SACRAMENTO – The Sacramento Area Council of Governments announced today the appointment of Mike McKeever as Executive Director effective December 20, 2004. Mr. McKeever will succeed Martin Tuttle, who has held the position since 1999.

Mr. McKeever, 49, has been project manager of the Blueprint Project at SACOG since 2001. Over his 20-year career specializing in the field of planning, he has owned and managed two private businesses that specialized in working with local governments on innovative multi-jurisdictional projects. He has been instrumental in developing cutting-edge planning techniques to integrate land use and transportation planning.

"Mike took on an impossible task in our region, and got the job done. He understands that our region is special because we've got a small town feel with big city amenities, said Christopher Cabaldon, SACOG Board Chair. "In the spirit of SACOG, Mike is a true civic entrepreneur. We're confident that he will continue our region's unparalleled success and momentum."

"This begins a new and exciting chapter at SACOG," said Ted Gaines, Chair-elect of the SACOG Board. "Mike is a highly regarded and talented leader with 20 years of experience in local and regional planning. He knows how to motivate elected officials and staff, and create solutions that community leaders, citizens, and public officials can embrace."

Mr. McKeever said, "I am thrilled and honored to be at the helm of SACOG. I was drawn to this organization because of the forward thinking shown by the Board and Martin Tuttle as Executive Director. I look forward to working with a terrific team of people and helping build a future that will continue SACOG’s upward momentum to optimize the transportation network and increase the overall quality of life for the communities, businesses, and people of the Sacramento region."

Mr. McKeever was the founder and President of McKeever/Morris for 13 years and then a Senior Supervising Planner for Parsons Brinckerhoff, before joining SACOG as Blueprint Project Manager.

The Blueprint Project is a comprehensive examination of land use patterns in the Sacramento region, using state-of-the-art modeling tools to estimate transportation, air quality, economic and other effects of current land use patterns, and develop alternatives to those patterns for future growth and a more effective regional transportation system. Through an aggressive outreach strategy the Blueprint Project has involved thousands of residents region wide in developing a preferred regional land use vision for local government officials to use in making transportation and land use decisions. The SACOG Board approved the draft Blueprint scenario moments after appointing Mr. McKeever Executive Director.

Mr. McKeever was the principal creator of PLACE3S planning method and software, designed to help professional and citizen planners to understand the connections between land use, transportation, and air quality issues. He has authored several manuals and guidebooks on various aspects of local government collaboration, and teaches Stretching Community Dollars seminars throughout California for the City, County, Schools Partnership to help these units of government find creative ways to work together.

Mr. McKeever has also been involved in projects with the Sacramento Regional Transit District, and regional planning projects in Portland, OR; Salem, OR; San Diego, CA; San Francisco, CA; Chicago, IL; Albuquerque, NM; Austin, TX; and Victoria, British Columbia.

The Sacramento Area Council of Governments is the transportation planning and funding agency for the six-county Sacramento region, which includes El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba counties. For further information, please contact Joan Medeiros at (916) 340-6207 or jmedeiros@sacog.org.

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