Powering planners.
At Planetizen, we understand how profoundly the built environment can impact each of our lives individually and the world as a whole. We believe that everyone deserves to live in a built environment that enriches both; that everyone deserves great planning.
We build toward this vision by helping planners and related professionals keep up with what's critical to know in the planning world, providing them with a place to stay informed, connected and inspired at every stage of their careers.
Plan-et-iz-en combines Plan, as in planning, and Netizen, as in a citizen of the Internet, to produce “Planetizen.” The Planetizen team pronounces the name like plan-NET-i-zen. Planetizen isn't found in the Merriam-Webster dictionary, so feel free to pronounce the name however it suits you.
Our Values
Be fiercely independent
Planetizen is the independent voice of the planning community, free from institutional or financial interests.
Foster innovation
We continuously innovate. We encourage and reward experimentation to discover the best ideas, content, and technology.
Advance planning
We advance the field of planning by increasing awareness and improving practice and research.
Embrace diversity
We recognize increased diversity results in a stronger community and advances planning.
History
Founders Chris Steins and Abhijeet Chavan created Planetizen in 2000 in Los Angeles as a project to explore technology and track the field of planning in Los Angeles, CA. Planetizen published its first story, by Anthony Downs, on August 1, 2000. The first Planetizen server ran on a used desktop computer connected to a telephone line in Chris’s house, and the site published 3-4 stories a day.
Within months, thousands were reading, and Planetizen expanded to cover news throughout California. By 2003, Planetizen contributors were submitting news from across the country, capturing the growing interest in the Internet and the need for an online community interested in planning.
Today, Planetizen reaches the U.S. urban planning community and beyond through news, editorial, job postings, online courses, books, and product sales. But one thing hasn’t changed: We are always looking for new ways to advance the field and work for healthier, more prosperous communities.
Contributors
Team
- Josh Skelly, CEO and Publisher
- Olga Serhijchuk, Director, Product & Operations
- Christine McLaren, Editorial Manager
- Zachary Whalen, Associate Editor
- David O'Neill, Video Editor
- Maria Vaza-Kaczynski, Customer Experience and Operations Coordinator
- Kat Guimapang, Head of Client Success
- Santiago Rodríguez Calderón, Financial Controller
- Cate Miller, Project Manager (web)
- Ki Kim, Director, Engineering (web)
- Gergely Lekli, Director, Infrastructure (web)
Emeritus Editors
- Abhijeet Chavan (2000)
- Chris Steins (2000)
- David Gest (2005)
- Christian Peralta Madera (2006)
- Tim Halbur (2008)
- Jonathan Nettler, AICP (2012)
- James Brasuell, AICP (2023)
- Mary Hammon (2024)