Sugar Loaf, N.Y. – February 18, 2015 – The Orange County Citizens Foundation will present its Seventh Annual Orange County Placemaking Conference, Placemaking From Concept to Reality, on Friday, March 27 at SUNY Orange in Newburgh, N.Y. from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This year’s conference will feature special keynote speaker Robert G. Shibley, Dean of the University at Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning. Shibley founded the Urban Design Project (UDP) in 1990, and has since led the development of nationally award-winning plans for Buffalo’s downtown, waterfront, Olmsted parks system, and the city’s comprehensive plan, its first in over 30 years.

“We are so privileged to welcome such a knowledgeable and experienced planning professional this year,” said Orange County Citizens Foundation President Nancy Proyect. “We can all learn so much from his successes in Buffalo, and apply his logic to creating great places in Orange County.”

Other speakers will include:

• Jeff McHugh, Mount Beacon Incline
• Pete Berman, The Ruby Group
• Denise Frangipane, Sullivan Renaissance
• Lisa Silverstone, Safe Harbors of the Hudson
• Supervisor William Herrmann & Kerron Barnes, Town of Mamakating
• Danielle LeClerc Moser & Megan Tennerman, Orange County
• Drew Kartiganer, Architect
• Gene Kaufman, Gwathmey Siegel & Associates Architects LLC

The Placemaking Conference will also feature the presentation of the Placemaking Awards, which will recognize individuals, organizations, and projects from the public and private sectors for making positive contributions to the creation of “places” in the areas in which they live and work.

The Seventh Annual Placemaking Conference will be held at the SUNY Orange in Newburgh in The Great Room at Kaplan Hall at One Washington Center. Individuals, community leaders, and businesses that would like to participate in keeping their communities strong and growing are encouraged to attend. The $75 per person cost includes breakfast, lunch, workshops, and all conference materials. AIA and ACE continuing education credits are available. Continuing education credits are also available for municipal board members. For more information or to register contact Bonnie Neucall at 845.469.9459 or bneucall@occitizensfoundation.org.