NIPC's executive director is Ron Thomas, AICP, who joined the Commission in 2000.  He has focused the NIPC mission on providing more direct assistance to local communities based on their diverse planning, development, and environmental issues. He launched NIPC's award-winning Common Ground regional planning program and the innovative Full Circle community housing information center.

 

Great Lakes Presentation (8-28-06)

 

Read the most-recent Executive Director Report to NIPC commissioners, or see an archive of earlier reports.  See also the slides from a couple of recent talks by Ron Thomas:  an overview of NIPC (3.5MB PDF) for the Regional Planning Board's retreat and a presentation about regional water issues (5.2MB PDF) for the International Joint Commission of Canada and the U.S.

 

Ron's career work includes a range of planning issues such as land use, environment, housing, transportation (especially context sensitive design), economic development and many urban design and quality of life programs. He has pioneered extensive applied projects and published work on new planning approaches to visioning and strategic planning using innovative communication technology.

 

He is on the boards of Chicago Wilderness, Illinois Association of Regional Councils, the National Association of Regional Councils, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and the Campaign for Sensible Growth, where he serves as co-chair. He holds graduate-level degrees in architecture and management, and conducted post-graduate work in communications.

 

Education

Masters of Science in Management, Antioch University. Seattle Concentration in management innovations in public and nonprofit organizations.
 

Post Graduate Studies in Communications Design, Syracuse University. Concentration in visual communications, editorial, and advertising design.
 

Bachelor of Science in Architecture (5 Year Professional Degree), University of Oklahoma. Minor in history of philosophy.

 

Publications

Empowering Regions: Strategies and Tools for Community Decision Making, Alliance for Regional Stewardship Monograph, 2001
 

Teleplanning Casebook. American Institute of Certified Planners, 1997
 

The New Civics. "Yes! A Journal of Positive Futures" Guest editor and writer, 1996.
 

Electronic Town Meetings: Planning for the Information Age. Video and Publication, 1996.
 

Taking Charge: How Communities Are Planning Their Futures, Co-author. International City Management Association, 1988.

 

Research and Speaking Assignments

Numerous Illinois & Chicago Area Presentations: National Association of Regional Councils 2004, 2003, 2002 • Design Laureate’s Forum, Metropolitan Parks District, St Louis •  AIA National Conference, 2004 • APA National Conference, 2001, 2002 •World Future Society National Conference, 1999 • Middle Rio Grande Council of Governments Electronic Town Meeting, 1999 • AmericaSpeaks: Mayor’s Citizen Summit, Washington, DC. 1999 • National Town Meeting for a Sustainable America, 1999