Center for Planning Excellence - CPEX

Last month, our team joined the Powering Louisiana Forum for conversations on energy development, local ordinances, and meaningful community engagement.

CPEX Community Impact Manager, Andrea Hernandez, served on the Ordinance and Community Engagement panel, moderated by our VP of Planning Kim Marousek, alongside partners working to ensure renewable energy projects move forward in coordination with local communities and provide material benefits.

Thank you to Southeastern Wind Coalition , Greater New Orleans, Inc. (GNO, Inc.) ., and Powering Louisiana for hosting a valuable statewide discussion!

Photos by David C Aleman

CPEX is excited to have a stellar group of multidisciplinary interns on board this summer! Our internships focus on hands-on learning—and exploring how policy, design, finance, and environments shape strong communities.

We're honored to play a role in supporting the next generation of planning professionals in Louisiana!

Help us give a warm welcome to our 2026 summer interns (from left to right):
📝 Allen Barchak – Policy
🌳 Maxwell Brown – Urban Forestry
🚸 Luka Hernandez – Community Design
🚸 Kyle Lagergren – Community Design
📈 Joshua Hunter – Finance
📝 Marie Herke – Policy

When local benefits aren't guaranteed, how can smart planning shape growth that generates long-term returns on investment?

In our recent article in the Louisiana Municipal Review, we unpack the recent data center boom—and how smart planning can impact its trajectory.

Meet Ginny Engholm, our new Director of Strategic Communications & Marketing!

With a PhD in English and a lifelong love of storytelling, Ginny leads the organization’s communications strategy, brand development, and marketing initiatives through authentic mission-driven messaging. Ginny brings a depth of communications and leadership experience to the role, ranging from nonprofit and B2B marketing to higher education.

We're thrilled to have Ginny on the team as we elevate local stories that reflect the power of planning in Louisiana!

Learn more about Ginny: https://cpex.org/leadership_and_staff/ginny-engholm/

Passenger rail is back on the Gulf Coast. Could Baton Rouge be next?

The Amtrak Mardi Gras line has been packed since returning last August after 20 years. Festival-goers, sports fans, and—of course—Mardi Gras tourists from Mobile to New Orleans have been choosing rail over traffic.

A stop in Baton Rouge could mean less congestion, stronger communities, and easier trips across the Gulf Coast.

Read more about the return of the Amtrak Mardi Gras line—and potential expansion plans: https://unfilteredwithkiran.com/gulf-coast-rail-service-is-back-and-exceeding-expectations/

We're hiring a Vice President of Policy & Government Affairs!

If you're motivated to shape policy and advance meaningful solutions for Louisiana communities, learn more and apply at https://cpex.org/job-opportunities

Across Louisiana, communities are growing—but not always in ways that support long-term infrastructure and strong city centers.

In our recent piece in the Louisiana Municipal Review, CPEX VP of Planning Kim Marousek shares what local leaders are telling us about outward growth, rising infrastructure costs, and the opportunities that come with reinvesting in existing neighborhoods and downtowns.

Read the full article to explore the patterns we’re seeing and the tools communities are using to plan for a more sustainable future: https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/71077738/april-2026/27

Three workshops down, one more to go for Scotlandville!

Our team was back alongside Councilman Anthony B. Kenney's Office, the Scotlandville CDC, and ResourceFull for the third session in this four‑part workshop series, continuing the community‑led work behind the Scotlandville Strategic Action Plan.

This session brought fresh energy and thoughtful conversation around the Scotlandville Action Coalition's structure and priority action steps for the coalition's first three, six, and twelve months.

Each workshop reinforces what makes this process work: trusted partnerships, open dialogue, and a clear commitment to keeping Scotlandville residents at the center of both planning and implementation.

With one final workshop ahead, the community is getting closer to launching the Scotlandville Action Coalition. Stay tuned for what’s next!

Meet Jeana Gómez, Our New Director of Resilience & Adaptation!

Jeana brings more than 15 years of experience working at the intersection of resilience, cultural identity, and community wellbeing. She has partnered with FEMA, local governments, nonprofits, and community coalitions across the U.S. to turn complex climate challenges into locally grounded solutions.

We're thrilled to have Jeana on the team as we help Louisiana communities plan for a more resilient future!

Learn more about Jeana: https://cpex.org/leadership_and_staff/jeana-gomez/

Remember the Perk Up Perkins Demonstration back in August 2025? Just six months later, the Baton Rouge Metro Council approved the project! Thanks to the leadership of local advocates Julie Gerdes Becnel and Mysti Byrnes, this project will fund:
👟A hybrid crosswalk at Ferndale
♿️ADA-accessible ramps
🚸Improved sidewalks & signage.

A win for local businesses. A win for residents and visitors. A win for Baton Rouge.

This is the perfect example of community-powered planning in action. Learn more at www.perkupperkins.com.

Photos by Ariana Allison