Two city planners earn professional certifications

Chief Planner Seth Creighton, left, and Director of Planning and Development Jim Campbell, right, are presented with City Manager Citations by City Manager Dan Fitzpatrick. (Courtesy photo/City of Rochester)

ROCHESTER - City Manager Daniel Fitzpatrick announced on Friday that two Rochester city planners have earned certification from the American Institute of Certified Planners.

Director of Planning and Development Jim Campbell and and Chief Planner Seth Creighton both passed the AICP exam on May 18 and 19, respectively. The certification affirms their qualifications in the field and their understanding of industry history, standards, ethics and professional conduct.

The exam, which is administered by the AICP and the American Planning Association, evaluates planners on their ability to analyze real world scenarios and theories so they can demonstrate their ability to implement industry best practices.

By earning the certification, Campbell and Creighton also demonstrated their practical knowledge of planning issues on both a local and nationwide scale. As planners in the northeast, they regularly evaluate issues that differ from those their peers face in different regions - like water rights in more arid regions, the complexities of high-speed passenger rail or the issues related to tribal territories.

"These certifications are a reflection of Jim and Seth's deep knowledge of the planning field," Fitzpatrick said. "I'm proud of the effort they both put forth to earn this accolade, and their professionalism is ultimately a great positive for the city."

To maintain their certifications, Campbell and Creighton will be required to take a minimum of 31 hours of training every two years.

Campbell has been with the City of Rochester since July 2012, while Creighton joined the planning and development office in August 2013.