CENTER FOR PLANNING EXCELLENCE INC
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Community Planning
Whether it's an individual campus or site, a neighborhood, or an entire city or Parish, CPEX brings together partners at every scale of planning to make quality places a reality in Louisiana.
Resilient Communities
From flood risk mitigation to water management, CPEX provides technical assistance and publishes resources to foster a harmonious relationship between Louisianians and our water resources, both inland and along our coast.
Demonstration & Implementation Projects
We know that plans and policies are only as effective as the results they ignite. CPEX is committed to engaging citizens and decision makers in realizing a space's potential by hosting temporary demonstrations that showcase the impact of a fully-implemented idea.
Louisiana Smart Growth Summit
The Smart Growth Summit is the South's premier event promoting dialogue on innovative planning and exploring models for creating healthier and more resilient communities, making our streets safer while expanding transportation options, as well as examining the real estate market and development trends, and the important role of policymaking and leadership.
Where we work
External reviews
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
1) Develop programmatic offerings and policy outcomes that meet
planning needs throughout the state and advance the CPEX mission
2) Establish Baton Rouge as a model of planning success
3) Increase understanding and support of sustainable, equitable and responsible growth principles
4) Elevate the CPEX brand and share of voice
50 Develop and maintain a sustainable funding model for CPEX
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION:
The Planning and Implementation team will advance CPEX's mission by engaging stakeholders and elected
officials in developing plans and implementation strategies that lead to more informed decision-making and
support the community as a whole. CPEX will work with foundations, private enterprise, and government
entities to connect communities with the resources they need to foster robust public engagement and plan
and implement effectively. In addition to grant-funded projects, CPEX is hired as a professional consultant
by governments at all scales, neighborhood groups, economic development districts and others to
provide expertise in planning and design. Ultimately, this work will enable citizens to take a more active role in
shaping their futures, help Louisiana communities to adapt and prosper in times of change, and position CPEX
as the state's premier source for planning expertise.
POLICY AND ADVOCACY:
CPEX will support policy agendas grounded in the recognition that the regulatory and legislative environments
play a key role in creating highly functional, equitable communities. Misguided and outdated policies – or the
absence of policies – concerning the built and natural environment hamper economic growth and impede
efforts to build resilience. CPEX seeks to influence the way regulatory decisions are made at the local, state
and national levels through coalition-building, direct advocacy, and development and dissemination of
research, recommendations, best practices and models to policy makers and other stakeholders. CPEX will
serve as the hub that shares information; synthesizes disparate efforts; provides expertise; and facilitates
communication, collaboration and action among diverse partners.
COMMUNICATIONS & OUTREACH:
CPEX will disseminate research, best practices and news relevant to planning, implementation, sustainability
and resiliency, both to facilitate understanding among constituents and stakeholders and to increase CPEX's
profile as a resource for the latest and most reliable information. Our embedded marketing expertise enables
CPEX to help promote plans and planning processes in a manner that prioritizes accessibility and facilitates
adoption and implementation. CPEX's Communication and Outreach efforts will expand the audience for
CPEX's publications and communiqués, clarify complexities and provide multiple points of entry for diverse
audiences to access CPEX resources. CPEX's outreach efforts will reflect both recognized best practices and
our commitment to inclusivity that far exceeds industry norms. CPEX will steward and promote its brand as the
outward face of our organizational identity that provides consistency, clarity and continuity throughout the
breadth and depth of CPEX's programs, resources and services.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
SKILLS + EXPERTISE:
• Comprehensive planning
• Small area plans
• Corridor planning
• Neighborhood planning
• Landscape/streetscape design
• Small-scale site design
• Cultural placemaking
• Coastal resiliency planning
• Tourism strategy
• Water management best practices
• Funding identification and strategies
• Project management
• Grant writing
• Implementation strategy
• Community pilot projects
• Home rehabilitation
• Community greening
• Facade improvements
• Code and ordinance development
• GIS Mapping
Legislative strategy
• Policy research and strategy
• Organizational support
• Best practices research
• Identification of public/private synergies
• Community engagement campaigns
• Branding/civic identity
• Facilitation/workshop design
• Training programs
• Strategic visioning
• Public outreach
• Community programming
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
CPEX provided planning services to communities throughout the state, resulting in development and unanimous adoption of the Thibodaux comprehensive resiliency plan and zoning ordinance; the St. Charles Paul Maillard Corridor Revitalization plan; the Leesville vision and code update; the Lafourche Parish comprehensive resiliency plan; and traffic calming recommendations for St. Francisville.
CPEX completed a draft of "The View from the Coast," a distillation of the research and outreach CPEX conducted to understand community-driven strategies for flood mitigation and recommendations for ways the state can strengthen partnerships with communities and improve implementation of the State Coastal Master Plan.
CPEX's coastal work gained recognition via presentations at the Deltas in Time of Climate Change conference in Rotterdam; the State Resilience and Economic Growth Summit in Washington, D.C.; and the Conference on Ecological and Ecosystem Restoration in New Orleans.
CPEX continued to help make Baton Rouge a model of planning success by leading outreach for the Health District and Baton Rouge Lakes planning processes, coordinating installation of 16 “parklets" throughout downtown and midcity for Park(ing) Day, and completing
the Old South Baton Rouge Arts and Culture Revitalization Feasibility Study and Plan.
The Baton Rouge Metro Council unanimously adopted a Complete Streets policy that will ensure future street projects consider provisions for all users — not just cars. CPEX facilitated the formation of the Baton Rouge Sustainable Transportation Advisory Committee that was instrumental in crafting and advocating for the policy.
CPEX's Street Smart neighborhood demonstration project in Baton Rouge engaged hundreds of mid-city residents in temporary improvements such as bike lanes, traffic calming measures, and landscape buffers to heighten safety and connectivity.
CONNECT's “Boom Without Bust" policy forum brought leaders from the private, public and nonprofit sectors together to discuss the range of housing, transportation and workforce challenges associated with the industrial boom underway in the Baton Rouge-to-New Orleans Super Region. Our follow-up report summarizes the proceedings, further explores challenges and opportunities, and provides recommendations for next steps to ensure equitable and sustainable growth.
CPEX's CONNECT Coalition helped transform the Rail Compact into the Louisiana Super Region Rail Authority — securing charters from six member parishes, electing officers, adopting bylaws and establishing working committees assigned to station area planning, outreach, and finance and funding.
CPEX hosted the 9th Annual Smart Growth Summit featuring Memphis Mayor A.C. Wharton and Harriet Tregoning, Director of HUD's Office of Economic Resilience as guest speakers.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
CENTER FOR PLANNING EXCELLENCE INC
Board of directorsas of 11/22/2019
Mr. Cordell Haymon
SGS Petroleum Service Corporation
Cordell Haymon
SGS Petroleum Service Corporation
Randy Roussell
Phelps Dunbar LLP
Jim Brandt
Brandt & Associates
Robert Schneckenburger
Hancock Whitney Bank
Preston Castille
Taylor, Porter, Brooks & Phillips LLP
George Bell
Capital Area United Way
Helena Cunningham
National Housing Consultant Services
Ashley Shelton
Power Coalition
James E.A. Slaton
Stone Pigman Walther Wittman, LLC
Robert Twilley
Sea Grant Louisiana
Steve Cochran
Restore the Mississippi River Delta Coalition
Kelsey Kornick Funes
Phelps Dunbar LLp
Camille Manning-Broome
Center for Planning Excellence
Kenya Lenoir Messer
Louisiana Association of Independent Colleges and Universities
Somesh Nigam
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana
Paul Rainwater
Cornerstone Governmental Affairs
Deborah Sternberg
Young Entrepreneurs Academy Baton Rouge
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes