Smart Growth America’s Calvin Gladney Stepping Down After Seven Years as President & CEO

Beth Osborne to step in as Interim President & CEO 

Washington, D.C. (April 24) — Smart Growth America today announced that Calvin Gladney has notified the Board of Directors that he has decided to step down as President and CEO. Beth Osborne, Vice President of Transportation and Thriving Communities since 2016, has been named Interim President & CEO effective immediately. 

Gladney has diligently led Smart Growth America (SGA) since early 2018. His leadership has advanced the national dialogue on smart growth, and includes significant accomplishments such as:  

• Gladney helped elevate smart growth in the national conversation as a key strategy for addressing today’s most pressing challenges, including climate resilience, community health, and inequities rooted in the built environment.
• Under Gladney’s leadership, SGA significantly expanded the number and type of national funders and local partners supporting SGA’s programs and initiatives, including a new “local/national” partnership model with community-based organizations (CBOs). 
• Gladney helped launch several new programs and initiatives, including the Center for Zoning Solutions, significant work on Opportunity Zones, a monthly national convening of state-based Smart Growth leaders called the Smart Growth Roundtable, and an annual national Summit now in its fifth successful year. 
• Gladney expanded Smart Growth America’s technical assistance program, which has reached nearly 300 communities across the country since 2020, delivering tailored support to help local leaders implement smart growth strategies in communities of all sizes.

In announcing his decision to step down, Gladney said, “I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to have led Smart Growth America, and I am very proud of what the organization has accomplished over the past seven years. I would like to extend a special thank you to all my colleagues at SGA and the leaders from across the country with whom we have worked alongside to help make communities healthier, more prosperous, and more resilient. I remain deeply committed to Smart Growth America’s mission, and I look forward to supporting the organization going forward.” 

Smart Growth America Board Chair, Madeline Fraser Cook, said, “All of us at Smart Growth America—the Board and current and former SGA staff—want to thank Calvin for all of the organization’s achievements over the years. We wish Calvin the best of luck in his future endeavors, and look forward to continuing to advance smart growth under Beth’s leadership.” 

Interim President & CEO Beth Osborne said, “I am thankful to Calvin for his leadership during his time as Smart Growth America’s President and CEO and am grateful for all that we have accomplished together. I am excited to step into this role and continue SGA’s strong work to help communities better serve the people who live there. Alongside SGA’s talented and experienced staff, I look forward to helping communities of all sizes pursue smart growth solutions to create more prosperous places for everyone.” 

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