Planners Emeritus Network Honors California Chapter, American Planning Association 2003 Outstanding Planners.

Business Editors

PASADENA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 13, 2003

We are pleased to announce that the Planner Emeritus Network (PEN), an affiliate organization of California Chapter, American Planning Association (CCAPA), has selected six outstanding planning honorees for the 2003 year, including Dev Vrat, AICP, from Pasadena-based Sapphos Environmental, Inc. PEN was created to recognize the outstanding contributions of planners who have made a sustained and lasting contribution to the practice of planning throughout the State of California over many decades.

PEN has honored more than a dozen individuals in recent years for their contributions to the planning profession, and in 2003, PEN is seeking to improve both the number of honorees and the quality of the award program itself. PEN sponsors sessions at the annual California planning conference, and in some years, PEN presents its honors at the chapter awards program.

Marie Campbell, CEO and founder of Sapphos Environmental, Inc., nominated Dev Vrat, for his contributions to the planning profession as an active and engaged member of the CCAPA Board for nearly a decade, managing the chapter's Web operations, advancing the goals of technology use both by the planning profession and within APA itself, and providing an affirmative voice for improvements to chapter operations and services.

"I have known Dev for about six years through his participation on both the Association of Environmental Professionals State Board and the APA State Board," states Marie Campbell. "His willingness to nurture new professionals through volunteering his time to run workshops on planning and the environmental process is without match. His dedication to ensuring that public outreach programs provide the public with a meaningful opportunity to participate in the process is unparalleled. I know that he has challenged me at all levels to become a stronger professional and a better person."

Sapphos Environmental, Inc. supports CCAPA by both sponsoring annual planning conferences and contributing to CCAPA conference programs. At this year's CCAPA Conference, Sapphos Environmental, Inc. urban planner Iffat Qamar, PhD, will present an international comparative analysis of the integration of environmental resource management and land use planning.

"We are planning to present the six awards in connection with the 2003 California Chapter APA Conference at the Fess Parker Resort in Santa Barbara, September 28 to October 1," states Steve Preston, FAICP, PEN awards program chair. "Other 2003 PEN award recipients are Bill Claire, economic development director, City of Coachella; Bruce O'Neal, AICP, Land Use Associates; Margarita McCoy, FAICP; George Osner, AICP; and Woodie Tescher, EIP Associates. Current plans call for the six honorees to be presented with their awards at the annual awards luncheon on Tuesday, September 30, at 11:45 a.m. The PEN President, Frank Wein, FAICP, will host a meeting and a reception at the conference. Media representatives are encouraged to attend the awards luncheon at no charge."

About the Planner Emeritus Network

PEN was created by the chapter several years ago to honor individuals who have distinguished themselves through their contributions to the chapter, to planning in California, or to the profession at large. PEN is different from the AICP Fellows in that it specifically attempts to tie the history of California planning to its efforts, and so acts in partnership with the California Planning Historical Society. These individuals also become the source for material to be placed in the California APA Planning Archives, now under development at Cal State Northridge.

About CCAPA

The California Chapter carries out the purposes and objectives of the American Planning Association within the State of California. The mission of CCAPA is to bring together Californians to forge a better future. Toward that end, CCAPA provides vision and leadership that fosters better planning for California; build public and political support for sound planning; and provide its members with the tools, services, and support that advance the art and science of planning.

About Sapphos Environmental, Inc.

Sapphos Environmental, Inc. is located in the City of Pasadena, California. Sapphos Environmental, Inc. was established by Marie C. Campbell in 1992 to resolve planning, resource management and environmental compliance issues through the development of pragmatic solutions and exemplary client service tailored to serve the unique needs of each client. Sapphos Environmental, Inc. is certified as a minority- and woman-owned small-business enterprise with the County of Los Angeles, the City of Los Angeles, the State of California, Caltrans, and the County of Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority. In addition, Sapphos Environmental, Inc. is on lists of certified biologists maintained by multiple agencies in southern California.

For additional information about Sapphos Environmental, Inc., we invite you to visit the firm's Web site at www.sapphosenvironmental.com.