HOUGHTON – When he was an eighth-grader, Jerry Wuorenmaa job-shadowed an urban planner after taking an aptitude test.

But even before the test, Wuorenmaa’s studies were already pointing him in that direction.

“It encompasses a lot of different things I was interested in, like sociological stuff, maps, demographics and political issues,” he said.

He’s been able to pursue all those at Western Upper Peninsula Planning & Development Region, which he joined July 2011. Since December, he’s been executive director, replacing the retired Kim Stoker.

At WUPPDR, Wuorenmaa’s worked on projects such as recreation, hazard mitigation, the master plan for Iron River, infrastructure improvements for the L’Anse Industrial Park and housing rehabilitation. With several high-level planners leaving WUPPDR during that time, Wuorenmaa was able to quickly rise through the ranks. As he began undergoing state training and meeting U.P. political figures, Wuorenmaa found he enjoyed it.

“I took on some tasks, like going to events that Kim couldn’t make it to, and I met a lot of people that way,” he said. “So I’ve kind of moved nicely into this position from where I started.”

WUPPDR’s primary focus remains the Regional Prosperity Initiative, which encourages collaboration among regional entities with overlapping functions. Word on funding for the third year of the program is expected later this month. Projects being worked on include career technical education, broadband planning, central tracking for requests from organizations, mapping of local energy resources and finding services that can be shared between nonprofit organizations.

Another of Wuorenmaa’s interests is public transit. Several years ago, there was a proposal for a regional transportation authority.

“It would be nice to see that happen at some point, although that’s a heavy lift,” he said. “I think we’re probably the best facilitator for something like that.”

His interest in transportation is currently being manifested in a regional road-maintenance study.

“That’s another interest of mine in the transportation area, to try and get the locals to work better together and with MDOT (Michigan Department of Transportation) to use limited funds more efficiently, so maybe along with the road funding package, those two things could really make a difference,” he said.

Wuorenmaa received a bachelor’s degree at Northern Michigan University and got a master’s degree in urban planning at Minnesota State University Mankato – the same university attended by the urban planner he shadowed in eighth grade. He is an Upper Peninsula native, having grown up in Ishpeming.

“It’s where I consider home, although I’m slowly making a new home here,” he said.

The community’s been supportive of his new post, Wuorenmaa said. With many long-term leaders in the area retiring in recent years, he said, he’s one of the first millennials to assume a leadership role.

“I want to set a good example to follow there, and it’s going to be interesting to see how that goes on in the next few years, if people are coming from outside or up from within the region,” he said.