Jessica Garrow, FAICP

Director of Youth in Planning

Jessica is a Principal with Design Workshop, specializing in policy planning, public participation, and land use development. She holds a Master’s Degree in City and Regional Planning from the Ohio State University and has over twenty years of experience in the planning field. Jessica is the past Chair of APA’s Small Town and Rural Planning Division and is a member of APA's Legislative and Policy Committee and the Women and Planning Division. Jessica has presented at state and national planning conferences on affordable housing regulations, the sharing economy, comprehensive planning, and transportation mitigation.
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For 13 years, Jessica worked as a planner for the City of Aspen, CO, including as the Community Development Director. It was there that she became passionate about mentorship and ensuring youth are engaged in shaping the places they live. To that end, all the planning efforts she led during her tenure had an element focused on engaging youth – from pre-school to high school. As the lead planner on the 2012 Aspen Area Community Plan, Jessica focused on ensuring an equity element, that included ensuring quality childcare and education opportunities for people of all ages, which was a key part of the plan.
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Jessica is an avid hiker, skier, and outdoor enthusiast. She enjoys being outdoors and reading with her 10-year old daughter and her husband of 14 years. When not outdoors or working, she is a fiber artist and runs a small business, Hazel Mountain Studios.