Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning’s Post

CMAP Executive Director Erin Aleman joined the Civic Federation board meeting this week, along with State Senator Ram Villivalam, State Representative Eva-Dina Delgado, and RTA Chair Kirk Dillard for an important discussion on the future of northeastern Illinois' transit system. We look forward to continued conversations about how to foster an affordable, reliable, and accessible public transit system that meets the needs of the whole region. Thank you to the Civic Federation for hosting us.

Say hello and welcome to our new #CMAPInterns! Noelle King (she/her) is an intern with the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) team.  Noelle is currently pursuing her master’s degree in urban planning at Hunter College in New York City. With her transportation background, Noelle is excited to explore Chicago for the summer and see all it has to offer in terms of urban planning and transportation! She views working at CMAP as an opportunity to learn the capital programming side of transportation projects. In the future, she hopes to land a position in transportation or rail planning in New York City.  Noelle will also be studying abroad in Paris, France this fall! She is looking forward to observing the urban planning layout abroad, as well as getting acquainted with the rail and bike networks. Outside of urban planning, Noelle is a jazz vocalist and loves to play and listen to music in her free time! 

Congratulations to Laura Wilkison, our Deputy Executive Director of Strategic Advancement — a new position on the executive team. Laura previously led our policy and intergovernmental affairs work as the deputy of the regional policy and implementation team. Laura has been with the agency since 2020 and a partner to CMAP for longer in her former role as a consultant. Laura brings decades of leadership experience in planning, policy, engagement, intergovernmental affairs and more. We are excited that Laura will continue to deliver her expertise, strategic guidance, and oversight of our work and teams in support of our region!

Say hello as we continue to welcome our new #CMAPInterns! Katie Gienapp (she/her/hers) is a Regional Policy and Implementation (RPI) intern. Katie is a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is pursuing a master of public affairs (MPA) and a master of science in urban and regional planning. This summer, Katie is excited to learn more about the key issues at the intersection of policy and planning. During her internship, she hopes to strengthen her skills in policy research, policy analysis, data analysis, and stakeholder engagement. Katie plans to use her experience at CMAP to inform her urban and regional planning capstone project, which she will complete next year during her final year of graduate school. After graduation, she hopes to find a job in planning, policy, or both. Fun fact about Katie: she has lived in nine states (Alabama, Texas, Florida, Virgina, Oklahoma, Colorado, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois) and one other country (Iceland)!

We are thrilled to welcome Claire M. Williams as CMAP's new deputy executive director of people and operations. Claire will provide oversight and management of the agency's operational functions that directly impact our people: IT, HR, communications, policies, benefits, compensation, finance, DEI, program management, performance management, and more. She embodies our core values and is very passionate about people and culture. Claire brings more than 25 years of leadership experience in people and project management, primarily in the transportation industry. 

Say hello and welcome to our #CMAPInterns! Joshua River Maners (he/him) is an IT intern. River is an undergraduate student at the Illinois Institute of Technology. He is majoring in computer information systems and minoring in internet application development. During his internship, River is excited to make new connections and apply his studies to real-world uses. While at CMAP, he hopes to gain industry knowledge and meet new people. He plans to apply his CMAP experience in his post-internship endeavors by using all the knowledge he gains in computer science, information technology, and people skills in his future jobs. Outside of his computer skills, River is on the Illinois Tech swim team.

Say hello as we continue to meet our brand new #CMAPInterns! Yizhou Wang (she/her) is a modeling intern. Yizhou is pursuing a master of regional planning at Cornell University with a minor in real estate. This summer, Yizhou is excited to contribute to impactful transportation projects and to learn from the experienced professionals at CMAP. She looks forward to expanding her skills in transportation modeling and understanding the intricacies of urban planning in a dynamic metropolitan context. After her internship, Yizhou plans to leverage her experience at CMAP to pursue a career in transportation planning, focusing on sustainable and equitable transportation systems. The insights and practical skills she will gain here will be invaluable in shaping resilient urban communities. Outside of the office, Yizhou loves to paint. She also has a cat that is 16 years old! #intern #cmap #internwelcome #modeling

Say hello as we continue to welcome our new #CMAPInterns! Lily Stankevicius (she/her/hers) is a data collection intern at CMAP. Lily is an undergraduate student at Miami University majoring in environmental science, urban planning, and geographic sustainable development. She is also minoring in film studies. Lily is thrilled about her summer internship at CMAP because it offers an opportunity to learn the impacts of planning and the unique contributions of each division within the agency. She plans to accomplish this by actively engaging with colleagues, seeking mentorships, and contributing her best efforts to the agency’s mission. Lily aims to integrate her CMAP experiences into her academic pursuits. Lily is not only a student of urban planning but has also studied German language and culture for more than four years. She has even spent time in the North Rhine-Westphalia area and Frankfurt! #intern #cmap #internwelcome #datacollection

Join us in celebrating CMAP Executive Director Erin Aleman, who is in the national spotlight after being recognized for her leadership and excellence in state and regional planning! The National Association of Regional Councils (NARC) awarded Erin with its Walter Scheiber Leadership Award at NARC’s annual conference in Atlanta. Erin was recognized for strengthening the capacity of communities across the region through direct training, technical assistance, planning, and implementation support. Congratulations, Erin, and thank you for all that you do!   Learn more about Erin’s accomplishments on our website: https://lnkd.in/e_gesxtG #leadership #leadershipaward #scheiberaward #narc #cmap #stateplanning #regionalplanning

Experienced in urban or transportation planning? Interested in the safety of our region’s transportation system? Or helping communities plan for the future? Come lead our CMAP teams to meet the region’s goals for inclusive growth, prioritized investment, and resiliency. Management positions are now open. Open positions include: ·        Principal – Research, Analysis & Programming ·        Principal – Planning ·        Deputy – Finance & Administration ·        Planner ·        Financial Planning and Analysis Principal ·        Accounting Principal ·        Associate Analyst/Planner CMAP is a purpose- and values-driven government organization with great benefits! Learn more and please share with your networks: https://lnkd.in/dQfWV5ui #hiring #urbanplanning #cmap #management