Congrats Lee Brown! To exemplifying leadership, humility and fostering future generations.
Planning Accreditation Board Outstanding Visitor Award
The Teska Studio is more than just an office; it's an ecosystem of perspectives and abilities. It's a place where we come together to do business, collaborate, learn from each other, and grow. This “studio” classroom is a testament to the mentorship and leadership of our colleagues, including our esteemed Principal, Lee Brown.
Teska's Lee Brown, Nick Patera and Bob Teska (founder)
Lee Brown, FAICP is a true mentor, friend, professional, and genuinely good person. Those who know Lee understand his humility; he does not seek recognition for his accomplishments. For all those reasons, we are incredibly proud to share that Lee was honored by the Planning Accreditation Board (PAB) with the Outstanding Site Visitor Award for 2024.
As a member of the PAB site visit pool since 2000, Lee has dedicated himself to evaluating planning programs across the nation and supporting the next generation of planners. He has played a crucial role in shaping the future of planning education and the profession as a whole. The PAB accreditation program involves a rigorous three-day site visit where experienced educators and practitioners assess planning programs at universities nationwide. Lee’s recognition is a testament to his dedication and expertise in this critical role.
The mission of the Planning Accreditation Board (PAB) is “to promote excellence among planning programs and ensure high quality education for future urban planners.” It is a joint effort of the American Planning Association (APA), APA’s American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), and the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP) to set standards for planning education and accredit planning schools that meet those standards. The site visitor recognition is based on site visit team evaluation reports and members past record on site visits. Also recognized this year was Bruce Stiftel, Ph.D., FAICP, Professor Emeritus, Georgia Institute of Technology.
Congratulations to Lee and Bruce on this well-deserved recognition!
Be Both Planner & Padawan
From planning school and university to work life balance and board meetings, Teska believes experience and lifelong learning fuel professional excellence. We encourage our team to explore the world around them and get involved in organizations, recognizing these experiences enrich both our personal and professional lives. As we recognize the Planning Accreditation Board's collective contributions, Lee's award and the importance of paying it forward, here is some additional sage advice from Lee Brown, FAICP on lessons learned and formative adventures.
What is a big lesson learned beyond the school setting?
"More than anything, I have learned the need to develop the capacity to take things past the plan. Too often, planners get comfortable creating a comprehensive plan, and wait for the development community to embrace and support it. The work has taught us how important it is to have a clear implementation agenda in our plans. If it was going to get realized it is because the community pushes it forward."
What factors that make for good decision-making?
"Honest assessment of current conditions. Examples of what has been done in other communities. There are things that can be incorporated into local approaches.Planning sits at the crossroads between the market and local desires for the character of the community. It is a common stress point. Communities rely very much on others to harness the market to achieve their goals.”
What’s your favorite road trip?
"I took a trip with a buddy between college and graduate school and visited every National Park west of the Mississippi River. Real backpacking, not car camping. It was well before I started taking “work pictures” of every streetscape and town center I visit...according to my wife."
Everybody in! The Teska Team toasting to fifty nifty years alongside firm founder, Robert B. Teska.
Evanston Studio · 627 Grove Street · Evanston, Illinois