R&M has expanded its planning capabilities through the addition of two new Planners to the firm. Beth McKibben, AICP joins R&M as a Senior Planner in the firm’s Juneau office and Bryant Wright as a Planner in the firm’s Fairbanks office. Beth and Bryant will support planning and community engagement efforts for a variety of community plans, facilities and infrastructure projects.
“I did not hesitate at the opportunity to add Beth and Bryant to R&M’s Planning team. They really understood why we plan and how planners help improve livability in communities across Alaska. I’m grateful for the work we do every day. Beth and Bryant bring additional depth to our team and embody the core values that makes R&M a great place to thrive.”
Van Le, AICP – R&M Department Manager – Planning
Beth is a certified professional planner with a passion and skill set for helping communities position themselves for positive and meaningful change. She has more than 30 years of experience in all aspects of community planning, including current planning and permitting, developing and managing long range community, small area and functional plans, rezoning, code revisions and development, grant applications and administration, program development and implementation. Beth has worked for several rural, urban, small and mid-sized Alaskan communities, giving her an understanding of the needs and capabilities of Alaska’s diverse communities. Most recently, she was a Planner for the City & Borough of Juneau, where she led development of several community plans, including the Blueprint Downtown Juneau Area Plan and Douglas/West Juneau Area Plan.
“R&M offers me the opportunity to ‘walk the talk’ and make a difference in Alaskan communities with rewarding and challenging work. I’m looking forward to working for a company that encourages a collaborative environment, supports its employees, and has a mission and values I can stand behind.”
Beth McKibben, AICP
Beth holds a B.A. in Urban and Regional Planning from Washington State University and is a member of the American Planning Association. Outside of work, she can be found hiking or gardening in the summer and XC skiing, reading or at the gym in the winter. Beth also recently started agility with her dog and is looking forward to what that brings.
Bryant has 10 years of experience in natural resources planning, agency coordination and public outreach in Alaska. He previously worked for Fairbanks North Star Borough as Trails Coordinator where he was responsible for parks and trails planning, project management, programming, rights-of-way research and code compliance. He brings to R&M a strong background in recreation, meeting facilitation and survey research. Bryant has been involved in countless community development processes that require respect and understanding to achieve programmatic goals. He is passionate about quality of life in Alaska and believes that good planning helps Alaskans get the most out of our shared resources.
“I jumped at the chance to join R&M because of its community-minded culture, team-oriented work environment and desire for excellence. R&M’s project list and experience are vast. I’m excited that I’ll get to work for communities across the state, to learn their needs and goals, and lend my skills to help them achieve their best. It’s a great fit.”
Bryant Wright
Bryant has a M.S. in Natural Resources Management from the University of Alaska Fairbanks and a B.A. in Art History and Studio Art from Trinity University. He is a certified Parks & Recreation Specialist through the National Recreation & Park Association, a Leave No Trace Master Educator, and educated in Sustainable Trail Layout and Design. Bryant is a homegrown Alaskan and loves all the outdoor adventures the state has to offer. When he’s not off somewhere new in the state, he can be found running or skiing, depending on the season, taking the kids outside or working on house projects. In addition, Bryant owns and operates Northern Alaska Packrafts, LLC in Fairbanks.
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