For Chair
Kathleen (Kate) McMahon, AICP
It is with great pleasure that I submit my name as a candidate for the Chair of the Technology Division. I have been a member of APA for 30 years, AICP for 20 years and have been an active member on committees and in state chapters. In addition to a Bachelor's of Arts in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Illinois, I have a Master's Degree in Information Technology from George Washington University. For the last 15 years, I have combined these two disciplines to engage communities in planning for broadband infrastructure and in developing technology applications for their localities.
The Technology Division can be a leader in promoting new technologies in the planning profession. The Division has promoted the use of innovative technologies among planners by showcasing technologies such as GIS, e-government web sites, social media and mobile wireless applications. As the Chair of the division I would continue to highlight these important technologies but would also promote the division as a leader in broadband planning.
As a founder of the consulting firm, Applied Communications, I have developed over 25 broadband strategic plans to help communities adopt policies to deploy this critical infrastructure. I believe the division can take the lead in educating planners about broadband planning. My background and qualifications for Chair include:
- Co-Author, Planning Advisory Service Report #569 — "Planning And Broadband: Infrastructure, Policy, and Sustainability", 2012
- American Planning Association — Infrastructure Task Force — Telecommunications Co-Chair
- Montana Association of Planners — Current Board Member
- Former president of the Greater Illinois Division of the APA Illinois Chapter
- Founder and past president of the Rural Telecommunications Congress
- Presenter — APA Conference — Boston, 2011 — "Integrating Broadband Infrastructure into Comprehensive Planning"
- Presenter — APA Conference — Los Angeles — "Broadband Infrastructure and a Sustainable Future"
