Michael Blue Email & Phone Number

Michael has a unique background working in the public and private sectors of the planning profession. Having started his career as a consultant, he worked extensively in the areas of comprehensive and special area planning, development land use and economic impacts, commercial district planning, and public participation. After more than a decade, he moved to the public sector and spent the next 15 years working as a community development department manager. There his focus shifted from broader policy development to day to day operations of development approval, economic development, managing public commission processes, personnel, and municipal governance. Having now returned to consulting, this diverse background allows Michael a wide perspective in conducting planning assignments, appreciating the multiple viewpoints of various stakeholders, and understanding how they fit into the issue at hand.Michael has been actively involved in the local and national leadership of the American Planning Association and is currently the Planning Officials Development Officer for the IL - APA. In that role he was a leader in developing a curriculum for training Plan Commissioners throughout the State; a program for which he and others received the organization’s 2013 Distinguished Service Award. In 2008 Michael was selected to the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Certified Planners. He regularly speaks at local, state, and national conferences on a range of planning themes. Most recently he has spoken on topics related to the development approval process, economic development, and local government organizational management. He also has been a guest lecturer at a number of university classes on topics ranging from the development approval process to affordable housing.