Thriving by Design Competition -- Sponsors & Planning Committee
Sponsors
The Thriving by Design competition is sponsored by the Minnesota Design Team, Minnesota Rural Partners, and the University of Minnesota Center for Rural Design.
Minnesota Design Team is a volunteer organization, primarily made up of design and planning professionals and students who give their time to assist communities in planning and designing a viable, appropriate future. The Design Team works not only with design issues like main street improvements, but also with the fundamental planning process that allows communities to take the initiative in continuing to plan a future that reflects the dreams and interests of the community.
University of Minnesota’s Center for Rural Design is an intercollegiate center organized by the College of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (now called the Center for Design) and the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resources Sciences at the University of Minnesota. The objective of CRD is to focus expertise in these two colleges, as well as other centers and colleges within the University of Minnesota, on diverse physical, social, and economic problems facing rural Minnesota.
Minnesota Rural Partners is a non-profit organization that lifts up rural people and places. MRP promotes rural-friendly policies, connects resources and develops tools that support rural economic and community development, shares stories of rural innovation, and unites Minnesotans everywhere who understand the power of rural roots in our lives.
Staff and Planning Committee
The competition coordinator, Lori Lippert, is responsible for overall planning, organization and logistics of the event. Development and execution of the competition is steered by a planning committee consisting of:
Bill Bleckwenn, RLA, Pioneer Engineering
Jane Leonard, Executive Director of Minnesota Rural Partners
Lori Lippert, MLA, MSW, contracted employee of MRP and incoming Chair of the Minnesota Design Team
Paul Mandell, Principal Planner, Capitol Area Architecture and Planning Board; Member, Inver Grove Heights (District 199) School Board
Sam O’Connell, AICP, Transit Specialist for Dakota County
Steve Roos, MLA, Senior Research Fellow, Center for Rural Design and Treasurer of the Minnesota Design Team
Tracey Sokolski, MLA, Research Fellow, Center for Rural Design