Ben has worked to actively foster public engagement, more efficiently integrate government systems, and establish links between planning, public health, sustainability, and equity. He is passionate about utilizing planning to make smarter decisions, effectively leverage available assets, and better the community as a whole.

“I want to push for a more sustainable future,” Ben explains, “to help communities see that planning for infrastructure, for health, for environment, and for economy are not separate ideas; these can and should all happen together.”

Ben works on a variety of projects ranging from long-term community-wide planning to site-specific implementation. Key areas of his focus include comprehensive and park plans, zoning ordinances, on-call municipal planning, corridor, area, and neighborhood plans, housing studies, urban service area amendments, grant writing, TIF creation and amendments, public participation, and developer recruitment and negotiations. He actively manages projects and clients across this full spectrum of topics. His project management approach focuses on reliable and consistent communication from start to finish.

Throughout any planning process, he actively designs, participates, and facilitates high-quality, wide-ranging, diverse, and innovative public participation opportunities.

Prior to joining V&A, Ben worked as a Land Use Planner for Region 1 Planning Council in Rockford, IL where he focused on both short- and long-range land use planning projects. Ben also worked as a Planner/GIS Specialist for Southwestern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission in Platteville, WI, and held multiple planning internships during undergraduate and graduate school at the City of West Allis, Southwestern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission, and the City of Janesville.

EDUCATION

Masters of Urban Planning
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI                                               

Bachelors of Science in Geography
Minor in Urban and Area Development
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Whitewater, WI

AWARDS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Member of National and Wisconsin Chapter of the American Planning Association

AICP Certification, American Planning Association

Planning Excellence Award for Best Practice – Wausau Zoning Code and Map (2020)

Conference Presenter: 2022 APA Wisconsin Conference, 2022 Wisconsin League of Municipalities Conference, 2023 Wisconsin Economic Development Association Conference