Key Staff
Since its formation in 2008 by Kimberly Burton, BPS has grown into a firm of over 25 professionals. The key staff are highlighted below.
Ms. Burton established BPS in 2008. She is a licensed engineer and certified planner with 26 years of experience working in the public, private, and academic sectors. She has a wide variety of expertise in community and transportation planning, hazard mitigation, noise and air quality analyses, and education. She has degrees in civil engineering, city and regional planning, and educational learning technologies. Ms. Burton is also an Associate Professor of Practice in City & Regional Planning at The Ohio State University where she teaches courses on sustainability and resiliency, transportation, green building, future cities, and municipal planning and zoning.
Ms. Mansfield is a certified planner with 18 years of experience working in the public and private sectors, with a variety of expertise in community planning, active transportation, park and greenway planning, sustainability, and age-friendly planning, in addition to conducting public engagement and developing and facilitating training and e-learning courses. She has degrees in city and regional planning and geography. Ms. Mansfield is adept at developing and managing programs and projects.
Ms. Cousins is a retired military officer and veteran with 31 years of experience in emergency and crisis management and public engagement and communications. She has degrees in mass media communications and creative writing. Ms. Cousins has participated in disaster and crisis response efforts around the U.S. and abroad throughout her career.
Ms. Ennis is an administrative professional with 31 years of experience in managing the administrative operations of small businesses. She leads the administrative team for BPS, including accounting, HR, and asset management. Ms. Ennis’ specialty is human resources, and she is adept at ensuring that all voices are heard, and the needs of employees are met.
Ms. Francis is an instructional designer with 31 years of experience in the private sector focusing on learning development and project management. Her career has been spent at a corporate education development university where she received numerous commendations for her learning products. Ms. Francis is passionate about creating engaging and interactive training programs that maximize learner retention.
Ms. Ridge is an engineer with over 14 years of experience in transportation planning and design, active transportation, environmental planning, noise analyses, and community studies. She has two degrees in engineering. Ms. Ridge also enjoys engaging with the public and stakeholders on projects.
Ms. Yeoman is a planner with 15 years of experience working in the public and private sectors, focusing on community, sustainability, land use, and transit planning. She has degrees in city and regional planning and architecture. Ms. Yeoman is also an advocate of public engagement and equitable solutions.
Ms. Allen is an instructional designer with 21 years of experience in education. She holds degrees in K-8 education, instructional technology, learning sciences, and environmental geosciences. Ms. Allen completed a year-long fellowship with Northrop Grumman and is adept at designing engaging and effective learning experiences.
Dr. Arroyo is an environmental planner with 26 years of experience in the private, public, and academic sectors, focusing on sustainable food systems, hazard mitigation, public engagement, and policy development. He has degrees in city & regional planning, biology, environmental sciences. Dr. Arroyo also has a specialty in food waste prevention, composting, and materials reuse & recycling.
Mr. Borger is a planner with over 13 years of experience working in the public and private sectors, focusing on community planning, transportation planning, mobility management, and active transportation. He has a degree in Urban Planning and Policy. Additionally, Mr. Borger is highly skilled in public engagement and project/program management.
Ms. Evans is a professional writer with 5 years of experience in the private and nonprofit sectors focusing on technical writing, graphic design, and marketing communications. She holds a degree in professional writing and completed a minor in public relations. Ms. Evans is also skilled in fundraising and grant writing.
Mr. Foster is an instructional designer with 38 years of experience working in risk identification and mitigation in the U.S. Military. He has degrees in homeland security and public safety and in educational learning technologies. He is also a licensed drone (sUAS) pilot.
Mr. Godwin is a planner with 3 years of experience in the private sector, focusing community planning, accessibility, public engagement, and climate/hazard mitigation planning. He holds a degree in city and regional planning. Mr. Godwin also has a background in architectural studies and graphic design.
Mr. Hoppel is a planner with 7 years of experience in the public sector, focusing on community and land use planning, public engagement, and zoning code revision. He has degrees in city and regional planning and political science. Mr. Hoppel is dedicated to finding practical solutions specific to the communities he serves.
Dr. Leonard is a planner and researcher with 23 years of experience working in the private, not-for-profit, and academic sectors, focusing on economic development, social equity, and international planning. He has degrees in government, economic and social development, and political science. Dr. Leonard also teaches at The Ohio State University.
Mr. Morris is a planner with 9 years of experience working in the public, private, and academic sectors, focusing on resiliency, hazard mitigation planning, GIS mapping, and international development. He has degrees in city and regional planning and anthropology. Mr. Morris is also a LEED Green Associate.
Ms. Nitsch is a planner with 9 years of experience working in the public and private sectors, focusing on watershed management, community development, and hazard mitigation. She is currently pursuing a dual master’s degree in city and regional planning and natural resource management and also has a degree in international relations.
Mr. Pinckney has over 40 years of experience as a nationally-recognized noise and air quality expert. At BPS, he focuses on noise and air quality analyses, field studies, and public engagement. Prior to joining BPS, he served as the Ohio DOT’s Noise and Air Quality Program Manager.
Mr. Reis is a planner and engineer with 7 years of experience working on safety analyses, active transportation planning, roadway design, and environmental documents. He has degrees in civil engineering, city and regional planning, and applied mathematics. Mr. Reis also has expertise in preparing federal and state grant funding for transportation projects.
Dr. Rodríguez is an educator with 23 years of experience in education, architecture, conservation, urban planning and design, and place-making. She has degrees in environmental design, architecture, and theory and history of architecture. Dr. Rodríguez has extensive experience in teaching, course development, learning tools, education equity and accessibility, and cultural management.
Ms. Russell is an environmental scientist with 9 years of experience working on coastal resilience and vulnerability, hazard mitigation planning, and multi-modal transportation planning. She has degrees in environmental sciences with a focus on coastal science. Ms. Russell is also a skilled researcher and data analyst.
Mr. Schmuhl is an engineer with 12 years of experience in the private sector, focusing on highway engineering and roadway design. He has two degrees in civil engineering. Mr. Schmuhl has experience managing projects of various sizes and performing preliminary and conceptual engineering design.
Dr. Shuey is an educator with 26 years of experience in the academic sector, focusing on natural hazards, environmental science, and sustainability. She has degrees in environmental geography, parks and tourism management, and geography. Dr. Shuey spent over a decade in Hawaii integrating cultural knowledge into hazards management and adult education.
Ms. Utendorf is an instructional designer with 21 years of experience in various industries, including healthcare, banking (domestic and international), professional services, sales, legal, insurance, retail, and software. She holds a degree in communications and culture. Ms. Utendorf focuses on designing and developing engaging e-learning for adult learners and creating scenario-based training to support adult education initiatives.
Dr. Woodburn McNair is an engineer with 16 years of experience in the private, public, and academic sectors, focusing on transportation, airport, and city planning. She has degrees in city & regional planning, civil engineering, and civil & environmental engineering. Dr. Woodburn McNair has received multiple private and public awards and grants to further her work in the transportation field.
Ms. van der Zwaag is a planner with 8 years of experience working in the public and private sectors, focusing on sustainability, multi-modal transportation, inclusion and equity, and communications. She holds degrees in molecular biology/biochemistry and city and regional planning. Ms. van der Zwaag is also passionate helping communities be more sustainable and equitable.