Mitchell Silver is Chief Planning & Development Officer and Planning Director for the City of Raleigh, North Carolina and is also president (2011-2013) of the American Planning Association (APA). In his position at the City of Raleigh, Mitchell oversees a business enterprise that includes 230 employees, three departments (City Planning, Community Development and Inspections) and four offices (Transportation Planning, Economic Development, Development Services and the Urban Design Center). Mitchell serves on the City's Executive Leadership team with the City Manager, Assistant City Managers, CFO and CIO.

As Planning Director in Raleigh, he has led the comprehensive plan update process to create a vibrant 21st century city. Mitchell has been an outspoken advocate to transform Raleigh into a world class city with a modern transit system and great streets, great places and great neighborhoods.

Mitchell is an award-winning planner with over 25 years of experience and is nationally recognized for his leadership in the planning profession and his contributions to contemporary planning issues. He specializes in comprehensive planning, land use planning and implementation strategies.

Before going to Raleigh in 2005, Mitchell had worked as Policy and Planning Director in New York City, a Principal of a New York City-based planning firm, a Town Manager in New Jersey and Deputy Planning Director in Washington, DC. Mitchell received a Bachelor's Degree in Architecture from Pratt Institute and a Master's Degree in Urban Planning from Hunter College. He is certified by the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) and a licensed Professional Planner (PP) in the State of New Jersey.