Meet the Staff
Neighborhood Services Director
Rob Kowalski
Rob Kowalski has been the Neighborhood Services Director for the City of Champaign since October 2023. He previously served as the Assistant Director of the Planning and Development Department since 2005. As the Neighborhood Services Director, he manages and coordinates Department staff to lead initiatives related to community development and housing programs, property maintenance and fire prevention code enforcement, and neighborhood organizing and citizen outreach activities. He also provides leadership for interdepartmental efforts to deliver
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Rob Kowalski has been the Neighborhood Services Director for the City of Champaign since October 2023. He previously served as the Assistant Director of the Planning and Development Department since 2005. As the Neighborhood Services Director, he manages and coordinates Department staff to lead initiatives related to community development and housing programs, property maintenance and fire prevention code enforcement, and neighborhood organizing and citizen outreach activities. He also provides leadership for interdepartmental efforts to deliver neighborhood-based services.
Mr. Kowalski has more than 28 years of experience as a community planner in municipal government with a focus on neighborhood planning, zoning reform and comprehensive planning. Prior to his tenure at the City of Champaign, he worked for the City of Urbana, IL and he began his career in Louisville, Kentucky.
Mr. Kowalski has a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Geography from Illinois State University and a Master’s of Urban Planning from the University of Illinois and Urbana-Champaign where he has also held and adjunct teaching position. He is accredited with the American Institute of Certified Planners.
Neighborhood Programs Manager
Jennifer Carlson
Jennifer Carlson’s main areas of focus include: plan, budget, and monitor the use of federal, state and private grant funding for the administration of affordable housing and community development programs on behalf of the City; implement the City’s neighborhood revitalization plans.
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Jennifer Carlson’s main areas of focus include: plan, budget, and monitor the use of federal, state and private grant funding for the administration of affordable housing and community development programs on behalf of the City; implement the City’s neighborhood revitalization plans.
Code Compliance Manager
Tim Spear
Tim Spear’s main area of focus is managing all the activities of the Neighborhood Code Compliance Division. Neighborhood Code Compliance is responsible for property maintenance activities including systematic multifamily common area inspections, University of Illinois Private Certified Housing inspections, tenant inspection requests for rental property, exterior housing property maintenance, vacant
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Tim Spear’s main area of focus is managing all the activities of the Neighborhood Code Compliance Division. Neighborhood Code Compliance is responsible for property maintenance activities including systematic multifamily common area inspections, University of Illinois Private Certified Housing inspections, tenant inspection requests for rental property, exterior housing property maintenance, vacant nuisance residential buildings enforcement, nuisance inspections and abatement activities.
Neighborhood Relations Manager
John Ruffin
John Ruffin’s main areas of focus include: resident education and outreach, coordination of interdepartmental efforts to solve neighborhood problems, organizing neighborhoods, and promoting neighborhood self-help programs to address community priorities.
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John Ruffin’s main areas of focus include: resident education and outreach, coordination of interdepartmental efforts to solve neighborhood problems, organizing neighborhoods, and promoting neighborhood self-help programs to address community priorities.