People

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.

Dylan Bagnasco
PLA

Dylan is a project manager in Design Workshop’s Aspen office. His primary interests include conservation-based land planning, ecological restoration, and residential design. Dylan brings a holistic and comprehensive approach to projects and enjoys being part of designs that elevate human experience and improve ecological health. He has benefited from a diversity of projects, spanning from urban design and open space planning to private residences and ranches.

A lifelong passion for conservation, working lands, and the outdoors led Dylan to create the Land Ethic Podcast, which features a range of individuals and organizations whose work re-imagines our relationship with land. Subjects range from regenerative agriculture to ethical outdoorsmanship and wildlife management.

Dylan holds a master’s degree in landscape architecture from the University of Tennessee, is a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects, and is a Licensed Landscape Architect in the State of Colorado.

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.

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.

Beau Burris

As a landscape designer based in our Austin Studio, Beau is dedicated to cultivating symbiotic connections between humans and ecosystems. A love for native planting, vivid user experiences, and artful form-giving guides his work. Drawing from his rich knowledge of placemaking and avid interest in history, his work aims to reconnect people to the land across scales and project types, which range from urban streetscapes to prairie restoration parks.

At the core of Beau’s role as DW Legacy Design® Manager lies a passion for collaborative leadership and a commitment to joyful creation. By facilitating learning events, team-building, and transformative design experiences, Beau empowers teams across our eight studios to reach their maximum potential, leaving a lasting impact on both communities and ecosystems alike.

Adam Carreau

Adam is a landscape designer and project manager based in the Denver Studio. He brings 5+ years of experience working at a range of scales from urban planning / mixed use developments to highly detailed residential design. Adam is passionate about designing vibrant, socially connected spaces through the integration of ecological infrastructure, multi-modal transportation and multifunctionality into the built environment. While interning in Copenhagen, Adam garnered experience developing climate-adaptive designs throughout Denmark, Germany and the UK. His expertise in 3D-modeling and visualization aids in the creation of human-scale design that fosters interaction and creativity.

Adam holds a Bachelor’s in Environmental Design with an emphasis in Landscape Architecture from the University of Colorado, Boulder and a Masters in Landscape Architecture from University of Washington, Seattle.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Carly Clevenstine
PLA

Based out of the Aspen Studio, Carly is a licensed Landscape Architect passionate about harmonizing the built and natural environments. Inspired by her extensive travels, Carly’s work is imbued with a deep appreciation for diverse landscapes and cultural contexts. With an eye for detail and a commitment to sustainable design principles, she thrives on tackling the unique challenges presented by projects spanning from residential, private development and public realms. Carly’s expertise extends to urban and rural community planning where she applies her multidisciplinary background to create innovative solutions. Her dedication to excellence is evident in her pursuit of a high quality of work, whether working on a small-scale intervention or a large-scale development.

Carly holds a Master’s degree in Landscape Architecture from West Virginia University, where she was honored as the school’s LAF Olmsted Scholar, and a Bachelor’s of Multidisciplinary Studies focused in sustainable design, landscape design studies and photography.

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 graduate 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

John Farrer
PLA

John brings a diverse design perspective to Design Workshop's Austin studio. With just over a decade in the profession, he's developed his skills on a variety of projects, including multi-family housing, corporate campuses, and higher education facilities in San Antonio and Austin. He further honed his expertise through hands-on work with a landscape contractor, gaining valuable experience in pre-construction estimating and on-site management.

A licensed landscape architect with a degree from Purdue University, John's passion for design extends beyond the professional realm. When he's not creating beautiful landscapes, you might find him sketching, crafting art, or building furniture. John is also actively involved with the local chapter of the Urban Land Institute and the Austin Stone Church.

Ben Fish
PLA, LEED® AP, CDT

Ben is a landscape architect based in our Tahoe studio and works closely with all Design Workshop offices sharing his expertise in design and planning. Throughout his career he’s helped lead many award-winning projects around the country focusing on mountain planning, resorts, community revitalization, trails, parks, and open space preservation. Skilled in working collaboratively across disciplines, he has guided these projects from concept through construction.

Learning the importance of collaboration over the past 20-plus years, Ben applies his knowledge to build teams that benefit the environment and enhance people’s lives. As a community leader, he’s merged his profession with a passion for the outdoors as a founding board member for a trails focused nonprofit, advocating and building trails for all users. He has a Bachelors in Landscape Architecture from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and recently continued his education at the University of Colorado Boulder in the Outdoor Recreation Economy graduate program.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Cheryl Huffman
PLA

Cheryl is a registered Landscape Architect and Urban Designer in our Houston studio. Visionary and practical, she contributes a deep understanding of each project at multiple scales, while she carefully examines the relationships among the site, buildings, and existing context. She excels in leading multi-disciplinary teams for signature parks, campuses, masterplans, and community projects. From funding, programming, and consensus building through design and construction, Cheryl revels in bringing challenging projects to reality.

Cheryl earned her Master of Landscape Architecture in Urban Design from Harvard University and her Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture from the Ohio State University.

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.

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.

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.

Brenna Laffey
CDT

As a planner and designer in our Raleigh Studio, Brenna’s experience and interests translate across multiple scales of intervention, from large-scale systems thinking, to place-making and crafting thoughtful details. With projects ranging from comprehensive planning to public gardens, parks, and mixed-use developments, she believes that design at any scale can be a powerful medium in addressing complex issues and advocates for equitable, meaningful, and sustainable solutions for resilient communities. Brenna is experienced in project management, geospatial analysis, community engagement, and graphic communication and has a passion for working with multi-disciplinary teams in the realm of resiliency and environmental justice.

She holds her Master of Landscape Architecture from North Carolina State University and her Bachelor of Science in Interior Design from East Carolina University. She currently serves on the Executive Committee of North Carolina ASLA.

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.

Chen Liu

Chen is a landscape designer and project manager based in our Los Angeles studio. Her experience ranges from mixed-use development projects and urban greening master plans to high-end residential and citywide parks master plans. She is passionate about improving the resilience of the built and natural environment and creating landscapes that bring positive impacts to communities and people. Chen's interest in visual arts influences her approach to placemaking and design. She is also an active member of DW DiGi Lab, serving as the LA office’s 3D champion and a firm-wide resource for 3D programs. Working on a broad range of project types has sharpened her technical skills and her ability to collaborate with design teams, clients, and communities.

Chen earned her Master of Landscape Architecture Degree from the University of Southern California, and she is currently a member of ASLA.

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.

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.

Jake Malishkin

Jake is a highly accomplished technology leader with over 20 years of experience in the IT sector. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated exceptional expertise in navigating the complexities of the IT landscape across various industries, with a strong emphasis on security, team building, and the implementation of scalable cloud infrastructures. Jake's leadership has been instrumental in building and leading successful teams, ensuring they are well-equipped to address the evolving challenges of cybersecurity while driving innovation and implementing robust infrastructure solutions to support organizational growth and efficiency.

Jake's educational qualifications include a wide range of engineering certifications from renowned companies like Cisco and Microsoft, as well as in the domain of Cyber-security.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Margarita Padilla-Posey
PLA

Margarita is a landscape architect located in our Austin, Texas studio. She earned a bachelors of landscape architecture at Texas A&M University. Margarita has experience working in small landscape architecture firms, interdisciplinary firms and design-build companies. She is originally from Guatemala and fluent in Spanish.

Margarita’s sustained involvement in ASLA has been an integral part of her landscape architecture practice since college. She completed a term as the central Texas secretary and the Texas chapter conference chair. She has been involved in the diversity, equity and inclusion committee from the onset in 2013 she participated in the first Diversity Summit the goal of developing a deeper understanding of why landscape architecture is failing to attract a more diverse profile. Since then, she has been actively involved in progressing diversity, equity and inclusion in the industry.

Her passion lies in advancing the profession through education, starting at the K-12 level education. Her abilities to listen, collaborate and facilitate demonstrates her firm belief that we must work together to support the growth and diverse future of the profession.

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.

Madison Pong
PLA, CDT

As a landscape architect in the Tahoe studio, Madison has experience in the planning and design of a range of projects from residential design to large scale parks and recreation planning. She values the collaborative process working with public agencies, diverse project teams and the community, bringing an approach that identifying opportunities to uplift communities and the environment. design and details that create thriving community centered places. She leverages her technical and creative design to develop concepts that are innovative and actionable.

Prior to joining Design Workshop, she worked as a horticulturist and has a deep understanding of sustainable landscape practices and the value of our natural resources. Madison earned her Bachelor of Landscape Architecture at Utah State University, she is a licensed landscape architect in the state of Nevada and holds a CSI CDT certification.

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).

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 sixteen years of international design experience, she has been responsible for concept development through construction documentation in projects ranging from 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 on the impacts of tactical urbanism as an effective public engagement tool, and her work has been honored with various awards. Some of her recent work involves numerous urban design and transportation projects that explore the connection between land use and mobility, great street projects, and station area plans. Marianne is also a licensed architect in Chile and received a Fulbright Scholarship to pursue a master’s degree in urban design from the University of California-Berkeley. She currently serves as part of the APA Urban Design and Preservation Division Board and is the main coordinator of the division’s pro-bono technical assistance program.

Reilly Thimons

Based in our Chicago studio, Reilly is a City Planner and community engagement specialist with international experience working in Australia, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, and the United States. Reilly has worked as both a municipal planner and land use consultant, which has enabled her with the ability to understand the varying perspectives and needs of community members, stakeholders and decision-makers. As an IAP2 Ambassador, Reilly is extremely passionate about designing equitable engagement programs that are strategically looped into community development and land use planning processes, ensuring the best outcomes for both clients and communities. Her work across the United States has been focused on comprehensive planning, policy planning, entitlements and land use development, and extensive engagement initiatives where she has brought her innate ability to distill complex ideas into compelling user-friendly planning documents and visuals.

Reilly received her Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from Miami University of Ohio and her Masters of Urban Planning from the University of Melbourne in Australia.

Grace Tice

Grace has a multi-faceted role at Design Workshop. As Human Resources Coordinator she is mainly responsible for all internships and serves as Program Manager for the Dr. Charles Fountain Internship Program. She is also the Secretary for the DW Foundation, providing technical support to the Executive Director and the board, and the Program Assistant for DW Legacy Design®.

Grace finds joy in seeing the overlap between her different DW teams and identifying opportunities to collaborate. She is based in the Houston studio but works across all studios.

She holds a Bachelor of Music degree from University of North Texas and Master of Music degree in Oboe Performance from Rice University. Grace continues to perform professionally on the oboe and English horn.

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.

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.

Ryan Williams
CPSM

Based in our Aspen studio, Ryan serves as our Director of Marketing. Focused on firmwide marketing and communication strategies, he adopts a results-oriented approach to amplify the brand's visibility and impact. Leveraging his diverse experience in the AEC industry, Ryan plays a pivotal role in driving business growth through strategic marketing initiatives. With a keen eye on firmwide strategies, he utilizes his expertise to bolster brand visibility and attract new clients. Ryan's proactive approach entails identifying market trends and client needs, enabling Design Workshop to grow as an industry leader.

Ryan graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in Arts & Ideas in the Humanities and is a Certified Professional Services Marketer from the Society of Marketing Professional Services.

Aaron Woolverton

Aaron, based in our Denver Studio, is a landscape designer and planner committed to research-driven design and the integration of parametric and generative design tools in landscape architecture. Leading our internal Digital Innovation and Generative Instruments Lab (DigiLAB), Aaron drives exploration, education, and the overall enhancement of our 3D modeling design workflows while striving to build community within the firm. With a bachelor's in architecture from Drexel University and a master's in landscape architecture from the University of Oregon, he offers a diverse skill set with a well-rounded series of experiences and perspectives with respect to the built environment. When he's not working on a mixture of mixed-use developments, parks, and campus projects, Aaron champions and advocates for the strategic use of technology to elevate our design practice, believing in the transformative power of our tools and our relationship to them as designers.

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.

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.