Paul Tecpanecatl Named Community Development Professional of the Year

August 3, 20220

Paul was recognized as Community Development Professional of the Year by Ohio Conference of Community Development.

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio (August 3, 2022) – The Ohio Conference of Community Development (OCCD), a statewide association dedicated to enhancing the livability of the cities, towns, and communities throughout Ohio, named Paul Tecpanecatl, AICP, Community Development Professional of the Year at their annual meeting on July 27, 2022.  The award recognizes Paul’s exemplary contributions to the community development field and his long-standing dedication to positively impacting communities through development of well-planned, economically sound, and sustainable urban areas.

Having spent the past 40 years of his career working in the planning and development field, Paul has assisted numerous communities, including 30 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Community Housing Impact and Preservation (CHIP) grant communities, along with planning in 2 townships, 5 villages, 23 cities, and 9 counties. His extensive experience assisting communities with targeting CDBG funds to achieve identified goals combined with his broad planning background have made him a valuable partner to both public and private agencies.

Barbara Dulworth, the community development director for the City of Sidney, has worked with Paul for 20 years and noted his exceptional ability to balance the needs of elected officials, city staff, and residents to make communities better. “Projects are always easy to carry out because he has suggestions for project financing, public input, and implementation.  He has truly made an impact in our community,” she said.

Paul currently serves as the planning department director for Poggemeyer Design Group (PDG) – A Kleinfelder Company, where he has spent the past 27 years of his career. He previously held senior level management positions in other organizations, which involved administering over $12 million in federal funds annually as the housing commissioner for the City of Toledo; drafting the City’s Historic Preservation Ordinance as planner for the Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions; and serving as executive director of the NorthRiver Development Corporation. Paul also served as adjunct professor at the University of Toledo’s Graduate Department of Geography & Urban Planning.

As an active member within the community development field, Paul has served as a member and held leadership roles within several organizations, including the National Low Income Housing Coalition, National Trust for Historic Preservation, Northwest Ohio American Planning Association, Ohio Conference of Community Development, Ohio Community Development Corporation, Ohio Community Development Finance Fund, Toledo Alumni Chapter for Xavier University, Toledo-Lucas County Homelessness Board, and Knights of Columbus. He has been honored with a HUD Fellowship at the University of the Cincinnati and the Preservation Honor Award through the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

“From his educational background, certifications, and professional experience to his involvement in the industry and community, Paul exemplifies all the characteristics of an outstanding community development professional. However, it’s his passion, persistence, and patience that have made such a difference in the community development field,” explained Lauren Falcone, AICP, department manager for PDG-Kleinfelder. “He has a passion for making communities better, persistence to plan and finance projects for communities, and patience to commit extensive hours researching, listening to community input, and collaborating with community officials, as he recognizes that planning and community development do not happen overnight.”

Kleinfelder. Bright People. Right Solutions. Founded in 1961, Kleinfelder is a leading engineering, design, construction management, construction materials inspection and testing, and environmental professional services firm.  Kleinfelder employs more than 3,000 professionals and operates from over 100 office locations in the United States, Canada, and Australia.  The company is headquartered in San Diego, California.  Poised for growth, Kleinfelder continues to provide high-quality solutions for our diverse client base.  Visit Kleinfelder.com or follow us on LinkedIn/Kleinfelder.