Daniel Kwasnowski, AICP, was named Director of the Syracuse-Onondaga County Planning Agency in 2018. He earned his master’s degree at SUNY ESF with a concentration in Environmental Policy and Democratic Processes. He presented information about a countywide plan and an emerging Empire Trail Local Economic Opportunity Plan at the Onondaga County Planning Federation symposium in March. He has been Executive Director of the Lake Placid Land Conservancy and has directed numerous planning projects for communities in the region. He serves on the Central New York Trail Council Executive Committee, CNY DIRT Board, Mountain Bike Trail Planning, Design and Construction and has served as Village of Marcellus Planning Board Chair and Zoning Board of Appeals, Ithaca Tompkins County Transportation Council Planning Committee Chair, and on the Southern Cayuga Lake lntermunicipal Water Commission, Cayuga Lake lntermunicipal Organization, and Tompkins County Stormwater Coalition.
Owen Kerney is Deputy Director for the Syracuse/Onondaga County Planning Agency. He leads the city’s planning division, which focuses on urban planning and design, public art, environmental initiatives, and historic preservation to promote and enhance the livability and prosperity of the City of Syracuse. Owen manages planning and capital projects for the City including the City’s Comprehensive Plan 2040, the Citywide Zoning Ordinance Revision project, brownfield programs, and multiple State and Federal grant projects. Currently, he is working on implementing the “ReZone Syracuse” initiative and several other projects. He lives in Syracuse with his wife Melanie and their three children.
Stephanie Pasquale is Director of Neighborhood Advancement for the Allyn Family Foundation. In that role, she works with government, nonprofit, community, and private partners on housing and neighborhood redevelopment strategies to support inclusive, thriving neighborhoods. She also is on the Board of Directors for Blueprint 15, an organization charged with delivering on a bold vision for holistic revitalization of the East Adams Street neighborhood.
In her previous role as Commissioner of the Department of Neighborhood and Business Development for Syracuse she was responsible for oversight of the department’s five divisions and more than 75 employees. That included administration of more than $10 million in federal, state, and local funding each year.
Before that she worked in housing and community development finance posts at Home HeadQuarters, Worcester Community Housing Resources and the United Way of Central New York.
Director Pasquale earned her Master of Public Administration and bachelor’s degree at the Maxwell School at Syracuse University, where she was an adjunct faculty member for more than 10 years. She is on the boards of Blueprint 15, Good Life Youth Foundation, Greater Syracuse HOPE, the Housing and Homeless Coalition of CNY, Onondaga County Resource Recovery Agency, and Christian Formation at Plymouth Congregational Church. She also has served on the boards of Christopher Community Housing, Syracuse Northeast Community Center, Onondaga Early Childhood Alliance, Planned Parenthood, Literacy Coalition of Onondaga County and the HomeOwnership Center.