By Jen Mitchen

Please join me in welcoming our new TAP chair, Joe Jarzen, to the ULI Indiana leadership team! Even though Joe is an Ohio State grad, we are still excited to welcome him to our leadership team (grin).

Through our TAP program, ULI Indiana partners with local governments, private developers, community development corporations, and other organizations facing challenging land use, development, and real estate issues. Drawing on our diverse membership, we provide our TAP partners with a panel of experts to offer practical and objective perspectives.

Joe’s current role at Schmidt Associates makes him an ideal candidate for leading our TAP program.

At Schmidt, he leads the Community Studio, engaging with municipal governments, non-profit organizations, religious and cultural institutions, and individual neighborhood leaders. Working in tandem with clients, Joe helps ensure that Schmidt Associates is meeting project goals and designing functional, enjoyable, and meaningful spaces informed by the client and their stakeholders.

In his role as TAP chair, Joe is excited about meeting new people across Indiana, hearing about challenges their communities face, and thinking through ways that we can meet those challenges.

“ULI presents a unique opportunity to connect with smart peers in the industry,” Joe said. “Participating in this committee by incorporating my perspective on community development and organizing to the TAP program made sense as a clear way for me to contribute to the overall mission of this collective.”

When Joe is not at work, you will most likely find him exploring with his wife and daughters.

“I’m incredibly fortunate to have been to all 50 states, camped in many of our national parks, experienced more than a dozen other countries but have also had the chance to get to work with people in many of Indy’s neighborhoods,” Joe said. “Traveling far away but also meeting your neighbor is critical to serving our global and local community. It provides the chance to learn about other people and make a concerted effort to understand our differences. This can make us aware of our own shortcomings and expand our perspective, which is helpful both personally and professionally, if one acts upon that growth.”

With his passion for improving the community while preserving the natural environments, Joe is active throughout the state of Indiana, bringing practical experience from his positions with Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, Indiana Landmarks’ Eastern Regional Office, and the Indiana National Road Association.

Joe received his master’s in historic preservation from Columbia University and a bachelor’s in history from The Ohio State University. He lives in Irvington with his wife and daughters, a block away from Kessler’s Pleasant Run Parkway.

Thank you for your service to ULI, Joe!