By: Arlinda Heineck

The Community Development Department is very happy to introduce the Department’s newest member – Mark Muenzer – who will be serving as the assistant director overseeing the Planning Division. Mark started with the City Monday, March 20.

Mark is joining the City of Menlo Park from the City of Evanston, Illinois, where he was the community development director for a community that is home to Northwestern University and immediately adjacent to Chicago. Prior to that he served in several roles for the City of Chicago, including managing the City’s Plan Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals. His first job in the Chicago area, where he has lived for the past 15 years, was as community development director for the City of Countryside, Illinois. He holds a bachelor’s in Political Science from Gannon University (PA) and a Masters of Community Planning from the University of Cincinnati.

A native of Michigan and Pennsylvania, in his free time he likes running and working out, which he hopes to do more of outside now that he is in a milder climate (Hurrah!). He is also a big sports fan – including Penn State football, University of Cincinnati basketball and Chicago Cubs baseball (World Champs!). He has been enjoying reconnecting with friends in the Bay Area and spends a ridiculous amount of time walking, hiking and throwing the tennis ball to his 10-year-old chocolate lab Ludlow.