Our Team - Highland Planning

Best. Team. Ever.

We build trust. Our clients entrust us with their most challenging, complex projects. We make stakeholders feel acknowledged, seen, and heard.

We listen. Our team is approachable and personable. We ask the right questions, listen respectfully, and gather feedback.

We are bold and courageous. When tempers flare or issues arise, we walk toward the conflict and provide a neutral outlet for every voice.

We are nimble and adaptable. Our experienced team ramps up swiftly and seamlessly.

We are peacemakers. We are experts at moving divergent individuals and groups toward a place of acceptance and resolution.

Tanya Mooza Zwahlen, AICP

Principal & Owner

Tanya loves designing public meetings, thinking about go-to-them strategies, and getting to know stakeholders throughout a project process. She discovered the field of city planning after reading Jane Jacob’s book, The Death and Life of Great American Cities and studied city and regional planning at Cornell University. In 2007, she established Highland Planning so she could focus on effective public engagement and urban redevelopment projects. When she’s not working, she’s mothering, taking her dog Rose for a walk, or reading an Andrea Gibson poem.

Liz Podowski King, PLA, AICP

Director of Planning + Design

Liz has experience in planning, landscape architecture, community engagement and ecology. She thoughtfully approaches every project from an interdisciplinary perspective, valuing the unique characteristics and connections of a place. Liz’s portfolio is comprised of public sector projects that advance community priorities, and she has the ability to take a project from planning through design and implementation. Her experience includes urban design, climate resiliency planning, complete streets planning and design, parks and trails design, and placemaking. Liz is driven by a passion for designing places that improve the quality of life for all. She is a talented communicator, an active listener, and has extensive experience implementing creative public engagement strategies tailored to local community needs.

Megan Morsch

Public Engagement Leader

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.

Anne Redmond

Business Development + Planner

Anne has over 15 years of planning experience. Prior to joining Highland Planning, Anne’s work focused on supporting and engaging communities to overcome obstacles associated with the redevelopment of underutilized and brownfield properties. Anne is passionate about Highland Planning’s purpose of engaging and gaining feedback from communities, particularly underrepresented populations. She holds a B.S. in engineering from the University of Rochester, and a Master’s of Urban Planning from the State University at Buffalo. Anne is a first generation American and a championship Irish Step Dancer.

Stephanie Hyde

Engagement Associate

Stephanie has always been passionate about community, specifically with staying updated on the latest local news in Rochester. With a degree in journalism from 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.

Malikk Truitt

Engagement Associate

Malikk has always had an affinity for interacting with the community around him and naturally translates that into gathering public feedback in a meaningful way as projects unfold. He also has a wealth of experience in various general maintenance positions and also mixes paint at a local hardware store. When he is not working there is a great chance you will see him rollerblading or biking around Rochester.

Danielle Tinkelman

Office Manager

Danielle has a degree in Photography from FIT in NYC and owns her own photography business. She has a background in HR/office management, organizational development and social media marketing. She has lived in both NYC and Southern California, and has a passion for music, dancing, coffee, and art.

Rose Zwahlen

Team Mascot

Rose is a rescue from Texas who arrived in New York in May 2020. She enjoys looking out the window at the Geck Plumbing parking lot, treats, napping on the couch, greeting whoever is coming in the door, and going for walks at lunchtime.

Our Core Values

Trust
We build trust and safety with commitment, integrity and transparency.
By listening, we help stakeholders feel acknowledged, seen, and heard.
Excellence
We are detail obsessed, committed to excellence,
and always look to find a better way.
We make it sparkle.
Flexibility
We prioritize flexibility, balance and adaptability.
We honor people’s differences and needs.
We “go to them” whenever possible.