[ First | Previous | Next | Last ]
Alumni Awards List

KERRI (KEITHLEY) BURCHETT followed the footsteps of her father, long-time CAPD professor Al Keithley, into the planning field. She began undergraduate studies in architecture, then considered changing to landscape architecture. But after taking the required Introduction to Planning course, Kerri was hooked on planning.

In 1994, Kerri received a Bachelor of Science degree in geography from K-State, a field of study that had been suggested to her as a good foundation for the field of planning. In fact, she recruited several of her geography classmates to come with her to study planning. Kerri received the Master of Regional and Community Planning in 1996.

While pursuing her planning studies, Kerri was a planning intern for Riley County, Kansas. During the summer of 1995, Kerri was a long-range planning intern for the City of Olathe, Kansas.

Upon completing her MRCP, Kerri was employed as a current planner for Weld County in Greeley, Colorado, where she performed work in the administration and interpretation of county zoning and subdivision ordinances and the county's comprehensive plan. She also prepared and presented staff recommendations to the planning commission, the county commissioners and the zoning board, and developed and coordinated special planning projects including amendments to the master plan and zoning ordinance.

Since 1998, Kerri has been employed in several capacities within the planning staff of the City of Loveland, Colorado. From 1998-2001, she was a senior planner, charged with performing technical urban planning work, facilitating neighborhood meetings and answering questions from the public regarding development procedures and planning requirements. From May of 2002 to May of 2004, Kerri was interim current planning manager, acting as staff liaison to the planning commission, supervising a staff of seven persons, managing the development review process within the current planning division and coordinating the city's day-to-day planning functions.

The balance of her time has been spent as principal planner, managing politically sensitive and priority projects that foster economic development and affordable housing, including a 900,000 square foot tertiary hospital, a 665,000 square foot lifestyle center, and a 1,870 acre annexation for a mixed use planned unit development. She also manages the development review schedule, represents the planning division at public meetings, presents planning matters to the city council and planning commission, participates in regional planning efforts, supervises and aids other planning and technical staff, and facilitates neighborhood meeting.

A member of the American Institute of Certified Planners, Kerri was the 2004 City of Loveland Employee of the Year.

Kerri is married to classmate and fellow 2006 Regional and Community Planning Alumni Honoree, Don Burchett. The couple has two children.