Abraham Farkas

Biography: Abe Farkas President The Farkas Group, LLC Portland, OR Abe Farkas founded The Farkas Group (TFG), a boutique consultancy focusing on resilient redevelopment and equitable economic development strategies and projects. TFG is based in Portland, OR and works throughout the country in collaboration with public and private clients to help them achieve their goals. Abe has nearly four decades of experience in structuring successful public-private partnerships that have improved urban neighborhoods, business districts, and university environments. Abe is the former Development Services Director for ECONorhtwest; Development Director for the Portland Development Commission; Planning and Development Director for the City of Eugene; Economic Development Manager for the City of Seattle; Director of Community Development and Planning for the City of Fort Wayne; and Assistant Professor of Housing and Public Policy at the University of Tennessee. Several mixed-use, resilient, public-private partnerships projects, which Abe helped structure, have been transit-oriented developments, achieved LEED certification (silver to platinum) for sustainability, and were recipients of national and international awards. Abe has served on numerous boards and councils, and has frequently volunteered on technical advisory teams for ULI, AIA, IEDC and the National League of Cities. December 2017