Crafting Charrettes That Transform Communities

Holly Madill, AICP
Holly Madill is the director of the National Charrette Institute at Michigan State University. Over the last 20 years, Madill has developed a diverse set of skills, while coordinating and leading projects around a wide range of topics for the private, nonprofit, institutional and public sectors. She specializes in community engagement, placemaking, transportation and walkability, as well as development of trainings, surveys (including analysis) and proposals. She is a trainer for the NCI curriculum, MSU Extension Citizen Planner Program and the Zoning Administrator Certificate Program. Madill holds a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science from the University of Alabama and a Master's degree in Urban & Regional Planning from Michigan State University.

Wayne Beyea, AICP
Wayne Beyea brings more than 35 years of experience in zoning, planning, land use law, and economic development. As both a licensed attorney and a certified planner (AICP), he offers a distinctive combination of legal and planning expertise that helps communities navigate complex land use and infrastructure challenges. Wayne works with municipalities, planners, and development professionals on matters involving zoning ordinances, renewable energy siting, economic development initiatives, and community planning strategies. His work often focuses on helping communities evaluate large-scale projects—such as utility-scale solar—while balancing regulatory requirements, land use impacts, and long-term community goals. Before entering private practice, Wayne spent 25 years as a faculty member with Michigan State University’s School of Planning, Design and Construction and with MSU Extension. He taught courses on Land Use Law, Planning Practice, and Urban Resilient Redevelopment, and helped launch the nationally recognized MSU Extension Citizen Planner program. Wayne has also served as a planning commissioner and zoning board of appeals member, giving him first-hand insight into how land use decisions affect communities and how planning boards operate in practice. He remains active in the planning community and has received numerous honors, including the MSU Extension John A. Hannah Award for program excellence.

Bill Lennertz
Bill Lennertz is the principal author and lead trainer of the NCI Charrette System™, the first structured approach to design-based collaborative community planning. Since co-founding NCI in 2001, Bill has trained top staff from numerous organizations, including the US Environmental Protection Agency; US General Services Administration; US Department of Housing and Urban Development; Departments of Transportation in Oregon, New York, and Arizona; as well as many private planning firms across the country. First as Director of the Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company (DPZ) Boston office and then as partner in Lennertz Coyle & Associates, Bill has directed over 150 charrettes for both public and private clients for projects ranging from main street revitalizations, town centers, and affordable housing to new neighborhoods and communities. By incorporating the charrette process in a broad range of challenging projects, Bill has encountered virtually every type of political, economic, and design problem that challenges smart growth. Bill co-authored The Charrette Handbook published by the American Planning Association, is the co-editor and essayist of Towns and Town-Making Principles (a monograph on DPZ), and is a contributor to the Charter of the New Urbanism. Bill has taught at various universities, including Harvard, where he received his Masters of Architecture in Urban Design and now annually teaches the NCI Charrette System™ certificate course.