Chesapeake, VA -The Hampton Roads Planning District Commission and the Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization announced the hiring of Robert A. Crum to the position of Executive Director for both agencies yesterday.

 "Mr. Crum has the perfect experience for this position, in that he has served as the Executive Director of an organization that is structured very similar to ours," said Newport News Mayor McKinley Price, HRTPO Chairman.  "We couldn't ask for a better fit."

"Bob embodies the collaborative leadership style needed for the work of the PDC and the TPO.  He has made an incredible impact in the Richmond area and is exactly what we need to help realize the region's full potential," said Kenneth Wright, Mayor of Portsmouth and HRPDC Chairman.

Mr. Crum brings considerable experience in community and transportation planning as well as economic development strategies from his most recent position at the Richmond Regional PDC, where he served as Executive Director for over six years. Major accomplishments at RRPDC include:

• Formation of the Capital Region Collaborative, a strategic partnership between the RRPDC and Greater Richmond Chamber
• Preparation and approval of the community's first regional Economic Development Strategy
• Formation of a regional emergency management planning program
• Regional investments in the Port of Richmond to leverage this facility as an economic development amenity
• Restructuring of the Richmond Regional Transportation Planning Organization as a transportation policy planning board

"I want to thank the members of the HRPDC and HRTPO Boards for their support and this exciting opportunity to work with the Region's officials as they continue to strengthen the economic health and quality of life of the Hampton Roads Region.  The Hampton Roads Region is a tremendous community with unlimited potential, and I am excited to work with the Region's officials, staffs and community stakeholders to make our Region the best it can be," said Crum.

Mr. Crum has approximately 30 years of professional community planning experience, beginning with his time at the Centre Regional Planning Agency in State College, Pennsylvania, where he was responsible for coordinating all aspects of the Agency's regional planning program. In addition, he completed planning and consensus building for a nationally recognized water reuse project and an award winning inter-municipal zoning effort.
 
Prior to his work in State College, he was Chief of the Planning Division for Indiana County, Pennsylvania where he coordinated County-wide community and solid waste management planning activities.  He holds a bachelor's degree from Mansfield University of Pennsylvania in Geography and Regional Planning.