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Town of Paradise,
I understand you are interested in hiring an Assistant Planner. I would love the
opportunity to work for Paradise this year. I’ve attached my resume for your consideration.
As a developer’s daughter, I am fascinated with the process of taking raw undeveloped
land and creating places where people live and thrive. I am also an avid outdoorswoman, and I
appreciate the natural world and its preservation. I took an AP Environmental Science class in
high school which furthered my curiosity and passion for the environment and its protection. The
role of planning in development fits my interests because it is so multifaceted.
I recently began my fourth year at UC Davis. When selecting my major, I chose to study
Political Science not only out of a desire to learn about politics, but also because it is broad
enough to allow me to explore my interests and choose from a variety of career paths.
Previously, I interned at T&B Planning in Tustin and it fueled my interest in planning. I enjoyed
developing the business relationships and being involved in the detailed work required to plan
cities. My exposure at T&B showed me that I can work with the law, the environment, and land
development through a career in planning.
I have also interned at De Novo Planning, another private planning company in Tustin.
As one of only four people in their southern California office, I was given an immense amount of
work and responsibility for someone my age and with my experience level. I had the opportunity
to work with many cities to update signage codes, bridge the gap between municipal
governments and the people they govern, as well as update the general plans of a couple cities
such as La Verne and Lake Forest.
Recently, I have interned with the cities of Woodland and Dixon, and am still currently
interning with the city of Dixon. These two cities have given me an inside look at the other end
of the planning spectrum; public sector. I have now experienced firsthand the crucial albeit
meticulous work that is asked of a city planning department. I am given a large amount of
responsibility at Dixon which has allowed for significant growth in my planning education and
experience.
Additionally, I am aware of Paradise’s recent past. I personally saw how a friend of mine
at UC Davis grieved after her home was lost in the Paradise fire. However, I am also aware of
the immense opportunity that Paradise faces in recreating their beloved city. In fact, when asked
to describe my dream career for my sorority’s media, I spoke of Paradise. I described a
hypothetical dream situation in which I would get to be a planner for the city of Paradise, and
have the privilege of essentially recreating a city. So when I found the job listing for an assistant
planner for the city of Paradise, I was excited to possibly make my dream a reality.
The familiarity with planning and community development I have gained over the last few
years makes me confident that I am a competitive and well-equipped applicant for your planner
position. I am excited about pursuing a career where I will enjoy my work and get to do things
that I’m passionate about. That being said, I’ve only just begun to gain exposure to planning
and I’m eager to learn more and do more.
I would appreciate the opportunity to gain that exposure in a prominent and growing city
such as Paradise. Thank you again for your consideration.

Catherine Canfield