Laura E. Brown
New Haven,Connecticut
Summary
Strategic and results-oriented community planning and economic development professional with expertise in systems thinking, creative problem solving, and stakeholder engagement. Known for adaptability, fostering cross-sector collaborations, and implementing research-based strategies. Passionate about equity-driven development, with a commitment to empowering historically marginalized communities through inclusive and data-driven solutions.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Executive Director
City Plan Department
02.2022 - Current
- Highly responsible executive level professional work in the overall direction of the staff of the City Plan Department
- Develop, coordinate, and direct general and special plans to guide the growth, development and redevelopment of the city
- Direct a staff of nine professional, technical, and support personnel engaged in regulatory review, zoning ordinance maintenance and enforcement, policy development, infrastructure project management, short and long term planning.
- Work performed under the general supervision of the Mayor and the City Plan Commission with considerable latitude for the exercise of independent professional judgment, and is reviewed through conferences and evaluation of results
- Develop, coordinate, and direct a variety of special and continuing plans related to the growth, development, and redevelopment of the city
- Consult with staff members about planning objectives, studies and projects; reviews work progress; resolves operational and administrative problems
- Coordinate with other city departments, other governmental agencies, and community groups and individuals to discuss the feasibility of planning projects and other planning considerations
- Attend and provids professional planning input to various city boards, commissions, departments, and agencies
- Assign responsibility for staff coverage of City Plan Commission meetings; reviews agenda and minutes to determine appropriate planning positions; supervise preparation of departmental budget; review, edit, and approve departmental studies, plans and publications.
Community & Economic Development Specialist
University of Connecticut Extension
12.2014 - 01.2022
- Developed, implemented and managed state level community projects and programs in partnership with community, state and federal stakeholders
- Co-developed and implemented a new Best Practices in Land Use and Economic Development Program to create coordination and efficiency in regulatory approvals
- Hired and supervised staff, graduate students and undergraduate student interns to support engaged programming and research
- Designed, implemented innovative community engaged data collection program on bicycle/pedestrian trails statewide including infrared counter data and user intercept surveys, 2017-2021 www.cttrailcensus.uconn.edu
- Wrote and applied for grants from state and federal agencies in support of parks trails and greenways programming
- Managed over $880,900 in external funding including oversight of contracts, subcontracts, payroll and reporting for funded projects and programs
- Conducted community engagement and developed educational materials and communications through podcasts, newsletters, social media communications and websites
- Facilitated weekly project team meetings and monthly meetings of project teams
- Authored numerous research reports, articles and technical publications for the general public, community leaders and academic audiences
- Conducted surveys, analyzed quantitative and qualitative survey data
- Chaired Working Group on Structural Racism and College Excellence Committee
- Taught and evaluated community based education programs related to land use, parks, trails, and greenspaces, economic development, downtown development and place making, through workshops, public presentations, and research.
- Facilitated monthly meetings of multi-state bicycle/pedestrian working group for New England including state universities, regional plan commission and departments of transportation
- Wrote and submitted 2.6M proposal to Economic Development Administration support standardization of bicycle/pedestrian data collection across New England
- Developed and facilitated a community engaged First Impressions assessment process for seventeen communities across Connecticut to support land use and economic development planning processes in partnership with Connecticut Main Street Center and CTNext
- Developed and taught state benchmarking and data workshop with National Main Street Center
- Implemented multi-year peer learning webinar series in partnership with the Connecticut Economic Development Association from attended by over 160 community leaders, planners and development practitioners
- Planned and delivered research-based education programs, information and materials, developed programmatic partnerships and coordinated resources and community partners with a focus on rural and regional food systems, community resiliency, economic development preparedness, housing, using systems and interdisciplinary approaches
Community Development Specialist
University of Wisconsin - Cooperative Extension
01.2010 - 01.2014
- Developed and implemented research-based educational programs and technical assistance related to economic development, entrepreneurship, land use planning, housing, community food systems, and main street development.
- Developed, implemented and managed state level community projects and programs in partnership with community, state and federal stakeholders
- Collaborated with stakeholders to identify community needs and create appropriate solutions.
- Developed and implement presentations, workshops, and trainings to diverse audiences.
- Granted tenure in 2012
- Examples of work include: developed, conducted data analysis, and co-wrote 72 county housing profiles integrating a variety of secondary data sources; organized and co-facilitated week long statewide Basic Economic Development Course
Community Development Educator
University of Wisconsin- Extension
01.2007 - 01.2010
- Developed and implemented research-based educational programs in economic development, land use, tourism, sustainability
- Served as primary planning and economic development staff for the county
- Provided technical support and education to plan commissioners regarding public participation, plan commission responsibilities and implementation of mandatory comprehensive planning and smart growth
- Staffed, provided technical support, data analysis and writing for county comprehensive plan
- Conducted needs assessments, SWOT analysis, stakeholder surveys, analyzed and reported data
- Facilitated local and regional Energy Independence Teams for sustainability planning including municipal collection of energy use data and technical support
- Coordinated and facilitated public input meetings and community engagement for county comprehensive plan and energy independence plans in partnership with regional planning commissions
- Developed and facilitated “Paths to Energy Independence” workshops for plan commissioners and community leaders
- Designed and facilitated organizational strategic planning for a variety of non-profit organizations
- Trained in and applied Asset Based Community Development , Appreciative Inquiry, and Strategic Planning frameworks
- Supported short term business support and long term community visioning in cooperation with FEMA and community partners following major flooding disaster
- Developed and co-facilitated monthly multi-county Inventors and Entrepreneurs Club
- Facilitated creation of the Crawford County Community Fund
- Supervised student and intern projects
- Wrote and published numerous technical reports, information sheets, and articles
Non-Profit Director
Madison Area Community Supported Agriculture Coalition
01.2005 - 01.2007
- Managed all aspects of administration, fundraising, budgeting, outreach, communications, public educational programming, and staff management for a non-profit organization of direct to market farms with a budget of ~$200,000.
Education
Master of Science - Urban and Regional Planning, Community Development Concentration
University of Wisconsin
05.2007
Bachelor of Arts - Communications and Psychology
Clark University
Worcester, Massachusetts05.2000
Skills
- Planning
- Asset based development
- Community engagement
- Administration
- Budget management
- Program development
- Program management
- Evaluation
- Facilitation
- Strategic planning
- Hiring
- Supervision
- Team development
- Microsoft Suite
- Microsoft Teams
- Slack
- WordPress
- HTML
- Google suite
- Tableau
- ESRI
- IMPLAN
- Qualitative methods
- Focus groups
- Surveys
Certification
Certified Economic Developer, International Economic Development Council, 11/01/12, 2016, 2019
Selected Community Engagement Projects And Grants
- Best Practices in Land Use and Economic Development, Community accreditation program to improve municipal preparedness for economic development., 10/01/18 - 2022
- Experience with and Exposure to Trail Environments: Influences on Family and Community Resilience, Sponsored by USDA NIFA/UConn Storrs Agricultural Experiment Station., 10/01/20 - 09/30/23
- Connecticut Trail Census, $365,857. Sponsored by DEEP Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Recreational Trails Program., 06/25/19 - 06/30/21
Selected Presentations
- Best Practices in Land Use and Economic Development - A Program for Municipal Accreditation, 06/01/20, National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals Online Conference
- Connecticut Trail Census: A statewide volunteer based data collection program on multi-use trails, 11/01/19, Connecticut Multi-modal and Transit Summit, New Haven, CT
Professional Associations
- National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals, 2010-2022
- Connecticut Economic Development Association Board Member (CEDAS), 2015-present
Awards
- UConn Provost's Award for Community Engagement- Non Tenure Track, 2019
- Connecticut Economic Development Association Economic Developer of the Year Award, 2019
International Experience
- Extension and Program Intern, Sustainable Harvest International, San Pedro Sula, Honduras, 11/01/04 - 12/31/04
- Undergraduate Research Fellow, National Science Foundation, Brasilia, Brazil, Budapest, Hungary, London, England, 07/01/99 - 08/31/99
- Cultural Anthropology Research Intern, London School of Economics, London, England, 01/01/99 - 05/31/99
Languages
Spanish
Limited Working
Italian
Limited Working
Timeline
Executive Director
City Plan Department
02.2022 - Current
Community & Economic Development Specialist
University of Connecticut Extension
12.2014 - 01.2022
Community Development Specialist
University of Wisconsin - Cooperative Extension
01.2010 - 01.2014
Community Development Educator
University of Wisconsin- Extension
01.2007 - 01.2010
Non-Profit Director
Madison Area Community Supported Agriculture Coalition
01.2005 - 01.2007
Bachelor of Arts - Communications and Psychology
Clark University
Master of Science - Urban and Regional Planning, Community Development Concentration
University of Wisconsin
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