Join us in congratulating Joan Isaacson on her recent promotion to Principal at Kearns & West’s San Diego office. Since joining Kearns & West three years ago, Joan has significantly expanded the firm’s work in Southern California and solidified the public involvement practice in support of community and regional planning.
Notable examples of Southern California project involvements led by Joan include the Los Angeles River Master Plan Update, City of Los Angeles 100% Renewable Energy, City of Mission Viejo Civic Vision Plan, City of Oxnard Parks Master Plan, Northside Specific Plan in Riverside, Venice Sea Level Rise Adaptation Planning, and City of San Jacinto General Plan Update. She also directs the firm’s work on the FEMA RiskMAP Community Engagement and Risk Communication project, continues to support cleanup projects managed by the California Department of Toxic Substances Control, and led work for the California Strategic Growth Council’s Community-Based Planning for a Sustainable California, an assessment of 125+ grant funded projects and case study highlights.
Our municipal clients value Joan’s origins as a practicing planner focusing on community planning and environmental review–it gives her the ability to formulate effective community engagement and stakeholder facilitation processes that sync with the technical steps. Clients, and communities too, also value her dedication to involving the full range of stakeholder voices and nonstop focus on building trust and relationships. With more than 25 years of experience, Joan is regularly invited to speak at conferences and conduct trainings with organizations all over the country, and she currently serves as the Professional Development Director on the San Diego American Planning Association Board.