Experience

Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning

• United States
• Public Policy Offices
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Director

  • Mar 2011 - Present

  Program leadership and management- Responsible for daily and long-term planning program leadership, strategy, and management. Oversee annual competitive Local Technical Assistance (LTA) grant program, providing planning and policy assistance to Chicago region communities and organizations. Oversee all agency environmental programs, projects, staff and initiatives.- Assist with strategic planning, budgeting, and resource allocation for $3.5 million departmental budget; external funding development; grant management; consultant procurement; contract management.- Actively supervise team of fifteen direct and indirect staff; delegate responsibilities; be accountable for staff performance evaluation, feedback, and professional development; assist with staff hiring and onboarding. Collaboration and communication- Through LTA and other programs, convene and collaborate with community stakeholders, public officials, and partners across the region to advocate and advance environmental strategies. The LTA program is the primary mechanism for integrating ON TO 2050 policies into local government plans, policies, and regulations.- Foster and strengthen organizational partnerships and professional network important for ON TO 2050 implementation though external boards, committees, presentations, and conferences. - Oversee CMAP Board and committee engagement related to planning and environmental topics.Strategy, policy, and project management and development- Oversee stakeholder engagement, research, and development of environment and resilience policies and strategies for ON TO 2050 comprehensive regional plan. Develop agency work plan to implement ON TO 2050 environmental policies and strategies. - Oversee all aspects of project management and delivery, including supervision of diverse teams of staff, stakeholders, and contractors; quality control of deliverables; design and implementation of public engagement processes; and post-adoption plan implementation efforts.



Conservation Design Forum

• Associate, Urban and Environmental Planning and Design

  • May 2005 - Mar 2011

  Responsible for successfully completing a number of stakeholder-driven, sustainably-oriented policy, and planning projects at a variety of scales throughout the Midwest. Managed all aspects of contracts and projects, including initial client contact, contract and scope development, project management and completion. Responsible for budget, schedule, and team management through all project tasks and phases. Expanded planning market sector by securing and completing over $1 million in new business.



Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission

• Principal Planner / Sustainable Development Program Manager

  • Oct 1999 - Apr 2005

  Responsible for project and team management for a variety of planning and policy development projects. Accomplishments include launching regional sustainable planning and design program and website; 2004 Illinois American Planning Association award for a local government policy and planning guidebook; developing and coordinating a sustainable land use and development training program for elected officials and planning professionals across four states. Responsible for project and team management for a variety of planning and policy development projects. Accomplishments include launching regional sustainable planning and design program and website; 2004 Illinois American Planning Association award for a local government policy and planning guidebook; developing and coordinating a sustainable land use and development training program for elected officials and planning professionals across four states.



Various Organizations

• Additional Experience

  • 1993 - 1993

  Fieldwork. Supervisor: wetland restoration, Pacific Habitat Services. Ecologist: Cascade Head Preserve, The Nature Conservancy. US Forest Service contractor: forest survey and inventory, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. Education. Lecturer: College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs, University of Illinois; University of Chicago Sustainable Professional Certificate Program; Landscape Architecture Program, Illinois Institute of Technology. Adjunct Faculty: Science Institute, Columbia College Chicago. Manager: Education and Naturalist Program, Friends of Tryon Creek State Park. Instructor: Outdoor Education Program, Multnomah Education Service District. Outdoor Adventure Leader: Bold Earth Teen Adventures. Graduate Assistant & Instructor: University of Michigan. Boards/Committees/Volunteer. Chicago Wilderness Executive Council (current) and Sustainability Team Co-chair (2003-05.) Prairie Research Institute Advisory Board. Bloomingdale Trail Citizen’s Advisory Committee. Steering & Planning Committee for Wicker Park / Bucktown Neighborhood Master Plan. Green Chicago Restaurant Coalition Advisory Board. City of Chicago Green Urban Design Task Force Technical Committee. City of Chicago Green Homes Revision Committee. Cook County Land Bank Authority Sustainability Committee. Ukrainian Village Neighborhood Association. Exhibits committee, expert panel, and mobile workshop contributor, 2013 American Planning Association National Conference.Professional organization. Lambda Alpha International – Ely ChapterNote: actual starting and ending dates are 1993 to 2019 and ongoing.