Job Searching & Networking During a Time of Uncertainty with City Planning Alumni

Our students are trying to navigate a time of economic uncertainty during a global pandemic. During this discussion our alumni panelists will talk about the resources they found most helpful during their job search. They will also give recommendations for how students can practice networking remotely to stay relevant during this time of disruption.

Confirmed panelists:

Douglas Smith Land (MCP’18) is a real estate and economic development professional with a focus on public-private partnerships, senior housing, and mission-driven real estate development. He is Chief of Staff for Real Estate at the New York City Economic Development Corporation where he executes and advises on real estate transactions and public-private partnerships that support growth of quality jobs, promote livable and affordable communities, and facilitate redevelopment projects that drive inclusive growth and positive return to the city. Previously, Land was a program manager at HR&A Advisors, the New York City-based real estate and economic development consultancy, from 2012-2016. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies from Wesleyan University and his Master’s in City Planning from the University of Pennsylvania with a Certificate in Real Estate Design and Development through Weitzman and The Wharton School. 

Jess Neubelt (MCP’17, MSHP’17) is a real estate development manager at Enterprise Community Development in the Washington, DC and Richmond, VA metro areas. Neubelt received a dual degree from Weitzman in Historic Preservation, where she focused on preservation policy, and City & Regional Planning, where she completed the community development curriculum. Following grad school, Neubelt spent a year working as a preservation specialist and project manager for a small organization in New Haven that renovated vacant homes for moderate-income first-time homebuyers. Since then, she has worked as a project manager for Enterprise Community Development (originally Community Preservation & Development Corporation), focusing on pre-development and construction management for both new construction and rehab projects. Prior to studying at Weitzman, Neubelt worked for several years in a historic preservation consulting firm. Her undergraduate degree is from Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY. 

Casey Ross (MCP’17) is a Transportation Planner in the City of Philadelphia Managing Director’s Office of Transportation, Infrastructure, and Sustainability (OTIS). She is passionate about equity-driven planning and committed to the safe, diverse use of and access to public spaces. Since 2017, Casey has worked out of the Philadelphia Office of Complete Streets on projects and strategies aimed at improving pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure and street safety for all roadway users throughout Philadelphia. Casey currently manages a portfolio of locally and federally funded engineering and planning projects worth over $2million, and oversees contract work orders totaling more than $1.8million. She also works with diverse stakeholders throughout City Government and coordinates projects between groups within the Streets Department, the City Planning Commission, Philadelphia City Council, the Philadelphia Water Department, and other clusters within the Managing Director’s Office. Casey also supports community outreach initiatives for all Office of Complete Streets projects. Her technical specialties include GIS mapping and cartography, spatial statistics and analysis, and graphic design. Casey has a master’s degree in City Planning from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Haverford College.

Wenhao Wu (MCP’17) is an urban planning GIS specialist at Raimi + Associates. Originally from central south China, Wu went to Weitzman to study city and regional planning with a background of economics and social sciences. He concentrated on urban design, while also taking many courses in GIS and smart cities, which allowed him to explore job opportunities at the intersection of these two realms. Between the two years of the program, Wu interned at WRT's Philadelphia office and learned about planning and design practices in the U.S. After graduation, he worked at SOM's San Francisco office as an urban designer for the last two years, before recently starting a new role as the GIS specialist for a California-based planning firm, Raimi + Associates. In his past several years of experience, Wu has worked on a wide range of projects from small scale site planning, neighborhood master plans to large scale urban design plans and long-range planning, both internationally and domestically. Believing that planners and designers can have a greater impact on our society, he is looking forward to consistently building up more experience and applying innovative strategies in the improvement of our cities and communities. 

*Students were emailed a recording of this discussion.