Related Magazine Articles
LAI – IMPACT
- 2025 LAI Montreal Gathering: a personal perspective
- LAI FL Suncoast Pursues Formal Chapter Status
- Shining Stars: Lakewood Ranch and LAI Suncoast!
- The Power of LAI comes to Florida!
- Austin: growth through redevelopment
- Baltimore: revitalization in-process
- Sustainability: an economic driver
- Toronto: crafting a livable city amidst staggering population shifts and growth
- Memphis: an amazing city redefining itself
- Atlanta Welcomes Global Land Economics Group
LAI – RiA
- Land Optimization: a key to economic and environmental success
- Water Challenges, Economics, and Nature-Based Solutions
- Extreme Weather is HERE: important to align with nature for climate adaptation and resiliency
- Agriculture, Water, Land Nexus: Unlocking the Intricacy
- Introduction to Water and Land Economics
- Environmental Stewardship: the business perspective
- Coastal Water Quality: land-based activity determines the quality & related economic impact
- Coastal-Water Quality: Challenges, Solutions, and Economic Impact
- Rio Piedras: revitalizing beyond their wildest dreams
Lambda Alpha International
LAI is an honorary society for the advancement of land economics. LAI provides a forum for the study and advancement of land economics where the “winnowing and sifting” of ideas takes place in an atmosphere of mutual respect.
Annually chapters sponsor “Weekend Experiences” giving members an opportunity to meet and learn about land-economic issues in cities throughout the world. Open to LAI members and their guests, the Land Economic Weekends (LEW) address wider international, national and regional issues and include project tours within the host city.
Operating through a network of global chapters, LAI provides a variety of programs and forums for its members to share information critical to understanding important land-use issues.
The IMPACT Blog article, Lambda Alpha International Atlanta Chapter: growing membership, influence and impact, introduces LAI along with its designated purposes.
Ei Founder Holly Elmore was inducted into LAI Atlanta Chapter membership in December 2013 and served on the LAI Atlanta Chapter Board. As the International Assistant Communication Director, Holly serves on the Communications Committee and the Global Executive Committee.
The below listings document the powerful LEWs Holly attended, beginning with the 2014 Atlanta LEW, along with designated Atlanta Chapter meetings and other actiivies.
One-By-Land, Two-by-Land Tours
Sarasota, Florida
The One-by-Land, Two-by-Sea Tours (Tours) hosted by the LAI FL Suncoast Chapter (Chapter) was the first tours in the LAI SemiQ East Coast Tours series. On February 25 – 27, 2026, the Chapter welcomed distinguished land economics professionals from around the globe to the Sarasota/Manatee Counties region during the prime winter season for the Tours.
Serving as the official media and documentation partner, Ei played a supportive role in preserving the technical knowledge generated during the high-level dialogues. Ei Founder & CEO Holly Elmore served as the Tours Chair.
The RiA Magazine article, Land Optimization: a key to economic and environmental success, provides an in-depth synopsis of the Tours, including links to view the excellent PPT presentations from the compelling sessions. For pictorial recap of the Tours, visit the Holly Elmore Images Gallery Series, One-by-Land, Two-by-Sea Galleries.
Land Economics Dialogues
Gulf Coast Community Foundation Philanthropy Center
Sarasota, Florida
On Wednesday, February 25, the LAI FL Suncoast hosted the Water Challenges, Economics, and Nature-Based Solutions LED (Land Economics Dialogues.) Held the day prior to the official One-by-Land, Two-by-Sea Tours launch, the LED was planned synergistically to leverage the diverse land economics expertise of the international members gathered in Sarasota. Morning presentations educated on the current water challenges facing the Fl Suncoast; in the afternoon, the attendees participated in an empowering brainstorming/strategy session.
The recent RiA Magazine article, Water Challenges, Economics, and Nature-Based Solutions: Sarasota LED Overview, documents the key strategies and nature-based solutions proposed by the visiting industry experts. Videos of the morning presentations along with downloadable PPTs are available in the article. For an LED pictorial recap, visit the Holly Elmore Images February 25, 2025 Land Economics Dialogues Gallery.
Ei Founder & CEO Holly Elmore was the LED Chair and Ei was the media/documentation sponsor.
2025 LAI Montreal Gathering: a personal perspective
Lambda Alpha International (LAI) Annual Gatherings are hosted at select cities across the globe. Gatherings consist of business meetings for the executive team, educational sessions, tours of the region’s key developments and other economic drivers, and ample networking opportunities over the three-day event.
Members travel from across the globe to attend Gatherings. Hosted in Montreal on September 11 -13, the 2025 LAI Gathering was an excellent event. Earth Impact Founder & CEO Holly Elmore attended the Gathering as the LAI FL Suncoast Chapter President.
The IMPACT Magazine article, The 2025 Montreal Gathering: a personal perspective, showcases the excellent Annual Gathering; the HEI album, The 2025 Montreal Gathering, gives a pictorial recap.
Resiliency around the Globe: Local Responses to Hurricanes, Sea Rise and Sudden Flooding
Virtual Global Webinar
On September 4, 2025, the LAI Global Water-Land Series Group (Group) hosted the Resiliency around the Globe: Local Responses to Hurricanes, Sea Rise and Sudden Flooding global webinar. Ei Advisor Bob Bunting was the lead speaker in the prominent webinar; Ei Founder & CEO Holly Elmore is the Group Co-Chair and orchestrated the webinar.
Extreme weather is HERE and will only get more frequent and intense in the future. Warming ocean temperatures are the catalyst for the extreme weather and sea level rise accentuates the damage.
Though we cannot stop/prevent the extreme weather, we can create resilient scenarios through climate adaptation. Designing and building urban environments that align with Nature is the best way to mitigate the potential catastrophic destruction.
The RiA Magazine article, Extreme Weather is HERE: important to align with nature for climate adaptation and resiliency, gives an overview of the informative webinar and showcases how climate adaptation and resilient endeavors align with the Ei Nature Prevails platform.
Agriculture, Water, Land Nexus: Unlocking the Intricacy
Virtual Global Webinar
On May 28, 2025, the LAI Global Water-Land Series Group (Group) hosted the Agriculture, Water, Land Nexus: Unlocking the Intricacy global webinar. Ei Advisor Durga Poudel, Ph.D., then Professor and Coordinator of the Environmental Science Program and Director of Ag. Auxiliary Units, University of Louisiana, Lafayette, was the lead speaker in the prominent webinar.
In layman’s terms, the webinar explains how chemical-based agricultural practices in the Midwest are responsible for the hypoxia scenario in the Gulf, commonly known as the Dead Zone.
The RiA Magazine article, Agriculture, Water, Land Nexus: Unlocking the Intricacy, provides a recap of the three impressive presentations; the webinar-video recording is available at this LINK. PPT presentations are available for viewing/downloading via respective links within the article.
Ei Founder & CEO Holly Elmore is the Group Co-Chair and co-orchestrated the webinar with Durga.
LAI FL Suncoast Hosts Affordable Housing Event
Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Sarasota, FL
LAI FL Suncoast Chapter underdevelopment hosted their third official meeting at the Gulf Coast Community Foundation (GCCF) offices. Thanks to the GCCF’s generous sponsorship, the well-attended event was open to LAI members and prospective members at no charge. The meeting ended with a lovely reception that was much appreciated by the attendees.
Prior to the program, four new LAI FL Suncoast members – GCCF SVP Community Investment Jon Thaxton, Stantec Project Manager, Planning Katie LaBarr, MSC Commercial Real Estate Advisor Kevin McQuaid, and Wetland Extend Landward Owner Ray Goldsby – were inducted by LAI members Holly Elmore, Ei Founder & CEO, and John McCarthy, Selby Gardens VP for Regional History.
read more…Introduction to Water and Land Economics
LAI Global Water-Land Series Group Webinar
The Lambda Alpha International (LAI) Global Water-Land Series Group (Group) hosted the Introduction to Water and Land Economics Global Webinar; introductory in nature, the webinar was designed as a foundation for a plethora of future webinars on more specific topics.
As the Group Co-Chair, Ei Founder & CEO Holly Elmore orchestrated the superb webinar and invited Ei Advisors and LAI members Steve Suau and Brad Bass to serve as webinar panelists along with UC Davis Distinguished Professor Jay Lund, a LAI Sacramento Chapter member.
read more…Shining Stars: Lakewood Ranch and LAI Suncoast
LAI Suncoast Event
On Thursday, April 25, 2024, the Lambda Alpha International (LAI) Suncoast Chapter underdevelopment hosted its second official event at Grove Restaurant located in one of Lakewood Ranch’s (LWR) three town centers. LAI VP Craig Binning traveled from Toronto to attend the meeting, educate on the value of LAI membership, and induct four new members.
Since 2018 LWR consistently ranks the top performing multi-generational community in the nation; thus, LWC was a perfect location for the LAI Suncoast meeting.
LWR SVP Laura Cole gave an excellent presentation, Lakewood Ranch: past, present, and future. The referenced link is a a pdf of Laura’s presentation.
read more…The Power of LAI Comes to Florida
On Tuesday, November 28, 2023 the underdevelopment Lambda Alpha International (LAI) FL Suncoast Chapter hosted their inaugural meeting at the Nathan Benderson Park (NBP) Finish Tower. NBP is an internationally renowned rowing facility, known as one of the top three facilities in the world.
LAI President Kathy King traveled from Los Angeles and LAI Past President, LAI Fellow, and New Chapter Development Chair Steven R Gragg from El Paso, Texas to support the underdevelopment chapter. Over their three-day Sarasota visit, a total of 13 new LAI members were inducted with several in individual ceremonies.
read more…Environmental Stewardship: the business perspective
Temple of Understanding on-line webinar
The Temple of Understanding invited Ei to host the May monthly Eco Justice for ALL Dialogue. With the topic, Environmental Stewardship: the business perspective, Ei Founder & CEO Holly Elmore orchestrated the following panel of Ei Advisors as the dialogue speakers.
* Stephanie Barger – TRUE Certification for Zero Waste / U.S. Green Building Council Global Director of Market Transformation
* Simon Lamb – author of award-winning Junglenomics
* Tim Trefzer – Honeycomb Strategies Event and Venue Sustainability VP, Sports & Venues.
COASTAL-WATER QUALITY: Challenges, Solutions, and Economic Impact
LAI Global Webinar – online
On February 17 Lambda Alpha International (LAI, a land-economics honorary) hosted the Global Webinar Coastal-Water Quality: Challenges, Solutions, and Economic Impact presented by Sarasota’s environmental leadership. As a member of the LAI executive committee, Ei Founder & CEO Holly Elmore orchestrated the webinar.
The global webinar was the second program in an eighteen-month series about water and land economics around the globe hosted by the LAI Global Water Group.
2019 Fall Austin LEW
In early November, the Austin LAI Chapter hosted the Fall 2019 Land Economics Weekend (LEW) with grand success. Over 100 attendees traveled from around the globe for the impressive two days of tours culminating with an Awards Banquet. As a member of the Global Executive Committee, Ei Founder Holly Elmore attended the pre-LEW business meetings and enjoyed the LEW festivities.
Each LEW day began with a presentation on Austin’s economic landscape addressing historical contributions to current successes | challenges. Additionally, work-in-progress to harness the explosive growth with healthy outcomes was addressed and discussed.
read more…May 2019 Rio Piedras PAD
Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico
On May 1, 2019 Lambda Alpha International (LAI) hosted the Rio Piedras Professional Advisory Delegation (PAD) in partnership with the Fideicomiso para el Desarrollo de Río Piedras (FDRP). The PAD was a precursor to the LAI Puerto Rico (PR) Land Economics Weekend (LEW) where the new PR Chapter was chartered and new local members were initiated during the LEW Welcome Reception.
Around 50 LAI delegates traveled early to the PR LEW to participate in the Rio Piedras PAD. According to LAI International Vice-President Cassandra Francis, “We hope this initial LAI PAD will serve to strengthen our connections with the community of Rio Piedras and allow LAI to be part of the community’s future renaissance.” read more…
2018 Baltimore LEW
Baltimore, MD
The Lambda Alpha International (LAI) Baltimore Chapter hosted the Spring 2018 Land Economics Weekend (LEW) attracting a global contingency eager to learn about Baltimore’s history, challenges, and accomplishments.
2016 Fall Toronto LEW
Toronto, Ontario Canada
The Lambda Alpha International (LAI) Simcoe Chapter hosted the Fall 2016 Toronto Land Economics Weekend (LEW) attracting a global contingency eager to learn about Toronto’s history, challenges, and accomplishments. With limited time, the LEW tours and presentations focused on downtown Toronto redevelopment plans-in-process designed to craft a livable city for the increasing population.
On Thursday, September 22 LAI Board & Executive Meetings were held throughout the day. Ei Founder Holly Elmore represented the LAI Atlanta Chapter as well as her new position on the International Public Relations & Communications Committee.
The IMPACT Blog article, Toronto: crafting a livable city amidst staggering population shifts and growth, published as an in-depth LEW overview along with commentary. The Holly Elmore Images album, Toronto, is a pictorial recount of the LEW.
2016 Spring Memphis LEW
Memphis, TN
The Lambda Alpha International (LAI) Memphis Chapter hosted the Spring 2016 Land Economics Weekend (LEW) April 21 – 23 attracting a global contingency eager to learn about Memphis’ history, challenges, and accomplishments. With limited time, the LEW tours and presentations focused on the music industry, major redevelopment and, of course, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
The IMPACT Blog article, Memphis: an amazing city redefining itself, published as an in-depth LEW overview along with commentary. The Ei FB album, Memphis Land Economics Weekend, is a pictorial recap of the Memphis LEW including a section on Holly’s self-guided Memphis walking tour.
2014 Spring Atlanta LEW
Atlanta, GA
The Lambda Alpha International (LAI) Atlanta Chapter hosted the Spring 2014 Land Economics Weekend attracting a global contingency eager to learn about Atlanta’s history, challenges, and accomplishments. LAI member, Holly Elmore, joined the “Weekend Experience” documenting the tours in the ZWA Blog article, Atlanta Welcomes Global Land Economics Group, and in the Ei FB album, Spring 2014 Lambda Alpha Land Economics Weekend in Atlanta.
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