Firm Crawl for Students Highlights Region’s Opportunities
Over 150 students visit urban planning, design, and architecture firms, public sector agencies, and non-profits doing community-serving work
Firm Crawl
Approximately 150 students from University of Illinois Chicago’s College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs (CUPPA) participated in a Firm Crawl Feb. 7.
The Firm Crawl was designed to introduce both undergraduate and graduate students to a variety of urban planning, design, and architecture firms, as well as public sector agencies and non-profits doing community-serving work.
Kicking off the day was a breakfast hosted by local planning firm R.M. Chin in the lower level of CUPPA Hall on UIC’s campus. As the name suggests, students traversed from CUPPA to various organizations in downtown Chicago for hour-long sessions to learn firsthand about current and recent planning and public affairs projects.
David Schottky, a planner working at at HNTB and alumni of UIC’s Master of Urban Planning and Policy (MUPP) program, welcomed about 40 students for lunch and panels with current staff, while also providing students with a tour of the firm’s new office. HNTB was also one of several sponsors of the crawl’s reception held at Moe’s Cantina in River North.
From the perspective of Schottky’s team, having a local, annual influx of potential new planning hires made introducing students to HNTB’s recent projects, new office, and professional atmosphere an easy decision.
“We recognize the outsized role that UIC plays in supplying the region’s workforce, especially in the Chicago planning field,” he said. “We want to ensure students from UIC are aware of the work our company does, whether they are interested in consulting or go on to work for the public sector, and might therefore be a client someday.”
Instrumental in planning the Firm Crawl was Robert Burke, the current president of the Urban Planning and Policy Student Association (UPPSA) and second-year MUPP student. He was assisted by Matthew Almendras, a CUPPA alumnus who serves as a legislative specialist for the Chicago Transit Authority, and John Donners, a project manager at R.M. Chin and alumnus of UIC Business.
Donners also serves as the sponsorship chair for Young Professionals in Transportation’s Chicago (YPT) chapter. He sought to educate students on both R.M. Chin’s work and on networking opportunities within YPT.
“Overall, I think the event went fantastically and surpassed expectations,” Donners said. “Events like this are the bread and butter of what helps students to be successful. Nothing can compare to the value of face-to-face interaction with an employer.”
Equally crucial to the success of the Firm Crawl were staff within CUPPA. Sharon Hayes, the assistant dean for student success at the college, helped communicate messaging and communications to students leading up to the event.
For Hayes, it was significant to provide students with the chance “to network with people in the field to gain new contacts and future possibilities for internships and career opportunities.”
Meanwhile, Dean Stacey Swearingen White helped secure the necessary funding for the Firm Crawl. White also served as a self-proclaimed “behind-the-scenes cheerleader” for Burke, Almendras, Donners, and the UPPSA board as they meticulously planned the day-long affair.
“I really hoped that students could see not only the array of options they will have with a CUPPA degree,” White said, “but also the joy and commitment to better futures that comes with those. I also hope that the reciprocal connections between our alumni and students will be further strengthened.”
While most attendees were seeking to learn about the array of possible careers post-graduation, one current MUPP student had the opportunity to represent his own firm.
Sean O’Rourke is a planner at TranSystems, a current second semester MUPP, and also graduated from UIC’s Urban Studies undergraduate program in the fall of 2023. O’Rourke and his team decided they did not merely want to present a slideshow to students for their session. After a quick presentation, a senior transportation planner with the firm took attendees on a brief tour of Union Station, of which TranSystems recently completed a master plan for renovations in conjunction with the Chicago Department of Transportation.
“It was fun, I think everyone really enjoyed it,” said O’Rourke. TranSystem’s goal for the event was to “get [their] name out there and show [students] we’re another firm. Think of us in the future.”
For the student participants, having the opportunity to take ideas developed in the classroom and see how they can be applied within professional contexts was hugely beneficial.
“It was a packed, full day…everyone took really good care of us,” said Mitchell Trachtenberg, a first year MUPP student.
Trachtenberg made several connections throughout the day, even scheduling future coffee chats with hosts from CDM Smith and the Chicago Transportation Authority.
“[The Firm Crawl] made me feel so fortunate that I’m at CUPPA at the same time as a really strong, competent, and active UPPSA,” he said. “That really gave me a lot of confidence for getting an internship and making sure the program is going to set me up with really valuable connections.”
Taking months of preparation and coordination amongst all the firms, ultimately, the Firm Crawl sought to make students’ learning experience at UIC all the more comprehensive—while spurring inspiration in students to take their newfound knowledge to the next level both through internships and post-graduation career opportunities.
White was extremely proud of the students, alumni, and host organizations who all worked diligently to “pull off this terrific event.” She continued, “CUPPA has set an example for other UIC colleges to follow.”
Although the first of its kind at the University, CUPPA students, staff, and alumni alike are excited for future Firm Crawl iterations.
“This event can serve as the model for alumni outreach and investment in the futures of students at UIC,” said Donners. “I plan to ensure that UIC learns from this amazing event and continues to support those similar to it. I can not wait to start helping prepare for next year.”