Getting to Know Alumni Joel Hayes
Meet Alumni Joel Hayes! Joel currently works as an Associate Planner for the City of Calabasas. Throughout this post, we will get to know Joel a bit better and hear about his reflections of the MPPA Program, and the skills he obtained from the program, which he now uses in the workforce.
1. Could you please introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about your current role?
My name is Joel Hayes and I’m an associate planner at the city of Calabasas. In my current role, I work on development review for active projects such as a KIA dealership, Caruso Commons apartments, subdivisions, and other permit types at the City. I also work on long range projects such as the Craftsman’s corner annexation (annexing from LA county) and I’m in the final stages of implementing a business registration program. Lastly, I play an active role with the historic preservation commission and a few weeks ago received approval at the City Council for the city’s 8th landmark, the first in over a decade, the El Camino Bell in Old Town Calabasas.
2. What does a day typically look like for you in your current role?
A typical day for me might be reviewing architectural plans for a project, coordinating with our public works team, Building and Safety department or Code Enforcement on unique projects or cases. I might be working on a staff report and stepping away occasionally to assist a member of the public with a question about development or permitting. If I have time, maybe going out to visit a site to take photos and understand the topography and characteristics of the land that can be useful in my report or presentation.
3. What did you love most about the MPPA program?
What I loved most about the MPPA program is the people I met along the way. I actually became a planner because a former MPPA professor would consistently have guest speakers and one guest speaker happened to be a city planner and he described his career. Up to that point, I had never even heard of planning as a job and at that moment I knew I had found what I wanted to do for my career. The MPPA program provided me with incredible mentors and friends that I still keep in touch with today.
4. Looking back, is there a particular research project, paper, or assignment that you worked in the MPPA program that you are especially proud of?
I am particularly proud of a research paper I wrote and submitted to the International Conference on Business, Economics and Information technology. The annual conference is attended by 60 to 120 participants who represent 30+ universities from 10+ countries and territories, including Japan, Korea, Australia and many more.
My paper was accepted to the conference and I was able travel to Singapore and present my research paper, “Assessing the reliance of Tourism on Croatia’s Long term Economic Sustainability”.
5. Similarly, what was your favorite course within the MPPA program?
There’s no way I could pick one favorite, however I’d say a few favorites were law and public policy and principles of city management.
6. What skills did you develop in the MPPA program that help you the most in your current role?
The MPPA program has helped me tremendously with my professional writing and presentation skills that I use on a daily basis. Many of my work projects include presenting in front of a planning commission or City Council and the MPPA program allowed me to gain confidence and strengthen my public speaking. Most importantly, the report writing and research papers that I worked on in the MPPA program can sometimes be very similar in nature to the writing that I do professionally.
7. How did your time in the MPPA program affect your goals and aspirations, both personally and professionally?
My time in the MPPA program greatly affected my aspirations and goals as I gained a lot of confidence in myself and discovered my career path along the way.
8. How did you balance academic work with other commitments?
I was lucky to go into the MPPA program directly after graduation with my bachelors degree in political science at Cal Lutheran. I worked full time and completed the program in one year, however I do not recommend this path for everyone. It was time consuming and for those that have a lot going on with commitments, completing the program at your pace can be beneficial.
9. Did you participate in any other clubs or organizations during your time in the MPPA program?
At the time I was in the MPPA program there was not an ICMA group active, however that would have been an organization I would have enjoyed joining.
10. What advice would you give to current MPPA students?
I would say to try and get the most out of the program as you can. Former students I sat next to in class are now city managers, directors of government departments, public information officers and other high level positions across different sectors such as government, non-profit and education. I’ve learned gaining mentors will add value to you professionally and personally and if there are people with lots of experience in a career sector you’d like to go into, ask questions and learn how that person has succeeded.
We want to extend a thank you to Joel Hayes for providing us with a deeper understanding of his work as a dedicated public servant.