Candidate Statement: Gregory Mallon, AICP (he/him/his)

I am excited to have the opportunity to run for an at-large board member position with OAPA, as this organization has profoundly impacted my professional journey.

My involvement began a year and a half ago with the OAPA Emerging Planners Group. I’ve had the pleasure of collaborating with passionate and talented individuals to enhance capacity-building programs and events for emerging planners.

I have a background in transportation, land use, and urban design; I am particularly passionate about initiatives prioritizing equitable mobility and reducing automobile dependency. By contributing to OAPA, I believe I can help shape programs and support planners in building sustainable and inclusive communities across Oregon.

Professional Background:
My professional experiences have shaped my understanding of how integrated transportation systems can enhance community livability and desirability, as well as informing me of the benefits and burdens communities share resulting from those outcomes. Working with diverse community members/representatives has taught me the importance of collaboration and inclusivity in planning, which results in more effective planning solutions.

Why I Love Planning:
I love planning because, at its core, it is a creative space where community members and practitioners work together to understand communal desires and dive into issues. For me, the fun part is to help identify ways to facilitate change. In my experience, planning is not just about infrastructure; it’s about building connections and enhancing the quality of life for all residents.

Biggest Challenge in Planning:
One of the biggest challenges in the planning field today is addressing climate change while ensuring equitable access to resources/amenities. Balancing sustainability with the needs of diverse communities requires innovative thinking and collaboration across planning disciplines.

Successful Project:
A few years ago, I worked on a bus rapid transit project to improve public transit access and travel times for communities in the greater Minneapolis/Saint Paul area. By empowering local voices through workshops and surveys, we developed a plan that enhanced mobility and fostered transit-supportive land use in the station vicinity areas, resulting in the construction of the bus rapid transit line, which is set to open in early 2025. - In this field, I’ve learned that it’s important to celebrate wins!

Favorite O/APA Program:
I particularly appreciate the OAPA Emerging Professionals Group. I think it provides valuable networking opportunities and resources for new planners, helping to cultivate the next generation of leaders in our field.

Favorite Book or Podcast:
Of course, I like to tune into the OAPA Better Planners Podcast. Additionally, I recently read Breaking Ground: The Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe and the Unearthing of Tse-whit-zen Village, which was professionally impactful and a book I regularly recommend to colleagues as well as friends.