Only Planners in the Building - The Official APA Illinois Chapter Podcast

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The official podcast for the Illinois Chapter of the American Planning Association, hosted by Andy Cross, AICP, produced & edited by Phil Green, AICP, and powered by our sponsors.

  1. Mar 8

    Episode 19 - Ben LeRoy, AICP

    Join us as we sit down with Ben LeRoy, AICP and JD!Ben is an academic advisory and instructor at the University of Illinois – Urbana Champaign with a great planning story to share. A highlight is our discussion about planning internships. Where was yours?  Can you reflect on what you learned and the lessons you brought with you? And listen for a special message at the end of the episode! Thanks for listening in and getting to know more about theplanners in the great state of Illinois! Be sure to say hello if you see any of us at the state conference, and feel free to email the Chapter with ideas for the podcast at podcast@ilapa.org. Take care and enjoy the show! -Andy Cross, AICP   Music: "Funky Pop” and “Epic Piano” Kevin MacLeod(incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Sound effects: Creative Commons 0: http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/   * 677458__kalhan__phone-ring-out-call-end-tone.wav.wav     * url: https://freesound.org/s/677458/   * 467199__thunderquads__phone-pickup.wav.wav     * url: https://freesound.org/s/467199/

    Episode 19 - Ben LeRoy, AICP

  2. 08/23/2025

    Episode 17 - 2025 APA-IL State Planning Conference!

    Are you excited for the 2025 APA-IL State Conference? Join in our chat with Phil Green, AICP, the Chairman of this year's Conference. Andy Cross is joined by co-host Katie Ashbaugh to talk about the theme of this year's conference centering around the value of storytelling in planning. Phil's vision for the conference is amazing, so tune in for a preview and we'll see you in October! Show Notes Guest Host: Katie Ashbaugh, AICP Keynote Speaker: Margaret Chandra Kerrison https://margaretkerrison.my.canva.site/ Mobile Workshop: Dilla! Sherman “Dilla” Thomas https://www.chicagomahogany.com/our-historian  (all his social media links are here)   MUSIC: "Rock On Chicago" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 “Happy” “Funk Music” and “Glitter Blast” – Music byTwisterium/ twisterium.com https://www.twisterium.com/creative-commons-music/   Comments and feedback: podcast@ilapa.org

    Episode 17 - 2025 APA-IL State Planning Conference!

  3. 07/02/2025

    Episode 16 - Parking, Persistence, and Pendletӧg: A Discussion with Jane Wilberding, AICP

    Join host Andy Cross as he sits down with Jane Wilberding,AICP. Jane is a Senior Mobility Manager with HNTB and is a national thought leader on parking reform. She’s a board member and co-founder of the Parking Reform Network, speaks in Illinois and around the country at transportation and planning events, and has wonderful stories about her path into transportation planning. As you may have guessed from the episode title, it includes a semester in Denmark! Join the discussion to hear about how that experience,special people, and scary movies play roles in her life and career.   Links:  https://parkingreform.org/ https://www.wtsinternational.org/chapters/greater-chicago https://www.ilapa.org/aws/APAIL/pt/sp/home_page https://yptchicago.org/ https://www.wpdchicago.com/ Chicago’s EV Framework project:  https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/cdot/supp_info/CDOT_EVFramework/CDOT_EVFramework.html Book: “Paved Paradise” https://www.henrygrabar.com/paved-paradise MUSIC: "Rock On Chicago" “Newer Wave” “Limit 70” KevinMacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 “Inception” and “Inspiring Guitar” – Music by Twisterium/twisterium.com   Comments and feedback: podcast@ilapa.org

    Episode 16 - Parking, Persistence, and Pendletӧg: A Discussion with Jane Wilberding, AICP

  4. 05/03/2025

    Episode 15 - Legacy Planner: Bruce Knight, FAICP

    Join host Andy Cross as he sits down with Bruce Knight, FAICP, the Planning and Development Director for the City of Champaign. Bruce has been with the City for 36 years. During that time he was the APA President from 2010 to 2011, led the APA-IL Chapter as President, served on the APA’s Board and Accreditation Committee, and was instrumental in helping the City of Champaign navigate exciting and challenging times. Join us as we talk about the importance of telling the planning story, talk about leadership and communication, and the value of learning opportunities at every stage of our careers. Music Credits: "Rock on Chicago" "Enter the Party" "Pleasant Porridge" "Paradise Found" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

    Episode 15 - Legacy Planner: Bruce Knight, FAICP

  5. 02/16/2025

    Episode 14 - Lemonsters in the Closet

    Join host Andy Cross as he sits down with Jason Berry, AICP,the Economic and Community Development Director in the Village of Lemont. Theytalk about what makes the south side of Chicago special, exciting andinnovative approaches to economic development in Lemont, team building andleadership, and of course, pizza. SHOW NOTES Historic Lemont Book: https://www.arcadiapublishing.com/products/9781467160582?srsltid=AfmBOoqZgEQDcpx2su5JjfPh9Lg7Zdc32v8s92CMMg4hqLJzu8sRsmEn Historic Blue Island Book: https://www.arcadiapublishing.com/products/9781467162043?srsltid=AfmBOorTEhffN-VcrgNV9JifuRVF9Iy0MuCLgT7yIEMkStZcB-T4RmKY Check out https://www.lemontdowntown.com/and sign up for our newsletter! We’re also on Instagram and Facebook at@lemontdowntown   Jason's co-author and frequent collaborator, Kevin at SouthCookExplore https://www.southcookexplore.com/or https://www.instagram.com/southcookexplore/ ISS 2025 Virtual Conference –Discount Code ONLYPLANNERS for$5 off registration   Music Credits: "Funky Boxstep" Kevin MacLeod www.incompetech.com "Paradise Found" Kevin MacLeod www.incompetech.com

    Episode 14 - Lemonsters in the Closet

  6. 12/20/2024

    Episode 13 - GovLove x APA-IL: 2024 Award-Winning Planners

    Live from the 2024 APA-IL State Conference! Each year, APA-IL presents awards for plans that advance the science and art of planning. Join some of the planners and staff behind one of this year’s award-winning plans for a conversation co-hosted by ELGL’s GovLove podcast and APA-IL’s Only Planners in the Building podcast! Learn about the development and implementation of a plan expected to advance a safe, stronger, and more equitable future, and ask questions to help you take home strategies to apply in your communities.Show notes: "Funky Boxstep" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

    Episode 13 - GovLove x APA-IL: 2024 Award-Winning Planners

  7. 05/04/2024

    Episode 12 - Legacy Planner: Charles Witherington-Perkins, AICP

    Village of Arlington Heights, IL: https://www.vah.com/Show email: podcast@ilapa.org APA-IL Chapter Website: https://www.ilapa.org/ Roylaty Free Music Source: https://www.twisterium.com/background-music/

    Episode 12 - Legacy Planner: Charles Witherington-Perkins, AICP

  8. 02/23/2024

    Episode 11 - Passion for Planning with Charlotte Obodzinski, AICP

    The theme for this episode is “Passon for Planning.”  Andy Cross, AICP sits down with Charlotte Obodzinski, AICP, the  Department Manager with the Priority Project Management Office at Pace Suburban Bus, to talk about her career path, her role with Pace, and why working in public transportation has been important during her 15-year career with Pace. Show Notes American Public Transportation Association: apta.com Transport Chicago: transportchicago.org Dates & Location of 2024 State Conference: September 25-27, 2024 at the iHotel in Champaign, IL Music Credits: Intro: Intro Sounds: Getraut_Hecher - Freesound.org Sounds: DenKyschuk - Freesounds.org

    Episode 11 - Passion for Planning with Charlotte Obodzinski, AICP
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The official podcast for the Illinois Chapter of the American Planning Association, hosted by Andy Cross, AICP, produced & edited by Phil Green, AICP, and powered by our sponsors.

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