About Us
We tailor our process to the specific needs of each community and approach our work with a deep respect for those who contribute to their communities through elected or appointed leadership positions and volunteer service and involvement.
Meet Our Team
Sara F. Herrmann
Co-Founder, Principal
Sara is a hands-on community planning and communications professional, project manager, and co-founder of FORUM Community Planning Consultants. In working with municipal and community clients, Sara draws on her own background as an elected village trustee and on her service as an appointed member of two planning boards. She also brings experience in board leadership roles, including as a community development corporation board director. A former land use and zoning paralegal and community journalist and editor, Sara has been a conference speaker for the New York Press Association on land use and zoning issues for reporters.
In her communications roles at global planning and environmental consulting firms, she has advised CEOs and leadership teams on communication strategy, change management, strategic planning, reputational risk, and other organizational priorities.
Sara has studied sustainability management through the Yale School of Management’s Executive Education program and marketing strategy at Cornell’s Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management. She is a member of the American Planning Association (APA).
Peter J. Sorgi
Co-Founder, Principal - Legal
Peter is an attorney whose practice focuses on municipal, land use and zoning law. He represents municipalities as well as real estate developers and landowners seeking land use approvals. He has been a partner at the law firm of Hopkins Sorgi & McCarthy for 18 years and is also a principal of FORUM Community Planning Consultants LLC.
Peter has taught Land Use and Zoning Law at the University at Buffalo Law School and while he was a student at the University of Buffalo Law School, he was a Graduate Assistant at the University at Buffalo Regional Institute working on the “State of the Region” annual report and as a Legislative Aide with the New York State Assembly representing government and stakeholder interests regarding the Niagara Power Project Relicensing.
Peter is involved in numerous community boards, including serving on the Board of WNY Project Play, as President of the Aurora Arsenal Youth Soccer Club, as a Board Member for the Walter R. Musty Home for Autism, Inc., Volunteer Counsel for the Aurora Ice Association and as an Advisory Board Member for Empire State Development on an initiative to develop Buffalo’s Outer Harbor.
He has degrees from Niagara University and University at Buffalo Law School.