Jeffrey Knowles

About Jeffrey Knowles

As our modern society becomes more digital and disconnected, I believe we can design public spaces that bring people back together. I help create joyful, connected places where people move, meet, and feel part of something bigger—connected to one another and to the landscapes they share. My professional focus is on advancing regional trail development through thoughtful planning, inclusive engagement, and strategic funding partnerships. Among my proudest achievements are managing the Great Redwood Trail Master Plan, one of the largest rail-trails in the nation (GreatRedwoodTrailPlan.org), the nationally recognized Let\'s Bike Oakland plan, supporting the creation of the Circuit Trail network in Philadelphia, raising funds to build the 58th Street Greenway with meaningful community participation and buy-in, and managing the San Francisco Bay Trail Gap Closure Implementation Plan. I serve as a committee co-chair for the Bay Area Trails Collaborative. Our mission is to develop a 2,604-mile regional trail network that will connect the San Francisco Bay Area. I have co-authored articles for the American Planning Association\'s \"State of Transportation Planning\" and the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Journal.I serve as the Planning Group Director for Alta\'s Western offices, located in Los Angeles, Oakland, Portland, and Seattle. I\'m responsible for fostering a collaborative work environment that enables staff to develop professionally and deliver innovative, high-quality work to our clients.

Experience

1. Planning Group Director - West

   Alta Planning + Design

   Oct 2024 — Present · Oakland, CA, US

   In my role managing a diverse team of 34 city planners across Alta\'s west coast offices (Seattle, Portland, Oakland, and Los Angeles), my primary focus is to enhance employee and client satisfaction while driving project delivery efficiency. I am dedicated to creating a joyful, supportive, and inclusive work environment that fosters a strong sense of community and loyalty among our employees through targeted recruiting, professional development, and effective retention strategies.I prioritize nurturing and maintaining strong relationships with our clients and partners to ensure successful project outcomes and contribute to the growth of our offices across the West Coast. By managing and mentoring my team, I aim to develop well-rounded, technically skilled contributors who are equipped to drive success for both Alta and our clients. Together, we will make a meaningful impact in the communities we serve.

Education

• Rhodes College

  Bachelor of Arts cum laude, History

  2002 — 2006

• University of Pennsylvania

  Master of City Planning, Environmental and Land Use Planning

  2007 — 2009

Skills

• Urban Planning
• Land Use Planning
• Arcgis
• Economic Development
• Grant Writing
• Community Outreach
• Urban Design
• Gis
• Community Development
• Non-Profits
• Environmental Planning
• Environmental Policy
• Fundraising
• Grants
• Transportation Planning
• Program Management
• Public Policy
• Sustainable Development
• Project Management
• Sustainability
• Program Development
• Community Engagement
• Policy
• Research
• Proposal Writing
• Nonprofits
• Leed
• Public Speaking
• Environmental Awareness
• Green Building
• Environmental Education
• Historic Preservation
• Government
• Project Planning
• Land Use
• Leadership
• Local Government
• Policy Analysis
• Geographic Information Systems (Gis)
• Conservation Issues