Community Builder & Visionary: Chris Ballentine at Willow Valley Communities Chris Ballentine isn't just an enthusiastic ambassador for Willow Valley Communities; he's a passionate visionary shaping the future of Lancaster City. As Community Relations Manager, cultivates enthusiasm and understanding about Southern Market, and Mosaic, the innovative 55+ senior living expansion. Avidly, Chris conveys the benefits and combined impact of these transformative projects; especially how they are reshaping an underutilized location into a vibrant community hub and destination gateway to southern Lancaster. Chris’ expertise shines through as a passionate community advocate, connector, and storyteller, but his impact extends far beyond his title at Willow Valley Communities. He is a deeply embedded community servant, and proudly served as a Lancaster City Councilor from 2017 to 2020. Today, he continues to make a difference through impactful roles like Presiding Chair of Leadership Lancaster, Board Member of the Spanish American Civic Association (SACA), Trustee of Lancaster General Health (LGH) Foundation, and Advisory Committee member for Discover Lancaster. These are just a few of the numerous community coalitions to which he actively contributes. A Bloomsburg University graduate and true Lancaster native, Chris embodies the dedication and spirit of his hometown. Chris's professional journey has equipped him with a diverse skillset spanning graphic design, social media, event planning, public relations, and community outreach. Beyond his professional accolades, he cherishes his role as a proud father of two teenage daughters. He knows the importance of balancing ambition with genuine connections, even when those treasured connections involve navigating the ever-changing moods of teenagers, by communicating through TikTok.

Ian Smith is the founding principal of IS-DG, an award-winning design architecture firm in Philadelphia, PA. Ian’s combined accomplishments include architect, author, and educator. Ian continues to serve the civic discourse through teaching occasionally at local universities in addition to his current appointments on the Philadelphia Preservation Alliance Board, PhilaNOMA, and the Edmund Bacon Urban Design committee. Ian seeks to identify and interlace the invisible emotional narratives within which the built environment is perceived. Ian continues to serve the civic discourse through teaching occasionally at local universities in addition to his current appointments on the PhilaNOMA, Philadelphia Preservation Alliance Board, Inglis House, and was recently initiated into The Carpenter’s Company, is the oldest extant craft guild and professional association in the United States. IS-DG will be marking their 15th year in business in July 2023.

Jennifer Waters, PE, LEED AP, has been with Urban Engineers for over 20 years and serves as a vice president and Philadelphia regional leader for the firm's Philadelphia headquarters and Montgomery County location.She is a registered Professional Engineer in six states and has years of diverse environmental and sustainability experience. Her background includes providing sustainable solutions to complex infrastructure, residential, commercial, industrial, educational, and recreational property development/redevelopment projects. Jennifer earned her bachelor’s degree in environmental systems engineering from Penn State and her master’s in engineering management from Drexel University. She is currently on the ULI Awards Committee and she is a board member of WTS Philadelphia, Greater Valley Forge TMA, and 82 Alliance. Jennifer is also involved in several other organizations including the Forum of Executive Women, American Council of Engineering Companies and she was recently inducted as the 1,000th member of the Carpenter’s Company.

Eric Goldstein is founding President & CEO of the King of Prussia District, a private, not-for-profit organization that works with 431 commercial, industrial and multifamily property owners to keep King of Prussia economically viable and vibrant. Eric’s efforts have contributed significantly to a $4B economic development boom in King of Prussia since 2010 and, as a result, Eric was named to the Philadelphia Business Journal’s 2017 Power 100 list, cited as a “Change Agent,” and was named the 2016 Best Visionary by Philadelphia Magazine. In December 2022, Eric was also named one of Philadelphia Business Journal’s 25 Most Admired CEOs. Eric is a skilled fundraiser, having leveraged more than $16M in addition to the $14M in assessment fees billed since 2011. Eric is a current member and former board member of the International Downtown Association (2016-2022), sits on the Urban Land Institute Phila. Chapter Advisory Board and serves as Co-Chair of the Awards Committee. Eric is also on the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Middleman Family Pavilion and Valley Forge Park Alliance Fundraising Committees. He lives in Mount Laurel, NJ and is a Professional Landscape Architect (PA, NJ) and Professional Planner (NJ).

Matthew Heckendorn is the President of Heckendorn Shiles Architects, whose was the architect for the Boys and Girls Club renovation project in Philadelphia. Matt is an accomplished lecturer, delivering seminars at the Forum for Architecture and Design, Design on the Delaware, Greenbuild, Pennsylvania Brownfields Conference, ULI, and the Wharton School of Business. Matt has also served as an Adjunct Associate Professor at Drexel University and has served in a number of additional professional and community roles including: Board of Trustees for Stratford Friends School, Arts and Business Council of Philadelphia, ULI Next, AIA National Convention Tours Committee, Haverford Township Planning Commission, Greenbuild 2013 Convention in Philadelphia and Ad-hoc Committee Member for the Haverford CREC design. He is a member of the Carpenters’ Company.