2026 Planner of the Year Nominees
The Planner of the Year award gives WPR an opportunity to honor planners who have gained respect as fellow professionals, and it identifies and recognizes the achievements that led to the winner’s selection as WP’s Planner of the Year. Nominees are invitation-only from each supporting organization of Western Planner, who submit a specific bio about the nominee to be included in our publication. A winner will be selected and honored out of this pool of top candidates—truly the top caliber planners in the West.
Marlo Kapsa, Rapid City Department of Community Development
Marlo was instrumental in completing the 2025 Rapid City Comprehensive Plan and Urban 3 study after joining the Rapid City Planning team mid-projects. She was able to get these significant projects completed on time while balancing other duties such as annexations, historic preservation, ADA coordination, and the adoption of a short term rental ordinance, which was also a significant lift. Marlo was the primary author of the 2025 Comprehensive Plan Update which just won an award at the 2026 National Planning Conference in Detroit for the Vernon Deines Honor Award-Outstanding Small Town or Rural Plan, Large Jurisdiction. She continues to work on implementing the Plan, which focuses on growing inward, balancing uses and housing types, and bringing services closer to neighborhoods among other measures to help Rapid City grow effectively. Marlo has worked incredibly hard and deserves to be recognized for her efforts, expertise, and contribution to the region.
Marlo Kapsa is a native of Belle Fourche, SD. She graduated from Montana State University with a degree in Environmental Science, and completed her Master of Urban Planning and Design/Urban, Community and Regional Planning degree at the University of Washington. Marlo has extensive experience in planning in both the public and private sector. She is currently the Planning Projects Division Manager for the Rapid City Department of Community Development. In her spare time, Marlo enjoys making and performing music, bicycling, snowboarding, and adding to her collection of animals.
Daniel Nairn, City of Bismarck, ND
Daniel Nairn is an innovative, data‑driven planning professional whose leadership consistently elevates both his team and the broader Bismarck community. His work reflects a strong commitment to planning principles, transparent public processes, and thoughtful long‑range visioning, demonstrated through his guidance of major initiatives such as the Comprehensive Plan update and the Bismarck Land Development Code rewrite. Daniel fosters a culture of growth within his staff, encouraging curiosity, technical skill‑building, and analytical rigor that directly strengthens community outcomes. He continually improves the City’s planning tools and public engagement methods, enhancing both internal efficiency and public understanding. Beyond his work with the City, Daniel contributes to the broader profession through his service with the North Dakota Planning Association and his frequent educational presentations, embodying a forward‑thinking and collaborative approach to public planning.
Daniel Nairn, AICP, is the Planning Director for the City of Bismarck. He is involved in a range of current and long-range planning efforts for the city, including a current update of the zoning and subdivision ordinance. He received an MA in Urban and Environmental Planning from the University of Virginia, and currently serves as Treasurer of the North Dakota Planning Association. Daniel lives in Bismarck with his wife and four children.
Michelle Clavadetscher, City of Box Elder, SD
Michelle has played a critical role in guiding the City of Box Elder through a period of significant growth and organizational change during her 18 years of service. She has been instrumental in ensuring land use applications remain consistent with both municipal code and the City’s Comprehensive Plan, helping create clear, transparent, and defensible decision-making processes for staff, the Planning Commission, and City Council. Michelle was also a key leader in the City’s transition to a modern online permitting and application platform, where she developed applicant guidance tools and internal review systems that improved efficiency, customer experience, and long-term departmental operations. During the City’s recent Comprehensive Plan update process, Box Elder identified that more than 80% of the goals from the 2014 plan had been achieved, reflecting the City’s strong commitment to implementation and policy alignment. Michelle’s professionalism, institutional knowledge, collaborative leadership, and dedication to public service have had a lasting impact not only within Box Elder, but also among neighboring jurisdictions seeking guidance on planning and permitting best practices.
Michelle is the Senior Planner for the City of Box Elder, South Dakota, and has served the community for 18 years. Originally from Williston, North Dakota, she moved to South Dakota during her high school years and built a career in municipal planning and public service. Michelle is widely known within the organization as a trusted resource for municipal code interpretation and development review, and she has mentored many newer staff members throughout her career. While she appreciates the “black and white” structure of municipal code, she also recognizes that planning questions often fall into the gray areas requiring thoughtful interpretation and practical problem-solving. She is known for her solutions-focused mindset and often reminds staff that planning applications are “special snowflakes” because every situation brings unique questions and challenges. Michelle recently passed the AICP examination and is completing her education and experience requirements. Outside of work, she is known for her love of turquoise and her unapologetic appreciation for Spam and spray cheese.
Sara Dechter, AICP, CP3
Sara's nomination is based on her 20 plus years of combined experience in federal environmental management and local government planning, her commitment to advance planning practices, and exceptional skills in generating inspiring public participation in complex social, economic, and environmental settings in a holistic and future-focused way. Her core belief is that we make better decisions together. Sara's work on the Flagstaff Regional Land Use Plan demonstrates her commitment to inclusive, far-reaching public engagement in that hundreds of residents participated throughout the 5-year process in unique and innovative ways, from community "art boxes", to extensive engagement with student groups, to robust selection of the regional plan committee, and many opportunities too numerous to name. This challenging project incorporated not only the City of Flagstaff but adjacent Coconino County communities as well, reflecting a wide diversity of urban and rural lifestyles and the need for skilled communication among these diverse groups. Flagstaff and surrounding County communities benefited from Sara's exemplary professional leadership and planning skills in ways that can be emulated by large and small communities across Arizona and the west. Sara is co-chair of the 2026 Arizona APA conference, and guided development of the theme "Historic Routes, Timeless Skies".
Sara Dechter, AICP, CP3 is the Comprehensive and Neighborhood Planning Manager for the City of Flagstaff, Arizona. Sara grew up in Pensacola, Florida, and received undergraduate degrees in sociology and French language and literature from Notre Dame university. She received her Masters of Science in Planning from Florida State University. Her daughter cited an interesting fact about Sara as being that she's great at boardgames. Sara would say that she makes excellent Cajun food, and that she loves swimming with sharks and other cool marine wildlife in Florida's Gulf Coast.
Jonathan Spendlove, City of Twin Falls, ID
Jonathan Spendlove, AICP, has spent the past decade establishing himself as a trusted leader in community planning and housing policy through his role as Planning and Zoning Director for the City of Twin Falls and his extensive volunteer service statewide. As Chair of the APA Idaho Legislative Committee, he has strengthened planning advocacy by building relationships with policymakers and guiding critical discussions on statewide planning issues. He consistently contributes to professional education through presentations to planners, local officials, and industry groups, most recently sharing insight on legislative changes at the 2025 APA Idaho Spring Planning Summit. His commitment to collaborative, solutions‑oriented planning also extends to statewide housing policy, including his role on the Idaho Legislature’s Land Use and Housing Study Committee. Across all these efforts, Jonathan brings leadership, expertise, and a strong dedication to improving planning practice and housing policy throughout Idaho.
Jonathan grew up in Fruit Heights, Utah on the foothills of the Wasatch Mountains. He spent most of his time traipsing around the hills and valleys surrounding his childhood home getting into all sorts of trouble. After graduating from Davis High School, he attended Salt Lake Community College obtaining his Associates Degree in General Studies. He spent 2 years in the Montreal Canada region serving a Church Mission, learning French and gaining an appreciation for snow, maple syrup, and hockey. Upon returning home, he enrolled in the University of Utah School of Architecture and Planning. During that time he met his wife Sara and spent 1 ½ years courting her. It took following her to Shanghai, China to finally convince her to marry him. They were married in 2010, the same year he graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelor’s Degree in Urban Planning. He started his City Planning career in the Private sector working for an Engineering firm in Kaysville Utah. Jonathan moved his family to Twin Falls in the September of 2012 after accepting a job with the City of Twin Falls as a Planner. His wife Sara started working at St Lukes in the Cardio Pulmonary Unit shortly after their move. Their Son, Steven, joined the family in August 2014. They love camping, hiking, traveling and all sorts of ethnic foods. His family is the most important thing in his life. His career goals are to be part of a growing community, which offers safe, secure and fun environments for people of all ages, abilities, and lifestyles. Jonathan quickly moved up the ranks in the City Twin Falls. In 2017 Jonathan received his AICP and was promoted to Senior Planner. In 2018 has been the Planning and Zoning Director where he has provided a level of professionalism to the Planning and Zoning department the City has never seen before. Among other qualities, Jonathan is admired for his quick wit, problem solving, and teaching skills