Stephen McCutchan
Stephen G. McCutchan brings five decades of experience as a professional land-planning consultant, with the last 30 years dedicated to serving Utah communities. Specializing in design and entitlements, he has guided countless projects through complex regulatory processes while maintaining focus on sustainable, community-centered development. Beyond his planning career, McCutchan is an accomplished author of historical fiction. He recently published a four-volume narrative novel series on Amazon, with four additional volumes slated for release in 2026. Over the past 18 months, he has integrated AI strategically into both his professional planning practice and creative writing process, discovering powerful applications for research, analysis, and communication that enhance rather than replace professional judgment. This unique combination of extensive planning expertise and hands-on AI experience positions McCutchan to offer practical insights on leveraging these emerging tools effectively in professional practice.
Session(s):
Beyond ChatGPT: Strategic AI Use for Planning Professionals »
APA Utah 2026 Spring Conference: Bryce Canyon, April 9, 2026 3:30 pmMove past generic AI experimentation and discover strategic applications specific to planning work. This interactive workshop explores advanced techniques for comprehensive plan research, policy analysis, public engagement summaries, and technical report writing. Learn to design effective prompts, critically evaluate AI outputs, integrate multiple sources, and maintain professional standards while dramatically improving efficiency. Through real planning scenarios, you'll develop and practice practical workflows for literature reviews, zoning analysis, and stakeholder communications that you can implement immediately in your practice. Have a smartphone, tablet or laptop handy to participate in guided exercises.
= Keynote
