Join Planning Peeps in recognizing the Top Urban Planners Under 40! Anyone can nominate leaders in the urban planning profession (public or private). Applications for the Class of 2020 will be accepted until May 1st, 2020! We will announce the winners by June 1st, 2020.
Nominees must be under 40 years of age as of December 31, 2020. Winners will be showcased if they accept the recognition and have consented to the use of their likeness.
Nominees must be under 40 years of age as of December 31, 2020. Winners will be showcased if they accept the recognition and have consented to the use of their likeness.
Class of 2019
Aletha Dunston, AICP
Executive Director of the Fort Harrison Reuse Authority Indianapolis, Indiana "Since the beginning of her career, Aletha has served in executive roles that have benefited rural communities throughout the state, working as a Planning Director and State CDBG Director. She is a committed volunteer and currently serves in a unique capacity that bridges the planning and economic development of a former military base in Indianapolis, IN." |
Shon Brooks, AICP
Director of Planning City of Waxahachie, Texas "Shon has grown into a great planner and great leader. He started his career gaining technical experience with an architecture degree he leveraged into a plan reviewer position for the large city of Arlington, TX. Shon continued to learn and expand his knowledge by obtaining a Master of Public Administration degree while working full time and earning a promotion to planner. Over time, his planning knowledge and skill was evident amongst his peers as he continued to earn multiple promotions while working for the City of Arlington. He recently became the Director of Planning for the City of Waxahachie, TX (pop. 35,000). As the director, Shon has mentored several staff members and shared his knowledge of planning with the entire community. Waxahachie is growing at a rapid pace and Shon is overseeing the planning of multiple master planned developments, each comprised of hundreds of acres, that will shape the future of Waxahachie for decades to come. Shon's experience, leadership, and planning knowledge is serving Waxahachie perfectly at this crucial moment in time." |
Zaheer Allam, Ph.D
Zaheer Allam Urban StrategistThe Port Louis Development Initiative |
Class of 2018
Jessica Sarkissian, AICP, LEED AP
Principal The Planning Center Mesa, AZ "Jessica has been active in the planning and development community in Arizona since beginning in Tucson in 2003. She started her career at the City of Phoenix and then went on to work as a land planner for several engineering firms as their land planner. These experience partnered with the experience she had at the City of Phoenix, Pinal County and at the City of Chandler provided her the ability to better communicate between departments and break the barrier down allowing for better project resolution and more successful projects for her clients. Jessica joined the AZAPA Board in 2013 and continued to network, attend classes and events to support her field and professional network. Through that network she was introduced to the owner of The Planning Center. The Planning Center was a job Jessica had always wanted after she graduated from the U of A, but after moving to Phoenix, never had the opportunity. In August of 2016 she was asked to head up the new Planning Center office in Tempe, AZ as a Principal of the firm. She jumped at the chance and has been building the company up in the Phoenix area ever since." |
Daniel Barusch
Director of Planning and Zoning Town of Lake George Lake George, NY "Dan is an already accomplished planner for age 28. Hes the Director of Planning and Zoning for the beautiful Town of Lake George, and hes becoming a new staple in the capital district planning scene. He was the youngest person to hold the Director of Planning and Zoning department position for a municipal government in NYS history when hired by Lake George in 2015 at age 25. He created the Student Planning Association at his alma mater Arizona State, and he created the APA Arizona Young Planners Group before leaving to go back home to NY. He also created the Saratoga County Young Democrats currently sits as their President, and uses his planning background to advance his influence on local politics while sitting on the Saratoga Springs Climate Task Force." |
Monique Lopez, AICP
Founder/Social Justice Planner Pueblo Planning Los Angeles, CA "Monqiue López is the founder of Pueblo Planning, a participatory planning consulting firm that emphasizes the importance of involving the entire community in the planning, design, or policy-making process. For the past 12 years, Monique López has been working with environmental justice communities on transportation, land use, and public space access policies and projects throughout Southern California using participatory planning and design methods. She graduated from the University of Oregon (M.C.R.P.) and CSU, Long Beach (M.A.) with degrees in Community and Regional Planning and Political Science. She is AICP-certified and her accomplishments include: Leading the participatory design process of a fourteen acre public space in the Eastern Coachella Valley working closely with farm workers and their families; Working with a broad coalition of advocates and residents to help secure over $120 million in transit and active transportation investments in environmental justice communities in San Diego; and Co-authoring an environmental justice ballot initiative, which was passed by 68% of voters, to prohibit the importation and disposal of sewage sludge into Imperial County and playing an integral role in coordinating a successful grassroots political campaign." |
Leo Mantey
Director of Planning and Zoning City of Nacogdoches Nacogdoches, TX "Leo Mantey is an ambitious planner who is dedicated to the planning profession and making a difference in the lives of others. At the age of 31, he is the Planning Director for the city of Nacogdoches in Texas. With a background in Urban Planning, Public Administration and GIS, he has worked for a number of cities in Texas. He has mentored lots of younger planners especially immigrants who have the passion for urban planning. Leo has served on various city and county boards and is a great advocate of smart growth. He still works with other planners from Africa especially his country of birth, Ghana." |
Taylor Griffon, LEED GA
Community Planner Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) San Diego, CA "Taylor Griffon graduated from Penn state with a degree in community, environment, and development and went on to pursue a career in federal and military planning. During her short time since graduating, she has worked for two contracting companies completing contracts all over the world including Japan, Cuba, Guam, Italy, Spain, Korea, and all over the United States. She is currently a community planner at Naval Base Point Loma and is working her way to becoming an influential member of the NAVFAC community. She is LEED GA and working on pursuing her LEED AP BD+C. She will definitely be a top memeber of the planning community as her experience and expertise grows." |
Autumn Martinage
Principal AlphaZet Development Jacksonville, FL "Autumn serves on the Urban Land Institute Management Committee, and serves as a member of the Affordable Housing & Revitalization Task Force. Autumn also serves on ULI's Downtown Committee, Women's Leadership Institute Committee, as well as the Emergency Pregnancy Services Board of Directors. Autumn has also been instrumental in helping in my efforts to save an historic structure in Mandarin built in 1887 by a prominent builder, which was also the homestead for one of the original shippers of produce, herbs and spices out of Mandarin. Autumn is committed to facilitating sustainable, responsible development within the North Florida region and extremely active at many levels in this community." |
Mark Zitzow, AICP, CNU-A
Urban Planner Johnson and Associates, Inc. Oklahoma City, OK "Mark has been serving the Oklahoma City community both through his work as an Urban Planner and volunteer. He works hard to improve and advocate for a better built environment. He started his work at the OKC Chamber of Commerce in Economic Development and now works for the private sector. He is AICP and CNU-A certified, an At-Large Director of the Oklahoma Chapter of APA, Co-Chair for the young Leaders ULI Oklahoma Chapter and involved in mentoring other young planners looking to take their professional exam. He continues to make a positive impact on those around him and is continually seeking to bring more people into the City Planning profession." |
Jeffrey Ryan
Redevelopment Coordinator Manatee County Government Bradenton, FL "Jeffrey Ryan is a redevelopment coordinator for Manatee County. A veteran and a dedicated public servant, Jeffrey is a critical player in our department and an outspoken advocate within county government. Since joining our team, he has become an enthusiastic leader on issues of inclusive economic development, sustainability, community organizing, and entrepreneurship while also building strong relationships with our small business community. He also developed our strategy to modernize our marketing and outreach, and is deeply involved in countywide efforts to more effectively integrate community participation in long term planning initiatives. Additionally, he’s taken an active role in developing a county response to climate change and sea level rise, a crisis strongly impacting our coastal community. Finally, his work on establishing a framework for urban agriculture in the county is paving the way for exciting opportunities with backyard farms, community gardens, neighborhood farmer’s markets, and micro-businesses. His enthusiasm, determination, and commitment to public service make him a rising star in the planning profession." |
Katanya Raby
Associate Outreach Planner Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) Chicago, IL "Katanya is a true powerhouse and dynamo. She's making waves at the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, changing the status quo, and is involved in many other projects around the city. Drone pilot, children's book illustrator, and mother she has already won an award from APA-IL and I'm sure will win many more." |
Luis Aguilar
Seaport Planner Broward County Port Everglades Fort Lauderdale, FL "Luis was my mentor during my first year in professional planning. His multi-national background is essential to the planning profession and he truly cares about his community." |
Penelope G. Karagounis, MA
Planning Director Lancaster County Lancaster, SC "Planning Director of Lancaster County, SC. This County is located immediately south of Charlotte, NC in a rapidly urbanizing area. Her dynamic mindset is evident with the US HWY 521 overlay district along with the much, much needed adoption of the newly adopted UDO." |
Nabaa Alam
Community Planner Calgary, AB "Nabaa is a rising planning star in Canada. He has been recognized as one of Canada’s Top 25 Under 25 and as a Global Engineering Leader Under 40. Nabaa acted as a planning advisor in the reforestation and development efforts of Fort McMurray after a devastating $9B fire. In his free time, Nabaa started a not-for-profit organization, Canadian SeniorCare Association, and has worked with senior homes and other not-for-profit organizations to develop adequate facilities for seniors in the community." |
Melissa Lindsjo
Senior Planner
Loudoun County Government
Leesburg, VA
"Melissa is a leader in Washington DC by being a senior planner in Loudoun County, VA to serving in the inaugural CityWorks Fellowship class to Chair of the Kennedy Street Development Corporation and lastly Board of Director of the Uptown Main Street."
Senior Planner
Loudoun County Government
Leesburg, VA
"Melissa is a leader in Washington DC by being a senior planner in Loudoun County, VA to serving in the inaugural CityWorks Fellowship class to Chair of the Kennedy Street Development Corporation and lastly Board of Director of the Uptown Main Street."
Class of 2017
Veronica O. Davis, P.E.
Managing Partner/Principal Planning Manager Nspiregreen LLC Washington, D.C. "Veronica is a mover and a shaker in the DC region and a trailblazer for women of color in the planning profession. She is the co-owner of Nspiregreen, an urban and environmental planning firm. She's spoke on numerous panels including at the Aspen institute, APA national conference, and Cornell University. She's been recognized by groups like the Women's Transportation Seminar, the White House Champions of Change, and the Washington City Paper. Veronica is also the co-founder of Black Women Bike, a nonprofit promoting biking to women of color as a former of exercise and transportation." |
Emily Gibson
Director of Planning and GIS Services Montgomery County Montgomery County, Virginia "Emily has a multi-faceted career in planning over the past decade, which includes serving as a Planning Commissioner as well as on the APA Virginia Chapter Board for the past five years. Four of those years were served leading the legislative efforts for the chapter. These efforts (started by her predecessors on the Board) have served as a model for other state chapters for their more proactive approach to the legislative process for planners." |
Marcus Bush
Community Planner Rick Engineering San Diego, California "At 29, Marcus Bush is already an accomplished young planner. He has worked at the regional Metropolitan Planning Organization (the San Diego Association of Governments) and for local planning consulting firms (Mooney Planning Collaborative & Rick Engineering). In addition to his professional career, Marcus has served the local planning community through being on the Board of Directors for the San Diego Section of the CA American Planning Association, advocating for Transportation Justice & a more equitable transportation system in the San Diego Region, and served on his City's Planning Commission, where in 2015 at the age of 26, he became the youngest Chair in the City's history. " |
Amanda Bearcroft
Senior Planner/GIS Specialist Montgomery County Business Development Center Fonda, New York "Amanda works tirelessly as the senior planner and GIS specialist for Montgomery County's economic development and planning department. Not only does she put in the extra time and effort every week, she is constantly reaching out to the municipalities within the county to see how she can help them, whether it's through grant applications, speaking with municipal leaders, or attending and helping with their local board meetings. Amanda is trying to spread the message of planning throughout the area and to make the county a better place." |
Kim Karlsrud
Director
COMMONstudio
Los Angeles, California
"Co-owner and Director of COMMONstudio, Kim currently resides in Bangalore, India with Designer husband Daniel Phillips on an Urban Design Fullbright grant. They are the 2015-16 recipients of the "Rome Prize" in Landscape Architecture and recently received a month long residency in Design at The Headlands Center outside of San Francisco later this year."
Director
COMMONstudio
Los Angeles, California
"Co-owner and Director of COMMONstudio, Kim currently resides in Bangalore, India with Designer husband Daniel Phillips on an Urban Design Fullbright grant. They are the 2015-16 recipients of the "Rome Prize" in Landscape Architecture and recently received a month long residency in Design at The Headlands Center outside of San Francisco later this year."
Class of 2016
Emily Crow, AICP
Senior Planner McBride Dale Clarion Cincinnati, Ohio "Emily has been writing innovative and implemented plans for cities, counties, and regions for fifteen years. She leads multi-disciplinary teams and facilitates public processes throughout the south and midwest as a senior planner with McBride Dale Clarion in Cincinnati." 
J. Daniel Malouff
Regional Transportation Planner|Editorial Director at Greater Greater Washington| Author of BeyondDC Arlington County, Virginia "Dan is one of the most well-known transportation planners in the Washington, DC region. He's a regional planner for Arlington and a prominent blogger with GreaterGreaterWashington.org. He seems to pop up at anything important transportation-related in DC." |
Bradley Benmoshé
Urban Planner + Designer Keith & Schnars Fort Lauderdale, Florida "Bradley's ambitions, intelligence, and accomplishments complement precisely the stellar community of past recipients and make him highly deserving of the honor and opportunity. With backgrounds in architecture, urban planning, and urban design, Mr. Benmoshé's passion and dedication for planning and designing communities is truly remarkable and inspiring." 
Mikki Rozdolski
Planning Manager Lee County Community Development Fort Myers, Florida "Ms. Rozdolski is a rising star in planning who is currently the Lee County DCD Planning Manager. She has been overseeing a number of innovative planning projects including the Pine Island TDR program." |
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