Charles Latini (right), President of the APA-NJ chapter, presents Dean James W. Hughes with the chapter’s Lifetime Achievement and Leadership in Planning award.
On Thursday, January 26, the American Planning Association-New Jersey Chapter presented Bloustein School Dean James W. Hughes with a Lifetime Achievement and Leadership in Planning Award at the annual New Jersey planning conference. The APA-NJ chapter also announced a new planning award recognizing and celebrating his legacy, the James W. Hughes Applied Research Award.
“The importance of the support provided to our chapter by the Bloustein School can not be underscored enough,” said Charles Latini, PP, AICP, Principal of L&G Planning, LLC and President of APA-NJ. “Our partnership—one which allows our not-for-profit organization office space, space for monthly board meetings, and the ability to hold workshops and other special events, all at no charge to the chapter—between a nationally-recognized planning school and a local chapter is the envy of chapters across the nation. We get asked all the time how we do it, and the only answer I can give them is through the leadership of the school, led by Dean James W. Hughes,”
“APA-NJ and the Bloustein School co-host this conference annually, which has grown to two full days and over 700 attendees. Thanks to the support we receive from the Bloustein School, never has a chapter need not been met. Faculty and student liaisons from the school serve as part of the chapter’s executive committee, all of who help in setting the chapter’s direction and goals for the chapter. I am honored to have the opportunity to stand in front of our membership and recognize one individual for his unwavering support and his many great accomplishments and be fortunate to have seen so much of his work implemented for the benefit of all. Dean Hughes’ presence is felt throughout the state and the nation. He is a leader and an advocate for planning. Through his actions, he has fought to make New Jersey a better place to live and do business. Therefore, it is with great enthusiasm and pride that I am able to present Bloustein School Dean James W. Hughes with the chapter’s Lifetime Achievement and Leadership in Planning Award.”
“In his honor, the Executive Board of the chapter has created the James W. Hughes Applied Research Award, which will be presented annually to an individual or organization whose applied research has affected change in New Jersey as the substantive basis for legislative, regulatory or policy change, or as the driver of a shift in a fundamental approach to planning. This award sets the same high standard in planning as does its namesake.”