ABOUT ME
Hi, I'm Andrea
WHERE I COME FROM
I grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and moved to Grand Haven in 2003. My four children were all born at North Ottawa Community Hospital & have attended Grand Haven Public Schools. I attended Grand Valley State University for environmental planning, where my education opened my eyes to the issues existing within the energy sector. Now as a planning professional, it is my job to see a project through from the conceptual stage all the way to the day the doors open. This includes navigating complicated regulatory requirements, working with neighbors to ensure people are genuinely heard, maintaining healthy working relationships, and ensuring that businesses continue to thrive. These are precisely the skills needed to be an effective and responsive Grand Haven Mayor.
A THRIVING CAREER
I graduated from Grand Valley State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Geography and a certificate in Sustainable Urban & Regional Planning & Geographic Information Systems Technologies.
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I've worked in Municipal Planning Departments throughout West Michigan. In addition, I've worked in the non-profit and private sectors with a focus on low-income housing and development in highly regulated industries. I am now the Principal Planner for my own Planning & GIS firm. See below for my experience and accomplishments.
Professional Experience
A New Energy For Grand Haven
Education
Grand Valley State University Graduation Date: December 2016
Bachelor of Science, Geography Magna cum Laude
Certificate: Sustainable Urban and Regional Planning
Certificate: Geographic Information System Technologies
Professional Organizations
2015-Current - Michigan Association of Planning (MAP)
2015-Current - American Planning Association (APA)
2015-Current - Association of American Geographers (AAG)
2016-Current - Gamma Theta Upsilon (GTU), International Geographical Honor Society
2018-Current Michigan Communities Association of Mapping Professionals (MiCAMP)
2023-Current Grand Haven Chamber of Commerce
2015-2017 - Congress of New Urbanism (CNU)
Leadership & Committee Experience
North Quarter Corridor Improvement District, Vice-chair, 2023 - Current
Renew Harbor Island Community Advisory Group 2022 - Current
Grand Haven Board of Light & Power 2021 - Current
Great Lakes PFAS Action Network 2021 - Current
City of Grand Haven Planning Commission 2020
City of Grand Haven Waterfront Master Plan Committee 2020
Work Experience
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I Site Consulting Group
September 2018 - Current
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Planning Commission preparation & presentation
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Site plan review
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Project Management
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GIS spatial analysis
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Research & analysis
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Community Engagement
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Business Development
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Market Analysis
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City of Walker, Community Development Department
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Site plan review
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Zoning Administration
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Zoning enforcement
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Community engagement
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Department structure & organization
Amplify GR, GIS Analyst
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Survey collection & report generation
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Database management
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GIS spatial analysis & cartography
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City of Grand Rapids Planning Department, Contract Planner
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Planning Commission review & presentation
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Site plan review
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Zoning Administration
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Zoning Ordinance amendments
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Zoning map amendments
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Research &analysis
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GIS spatial analysis & cartography
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Main Street Planning Company, Planner
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Community engagement events
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Master plan development
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Survey collection & report generation
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Cartography
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GIS spatial analysis
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Accomplishments
Michigan Association of Planning, Annual Conference, Speaker/Panelist, Mackinac Island, September 2017
Building Michigan Communities Conference, Speaker/ Panelist, Lansing May 2017
American Association of Geographers Annual Meeting, Presenter, Boston April 2017
Student MAP Conference, Planning Committee Member & Presenter, Michigan State University, March 2017
Michigan Association of Planning Memorial Scholarship Recipient, Kalamazoo, October 2016
West Michigan Athena Scholarship Recipient, Muskegon, September 2016
American Public Transportation Foundation BMBG/Janie Wulkan Memorial Scholarship Recipient, Los Angeles, July 2016
American Association of Geographers Annual Meeting, Presenter, San Francisco, April 2016
Service Trip to Flint, Michigan, Project Coordinator, February 2016
Student MAP Conference, Planning Committee Member & Presenter, Wayne State University, February 2016