April 2019 Member Spotlight: Francie Sallinger

Every month, the APA-IL will turn the spotlight on members who are making an impact in Illinois urban planning and with the APA-IL. These members exemplify the APA-IL's determination to Make Great Communities in Illinois!

This month, we talk with...

Francie Sallinger

Associate Planner, Teska Associates

Tell us a little about yourself.

Proud graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where I got my Bachelors in Urban Planning and then stuck around for an extra year to get my MUP. I joined Teska after finishing school and have been there since! I also had formative jobs throughout school at CNT, Alta Planning + Design, CUMTD, the Eno Center for Transportation, and U of I Extension.

What are some of your current or notable projects?

Most recently, I was working on a land use / market study / design guidelines project with the City of Chicago in the North Park neighborhood and a comprehensive plan in Rolling Meadows. My current focus is wrapping up a Corridors Plan in Belmont Cragin. One of the aspects I’ve most enjoyed at Teska is the variety of projects, having opportunities to do neighborhood planning in Chicago, comprehensive planning in the burbs, and some work with rural communities (which is new to me as a city kid!).

How have you been involved with the APA-IL?

I first got officially involved with APA-IL in 2015 / 2016 as a student through U of I’s Student Planning Organization, and had the chance to attend the Executive Committee meetings as their Student Representative. Now I’m helping out as co-chair for conference marketing for #APAIL19 and organizing an upcoming panel for APA-CMS on April 29th in Glenview!

If you could do another job for a day, what would it be and why?

I’ve actually wanted to be a planner since I was old enough to think seriously about a career path...but before that I had my sights set on being a marine biologist/dolphin trainer. This dream was briefly realized when I was picked to be the student volunteer at a Shedd Aquarium dolphin show in 4th grade. I can still remember the stench of the fish food so I will stick with being a planner for now.