email: hicksc@reachoflouisville.com

Chester Hicks, AICP serves as lead planner and evaluation researcher. In that role, he is responsible for: collaboration with other staff in data analysis for projects; provide periodic consultation to various clients regarding planning, statistical, and geographical analysis; provide technical assistance to organizations in the areas of program planning, needs and resource assessment, data collection and analysis, research and evaluation, and related areas.

Prior to coming to REACH, between November 2004 through 2007, Chester served the City of Jeffersonville as the Director of Planning and Zoning. Among his many duties, were serving as Executive Director of the Jeffersonville Plan Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals, enforcing the Cityís zoning and subdivision control ordinance, representing the Mayor on various different boards and commissions. In addition, Chester was the project manager for the update of Jeffersonvilleís Comprehensive Plan.

For the previous two years, Chester worked as a Comprehensive Planner for the Kentuckiana Regional Planning and Development Agency (KIPDA) where he provided grant writing, training, and technical assistance to the six Kentucky counties outside of Louisville Metro. Also, he completed a draft of a Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan for the six-county KIPDA region.

After receiving his Bachelorís in History from the University of Kentucky and while pursuing his Masterís in Urban Planning from the University of Louisville, Chester began his career in public policy as a Midwest Regional Coordinator for The Council of State Governments (CSG). While at CSG, Mr. Hicks wrote several articles for monthly publications, made daily contributions to the CSG web page and had the opportunity to respond to information request on public policy issues from state government officials.

Chester is certified by the American Institute of Certified Planners, the American Planning Association's professional institute. AICP certification is recognized throughout the United States as the mark of a professional planner.