People

Our Team

We are problem-solvers, leading clients through changing economic and environmental conditions. We are researchers, analyzing data and testing theories. We are inventors, discovering the latest “light bulb” moments. And we are collaborators, tackling heady problems, thinking freely, and dreaming big. Through all this, as we take on new, complex challenges, our conviction to performance-based design remains constant.

 

Ahmad Alkhawaja

Laura Bachinsky

Mo Bachtiar

Dylan Bagnasco

Kayla Baynard

Josh Braden

Ashton Breeding

Taylor Broom

Beau Burris

Emily Burrowes

Austin Carbo

Emily Carpenter

Adam Carreau

Rodrigo Carrillo

Faith Charles

Chun Chen

Shaoyu Chen

Gary Clarke

Carly Clevenstine

Morgan Clutter

Joshua Crawford

Bryan Cueva

Samuel Daniel

Ethan Davidson

Evie Dentinger

Catherine DeSilva

Corey Dodd

Sally Doyle

Leen Elharake

Elizabeth Farin

John Farrer

Junhong Fu

Neo Geng

Ketaki Ghodke

Ishita Ghosh

Nina Groos

Samata Gyawali

Brent Hood

Samantha Hotton

Lindsey Heuvelman

Cheryl Huffman

Brandon Huttenlocher

Shun Ishimine

Nora Jacobs

Grace James

Soyoung Jin

Clare Kavanagh

Kelsey Jones

Sarah Konradi

Rex Koo

Jacob Krafft

Brenna Laffey

Jamie Laverty

Helen Lea

Cynthia Liao

Xinyu Li

Yan Li

Yueming Lin

Annie Liu

Chen Liu

Michelle Loza

Jake Malishkin

Kristin Martinez

Sasha Mathieu

Jordan Metzler

Ashley McKnight

Brad Menefee

Jacqui Michael

Lindsey Naylor

Taylor Scott Nelson

Margarita Padilla-Posey

Samantha Panger

Kristine Paterno

Jessica Perreault

Luke Peterson

Jennifer Pintar

Emily Pixberg

Alexandra Polluck

Madison Pong

Julia Prince

Nicole Rietveld

Julia Salas

Eneyda Salcedo

Peter Samuels

Karin Schneider

Yiran Shen

Ziwei Shen

Ryley Siclair

Armando Silva

Valerie Sommerville

Rosalie Starenko

Leah Stoltz

Nate Sweitzer

Reilly Thimons

Morgan Thomas

Grace Tice

Jason Toussaint

Ted Vuchinich

Yuchen Wang

Zhiliang Wang

Alex Weber

Christian Weber

Nicholas Wester

Ryan Williams

Kristin Witte

Aaron Woolverton

Ariel Wright

RaeLee Yancey

Jie Yang

Alex Zarookian

Xiang Zhao

Urey Zhuang

Luyu Zeng

Jiahua Zou

Associate


Associate

Feras Abdallah

Feras Abdallah
PLA, LEED® Green Associate™

Based in our Aspen studio, Feras is a Landscape Architect who’s driven by his love for the natural environment and the role design plays in shaping a more equitable and resilient future. His practice is rooted in a collaborative pursuit to build compassion between people and place. He has fostered a design philosophy that harmonizes community, economics, art, and the natural environment through research-based design. Feras specializes in graphic communication and the integration of regenerative land management practices across project types. His work at Design Workshop covers regional river restoration plans, land development plans, resort development, residential gardens, and urban design projects.

Feras holds a BSLA in Landscape Architecture from the Ohio State University, where he was recognized as the school’s LAF Olmsted Scholar. His research on landscape empathy and regeneration in the American West has been published in LA+ Interdisciplinary Journal. He is a licensed Landscape Architect in the state of Colorado.

Board

Mike Albert

Mike Albert
FASLA, PLA, AICP, LEED® AP

Raised on a third-generation ranch in Oklahoma, Mike garnered an early and abiding appreciation for natural processes and the enduring qualities of working landscapes. With this guiding foundation, he has steadfastly promoted the idea that landscape architects can harness the power and restorative properties of nature.

This conviction, when informed by collaboration and diverse teams, has resulted in a profound body of built work with over 50 awards – including nine National ASLA Awards – that embraces stewardship, identifies important historic and ecological values, and highlights the vibrancy of the human spirit to create landscapes of meaning and value. Through passion, discipline, and humility, Mike has earned him the respect and long-term collaboration with many of the nation’s most progressive architectural design voices. In turn, his enthusiasm has duly influenced his design partners and clients to become stewards of their own landscapes and those they encounter in their communities.

He holds a Master in Landscape Architecture with distinction from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design, and a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture with a minor in International Business from Oklahoma State University. Committed to fostering future generations, Mike established the OSU Landscape Architecture Leadership Endowed Fund to reward student who balance design excellence with leadership and community contributions. Mike has served in leadership capacities for several professional associations, including the National ASLA Student Awards Jury, The Cultural Landscape Foundation Board of Directors, Urban Land Institute’s Recreational Development Council, and Design Leadership Network.

Board

Robb Berg

Robb Berg
FASLA, PLA, CDT

Robb is President of Design Workshop, and is known for the high value he places on individuals and teams. From partnerships with communities and clients, to collaboration with design teams, to mentorship of young professionals, Robb leads through respect and trust. He optimizes teamwork, keeping a focus on the distinct needs and opportunities of each project.

His two decades in planning and design have given him a deep appreciation of the science and art of the built environment, and a dedication to environmental stewardship and resiliency. He has a keen eye for detail and is skilled in every phase of project development.

Robb received his Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from Iowa State University’s College of Design and completed a Certificate in Design Entrepreneurship from the Pratt Institute’s Center for Sustainable Design Studies. His projects, spanning the U.S. and abroad, have received numerous awards for innovation in planning and design.

Associate

Sara Bonacquist

Sara Bonacquist

Based in our Denver office, Sara is a landscape architect with over 6 years of design and planning experience in projects ranging from parks and new communities to mixed-use housing and campuses. Her design approach merges place-based, imaginative concepts with precise detailing. Focusing on the realities and constraints of a space, she loves reconciling how a design on a piece of paper manifests itself in the real world. Her passion for working with the communities and people who will ultimately enjoy the spaces is what ties everything together for her—listening to their hopes, concerns, and dreams, and weaving them into the story of the project. Sara serves on the board of ASLA Colorado as Vice President of Programming and Communication. She graduated from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry with a Bachelor’s in Landscape Architecture and a minor in Environmental Writing and Rhetoric.

Associate

Alison Cotey

Alison Cotey
PLA, AICP, LEED® Green Associate™

Based in our Aspen studio, Alison is driven from the belief that designers have a social responsibility to influence the dynamic between space and people as a way of creating more livable communities. She began her career researching social interaction in Spanish plazas as a Ryerson Fellow and has dedicated the past 20 years of practice towards bringing people together to celebrate the places they love. She loves working at a range of scales, from managing award-winning community planning projects to detailed design of social spaces. In every effort, she applies her broad understanding of place to creatively build relationships, understand the issues and offer solutions that align with community values.

Alison holds a BA in Landscape Architecture from the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana and a Master of Urban Design from the University of Colorado, Denver. She is a licensed landscape architect and a certified planner and facilitator, currently serving her own community as vice-chair of the New Castle Planning Commission.

Associate

Marla Bousquet

Marla Bousquet

Marla, Controller, joined the firm in 1999 after working as an accountant and internal auditor for the previous nine years. Marla is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day accounting functions for the firm along with preparing financial statements and management reports. She has an accounting degree from the University of Colorado Boulder and an MBA from the University of Colorado at Denver.

Associate

Benjamin Boyd

Benjamin Boyd
PLA

Benjamin is a registered landscape architect with over a decade of project experience in hospitality, academia, healthcare, and mixed-use developments, both domestically and internationally. His work focuses on leading complex projects and processes, pushing design innovation with an emphasis on the operations of the Raleigh studio. With over a decade of planning and design experience, he has developed a deep appreciation for team building, developing partnerships with consultants and clients, and a dedication to beauty in the built environment.

Benjamin has recently lectured at the University of Maryland, is an active member of ULI, past President of ASLA’s Maryland chapter, and holds a degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Florida.

Associate

Aaron Bridgers

Aaron Bridgers
PLA

As a landscape architect based in the Aspen studio, Aaron’s experience implementing projects across the U.S. and Central America provides a body of knowledge for constructing projects in a wide range of climates, often with cultural challenges. Since joining the firm in 2021, he has been focused predominantly on large residential projects and believes in building enduring places of beauty, art and craft that restore the human spirit. His design approach is further characterized by sensitivity to the relationship between architecture and landscape.

Aaron earned a Master of Architecture from the University of Virginia and a Bachelor of Art in Architecture from the University of New Mexico.

Associate

Kim Case

Kim Case
PLA, CDT

A landscape architect in our Denver studio, Kim is energized by leading community-driven projects of all project types and scales. Whether designing a new park or revitalizing a streetscape, her collaborative approach is centered around placemaking. Kim encourages collaborative design, not only within her project teams, but significantly through engagement with the community and close partnership with the client. Through innovative public engagement exercises and community research, Kim is adept at incorporating what’s important for each stakeholder. Believing there is nothing more sacred than ‘home’, the most reliable source of knowledge are the people who occupy it.

Kim is a licensed landscape architect in Colorado and holds a CSI CDT certification.

Principal

Brian Chambers

Brian Chambers
AICP

Based in our Houston office, Brian is a senior urban designer with over 12 years of experience in community design, planning and landscape architecture. His experience on many complex projects has spanned the full spectrum from regional and large-scale master plans; concept and vision plans; regulating plans and design guidelines; hospitality and campus masterplans; complex urban infill projects; and community participatory design. He believes that design is a process and a way of discovery that serves to reconnect us with what matters most. Through his natural talents for team building, big idea thinking, and visualization he is a trusted leader in the design and management of projects. His experience in both the public and private sector offers him a unique perspective to find solutions that are financially sustainable, socially responsible and well-loved by all users.

Brian holds a Master of Urban Design from the University of California, Berkeley and a Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture from Texas A&M University, College Station. He is also a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners, American Society of Landscape Architects and Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards.

Associate

Brian Corrie

Brian Corrie
PLA

Based in our Chicago studio, Brian specializes in creating spaces that promote healthy ecologies while delivering significant cultural improvement for all users. With a passion for preserving historic significance and advocating land stewardship, Brian is driven to find the balance between creating unique places and maintaining character. Brian joined Design Workshop in 2017 and has contributed to a wide array of projects including master plans, development codes, plazas, streetscapes, mixed-use developments, recreation facilities, wetland restorations, and transportation plans around the world. His ambition is to create resilient landscapes that everyone can enjoy for many generations to come.

Brian earned a Master of Landscape Architecture from Kansas State University and is a licensed Landscape Architect in Michigan.

Principal

Kurt Culbertson

Kurt Culbertson,
FASLA, FAICP, PLA, LEED® AP, CDT

Throughout his forty-year career, Kurt has been a recognized thought leader in the landscape architecture, land planning, and urban design disciplines. He is passionate about the firm and the profession, and is committed to bringing integrity, depth of inquiry, and excellence to all we do. As Chairmain Emeritus, he has been instrumental in our vision and growth.

Kurt is a leader in the field of evidence-based design and is dedicated to the measurement and heightened performance of landscapes spanning environmental, social, and economic factors. Every year the Landscape Architecture Foundation selects projects to highlight in Landscape Performance Series Case Study Briefs, and under Kurt’s leadership twelve of our projects have been featured—more than any other firm.

A profuse and influential writer, Kurt has published articles on that span the profession, including community engagement, practice-based research, landscape history, and urban ecology. In recent years, has turned his attention to issues of environmental equity, elevating the discourse and championing the creation of ASLA’s Environmental Justice Professional Practice Network.

Kurt’s peers hold him in the highest esteem, and he has been recognized with the industry’s top accolades. In 2016 he was awarded the American Society of Landscape Architects Medal, the highest honor in the profession. He is past chair of the ASLA Council of Fellows and the Cultural Landscape Foundation, as well as a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners Council of Fellows.

A proponent of life-long learning, Kurt has mentored hundreds of young professionals within the firm and beyond. He holds a doctorate in Landscape Architecture from the Edinburgh College of Art, a Master of Science in Real Estate from Southern Methodist University, and a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from Louisiana State University. He was a Fulbright Scholar at the Wirtschafts Universität in Vienna, Austria and is a Fellow of Dumbarton Oaks and the Bogliasco Foundation.

Principal

Darla Callaway

Darla Callaway
PLA, AICP, LEED® AP BD+C, CDT

Darla, a landscape architect and planner in our Aspen studio, enjoys leading teams and clients through complex projects, knowing that listening is the most critical element for success. She guides them through all project phases—from conception to implementation—managing visioning, jurisdictional approvals, community engagement processes, site design, and documentation with a balance of patience and determination.

Darla is a candidate of the Harvard Graduate School of Design’s Advanced Management Development Program in Real Estate and has a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from Oklahoma State University. She is a full member of the Urban Land Institute and currently serves on ULI Colorado’s RETL Product Council.

Associate

Tracy Davidson

Tracy Davidson

Tracy, operations manager and marketing coordinator for our Tahoe studio, strives to support the firm and coworkers succeed in all aspects of design. She is intrigued by projects and firmwide efforts that influence people’s everyday experiences and affect their lives as a whole. Her administrative roles in landscape architecture, architecture and regional planning disciplines for the past twenty years have honed her skills of managing, marketing and project assistance.

Board

Aimee Duffy

Aimee Duffy
PHR, SHRM-CP

Early in her career, Aimee fell in love with the dynamics of people and work, understanding that people create competitive advantage within organizations, and she knew that she wanted to pursue a career in human resources. Today, based in our Aspen studio, Aimee leads Design Workshop’s people initiatives across all studios as Director of Human Resources. She serves on the firm's Executive Leadership Team. She is responsible for all HR processes including talent management, compliance, benefits, learning and development, performance management, as well as employee relations and engagement. Aimee is PHR and SHRM-CP certified. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Saint Michael’s College and a Master of Strategic Human Resource Management from the University of Denver and belongs to World at Work Society and the Society for Human Resource Management. Outside of work, Aimee enjoys traveling, skiing and running accompanied by her furry office mates, two golden retrievers named Rosie and Oscar.

Associate

Sara Egan

Sara Egan
PLA, AICP, LEED AP® BD+C, CDT

Based in our Chicago office, Sara graduated from the University of Illinois and earned a Master of Urban Planning degree and Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree. Naturally empathetic and analytical, Sara is a process strategist focused on curating innovative methods for stakeholder engagement to continuously improve the workshop experience and translate this input in a way that best informs the work we do. The value she brings is in her ability to build strong interdisciplinary teams to address complex challenges and guide projects from concept to reality. The rigor she applies to her projects has resulted in several awards at the state and national level; most notably her work on the Strategic Master Plan for the Petra Region which was recognized by American Planning Association with the Pierre L’Enfant International Planning Award. As a registered landscape architect, a national certified planner and a LEED® Accredited Professional, Sara is currently implementing the first Great Streets project in the State of Illinois.

Associate

Stacy Ester

Stacy Ester

Stacy is a landscape designer based in our Austin studio. Her expertise spans across multiple disciplines and includes training in studio art, landscape architecture and spatial analysis. As a project manager working on parks and community spaces across the country, she leverages her technical and creative design to develop and test concepts in all phases of design and planning. She is passionate about promoting wellness, security, and identities across all communities and believes in the power of the collaborative process to shape outdoor spaces that are as meaningful and engaging as they are responsible and enduring.

Stacy earned her Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of Colorado Denver and her Bachelor of Fine Art from the University of Texas at Austin.

Associate

Xiaojian Fan

Xiaojian Fan
LEED® Green Associate™, CDT

Xiaojian is a landscape designer and project manager based in our Los Angeles Studio. She is passionate about high performance design and planning projects that gracefully blends science and art. Her experience ranges from citywide parks master plans, urban greening master plans to high-end residential and mixed-use development projects. Her practice expands both nationally and internationally. Working on a broad range of project types has sharpened her technical skills and her ability to collaborate with design teams, clients and communities. Xiaojian earned her Master of Landscape Architecture Degree from University of Southern California and she is currently a member of ASLA.

Principal

Jason Ficht

Jason Ficht
AICP CUD, CNU-A

A passion for making places more inclusive, sustainable and beautiful, Jason has spent his 20-year career focused on designing cities and new towns throughout the world. On a typical day Jason is usually found drawing by hand, mentoring staff, meeting with stakeholders and clients or enjoying a laugh with colleagues. Jason is based in our Los Angeles studio and leads master planning projects for both public and private sector clients. Project types range from walkable new towns, transit-oriented development, multi-modal corridor revitalization, international master plans, high-density mixed-use site plans, urban greening strategies, design guidelines and form-based codes to name a few. Currently Jason is actively involved in ULI and is on the National Suburban Redevelopment Product Council and has recently led a ULI Technical Advisory Panel focused on making recommendations for the Santa Ana River and adjacent redevelopment opportunities. He is a member of ASLA, APA and is an AICP – CUD City Planner. He received his Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and his Master of Urban and Regional Planning degree from University California Irvine.

Associate

Ben Fish

Ben Fish
PLA, LEED® AP, CDT

Ben is a landscape architect and has been an integral part of the Design Workshop team, based in our Tahoe studio since 2003. He is a talented project manager and designer, skilled in working collaboratively across disciplines and on a variety of project types including parks, plazas, streetscapes, resorts, and recreation-based projects. Prior to joining the Tahoe studio, he worked at a large architecture firm in Connecticut, where he gained a strong knowledge of design and construction. He is a registered landscape architect in California and is also a LEED accredited professional and Construction Document Technologist. In addition to his professional efforts, Ben spends his free time volunteering as President for the nonprofit Tahoe Area Mountain Biking Association (TAMBA) leading trail projects throughout the Tahoe region.

Technical Principal

Jamie Fogle

Jamie Fogle
PLA, CDT

Jamie is motivated by the desire to create places that are meaningful, enduring and aesthetically desirable. As a Technical Principal in the Denver studio, Jamie brings 23 years of experience in the built environment and has led 14 award-winning projects, including the Southwestern Pennsylvania World War II Memorial, 1144 Fifteenth, and Cherry Creek North. Jamie leads all firm-wide quality management initiatives with a keen focus on technical proficiency and project execution. He holds a Master of Urban Design from the University of Colorado at Denver, which he credits for the “a big view” of what he does, and a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from Kansas State University, which provided him with the fundamentals of technical detailing and design.

Board

Jessica Garrow

Jessica Garrow
AICP

Based in our Aspen studio, Jessica is a Community Planner specializing in comprehensive planning, policy planning, public participation, entitlements and land use development. She enjoys collaborating with others to create solutions that respect diverse opinions, promote community values, and protect the characteristics that make communities unique. With a 13-year background as a municipal planner and Community Development Director, Jessica is well versed in creating connections, community, and delivering for public and private clients alike.

Jessica currently serves on APA’s Small Town and Rural Planning Division Executive Committee, the YEP! Youth Engagement Planning Board and is a member of APA's Legislative and Policy Committee. Jessica has presented at state and national planning conferences on affordable housing, the sharing economy, comprehensive planning, and transportation planning and is currently co-leading work on a new APA Policy Guide on Inclusive Growth and Equitable Economic Development. She earned her master’s degree in City and Regional Planning from the Ohio State University, and her work has been honored with multiple state and national awards.

Principal

Chris Geddes

Chris Geddes
PLA, AICP

Chris, a planner and urban designer in our Denver studio, is driven by the desire to provide clients and community members a meaningful voice in the planning and design of public spaces. With over 20 years’ experience, he believes that it is the responsibility of designers to draw out the desires of those who use public space, illustrate those desires in ways that all can comprehend, and engage stakeholders in a way that builds trust. Chris works on projects of all scales, from community planning to the detailed design of public spaces, and is particularly fond of projects that tackle social and physical challenges. Chris holds a Master of Urban and Regional Planning and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering degree from the University of Coloroado, is an active member of the Downtown Denver Partnership and American Planning Association, and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners.

Associate

Micah Giardetti

Micah Giardetti
PLA

With a strong foundation across all phases of planning and design—from community engagement to construction observation—Micah brings broad experience and expertise to Design Workshop.

Working in our Denver studio, he offers a thoughtful, individualized approach to every project, seeking to understand the larger systems that influence the design and details that create successful, lasting places. Over his career, Micah has accumulated a body of work that includes streetscapes, urban design and mobility studies, open space design, and community master plans.

He holds a Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of New Mexico and a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from the University of Western Ontario.

Board

Stephanie Grigsby

Stephanie Grigsby
PLA, AICP, LEED® Green Associate™, CDT

Stephanie brings an artful balance of expertise and enthusiasm to projects. She is adept at analyzing and distilling site information and design and planning opportunities to establish the framework for project success. At the same time, she is a great listener with an affinity for human connection and collaboration.

Together, these talents allow her to work skillfully with clients and communities to address complex projects and identify effective solutions. For Stephanie, a successful project bridges social, economic, and environmental goals and serves all people in a community, today and into the future.

Stephanie earned her Master of Landscape Architecture from Utah State University, during which she received the National Honor Award for Excellent Achievement in Landscape Architecture from the American Society of Landscape Architects. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in horticulture from Brigham Young University.

Associate

Max Guzzetta

Max Guzzetta

Based in our Aspen Studio, Max is a Project Manager who specializes in multi and single-family residential design. His passion for the field is grounded in his family’s background in the landscape industry, stemming from generations of landscape contractors and nurserymen. Max’s enthusiasm for garden design and space making, cultivated during his studies in the United Kingdom, contributes a unique perspective and design approach to his projects.

Max received his undergraduate degree from Louisiana State University, The Specialist Certificate in Ornamental Horticulture from The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and is an active member of the American Society of Landscape Architects.

Associate

Tarana Hafiz

Tarana Hafiz

As a planner and urban designer in our Houston studio, Tarana brings over ten years of national and international experience creating equitable and resilient built environments. With projects ranging from streetscape and waterfront design to community development, form-based code and park planning, Tarana is interested in developing sustainable communities, addressing problems faced within public spaces, and integrating outreach and advocacy to garner support for impactful design. She believes in collaborating with the client and stakeholders to deliver a thoughtful and multi-disciplinary solution to problem-solving while being able to communicate concepts through data visualization and storytelling. Her dedication has resulted in numerous planning awards for projects such as the Mont Belvieu Livable Centers Study. She also serves as the DEI Chair for American Planning Association’s Sustainable Communities Division and has been published in Planning Magazine. Tarana graduated from the University of Houston with a Bachelor’s in Architecture and Environmental Design and earned her Master of Science in Urban Design from Columbia University.

Associate

Ashley Allis

Ashley Hejtmanek
PLA, AICP, LEED® Green Associate™, CDT

Ashley Hejtmanek is a registered landscape architect and certified planner in the Aspen office. Since joining Design Workshop in 2005, Ashley has led some of the most challenging projects at the firm, ranging from park design and historic preservation to residential garden design. With each project Ashley brings a passion for preservation and a high level of craftsmanship to each distinct site; interacting between culture and the land and creating lasting impressions that benefit the good of the public and environment. Ashley holds a Bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture from Pennsylvania State University, and a Masters of Urban and Environmental Planning with a Preservation Planning Concentration from the University of Virginia.

Principal

Claire Hempel

Claire Hempel
PLA, AICP-CUD, LEED® Green Associate™, CDT

Based in our Austin studio, Claire believes that the most successful projects are those that serve people, communities, and the environment. She enjoys design and planning at multiple scales—from towns to regions—and is passionate about empowering communities by providing them with tools to achieve their social, environmental, and economic goals. She has led projects throughout the United States and the Middle East, and is a highly accomplished in research, outreach, and programming.

Claire holds a Master of Science in Community and Regional Planning from the University of Texas Austin, and a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from Louisiana State University. She currently serves on the Austin Planning Commission.

Board

Mike Huskey

Mike Huskey
CPA

Mike Huskey is a highly accomplished financial professional with extensive experience in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. Currently serving as Design Workshop's Chief Financial Officer, Mike plays a critical role in the firm's financial management and strategic decision-making. With 15 years of experience in the AEC industry, he is a valuable asset to Design Workshop's overall success and continued growth in the industry.

Mike brings a wealth of financial management knowledge to his role at Design Workshop, having served in various financial leadership positions for both public and private AEC firms, including Parsons, Urban Engineering and Associates, Meritage Homes, BEI, and Cornerstone Coatings. His industry experience, coupled with his extensive financial background, helps guide firm operations, optimize resources, and drive profitability. In his role as CFO, Mike is passionate about tackling problems with a strategic mindset. He drives planning, forecasting, budgeting, job costing, risk management, insurance, and market expansion initiatives, helping Design Workshop remain an industry leader.

Mike's educational background includes a Bachelor of Science degree in Commerce and Business Administration with a major in Accounting from the University of Alabama, and he is currently pursuing his MBA from Colorado State University. Mike is also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), further strengthening his financial expertise.

Principal

Manisha Kaul

Manisha Kaul
FASLA, PLA, LEED® AP

Leading our Chicago studio, Manisha is deeply passionate about creating synergies in the public realm through an equitable, resilient and regenerative approach to design. Creatively using the site and its environs, she has successfully guided federal, public and institutional clients through complex planning and innovative site design projects. Trained as an architect and a landscape architect, recipient of a gold medal in India and a creative achievement award in landscape architecture at Pennsylvania State University, Manisha’s career of over 20 years includes projects in the United States, Middle East, Africa and India. Member of Ely Chapter of Lambda Alpha International and a full member of the Urban Land Institute, she currently serves on ULI’s University Development and Innovation Product Council.

Associate

Eric Krohngold

Eric Krohngold
LEED® Green Associate™

Based in our Denver studio, Eric is a key member of the Strategic Services team. Eric’s background and experience includes real estate development and facility planning advisory, regional market analysis, and master planning, and market and financial feasibility analysis. He received his bachelor’s in International Studies with a focus on Economics and Business from Ohio State University and a Master of Urban and Region and Planning from the University of Michigan. Eric believes strongly in the transformative power of community and market-driven real estate development projects and is passionate about weaving community engagement efforts throughout the project planning process. Eric is a LEED Green Associate and an active member of the Urban Land Institute.

Board

Conners Ladner

Conners Ladner
PLA

Conners is a landscape architect and Principal in our Austin studio. He believes that our community’s health and happiness are greatly strengthened by spending time in the natural world. Through research, analysis, iteration, and innovation, he strives to formulate a creative design response to parallel the inherent beauty of nature in urban environments. Conners has planned and designed urban landscapes across the country and is currently leading the process for the Quilt of Parks in Bentonville, Arkansas, the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, Texas and the Northwest Community Parks in Frisco, Texas. Conners is an honor graduate in Landscape Architecture from Louisiana State University and has a Masters of Human Dimensions of Organizations from the University of Texas at Austin.

Principal

Anna Laybourn

Anna Laybourn
AICP

Based in our Aspen studio, Anna’s diverse experiences in community, regional, and land planning are united by a focus on people and planet. She forges the natural and social sciences in her work on parks and open space master plans, transportation infrastructure design, and development proposals. She specializes in establishing innovative processes for public engagement and has a reputation for building equity for underserved populations through participatory design.

Anna’s projects have been honored with more than 30 awards. She serves on the boards of APA’s Small Town and Rural Division, YEP! Youth Engagement Planning, and APA Colorado. She has a Master of Urban and Regional Planning from Ohio State University and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Design from the University of Minnesota.

Associate

Ellie Lerner

Ellie Lerner
PLA, SITES AP, LEED® GREEN ASSOCIATE

Inspired by the diversity of her native home on Alabama’s Gulf Coast, Ellie advocates for environmental literacy through design. As a landscape architect and planner, she employs social-ecological rehabilitation as means for shaping more resilient communities, and is experienced in large-scale systems planning for restorative landscapes. She regularly participates in cross-disciplinary planning for sustainability, conservation, agricultural systems and appropriate technologies, and enjoys building meaningful project partnerships through community engagement.

Ellie is moved by projects which embed layered exploration and community uplift through thoughtful design. She brings rigorous research and analysis, applied field sciences, and creative storytelling to the Raleigh Studio. Ellie holds a Master of Landscape Architecture from North Carolina State University and a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design and Sustainability from Auburn University.

Associate

Renee Ludlam

Renée Ludlam

Heading our environmental graphic design (EGD) team and based out of the Denver office, Renée has led experiential, placemaking, interpretive, exhibition, branding, and wayfinding designs that connect people to place for over 20 years. Fueled by curiosity, Renée approaches each project as an exploration, seeking to discover what is distinct about each one and how best to share those stories in impactful, accessible ways. She is committed to co-creating with clients and stakeholders and bringing a strong sense of empathy to her collaborative process. From immersive murals and wayfinding master plans to gateway monuments or typographic details in the built environment, she is comfortable across all scales and project types, implementing them from concept to completion both across the US and abroad.

Renée earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design and a Bachelor of Arts in French from Creighton University as well as a Master of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from The Savannah College of Art and Design.

Principal

Jim MacRae

Jim MacRae
PLA, LEED® AP

Jim is passionate about designing places that honor nature, people, and culture. His career has taken him across the globe, from North America, Asia, and the Middle East, and these professional experiences have sharpened his technical capacity and his appreciation for working in diverse natural and urban environments.

He has broad expertise but is best known for his planning and design of thoughtful urban environments, including transit-oriented and mixed-use districts, commercial corridors and streetscapes, urban parks and plazas, workspaces as well as sustainable new communities.

Jim received his Bachelor of Landscape Architecture with honors from California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo, and a Master of Urban Design from the University of Colorado Denver, where he was recognized as the Outstanding Graduate Student in the College of Architecture and Planning.

Board

Emily McCoy

Emily McCoy
FASLA, PLA, SITES AP

As a landscape architect, educator and ecologist, Emily approaches every project as an opportunity to celebrate the intersection of natural and cultural narratives of place through design. Her professional practice and research spans internationally, leading conversations within the design and planning communities on maximizing landscape performance to perform social and environmental services. Throughout her career, she has worked on a wide range of award-winning projects across the world that are models for integrating environmental, social and economic sustainability.

Emily is a published author and Associate Professor at NC State University, where she holds a Master of Landscape Architecture degree and a GIS certificate. She has completed graduate coursework in Restoration Ecology at the University of Idaho and remains passionate about her service to organizations such as the Landscape Architecture Foundation Education Committee, Pennsylvania State University Stuckeman School Board, and the Awesome Raleigh Foundation.

Associate

Scott Miller

Scott Miller

A transplant from Edinburgh, Scotland to our Austin studio, Landscape Architect and Urban Designer Scott Miller brings a strong passion for the curation of sketching to the built form, in a range of projects across Europe, The Middle East, The United Kingdom, and North America. Scott’s professional interests include engaging with the community during the design process to understanding the social drivers of placemaking and helping to create a legacy design for future generations.

Scott earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Landscape Architecture from The University of Edinburgh and is an active member of the American Institute of Architects.

Associate

Tyson Murray

Tyson Murray

Tyson is a landscape architect based in our Lake Tahoe studio. Seeing projects through from concept to implementation is very important to Tyson as he enjoys the iterative process of evolving a design to perfectly fit each community or client’s needs. His passion for landscape architecture and planning was inspired by his childhood in Provo, where he explored canyons, deserts, and plateaus, soaking in the beauty of the natural landscape. These experiences instilled in him a desire to harmonize the built and natural systems to create spaces that can be enjoyed by locals and visitors alike.

While he is adept at managing projects and teams, he is also a lifelong learner who understands the importance of constantly challenging himself and collaborating and communicating with colleagues in a studio setting.

Tyson is a licensed landscape architect in Nevada and an active member of the American Society of Landscape Architects.

Principal

Steve Noll

Steve Noll
PLA, AICP

Throughout his 37-year career, Steve has led land planning and design projects that have shaped and redefined communities. He feels fortunate that many of these projects have had a significant and positive impact on the region that surrounds his home and our Tahoe studio.

Due to the strict regulatory environments and economic challenges inherent in the projects he leads, Steve nurtures respect and trust with the public agencies while navigating clients through the complex permitting and implementation process.

Steve holds a Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture from California Polytechnic State University, and studied abroad at the Ecole des Deux Arts in Fountainbleu, France, with a focus on European gardens.

Associate

Ben Niefield

Ben Niefield

Based in our Aspen studio, Ben is a Project Manager who leads by example. Driven by a desire to improve people’s lives through the spaces he designs, Ben enjoys working on residential, public park, and private development projects across a wide range of scales. He draws inspiration from the ecologies within a site, making sure the spaces he designs blend seamlessly with the local landscape and topography. Whether managing an internal project team or a large group of stakeholders, he is committed to implementing creative strategies to keep each deliverable on track and the goals of the project at the forefront of every decision.

Ben holds a bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture from Louisiana State University and served as Section Chair and Conference Chair of the American Society of Landscape Architects in Texas. He is also currently involved with the Roaring Fork Leadership Academy.

Associate

Nino Pero

Nino Pero

Nino has more than 20 years of experience as a graphic and web designer, and has developed numerous comprehensive identity systems for both public and private projects. He has produced a variety of communication materials for urban design and planning efforts, including master plan documents, illustrative renderings, technical graphics, design guidelines, public facilitation websites, interactive property maps and many types of printed collateral.

He develops strategic visual communications that express brands and illuminate information. Through both print and digital media, he helps translate ideas into forms that increase understanding and inform decision making. With an approach centered on collaboration and strong project management, Nino brings a thorough understanding of the tools and processes required to successfully bring a project from concept to completion.

Associate

Margaret Plumb

Margaret Plumb
PLA, LEED® Green Associate™, CDT

As Director of DW Legacy Design®, Margaret harnesses her love for collaboration and creative thinking to enrich the firm’s culture, ensure high quality work, and foster a participatory design practice across all eight of our studios.

As a landscape architect, Margaret enjoys working in a broad range of scales and geographies that shape the everyday experience of the built environment. Creating meaningful places is a value she brings to her work. She leverages her background in urban and environmental sociology to bring a socio-ecological focus to her projects, combining environmental priorities and empathy for the diverse users of a site. Margaret works out of our Aspen studio and serves as a Board Member of The Cultural Landscape Foundation. She has spoken at the National ASLA conference in 2016 about women in Landscape Architecture and in 2019 about integrating security in site design. Margaret received her Master of Landscape Architecture degree from the University of Virginia.

Lighting Design Principal

Patrick Quigley

Patrick Quigley
IALD

Patrick leads our lighting design studio, based in Los Angeles. He is known for his distinct design approach—based on a “choreographed” sequence of lit visual events—which has been chronicled in Marc Schiler’s Simplified Design of Building Lighting and Sage Russell’s The Architecture of Light. His projects have been honored with more than 150 awards.

Patrick is a two-time winner of the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) Award of Excellence, the most prestigious commendation in the industry. He has also been recognized for his Body of Work by the U.S. House of Representatives, and for his Contribution to Architecture and the Built Environment by the American Institute of Architects (AIA).

Associate

Alex Ramierez

Alex Ramirez
PLA, CDT

Alex, a landscape architect practicing in our Houston studio, enjoys the challenges complex projects present to our firm and our clients. Valued for his technical understanding and ability to problem solve, Alex takes great pride in understanding complex design problems and guiding our client teams and design teams to solutions that balance the goals and aspirations of each individual project with real word applications. With a diverse design-build background, Alex draws upon his experiences to lead his teams through all phases of design – conceptualization to implementation – with thoughtful and organized rigor focused on delivering our clients with the highest quality work, documentation and implementation. Alex is a graduate of Louisiana State University, with a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree, a member of Central Houston, American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) and the Urban Land Institute (ULI).

Principal

Ben Roush

Ben Roush
PLA

Ben is a landscape architect with a passion for executing highly complex, precisely detailed site design projects at the highest level. From conceptual design through to implementation, Ben’s balance of conceptual rigor and technical innovation have allowed him to successfully lead projects in residential, ranch, resort and community development for clients in nine states and five countries. In addition to his work at Design Workshop, he has collaborated with internationally recognized artists on award-winning public and private art installations throughout the United States and Europe. Ben holds a Master of Landscape Architecture degree from North Carolina State and a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree from North Carolina A&T State University. He is a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects, is a Licensed Landscape Architect and serves on Advisory Boards for the landscape architecture programs at NC State and NC A&T Universities.

Associate

Dan Runzel

Dan Runzel

As a Project Manager in our Aspen studio, Dan’s passion for landscape architecture and planning stems from his influential life experiences in major cityscapes and the outdoors. Whether it is through analysis, drawing or detailing, Dan sees the beauty in all phases of a project. With work experience spanning from Long Island, New York to Southern California, Dan has developed a diverse portfolio and knowledge of different landscapes. He thrives within a team culture and mindset that allows him to take considerable pride in the collaborative effort it takes to make any project great.

Dan earned his Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from Colorado State University.

Principal

Richard Shaw

Richard Shaw
FASLA, LEED® AP

Richard joined Design Workshop's Aspen studio in 1976, based in our Aspen studio. He graduated with honors from Utah State University and earned his Master of Landscape Architecture degree from the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University, where he was awarded the Jacob Weidenman Traveling Fellowship. Richard is a full member of the Urban Land Institute and has held council memberships in its Retail Development Council and the Recreation Development Council. He has taught Resort Design through Harvard University’s School of Design Professional Development Series. His work in both small-scale residential garden design and large-scale resort redevelopment, planning and design has garnered many awards and commendations. Richard is a fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects and a past board member of both the Landscape Architecture Foundation and the American Institute of Certified Planners. He is a registered landscape architect in Arizona, Nevada and Wyoming and a LEED®-certified designer. In 2009 he was the recipient of the American Society of Landscape Architects Design Medal, and in 2012 the American Horticultural Society (AHS) presented him with its Landscape Design Award at the Great American Gardeners Awards Ceremony.

Associate

Sonny Sin

Sonny Sin
AICP, SITES AP

As a planner/landscape designer in the Austin studio, Sonny focuses her expertise on large-scale community, district, and comprehensive planning, as well as the development of mixed-use properties and ecological restoration projects. She believes that research is integrative to design and creative problem-solving. As a leader of the firm’s GraphicsLab, she is also developing design collaboration tools across eight studios.

Sonny holds a Master of Science in Urban Design from the University of Texas and a Bachelor of Architecture from Ewha Woman’s University.

Principal

Jake Sippy

Jake Sippy
PLA, CDT

As a Technical Principal in the Denver studio, Jake’s oversight and guidance focuses on design software, documentation and construction implementation. He brings rigor and technical acuity, coupled with an innate ability for community facilitation and education, providing a holistic approach to all of his projects. Jake has led some of the most complex projects in the firm and enjoys teaching others, and shepherding projects through implementation. He continues to evaluate, test and incorporate new design software tools, develop a standardized, well-integrated process and train staff across eight studios.

Since his start as a summer intern in 2005, he has become versatile working at all project scales and geographies, many of which have been recognized with multiple awards. Jake holds a Master’s degree in Landscape Architecture from Harvard Graduate School of Design, where he graduated with Distinction, and a Bachelor degree in Landscape Architecture from Colorado State University, Suma Cum Laude.

Associate

Sarah Smith

Sarah Smith
PLA

Sarah is a landscape architect in our Houston studio. Her attention to detail and thorough communication has delivered timely results throughout her career. She enjoys getting her boots dirty in the field and ensuring quality is delivered through completion. Sarah received her Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree from Louisiana State University. She is a member of the Urban Land Institute, Central Houston and ASLA and currently serves as Chair of the Houston/Gulf Coast Section of Texas ASLA.

Technical Principal

Paul Squadrito

Paul Squadrito
PLA, LEED® AP BD+C, CDT

As Technical Principal in the Aspen studio, Paul provides mentorship and professional development firmwide in the areas of quality control, project management and technical execution. He is a highly accomplished leader in all project phases from design to construction observation and is committed to the DW Legacy Design approach.

He was a main contributor to Design Workshop’s book Landscape Architecture Documentation Standards: Principles, Guidelines, and Best Practices, which won the ASLA National Honor Award for Communications.

Paul earned his Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree from Pennsylvania State University. He is a strong proponent of alternative transportation and an active member of the local USGBC.

Associate

Marianne Stuck

Marianne Stuck
AICP, LEED® AP ND, CDT

An Urban Designer and certified Planner in our Aspen office, Marianne has a passion for cities, streetscape projects and tactical urbanism. With over twelve years of international design experience, she has been responsible for concept development through construction documentation in projects ranging from small public space interventions to corridor design and planning for large urban areas.

Marianne’s background in architecture has helped her effectively link design with broader goals of thoughtful urbanization. She has presented at state and national conferences and her work has been honored with various awards. Some of her recent work involves several urban design and transportation projects that include the use of tactical urbanism as a public engagement strategy, Great Streets master plans and various street reconstruction projects. Marianne is a licensed architect in Chile and was awarded with the Fulbright Scholarship in 2002 to pursue a Master of Urban Design from the University of California-Berkeley.

Associate

Jennifer Wang

Jennifer Wang

Jennifer is a landscape designer in the Los Angeles studio. With a passion for highly complex, precisely detailed site design projects, she enjoys working on all phases of residential projects. She gets inspiration from the natural landscape and oriental gardens to design calm, relaxing spaces for her client. As a project manager, she works closely with various disciplines to develop detailed timelines and clear lines of communication to ensure projects achieve our clients’ vison in the most efficient manner. Jennifer values challenging herself and pursuing professional growth beyond work. She drives others to succeed and is an active member of YLG (Young Leader Group) with Urban Land Institute in Los Angeles.

Jennifer holds a Master of Landscape Architecture Degree from Ball State University and a bachelor’s degree in horticulture from China Agricultural University.

Associate

Isabella Welch

Isabella Welch

As a project manager based in the Los Angeles studio, Isa’s rare blend of technical comprehension and artistic finesse provides the foundation for her extraordinary talent as a designer. Managing a number of high-profile projects, Isa works tirelessly to provide excellent service to our clients and collaborators through her responsiveness, devoted engagement with the project work, and rigorous attention to detail. She is also a co-leader of the DW DEI Metrics team where she focuses on better understanding the complex and data-driven evaluation process behind creating equitable spaces and built work, a topic near and dear to her.

Isa holds a master’s degree in landscape architecture from Cornell University, as well as a Bachelor of Science in ecology and a Bachelor of Arts in Chinese, both from the University of Delaware.

Board

Becky Zimmermann

Becky Zimmermann
AICP

Becky has devoted her career to solving complex issues in the areas of community planning, market and economics, and development strategy. She is recognized for her work in leading communities, companies and organizations in strategic and business planning, market definition and strategy, development entitlements, land use regulations, real estate economics, facilitation and advisory services for projects throughout North America and more than a dozen countries worldwide.

In her role as CEO, Becky is responsible for leading the firm’s eight studios and heading strategic services. She is instrumental to the firm’s success and growth and is a frequent keynote speaker at local and national events and conferences such as the Urban Land Institute and American Planning Association, and recently served on the jury for the ULI Global Awards of Excellence. Her work has been widely published in industry media, including Metropolis, Landscape Architecture Magazine, Urban Land, and Planning, among others.

Becky is a member of YPO Gold and serves on the boards of AAA Colorado and the Kareem Jackson Foundation. She is vice chair of Urban Land Institute’s newly established Travel Experience and Trends Council. In 2019, she was awarded Outstanding Woman in Business by the Denver Business Journal. She received her MBA from the University of Colorado and completed two BA degrees at Trinity University in Texas—one in Business and a second in Communications.

Principal

Jeff Zimmermann

Jeff Zimmermann
PLA

Jeff has earned deep respect as a landscape architect and designer in the areas of residential design, resort planning and design, planned community development, golf-course planning and design, and public engagement. His breadth of international experience has allowed him to work on a variety of projects of different scales, designing new communities and resorts in environmentally and politically sensitive locations.

Jeff, known around the studio as Zimmy, is fortunate that his professional life and personal interests often align. He enjoys spending hours walking the project site, allowing the attributes of the land to drive planning and design decisions.

A recognized leader, Jeff is past president of the Colorado Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects and a member of the Urban Land Institute. He studied landscape architecture at the University of Minnesota, where he received an ASLA Honor Award. His continuing education includes the Executive Leadership Program at Harvard University and the Colorado Center for Creative Leadership.

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