Susan Howard is Director of Public Involvement for the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), where

she leads statewide public engagement strategy and provides guidance and support to districts and

divisions across Texas. A public involvement and environmental conflict resolution practitioner, Susan

brings more than 30 years of experience in public outreach, education, facilitation, community relations, and

stakeholder engagement, along with more than 20 years of experience in public policy development,

process design, third-party facilitation, and conflict resolution. She has designed and facilitated public

involvement programs for long-range transportation and land-use planning, water conservation initiatives,

corridor management plans, and scenic byways projects. Throughout her career, she has successfully

facilitated complex and often controversial discussions involving government agencies, community

members, environmental organizations, and other stakeholders. Susan is recognized for her expertise in

building consensus, addressing complex issues, and engaging underserved communities. She holds an M.A.

in Interdisciplinary Studies and a B.A. in English and Political Science and serves on TRB and AASHTO

public engagement committees. As a longstanding IAP2 USA member,Susan served as the 2025 North American Conference co-chair. 

"My vision is a nation where public participation is recognized as a cornerstone of effective governance and

healthy communities. IAP2 USA has the opportunity to lead this transformation by developing practitioners,

advancing standards, inspiring innovation, and championing engagement as a fundamental democratic

practice. Together, we can help create a future in which people are not merely informed about decisions, but

are genuine partners in shaping them.

The skills I believe would be most immediately valuable to the IAP2 USA Board are strategic public

participation leadership, stakeholder engagement, governance experience, inclusive and equitable

engagement practices, public-sector expertise, program development, and consensus building. As a public

involvement leader, I bring both an organizational and practitioner perspective, allowing me to help the

Board develop strategies that are mission-focused, member-centered, and grounded in real-world

application."

Kirstie Laatsch (pronouns: they/them) is an Urban Planner for the City of Madison, WI. They were hired in

2016 to work on the APA-WI award winning Imagine Madison Comprehensive Plan. Kirstie has over a

decade of experience implementing successful, equity-centered public participation plans. They previously

worked in non-profit community development with a focus on affordable housing. Kirstie is an AICP certified planner who holds a Master of Community Planning degree from the University of Cincinnati, where they were honored with the achievement of Outstanding Graduate Student in their class. Kirstie also has a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin - Green Bay. Kirstie serves on IAP2 USA's Community Culture and Engagement committee. 

"The future of public participation in the United States centers those who are historically least served and

most impacted. Public participation must find ways to resonate with people in a world where stress, fear,

and isolation are daily experiences for many. It must center harm reduction and value the lived experiences

of marginalized communities. The future of public participation must be people-centered. Practitioners

must be relational and authentic with the folks they seek to involve and serve. IAP2 USA can give trainers and practitioners the tools they need to adapt to these evolving needs. The organization’s 2025-2027 Strategic Plan provides the foundation to achieve this vision, with a key aspect of this work being focused on continuing to improve training and resources for members. A key priority is removing barriers to trainer licensing by partnering with community-based organizations serving BIPOC populations to create more accessible pathways into the profession."

"I am knowledgeable and passionate about centering inclusion and belonging in public participation. While in

recent years DEI has been co-opted as either virtue signaling or a divisive tool, I am committed to finding

ways to make equitable policies and practices resonate with IAP2 members. Members are seeking

opportunities to connect, grow professionally, and access resources that help them create meaningful

public participation in an increasingly complex and disconnected world. As a Board member, I would draw

on my 3 years of experience serving on the organization’s DEI Committee to help identify needs and

opportunities for growth. I would build on successful initiatives such as the Young Professionals Group and

DEI Coffee Talks, which have cultivated connection and open dialogue.

"My expertise related to access and inclusion for people with disabilities will also be valuable to the Board.

This topic is particularly timely to the field due to the 2024 Department of Justice ruling that all State and

local governments must be in compliance with web accessibility standards by April 2027. This includes all

digital documents. This change is a complex one that the public sector in particular is largely unprepared

for. Ultimately, I want members to feel equipped to create more inclusive, accessible, and meaningful public

participation."