Business RadioX® was live at the 2022 GEDA Annual Conference in Savannah, GA. The conference is designed to give you a glimpse of what is here now, what the future looks like and the tools to help you implement strategies and tactics now to pay off years down the road.
Lynn Patterson is an accomplished urban planning and economic development professional. Her love of places began decades ago when she began to travel internationally and experience various cultures and landscapes. She noticed the differences that made places unique and inviting. She wanted to travel off the beaten path – be with the locals, experience the everyday but in a way that was reflective of the local culture and what represented the people and the landscape. Lynn has traveled to over 45 countries and extensively across the United States and has found that unique places are not just found abroad – but joy and excitement is found in every community – domestic or abroad. No community is exactly the same, nor should its planning be.
When choosing her career, it was obvious, Lynn needed to be able to express her love of communities and landscapes and serve the local community. Her 20+ year career has spanned public, private and academic realms. She brings the perspective of the private developer, the public official, and the researcher into every project and place. As a former developer and site selection consultant, she understands the pressures and triggers of business decisions guiding location decisions.
As a downtown and economic development official and city administrator, Lynn appreciates the responsibility of public service, public participation and the nuances of responsiveness to investors, developers, business community, and residents. Finally, Lynn brings the discipline and forward thinking of an academic to her planning practice. She researched economic development practice and sustainability initiatives for communities in the US and abroad.
Lynn is a co-founding partner for Mango Tree Foundation, Inc. a non-profit organization that works to empower women in sustainable development endeavors worldwide. She also delivers keynote and breakout session presentations, trainings and workshops on economic development opportunities as related to sustainability initiatives.
Lynn founded Three Points Planning to help guide communities through economic development and planning to celebrate their histories, understanding their present people, natural, social, economic, and built environment, and look forward to the future.
Connect with Lynn on LinkedIn.
Ralph Forbes is a Vice President and Principal at Thomas & Hutton and serves as a Savannah Regional Director for engineering, planning, and design of large tract development and industrial/commercial sites.
He earned his Bachelor’s of Science in Civil Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, began his career in the construction field, and later joined Thomas & Hutton in 1991. A licensed Professional Engineer, Ralph has expertise in site selection, land analysis, infrastructure in developing industrial parks, and community development.
Ralph sits on various professional and community organizations, including Government Affairs Chair for Richmond Hill/Bryan County Chamber Board, Board Member and head of Environmental and Natural Resource Committee for Georgia Economic Development Authority, Past President for Georgia Society of Professional Engineers, American Society of Civil Engineers, Past Board Member of Georgia Southern Construction Management, Past President of Georgia Tech Savannah Alumni Club, Advisory Council for Bryan County Schools, and Richmond Hill High School Booster Clubs.
Connect with Ralph on LinkedIn.
