#022 - Doug Hooker - Atlanta Regional Commission; Seeing the Forest - 03-02-15

As the Executive Director of the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC), Doug Hooker is uniquely positioned to gage the state of Metro Atlanta. His organization is charged with coordinating the planning and development of what can feel like innumerable municipalities. Each interconnect with its neighbors but only empowered to work within its own purview.

Its bewildering how many issues are deeply affected by planning and transit, and Doug has to understand all of them. Fortunately for the Atlanta Region, Doug has a unique talent for understanding and explaining complex issues. In this interview with Nathan Koskovich, AIA, he shares many of his thoughts on Atlanta, including how he came to be in the city at all.

Links

Atlanta Regional Commission

If you have the time, dig deep into the Atlanta Regional Commission's website. Not only will it give you more information on many of the missions ARC is charged with, but it also has an amazing amount of information on regional issues. 

The Wall at Peyton Road

The Peyton Road Wall Controversy was a major turning point as it represent a sharp shift from planning directed by segregationist ideas.

The Equality of Opportunity Project

As Doug mentions, physical access to opportunity is a key component of economic opportunity. See some of the stats here

Cities, Produce More Wealth and Use Fewer Resources

I should post this talk annually. Geoffrey West  breaks down the value cities bring to the world scientifically. The potential West has measured in cities Doug and others are trying to maximize here in Metro Atlanta and in other parts of the world.

Douglas Hooker is the executive director of the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC). ARC is an agency which facilitates local governments in the Atlanta region implement innovative solutions for small and large challenges and opportunities. In his role he oversees programs and services that support community development, transportation development, water and natural resources, arts and culture, aging and health resources and workforce development, community research and analytics, and more. 

In his career he has worked for public sector and private sector organizations, among them: the City of Atlanta’s Department of Public Works (serving as the Commissioner who led the agency through the 1996 Olympic Games); Executive Director of the State Road & Tollway Authority (SRTA); Director of Finance and Administration with Bio-Lab, Inc., and Vice President for Business Development and Marketing with Atkins Engineering (formerly PBS&J). He began his career with Georgia Power where he worked as a design engineer, project manager, design section supervisor, and as a technology policy analyst. Through the different facets of his career he has had the privilege to work on important regional and local projects in the areas of energy, education, transportation, transit, and water.

Doug holds a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering degree and a Master of Science (in Technology & Science Policy) degree from Georgia Tech, as well as a Masters of Business Administration from Emory University’s Goizueta Business School. He is married to Patrise Perkins-Hooker, a Georgia Tech and Emory alumna herself, who is the Vice President and General Counsel of the Atlanta Beltline. In his spare time,Doug composes music, plays in a community band, loves to read, and travels with his wife.