Privacy Policy | © 2024 All rights reserved
Menu
At Highland Planning, our passion for social good drives us to transform communities through creative public engagement, planning, and design strategies.
Founded in 2007, Highland Planning is a planning + design studio known for our commitment to community, innovation, and quality. A certified women-owned business with offices and staff in Buffalo, Rochester, and Albany, New York, we are driven by a passion for social good to implement creative public engagement, planning, and design strategies through collaborative partnerships across the northeastern United States.
We listen to, design with and transform communities through our work, helping governments and public sector agencies make better, more informed decisions that improve the quality of life for all. Our tagline, “Listen. Design. Transform.” encapsulates our approach and the impact we create.
We treat others with respect, kindness, and empathy. We listen to and consider the thoughts and feelings of those around us and strive to create a supportive and inclusive environment.
We infuse passion and care into everything we do. We pay attention to the details and exceed expectations.
We are flexible in our approach to challenges and obstacles, welcoming new ideas and perspectives. We are always evolving.
Use the form below to get in touch.
Check out Our Public Engagement Software, Instant Input.
Privacy Policy | © 2024 All rights reserved
Tanya loves meeting design, brainstorming go-to-them strategies, and getting to know people throughout the project process. She discovered the field of city planning after reading Jane Jacobs’ book, The Death and Life of Great American Cities, and studied city and regional planning at Cornell University. In 2007, she established Highland Planning to focus on effective public engagement and urban redevelopment projects. When she’s not working, she’s mothering, taking her dog for a walk, or reading an Andrea Gibson poem.
Diana is a seasoned manager and technical government advisor with 15+ years of expertise in federally funded community and economic development, disaster recovery and resilience, and affordable housing. She is an experienced practitioner, working across cities, states, and community-based organizations to design, develop, and manage grant programs and projects that achieve community objectives. Diana is a problem solver at heart and enjoys the process of understanding challenges and offering creative and strategic solutions that reflect the local context and capacity. She led two small housing development non-profits post-Hurricane Katrina, and having spent a decade in New Orleans, says “y’all” and enjoys any excuse to costume and create revelry. She is continually exploring all the natural beauty and creativity of the Capital Region, alongside her husband and pup, while attempting to live a low-waste life.
Ian is driven by a passion for helping businesses thrive. With over two decades of experience guiding organizations through financial landscapes, Ian brings both strategic vision and hands-on expertise to Highland Planning. Before joining our team, Ian co-founded a fractional accounting firm where he wore many hats — accountant, controller, CFO, and integrator — helping more than 20 entrepreneurs turn their financial challenges into opportunities for growth. Ian’s journey began at the University of Colorado, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Accounting, but his education continues daily as he helps strengthen our operations and build sustainable systems for success.
When he’s not crunching numbers or streamlining processes, you’ll find Ian making the most of Colorado’s natural playground — boating with family on the lake, perfecting his golf swing, catching air while wakeboarding, setting up camp under the stars, or breaking out some surprisingly impressive dance moves. For Ian, balance isn’t just for spreadsheets — it’s a way of life.
Megan is passionate about using public engagement to build trust and collaboration. She has led complex projects, managed stakeholders, and delivered results in various industries. She believes in using innovative solutions to engage communities, from creative marketing communication campaigns to new technology. Megan is a proud St. Bonaventure University graduate and lives with her family in Rochester, NY. She enjoys playing soccer, golfing, running, and home renovation projects.
Liz loves working on projects where she can weave together her experience in ecology, landscape architecture, planning, and community engagement. From her start as a deep-sea ecologist to her current role as a planner and landscape architect, Liz is passionate about exploring new places, listening to and learning from communities, and finding ways to creatively integrate nature into urban spaces. She thoughtfully approaches every project from an interdisciplinary perspective, valuing the unique characteristics and connections of a place. Liz received her masters degree in biology from Penn State University and her masters in landscape architecture from the University of Oregon. When she’s not working, she’s hanging out with her family, biking around Albany, or relaxing at Lake Champlain.
Leanne has always been passionate about the built environment and how people interact with buildings and spaces. With over 20 years of experience in architecture and planning, she brings a unique perspective to Highland Planning. Her firm belief that communities deserve the space and time to plan for their future drives her comprehensive approach to community development and spatial design.
Leanne’s expertise spans municipal planning, environmental review, zoning updates, and community outreach. She excels at leading multi-disciplinary teams and collaborating with diverse stakeholders to create innovative, sustainable solutions. Her analytical skills and creative problem-solving allow her to balance regulatory requirements with client needs and community aspirations, always focusing on enhancing community livability.
A Buffalo resident, Leanne enjoys walking and reading with her family throughout her neighborhood (Elmwood Village). But most of her time is spent at the ice rink cheering for her goalie-daughter’s hockey team (Go Shamrocks!!)
Heike is committed to using her skills and knowledge to create more livable, equitable, and sustainable places. She brings a wide array of experience to the Highland Planning team, including experience in local government, land use and zoning, clean energy permitting, NEPA and SEQR compliance, comprehensive planning, transportation planning, grant writing, and public engagement. Heike lives in Buffalo, NY, and in her free time, she loves to travel and explore new places near and far, hiking, reading, and listening to live music.
Through her years of experience in neighborhood revitalization, economic development, and community engagement, Nora was drawn to the planning profession. She has assisted communities throughout New York State in undertaking a range of public and private sector projects/plans. She is passionate about equitable access and inclusive planning practices. Nora lives in the Capital Region with her husband, child, and their two dogs.
Emma is a vibrant planner with a heart for creating spaces where people truly belong. Blending her background in anthropology and community geography, she sees planning through a human lens — understanding that great communities are built by listening to the people who call them home. With genuine curiosity, Emma connects physical design, environmental sustainability, and cultural vibrancy in her work. From comprehensive plans and waterfront revitalizations to environmental justice initiatives, she brings fresh perspectives to communities across New York State. Her interdisciplinary education from Hobart and William Smith Colleges and The London School of Economics gives her a global perspective with a local touch. When she’s not reimagining community spaces, you’ll find Emma exploring Rochester, backpacking through new landscapes, or experimenting with recipes that bring people together — just another way she builds community, one connection at a time.
Anagha is a passionate urban designer who loves working on projects that spotlight community experiences and stories. Evidence-based research, systems thinking, and on-ground experiences inform her perspective and multi-disciplinary approach to engagement and design. Through her work in spatial and sustainable design, community engagement, and architectural design and construction, Anagha hopes to bridge the divide between the community, designers, and policymakers and help create more resilient and equitable cities. Anagha lives in New York City, and in her free time, she enjoys reading, hiking, singing, and exploring cafes and bookstores.
As a seasoned designer and marketing professional, Jessica channels her creativity and technical experience into designing high-quality products and materials for Highland Planning. She brings over fifteen years of design experience creating outreach materials, case studies, and reports for non-profit, government and public sectors. Her experience extends to reflective dialogue facilitation and photography, ensuring every visual element aligns seamlessly with the client’s voice. Jessica and her family also tend their small farm south of Rochester, where they nurture a living library of wild and cultivated herbs and work to restore the native biodiversity of their woodlands and open spaces.
Sara loves working on projects that help people connect to their environment. Through her experience in multimodal transportation, food systems, large landscape planning, and science communication, Sara brings a multidisciplinary perspective to the planning and design process. She enjoys collaborating with communities to find creative approaches to placemaking, climate resilience, and inclusive design. Sara lives in Albany, NY, and in her free time can be found reading, biking, kayaking, or planning her next meal.
Stephanie has always been passionate about community, specifically about staying updated on the latest local news in Rochester. With a degree in journalism from the University at Albany, she learned the importance of listening to what people have to say and telling their story in an impactful way. She believes the best part of an interview is coming away with a new perspective that you might never have learned if you hadn’t talked to someone. Stephanie is excited to gain more public service experience interacting with different communities. When she is not working, Stephanie enjoys running, reading and DJing the most exhilarating wedding dance floor.
Katrina’s diverse professional background. Her experience in hospitality, customer service, administration, and office management brings a unique perspective to the team. She is passionate about learning and helping others, striving to get this to every project she works on. Outside of the workplace, Katrina shares her home with three adorable cats and an equally adorable tortoise. She is a huge music fan, evidenced by her ever-growing record collection.