Chapter Leadership
Chapter Leadership Leadership
Get to know our board members and their roles. Discover exciting volunteer opportunities that will shape the planning community in Virginia! We're always looking for enthusiastic and dedicated individuals to get involved.
Elections APA Virginia Chapter Board Elections
2024 Election Results
The Chapter recently held its election for the Executive Committee for the 2025-2026 Board of Directors this year. The elected members were:
- Chapter President-Elect - Nick Rogers, AICP, CZA
- Vice President Chapter Affairs - Justin D. Sanders, CZA, CTM
- Vice President External Affairs - Julie Chop, CZA, CTM
- Vice President of Inclusion - Kyle Gilmer, AICP
- Vice President of Legislative & Policy Affairs - Courtney Powell, AICP
- Vice President of Membership - Brian Wegener
- Vice President of Sections - Brad Shelton, AICP
- AICP Professional Development Officer - Caitlin Aubut, AICP
- Secretary - Bryce Johnson, AICP
- Treasurer - Erin Fisher, AICP
All inquiries related to the election can be sent to our Past President at past.president@apavirginia.com.
2023-2024 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors is responsible for the overall administration and operation of the Chapter. To this end, the Board has the authority to conduct any activity consistent with the intent of the Chapter Bylaws and the Bylaws of APA. The APA Virginia Chapter Board meets on a quarterly basis.
Executive Committee Members:
President
Andrew W. Hopewell, AICP, CZA
Director of Planning & Community Development, Town of Culpeper
president@apavirginia.com
Past-President
Earl Anderson, AICP
Chief of Development Services, York County
past.president@apavirginia.com
VP Chapter Affairs
Josh Gillespie, AICP
Director of Community Development, Louisa County
chapter.affairs@apavirginia.com
VP External Affairs
Julie Chop, CZA
Manager of Current Planning & Zoning, City of Portsmouth
external.affairs@apavirginia.com
VP Inclusion
Bryce Johnson
Senior Planner, Loudoun County
inclusion@apavirginia.com
VP Legislative and Policy Affairs
Courtney Powell, AICP
Urban and Community Planning Manager, WGI
legislation@apavirginia.com
VP Membership
Donald Whipple, AICP
Chief Planner, City of Hampton
membership@apavirginia.com
VP Sections
David Samba
Project Manager, Kimley-Horn
sections@apavirginia.com
Professional Development Officer
John Harbin, AICP
Executive Director, Chesapeake Land Bank Authority
pdo@apavirginia.com
Secretary
Brian Wegener, AICP, CZA
Program Manager, Loudoun County
secretary@apavirginia.com
Treasurer
Jason Espie, AICP
Principal, Revive Strategies LLC
treasurer@apavirginia.com
Standing Committee Chairs & Board Appointees:
FAICP Committee Chair
Lorna Parkins, FAICP
faicpchair@apavirginia.com
Planning Directors Chair
Tevya Griffin, AICP
Director of Planning and Codes Compliance, City of Williamsburg
info@apavirginia.com
Development Chair
Brad Shelton, AICP
Director of Planning, Michael Baker International
sponsorship@apavirginia.com
Emerging Planning Professionals (EPP) Chair
Ian Newman, AICP
Regional Transportation Planner, Northern Virginia Transportation Authority
ypg@apavirginia.com
CPAP Chair
Will Cockrell, AICP
Planner, EPR PC
cpap@apavirginia.com
Faculty Representative
Jim Smither
Assistant Professor, Virginia Commonwealth University
info@apavirginia.com
Student Representative
Anna Meyer
University of Virginia
info@apavirginia.com
Planning Officials Development Officer
Michael Chandler
podo@apavirginia.com
Non-Voting Members:
Communications Director
Nick Rogers, AICP, CZA
Zoning Amendment Coordinator & Principal Planner, Arlington County
communications@apavirginia.com
Planners Advocacy Network Director
Shubha Punase
Project Manager, Prince George's County
pan@apavirginia.com
Faculty Representatives
Suzanne Moomaw, PhD, Chair & Associate Professor, Urban and Environmental Planning, University of Virginia
info@apavirginia.com
Virginia Tech Position Pending New Appointment
info@apavirginia.com
Newsbrief Editor
LaToya Gray-Sparks, Assistant Historian, Virginia Department of Historic Resources
newsbrief@apavirginia.com
Social Media Coordinator
Social Media Coordinator Position Pending New Appointment
socialmedia@apavirginia.com
Staff:
Eldon James
APA Virginia Staff
admin@apavirginia.com
Martina James Nalley
APA Virginia Staff
martina@apavirginia.com
Gillian Saul
APA Virginia Staff
gillian@bellatrixcg.com
Leadership Position Descriptions
Use the link below to learn more about the specific roles and responsibilities of our board members.