PA Department of Community and Economic Development

Ron Bednar has had an exemplary career as a professional planner, and has been a selfless volunteer for the American Planning Association at both the state and national level. In a 30-year career at the PA Department of Community and Economic Development and its predecessor the Department of Community Affairs, Ron supported hundreds of communities and planners as a patient teacher and advocate for planning. He shared his knowledge with the next generation serving as an adjunct instructor at Widener and Philadelphia Universities and a guest lecturer at Temple University. He served in leadership roles with the Southeast section and with the statewide board of the PA Chapter of APA, including serving as President of the State Chapter 2001-2003, where he implemented a number of organizational improvements. He was instrumental in bringing the national APA Conference to Philadelphia in 2007 for which he was one of three co-chairs. Ron has also been active in planning in his own community, serving on the boards of East Falls Development Corporation and East Falls Historical Society. Overall, Ron Bednar has been effective at growing participation in the affairs of the PA Chapter, and has been a strong and consistent voice for planning and the PA Chapter in the Commonwealth.