chris.mefford@communityattributes.com

The foundation of Chris Mefford’s experience lies in working with jurisdictions, businesses and developers, providing market research; feasibility analyses; economic and financial analysis; and policy analysis, including land use and transportation policies. He brings 17 years of consulting, project management and analysis experience with economic, land use and transportation patterns. Based in Seattle, he brings in-depth expertise with the Puget Sound regional economy. He speaks to audiences often on regional economy and community development considerations.

Mr. Mefford brings professional skills and expertise in regional economic development; financial feasibility analysis; strategic planning; socio-economic and demographic analysis; geographic information systems (GIS) modeling and mapping; land use planning and transportation planning. Mr. Mefford's prior engagements include leading teams for local and national consulting firms, and serving as a regional economist for the Puget Sound Regional Council.

Mr. Mefford holds an M.B.A. from the University of Washington; an M.S. in Urban and Regional Planning (Economic Development and Transportation concentrations) from the University of Iowa; B.A. in Mathematics (with an Economics minor) from the University of Northern Iowa. He is an alumnus of Leadership Tomorrow Seattle and an active member of the LT Curriculum Committee. He is a member of the Urban Land Institute, a certified member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) and a member of the American Planning Association.

csc@communityattributes.com

Chris Strausz-Clark has two decades of experience in philanthropy, investment management, international business, and corporate finance. Mr. Strausz-Clark leads the firm’s philanthropic advisory services practice.

Prior to joining Community Attributes, Mr. Strausz-Clark worked at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, where he performed strategic, investment, and cost-benefit analysis; business planning; financial modeling and budgeting; and organizational due diligence. Mr. Strausz-Clark also managed financial planning and analysis for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s Global Development Program, which represented a $2 billion portfolio of grant commitments across a wide range of initiatives. He also led a program team in developing over $100 million in grant commitments to Eastern European and Southeast Asian national governments as part of the Global Libraries Initiative.

Mr. Strausz-Clark was an equity analyst for Trillium Asset Management Corporation in Boston, MA, the oldest independent socially responsible investment management firm in the United States. Mr. Strausz-Clark has also worked in finance and marketing for Sara Lee Corporation in Paris, Johannesburg, and New York.

Mr. Strausz-Clark holds a M.B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a Master of Public Policy from Duke University, and a B.A. in English from Davidson College.

MaryJo.Pellerito@communityattributes.com

Ms. Pellerito brings more than a decade of experience with end-to-end project management of database systems. She has contracted or consulted with a wide range of organizations, including Microsoft, Sallie Mae, Dun and Bradstreet, and Intel. Ms. Pellerito is well versed in defining business requirements; developing information strategy and functional specifications; analyzing data with by mining data warehouses and using web analytical tools;  and developing reports on a variety of platforms, including SQL, Excel, Crystal Reports, Microsoft Access, and Business Objects.

In addition, Ms. Pellerito has served as a business analyst with several organizations, including MSN, Expedia, and T-Mobile. She is experienced in assessing data to create dashboards and scorecards for analyzing performance; develop forecasts for evaluating the impact of business objectives, such as on-line marketing; and construct return-on-investment models to analyze trends in revenue and profitability for marketing campaigns.

In her spare time Ms. Pellerito likes reading, music and outdoor recreation.  She is an enthusiastic supporter of traditional cultural arts and has served as event coordinator for the Seattle World Percussion Festival, the Zimbabwean Music Festival and other fundraising events supporting cross-cultural artists and non-profit organizations. Ms. Pellerito holds a B.A. in Environmental Policy and Planning from Western Washington University.

mike.babb@communityattributes.com

Mike Babb applies GIS and data systems expertise to all aspects of Community Attributes. Mike brings consulting experience from firms in Seattle where he has contributed to a broad range of projects in GIS technology, land use planning and public policy. Most recently Mike provided contract support for Microsoft’s Virtual Earth project. At Microsoft, Mike managed integration of worldwide datasets and global logistics coordination in expanding the website’s content and provided programming support for key applications. Mike’s experience includes extending GIS functionality to core practice areas, database analysis, and cartographic design.

Mike’s recent work with Community Attributes includes providing hot spot analysis for La Plaza, LLC, a satellite network of commercial-cultural centers serving Latino businesses; demographic modeling of the nation’s public library systems for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; and mapping of accredited childcare centers for the Gates Foundation.Mike has a B.A. in Geography from the University of Washington and is a candidate in the UW’s Masters program in Geography. His areas of interest lie in the visualization of changing economics and demographics of urban and suburban cities as well as urban development.

michael.forsyth@communityattributes.com

Michael Forsyth brings multi-disciplinary research and outreach expertise to Community Attributes. Mr. Forsyth has worked extensively with the Land Policy Institute at Michigan State University, focused on strategic planning, demographic change and sustainable development in Michigan. Mr. Forsyth contributed to statewide education initiatives, including development of online and continuing education programs for local planning officials and creation of two university courses.

At Community Attributes, Michael provides research support in public finance, non-market valuation, spatial analyses and education. Michael’s recent work for Community Attributes includes economic impact analysis of Seattle’s Basic Industries and fiscal analysis of Urban Growth Areas in Kitsap County.

Michael recently graduated with a M.S. in Urban and Regional Planning from Michigan State University where he earned honors as 2008 AICP’s Outstanding Graduate Student. Michael also holds a B.A. in Environmental Studies and Applications with a specialization in Environmental Economics and Policy from Michigan State University.

tyler.schrag@communityattributes.com

Tyler Schrag brings spatial analysis and cartographic capabilities using GIS applied to a variety of purposes including land use, demographics, policy analyses, as well as epidemic modeling and air photo interpretation. His recent work experience includes public safety projects, including fire response modeling for the Bellingham Fire Department, as well as interning with iXP Corporation (public safety systems provider and consultancy).

Tyler's work at Community Attributes includes leading database systems management and analysis and providing spatial analysis and cartography for strategy decision-making with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s US Programs and US Libraries initiative. His cartography and spatial analyses are featured in the firm's public policy and economic studies. Tyler has a B.A. in Geography from Western Washington University with an emphasis in environmental and resource management as well as a minor in GIS.