2025 Rising Star Award Winner Tara Pence

Tara Pence
Planning Associate | Colorado Springs, CO 

Tara Pence has quickly progressed from a go-to project planner to a trusted project manager, leading complex planning efforts at Minot Air Force Base and Peterson Space Force Base with excellence. She’s earned “Exceptional” client ratings and presented her work to the RS&H Board of Directors, all while maintaining a forward-looking, people-centered approach. Tara has helped shape new planning templates aligned with Air Force guidance and built bridges across offices to strengthen collaboration. She’s also a committed industry leader, presenting at five workshops for the Federal Planning Division and actively mentoring young planners in the field. 

The journey to her career began in the early 2000s when she discovered the game SimCity 2000 on her family computer, sparking a curiosity and fascination for cities and urban planning. After multiple major changes in college, she discovered that urban planning was a career path and went on to earn her master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of New Orleans. She moved to Colorado Springs in February 2018 and began working as a federal planner, shaping the trajectory of her career. 

When asked what winning the Rising Star award means to her, she remarked, “Winning this award is such a big deal for me because it solidifies that I have chosen the right path that allows me to thrive professionally while continuing to grow into an even better planner, leader, and team member.” She goes on to say that the award “will always be a shining reminder that I’m a valued RS&H associate whose work ethic and passion does not go unnoticed.”  

One of Tara’s proudest moments was leading the district plans effort for Malmstrom Air Force Base. She said, “It was my first time as the lead planner and the first time anyone has ever tackled doing three district plans simultaneously.” The project was complex and aimed to tackle current needs at Malmstrom Air Force Base while also planning for the long-range vision and future development of the land.  

Tara is appreciative of working in a collaborative and inclusive environment. She references RS&H’s purpose, Creating Tomorrow, Together, as a way of life, saying, “I can live this purpose because RS&H has invested in me through leadership opportunities, financial compensation, and encouraging my growth as both a planner and a member of my local community. In return, I’m able to work with other passionate associates in inclusive and collaborative environments that lead to outstanding products that exceed clients’ expectations with feasible and actionable plans that help them create their own better tomorrow.” 

Her favorite way to re-energize during her workday is through crossword puzzles. Her office gets the local newspaper delivered, and she says it’s become a bit of a tradition to complete the crossword puzzles from it. She says it’s an activity that she can work on alone, but it’s also a fun way to engage with other associates in her office.