Countdown Until the Deep South Planning Conference:

NaN days, NaN hours, NaN minutes, NaN seconds

Location Information

  • The Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center
  • 241 South College Street, Auburn, AL, 36830 US
  • Google, Bing, MapQuest

2026 Deep South Planning Conference Schedule

Sept. 29 | 12:00pRegistration Opens

On-site registration for the Deep South Planning Conference opens!

Sept. 29 | 12:00p - 1:00pLunch - On Your Own

Sept. 29 | 1:00p - 2:00pEthics Case of the Year (1CM)

Presenter:
Bob Barber, FAICP, Founding Partner
Orion Planning + Design

Sept. 29 | 2:00p - 2:15pBreak/Reset

Sept. 29 | 2:15p - 3:45Welcome & Opening Keynote

The Regional Rhythm - A Dialogue on Regional Planning in East and Southeast Alabama
Speakers:
Scott Farmer, AICP, Executive Director
Southeast Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission (SEARPDC)
Eric Wright, AICP, Director of Planning and Development
East Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission (EARPDC)

Sept. 29 | 3:45p - 4:00pBreak/Reset

Sept. 29 | 4:00p - 5:00pConcurrent Sessions

From Capitol Hill to City Hall: Understanding the Federal Forces Shaping Communities (1CM)
Presenter:
Kerrie Keesee, Founder & Principal
Neutral Ground Group

Planning for the Flood: A Review of Local Policy, Design, and Regulatory Solutions to Flash, Riverine, and Coastal Flooding (1CM)
Presenters:
Jonathan Corona, Community Planning Practice Lead
Jacobs
Rosie Mafe, AICP, Senior Urban Planner
Jacobs

Sept. 29 | 4:00p - 5:15pStudent Involvement

Sept. 29 | 5:00p - 5:15pBreak/Reset

Sept. 29 | 5:00p - 6:00pConcurrent Sessions

Citizen Advocacy: Observations from My Bike, Data, and Actions (1CM)
Presenter:
David Nuttall, President
Artimaps, LLC

Roots Run Deep: Integrating Urban Forestry Planning and Indigenous Culture (1CM)
Presenter:
Caroline Ingram, AICP, Community Forestry Planner
The Green Infrastructure Center, Inc.

Sept. 29 | 6:30p -8:00pTuesday Evening Social

New Realm Brewing Co.
207 S College St.
Auburn, AL 36849

Sept. 30 | 7:30a - 8:00aBreakfast & Networking

Sept. 30 | 8:00a - 9aConcurrent Sessions

The Competitive Edge: Protecting Alabama’s Cost of Living Advantage (1CM)
Presenters:
Lady Kassama, AICP, Planner III
City of Huntsville
Turkessa Coleman Lacey, MURP
Principal I & Urban Planning Consultant
S2L

From Blueprint to Impact: Advancing Economic Development Around the World’s Busiest Airport (1CM)
Presenters:
Jonathan Corona, Community Planning Practice Lead
Jacobs
Andrew Kohr, PLA, ASLA, Principal
Alta Planning and Design
Kat Onore, AICP, Planning Operations Director
Pond & Company

Sept. 30 | 9:00a - 9:15aBreak/Reset

Sept. 30 | 8:00a - 11:00aMobile Workshop

Walking in Step: Planning and Engineering Partnerships for Active Communities (3CM)
Facilitator:
Mitch Carter, Extension Specialist
Thriving Communities | Alabama Extension at Auburn University

Sept. 30 | 9:15a - 10:15aConcurrent Sessions

Adoption is Not the Finish Line (1CM)
Presenter:
Corey Sosebee, AICP, CNU-A, Senior Planner
Goodwyn Mills Cawood

From Vision to Implementation: The Role of Catalytic Projects in Fueling Redevelopment (1CM)
Presenters:
Andrew Kohr, PLA, ASLA, Principal
Alta Planning and Design
William Hargrove, PLA, ASLA, Senior Associate
Christopher Pike, CEcD, EDFP, CPM, President & CEO
Urban Pulse Community Solutions

Sept. 30 | 10:15a - 10:30aBreak/Reset

Sept. 30 | 10:30a -11:30aConcurrent Sessions

Political Action: Jackson’s Downfall and Savior (1CM)
Presenter:
Immanuel Wiggins, President
JSU URP Student Planning Association

From Comprehensive Plan to Economic Development: A Place-Based Approach to Community Prosperity (1CM)
Presenters:
Robert L. Barber, FAICP, Founding Partner
Orion Planning + Design
Allison Mouch, AICP, Partner
Orion Planning + Design
Thomas Gregory, Executive Director
Greenwood Leflore Economic Development Foundation

Sept. 30 | 11:30a - 1:30pChapter Awards Luncheon (2CM)

Sept. 30 | 1:30p - 2:30pConcurrent Sessions

Powering Local Progress: Zoning, Solar, and EV Policy for Alabama Communities (1CM)
Presenters:
John Dodd, Policy Manager
Energy Alabama
Sheree Martin, Deputy Director & General Counsel
Energy Alabama

Building Better Cities Through Data: A Huntsville Model for Alabama Communities
Presenter:
Aliyah Riley, AICP, Planner II
City of Huntsville

Sept. 30 | 2:00p - 5:00pMobile Workshop

Alabama Extension: Talking with Lee County Extension, Partners, Trails & Insight to Our Resources (3CM)
Facilitator:
Tara Barr, County Extension Director
Lee County, Alabama

Sept. 30 | 2:30p - 2:45pBreak/Reset

Sept. 30 | 2:45p - 3:45pConcurrent Sessions

From Flood Complaints to Flood Solutions: Developing the Foley-Bon Secour Stormwater Plan for a Growing Coastal Community (1CM)
Presenters:
Jay Estes, AICP, Senior Principal Planner
Allen Engineering and Science (AllenES)
Nadine Armstrong, PhD, Planner
Allen Engineering and Science (AllenES)

New Zoning, Same Regional Lessons - Pine Level’s Story (1CM)
Presenter:
Broxton Sanders, Planner III/Acting Planning Manager
CARPDC

Sept. 30 | 3:45p - 4:00pBreak/Reset

Sept. 30 | 4:00p - 5:00pConcurrent Sessions

Breaking Barriers: A Dialogue on Restrictions Limiting Green Infrastructure Implementation (1CM)
Presenters:
Catherine Mercier-Baggett, AICP, Director of Federal Technical Assistance
Southeast Sustainability Directors Network
Lady Kassama, AICP, Planner III
City of Huntsville

The Planner’s Toolkit - Five Steps for Designing Thriving Communities (1CM)
Presenter:
Keith Cooke, Director of Planning & Community Development Markets
Esri

Sept. 30 | 5:45p - 8:00pWednesday Evening Social

John Emerald Distilling Company
706 N Railroad Ave.
Opelika, AL 36801

Oct. 1 | 7:30a - 8:00aBreakfast & Networking

Happy National Planning Month!

Oct. 1 | 8:00a - 9:00aConcurrent Sessions

The Power of Place: Preserving Legacy While Planning for the Future (1CM)
Presenters:
Lauren Garrott, AICP, Senior Planning Specialist
NEOO
D’Angelos Svenkeson, CEO
NEOO

An Overview of Flood Control Systems: How They are Used in the Northern Gulf Region and Their Future Going Forward (1CM)
Presenter:
Stephen Deal, Extension Specialist in Land Use Planning
MS-AL Sea Grant Legal Program

Oct. 1 | 8:00a - 10:15aAL & MS Student Presentation Block

Alabama A&M, Auburn, and Jackson State Universities’ Planning Student Poster Presentations

Oct. 1 | 9:15a - 10:15aConcurrent Sessions

Empathy in an AI World: Keeping Public Involvement Human While Embracing Innovation (1CM)
Presenters:
Kaitlin Davidson, Senior Transportation Planner and Project Manager
Jacobs
Michael Baker, AICP, Transportation Planner
Jacobs
Simran Arora, AICP, Transportation Planner/ Traffic Engineer
Jacobs

Connecting Planning Education and Practice: The Alabama City Year Model (1CM)
Presenter:
Binita Mahato, PhD, MCP, B.Arch, Associate Professor and Director
Master of Community Planning, Auburn University

Oct. 1 | 10:15a - 10:30aBreak/Reset

Oct. 1 | 10:30a - 11:30aClosing Keynote Panel

21st Century Road to Housing Activated (1CM)
Presenters:
Jason Jordan, Principal
APA Public Affairs
Staron Faucher, AICP, Senior Planner
Gresham Smith

Oct. 1 | 11:30a - 12:30pChapter Business Meetings

Alabama and Mississippi Chapter Annual Business Meetings

Oct. 1 | 12:30DSPC Adjourns!

Thank you for attending the 2026 Deep South Planning Conference! See you next year!

Registration & Sponsorship Selection

***IMPORTANT*** - Please note that the fee schedule listed above includes base rates.  Each registration is subject to processing fees in the amount of 99¢ per registration + 1% + standard credit card rates.

$0.00

Attendee's Information

$0.00
RegFox Event Registration Software
Event Registration Software by RegFox