Two urban and regional planning alumni from the School of Planning and Public Affairs were recently recognized in the Business Record’s “Forty Under 40.” Marcus Coenen, AICP, Class of 2013, and Charlie Cowell, AICP, Class of 2013, were selected for the honor, which recognizes professionals under age 40 in the Des Moines area for outstanding career achievements and a strong commitment to community involvement.
Marcus Coenen is a senior planner at the Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). Over the course of his career, he has worked with agencies and organizations across Iowa and earned international recognition for his contributions to transportation planning. His work on the Iowa Data Bike has received widespread acclaim and inspired similar efforts nationwide. Coenen is also engaged in emerging technologies research, helping Iowans prepare for autonomous vehicles, and has served as project manager for the Central Iowa Region Transportation Planning Alliance’s Comprehensive Safety Action Plan.
His service record is equally notable. He currently serves on the Policy and Legislative Subcommittee for the Iowa DOT’s Advisory Council on Automated Transportation and previously led the Beaverdale Neighborhood Association in Des Moines as president. Most recently, he was elected president of the American Planning Association Iowa Chapter (APA Iowa).
In his nomination, Des Moines MPO Executive Director Dylan Mullenix wrote, “Marcus’s ingenuity and work quality has led him to be an emerging leader in his field, not only in our region, but across the state and the nation… Given his deep commitment to his profession and civic engagement, I can say with full confidence that Marcus embodies the values of the Business Record’s “Forty Under 40” honor.” Coenen shared, “I am excited to receive this award, especially alongside one of my classmates from the urban and regional planning program at Iowa.”
Charlie Cowell is an urban planner and partner at RDG Planning & Design. He has led a range of projects that bring together interdisciplinary teams to advance community planning efforts. His work spans housing and community development initiatives, including zoning reforms, downtown plans, and housing strategies. Among these is the first statewide housing study in Kansas in nearly 30 years, completed in 2021. His efforts have supported communities across Iowa, from Oskaloosa to Dyersville, resulting in housing plans, regulatory reforms, and downtown redevelopment initiatives.
Cowell’s commitment extends beyond project work. Since 2014, he has served on the Board of Directors for APA Iowa, taking on multiple leadership roles to expand professional development and mentorship opportunities for planners at all stages of their careers. He is also active in the Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute and regularly participates in volunteer and speaking engagements. RDG Urban Planner and Senior Partner Cory Scott, AICP, noted, “Charlie has earned a reputation as a trusted resource on housing policy and community development across an extraordinary range of communities across Iowa and the Midwest. He approaches each engagement with the conviction that stronger communities are built through pragmatic thinking, sound evidence and the ability to guide diverse groups toward a shared future.”
Reflecting on the honor, Cowell said, “I am humbled by the nomination and am excited but not surprised to see fellow planners recognized in this year’s class. It is clear that leaders value our work and the role planners play in the Des Moines metro.”