On March 2, 2026 MIG’s Chief Innovation Officer Mukul Malhotra , and Director of Public Art and Placemaking Ann Berchtold joined an outstanding lineup of Thought Leaders and more than 100 private, public, and non-profit sector leaders at the Downtown Seattle Association’s (DSA) Strategic Planning Symposium.
The meeting was part of the DSA Strategic Plan project, which is being led by MIG’s Chris Beynon, Chief Development Officer; Kate Joncas, Director of Urban Strategy and Development; and Sou Garner, Deputy Director of Community Planning. Our new Director of Strategic Planning and Placemaking, Jacqueline Robinette, also made her debut at this dynamic, high-energy event.
Alongside Tim Tompkins, Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institute; Ryan Russo, Executive Director of the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO); and Judge Steven Leifman, Founder of theLeifman Group), the MIG team helped lead powerful conversations on:
- The evolving mix of commercial uses in downtown cores;
- Creating public spaces that are inclusive, welcoming and environmentally sustainable;
- The role of arts and culture in downtown revitalization;
- Emerging trends in mobility and transit; and
- Promising strategies to improve justice and mental health system responses
Following the panel discussion, participants in breakout groups dove deeper into Seattle-specific challenges and place-based solutions.
Thank you to the DSA for bringing together such passionate urban leaders to reimagine the future of downtown Seattle. MIG is proud to be part of this important work!