Legislative Advocacy Workshop

"Craig Farmer is president of Municipal Planning Services, LLC, consulting with numerous cities, counties, council of governments and metropolitan planning organizations in Texas. In the 3 years since its founding, he has worked on three new zoning and four new subdivision ordinances, incorporating many of the new legislative requirements. He … Read More

"Craig Farmer is president of Municipal Planning Services, LLC, consulting with numerous cities, counties, council of governments and metropolitan planning organizations in Texas. In the 3 years since its founding, he has worked on three new zoning and four new subdivision ordinances, incorporating many of the new legislative requirements. He also was involved in the creation of an 8,000+ acre McGregor Industrial Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone that includes the main, 4,000 acre Texas SpaceX assembly and testing facility. Previously, he managed planning, public works, engineering, storm water, building inspection and transportation departments in the cities of Lubbock, Carrollton, Grand Prairie, McAllen and Weatherford. He also was a consultant with the firms of Freese and Nichols, Inc., Dunkin Sefko, Mitchell Planning Group, LLC and City Hall Essentials, LLC. He was named a Fellow in the College of the American Institute of Certified Planners, served on the National Board of Directors of the American Planning Association (APA) and the Board of Directors of the Texas Municipal League. Eighteen of his projects won Texas Planning awards including comprehensive plans, downtown plans, zoning and subdivision ordinances, and redevelopment projects. Economic development experience includes nine Tax Increment Reinvestment Zones, eight Public Improvement Districts, and significant involvement in Lone Star Horse Racing Park and the Verizon Performing Arts Theatre in Grand Prairie and the $500+ million Overton redevelopment project adjacent to Texas Tech University. In 2019, APATX named him a “Legend in Texas Planning.” Craig holds a Bachelor-of-Business Administration from The University of Texas and a Master-of-Urban and Regional Planning from Texas A&M University. " Read Less

Carissa is the founder and principal planner of MOSAIC, a planning and development services firm based in San Antonio, Texas. She has been serving public and private clients in Texas for many years, working with communities of all shapes, sizes and conditions. She works with her clients to create plans, … Read More

Carissa is the founder and principal planner of MOSAIC, a planning and development services firm based in San Antonio, Texas. She has been serving public and private clients in Texas for many years, working with communities of all shapes, sizes and conditions. She works with her clients to create plans, codes and ordinances that can accommodate changing market conditions while preserving community character. She is a certified planner, holding a master’s degree in Urban Geography from the University of North Texas and a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Texas A&M University. Carissa is a native Texan and is fluent in Spanish. Read Less

"Chris J. Sanchez is a legislative professional with over 15 years of experience in Texas politics and has completed eight legislative sessions. Sanchez currently serves as a Senior Partner and co-owner of Salient Strategies, a full-service government affairs firm based in Austin, Texas. During his career, he has accumulated experience … Read More

"Chris J. Sanchez is a legislative professional with over 15 years of experience in Texas politics and has completed eight legislative sessions. Sanchez currently serves as a Senior Partner and co-owner of Salient Strategies, a full-service government affairs firm based in Austin, Texas. During his career, he has accumulated experience in some of the most senior levels of government in Texas, including with the former Chairman of the prestigious Sunset Advisory Commission and a two-time House Appropriations subcommittee Chairman. Sanchez has passed legislation that has impacted some of the most critical industries in Texas, including transportation, cybersecurity, and health care. The relationships he has cultivated through his legislative successes have made him well known amongst policymakers and Capitol insiders. Additionally, he has been involved in grassroots political activities for over a decade and has a strong background in political messaging and fundraising. Originally from Alvin, Texas, Sanchez has resided in Austin since 2002 and is a 2006 graduate of The University of Texas at Austin, where he received a degree in Government. " Read Less

"Ms. Mickelson concentrates her practice in land use and zoning, floodplain and drainage issues, real estate development, economic development, aviation, and general municipal and non-profit corporation law. She is a frequent speaker and author on these issues in Texas and nationally. She has represented cities of all sizes across the … Read More

"Ms. Mickelson concentrates her practice in land use and zoning, floodplain and drainage issues, real estate development, economic development, aviation, and general municipal and non-profit corporation law. She is a frequent speaker and author on these issues in Texas and nationally. She has represented cities of all sizes across the state throughout her career. Ms. Mickelson is an honors graduate of the Plan II program at The University of Texas, as well as The University of Texas School of Law and the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs. She studied municipal and historic preservation practices in Krakow, Poland, and also studied in Germany and the former Yugoslavia. She is a member of the Texas Bar Association and is Chair Elect of the State Bar Government Lawyers Section. She is also a member of the Houston Bar Association, the Texas City Attorney’s Association (TCAA), the International Municipal Lawyer’s Association (IMLA) (International Committee), the American Planning Association (APA), the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), and is Region III Commissioner on the AICP Commission, the APA’s ethics and education arm. Kim is a planning committee member and faculty member for the UT Land Use Law Conference, has spoken at the State Bar of Texas Conferences on Advanced Real Estate, Advanced Government Law, and at numerous APA, TML and IMLA conferences. She is a Past President of the Texas APA Chapter (APATX), and the Editor of Texas APA’s book, A Guide to Urban Planning in Texas Communities. While President of APATX, she focused on improving advocacy efforts for planning in the Texas legislature, and post-Harvey, started “Texas Planners for Texas Communities,” a recovery initiative designed to get assistance to affected communities and planning staff. She is a board member of Blueprint Houston, Inc., and a member of Preservation Texas and Preservation Houston. Ms. Mickelson has taught undergraduate and graduate courses at the University of Texas at El Paso, Webster University, Boston College, and City Colleges of Chicago, including classes in Germany, Holland, Belgium, and Turkey, and is a Visiting Professor of Practice in the Masters in Urban Planning program at Texas Southern University and the College of Architecture at Texas A&M University in College Station. During COVID-19, Kim turned to sewing masks and relearning German, and did without attending Longhorn football games." Read Less