Wendy Shabay Named to National Planning College of Fellows
Freese and Nichols Vice President and Urban Planning + Design Group Manager Wendy Shabay, AICP, has been named to the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) College of Fellows, the planning profession’s highest honor.
Shabay was recognized for her outstanding achievements as an urban planner as well as her professional leadership on a local, state and national level. She was nominated by the American Planning Association Texas Chapter, which lauded her “excellent communication and presentation skills, ability to work with varied groups of people to build consensus, enthusiasm for her subject matter, professional and approachable demeanor, and ability to translate a vision into meaningful, implementable steps.”
During her 26 years as an urban planner, Shabay has guided more than 100 cities, counties and college campuses to produce visionary plans for improving their communities. Her work includes significant urban redevelopment projects to revitalize neighborhoods.
“Wendy possesses a variety of important values and skills that make her an exceptional leader within the planning profession,” said Fort Worth Assistant City Manager Fernando Costa, FAICP.
Shabay joined Freese and Nichols in 2004 and leads a team of 24 planners and landscape architects across multiple states. She mentors young planners to develop new leaders in the field, volunteers extensively in civic organizations across North Texas and has held leadership roles with the APA for more than 15 years.
Fellowship is granted to planners who have achieved certification through AICP, the APA’s professional institute, and have achieved excellence in professional practice, teaching and mentoring, research, public and community service, and leadership. Invitations to join the College of Fellows come after a thorough nomination and review process, ensuring the candidate has had a positive, long-lasting impact on the planning profession.
Shabay is one of 53 inductees into this year’s College of Fellows. Inductions are done biennially.
“Individuals who make up the College of Fellows are the true leaders of the planning profession,” said past AICP President Valerie Hubbard, FAICP. “These individuals have made lasting contributions to the profession and have inspired generations of new planners. They are truly awe-inspiring.”
APA and the AICP are dedicated to advancing the art, science and profession of good planning — physical, economic and social — to create communities that offer better choices for where and how people work and live. AICP provides recognized leadership nationwide in the certification of professional planners, ethics, professional development, planning education and the standards of planning practice.