Hello. My name is Ryan Thompto. I work on long-term public problems that require patience, professional judgment, and collaboration rooted in trust.

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Most of the issues I focus on are complex by design. They span jurisdictions, involve limited resources, and require balancing competing priorities over long time horizons. Progress is rarely linear, and simple answers are usually incomplete.

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Professionally, I serve as a Principal Policy Analyst at the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP), where I help lead regional transportation planning and long-range investment for northeastern Illinois. This work involves setting priorities, aligning goals with funding, assessing risk, and supporting decision-making across multiple levels of government. It requires discipline, transparency, and a willingness to confront hard truths about tradeoffs and capacity.

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I believe public institutions matter. When they work well, they help communities navigate change, make difficult decisions in the open, and invest responsibly in the future. When they fall short, the consequences are real and uneven. Much of my work is focused on strengthening how institutions plan, collaborate, and adapt over time.

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Alongside my professional role, I am a cofounder and board chair of ChiPride Volunteering, a community organization that creates accessible volunteer opportunities for LGBTQ people and allies. That work is intentionally different in pace and structure. It is grounded in relationships, mutual support, and showing up consistently. It provides an essential counterbalance to policy work and keeps my perspective rooted in lived experience.

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This site is intended to give a clear sense of my experience, values, and approach to leadership. For ongoing writing and engagement, I share work more regularly through my Substack and LinkedIn accounts.

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Thank you for taking the time to view my website.