Society for Marketing Professional Services November 21 Program to Address Urban Sprawl with Panel of Community and Governmental Leaders.

Business Editors

DEARBORN, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 7, 2002

The Society for Marketing Professional Services, Michigan Chapter, will address the issue of urban sprawl at its November 21 program at the Dearborn Inn.

The program, entitled "Smart Growth Initiatives," will offer insights from Paul E. Tait, CAE, executive director of the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG), John Hanifan, project manager for the Royal Oak City Manager's office and Brian R. Wenzel, PE, COO, Atwell-Hicks, Inc. They will discuss the challenges of smart growth, factors that influence success, where it has worked well and how firms in the A/E/C industry can help clients take advantage of the concept.

SEMCOG, a regional planning partnership of 150 member local governments, is the designated metropolitan planning organization responsible for planning and intergovernmental coordination on a variety of multi-community, regional problems including transportation, water quality, air quality, solid waste, land use, community and economic development in the seven-county metropolitan Detroit region. As Executive Director, Tait oversees a staff of 100 and a budget of $9 million. A 30 year SEMCOG veteran, her served in a variety of planning and administrative capacities before being named executive director in 1998.

John Hanifan has served local governments for more than 10 years as a municipal consultant. As Project Manager for the City of Royal Oak since 2000, he is the executive for more than $20 million of capital improvements, including a community center, three fire stations, a parking structure, city hall improvements and numerous other city projects. Hanifan is the liaison between private developers and the city. Currently there is more than $100 million worth of private development either in progress or in the development state in Royal Oak.

Brian Wenzel, chief operating officer, Atwell-Hicks, Inc. is responsible for the 97-year-old firm's civil engineering, surveying, planning and environmental services day-to-day operations. He was named to the 2002 Crain's Detroit Business "40 Under 40" list. Wenzel is continually consulting with clients on smart growth issues and is an accomplished speaker on real estate development issues.

The program will be held at the Dearborn Inn, 20301 Oakwood Boulevard. Registration begins at 3 p.m. Cost is $45 for SMPS members, and guests accompanied by SMPS members, and $55 for non-members. There is an additional $10 fee for late registrations and walk-ins. To register, fax Susan Arneson of Albert Kahn Associates, Inc. at 313-202-7342 or email [e-mail]

The Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS) is a non-profit, national organization devoted to the needs of professional service marketers in the areas of architecture, engineering, planning, interior design, landscape architecture and construction management.