Senior Planner Jeff Spiehs was attracted to Lamp Rynearson because from large-scale projects to neighborhood-based efforts, Lamp Rynearson brings the same passion, expertise, and commitment to holistic impact.
“Leadership at Lamp Rynearson sets the precedent and “walks the talk” I wanted to be part of that culture and knew that I would get to work on projects with communities creating a long-term positive and sustainable future.”
Understanding that since the pandemic, communities have developed a renewed appreciation for parks and open space, Jeff knows how they play a vital role in the social, economic, and physical well-being of each city for its residents. Parks are a piece of essential infrastructure and he has been the Project Manager for the City of Bellevue in developing their Parks Master Plan.
“It’s been an honor to work with such a dedicated group of city staff within Public Works, Planning, and Community Development. It is my favorite project this past year because the City of Bellevue wanted to make sure that the plan would be known as “the people’s plan” because of the efforts to create opportunities for meaningful community engagement.”
Jeff has enjoyed the opportunity to co-create ideal parks with the residents while sitting at a table to dream up the future of Bellevue’s parks that align with the values and goals of the City.
Recently Jeff has obtained a Professional Certification with the American Planning Association and looks forward to earning a LEED SITES Certification, so he can deliver more value to the communities we work with to develop beautiful, functional, and regenerative landscapes. Jeff’s goal is to continue to expand the Planning services that we offer such as housing studies, community engagement, and park and open space planning.
One of Jeff’s favorite memories at Lamp Rynearson is when Landscape Architecture and Planning Group Leader, Regan Pence took him on a tour of the Omaha metro area to show projects their team helped create. He found it was a great way to introduce him to the dedication to detail in design and the level of collaboration required for a project to go from conceptual and abstract to tangible and constructed.
“It made me feel very fortunate to get to work for a company that is committed to excellence, sustainability, and creating spaces where everyone feels welcomed with a sense of belonging.”
In between planning projects Jeff enjoys running as much as possible. His favorite way to get to know a new city white visiting is by running through it. Instead of headphones, Jeff listens to the sounds of the neighborhood. From people out celebrating, or on their front porches chatting over a morning coffee, to the aromas of authentic food in the community, and even protests on the streets – all of this he experiences while running. Congratulations Jeff, on celebrating your first year at Lamp Rynearson!