BCDCOG expands staff with several key hires

The Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments expanded its team with the addition of several key recent hires.

Mike Hemmer will serve as a Senior Planner, Jon Dodson as Planner II, Diane Riedle as Staff Accountant, and John Lambert as Mobility Coordinator.

“It’s an exciting time for BCDCOG as we continue to build out an outstanding team with skills and expertise to continually strengthen our regional planning efforts,” said Ron Mitchum, BCDCOG executive director.

Mike Hemmer, Senior Planner

Hemmer brings with him a wealth of experience with more than two decades in urban planning and economic development. In previous roles, he served as the Village Administrator for New Baden, Illinois, worked from the municipal side of the development industry for 15 years, and was a professional planner for PGAV, Planners in St.Louis for nine years. Hemmer holds his Bachelor’s of Science degree in Geography from Southern Illinois University and has been a certified economic developer since 2002.

Jon Dodson, Planner ll

Dodson joins BCDCOG from the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, North Carolina, where he worked as a transit service planner since 2013. In this role, he managed regional short-range transit plans, various consultant studies, and prepared analyses for transit performance, including ridership, on-time performance, fare collections, and more. Dodson holds his Master’s of Regional and Urban Planning degree from the University of New Orleans.

John Lambert, Mobility Coordinator

Lambert joins the staff after interning with the COG for six months in the planning department. Lambert attended the College of Charleston where he earned his Master’s of Public Administration and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science. Lambert will work with the COG as mobility coordinator and continue the progress towards regional vanpool services.

Diane Riedle, Staff Accountant

Riedle is excited to join the COG team after years of experience in the accounting field. She held positions including bookkeeper, accounts payable specialist, cost accountant and other roles with experience in taxes and payroll. Riedle holds her bachelor’s degree from Cleveland State University.

ABOUT BCDCOG

The BCDCOG is a voluntary association of, by and for local governments, and was established to assist Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester county leaders in planning for common needs, cooperating for mutual benefit, and coordinating for sound regional development. BCDCOG’s purpose is to strengthen the individual and collective power of local governments and to help them recognize regional opportunities, eliminate unnecessary duplication, and make joint decisions. For the latest on BCDCOG, visit www.bcdcog.com, like us on Facebook or follow on Twitter at @BDCCoG.