1. _____________________________________________________________________________________________
Mike Usen, AICP 1. mike.usen@gmail.com
Michael J Usen AICP
mike.usen@gmail.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeusen
OBJECTIVE
Senior or managerial level planning position
TECHNICAL EXPERTISE AND QUALIFICATIONS
Mike is a certified planner and highly skilled project and program manager with over two decades of experience on a broad variety
of planning, policy, design, sustainability and other projects. His expertise includes:
Planning and design: Visioning, opportunities and constraints analysis, alternatives comparison, policy development, site
master planning, design guidelines, infrastructure planning, sub-area and neighborhood planning.
Public Involvement and Community Relations: Public outreach including organization and facilitation of effective advisory
committees, public stakeholder workshops, community meetings, open houses, and digital outreach.
Communications: Writing and editing publications, reports, plans, and website content. Preparing graphics and delivering
interactive presentations to decision makers, community groups and other stakeholder audiences.
Project Management: Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously including project teams, progress
tracking using Smartsheet and MS Project or Excel, and reviewing deliverables for quality and compliance.
Subject matter expertise: NEPA/SEPA compliance, transit and active transportation, environmental sustainability, green
building practices, infrastructure, disaster response, historic preservation, land use, physical planning and design.
Regulatory Compliance: Representing clients in negotiations and meetings with elected boards and commissions as well as
local, state and federal regulatory, permitting and funding agencies.
Technical Analysis: Analytical expertise in resource performance data evaluation, monitoring and reporting. Proficiency with MS
Project, SharePoint, Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Publisher, and GIS.
Team Leadership: Organization and facilitation of effective advisory committees, stakeholder groups, and project teams.
RELEVANT ACHIEVEMENTS
Managed portfolio of approximately 50 townhome and apartment projects throughout Seattle.
Developed the first agency-wide Sustainability Program for a King County division—Metro Transit, the largest division in
King County and achieved American Public Transportation Association’s Gold-level Sustainability Commitment recognition.
Wrote Metro’s Environmental Sustainability Plan consisting of efficiency goals and strategies for improving resource
performance consistent with King County policies and transit agency best practices.
Managed completion of 250-page programmatic/project-specific Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
addressing 10 separate project actions in 5 months, 30% under project budget for City of Lakewood.
Successfully led Columbia River Gorge Commission approval process for Plan Amendment to allow brownfield
redevelopment in Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area despite well-funded and organized opposition.
Developed approval strategy, organized and facilitated stakeholder workgroups, wrote master plan and EIS for Rosario
Resort and won overwhelming approval and adoption by San Juan County Council.
2. _____________________________________________________________________________________________
Mike Usen, AICP 2. mike.usen@gmail.com
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Sustainability Manager WISErg Corporation, Redmond Washington (2015)
Development of strategies guiding corporate expansion, production facility site selection, regulatory compliance, and community
relations. Preparation of sales and marketing collateral such as brochures, handouts, FAQs and website content. Initiated
sustainability program including safety, hazardous communications and recycling.
Vice President of Development and Operations Planning Hardy Development Companies, Seattle, WA (2014 –2015)
Operations oversight for leading developer of 4-star Built-Green urban infill multifamily housing in high walk-score Seattle
neighborhoods. Management of project schedules and punch lists with work teams to prevent or resolve conflicts. Provide project
coordination with architects regarding design and permitting. Cultivate and manage relationships with permitting agencies, project
neighbors, subcontractors, and other project stakeholders. Responsible for green building programs including Built Green and
Priority Green. Develop jobsite safety program. Manage company owned real estate portfolio. Create performance dashboard to
inform key decision makers.
Sustainability Program Coordinator King County Metro, Seattle, Washington (2012 –2014)
Development of agency-wide Sustainability Program centralizing and coordinating all of environmental sustainability functions for
large urban transit agency. Wrote Environmental Sustainability Plan consisting of goals and strategies for improving resource
efficiency consistent with King County policies and transit agency best practices. Achieved American Public Transportation
Association (APTA) Gold-level Sustainability Commitment recognition. Managed creation of Environmental Sustainability Management
System for ISO 14001 Certification. Coordinated reporting and tracking of key sustainability performance indicators including fuel,
electricity, natural gas, water, solid waste and recycling relative to transit boardings and vehicle miles traveled.
Senior Transit Environmental Planner King County Metro, Seattle, Washington (2009 – 2012)
Leadership of cooperating agency environmental review of major regional transportation projects including Washington State
Department of Transportation’s Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement, SR 520 Bridge Replacement and HOV Program, and Puget
Sound Regional Council’s Transportation 2040 EIS. Management of environmental review of FTA-funded capital facility development
and system expansion projects in compliance with NEPA and SEPA. Representative for Metro’s Design and Construction section on
County’s Green Team and Climate Change SEPA Workgroup.
Senior Associate SE GROUP Bellevue, Washington (2005 –2009)
Team lead for large-scale, long-term planning and entitlement projects on behalf of public agencies, private landowners and
developers. Successfully managed project strategy, community and government relations. Performed environmental and regulatory
review including managing consultant work on multiple projects concurrently.
Associate EDAW Seattle, Washington (1998 –2005)
Planner and project manager on diverse mix of complex EA’s and EIS’s and other technically challenging deliverables. Business
development responsibilities and management of workload of up to 7 simultaneous projects. Top profitability performance for
Pacific Northwest region.
Multiple Planning positions, City of Seattle Executive Branch (1992 –1998)
Conducted broad planning/policy development and analysis related to citywide neighborhood planning and implementation. Led
SEPA compliance of all neighborhood plans. Primary liaison with other City departments on open space and capital facilities.
Prepared and defended EIS documents, oversaw re-zoning, historic property reviews, transportation, homeless housing and
construction management plans for Sand Point. Represented local redevelopment agency during environmental cleanup of industrial
facilities. Also led infrastructure planning for $10 million replacement of water, sewer, gas and electric distribution and road
improvements for 153-acre Sand Point site.
EDUCATION
M.U.P., University of Washington, Seattle Washington
B.A., Environmental Studies, University of Vermont, Burlington Vermont
Continuing education in project management, leadership, presentation, negotiation, etc.