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Experience earned on both sides of the counter

I'm an AICP-certified planner and Certified Public Manager with almost 15 years in Florida planning and nonprofit leadership. I've reviewed the applications, written the codes, built the budgets and run the board meetings. That's the experience I bring to every client.

How my experience answers the problems you face

Connecting communities to their government

The problem: residents who didn't know how to reach the services and decision-makers meant to help them.

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  • Worked directly with neighborhood leaders and residents to help them understand and use county programs and services.

  • Served as a bridge between neighborhoods and county departments, turning community concerns into requests the right office could act on.

  • Helped residents organize, build their voice and take part in the public decisions that shape their neighborhoods.

  • Put graduate coursework into practice every day, learning firsthand how good engagement builds trust in local government.

Orange County Government

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Project Coordinator, Neighborhood Preservation and Revitalization · through 2015 · full time while earning my M.S. at UCF

Running a city's development services division

The problem: a growing city that needed reviews done right, codes brought up to date and redevelopment kept on track.

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  • Processed the full range of land use applications and chaired the Development Review Committee, guiding developers through land development, building and special district codes.

  • Managed the city's EAR-based comprehensive plan update and created its Healthy Communities Element.

  • Wrote new code for parking, apartment minimum living areas and affordable housing.

  • Updated the Community Redevelopment Agency plan and secured an eight-year CRA extension.

  • Fast-tracked the city's development goals, work recognized with an Orlando Business Journal 40 Under 40 award.

City of Casselberry

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Planner I to Development Services Manager. 2015 - 2020, promoted three times. 

Growing an advocacy powerhouse

The problem: a one-person organization with big ambitions and a thin budget.

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  • Grew the team from 1 to 14 employees and the budget from $265K to $1.2M in under five years.

  • Diversified revenue across government contracts, grants, sponsors and partners, and built the internal systems to serve an 11-county region.

  • Led the board through two strategic planning sessions and completed all 17 goals of a five-year strategic plan.

  • Became a subject matter expert in education and enforcement programming to achieve Vision Zero goals.

  • Expanded the largest grassroots pedestrian safety program in the country, improving internal program operations, external partner communications and more effective data collection and reporting to track program results. 

Bike/Walk Central Florida

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Executive Director 2020 - 2026

Supporting your organization thorugh experience

The solution: the same senior experience, sized to your budget and your timeline.

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  • Fractional and interim planning staff, plans and codes, grants and funding, and strategic planning for local governments and nonprofits.

  • Site yield and entitlement strategy for developers and landowners, helping build more vibrant, walkable communities that support local retail, transit and mixed-income housing.

Lightwing Strategies LLC

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Founding Principal, 2026 - Present

Need this experience on your team?

Contact Emily

Safety and Mobility Expertise

  • Communications Emphasis Area Lead, Florida's Alert Today Alive Tomorrow Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Coalition

  • Grew Best Foot Forward pedestrian safety program from 3 counties to 11 through an FDOT partnership, supporting expansion across all Florida counties with the highest pedestrian and bicycle crashes

  • Built the SAFE Travelers youth safety program and received dedicated funding from Orange County Government by year two; programming is delivered in Orange County Public Schools and continues annually

  • E-bike and micromobility policy expert supporting local governments and partners on e-bike and micromobility policy, with speaking engagements including the 2024 and 2025 Florida Bicycle Summits

Recognition

  • UCF Exemplary Public Service Leadership Award 2024

  • Orlando Business Journal 40 Under 40 2019

  • UCF Alumni Achievement Award 2017

Teaching and Service

  • Adjunct Professor, School of Public AdministrationUniversity of Central Florida · since 2021

  • Appointed Member, Volusia County Planning and Land Development Review Commission

  • Past President, Florida Planning & Zoning Association, Central Florida Chapter

  • Frequent speaker, APA Florida, APA National Planning Conference, Safe Streets Summit

Education and Certifications

  • M.S., Urban and Regional Planning University of Central Florida

  • B.S., Interdisciplinary Studies Environmental policy focus

  • AICP, American Institute of Certified Planners #29638

  • CPM, Certified Public Manager Florida State University

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