Women & Planning Division Leadership

Caroline Dwyer, AICP is Transit Planning Manager for Chapel Hill Transit in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Caroline is an experienced planner with over ten years of diverse public and private experience. She brings expertise in all aspects of integrated, sustainable, and resilient urban planning, with a special interest in public transportation. Caroline is committed to “community-first” planning, facilitated by accessible public engagement and outreach opportunities, particularly for community members and stakeholders who have been prevented from fully participating in public processes. Caroline is the Chair of APA's Women & Planning Division after serving two consecutive terms as Director of Communications. She also participates on the the Planning Information Exchange (PIE) Advisory Group and on the AICP CM Targeted Topic Task Force. In her free time, Caroline enjoys knitting and listening to audiobooks, usually at the same time, and she has recently started taking rhythm tap dance classes.

Kate Zanon, AICP is the General Manager of Community Development for the City of Port Moody, BC Canada. In my career, I have had the privilege of providing leadership to multiple City departments applying the planning lens to operations and facilities, parks and recreation, arts and culture, and communty development. I have also worked with a variety of Boards, Committees and Commissions. Regardless of my role in an organization I look for opportunities to collarborate and assist teams in finding common ground. The areas I have the most significant experience include community development, strategic planning, long-range planning, development planning, economic development, and emergency planning.

The following career highlights provided me with the greatest learning experiences:
• Leading a cross organizational staff planning process for the redevelopment of a City center area. The project is strengthening staff relationships, providing creative problem solving opportunities, and informing a larger community planning project.
• With a colleague, facilitated the City's strategic planning process incorporating diverse Council views and community interests in developing the vision, goals, and objectives.
• In partnership with two other municipalities, jointly led an economic effort to stimulate job creation around key sectors. The partnership received Provincial government attention and funding.

Bethany N. Bella (she/her) is a passionate sustainability advocate who envisions a just and vibrant future for all. She positions her work at the intersection of city planning, storytelling, and climate-feminist solutions.

In her work with the City of Columbus as the Building and Energy Coordinator for the Sustainable Columbus team, Bethany is engaged with local community members, organizations, and businesses on implementing strategies for building efficiency, as it relates to Columbus' Climate Action Plan (published in December 2021). The emphasis of this work is ensuring climate justice and equitable decision-making that complement the need for more affordable and energy efficient homes and buildings in the greater Columbus community.

Katelynn Wintz, PP, AICP (she/her) is a Planning Supervisor for the City of Colorado Springs Department of Planning & Development. Katelynn holds a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies from Ramapo College and a Master of Arts in Geography from West Chester University. She has 9 years of experience in the public sector specializing in development review and long-range planning. Katelynn volunteers on the Executive Board of APA’s Women & Planning Division as the Director of Programs and with APA Colorado as the South Central Area Representative.

As Director, Margaret Wallace Brown guides the Houston’s growth and development through effective, customer-focused regional and community-based planning. This includes land-development regulations such as platting and site plan review, strategic transportation planning, neighborhood character preservation programs and historic preservation. She leads the City’s community engagement efforts, including the Mayor’s signature Complete Communities Initiative and Neighborhood Resiliency planning. She also oversees the City’s geographic mapping efforts.

Wallace Brown holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Architecture from the University of Houston. She is accredited through the American Institute of City Planners (AICP) and holds a Charrette System Certification from the National Charrette Institute. She holds accreditation from the Congress for New Urbanism and is a Certified Public Manager from Sam Houston State University Continuing Education. She currently serves as Treasurer for the Women & Planning Division of APA and has held leadership positions with the Houston Section and the Texas Chapter. She received the Texas Chapter President’s Award for work as Newsletter Editor in 2000. She has also served on the Board of Directors for American Institute of Architects, Houston; West University Elementary and St. Pius X High School’s parent association; Chi Omega Fraternity; and the Junior League of Houston.

Gaby is a Planner with the Champaign County Regional Planning Commission. She earned her Master's Degree in Urban Planning from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2022.

Meagan is a Principal Planner with Salt Lake City. Her past responsibilities include long-range planning and special projects for Farmington City and her interests include community engagement, land use regulation, project management, historic preservation, research, community open space, sustainability, urban ecology, education, outdoor recreation, public lands, public health, rural towns, and active transportation. Meagan has a passion for creative community engagement and has conducted successful outreach programs engaging underrepresented groups such as children.  She enjoys collaboration with other agencies and partners.

Meagan also volunteers as an APA Ambassador and in 2018 launched "Little City Walks" as a creative way to introduce children to the basic concepts of Ecology (Systematic Thinking) and Urban Planning while exploring their built and natural environment. She received local support from Jane Jacobs Walks, Center for the Living City, City of Holladay, Salt Lake County Health, UDOT, Utah APA, Utah Foster Care, The University of Utah, and the United Way of Salt Lake.

Brittany Griffin is a native of Southeastern Kentucky who grew up in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. She currently lives in Georgia, with her husband and three dogs. She holds a bachelor's in history from Shorter University and is currently working towards a Master's Degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Florida with a Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems. Brittany is working to confront the legacies of racial, economic, and social injustice in urban planning and historic preservation by merging heritage preservation and equity planning and encouraging policy change at the local and state level.

Brittany is also an accomplished municipal leader, leading and inspiring teams for service excellence, adapting to change, implementing new services, encouraging innovation, overcoming challenges, and implementing strategic priorities. She is also a seasoned planner and creative problem-solver, bringing over eight years of Georgia municipal planning experience. Brittany's land use and zoning experience includes leading rezoning initiatives, unified development code writing, comprehensive plan development, preparation of land use map updates, plan reviews, and supporting special permits and variance requests. Her interests include urban planning, historic preservation, transportation, equity planning, Smart Cities, Cities for Women, and geospatial solutions.

Amy Elmore, AICP has extensive experience in community planning, digital storytelling, developing equitable communications strategies, and guiding community engagement activities. She’s a Project Manager with EXP specializing in public involvement, inclusive engagement, building public/private partnerships, and negotiating public discourse. Amy serves as Vice-President of Communications for APA Florida, Vice-Chair of the APA Florida Sun Coast Section, and Director of Funding and Financial Support for National APA Women in Planning. Amy is also a member of APA Florida’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee, APA Florida Editorial Committee, and participates in APA Florida Mentorship Program through University of South Florida.

Corrin Hoegen Wendell, AICP, is the Director of Community Development & Planning for the City of Little Canada, Immediate Past Chair of the APA Women & Planning Division, and the Founder and Executive Director of YEP! Youth Engagement Planning, a non-profit organization that teaches youth about urban planning. Her specialties include regional planning, land use, zoning administration, community engagement, and urban design. Corrin holds a Bachelor of Science in Architecture and a Masters of City and Regional Planning from the Ohio State University as well as holds the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) national certification. 

Corrin is passionate about giving back to the planning community and serves in various capacities for the APA Minnesota Chapter, the MN Women in Planning Committee, and the Youth Engagement Planning Coordinator. She also serves as an AICP (CPE) Certified Planning Exam Contributor, APA NPC Session Proposal Reviewer, AICP Planning Accreditation Board (PAB) Site Visitor, Peer Reviewer for the Journal of Planning Education and Research, Divisions Council EDI Committee Task Force Chair, Equity CM Task Force, and a mentor to planning students and young professionals from Ohio State University and APA.