Town officials in Wake Forest have chosen Jennifer Currin to head up the Planning Department, a promotion from her position as Assistant Planning Director, a role she has occupied since January 2020. Currin's new responsibilities as the Planning Director will involve overseeing a variety of critical operations including current and long-range planning initiatives, as well as code enforcement programs.
One of Currin's notable ventures, while in her previous role, was guiding the town's Community Plan, which was recently updated in 2024. In, a statement obtained by Wake Forest's official news post, Currin expressed her satisfaction with the project saying, "Our updated Community Plan incorporated significant community engagement to create a cohesive and long-term vision for Wake Forest." This plan and her contribution did not go unrecognized as Wake Forest received the 2024 NC Chapter of the American Planning Association's Marvin Collins Award in the Comprehensive Plan category.
A Raleigh native, Currin's close to two decades of public sector planning includes a substantial focus on development services such as entitlements and site and subdivision plan review. Currin was a driving force within the Planning Department's Development Services division and played a dual role by working on updates for both the Community Plan and the Downtown Plan in 2024.
Prior to her work in Wake Forest, Currin's career began at the Town of Cary in 2004, progressing through a series of promotions from Planning Assistant to Planner, then Planner II. After a stint as a Planner at WithersRavenel from May 2008 to July 2009, she joined the team at the Town of Knightdale where she assumed the positions of Senior Planner, and later the Assistant Development Services Director. She boasts a BA in Public Policy Analysis from UNC-Chapel Hill and holds certifications from NC Certified Zoning Officials and the American Institute of Certified Planners. Moreover, she completed the Local Government Federal Credit Union Fellows Program through the UNC School of Government in 2021.
Outside of her professional sphere, Currin pursues personal interests including travel, concerts, and quality time with her loved ones. Town Manager Kip Padgett regards Currin's accumulated expertise with high esteem, affirming her suitability for the directorship. "Jennifer’s combination of experience and expertise make her the perfect person to serve as our new Planning Director," he told the Town of Wake Forest, "Having worked with her for several years and seen her serve in several leadership roles, I know our Planning Department is in capable hands."
