Our Team

Steve McMurtry, Principal – Resumé
Steve is a principal with De Novo and is responsible for management of a variety of complex environmental projects, land use plans, air quality modeling, biological assessments, agricultural LESA modeling, and regulatory permitting. He has extensive experience managing CEQA and NEPA documentation for complex and detailed projects, including private development projects and public planning, transportation, and policy projects. His experience includes service in engineering and planning firms, as well as in the building industry where he was responsible for project budgets of over $300 million. He has managed large Specific Plans and EIRs with complex transportation, water, wastewater, and infrastructure issues and has served as a technical planner on General Plans and General Plan EIRs. He graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a bachelor's degree in Natural Resource Management with graduate studies in Biological Sciences at San Jose State University.

Ben Ritchie, Principal – Resumé
Mr. Ritchie is a founding principal at De Novo Planning Group with over 20 years of experience. Mr. Ritchie’s expertise includes managing long range planning documents, completing complex and controversial CEQA documents, and facilitating community outreach and public communications efforts for the firm. His experience includes a variety of land use, transportation, and sustainability projects throughout California. Mr. Ritchie has extensive knowledge of the nuanced interplay between CEQA and long range planning, and he has assisted numerous communities with the establishment of planning strategies to achieve effective and legally defensible approaches to economic development, sustainability and streamlined development. Ben graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a bachelor's degree in Political Science and a Master of City and Regional Planning.

Beth Thompson, Principal – Resumé
Beth is a principal with De Novo with two decades of professional planning experience. Her responsibilities include general plan management, environmental planning, Housing Elements, policy document preparation, and contract planning. Beth specializes in community planning and CEQA and NEPA compliance. Her experience includes the preparation and management of numerous General Plan, Specific Plan, Housing Element, and zoning projects. She also has extensive experience preparing and managing long-range planning EIRs and development EIRs for a range of project types from ski resort master plans to hospital facilities to subdivisions. Beth graduated from the University of California, Davis with a bachelor's degree in Environmental and Resource Sciences.

Amanda Tropiano, Principal – Resumé
Amanda is responsible for leading our Southern California practice. With over 10 years of professional planning experience in the region, Amanda has successfully managed a wide variety of land use and environmental planning projects for public and private sector clients, including numerous General Plans, specific plans, corridor plans, strategic plans, sustainability programs, visioning projects, transit-oriented development plans, zoning documents, outreach programs, and CEQA projects. Amanda has a professional certificate in public engagement and completed advanced project management training from PSMJ. An active member of the Urban Land Institute, Amanda serves on the Orange County/Inland Empire District Council leadership team and is a founding member of the Young Leaders Group International Coordinating Committee. She received her undergraduate degrees in Urban Studies and Planning and Political Science at UC San Diego and she completed her Master in Urban and Regional Planning degree at UC Irvine.

Starla Barker, Principal Planner – Resumé
Starla is a principal planner with over 17 years of professional experience managing and preparing NEPA and CEQA compliance documents, as well as other planning documents including General Plans, Specific Plans, and Hazard Mitigation Plans. Starla has successfully managed a wide range of projects with particular emphasis in General Plans, transit-oriented development, urban infill, downtown, and redevelopment projects. Utilizing her experience in community planning, Starla is regularly involved in land use and policy planning, including the development and implementation of community outreach programs, and frequently manages and prepares environmental clearance documents for citywide policy planning and redevelopment projects. Starla is a Certified Planner with the American Planning Association (APA) and currently serves as the Vice Director of AICP Certification for the APA Orange Section. She received her undergraduate degree in Business Economics and holds a Master’s Degree in Urban and Regional Planning.

Perry Banner, Principal Planner – Resumé
Perry is a Principal Planner, bringing 18 years of experience in local government and private practice planning to the firm with work in both the United States and Canada. Perry possesses a diverse range of skills, including project management, land use analysis, and policy development. His experience as a Planning Manager in the public sector gives him insight into the challenges often facing municipal clients. Perry has successfully managed a variety of urban planning projects, including general plans, community plans, specific plans, TOD plans, zoning codes, entitlements, and public outreach efforts. His passion lies in helping communities visualize the future and giving them the tools needed to make well-informed decisions. He looks at problems from multiple angles to find effective and innovative solutions to develop plans that create results. Perry graduated from the University of Western Ontario and has not stopped learning since.

Christina Erwin, Principal Planner – Resumé
Christina is a principal planner with De Novo Planning Group and has more than 20 years of experience in environmental planning for public- and private-sector clients throughout California. She has successfully managed the preparation of many CEQA documents involving urban infill, greenfield development, major sports and entertainment venues, hospitality projects, general plans, and large-scale specific plans. Christina’s specialty is working on technically and politically complex, multifaceted projects that require a high degree of coordination and interface with multiple stakeholders. She develops and guides the strategic application of CEQA for projects, with a focus on streamlining environmental review, providing rigorous environmental analysis, identifying implementable mitigation measures, and helping clients achieve their project objectives. Christina graduated from the University of California, Davis with a bachelor's degree in Environmental Policy Analysis and Planning.

Christine Abraham, Principal Planner
Christine Abraham is a principal planner with De Novo Planning Group and has almost two decades of experience in environmental planning and the preparation of CEQA documentation for private developers and public-sector clients throughout the California, including multiple on-call contracts. Christine has prepared and managed all levels of CEQA documentation for new developments, redevelopment and urban infill, education/institution, warehouse/logistics, infrastructure, renewable energy installations, planning documents, soil management plans, and projects with biological, cultural and tribal sensitivity. Christine provides strategic guidance regarding the most appropriate level of CEQA documentation and technical studies required for each project and client, always focused on solutions and streamlining opportunities. In addition to document preparation and project management, Christine draws from her legal background, as a Member of the State Bar of California, to provide a thorough peer review of environmental documents to verify defensibility, as well as engaging in litigation support when needed.

Elise Laws, Senior Planner – Resumé
Elise is a Senior Planner with De Novo Planning Group. She has multiple years of environmental consulting experience completing both CEQA and NEPA documentation in the public and private sectors. Elise provides project management and advanced technical analysis on a variety of projects throughout California, including large-scale, controversial development projects, Specific and Master Plans, and General Plan Updates. Her other skills include air quality modeling using the California Emissions Estimator Model (CalEEMod), public outreach and facilitation. Elise earned a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Policy & Planning with an emphasis in City & Regional Planning from the University of California, Davis.

William Crenshaw, Senior Planner – Resumé
William has a diverse skill set including current and long-range planning and CEQA documents. William provides project support in the preparation of environmental documents, General Plan updates, Zoning Code amendments, and technical studies. His experience includes public outreach, research, environmental document, and policy preparation. He has a passion to build better communities, and enjoys working creatively to balance community and environmental needs, in order to protect and enhance the living systems of each community he serves. He graduated from UCLA with a Bachelor's Degree in Geography, and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo where he received a Master of City and Regional Planning. When he's not planning communities, William spends his time whitewater kayaking, and trying to tire out his Vizsla and Basenji.

Josh Smith, Senior Planner – Resumé
Josh has been in the planning industry since 2010, and is responsible for the preparation of CEQA/NEPA documents, climate change planning for local governments, and the development of air quality and greenhouse gas technical plans and reports. Josh has substantial experience with Climate Action Plans, Energy Action Plans, and toxic air contaminant Health Risk Assessments. Josh has expertise utilizing best-practice standards for developing greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories and context-specific GHG mitigation measures, as well as developing custom air pollutant emissions calculators for complex projects. He also has prior experience working in state and local government, and was appointed the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of the Association of Environmental Professionals Student Outreach Director in 2013 and 2014. Josh graduated from UC Davis in 2010 with a Bachelor's of Science in Environmental Policy Analysis & Planning, where he participated in the Davis Honors Challenge Program. He is a LEED AP O+M professional.

Kelly Hickler, Senior Planner – Resumé
Kelly Hickler is a senior planner with De Novo Planning Group. With 10 years of professional planning experience, Kelly possesses a comprehensive understanding of the connections between land use, zoning, housing, transportation, and economic development policies and their impacts on community health and equity. She has worked on a wide variety of planning projects for public and private sector clients such as rezonings, annexations, site plans, plats, variances, environmental studies, comprehensive plans, open space plans, strategic plans, master development plans and agreements, regulatory plans, zoning codes, design guidelines, and grants. Kelly has also served as a Planning Commissioner, so she is able to bring a decision-maker perspective to the table. Kelly’s passion is community engagement, and she has completed specialized training through the International Association of Public Participation (IAP2) and facilitation training through the Institute of Cultural Affairs (ICA). She is experienced in meeting facilitation, consensus building, and conflict resolution and enjoys working with different stakeholder groups to identify mutually beneficial outcomes.

Ashley Brodkin, Senior Planner – Resumé
Ashley Brodkin is a Senior Planner with De Novo Planning Group and is responsible for the preparation of environmental documents, as well as other longrange planning documents, including General Plans and Specific Plans. Ashley has nine years of experience preparing and managing a variety of CEQA and NEPA documents for capital improvements, land development and public policy document projects, and a variety of planning projects including General Plans, Housing Elements, Specific Plans, ordinances, and entitlements.

With experience as both a private consultant and in public service, Ashley provides a perspective on projects from both a consultant and lead agency point of view.

Jeffery Setterlund, Associate Planner – Resumé
Jeff is an Assistant Planner with De Novo and joins our team having recently earned his B.S. in City and Regional Planning from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Jeff is passionate about serving communities and creating innovative work through land use planning and design. He is an active member of the APA ambassador program and the APA Small Town & Rural program. Jeff works on a variety of projects for De Novo, including General Plan updates and CEQA documentation.

Erik Anderson, Associate Planner – Resumé
Erik is an Assistant Planner with De Novo and joins our team having recently earned his M.A. in City and Regional Planning from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. His previous experience includes service with a non-profit environmental organization, and work in the legal field. During his academic career, he received multiple honors including the 2019 California Planning Foundation, Central Coast Section Scholarship and the 2019 and 2020 Errett Fisher Foundation Scholarship. Erik is passionate about serving communities and creating innovative work through land use planning and design. Erik works on a variety of projects for De Novo, including General Plan updates and CEQA documentation.

Abdul Jama, Assistant Planner
Abdul is an Assistant Planner with De Novo Planning Group. He has earned a Master Degree in City and Regional Planning from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Abdul has a deep interest in community development and environmental planning. He has worked on a diverse range of projects for public and private sector clients, with a focus on environmental, land-use planning, and policy development. Abdul provides project support in the preparation of CEQA documentation and long-range planning documents, including General Plans and Local Hazard Mitigation Plans.

Jennifer DeMartino, GIS and Mapping Services
Jennifer leads the De Novo team's mapping and GIS technical services. Jennifer has over 20 years of professional GIS and planning experience, and is an expert in a wide range of GIS, mapping, spatial analysis, and quantitative analysis platforms. Jennifer holds a Master of Arts in Geography with Distinction from California State University, Northridge, and continues to serve in higher education as a college educator and ESRI Authorized Instructor and Corporate Trainer.

Caleb Gilbert, Graphics and Web Development
Caleb is a web developer and programmer with more than 20 years of experience. Caleb prepares custom, interactive websites for each of De Novo's general plan and specific plan projects and also regularly updates and maintains the De Novo website. He graduated from the University of Phoenix with a B.S. in Marketing.