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32 Development Opportunities on City-Owned Land | Lake Elmo, Minnesota <br />John Slack <br />Panel Co-Chair <br />Associate Principal, <br />Urban Design Practice <br />Leader & Senior <br />Landscape Architect <br />Perkins & Will <br />Having traveled to every US state except Alaska <br />with his military family, John grew fascinated by <br />how people use urban spaces, and how buildings <br />interface with them. As an urban designer and <br />landscape architect, John’s work is influenced by <br />his love for nature, art, and design, as well as his <br />Japanese culture, which was bestowed upon him <br />by his mother. His admiration for the minimalistic <br />characteristics of historic Japanese sites is <br />reflected in his design process, where he carefully <br />considers how to scale back a design. With rigor <br />and dedication, he seeks to simplify and clarify. <br />A long-term mentor with ULI and city volunteer, <br />John seeks to serve his broader community and <br />believes in the strength of the relationships to get <br />things accomplished. He knows he’s successfully <br />engaged his audience when he starts to see a <br />shift in their mindset - from ‘we can’t’ to ‘I hadn’t <br />considered that before.’ <br />Mark Houge <br />Panel Co-Chair <br />President <br />North Oaks Company LLC <br />Mark Houge is a seasoned <br />real estate executive with <br />decades of experience <br />leading complex development projects across <br />residential, commercial, industrial, and mixed-use <br />sectors. As President of North Oaks Company <br />LLC, he oversees the land development of over <br />1,850 acres, including residential communities, <br />light industrial, commercial centers, and land <br />conservation areas. His career spans leadership <br />roles at Opus, Cushman & Wakefield, Harstad <br />Companies, and AP Technology, where he led <br />design and project management and delivered <br />award-winning corporate headquarters, <br />manufacturing facilities, and housing projects. <br />Mark holds a Bachelor of Science in Construction <br />Management and Engineering from Minnesota <br />State University, Mankato, and a Master’s in <br />Corporate Real Estate from CoreNet Global. He is <br />a licensed commercial real estate broker and an <br />active member of industry organizations including <br />the Urban Land Institute and the Sensible Land Use <br />Coalition. <br />Mitchell Cookas, PLA <br />Senior Project Manager, <br />Civil & LA <br />ISG <br />Mitchell is a driven, <br />collaborative, and creative <br />professional with over 15 years of experience in <br />sustainable site design, landscape architecture, <br />civil engineering, water resources, construction <br />administration, and business development. He <br />has worked together on a variety of public and <br />private sector projects ranging from a quarter- <br />acre residence to a “Big Box” retailer expansion, to <br />multi-family apartments, and professional sports <br />stadiums (Target Field and CHS Field). <br />Mitchell’s volunteer experience includes being a <br />past member of the Minnesota Design Team and <br />he continues to support the Special Olympics of <br />MN. Additionally, he was a member of Dakota <br />County’s citizen advisory committee for the <br />Farmland and Natural Areas Program (FNAP) from <br />2009-2011. <br />Mitchell is actively involved with multiple non-profit <br />and professional organizations including the MN <br />Shopping Center Association (MSCA), U.S. Green <br />Building Council (USGBC), Hearts & Hammers, and <br />the Urban Land Institute.