LA-APA Capital Section Lunch & Learn – March 21, 2012
WHEN: Wednesday, March 21st, from 11:30AM to 1:00PM
WHERE: Shaw Center for the Arts, Second Floor Conference Room, Downtown Baton Rouge (100 Lafayette Street)
(Parking can be found on the street, in a surface lot off of River Road near the Hilton, or in the parking garage on the corner of Third and Convention)
RSVP: Please RSVP by March 19th to Chris Grant at cgrant2@gmail.com and specify if you will be buying lunch

*Cancellations must be made by March 19th at NOON.  If you need to cancel your RSVP after this date, please make your check payable to “American Planning Association” and mail to: 
Jessica Keasler
Terracon
2822-B O'Neal Lane
Baton Rouge, LA 70816

LUNCH:  Lunch will be available for $10.00 if you RSVP.  Please bring cash or checks payable to “American Planning Association”. 
TOPIC:   Baton Rouge Transit Coalition and the April ballot measure that residents in the cities of Baton Rouge, Baker and Zachary will vote on regarding the area's public transportation system

Bios:  
Rachel DiResto
As Executive Vice President of CPEX, Rachel DiResto has worked on numerous initiatives at the oversight, policy and administrative level. Rachel led the recent update of the downtown master plan called Plan Baton Rouge Phase Two and has been working on downtown revitalization efforts since 1998. She has also led Smart Growth initiatives, along with overseeing the ongoing implementation of the Neighborhood and Economic Revitalization Strategy for Old South Baton Rouge. 

Rachel played a central role in coordinating the Louisiana Speaks process, a regional long-term recovery plan for Southern Louisiana following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Her most current initiative is the formation of a regional transit and housing coalition between Baton Rouge and New Orleans called CONNECT.

Rachel earned the degree of Master of Science in Urban Studies from the University of New Orleans in 2002. She has a B.A. from The University of Dallas in Art History. In 2005, she received the 40 Under 40 award. Rachel has served on the Forum 35 Board of Directors and currently serves as Secretary of the Arts Council Board of Directors.

Lacy Strohschein
In her role as Special Initiatives Manager, Lacy oversees the management of the CONNECT Coalition, CPEX’s broad-based educational campaign to bring a greater understanding of and investment in integrated transportation, housing and workforce development in Southeast Louisiana. Having worked on this project since its inception, Lacy strives to continue the regional dialogue around progressive transportation opportunities and facilitate greater regional collaboration between the Baton Rouge and New Orleans metros.

Prior to her time at CPEX, Lacy explored her love of fashion and sustainable systems as a Project Manager at the Upasana Design Studio in Southeast India. Having worked in fashion journalism for almost two years in the Paris offices of the Fashion File television show, and W and Women’s Wear Daily magazines, Lacy gained valuable insights into the role of branding in communications and the far-reaching implications of a strong design aesthetic.

Holding an undergraduate degree in Journalism from the University of Georgia and a M.A. in Global Communications from the American University of Paris, Lacy brings to CPEX a passion for design and love of communications.

As a native of Baton Rouge, she hopes to see the culture and lifestyle she enjoyed abroad replicated in her hometown. Lacy is a true Smart Growth convert and is committed to living downtown and patronizing Baton Rouge’s emerging Smart Growth corridors, like the Perkins Road overpass and Government Street. She hopes to one day connect to all her favorite pockets by bike, bus or foot.