April 17, 2013
Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC) President and CEO George W. Jackson, Jr. today announced the hiring of Dan Kinkead as Director, and Heidi Alcock as Senior Program Manager, for the Detroit Future City Program Management Office (PMO).
“As we move this project from planning to implementation the right leadership is critical,” said Jackson. “Dan and Heidi were both strong leaders throughout the planning process, and I am confident that they have the knowledge and the skills to translate the strategic framework into real progress revitalizing Detroit.”
The Kresge and W.K. Kellogg Foundations are providing funds to establish and operate the Program Management Office as a distinct entity with Detroit Economic Growth Corporation administrative oversight. The PMO will also work with funders, an Implementation Consortium, and other community partners to develop and manage the Detroit Future City implementation agenda. The agenda will include continued civic engagement, regulatory and policy reform, and the execution of early actions and pilot projects. The agenda will also build on important efforts already underway, working with community stakeholders to coordinate decision-making with the strategic framework to maximize impact.
“This is a tremendous opportunity to leverage the unprecedented planning and civic engagement efforts completed over the last three years,” said Kinkead. “Given the shared direction we’ve defined with Detroiters, and the breadth of change we see across the city each day, now is the time for well-informed, innovative, and impactful actions to improve our quality of life and create a sustainable, fiscally viable city.”
Both Kinkead and Alcock will begin May 6, 2013. Their first few months will be dedicated to completing critical staffing assignments, confirming the location for their home base, and outlining the implementation agenda. They will also begin the process to establish the Implementation Consortium. More details on each of these efforts will be available as the team is formed.
Kinkead, a long-time Detroiter, served in a leadership role on the technical planning team for the development of Detroit Future City. As Design Principal at Hamilton Anderson Associates, he spearheaded the team that assembled the 349-page strategic framework, and developed the Land Use and Neighborhood elements it contains.
He has 16-years of experience leading complex architecture, urban design, and planning projects in Detroit and many other locations nationally, and internationally. Dan’s experience also includes mentoring designers and planners to become leaders themselves, adding to the robust pool of talented urban innovators in the city. Kinkead graduated from Harvard University with a Master of Architecture in Urban Design; and Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Kentucky.
As Director of the Program Management Office, Kinkead will set and maintain the implementation goals, priorities, and strategies for fulfillment of Detroit Future City recommendations. He will also establish the Implementation Consortium, and define the strategic means and methods for action and decision-making. This will include close coordination with Alcock, and staff members, to execute continued engagement, policy changes, and pilot projects. Kinkead will also foster and maintain important collaborative relationships with stakeholders across the city, region, and state.
“I am honored to be a part of the implementation team for Detroit Future City,” said Kinkead. “As someone raising a family in this city I know we need action. As an urban designer and architect who has dedicated his career to improving cities like ours, I look forward to partnering with local leaders, community members, businesses, institutions, and anyone else ready to effect change. We have a chance to begin something that will fundamentally change our lives. This is our shot, and I cannot wait.””
Alcock served in a leadership role on the civic engagement team for Detroit Future City. As Chief Executive Officer of Michigan Community Resources, she was instrumental in developing the infrastructure and philosophy for the engagement effort that helped shaped the strategic framework. That effort was the most robust participatory planning process in Detroit's history.
Alcock has worked with, and on behalf of Detroit organizations focused on community development for 16 years.
Under her leadership, Michigan Community Resources quadrupled its budget and staff, creatively expanded its programs to benefit the community, and successfully built and led the Detroit Vacant Property Campaign, which works alongside the community to address Detroit's vacant property crisis. A graduate of Wayne State University with a Master of Public Administration, Alcock also served six years as a planner for the Detroit City Planning Commission.
As Senior Program Manager, Alcock will work with the Director to set implementation goals and priorities. Her daily responsibilities include developing and executing strategy to achieve goals; leading the day to day operations of the PMO; coordinating the work of PMO staff and partners; establishing and strengthening stakeholder relationships; and tracking the performance of all internal and external implementers of the Detroit Future City Agenda.
“Detroit Future City represents the best of Detroit's current imagination and innovation,” said Alcock, “and no single person or organization can achieve its aims alone. As we move from planning to action, we will rely on partnerships with community leaders who are already making the change Detroit needs. Detroit wants to see action, and, together with our community partners, action is what we will work tirelessly to deliver.”
Detroit Future City is a comprehensive strategic framework that outlines recommendations to leverage Detroit's strengths and assets and coordinate investment and resources regarding economic growth, land, neighborhoods, infrastructure, and civic engagement. Detroit Future City is a guide for decision making that helps stakeholders – community groups, philanthropy, business entities and economic developers, government, investors, and more – make decisions using a shared vision that improves the quality of life for all.
Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC) is a non-profit organization that serves as the lead implementing agency for business retention, attraction and economic development initiatives in the city of Detroit. DEGC is led by a 60-member board comprised of business, civic, labor and community leaders. Its 40 professionals provide staff services for key public authorities that offer tax credits and other forms of financing for projects that bring new jobs or economic activity to the city. Among them: the Downtown Development Authority (DDA), Detroit Brownfield Redevelopment Authority (DBRA), Economic Development Corporation (EDC), Neighborhood Development Corporation (NDC), Local Development Finance Authority (LDFA), and Tax Increment Finance Authority (TIFA). DEGC also provides planning, project management and other services under contract to the City of Detroit and manages projects for its affiliated non-profit, Detroit Economic Growth Association (DEGA).