Suzanne Schulz

As an experienced change agent and community engagement leader, Suzanne confidently listens, guides, and respectfully challenges the status quo. She believes everyone has a voice and diverse viewpoints make projects and communities better. And when stakeholders seem uneasy or reluctant to share, she finds creative ways to draw out valuable input from community members of all walks of life.  

Suzanne has 30 years’ experience in urban planning, transportation planning, and policy development. Whether she is working with institutions, developers, non-profits, schools, business owners or neighborhoods, she demonstrates the high-level of collaboration and cooperation needed to move initiatives forward.  

With nearly 20 years working for the City of Grand Rapids as the managing director of design and development and the director of planning, Suzanne gained extensive knowledge and experience. She was instrumental in project management for community-led processes including the City of Grand Rapids Master Plan, Green Grand Rapids, Vital Streets Plan and Design Guidelines, Michigan Street Corridor Plan, and Zone Grand Rapids – a complete overhaul of the City’s 1969 zoning ordinance.  

Recognized as an expert in her field, Suzanne was appointed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer to join the State Transportation Commission (STC) in October 2023. Responsibilities of the STC include the development and implementation of comprehensive transportation plans for the State of Michigan’s aeronautics, busing, and transit systems. In this role, Suzanne will help establish transportation policies, programs, and facilities.

“Building thriving places requires a relentless commitment to taking on challenging conversations and using an iterative approach that boldly pursues implementation,” says Suzanne. “Transformational change is possible when we work together to set an aspirational vision and an intentional path forward.”  

Suzanne was elected in 2023 to the AICP Commission, representing Region IV, to help set standards for the practice of planning, maintaining the code of ethics, advocating for the profession, and establishing qualifications for institute membership. She also sits on the American Planning Association’s Legislative and Policy Committee.