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Senior Planner, Fitzgerald & Halliday Inc.; Chief Creative Officer, Jam Program Inc.
Age: 38
No. of years with current company: 6
Town where I live: West Hartford
Town where I work: Hartford
College: Massachusetts College of Art
Highest degree: Bachelor’s of fine art in illustration
Who is your favorite superhero? Elastigirl aka Mrs. Incredible
Shawna Kitzman is an award-winning designer, urban planner and speaker. With a focus on effective and creative community engagement, Kitzman brings an inspired approach to all endeavors. She has 13 years of planning experience, managing communications, marketing and branding initiatives.
Kitzman started Jam Program with her mom and sister. They help ladies build community and completed the 2019 reSET Accelerator Program. When not working, parenting or running a company, she volunteers with West Hartford’s parks and recreation advisory board and Moms Demand Action.
What’s been your biggest professional accomplishment so far in your career?
As a planner and entrepreneur, I continuously create ways to connect with people. My favorite project involved working with Capitol Region Council of Governments to better understand the barriers to transit use and transit-oriented development in our region. I interviewed stakeholders, engaged Millennials, managed social media, and we conducted a very fun design sprint.
How are you involved in the community?
I’ve served on my town’s parks and recreation advisory board since 2016 and am now the chair. We advise on recreational facilities, public open space, and programming. I also volunteer for the Hartford Chapter of Moms Demand Action. We advocate for laws that protect Americans from gun violence.
What do you like to do outside of work?
My husband and I enjoy hanging with our kids — ages two, six and eight. However, we take one kid-free vacation a year to a new place. I also enjoy working out at Orange Theory, drinking coffee with friends at Hartford Baking Company, or playing board games at Hog River.
Four reasons why you deserve to be a 40 Under Forty:
• Started Jam Program with my mom and sister to help ladies build community one party at a time.
• Provide creative and proactive public engagement for community and transportation projects.
• Champion for metro Hartford. I support arts, culture, food, sports, startups, etc. There is so much potential in our underdog city.
• Led a team of colleagues for three years as APA Ambassadors, raising awareness of the planning profession to students and minorities.
Fun Fact
I think Hartford Marathon day should be a local holiday.