Meet Our New Staff

Posted October 22, 2026

Please join us in welcoming three new staff members to the Chester County Planning Commission: Rodrigo, Alison, and Katie!

Rodrigo Becerril, Graphics Specialist

Originally from Saltillo, Mexico (near Monterrey, MX), Rodrigo moved to Pennsylvania in 2024 with his wife, Cristy, who grew up in the area.

Now living in West Chester Borough, he's excited to learn more about Chester County and contribute to the community he calls home. More specifically, he looks forward to understanding how planning helps shape the county's development and getting to know the people and processes behind that work.

Outside of work, Rodrigo enjoys designing, drawing, listening to music or walking with his wife, and watching basketball, football, and tennis. Most of his spare time is centered around his family — whether playing games with his kids, visiting the library, or exploring local parks.

Beyond spending time at home, Rodrigo enjoys visiting Santa Monica and Pasadena, CA, as well as Philadelphia. In Chester County, he also likes the Oxford area, and anywhere he can be outdoors enjoying time with his family.

One of Rodrigo's favorite life mottos is: "It doesn't matter that the burden is heavy, it matters that you carry it." And a fun fact: He's been an Eagles fan since 1999, long before he imagined he would one day live near Philadelphia!

Alison Merrick, Community Planner

Alison brings a background that spans several states and countries. Born in Maine and raised in Kansas, Alison attended high school in New Jersey and spent more than a decade in Philadelphia before heading to London for her master's degree.

She then worked in research — first in London on youth homelessness and employment, then internationally looking at cross-border governance. Last year, she moved back to the U.S. and settled in Montgomery County.

Alison says, "I was looking for an opportunity to work at the county level and am excited to support municipalities from that vantage point."

Additionally, Alison is looking forward to getting to know municipal leaders and planning commissions through comprehensive plans and subdivision and land development updates, as well as contributing to CCPC's housing work.

Outside of work, Alison enjoys practicing yoga and traveling. She recently visited Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, and has an upcoming visit to Northern Ireland next month. When she's not working or traveling, you'll likely find Alison spending time at home with her two cats, Baby and Owen.

Katie Blizzard-Piskai, Senior Review Planner

Originally from Bethesda, Maryland, Katie moved to the West Chester area in 2021.

After working as a transportation planning consultant for over a decade on projects across the country, Katie wanted to focus on planning issues closer to home. "This role at Chester County was a perfect fit," she said.

Katie is excited to dive into the Act 247 review process at CCPC and learn more about the county's planning challenges and opportunities.

In her spare time, Katie enjoys drawing and creating illustrations for her two little boys, ages 2 and 4. "I also love testing out new paint colors as we paint our house room by room, and listening to movie review podcasts." Her favorite is Pop Culture Happy Hour from NPR.

Katie's favorite place to visit is Midcoast Maine, where she attended college. She says it's always worth the long drive. Closer to home, she enjoys taking her boys to the playground, with Everhart Park and Thornbury Park being two of their favorites.

We're excited to have Rodrigo, Alison, and Katie on board and look forward to the fresh perspectives they'll bring to our work supporting Chester County's communities!