Highland Planning is proud to celebrate Stephanie Hyde, Community Engagement Planner, on her selection as a 2026 Re:Gen Rising honoree by the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce.
Re:Gen Rising, part of the Greater ROC Young Professional initiative, recognizes professionals ages 25-40 who are shaping the future of the Greater Rochester region through innovation, collaboration, leadership, and community impact. Stephanie was named among the Chamber’s 2026 honorees, a group of emerging leaders recognized for redefining excellence across industries and strengthening the region’s future. Read the Chamber’s announcement.
Since joining Highland Planning in 2023, Stephanie has become an important leader in the firm’s public engagement practice. Her work focuses on helping communities feel heard, respected, and meaningfully involved in planning decisions that affect their neighborhoods.
“Stephanie is a leader in our firm and in our industry, and she exemplifies the characteristics that the Re:Gen Rising Award celebrates,” said Liz Podowski King, PLA, AICP, Director of Planning + Design at Highland Planning, in her letter of support. “To say Stephanie is passionate about community engagement is an understatement. She sees engagement as a critical part of any public process and strongly believes engagement should be equitable and inclusive.” Liz also noted that Stephanie brings thoughtfulness, care, and creativity to every community she works with, continually strengthening Highland Planning’s approach to inclusive, community-centered planning.
Stephanie has contributed to several high-impact planning and engagement projects across Rochester, Buffalo, and New York State, including the Rochester Urban Forest Master Plan Update, High Falls State Park, the Connected Communities Fresh Food Market Study, and the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority’s Bailey Avenue Bus Rapid Transit project.
Her leadership on community ambassador programs has been especially meaningful. For the Rochester Urban Forest Master Plan Update, Stephanie helped manage a paid Tree Ambassador program that engaged residents through neighborhood-based outreach, public meetings, tree plantings, tabling events, and walking tours. That project earned Highland Planning the 2024 Upstate American Planning Association (APA) Best Practice in Public Outreach Award, and the Ambassador program is still being run today by Rochester Ecology Partners.
Tanya Mooza, AICP, Founder and CEO of Highland Planning, praised Stephanie’s alignment with the firm’s mission, saying she “embodies the values that guide our work at Highland Planning: collaboration, creativity, and a deep commitment to social good.” Through her engagement work, Stephanie helps ensure community members feel heard, respected, and meaningfully included in planning processes.
Stephanie’s nomination also highlighted her commitment to youth-centered and equity-focused engagement. Through the Rochester Urban Forest Master Plan Update, she built a relationship with students at Genesee Community Charter School who were studying urban forestry and tree equity, helping ensure their ideas were reflected in the final plan.
As a lifelong Rochester resident, Stephanie brings deep care for the region to her work. Her education in journalism from the University at Albany, training through the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2), and participation in the Greater Rochester Young Professional Leadership Program all support her ability to listen closely, synthesize community input, and translate public feedback into actionable planning recommendations.
“Stephanie Hyde is developing and growing her ability to be a great Engagement Planner, and she is doing it with intention, integrity, and momentum,” said Mooza.
Highland Planning congratulates Stephanie on this well-deserved recognition and celebrates her continued impact on community engagement, inclusive planning, and the future of the Greater Rochester region.
To learn more about Re:Gen Rising and Greater Rochester Chamber’s 2026 honorees, visit the Re:Gen Rising event page.
Megan Jasinski Morsch
Director of Marketing and Business Development
585-504-1672 | Megan@highland-planning.com
