP, where he represented developers and public entities in land use and related matters.
In law school, Andrew served as Senior Research Editor for the UC Davis Law Review and following graduation, Andrew clerked for the Honorable Dean D. Pregerson in the Federal Court for the Central District of California.
Prior to joining the firm, Andrew spent several years as an in-house counsel at Amgen, Inc., a Fortune 500 global biotechnical company, where he provided legal support on land use and real estate matters for the company's locations world-wide.
Prior to working in house, Andrew was an attorney in the real estate, land use, and appellate groups at Irell & Manella, LLP, where he represented developers and public entities in land use and related matters.
In law school, Andrew served as Senior Research Editor for the UC Davis Law Review and following graduation, Andrew clerked for the Honorable Dean D. Pregerson in the Federal Court for the Central District of California.
Alan Billingsley, owner of Billingsley Investments, San Francisco, CA. Following an over 30-year career in investment advisory services and land economics research for the real estate industry, Mr. Billingsley is currently managing and pursuing his own investment interests in the residential sector. He recently departed RREEF (now DWS Asset Management, part of Deutsche Bank) after 13 years, where he served as Head of Americas Research and Investment Strategy. Prior to this, Mr. Billingsley had 20 years of experience in all forms of real estate development and investment analysis, including work for both public and private sector clients. He held senior positions with Sedway Group, and Economics Research Associates, beginning his career at RCLCO in Los Angeles. He is an active member of the Urban Land Institute at both national and local levels, is past-President of the Golden Gate Chapter of Lambda Alpha International; is past-President of the local chapter of the Counselors of Real Estate; is a past member of the Research Task Force at ICSC; and is active in several civic and educational organizations. He is a former member of NCREIF and PREA. Mr. Billingsley holds an M.A. in Architecture and Urban Planning from UCLA.
Ann has way too many years of experience in market assessment, economic/fiscal impact analysis, and strategic planning for large or complex projects throughout Hawai‘i, and around Asia and the Pacific. Current projects address funding for regional infrastructure, affordable housing development, and community center/park re-envisioning.
She’s a long-time member of the Aloha (Hawai‘i) chapter, a past chapter president, and past RVP for LAI’s Asia-Pacific Region. Ann enjoys supporting myriad community interests, and has done so via governance positions on the East-West Center Foundation; the Community Housing Fund at the Hawai‘i Community Foundation; Kamehameha Schools’ for-profit subsidiaries; the Rate Commission of the City and County of Honolulu, and elsewhere.
Ann holds a BA in Urban Studies from Stanford University, and a PhD in Demography/Sociology from Cornell University.
She’s a long-time member of the Aloha (Hawai‘i) chapter, a past chapter president, and past RVP for LAI’s Asia-Pacific Region. Ann enjoys supporting myriad community interests, and has done so via governance positions on the East-West Center Foundation; the Community Housing Fund at the Hawai‘i Community Foundation; Kamehameha Schools’ for-profit subsidiaries; the Rate Commission of the City and County of Honolulu, and elsewhere.
Ann holds a BA in Urban Studies from Stanford University, and a PhD in Demography/Sociology from Cornell University.
Ronald (Ron) L. Thomas, FAICP has served on the faculty of the planning program at the College of Environment & Design, University of Georgia. He is the former executive director of the Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission in Chicago (2000-2008) where he refocused the commission’s mission on providing more direct assistance to local communities based on their diverse sustainability issues and led the regional plan that set new award-winning standards for public engagement in regional affairs. Previously he launched the Sustainable Racine program, 1997-1999. He also served as interim executive director of AmericaSpeaks in 1999 leading the Mayor’s Citizen Summit. His career work includes a wide range of award-winning planning projects from neighborhood to regional scales including the Roanoke Neighborhood & Vision Plan, The Savannah 2020 Vision Plan, the Imagine Houston Plan and the Charleston regional plan. He pioneered extensive community-based projects and published widely on new approaches to visioning and strategic planning using innovative communication technology. He directed his own firm (1973-1990) in Washington, DC and was Associate Principal with Jones and Jones in Seattle, WA (1990-1997). Concurrently he founded and led the nonprofit community assistance organization Community Design Exchange (1978-2000) while serving in local and national organizations such as American Planning Association and Lambda Alpha International.
About twelve years ago I had the opportunity to work with the Atlanta Regional Commission and study the immigrant and refugee populations that had become a part of Greater Atlanta. With a team of graduate students from Georgia State University's Department of Anthropology and Geography, we created a series of ten information brochures, Global Atlanta Snapshots, each featuring a different foreign-born population. Two years later, we did similar work for another ten communities, giving somewhat greater attention to the economic development implications of immigration. I found the work fascinating and continued to focus on issues surrounding immigration in subsequent years. I later completed working on the New Americans Study for the City of Buffalo, NY. Buffalo is seeing an increase in its immigrant and refugee populations and is looking on these New Americans as potential partners in revitalizing city neighborhoods and contributing to an expanding economy.
Gary retired following a forty-five year career in Commercial Banking where he specialized in commercial real estate finance and affordable housing finance and investment. Along with memberships in real estate organizations including the Urban Land Institute, National Association of Office and Industrial Parks, and the Mortgage Bankers Association, Leach has been an active member of the LAI Land Economics Society and was a founding member of the Boston Chapter in 1995. Gary has held many officer positions in LAI over the years and is currently serving as LAI International Immediate Past President.