Three STV planning experts in California are serving as leaders with the American Planning Association Los Angeles Section (APA Los Angeles).
Elenna Salcido (right in photo), AICP, associate and planning manager, was recently elected director of APA Los Angeles, with Alexis Morris (center in photo) and Brittany Montaño (left in photo), fellow transportation planners, appointed to serve as co-directors of APA Los Angeles’ Young and Emerging Planners (YEP) committee.
Dedicated to advancing its members’ planning careers, APA Los Angeles guides change within the industry and for communities across LA County. As one of the eight sections within APA California, Los Angeles is one of the chapter’s largest sections, with approximately 1,500 members from across the region.
“The professional planning community overall is quite diverse, from city planners to transportation, urban design, and housing,” said Salcido, who has been active with APA Los Angeles since 2012 and has served on their board since 2018. “As director, I’m thrilled to support our community through our continuing education programs, advocating for equitable planning practices and encouraging more students, from high school to graduate school, to discover their path in planning.”
Salcido will lead the board in its implementation of the section’s 2024-2026 strategic plan, including its vision of more diverse programming for all planners at various stages of their career and an expansion of its community engagement work. In her previous role as APA Los Angeles’ director elect, Salcido witnessed YEP’s impact towards driving greater access for students and young professionals. Now, Morris and Montaño hope to enhance this impact as committee co-directors.
“Before I started my career with STV in 2022, I had the opportunity to intern in planning divisions for transit and transportation agencies—all of which opened pathways for me to my current role,” said Morris. “Both Brittany and I joined APA Los Angeles in 2023 as we were hoping to connect with our peers, and also find ways to bring more students into the fold.”
Over the next year, Morris and Montaño plan to create a space for the younger generation of planners to connect with each other and with mentors in the industry, while also fostering skill-building, knowledge exchanges, career opportunities and other networking events. The duo hopes to expand current YEP programming, such as community walks that take participants through LA neighborhoods they serve, networking and professional webinars, and the annual YEP project showcase, where members present on their urban and planning design projects that impact local communities.
“As a previous STV intern—now STV employee–I am grateful to be part of APA Los Angeles and YEP, especially when I was an intern. It aided me in understanding what type of professional development goals I want to achieve,” said Montaño. “It wouldn’t be possible without my STV coworkers and supervisors who have guided and supported me as I navigate my early career.”
