Fourteen Wisconsin Planners Gain AICP Certification

Fourteen Wisconsin planners recently passed the AICP written examination and are eligible for membership in the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP). To become an AICP member, applicants must meet specific education and experience requirements and pass the written exam. The fourteen planners passing the exam represent a pass rate of 87.5 percent in the State of Wisconsin. Nationally, 1,156 planners took the written exam and 878 passed the exam--a national pass rate of 76.0 percent. The Wisconsin planners who passed the written examination in 1998 are:

Paul Benjamin, AICP: Paul is a Land Use Specialist in the Farmland Protection Program of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture. Paul holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Illinois. Paul's post-graduate degrees include a Master of Arts in Anthropology, a Master of Regional Planning, and a PhD in Anthropology, all from the University of North Carolina.

Colin Mark Byrnes, AICP. Colin is a Planner II with the Rock County Planning and Economic Development Department. Colin holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from UW-Parkside and received his Masters in Urban Planning degree from UW-Milwaukee.

Gene Bunnell, AICP. Gene is a well-traveled planner having received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Wesleyan University (in Connecticut), his Master of City Planning degree from Harvard (in Massachusetts), and his Ph.D. from the London School of Economics. While in Wisconsin, Gene has been a professor in the planning program at UW-Madison and has worked with University Extension. Gene is currently working on a book for APA Press to be titled, The Difference Planning Makes in Communities. Gene will be leaving Wisconsin in the fall to work in the New York City area.

George A. Cowell, AICP, PE. George is a project engineer with the firm of Nordin-Pedersen Associates in Marinette, Wisconsin. George holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Michigan Technological University. George is also a registered professional engineer in the states of Michigan and Wisconsin.

Gregory W. Kessler, AICP. Greg is an Administrative Specialist with the City of Milwaukee Department of City Development. Greg holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Urban Forestry from UW-Stevens Point and received his Masters in Urban Planning degree from UW-Milwaukee.

Thomas R. Kleve, AICP. Tom is Vice President of Mid-America Planning Services Hudson office. Tom holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the University of Minnesota-Minneapolis and received his Masters in Urban and Regional Planning from UW-Madison.

Mark C. Lake, AICP. Mark is the Assistant Planning Director in the City of New Berlin. Mark holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Geography from UW-Stevens Point and received his Masters in Urban Planning (with a GIS/ Environmental Planning emphasis) from UW-Milwaukee.

Jennifer J. Reek, AICP. Jenny is a GIS Manager with the Winnebago County Land and Water Conservation Department. Jenny holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Park and Recreation Administration and a Masters in Urban Planning, both degrees from UW-Milwaukee.

Steven J. Schaer, AICP. Steve is the Assistant City Planner in the City of West Allis. Steve holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Geography from UW-Milwaukee and a Masters in Urban Planning from UW-Milwaukee.

Douglas W. Seymour, AICP. Doug is the Assistant Planning Director for the City of Oak Creek. Doug holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Land Use Planning from Carroll College and a Masters in Urban Planning from UW-Milwaukee.

Todd M. Stuebe, AICP. Todd recently left the consulting firm of Ruekert and Mielke in Waukesha to become the Director of Community Development for the City of Glendale. Todd holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil & Environmental Engineering from UW-Madison and a Masters in Urban Planning from UW-Milwaukee.

Carlos Trejo, AICP. Carlos is the Assistant Planning and Zoning Planner for the City of Muskego. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Architecture from UW-Milwaukee and a joint Masters in Urban Planning and Architecture, also from UW-Milwaukee.

Kassandra Walbrun, AICP. Kassandra is a planner with the HNTB consulting firm in Milwaukee. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Landscape Architecture from the UW-Madison and is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Public Administration at UW-Oshkosh.

Tracy Zafian, AICP. Tracy holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Dartmouth College (in New Hampshire) and a Masters in Urban and Regional Planning from UW-Madison. Tracy recently left her position of Associate Planner with the City of LaCrosse and is planning to return to school in the fall.

All the planners who passed the AICP written exam this year are to be congratulated for their achievement.

The American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) is the professional arm of the American Planning Association, which certifies practicing city, county, regional, urban and rural planners and promotes continuing education and professional development. Currently, there are about 11,400 AICP members nationally and about 175 members in Wisconsin.