Leonardo Vazquez, AICP/PP is a national-award winning urban planner, author and educator who specializes in community economic development, creative placemaking, culturally competent planning, leadership development and strategic communications.

He is the founding Executive Director of The National Consortium for Creative Placemaking in Union, NJ. It helps grow and professionalize the emerging field of creative placemaking through leadership development, coaching and Summits. He is also Director of Creative Placemaking at New England College, where he directs the executive education Certificate in Creative Placemaking. He was a professor at Rutgers University's Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy and Ohio State University's Knowlton School of Architecture. Leo was also co-founder of the American Planning Association New York Metro Chapter's Planners for Ethnic and Cultural Diversity Committee (now known as the Diversity Committee).

He is the author of Leading from the Middle: Strategic Thinking for Urban Planning and Community Development Professionals and Dialogos: Placemaking in Latino Communities.

Please also check out The National Consortium for Creative Placemaking's Podcast at www.cpcommunities.podbean.com