Jessica Kogut, AICP

Honest. Detailed. Insightful.

Senior Planner, Town of Plattsburgh

Owner & Designer, North Country Knits

Hometown: Enosburgh, Vermont

Age: 32

Education: Master of Science in Environmental Science (SUNY Plattsburgh), Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering (Clarkson University)

Jessica Kogut is a Vermont native living in the North Country. She works as a Senior Planner for the Town of Plattsburgh, involved in various aspects of community development. She also designs and sells knitting patterns online and will be an event celebrity/mascot in August.

What part of your company’s culture do you value the most and why?

At the Town of Plattsburgh, there is a significant level of mutual trust that allows team members to grow and be productive while also providing the flexibility that is needed to support well-being and creativity. This, in turn, increases the overall quality of work, which is critical when you are serving the public. The Town Board places trust in us as civil servants, alongside other appointed and elected officials, to execute their vision and policies. I really value that I am trusted to do my job and do it well, which gives me confidence and a healthy work-life balance.

Tell us about your community involvement.

I was a member and past president of Champlain Valley Business and Professional Women for four years, and I was a member of Girl Scouts of Northeastern New York’s Women of Distinction Committee for seven years.

What is something that no one would guess about you? 

I love bad weather. I actually wanted to be a storm-chaser when I was a kid.

What important lesson have you learned in your career?

Your well-being has to come first. You cannot pour from an empty cup, and you cannot do your best when you are at your worst. This is easier said than done, but it is so important to take care of yourself both physically and mentally. 

What is the biggest risk you have ever taken? 

The biggest risk I have ever taken was quitting my first job to go to graduate school full time, with a mountain of undergraduate student debt and no income. Failure was not an option.

How can the North Country improve its’ Gen IQ (Gen IQ defined as an ability to lead, market to or innovate with multi-generational workplaces and marketplace)?

It is important to recognize that each generation brings unique strengths to the table, and there is value and resilience to be found in generational diversity.