Paula is the Chief Planner for the City of Norfolk, Virginia. She has a bachelor’s degree from the College of William and Mary and a master’s of Planning from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.

She began working for Norfolk as a comprehensive planner, witnessing the transformation of the City of Norfolk over her 30-year tenure. Her career in Norfolk began with working directly with neighborhood and business associations, developing neighborhood specific plans. This early work helped form the foundation for Paula’s commitment to community involvement and outreach throughout the planning process.

Paula spent time honing her technical skills by heading up data analysis and GIS for the department but returned to comprehensive planning (with a new appreciation of the skill set of her colleagues). She has served as project manager for drafting the city’s comprehensive plan, plaNorfolk2030, and numerous area plans.

Paula currently oversees zoning, floodplain management, historic preservation, data analysis and long-range planning for the City.  Her mission as Chief Planner is to break down silos and ensure that all “planners plan” or think comprehensively.