BKF is pleased to announce the launch of its Resilience and Adaptation Planning Practice within the firm’s Planning & Government Solutions Division. Led by Michael Yaffe, AICP, PP, GISP, ENV SP, the new Practice expands BKF’s ability to help public agencies, utilities, developers, and institutions understand risk, secure funding, and advance projects that strengthen communities, improve infrastructure performance, and build lasting resilience.
As communities and infrastructure systems face increasing pressures from aging assets, climate risks, funding constraints, regulatory change, and evolving priorities, organizations are seeking comprehensive planning approaches to prepare for future challenges. This Practice guides clients through every phase of the resilience planning process, helping organizations align community priorities, infrastructure needs, and future investments around a shared vision for resilience.
Peter Minegar, AICP
Executive Vice President of Planning & Government Solutions
“Resilience challenges are increasingly interconnected, requiring solutions that bridge planning, engineering, funding, and implementation,” said Peter Minegar, AICP, Division Executive, Planning & Government Solutions. “The launch of our Resilience and Adaptation Planning Practice strengthens BKF’s ability to help clients navigate complex decisions, identify opportunities, and deliver solutions that address both immediate needs and long-term challenges.”
Michael brings more than two decades of experience transforming complex risks, infrastructure vulnerabilities, and long-range planning priorities into implementable strategies. His expertise includes hazard mitigation, climate adaptation, GIS-based risk assessment, grant strategy, and multidisciplinary program management, as well as community, infrastructure, and energy resilience program development.
Throughout his career, Michael has advised federal, state, regional, and local governments, utilities, and private-sector organizations across North America. His experience includes leading consultant teams supporting major initiatives such as New Jersey’s first Climate Change Resilience Strategy and Coastal Resilience Plan, the nationally recognized Resilient New Jersey program and toolkit, and climate adaptation guidance for the International Joint Commission (United States and Canada) Water Quality Board. He has also led statewide energy security planning in Alaska, resilience assessments for major transportation agencies throughout the New York metropolitan region, and award-winning hazard mitigation planning across California. Collectively, these efforts have helped organizations advance more than $100 million in critical infrastructure improvement projects.
Since joining BKF, Michael has worked across the firm’s planning and engineering practices to strengthen resilience capabilities, support strategic client initiatives, develop new service offerings, expand industry partnerships, and position resilience as an integrated service across multiple markets.
Emily Elliott, AICP
Practice Lead – Community Planning
“Michael brings a unique ability to connect complex challenges with practical solutions,” said Emily Elliott, AICP, Practice Lead, Community Planning. “His leadership strengthens collaboration across BKF’s planning, engineering, environmental, and infrastructure practices, allowing us to deliver integrated solutions that help clients make informed decisions and advance projects that reflect their long-term goals.”
“Resilience is no longer just about preparing for future disruptions. It is about making smarter decisions today,” said Michael. “Our focus is on helping clients translate risk into action by prioritizing investments, improving funding readiness, and implementing practical strategies that strengthen long-term performance and reliability.”
The launch of BKF’s Resilience and Adaptation Planning Practice reflects the firm’s continued commitment to help clients navigate an increasingly complex future through thoughtful planning, informed decision-making, and multidisciplinary collaboration. This approach enables us to develop resilience strategies that move from vision to action and build stronger communities.
About BKF
BKF is a full-service planning, engineering, surveying, and construction management firm serving public and private clients throughout the Western United States. With more than 110 years of experience and over 850 professionals across 20 offices, BKF partners with clients to deliver innovative solutions that strengthen communities and advance critical infrastructure.
