Susannah Barton is an urban planner and director of the Quality Public Spaces program at the Memphis Medical District Collaborative (MMDC), a community development organization focused on strengthening the communities between and around the major medical, educational and research anchor institutions. Susannah works collaboratively to create, maintain and activate public spaces that foster connections between people and place. Her portfolio focuses on enhancing the District’s streets, parks, plazas, and green spaces – building strong platforms for a vibrant public life. Susannah Barton received her Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Austin College and her Masters in Urban and Regional Planning from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Previously, Susannah served as the Director of Grassroots Gardens of Buffalo, research consultant for Growing Food Connections - a USDA-funded, national food systems planning project, and as the Development Director for Overton Park Conservancy.

Tommy Pacello is an attorney and city planner. He is the founding President of the Memphis Medical District Collaborative, a community development organization focused on strengthening the communities between and around the major medical, educational, and research anchor institutions. In 2015, Tommy was named one of the top 40 Real Estate Professionals under the age of 40 by Urban Land Magazine. He is the past Chair for the Memphis Chapter of the Urban Land Institute, is a Commissioner on the Board of the Memphis Area Transit Authority and is actively involved with the Congress for the New Urbanism. Tommy is a frequent speaker on civic innovation and urban development issues.

Howard Blackson is a national leader in crafting place-proven urban design and planning techniques and ideas to craft places people love. He has 27-years of professional experience in Singapore, South Korea, and throughout North America, and his education pursuits led him to London, England to acquire a Masters in Urban Design from the University of Westminster. Currently, Mr. Blackson leads AVRP Skyport's urban design studio, lectures at San Diego State University, and is chairman of the Congress for the New Urbanism's California Chapter.