Upfront Planning Podcast

Les Presmyk talks about mining in Arizona and what it means to be the State Mine Inspector. Hear about his background working in the mines over the last several decades, as an engineer for SRP, as a Councilman in Gilbert and how he works to ensure safety to the hundreds of mines throughout the state as the State Mine Inspector. Les tells some great history and educates us about the minerals found in Arizona and what the state mineral is, and it’s not Copper. Learn what a tight community mining is throughout Arizona and where you can find some of the best food in these mining towns.

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Patrick Beazley, Civil Engineer from Lloyd Sports + Engineering, talks about the World Cup and imposter syndrome. Hear what went into the 2-foot base for the pitch and what it was like being on the field during the quarter finals.  Hear how he went after his dream job in the US through a simple email and listen in as we get into important questions like how do you keep grass healthy under a dome, are spiders that big in Australia and do kangaroos really have abs?  Listen to this entertaining episode for some new trivia knowledge.

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Mark follows up with this fun and honest episode about what projects have just failed.  Hear him tell the stories of what projects went sideways and why and what he learned in the process.  Mark and Jessica dive into all the ways the best intentions on projects go sideways and endure a fiery death, maybe not that bad, but why it happens and who some, many years later even rise like a slow, tired Phoenix.  Listen in as Mark goes into all the details. (2/2)

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Mark Stapp, Executive Director for the ASU's Master of Real Estate Development program joins the podcast to talk about his work in real estate development and how he came to join ASU and become one of the Phoenix Business Journal's 2026 Most Admired Leaders.  Hear about his development background and work which makes him a sought-after analyst to the Governor's office on pressing housing and economic development discussions.(1/2) 

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Larry Harmer dives into what 50 years in planning looks like and all the projects in and out of Arizona he has worked on, and yes it is ALOT! Many you will even know about!  Hear about his work in Tempe early on including a planning comic book, the original Tempe Town Lake Plans and working in Salem, Oregon on their floating bridge.  He has lots of stories, so many we likely need a Part 2!                                                                                   

Hear about his early mentors, his family history dating back to the Revolutionary War serving under General Washington and his planning movie recomendations from 1969.  LIsten in and you're sure to learn something new! 

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The RVi team joins the podcast to do a MAJOR update!  In case you haven't heard already, Jessica is now officially with RVi in their Scottsdale office.  Hear from Regional Vice President Mark Reddie, Principal Alex Stedman and Vice President - Principal Brett Anderson about what RVi does, what projects they work on and all about the culture that made Jessica join the fabulous RVi team.   

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Lance Holman, President and CEO with Holman Capital, joins the podcast to talk about his approach over the last 20 years!  This is such an interesting discussion about what to do when Bonds fail and how to get the funds to keep things moving smoothly.  He talks about the additional funding opportunities that he has seen succeed and provide more positive financial outcomes with more security and less risk. 

He has worked with large and small municipalities, school districts, police and fire departments, sanitary districts and hopes to share some relief for when you just have to get the roads, waterlines and sewers fixed or upgraded, finding funding access to get it done! 

This discussion is a great one for anyone in the field on how to approach funding options you didn’t even know you had!

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Brett Par, Vice President at RVi in the California office,  joins the podcast to talk about his design approach to amazing projects in California, Arizona, and even overseas, which include envisioning exciting resort projects that take into account the natural environment and feel to create unique destinations.  Listen in to hear his process and how he got to be “the guy” for some very cool projects.  Hear this fun discussion I got to have to learn more about what he does and the California office.

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What if the most innovative community in America is built around what's missing?

In this episode of The Upfront Planning Podcast, Jessica sits down with Ryan Johnson, founder and CEO of Culdesac, the groundbreaking developer behind America's first purpose-built car-free neighborhood. From a childhood spent in suburban Phoenix cul-de-sacs to a life-changing trip to Europe, Ryan shares the inspiration behind a development concept that is challenging decades of conventional planning and reshaping how people think about community.

Ryan discusses the journey of bringing Culdesac Tempe to life, the challenges of navigating zoning and development regulations, and why walkable neighborhoods continue to be some of the most sought-after places to live. He also offers an exclusive look at the upcoming Culdesac Mesa project and explains how transportation, local businesses, public spaces, and community connections can work together to create healthier, happier neighborhoods.

Whether you're a planner, developer, elected official, or simply someone interested in the future of cities, this conversation offers a fascinating glimpse into how innovative design can transform the way we live.

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Steve Betts talks with Jessica about creating a forever building with the Helios Education site in Phoenix.  Hear about the innovative ways the design team thought 100 years in the future for the buildings' use, energy needs, future water needs, the impact of less parking needs, and how to expand the buildings' usable space without expanding the footprint. Most impressive is hearing how they built a site that stays cool in the summer and warm in the winter without much assistance from utilities, if at all.  Listen in on this very impressive building, which we hope everyone will one day get to tour.

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