Chicago Metro Section

The Chicago Metro Section (APA-CMS) is a sub-section of the statewide Illinois Chapter of the American Planning Association. The APA-CMS covers topics relevant to seven Chicago counties: Cook, DuPage, Will, Lake, Kane, McHenry, Kankakee, and Grundy.

Chicago Metro Section Executive Committee
  • Section Director - Justin Keller, AICP, Elevate
  • Assistant Director - Valerie Berstene, AICP, MKSK
  • Secretary - James Harris, AICP, City of Chicago
  • Treasurer - Carol Brobeck, AICP, Teska Associates
  • Past Director - Brandon Nolin, AICP, Village of Morton Grove

​To contact the Chicago Metro Section, please contact us.

Executive Committee Documents

CMS Section By-Laws

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CMS Programs

The CMS collaborates with local planners to develop a calendar of monthly programs each year to provide educational and professional development opportunities for fellow planners, students, and affiliated professionals. Some of the CMS monthly programs are co-sponsored with affiliated organizations, such as CMAP, UIC, DePaul, and the Chaddick Institute, which reinforces APA-IL’s capacity to form partnerships that help promote the planning field and form connections with other related fields, such as development, real estate, architecture, and design. In addition to its monthly programs, CMS also works with local student organizations to sponsor networking and mentoring activities, which help up and coming planners break into the planning work world.

Chicago Metro Programs, News, & Events

Rail-y Awesome: APA-CMS Metra Crawl Stops in Park Ridge and Arlington Heights on 5/16/24
05/16/2024

Rail-y Awesome: APA-CMS Metra Crawl Stops in Park Ridge and Arlington Heights on 5/16/24

On May 15, 2024, a group of planners and affiliated professionals rode the rails for a "Metra Crawl" on the UP-NW line, featuring Park Ridge and Arlington Heights.


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From Empty Bowls to Full Plates: APA-CMS Planners Feed Children and Their Networking Needs on 3/6/24
03/18/2024

From Empty Bowls to Full Plates: APA-CMS Planners Feed Children and Their Networking Needs on 3/6/24

The Chicago Metro Section of the American Planning Association - Illinois Chapter (APA-CMS) donned their hair nets on Wednesday, March 6th, for a night of giving back and connecting.


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Pedaling Through Aurora: A Tour de Force in Planning
06/28/2023

Pedaling Through Aurora: A Tour de Force in Planning


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Chicago Metro Archives

2023

2022

2021

2020

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