Q: Tell me more about your work. What does a Staff Planner do?

A: I see myself in the planning role sometimes as helping to analyze risk. I’m answering the questions, what does it look like to put money behind something new? What are the possible adverse risks on the community? What is the possible gain? One of the challenges of my role is that I’m not there to infuse my personal opinions. I’m there for professional counsel and to help inform decision makers in their decisions. The planner has a unique position of being a researcher and shepherd of information that can take communities to the next level. You can advocate for certain ideas and push back on false concepts. We have our core values and as a planner I have been given the tools to guide sound decision making, it’s not done from a place of emotion. 

Q: What are your professional goals?

A: I am motivated to continue making a greater impact in terms of facilitating change but I recognize that what works in one community might not work in another and my own personal desires for a project might not be what people are asking for and want in their community. I just received my AICP and knocked out one goal. I think that if I continue in municipal planning that at some point I would be interested in being the community development director or being at the lead role of representing the dynamics that a community wanted itself to be. 

Q: Why did you choose to pursue certification?

A: I am aware that there is a range of opinions on the value of [certification] and some of that comes from the historical trends of who would be earning their AICP. There is a lot that our field is still reckoning with. I like holding myself to the ethical standards [of AICP] and it took work to go through the required steps. I would hope that I am part of the changing landscape of who that group is. One thing I have tried to do is leave myself open to people who are looking to go through the process too. I’ll give whatever feedback I can but I’ll be as supportive as I can.

Q: What is some advice you would offer to others pursuing certification?

A: This is going to sound corny. I’m a power of positive thinking person and I think that self-talk is so important. Keep encouraging yourself and be good to yourself, and don’t be too hard on yourself.  For someone coming out of school, try to do it sooner rather than later because the test is pretty academic and some of the information will be fresh in your head. Use your resources. There are a lot of groups to find study partners. 

Q: What is a dream planning project for you?

A: My answer right now would be business incubators or sustainability projects. I haven’t been in the mix on either of those things yet and I would love to be part of a community where there was value placed on innovation as an economic development tool, community building tool, small business supportive project. I really believe those are some dynamic projects going on in the planning world right now. I love hearing about them and I would love to be a part of them.

I see enough of what I would call typical development in my professional life and I know that with some cooperation we could have more dynamic housing projects that focus on issues of flooding with rain gardens and permeable pavements. It’s not my area of expertise, but again, that’s part of the beauty of planning, you can expand and experientially become more talented at certain things.