Thomas J. O'Brien was Peace Corps Morocco Volunteer of the Year, 1988
Thomas J. O'Brien, Vice President
EXPERIENCE
SIEMBAB PLANNING ASSOCIATES
Vice-President, April 1996-Present
* Consulting to public and private sector client base on the incorporation of information and communication technologies into land use and economic development strategies. Projects include the Compton Blue Line TeleVillage for the LA County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
* Researching and evaluating the effectiveness of transit systems with a focus on the use of technology in service delivery. Projects include a study of joint development opportunities around rail stations for the California High Speed Rail Authority, a study on the feasibility of establishing a San Fernando Valley Transit Zone for the Reason Foundation, and a university-led evaluation of a technology-based paratransit integration program for the California Department of Transportation.
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SCHOOL OF POLICY, PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT, LOS ANGELES, CA
Co-Instructor, September 1998-June 1999
* Designed and taught, in conjunction with Assoc. Dean, a three-week laboratory for Masters level students in Morocco on urban reconstruction of the old city of Fes. Field work in Morocco was cooridanted via a joint agreement with Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane.
J. WILLIAM FULBRIGHT SCHOLAR, MOROCCO, NORTH AFRICA
Fulbright Scholar, September 1995-March 1996
* Assessed housing and adaptive reuse opportunities and economic development needs of City of Essaouira.
HANDELMAN KATHERMAN, INC., LOS ANGELES, CA
Principal Planner, July 1990-August 1995
* Coordinated writing of project proposals and grant applications and formed project teams
* Advised clients of effect of planning, zoning and environmental law on development projects
* Formulated and implemented community and business outreach strategies for private and public sector clients, including development of a video conferencing program for the City of Los Angeles Environmental Affairs Department
CITY OF SIERRA MADRE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, SIERRA MADRE, CA
Planning Assistant, July and August, 1990
* Assisted Planning Department in updating the City's General Plan, with a particular focus on the formulation of an action program for housing rehabilitation and development
* Represented clients at public hearings and with governmental offices and agencies
US PEACE CORPS, MOROCCO, NORTH AFRICA
Peace Corps Volunteer Leader, July 1988-July 1989
* Acted as liaison between administration and secondary education volunteers in the field
* Represented Peace Corps in meetings with school directors and Ministry of Education officials
* Aided Associate Peace Corps Director in the designing and delivery of two education conferences
* Assisted volunteers and Moroccan teachers in developing Regional Libraries
* Advised Ministry of Education Textbook Commission regarding changes and additions to in-progress secondary school level textbook
Teacher of English, September 1986-July 1988
* Designed a high school syllabus which emphasized developmental issues
* Trained new volunteers in the areas of methodology and aided in the design of content for training classes
EDUCATION
* Ph.D.(In Progress), University of Southern California, School of Policy, Planning and Development
* Master of Planning, University of Southern California, School of Urban and Regional Planning
* Member of planning team preparing housing study for Venezuelan State Development Agency, May 1991
* B.A., French and American Studies, University of Notre Dame
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND HONORS
* California Planning Roundtable, Richard Munsell Memorial Scholarship Award of Merit, Sept. 1998
* J. William Fulbright Scholar, Morocco, 1995-1996
* D.A.R.E. America, Certificate of Appreciation for Designing Young Planners component of D.A.R.E. + P.L.U.S. Program, 1995
* American Planning Association, Los Angeles Section, Award of appreciation for service as Regional Coordinator for the San Gabriel Valley, 1995.
* American Institute of Certified Planners, Outstanding Achievement Award, May 1992
* University of Southern California Center for Excellence in Teaching, Teaching Assistant Award, 1992
* Peace Corps Morocco Volunteer of the Year, 1988
LANGUAGES
French-FSI 3+ / Moroccan Arabic-FSI 3+
