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

Latest Episodes:

Episode 20 - County Planning with Matt Asselmeier, AICP Aug 01, 2026

Show notes

Join host Andy Cross, AICP as he sits down to talk Countyplanning with Matt Asselmeier, MPA, AICP, CFM, the Director of Planning, Building & Zoning in Kendall County. Kendall County, on the periphery of the Chicago Metro Area, presents unique challenges with high population growth, a thriving agricultural economy, and a large geographic area. Matt walks us through his path into planning, the issues and concerns he encounters as a County Planner, and his role as a leader in the community of County Planners around the State of Illinois.

Music:
" Rock on Chicago " Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

" Lord of the Rangs " Kevin MacLeod(incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Episode 19 - Ben LeRoy, AICP Mar 08, 2026

Show notes

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 License
http://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 17 - 2025 APA-IL State Planning Conference! Aug 23, 2025

Show notes

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 License
http://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 16 - Parking, Persistence, and Pendletӧg: A Discussion with Jane Wilberding, AICP Jul 02, 2025

Show notes

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 15 - Legacy Planner: Bruce Knight, FAICP May 03, 2025

Show notes

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 14 - Lemonsters in the Closet Feb 16, 2025

Show notes

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 13 - GovLove x APA-IL: 2024 Award-Winning Planners Dec 20, 2024

Show notes

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 12 - Legacy Planner: Charles Witherington-Perkins, AICP May 04, 2024

Show notes

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 11 - Passion for Planning with Charlotte Obodzinski, AICP Feb 23, 2024

Show notes

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:

Episode 10 - Only Plan Commissioners with RC McBride Jan 22, 2024

Show notes

The new season of the APA-IL Chapter’s Podcast “Only Planners in the Building” has begun! With the new year, many of us welcome new members to our commissions and boards. So we’re kicking things off with Part Two of our spin-off theme “Only Plan Commissioners in the Building.” Join host Andy Cross, AICP as he sits down with RC McBride, the Chairman of the Plan Commission in the Town of Normal, Illinois. Commissioner McBride talks about the value of leadership and communication on the commission, tips on preparing for meetings, and how planning staff can help equip citizen planners to do their best serving on local commissions. Lots of great takeaways for professional urban planners and members of your community's commissions or boards!

Show notes:

Plan Commissioner Orientation information "parking lot" on the APA-IL Forum.
More information regarding APA-IL's Plan Commissioner Training
Be sure to share the episode with your board or commission! We all have the same questions and are looking for answers and best practices. Let's work together to make a better Illinois!

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