State & Community Solutions

GCR has provided a wide variety of professional consulting services to numerous public, non-profit, and private entities for over three decades. From its earliest endeavors to the cutting-edge projects currently underway, GCR has placed a premium on balancing innovative ideas and practical approaches to meet clients’ needs. GCR continually strives to find intellectually innovative, technologically based solutions to clients’ problems. In this spirit, GCR’s team of expert consultants typically works in close coordination with programmers and technical specialists on staff to develop websites, databases, custom software applications, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) solutions that both meet clients’ current needs and anticipate dynamic conditions. Over the years, numerous, diverse projects—from conducting a statewide affordable housing needs assessment, to prognosticating the outcome of elections, to acquiring rights of way for major flood control projects—have been successfully implemented by a dedicated staff of planners, GIS specialists, political analysts, and real estate experts.

Mona Nosari Guarino joined GCR in 1984 and manages the Real Estate Services Group. During her tenure with GCR, she received her paralegal certification from the University of New Orleans. In her earlier years with GCR, Mona supported the Department of Transportation and Development in right-of-way and relocation activities for highway projects throughout the state, developing a thorough understanding of the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Act. With over 25 years of experience in project management and right-of-way acquisition for public works projects, Mona has been instrumental in supporting local, state and federal clients in permitting and funding initiatives for a wide variety of projects including roadway, coastal restoration and hurricane protection. She is married to Philip Guarino, Jr. a/k/a the Italian Stallion, and they have two children, Rebecca and Philip John. Outside of the office, Mona enjoys gardening, bike riding and spending time with her parents.

Rebecca Rothenberg currently serves as Planning Manager for GCR’s Planning Group. She is an AICP-certified planner with a background in housing, real estate, economic development and neighborhood revitalization. She is passionate about her field, specifically finding solutions to poverty and neighborhood distress through sound planning practices and targeted investment. Rebecca has provided market analyses for public and private sector clients and technical assistance for housing agencies in the fields of market analysis, policy, feasibility, urban planning, underwriting and strategic planning. Prior to joining GCR, Rebecca served as Senior Project Manager for the Iberville Public Housing Choice Neighborhoods redevelopment and worked for a CDC in West Philadelphia, developing affordable housing and revitalizing disinvested commercial corridors. She has a B.A. from the University of Minnesota and a Masters degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Pennsylvania. Rebecca has also been an advocate for equitable housing, presenting to the Louisiana Housing Finance Agency, Baton Rouge Area Foundation and Habitat for Humanity and has drafted congressional briefings on housing needs post-Hurricane Katrina.

As a Senior Planner, Robert Edgecombe focuses on demographic analysis, population and market forecasting, and customized GIS-based solutions. His work has applied to a wide variety of projects in transportation, education, housing, comprehensive planning, and criminal justice. Robert also manages GCR’s litigation support subsector, advising clients in several class actions and in cases involving health care, major retail, nursing care, and other facilities affected by Hurricane Katrina. Before joining GCR, Robert worked in various capacities for Teach For America, a movement of teachers and leaders working to ensure that low-income students receive an excellent education. He graduated with honors in History from Rhodes College in Memphis, TN, and received a Master’s in City and Regional Planning from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, where his research focused on transportation planning. Robert is an AICP-certified planner and has been quoted in various media outlets, including The Times-Picayune and USA Today. He lives in New Orleans with his wife and daughter.

William J. Guste, IV, (“Billy”) joined GCR with a keen interest in providing direct assistance to private and governmental bodies so that they can make better informed decisions. Billy currently serves as a subsector leader and project manager focused on assisting regional, state, and local clients in areas such as marketing and outreach, coastal restoration, and economic development. Prior to joining GCR, Billy practiced law in a civil defense firm with a caseload consisting of products liability, insurance, and environmental actions. He obtained his B.S. in Zoology with a minor in Business from L.S.U in 2002 and his J.D. from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law in New Orleans in 2006. Billy and his wife Allison have been blessed with 2 children, Will V and Palmer, and whenever able, he enjoys the outdoors.

Bill Cody, Special Counsel and Project Manager, manages GCR’s campaign and election services and works in community outreach and policy, legislative, and regulatory research. His prior work includes experience drafting and analyzing legislation while serving as Senior Legislative Assistant and Counsel for then-Congressman Bobby Jindal and as Counsel for the United States House of Representatives Committee on Transportation. He also has experience drafting Louisiana legislation and is a veteran of political campaigns. Further, Bill has practiced law for several years in Louisiana and the District of Columbia, and he is admitted to practice law before all United States District Courts in Louisiana, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and the United States Supreme Court. Bill received a juris doctor degree from Loyola University in New Orleans, Louisiana, and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Texas at Austin.

Stacy Van Sickle joined GCR in 2006 as a planner assisting with the Community Based Mitigation Committee for the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal and the Jefferson Parish Transit projects. Stacy specializes in federal grant writing, management and compliance and is the program manager for GCR’s public transit grant management and administration accounts. Prior to joining GCR, Stacy worked within the Finance Department at the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau where she was responsible for balancing and maintaining international and domestic advertising and industry/familiarization show budgets. Stacy earned a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Kansas and a Master of Urban and Regional Planning degree from the University of New Orleans. Outside the office, Stacy serves on the board of the Youth Empowerment Project (YEP) and enjoys cooking, entertaining and operating her small business.

Richard Poche, GISP, is a certified GIS (Geographic Information System) Professional. He joined GCR in 2007 as GIS Manager and assists the planning department in mapping and database support. Richard is a licensed landscape architect and received his BLA from Louisiana State University in 1995. Working over 15 years with geospatial databases and GIS software, he has a keen interest in geo-informatics and data visualizations. Through his technical leadership, countless GIS projects have been developed for diverse planning project. Such projects include a the property acquisition management dashboard for a large scale development project in densely urban area, a barrier island rebuilding status tracking, and a parcel based repopulation and activity index system. Richard also supports the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office with GIS assistance to their 911 communications department. Richard is a native New Orleanian and is married to Micaela with a seven year old boy Challen with whom he shares his passion for design and creativity.

Albert Vitter, Jr. (Al) is a technical database and solutions architect with over ten years of IT consulting and development experience. Since joining GCR in 2006, Al has used his data management expertise to design and maintain an enterprise-level database used in a variety of planning projects focused on the post-disaster recovery throughout the Gulf States. He designed a customizable web tool with GIS capabilities to view New Orleans and the surrounding region’s demographic and utility data on a jurisdictional basis. Al has led GCR’s expansion of GIS offerings by leveraging state of the art technologies such as FLEX and ESRI’s ArcGIS Server. He received his B.S. in Computer Science in 2002 from the University of Notre Dame and is a die-hard Notre Dame football fan. He recently moved to Baton Rouge along with his dog Poboy in pursuit of wedded bliss with his new bride Allison. Al works out of GCR’s Baton Rouge office.

Elizabeth Sorce joined GCR in the fall of 2012 as a Planner and focuses on projects related to public transportation management as well as housing and community development . Prior to joining GCR, Elizabeth served as a Community Development Finance Fellow at Providence Community Housing where she created affordable homeownership opportunities for families displaced by hurricanes Katrina and Rita and as the Director of Training at the Urban Homesteading Assistance Board in New York City. Elizabeth earned her master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of New Orleans and her undergraduate degree from Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota. Outside of work, Elizabeth serves on the board of Jane Place Neighborhood Sustainability Initiative (JPNSI), a neighborhood based community land trust in Mid-City. She is an avid runner, biker and baker of all things chocolate.

Malinda Kelley joined GCR as a Project Manager in 2011. Her role as project manager involves managing seafood marketing tactics for the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board and implementing a Gulf wide seafood traceability program for the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission. Malinda joined GCR after two years in Switzerland, where she gained her degree and worked for a Danish furniture design company assisting management in retail expansion decisions and market research. Her background, however, is in an agency setting, providing marketing and branding solutions to restaurant management and sports and entertainment clients. She received a B.A. in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing from Christian Brothers University in 2003 and a M.Sc. in Economics with a concentration in Management from the University of Lugano in 2012. Outside the office, she enjoys working with animal rescue groups, namely Animal Rescue of New Orleans and the Jefferson Parish Animal Shelter.

Elizabeth Griffith joined GCR in 2008 as a Planner working on community outreach and plan development for several projects including the Army Corps of Engineers Community-Based Mitigation Committee for the Industrial Canal Lock Replacement project and the Orleans Parish 2010 Hazard Mitigation Plan Update. In recent years, Elizabeth’s work has focused on GCR’s transit management projects, including the development of grant applications, grant funds analysis and oversight, financial planning and budgeting, federal compliance and marketing promotions. Elizabeth received a B.A. in English from the University of Georgia in 2005 and a Masters in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of New Orleans in 2008. Outside the office, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, and helping her husband chase after their toddler son.

Dan Austin joined GCR in 2011 as Project Manager for Louisiana Seafood’s marketing campaign. Dan is also responsible for corporate development and sourcing new opportunities within GCR’s Professional Services sector. Prior to joining the firm, Dan held portfolio management positions at JPMorgan Chase in New Orleans, LA and American Capital in Bethesda, MD. He graduated from the University of Virginia where he earned a B.S. in Commerce with a concentration in Finance from the McIntire School of Commerce and a major in Economics from the College of Arts and Sciences. Dan is an avid outdoorsman and lives in New Orleans with his wife, Jenny.

After serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Western Samoa, Rosie Lacy moved to New Orleans to earn her Master of Urban and Regional Planning degree at the University of New Orleans. Rosie joined the GCR team in 2009 with a passion for developing transparent community engagement strategies and managing community outreach campaigns. Rosie is the project manager for the Housing Authority of New Orleans (HANO) Capacity Development and Outreach program which includes developing and managing outreach processes and enhancing HANO’s capacity for engaging the community in the redevelopment of the Iberville Housing Development. Rosie earned a B.S. in Architectural Studies from the University of Arkansas and a Master of Urban and Regional Planning from the University of New Orleans. She is the membership coordinator for the Metro New Orleans American Planning Association and the blight chairman for the St. Roch Improvement Association. She loves living in New Orleans and listening to live music with her husband who is a jazz musician.

Lucas S. Lilly joined GCR’s Real Estate Group in 2008 specializing in real estate development and project implementation. Lucas serves as a Project Manager for multiple infrastructure projects currently being undertaken by the State of Louisiana and local municipal governments. Lucas’ responsibilities include overall project management, project permitting, acquisitions of rights-of-way, securing project funding sources, preparing intergovernmental agreements, coordinating with utility companies, formulating media correspondence and conducting public outreach efforts. Additionally, Lucas has extensive experience in obtaining Section 10 and 404 permits under the Clean Water Act and Coastal Use Permits through Louisiana’s Office of Coastal Management. Mr. Lilly graduated with Highest Honors from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2006 earning a B.S. in Parks and Recreation Management, completed a graduate certificate in 2008 in Real Estate Development from Portland State University and obtained a Master’s in Urban and Regional Planning (MURP) from the University of New Orleans in 2009. Outside of the office Lucas is busy spending time with friends and family, playing kickball, and restoring a home in the Lower Garden District.

As a Senior Planner Matthew Rufo manages urban planning projects and specializes in active transportation, urban design and place-making and revitalization strategies. Prior to joining GCR in 2012, Matt served as Program Manager at the Prevention Research Center at Tulane University and provided technical support for the City of New Orleans’ pedestrian and bicycling initiatives, including implementation of its Complete Streets policy. He has also been closely involved with the city’s infrastructure recovery and blight initiatives through the Bureau of Governmental Research and New Orleans Redevelopment Authority. Matt earned a B.A. in Urban Studies from Brown University and a Master of City Planning degree and Certificate in Urban Design from the University of Pennsylvania School of Design. Matt is a member of the American Planning Association and the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals, and serves as chair of the board of Friends of Lafitte Corridor. He lives in New Orleans with his wife Rachel and enjoys bicycling the city’s colorful streets and savoring its rich music and food culture.

Kenneth C. Johnstone, IV (Kenny) is a senior technology specialist working within the Professional Services sector. He joined GCR in 1993 and has contributed to numerous large-scale consulting projects requiring data integration and the development of custom technology solutions. Kenny demonstrates a thorough understanding of best practices in computer application development and is a Certified Microsoft Professional with certificates in Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic.NET and Microsoft SQL Data Warehouse. He specializes in web-based application development with the inclusion of mapping and robust reporting solutions. Kenny is originally from Lafayette, Louisiana, is a sports car aficionado, and is married to Kristine.

Rebecca S. Miller received her B.A. in Political Science from Emory University in 2003, and her J.D./B.C.L. from Louisiana State University’s Paul M. Hebert Law Center in 2007, where she served as a member of the Louisiana Law Review. Prior to joining GCR, Rebecca practiced with a New Orleans law firm, focusing in the areas of real estate, public works, and general contractual matters. At GCR, Rebecca provides clients with real estate acquisition services such as abstracting and title work, conducting negotiations with property owners, and preparing documents for acquisition of property rights. Outside of the office, Rebecca serves as Treasurer of Odyssey House Louisiana, a non-profit behavioral health care provider with an emphasis on addiction treatment. Rebecca lives in Lakeview with her husband, Adam and their dog, Bella.

Katie Rodriguez joined GCR in 2011 as a GIS Analyst to provide data management and mapping services and support for projects such as the Orleans Parish School Board, Recovery School District, Kenner Economic Development, and Secretary of State. Prior to joining GCR Katie worked as an AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) in the Emergency Management department at Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans. At Catholic Charities, Katie worked with the Emergency Management personnel in developing and implementing recovery plans in the wake of the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill. She received her B.S. in Physical Geography from Louisiana State University in 2009. She went on to get her certification in GIS from the University of New Orleans in 2011. Outside of the office Katie and her husband enjoy playing sports, cooking and supporting local live music.

Robin Keegan has over 18 years of experience in housing, economic development, community planning and housing program design. She is currently managing the New Orleans Economic Development Plan for the Business Alliance and spearheading housing recovery efforts in New York post-Hurricane Sandy. Before joining GCR, she served as Director of Real Estate Planning for the Housing Authority of New Orleans and Executive Director of the Louisiana Recovery Authority, overseeing $14 billion in funds for housing, infrastructure and economic development initiatives. Before moving to Louisiana, Ms. Keegan provided economic development consulting services in New York, serving as Deputy Director for the Center for an Urban Future and Project Manager for the New York Industrial Retention Network. She has served as Adjunct Professor in Economic Development at Columbia, instructing on economic development through the arts. She received an M.S. in Planning and Preservation from Columbia University and a B.A. from Macalester College.

Alexis Thomas joined GCR in 2010 and serves as a Research Analyst conducting industry and market research and document management for the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board. She graduated in 2009 from Tulane University’s Masters of Preservation Studies program where she assisted in coordinating and teaching preservation theory and traditional building methods for Preservation Trades Network field school at Lafayette Cemetery 1 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Alexis received a B.A. in Art History and a B.F.A. with a concentration in mixed media arts from Eastern Washington University in 2006. When not at work, Alexis’ interests are broad. She is an avid outdoorswoman, cook, beer brewer, social media enthusiast, and small business owner.

Allison DeJong joined GCR’s Planning Group in 2011 and provides analysis and research for a broad range of projects, including public transportation capital projects and compliance, planning and market studies, demographic research and public outreach. Previously, she worked in food policy and advocacy for Second Harvest Food Bank, a member of the Feeding America network. Allison received a B.A. in Economics from the University of Notre Dame. She is a board member for Friends of Lafitte Corridor, a group working to preserve and revitalize a New Orleans neighborhood corridor through the creation of a greenway, and also serves a volunteer planner for the annual Rising Tide conference. When she’s not doing any of those things, Allison can be found hiking in a national park or watching college football (Go Irish).

Joel Gilliam joined GCR in 2008 as a Planner with a fervent interest in finding creative solutions for local and regional recovery challenges, especially as they relate to urban infrastructure, coastal restoration and hurricane protection. Joel currently serves as a planner focused on assisting state, regional and local clients in areas such as coastal restoration planning, municipal services assessment, economic development, and land use planning. Prior to joining GCR, Joel worked as an urban and environmental planner at URS Corporation, a major international engineering firm, where he served primarily government clients in the areas of intermodal transportation, mass transit, urban development, community facilities programming and design, port development, environmental review, hazard mitigation and emergency management planning. Joel obtained a B.A. in Urban Studies from Trinity University in San Antonio in 2001 and a Master of Architecture from Rice University in 2006. Joel is also an ASFPM Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM) familiar with floodplain development, mitigation and insurance regulations. Joel enjoys playing guitar, taking in the local food and music culture, and following sports, architecture and national politics.

Tyler Antrup joined GCR in the summer of 2012 as a Planner. He has worked on several projects encompassing community engagement, market analysis, housing, and design. Prior to joining GCR, Tyler worked with ArtPlace America developing National creative placemaking indicators. He received a Master of Sustainable Real Estate Development from Tulane University in 2012 and a B.A. in Urban Planning and Design in 2009 from the University of Missouri at Kansas City. He is currently working towards becoming a LEED Accredited Professional and is active with a number of sustainable design organizations in the New Orleans region.

A. J. Domangue rejoined the GCR staff in 2009. Previously, he worked for over 7 years as a project manager/contract administrator. A.J. has gained experience in conceptual project planning, economic cost analysis, gathering and analysis of field data, design of infrastructures for project development, scheduling, construction inspection, and project approval process requirements of local, state and federal governing agencies. He has worked on subdivision developments, forced drainage projects, airport taxiway, approach lighting systems and drainage designs, roadway designs, traffic engineering including signalization, and various other engineering projects. A. J. received a B. S. in Engineering Technology from Nicholls State University in 1972 and has over twenty years of professional experience. Before joining GCR, he served as Assistant General Manager for an engineering consulting firm where responsibilities included managerial, administrative and personnel matters. He also served as Director of Engineering, responsible for directing the activities of engineers and designers in the preparation of construction plans, specifications, reports and cost estimates. As a senior project manager, A.J. provides professional land services for the State of Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Projects and more specifically to acquire land rights required by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) for the construction, operation, maintenance, repair, rehabilitation and replacement of features on the WBV-MRL projects. A.J. also represents the Pontchartrain Levee District and provides oversight for the St. Charles Parish Hurricane Protection Projects. He performs cursory engineering review of plans and specifications as prepared by the Corps, and participates in required meetings with the Corps, and other governmental agencies. A. J. enjoys carpentry, sports and family time. A. J. lives in Metairie with the love of his life, his wife Della.

Jamie Cortez Parker joined GCR in 2008. As a Project Manager in GCR’s Real Estate Department, Ms. Parker assists federal, state, and local government entities in acquiring property interests needed for public projects. She also ensures that acquisition efforts are in compliance with federal and state regulations. The real estate services provided by Jamie to clients includes abstracting and preparing title reports, coordinating appraisal efforts, negotiating with property owners, relocating property owners, curative title work, and preparing closing documents. Jamie’s work at GCR includes roadway, levee, drainage, hurricane protection, and flood reduction projects. Prior to joining GCR, Jamie worked in a civil defense firm focusing on insurance defense. Jamie earned a B.A. in Political Science with a minor in English from Louisiana Tech University. She also earned her J.D. from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law with certificates in Civil Law and International Legal Studies.

Since receiving a B.A. in Engineering Graphic Design from Louisiana State University in 1990, Steve Gourgues has specialized in GIS mapping related to aviation planning and land acquisition services in both the private and public sectors. Currently, in partnership with the Plaquemines Parish Government, Steve is serving as project manager for real estate acquisition and relocation services on 17 levee and floodwall projects related to the New Orleans to Venice Hurricane Protection Levee System. Steve coordinates and assists the efforts of surveyors, appraisers, title abstractors and attorneys in the production of individual property plat maps, legal descriptions, and project segment maps, appraisal reports, tract ownership data sheets, 50-year abstracts of title, and interim title binders and final title policies. Steve prepares project related GIS maps to support wetland delineations, project permitting initiatives, title reports, and impacts analysis. He has been happily married for 10 years to his wife Melissa, who share in the lives of their two children, Abby and Drew.

Kristen Dominguez joined GCR in 2008 as administrative assistant to the Real Estate Sector. Kristen works closely with her colleagues in the right-of-way acquisition group on the federal levee and hurricane protection projects, which span all over Southeast Louisiana. She provides assistance with real estate acquisitions, document preparation and organization of all files and data. When not at the office, she is enrolled at Delgado Community College, where she is studying to become an Occupational Therapy Assistant. Kristen enjoys spending time with loved ones, reading and enjoying New Orleans.

Alicia Wheeler received her B.A. in Mass Communications with a Concentration in Broadcasting from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in 2005. She then acquired her Paralegal Certification from Tulane University in 2011. Prior to joining GCR, Alicia worked as a Real Estate Sales Specialist with a focus on foreclosures. At GCR, Alicia provides clients with real estate acquisition services such as abstracting and title work, conducting negotiations with property owners, and preparing documents for acquisition of property rights. Outside of the office, Alicia enjoys exploring the history and culture of New Orleans as well as traveling, especially to the Wine Country in California. She lives in Mid City with her rescue dog Cayenne.