Vicki L. Noteis, A.I.A

President

Vicki is President of Collins Noteis & Associates in Kansas City, Missouri.  Prior to establishing CNA, Vicki was an Assistant City Manager and Director of the City Planning and Development Department for the City of Kansas City, Missouri.  She graduated from Kansas State University in 1976, cum laude with a Bachelor of Architecture Degree.  She has over 25 years of experience in both the public and private sector and has developed successful models for public involvement in complex public policy issues.
   
With the City of Kansas City, Missouri, Vicki was responsible for completing and implementing the “FOCUS Kansas City” Plan, the City’s first innovative long-range strategic and comprehensive planning effort since 1947.  This intensive city planning effort involved over 5,000 citizens and resulted in a new policy framework for the City and a new comprehensive plan that links strategies in economic development, housing, preservation, the environment, social services and many other areas. 

As Director of City Planning and Development, she oversaw the renewed Downtown Plan, the development of the Bartle Hall Convention Center Expansion, the new Performing Arts Center, the site selection for the new Sprint Arena and more than $800 million of new construction and renovation. Vicki also supervised over 350 neighborhood plans for priority service delivery, six primary corridor plans, and numerous area plans.  Her department staffed the City Plan Commission, Board of Zoning Adjustment, Landmarks Commission, Land Trust Commission and the Plans, Zoning and Ecomomic Development Committee of the City Council.  Cases average over 1,000 per year.

As a principal in the firm of CNA, Vicki's experience includes the East Gateway Redevelopment Plan for the cities of Mission, Fairway and Roeland Park, Kansas; the Comprehensive Plan Update for Roeland Park, Kansas; the Bus Rapid Transit Troost Corridor Plan for the Kansas City Area Transit Authority, The Hickman Mills Area Plan for the City of Kansas City, Missouri and strategic planning for not-for-profit organizations.

Vicki is an active member of the Kansas City Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, serving as the first woman President in 1996.  She is also on the Board of the Kansas City Architectural Foundation, and is a member of the American Planning Association.  She was appointed in 1997 by the Governor of Missouri to serve on the Missouri Licensing Board for Architects, Engineers and Land Surveyors, where she chaired the Architectural Division.

Vicki received the AIA Missouri 1998 Distinguished Service Award and the Kansas State University 1998 Alumni Fellow Award.  She has received the “Excellence in Public Service” award in May, 1994 for Distinguished Professional Service on the FOCUS Kansas City Plan and was named the best local public administrator by the KC Chapter of ASPA (American Society of Public Administration).  She is a frequent speaker and guest lecturer on planning, development and urban design issues and techniques for citizen involvement in public decision-making.

Robert L. Collins

Excellent BBQ-er and Vice-President

Prior to establishing CNA with Vicki Noteis in 2004, Bob served as City Manager for Kansas City, Missouri for five years.  In a 27-year career at City Hall, Mr. Collins also served as Assistant City Manager and Director of City Development.  He earned a Bachelor of Arts and a Master degree in Economics from the University of Missouri at Kansas City and a Masters in Urban Planning from the University of Michigan.

Bob's responsibilities as City Manager in Kansas City (a Council-manager form of government) included direction of 19 City Departments, 8,000 employees and an annual budget of $950,000,000.  With a population of 450,000, twelve City Council members, and the Mayor, Mr. Collins maintained a high level of communication with business and neighborhood interest groups. 

Bob provided strong leadership on development issues in Kansas City.  His responsibilities for the management and administration of the economic development functions of the city comprised six departments and agencies:  the Economic Development Corporation, City Planning and Development, Housing and Community Development, Codes Administration, Convention and Entertainment Centers and the Aviation Department. Total budget responsibility was $150 million and over 1,000 employees. 

Bob provided hands-on experience with the City’s most complex redevelopment projects, including the Brush Creek Redevelopment Project, two downtown hotels totaling $95 million, design and construction of a new civic $15 million Civic Mall in conjunction with a new $100 million Federal Building and Courthouse, and two expansions of the Bartle Hall Convention and Entertainment Center downtown.

Bob is a member of the International City Management Association, the American Planning Association, and the Urban Land Institute, and teaches in the Political Science Department at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.