Allen C. Rawls, AICP has devoted his career to the improvement of the urban environment with over 30 years experience in the fields on architecture, planning, urban design, real estate, education, and economic development. He has served in a variety of positions in the public and private sector where he has led or guided the successful development of projects that improved the circumstances of the users and contributed to the economic base of the city and the region. Allen is currently an Associate Vice President for DMJM H&N|AECOM which is the largest architecture and planning firm in the U.S. His current assignment is in the Detroit Michigan office where he manages the development of two significant projects for the company. He is Director of Planning and Programming for the Detroit Public Schools Capital Bond Improvement Program. This $1.5 billion program targets the construction of 26 new schools and the renovation of numerous existing schools to extend the useful life of these facilities and improve the educational environment for the students and faculty that occupy them. Allen leads a staff tasked with developing a comprehensive approach for analyzing physical facility needs, student enrollment, socio-economic characteristics, educational adequacy, geographic and social equity, development costs, and formulating a plan to maximize the resources of the school district. This effort led to the development of a Capital Needs Master Plan that quantifies a $6 billion need for the district and provides a detailed plan to achieve transformation its physical plant. Allen is also Project Director of the Wayne County Regional Justice Complex. This is designed to consolidate a dozen separately-located judicial, detention, and administrative facilities into a comprehensive campus that will dramatically improve the efficiency of these operations as well as provide improved service to the citizenry. This project is focused first at re-engineering the justice delivery system to improve processes, eliminate redundancy, and identify where cost savings can be achieved. The project will also evaluate several urban sites and develop a plan that will integrate the new development to act as a catalyst to create economic development. The project will also utilize an innovative approach to financing this $600 - $800 million development with no significant impact to the general fund of the local jurisdictions. Allen will utilize his experience in economic development, planning, municipal funding, and understanding of government operations to contribute to the success of this project. Previously, Allen served in the public sector as a leader and key participant within the development community of local government. He was Director of Planning and Development for Highland Park Michigan where he had direct responsibility to establish and implement the city's economic development strategy for commercial, residential, industrial, and retail growth. Among his successful initiatives included the redevelopment of the former world headquarters of both Ford Motor Company and Chrysler Corporation into a hi-tech industrial distribution park and a commercial retail center. He attracted the $22 million - 362,000 sq. ft. Budco, Inc. Marketing and Fulfillment center, Lear Seating, Ryder Logistics, and several other major employers. Allen also developed a new Master Plan for the redevelopment of the residential, commercial, and retail sectors of the community. He successfully partnered with the State of Michigan and Wayne County to acquire grants for road infrastructure, housing rehabilitation, blight removal, and environmental remediation in this classic rustbelt community. During his tenure as Director he helped facilitate approximately $300 million in new investment. Prior to that Allen played a key role in redevelopment efforts in the City of Detroit. He served in several roles for the Planning and Development Department including Senior Planner for the Central Business District and Riverfront District and a Design Manager for the People Mover System. He eventually expanded his role to hold a concurrent position with the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation and Downtown Development Authority focusing on a wide range of projects including commercial office, neighborhood retail, and sports/entertainment. He served as Project Manager coordinating with Gerald Hines Interests for the development of a 40 story, 1 million sq. ft. corporate office tower designed by Phillip Johnson/John Burgee. He continued with work with Hines and the office of architect Cesar Pelli to conceive a 28 story office tower aimed at revitalizing the central plaza of the downtown riverfront. For the People Mover System he was part of design team that planned and executed the building of 14 transit stations integrated within transit-oriented development sites around the Central Business District. These sites linked the convention center, hotels, retail, and commercial office and served as a catalyst for corporate offices, entertainment, and further growth in the area. Allen also served Project Manager for the integration of public art and pedestrian amenities into the facilities. In the realm of riverfront development Allen was a chief planner in the development of the comprehensive strategy that integrated recreation, adaptive reuse, upscale and market rate residential, and office/retail within a three mile stretch of the Detroit riverfront. Among the many projects conceived and executed during that period included a marina, interpretative nature center, concert amphitheatre, and a series of monuments commemorating the historical development of the city, the international linkage to Canada, and the tri-centennial celebration. In the area of community development Allen facilitated the growth of several neighborhood retail centers through his work with grassroots organizations partnering with corporations. Among his achievements was the successful partnering of a community-based religious institution with Kmart to develop a center which included an innovative land acquisition strategy, ownership structure, and profit sharing arrangement. Also, the retailer and church partnered in the hiring and maintenance of the facility. Prior to his tenure in local government Allen served as an architectural intern at the firms of William Kessler & Associates focusing in hospitals, museums, courthouses, and historic preservation work. He also worked for Smith Group on a wide variety of projects. Allen began his career as a student of architecture and planning at Howard University in Washington DC. While a student there he also served as an intern for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. His senior thesis was the planning and design study for the redevelopment of Surrey County Virginia that was commissioned by the African-American Bi-Centennial Commission as part of the overall 1976 celebration of independence. He continued his education at Harvard University - Graduate School of Design in the Advanced Management Development Program. His focus was concentration on the transformation of urban centers in the United States.

Highly regarded for her planning and design work in the urban realm, Saundra Little has completed many award-winning projects in adaptive use, renovation, and redevelopment. She is a founding member of the Advisory Board of Design Core Detroit; an organization established to promote and celebrate Detroit’s architectural legacy. Design Core’s achievements include having Detroit named as a UNESCO City of Design. Saundra’s distinctive portfolio spans the research and revitalization of historic districts, including African-American suburban neighborhoods, to the sustainable design of 21st-century educational, cultural, and workplace environments, including cutting-edge co-working spaces. Her extensive volunteer work and commitment to community includes mentoring students interested in architectural careers.