Tom Yantis, AICP
Planning Practice Leader
About Tom
Tom has 30 years of experience in both the public and private sectors helping communities create quality sustainable places. Tom began his career as a consultant with two multi-national consulting firms, Accenture and KPMG before beginning his municipal career where he served as assistant city manager in some of the fastest growing communities in Texas, Georgetown and Leander. Tom also led the community planning practice for BWR (now Lochner) where he assisted client communities with all aspects of planning and municipal management. Tom recently completed his municipal career in Taylor, Texas where he was instrumental in the negotiations that led to the selection of Taylor by Samsung as the site for its latest, state-of-the-art chip manufacturing campus.
Tom has been a pioneer in the municipal planning field in Texas, leading cutting edge, award-winning planning projects for cities across the State. Tom’s municipal planning has focused on facilitating the creation of walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods and districts through the reform of plans and codes to re-legalize traditional neighborhood design.
Location
Contact
214.430.4450 ext. 201
American Institute of Certified Planners
No. 023741
Registrations
American Planning Association
American Institute of Certified Planners
Texas City Management Association - Life Member
National Town Builders Association
Congress for the New Urbanism
Professional Affiliations
Relator
Learner
Belief
Harmony
Achiever
CliftonStrengths
University of Texas, Austin
B.A. Government
M.S. Community & Regional Planning
Education
Q&A with Tom
What do you do outside of work?
Well, my wife and I just bought a 100 year old house, so I have been spending every waking hour painting, refinishing floors, unsticking windows, etc. Other than that, I love hiking and camping. In fact, I recently bought an old Ford Econoline van that I’m outfitting to be my #vanlife camper!
Favorite podcasts?
OK, this is really a radio program that is now streamed as a podcast, but I love Car Talk. It never fails to make me laugh out loud and also provides great insight if you’re working on an old car (or van). I also love This American Life, Freakonomics Radio, and Financial Independence. I also watch a lot of Not Just Bikes YouTube channel!
Music you put on while you’re working?
This may be really uncool, but I don’t listen to music when I’m working.
One book (or more, if you must) you'd recommend that you've read in the last 2 years?
One that I really liked was Feral: Rewilding the Land, the Sea and Human Life. I also just finished Jonathan Alter’s biography of Jimmy Carter and it was super good, but really long!
Favorite childhood breakfast cereal?
Frosted Flakes if my mom would let me, otherwise Raisin Bran.