Tresa will lead our urban planning program’s work to build connected, healthy, sustainable, and equitable communities.
BikeWalkKC is one of the few active transportation nonprofits that employ urban planners as part of our strategy to make walking and biking simple solutions to complex problems of mobility, sustainability, health, equity, and prosperity. Our community planning program works with local governments and other diverse clients around the region to create plans for active transportation.
Tresa is a community planner with an enthusiasm for sustainability and inclusivity. She has worked on diverse planning projects across the U.S., offering her a holistic understanding of the complex issues and opportunities facing communities. Her work has ranged from local food system planning and SNAP outreach to environmental analysis for airports to long range and comprehensive planning for communities and corridors. The common thread in all of her work is a deep-seated desire to connect with others and provide grassroots level solutions that improve community health from the bottom up.
The Kansas City community – which she’s called home for 20 years – is near and dear, and that connection drives her involvement in local organizations and extracurriculars. Tresa holds board positions on the Kansas City Section of the American Planning Association and the Kansas City Chapter of Women in Transportation, supporting youth education and outreach through local events and scholarship administration in both roles. Tresa also teaches yoga and has found that planning and yoga share many core tenets, including fostering community and healing the relationship with oneself to create space to help others.
Tresa believes wholeheartedly in BikeWalkKC’s theory of change that biking and walking are simple, yet profound, solutions to complex problems facing our communities. This theory inspires Tresa’s vision for the role BikeWalkKC can play in addressing the impacts of climate change to create stronger and healthier communities. She is proud to serve the Kansas City community as the Director of Community Planning.
Tresa received her undergraduate degree in environmental science and holds a master’s degree in urban planning, both from the University of Kansas (rock chalk!). She is an AICP-certified planner through the APA and a LEED Green Associate through USGBC. Her favorite thing to do when she’s not working is to spend time outside with the people she loves most and of course, her amazing dog, Winnie.