CUPPAD Staff
Dotty LaJoye
dlajoye@cuppad.org
Executive Director
As Executive Director for the Central Upper Peninsula Planning and Development Regional Commission, Dotty oversees day-to-day operations of the Commission staff and projects. Dotty holds a Masters in Public Policy from Northern Michigan University. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with family and hiking with her dog, Melbourne.
Ryan Soucy, AICP
rsoucy@cuppad.org
Senior Economic Development and Community Planner
Ryan’s diverse experience in planning, zoning, and specialized training in community and economic development can assist communities with a variety of services and planning needs from capital improvement planning, zoning and permitting, design charrettes, and much more. Ryan is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners and enjoys hiking, biking, and spending time outdoors with his family.
Ryan Carrig
rcarrig@cuppad.org
Community Planner
Ryan Carrig brings a broad background in research and analysis, and holds a dual Bachelor's in History and Geography and a Master's of Library and Information Science. Ryan works on a variety planning and zoning and infrastructure issues for communities. He enjoys the outdoors and doing woodworking, metalwork, and 3D printing in his free time.
Michael Tripp
mtripp@cuppad.org
GIS Coordinator
Michael Tripp has a wide-ranging background in the geographic information sciences. He worked for a decade in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for the federal government as well as teaching community college GIS classes before joining the CUPPAD team. His passion for the outdoors, natural resource conservation, and map making pairs well with CUPPAD’s mission.
Jessica Walter
jwalter@cuppad.org
Associate Planner
Jessica Walter brings a diverse background in applied research to the CUPPAD team, with experience in public health, education, fair housing, local food systems, and energy efficiency. She earned her Master's in Sustainable Development from DePaul University and Bachelor's in Anthropology from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and specializes in community-based research and data-driven strategies. Born and raised in small-town Michigan, she is dedicated to contributing to the growth and prosperity of Upper Peninsula communities. When not at work, Jessica can be found exploring local hiking trails with her dogs, tending to her garden, or experimenting with new recipes featuring local ingredients.
Emily B Soucy
ebosch@cuppad.org
Community Planner
Emily B Soucy comes to CUPPAD with a background in writing and strategic communications. Emily graduated Michigan State University with a Bachelor's in Professional Writing, specializing in writing for communities and nonprofits, grant writing, and sociology. She also manages the CUPPAD website and social media channels in addition to community planning. Emily has a passion for combining responsible growth, community needs, and sustainability in her planning activities. When not working, Emily enjoys reading, crafting, and outdoor adventuring.
