Board of Trustees

Tom Mroz, FASLA, President-Elect

Tom Mroz, FASLA, is a senior vice president with the integrated design firm, SmithGroup. He has spent his entire 35-year career at SmithGroup, working in numerous positions from entry level landscape architect, senior landscape architect, project manager, studio leader, director of operations to his current position as director of the firm’s Ann Arbor office. His work style encompasses an analytical approach and a passion for teamwork, with a strong belief that an integrated team can accomplish much more than any one individual.

Mroz’ s career has been built on his interest in the business of landscape architecture, with a focus on business planning, growth and financial stability.  He has been a member of SmithGroup’ s 401k Committee, Audit Committee and serves as Chair of the Finance Committee. Mroz sits on the firm’s Board of Directors and was Co-Chair of the Board’s Leadership Transition Committee.

Mroz received a Bachelor of Science degree in Horticulture from the University of Maryland, and Master of Landscape Architecture and Master of Business Administration degrees from the University of Michigan. He is a licensed landscape architect in 20 states and is LEED accredited.

Shawn T. Kelly, FASLA, Immediate Past President

Shawn T. Kelly, FASLA, is married with three grown children. He was born in Colorado, grew up in Arizona, and was originally licensed as a Landscape Architect in California. He is currently licensed in Wisconsin.

Shawn is the Principal of Kelly Design Group, LLC, a Landscape Architecture firm located in Williams Bay, Wisconsin. KDG produces full service concept to construction drawings for a variety of project scales and scopes.  All projects include stormwater management, with an edge toward water harvesting, water quality improvement, and place based design.

Shawn is also a full-time member of the Faculty at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, in the Department of Landscape Architecture, where he has taught the core courses in the accredited Bachelors program for twenty-one years. At the university, Shawn is also the Director of the Center for Sustainable Design, which he created and manages. Shawn has been recognized by the students as a valued educator and lifelong mentor.

Shawn has been honored to be a prolific speaker at a host of education opportunities for professional development hours, at multiple states’ ASLA meetings, and at related profession’s annual meetings. The topics of his talks ranges from sustainable practice, resilient landscapes, stormwater harvesting, to cultural specificity, transdisciplinary action research, transformational learning theory in design, and the ethical practice of Landscape Architecture.

Kona Gray, FASLA, Vice President, Professional Practice

As an EDSA studio leader with a 25-year career, Kona has practiced on a global stage, providing inspiration and enhancing professional awareness. His portfolio ranges from large-scale planning to detailed site design, with emphasis on communities, parks, hospitality, public realm and campus environments. Blending sensitivity, context and creative design solutions, Kona unites a client’s vision with his vanguard viewpoint producing designs with purpose and presence.

 A registered Landscape Architect in Florida, Georgia, Arkansas, and the Commonwealth of Virginia, Kona is versed in the importance of licensure and is CLARB certified.  After completing studies in architecture at the Boston Architectural College and Savannah College of Art and Design, Kona earned his Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from the University of Georgia. In regard to professional affiliations, Kona has been a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) since 1999. He has served the ASLA Florida Chapter on the Scholarship Committee and ASLA National on the Student and Professional Awards Jury as well as the Annual Meeting Education Advisory Committee. Also, he is the Past President of the Landscape Architecture Foundation and an active member of the Urban Land Institute. Locally, Kona serves as Chair of the NSU Huizenga School of Business Real Estate Advisory Board.

Marq Truscott, FASLA, Vice President, Education

  Marq is a principal at ATLAS LAB, Inc., and lecturer at the University of California, Davis, with 35 years of experience.  Since 1995, he has taught courses in landscape architecture at UC Davis.  As a founding member of the Advisory Board, Marq has worked on faculty resources and curriculum committees, as well as participated with numerous LAAB accreditation reviews.  He is currently serving on the 2019 CELA Conference Committee.   

Marq is active in California and has been the president of the California Sierra Chapter and California Council three times each since 1995.  His service within ASLA started in 1988 as a member of the San Diego Chapter Annual Meeting Committee.  Upon moving to the California Sierra Chapter in 1989, Marq has held every executive committee office, including chapter trustee.  On the national level, Marq has chaired the Chapter Presidents Council, the Council of Fellows, and Emerging Professionals Committee. He earned his BS in Landscape Architecture from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona and is a licensed landscape architect in California and Nevada.

Jeanne Lukenda, ASLA, Vice President, Communications

A career-long advocate for the profession, Jeanne knows landscape architecture has a very compelling narrative to celebrate and share. She believes successful communication of this to internal and external constituencies is a priority and begins with “meeting others where they are”.  As such, Jeanne continues to play a leadership role locally, regionally, and nationally cultivating strong working relationships. She has been proactive in numerous organizations and instrumental in creating new platforms, whenever needed, to give voice to landscape architecture.

Participation in the peer organization, AIA Boston Chapter (BSA), continues to offer her multiple venues through which to strategically promote the mission of landscape architecture to the design and construction industry at large. Jeanne is a member of the BSA Foundation’s Institutional Advancement Committee and recently served on both the Membership Committee and Equity Diversity Inclusion + Harassment Task Force. She was co-chair of the Women in Design Committee for multiple terms and co-chair of the Women Principals Group for over ten years, where she was a founding member of the Women’s Leadership Summit, now a regular AIA national event.

Jeanne studied urban and regional planning and landscape architecture, and is a graduate of the University of Guelph. She has been in private practice for over two decades, and has received local, national, and international recognition for her leadership and work.

Keven Graham, FASLA, Vice President, Government Affairs

Keven Graham, FASLA, is the senior landscape architect and practice manager for landscape architecture with TERRA Engineering in Chicago, Illinois.  Keven has spent his thirty-year landscape architecture career in private practice. 

Keven’s work focuses on sustainable practices for projects with a concentration on public open space master planning, public plazas and parks, economic redevelopment initiatives, higher education, healthcare and residential development.  His work is primarily located within the Midwest states and internationally in the Middle-East.

Keven received his Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree from Iowa State University and maintains licensure in four states.  When Keven is not busy with volunteer activities, he enjoys the new found love of fly fishing.

Dennis Nola, ASLA, Vice President, Membership

Dennis R. Nola, PLA, ASLA, is chair of the landscape architecture undergraduate program at the University of Maryland.  His focus is sustainable, socially just, and culturally informed site planning and urban revitalization; he also teaches study abroad courses in Italy and New Zealand while maintaining a private consulting practice. Dennis serves as the Maryland Chapter trustee and as chair of the ASLA Policy Committee. He serves on the Maryland Architecture Review Board, the University Architecture and Landscape Review Board, and on the Board of Directors of the Neighborhood Design Center. 

SuLin Kotowicz, ASLA, Vice President, Finance

SuLin Kotowicz, PLA, ASLA, is a licensed Landscape Architect in the state of Michigan.  She earned her BLA from Ball State University and has spent the past 17 years in private practice.  She works at VIRIDIS Design Group, an award-winning landscape architecture firm, where she specializes in urban design, parks, non-motorized trails and streetscapes.  In her community, she volunteers for multiple civic and non-profit organizations, including her church, a community music ensemble, Embellish, and she serves on the Downtown Grand Rapids, Inc. Alliance for Mobility.    

SuLin has a passion for finance and organization.  She is a bookkeeping professional with her own firm, Meticulous Mitten Bookkeeping LLC, that serves small businesses and non-profit organizations to enable them to multiply their impact.  

SuLin served over a decade in the Michigan Chapter.  Nationally, she’s served on the Leadership Development Committee, Chapter Presidents Council, Finance and Investments Committee,and the Audit Committee; the past two years as the Audit Chair.

Torey Carter-Conneen, Executive Vice President

Torey Carter-Conneen is the Chief Executive Officer of ASLA. Torey has nearly 25 years of experience and expertise in strategic organizational development, tactical implementation, financial stewardship and administrative leadership. He has a proven track record as an innovator and thought leader in the association world, with an aptitude for pioneering strategies to shape organizational priorities, ensure financial stability, and invigorate member recruitment and retention programs.

Torey is a graduate of the University of Maryland Global Campus where he obtained an M.B.A. with a concentration on global business management and emerging markets. He also holds degrees in economics and accounting from George Mason University. Torey is also a volunteer member of ASAE’s Executive Management Professional Advisory Council and sits on the board of Shepherd’s Table - a community organization in Silver Spring, Maryland, providing food and support to people most in need.

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Curt Millay, ASLA, Secretary

Curt Millay, ASLA, is the Corporate Secretary of the American Society of Landscape Architects where he oversees the Society’s governance processes and manages special projects. He holds a Masters in Landscape Architecture from Virginia Tech. Prior to joining ASLA in 2012, he practiced in a small urban-design-focused landscape architecture firm in Washington, DC where his project work included institutional and mixed-use development sites, historic landscapes, parks, and play areas. Curt is licensed in the state of Virginia and holds a LEED AP and a SITES AP. In 2016 he was elected to membership in Lambda Alpha International, the honorary land economics society, in recognition of his contributions to ASLA and the profession of landscape architecture.

Michael D. O'Brien, Hon. ASLA, Treasurer

Michael O’Brien has been the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer since 2009 and became the publisher of LAM in December 2014. A native of Niagara Falls, New York, Michael is a graduate of the State University of New York College at Geneseo with a B.S. in Accounting. He also obtained the Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP) certification and the Certified Global Management Accountant (CGMA) certification from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Before joining ASLA, Michael worked for CFO To Go and Price Waterhouse (currently PricewaterhouseCoopers) in various management, auditing, and accounting roles.

Kay Williams, FASLA, Parliamentarian

Sara Katherine (Kay) Williams, FASLA, served as ASLA VP for Education 2013-15.  Proir to that she served on the Landscape Architecture Accreditation Board for six years, four of which as chair.  She has been active in licensure and exam preparation since 1982, and served as member and/or chair of the LARE Preparation Subcommittee 1997-2013.  Kay chaired the Landscape Architecture Body of Knowledge (LABOK) study, which was the first major examination of the profession since the Fein Report published in 1972.   

Kay taught in the Department of Landscape Architecture and the Historic Preservation Program at the University of Florida, leaving in 2015 to pursue other opportunities.  Research interests include social and behavioral aspects of design, special populations such as the elderly and disabled, history and theory, and cultural landscapes.

Alabama | Stephen Schrader, ASLA,

Alabama Chapter

Stephen Schrader describes himself as an accidental landscape architect. Before graduating from Auburn’s architecture program, he had the chance to work for landscape architect René J. L. Fransen in New Orleans; a year later, Stephen returned and spent the next five years building a portfolio of high-end residential landscape work in New Orleans and across the Gulf Coast.  After Hurricane Katrina, he moved closer to family and settled in Birmingham, where with HNP he has completed a wide variety of projects ranging from private residences to large-scale development master plans.  He became active in ASLA with the Alabama Chapter, first as publisher of the chapter newsletter, later as chapter secretary and president, and as an apparently permanent steering committee fixture for the Twin States Conference (a joint effort with Mississippi ASLA).  His professional service also includes presentations on using technology to prepare sustainable site plans, and serving on Auburn’s MLA advisory council. Stephen is CLARB certified with licenses in Alabama and Louisiana.

Alaska | Michele Elfers, ASLA,

Alaska Chapter

Michele considers herself quite lucky to practice landscape architecture in the state of Alaska, where built infrastructure is limited and the expanse of wilderness is endless.  After traveling throughout the world for a few years, she earned a Masters Degree in Landscape Architecture at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.  She has worked for 13 years with the City of Juneau focusing on the design and construction of waterfront, streetscape, and parks.  She serves as a board member of the Alaska Professional Design Council, an advocacy and educational organization of Landscape Architects, Engineers, Architects, and Land Surveyors and with this council worked on policy to stabilize licensure in the state.  In Juneau, she engages high school classes each year to bring public design projects into their curriculum.  She escapes work with her husband and two daughters to camp, hike and flyfish.  ​

Arizona | Aaron Allan, ASLA,

Arizona Chapter

Aaron has over 13 years of experience in the field of landscape architecture, is licensed in multiple states, and is CLARB certified.  Receiving his BSLA from Arizona State University (ASU), Aaron has been a member of ASLA since 2003 and most recently served as the Arizona Chapter President prior to becoming the Trustee.  For over 14 years Aaron has worked for the Phoenix based firm, J2 Engineering and Environmental Design, specializing in public works project throughout Arizona producing award winning results.  Aaron enjoys guest lecturing at ASU as well as participating in the student mentorship program there and feels it is extremely important to invest our time and effort in cultivating the next generation of young designers that will be the future of our profession.  In his free time Aaron enjoys the outdoors, spending time with friends and family, and craft brewing. 

Arkansas | Melissa Evans, ASLA,

Arkansas Chapter

Melissa Evans’ experience has been primarily with commercial and institutional site development along with various residential design projects in private practice.  A graduate of the University of Arkansas, Melissa has taught classes there as an adjunct professor.  She has worked in the role of Planner, Designer, and Project Manager during her 24-year career.  She has experience with site analysis and planning, trail design, tree preservation and mitigation, commercial site development, planting design, irrigation design and rooftop garden design.  She is currently licensed in Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma.  She especially likes mentoring students and young professionals and being involved in ASLA.  She was Trustee for the Arkansas ASLA Chapter from 2004-2008 and is glad to be back in the leadership role for her chapter.  In her free time, she enjoys being a mom to her eight year old son, spending time with her family and staying active.

Boston | Cheri Ruane, FASLA,

Boston Chapter

With 25 years of experience, Cheri’s career has included public service, private practice, and academia. During her tenure at Weston & Sampson quickly rose from Senior Landscape Architect to Vice President and Practice Leader of Landscape Architecture. As president of the Boston Chapter, she improved the visibility of landscape architecture throughout the Commonwealth and increased the relevance of the chapter among Massachusetts and Maine practitioners. A compelling speaker with an engaging sense of humor, Cheri has been sought after as a spokesperson in academic, professional, and advocacy settings, as well as by the media and volunteer organizations. From PBS’s “Need to Know” to Architectural Digest, Cheri has used these opportunities to ensure that landscape architecture is better understood by the public. During her design work at Lincoln Park in Somerville, Massachusetts, she led her team, the city’s residents, and local students to develop a park to enrich the community, provide much-needed fields and play spaces, and enhance the neighborhood’s sense of place. A dedicated ambassador for the profession, Cheri elevates landscape architecture within her firm, across the industry, and among the public.

California Northern | Amy Cupples, ASLA,

California Northern Chapter

California San Diego | Patricia Trauth, ASLA,

California San Diego Chapter

Ms. Trauth is the Associate Principal for RICK Engineering and manages landscape architectural services and staff in their ten offices throughout the western region. As a licensed landscape architect in California, a certified planner and a LEED accredited professional, she has planned and designed numerous public and private projects.

Ms. Trauth was elected Trustee for the San Diego Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects, she was President in 2014 and has been actively involved in the organization for a number of years including two terms as Vice President. In 2015, she was appointed by the governor of California to the Landscape Architects Technical Committee that regulates the profession throughout the state. She was reappointed earlier this year.

 Ms. Trauth graduated from Bowling Green State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Design and a Bachelor of Science in Education. She has a Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of Arizona.

California Sierra | Andrew Wickham, ASLA,

California Sierra Chapter

Mr. Wickham is Project Leader at LPA, a national integrated design firm.  Andrew’s primary focus at LPA is to design at the intersection of built, cultural, and natural systems.  He is a champion of integrated design and works closely with the project team to lead the design of enriching outdoor environments which extend the indoors and bring nuanced social and cultural opportunities to users.  He has experience working at all scales of projects, from planning to implementation.  His interest lies in how the blending of built elements with the natural environment can enhance a user’s experience and reinforce values of equity, ecology, and curiosity.  Andrew is a proven thinker and strategist, leading workshops at several C.A.S.H. and California Green Schools conferences about the importance of performative landscapes to the student experience.  His passion for evidence-based design, education, and sustainability come through in every project he works on, big or small. Through the years, he has served on several local and national committees, and has held several positions on the California Sierra Chapter Executive Committee including President and Vice President.  As a proud alum, he serves on the Landscape Architecture Department Advisory Council at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.

California Southern | Baxter Miller, ASLA,

California Southern Chapter

Baxter Miller founded BMLA, Inc., in 1987 and is responsible for the overall operation and design direction of the firm.  He has led a wide variety of projects and has practical knowledge in design which helps him to work with developers, cities, and agencies in creating a unique vision that translates into real world projects.  Baxter is investing in the future of the profession through his various positions with ASLA leadership at the national, state, and local level, including the ASLA Membership Committee, ASLA Nominating Committee, President of the California Council, and President of the Southern California Chapter.  He speaks regularly at conventions and universities, juries for design awards, and is currently serving on the advisory council for Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Landscape Architecture Department Advisory Council, Cal Poly Pomona Landscape Architecture Professional Advisory Board, Corona Partners for Parks Foundation, and the Riverside County Flood Control District.

Colorado | Robert Berg, ASLA,

Colorado Chapter

Robb Berg is a principal with Design Workshop where he has been practicing planning and landscape architecture for over 15 years.  He is a CLARB Certified Landscape Architect and is currently registered in Colorado and Texas. Robb is honored to be an active member of the Colorado Chapter and as Chapter Trustee he will work to make it a relevant member’s organization that can provide inspiration, strengthen professional relationships, and provide recognition of the profession within the community. Since 2001 he has served on the Chapter Board as Events Chair and Denver Director for a number of years. Most recently Robb served as Chapter President in 2014 and was a Co-Chair for the 2014 National Meeting in Denver and a member of the ASLA Annual Meeting Educational Advisory Committee. He is excited to serve the Chapter again in this very meaningful way.  

Connecticut | W. Phillips Barlow, ASLA,

Connecticut Chapter

Phil is a landscape architect with over 30 years of professional experience, founding TO Design LLC in 1987, where he continues to practice today. Phil currently serves as Principal Landscape Architect of the firm, with an emphasis on the design of public spaces, schools, parks and the renovation of historic landscapes.

His projects have been recognized with almost two dozen awards from institutions including the Connecticut Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, Connecticut Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects, Connecticut Chapter of the American Planning Association, The Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation, and the National Concrete Masonry Association.  

Phil is an advocate for our profession, currently serving on the Connecticut State Board of Landscape Architects and as Editor of the Chapters magazine.

Florida | David Flanagan, ASLA,

Florida Chapter

Georgia | Kevin Burke, ASLA,

Georgia Chapter

Mr. Burke is the Principal Landscape Architect for Atlanta BeltLine Inc. and has thirty-five years of professional experience on a range of institutional, roadway, college and university, residential, and park projects. He oversees most day-to-day design and construction efforts for all public open spaces of the project. Currently, he is the Construction Manager for the 3 mile Westside Trail and assists with the 1.5 mile extension of the widely popular Eastside Trail. He was the lead organizer of ABI’s Annual Organic Land Care Symposium which sought to inform the public and practitioners about the path towards a more sustainable way of maintaining our public spaces. Mr. Burke has a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree from Utah State University.

Hawaii | Judith Stilgenbauer, ASLA,

Hawaii Chapter

Judith Stilgenbauer, ASLA, is a Professor at the University of Hawaii School of Architecture, where she serves as the founding Director of the Master of Landscape Architecture program. Prior to joining the faculty at UH, she taught at UC Berkeley's College of Environmental Design for nine years. Stilgenbauer is a past-president of the Hawaii Chapter of ASLA. As a registered landscape architect (Germany), she is frequently invited to serve on professional awards juries and has published and lectured widely. In her applied research Judith Stilgenbauer examines the role of process, performance and placemaking in ecological urbanism and public open space design across diverse spatial and temporal scales. In recent years, Stilgenbauer’s work has focused on urban land-water relationships and adaptive design for coastal resilience.

Idaho/Montana | John Roters, ASLA,

Idaho/Montana Chapter

John Roters, ASLA, PLA, is a principal in the firm South Beck & Baird Landscape Architecture, P.C. located in Boise, Idaho. John earned a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree from the University of Idaho.  He has over 22 years’ experience within the field of Landscape Architecture.

South Beck & Baird Landscape Architecture works on a wide variety of projects including health care facilities centered on master planning and design, land planning, recreation design and transportation planning.  John is passionate in the field of eminent domain and has been an expert witness in hundreds of condemnation cases, striving to help the private landowner.

As advocate for landscape architecture, John has been involved in multiple positions within local boards and focus groups with a hope to further the profession in the eye of the public and help better promote a sustainable future. 

Illinois | Bradley McCauley, ASLA,

Illinois Chapter

As the Managing Principal at site design group, ltd., Brad’s mastery of contract documentation and community engagement has produced countless iconic open spaces. His extensive knowledge in transforming design into buildable projects and theory into practical business applications has helped facilitate the seamless construction of numerous award-winning projects throughout the Midwest. His projects include urban waterfronts, streetscapes, residential, urban parks, playgrounds, open space design in both the public and private sectors, and projects seeking various green and sustainable certifications. Brad’s leadership is exemplified through his position as the current Trustee and Past President of the Illinois Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects, as well as his service on ASLA’s Member Services Committee.

Indiana | Jonathon Geels, FASLA,

Indiana Chapter

As principal at Troyer Group, a multidisciplinary landscape architecture and engineering firm, Jonathon has established a purpose driven approach to every project with a distinctive commitment to people and experiences.  As his role has expanded, Jonathon’s emphasis on adaptive and hyper local practice provides leadership across disciplines to each of the firm’s regional offices. His design ethic and process seek to solve emergent problems by connecting people to new ideas through research and activism. He has been a consistent member of the Indiana Chapter over the last decade, having served two terms as President. He also is a member of the national Government Affairs Advisory Committee and founder of the Midwest Joint Licensure Caucus.

Iowa | Pat Dunn, ASLA,

Iowa Chapter

Pat Dunn, ASLA, is a Principal with RDG Planning & Design and has nearly 30 years of experience working within the following 10 states where he currently holds Landscape Architecture licenses:  Connecticut, Florida, Iowa, Illinois, Louisiana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.  He holds a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from Iowa State University, and being the first LEED® accredited Landscape Architect in the State of Iowa, he has a long history of challenging his teams to integrate green systems in creative ways.  Pat has served the Iowa Chapter of ASLA in various roles and was honored to preside over the Chapter during ASLA's Centennial, during which the following very special places in Iowa received medallions:  ISU, Backbone State Park, Eagle Point Park, Loess Hills, and Neal Smith Wildlife Reserve.  In 2011, he received the Governor's Volunteer Award in conjunction with his service on the Iowa Main Street Advisory Council and continues to prioritize historic preservation by serving on the Warren County Historic Preservation Commission.

Kentucky | Jon Henney, ASLA,

Kentucky Chapter

Jon Henney, ASLA, has had a 34-year career in landscape architecture that has covered a broad array of both public and private sector practice.  After serving 11 years on the staff of Louisville, Kentucky’s planning commission, he is currently a principal with Gresham, Smith and Partners, an award winning, multi-disciplinary firm providing design services in 8 markets and 25 offices.  He earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Kentucky and holds a Master’s Degree in Regional Planning from the University of Massachusetts.  Jon’s professional body of work has focused on community planning and design, were he’s led a wide array of small area plans, streetscape design, parks and open space planning, as well as site design for a broad range of residential, commercial, office and mixed-use developments.  He has been involved with ASLA both locally and nationally throughout his professional career.

Louisiana | Daniel McElmurray, ASLA,

Louisiana Chapter

Danny McElmurray is the Chief Landscape Architect for the City of New Orleans Department of Parks and Parkways. He has worked as a department leader at local and regional public agencies as both an AICP Planner and a Landscape Architect in Louisiana, Georgia, and South Carolina. Currently licensed in Louisiana and Texas, his private practice experience has included design leadership at firms in Louisiana and Nevada on a wide range of projects in Alabama, Arizona, California, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, Texas, and Utah. Danny has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Master of City and Regional Planning from Clemson University, and a Master of Landscape Architecture from the Robert Reich School of Landscape Architecture at Louisiana State University. Danny has previously served as Trustee and newsletter editor for the Nevada Chapter, and currently serves as chair of the recently reinstated State of Louisiana Landscape Architects Selection Board. 

Maryland | Om Khurjekar, ASLA,

Maryland Chapter

Om Khurjekar is a Principal of Hord Coplan Macht, with over nineteen years of experience in designing public parks and plazas, interpretive play environments, park structures, college and university campus landscapes, hospitality and entertainment projects, and urban projects.His work has won numerous awards and has been recognized by Maryland and Potomac chapters of the ASLA, Preservation Pennsylvania, the Maryland Recreation and Parks Authority and LUXE interior design magazine. In 2010 he was awarded the Alumni of the Year-Presidential Award of Excellence by the Morgan State University, where he completed his master’s in landscape architecture. He is a licensed architect in India and a licensed landscape architect in the state of Maryland.He has lectured at Morgan State University and serves as a design critic at both Morgan State University and University of Maryland College Park.

Michigan | Chester B. Hill, ASLA,

Michigan Chapter

Chester Hill, ASLA, served as President, Secretary, and Treasurer of the Michigan Chapter close to 30 years ago.  As a strong advocate of the American Society of Landscape Architects for his entire career, he believes that there is no more important organization for the protection and advancement of the profession than ASLA.

Born and raised in Michigan, he received his BS in Landscape Architecture from MSU in 1970.  After a yearlong sojourn in Vietnam, his career path took him through Midwestern Consulting Inc., the City of Ann Arbor Parks Department, William J. Johnson Associates, and Peter Walker William Johnson and Partners.  During this time, he attended the University of Michigan where he received his Master of Landscape Architecture degree in 1989.  In 1992, he, along with his good friend and business partner Mark Johnson, founded the Johnson Hill Land Ethics Studio in Ann Arbor for which he continues to work on a limited basis.

Minnesota | Tom Whitlock, ASLA,

Minnesota Chapter

Tom Whitlock, ASLA, is owner of Damon Farber Landscape Architects, a 17-person firm based in Minneapolis that specializes in the design of places that artfully blend the ecology of a site, it’s cultural history, and the needs of its clients.  Tom is an active member of the Minneapolis community serving on the boards of the Minneapolis Downtown Council and the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce.  He is an original member of the Imagine the Possibilities program, established in 2012 that provides mentoring for middle school students in underserved populations.  He works with 5-7 students each year to provide them a glimpse into the profession of landscape architecture.

 He is also an active member of ASLA having served as the Minnesota chapter president in 2004 and has supported many of his staff over the years to give of their time and talents on the chapter executive committee and other ASLA events.

Mississippi | Jim Jackson, ASLA,

Mississippi Chapter

Nebraska/Dakotas | John P. Royster, FASLA,

Nebraska/Dakotas Chapter

John Parke Royster’s involvement in ASLA began early and has continued throughout his career. He joined ASLA shortly after completing his MLA degree at Kansas State University, in 1983.  John held every elected position in the Great Plains Chapter, as well as served on and chaired several chapter committees, prior to becoming a Trustee. An advocate for landscape architecture, John spent 15 years on the Nebraska State Board of Landscape Architects, working on professional licensure issues. His on-going advocacy for our profession prompted his involvement in several statewide organizations, which he ultimately served as board president. Understanding the need to nurture the next generation of landscape architects, John has enjoyed his role as a mentor at three university programs. John founded Big Muddy Workshop, Inc. in 1990 to provide master planning, landscape architecture and green infrastructure design. The firm is respected for its technical excellence, and innovative design.

Nevada | Lucy Joyce, ASLA,

Nevada Chapter

Lucy B. Joyce, PLA, ASLA, originally received a BS degree in Forest Management but later decided landscape architecture was her passion and went back to school while her daughters were still small, not realizing the challenges of obtaining licensure with two very involved kids. After working in private practice, she was hired by the Nevada Department of Transportation to help implement their newly instituted Landscape and Aesthetics Program, becoming the Landscape Architect Supervisor after three years and for the next ten years managing the program, retiring last year. Lucy, in her tenure at NDOT, passionately promoted Landscape Architecture as a profession, recognizing the importance of aesthetics as well as sustainable design.  She believes sustainable practices such as low impact development as well as applying sound and enduring design principles are an essential component of public transportation spaces.   During her tenure with the NDOT, she was selected to participate in the Certified Public Manager (CPM) program, obtaining her certification in 2014.

Currently, Lucy is the “Subject Matter Expert” on a National Council on Highway research Projects (NCHRP) project, investigating “Leading Landscape Design Practices for Cost Effective Roadside Water Management.” She loves the outdoors at all times of the year, enjoying hiking, biking, swimming and gardening.

New Hampshire | Randy Knowles, ASLA,

New Hampshire Chapter

Randy E. Knowles, ASLA is a licensed landscape architect in the states of New Hampshire and Maine.  With nearly 40 years in the design field, Randy is Vice President of Planning and Design at the Dubay Group in Windham, NH. Current projects range from commercial site planning and residential design to master planning with local municipalities and state planning commissions. Known for his unique presentation graphics, prior to joining The Dubay Group, Randy was in private practice for 17 years.

Before serving his recent term as president of the New Hampshire Chapter, Randy was part of the team that fought to establish state licensure in 2006 for landscape architects. He is also an active member in PlanNH, a non-profit group whose mission is to "foster excellence in planning, design and development of New Hampshire's built environment."

In his spare time, Randy is an award-winning artist and painting teacher.

New Jersey | Jan Saltiel Rafel, ASLA,

New Jersey Chapter

Jan Saltiel Rafel, LEED AP, LLA, ASLA, is principal of Edgewater Design LLC with over 35 years of experience in the design and planning of landscapes and urban spaces.  Starting her career in New York City working on parks, corporate and residential estate planning, she has continued to work on all sectors of landscape architectural design with the firm she founded in 1989 – Edgewater Design.  For the past 20 years, Jan has had an emphasis on public landscapes in New Jersey and New York working with state universities, public school playgrounds, parks and plazas.   Her focus on sustainable landscapes currently includes work on several green infrastructure projects including a central stormwater project for Rowan University in Glassboro, NJ and bioswales in downtown Yonkers, NY.

In addition to her private practice, she has guided Edgewater Design to participate in pro-bono community projects such as public-school gardens, municipal rain gardens and the design of a township’s 9-11 memorial.

New Mexico | Jitka Dekojova, ASLA,

New Mexico Chapter

Jitka Dekojova, ASLA, SITES AP, is trained both as a landscape architect and an environmental planner. She is well equipped to balance both aesthetics and ecology in landscape design. While emphasizing adaptive reuse and green infrastructure, Jitka also takes into account the ephemeral phenomenological aspects of the urban environment: the need for whimsical elements, the joy of unexpected discovery in everyday urbanism, the advantage of flexibility in planned spaces, and the importance of mix of people to bring vibrancy into urban spaces. Jitka is a former president of NMASLA (The New Mexico Chapter of The American Society of Landscape Architects), and works at Dekker/Perich/Sabatini – a multi-disciplinary design firm with offices in AZ, NM and TX. She writes for Zahrada Park Krajina, a Czech landscape architecture magazine and enjoys hiking, wine tasting and aimless travelling. 

New York | Jennifer Nitzky, ASLA,

New York Chapter

Jennifer Nitzky, ASLA, RLA, ISA, is a landscape architect and certified arborist with extensive experience in urban design, parks & playgrounds and green infrastructure, and is skilled in a community-oriented planning and design process leading workshops, design charrettes and hands-on activities. She is Vice President of Landscape Architecture at B. Thayer Associates, a multi-disciplined firm based in New York where she leads the Long Island City office. Jennifer is an instructor in the Landscape Design Certificate Program at NYBG and serves on Manhattan’s Community Board 7. She has been involved in ASLA since graduate school, serving on several committees for both the Illinois and New York chapters, is a two-term past president of ASLA-NY and is part of the ASLA Public Awareness Coalition.

With a passion for expanding awareness of the profession, Jennifer is a strong advocate for landscape and environmental issues through social media outlets. Her love for plants and life-long play is a driving force for inspiration and spiritual balance in life – taking a break from the hustle of city living to experience natural and designed landscapes whenever possible. Jennifer grew up in Michigan, earned a B.S. Architectural Design at Bowling Green State University in Ohio and Master of Landscape Architecture at Ball State University in Indiana.

New York Upstate | Joy Kuebler, ASLA,

New York Upstate Chapter

Joy Kuebler has over twenty years’ experience and is President of Joy Kuebler Landscape Architect, PC an award winning landscape architecture and planning firm based in Buffalo, NY. Joy’s notable work includes the development of community participation and engagement services utilizing social science, team building games and exercises which she calls PLAYCE. Joy has been an active member of the NY Upstate Chapter since 2000 and has served actively with the Executive Committee since 2004. She led the chapter as president from 2014-2016 and was named the Ellen Biddle Shipman Distinguished Practitioner for Private Practice by the chapter in 2016. Joy has also served two terms on the national Government Affairs Committee and is now a member of the Leadership Development Committee.

North Carolina | Brian Starkey, ASLA,

North Carolina Chapter

Brian H. Starkey, PLA has practiced landscape architecture for 35 years and has served as Principal of obs landscape architects in Raleigh NC for the past 24 years.  He has been previously involved in NCASLA serving in a number of positions including president in 2012.  Brian was also a member of the NC Board of Landscape Architects for ten years (1994-2004) serving as chair for 6 years.  He has also been involved in several City of Raleigh Commissions including Appearance, Arts, Public Art and Design Board and the Environmental Advisory Board. 

 Brian is a graduate of the landscape architecture program at West Virginia University and spent three years studying and practicing in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

The focus at obs landscape architects is public spaces including parks and civic spaces as well as urban planning and design.  Outside of the profession Brian enjoys traveling, food, and music.

Ohio | Nick Gilliland, ASLA,

Ohio Chapter

Oklahoma | Jeff Pugh, ASLA,

Oklahoma Chapter

Jeff Pugh, ASLA, is a registered landscape architect in Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, Arkansas and New Mexico. He is a Principal / Owner in Szafranski-Pugh & Associates, Inc. in Tulsa, Oklahoma. His firm works on a wide variety of projects including small to massive residential,  playgrounds, municipal, sports facilities, site planning, college campus master plans and large commercial developments.

Jeff has been involved with ASLA from student activities in the mid 90’s to OKASLA positions beginning with Member-at-Large, President Elect, President and Past President.

As Trustee of OKASLA, Jeff is eager to contribute his knowledge of ASLA and its processes to further the development of this program and the profession of Landscape Architecture in the State of Oklahoma.

Oregon | Jean Senechal Biggs, ASLA,

Oregon Chapter

Jean Senechal Biggs, ASLA, is a Senior Project Manager at DKS Associates, a transportation consulting firm headquartered in Portland, Oregon. She has made transportation the focus of her career and frequently finds herself bridging the gap between planning and engineering. Before joining DKS in 2017, Jean spent 20 years at the Portland Bureau of Transportation planning, designing and building transit and transportation projects. She is passionate about building livable communities and the transformative power of walking, biking and transit. A Boston native, Jean earned her Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from the University of Oregon. She previously served as the ASLA Oregon Chapter’s President, President-Elect, and Education Chair. Jean is a member of ASLA’s Licensure Committee. In 2017, she received an ASLA Outstanding Service Award in recognition of her work as the Communications Coordinator for the Transportation Professional Practice Network.  

Pennsylvania/Delaware | Adam Supplee, ASLA,

Pennsylvania/Delaware Chapter

Adam Supplee has actively volunteered with the Pennsylvania – Delaware Chapter since taking on the Eastern Pennsylvania Section chair position in 2005.  After serving as section chair, Adam served 6 years in the positions of President, President-elect and past president.  As a licensed landscape architect, certified planner, and LEED AP, Adam has been co-owner of KMS Design Group, a small planning and design firm in Phoenixville, PA for the past ten years.  In addition to volunteering with ASLA, Adam serves on several boards, appointed commissions, and volunteer roles including the Phoenixville Area Economic Development Corporation, planning commissions, policy committees, and a volunteer-run tourist railroad.

Potomac | Rob Tilson, FASLA,

Potomac Chapter

Prairie Gateway | David Contag, ASLA,

Prairie Gateway Chapter

David Contag, ASLA, lives in Overland Park, Kansas, and is currently trustee of the Prairie Gateway Chapter.  He has served ASLA as Community Assistance Team coordinator for the 1992 Annual Meeting, and more recently served as president of the chapter.  He is a Senior Associate at DLR Group and is licensed to practice landscape architecture in 10 states.  His work includes design and planning in the following market sectors: K-12 and Higher Education; Hospitality; Retail; Work Place; and Athletic Facilities.  He graduated from Iowa State University with a bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture and has over 36-years’ experience.  He has been married to his wife Laurie for 38-years and has two grown children: a daughter who is an artist focusing on urban design and cultural values; and a son who is a civil engineer in water treatment.  He enjoys plant identification, hiking, snow skiing, traveling to different countries; and motorcycle touring with his wife.

Rhode Island | Jenn Judge, ASLA,

Rhode Island Chapter

Jenn is a registered landscape architect in Rhode Island and Connecticut.  She has been a registered Landscape Architect for the past eleven years and has been a practicing landscape designer for the past nineteen years.  She is currently the Principal of her landscape architecture firm, Gravelly Hill Design Group LLC, in Wakefield, Rhode Island which provides landscape architecture services for residential, commercial and corporate and clients in the healthcare industry. 

South Carolina | Holley Bloss Owings, ASLA,

South Carolina Chapter

St. Louis | Scott Emmelkamp, ASLA,

St. Louis Chapter

Scott V. Emmelkamp, ASLA, PLA, LEED AP is a principal at the landscape architecture and urban planning firm Planning Design Studio, LLC located in St. Louis. His over 25 years of professional experience includes a variety of projects types including military planning, parks and recreation, greenways, trails, master planning and theme park design completed all over the world. Mr. Emmelkamp is licensed to practice landscape architecture in four states. He is a Board member of the Open Space Council, Chair of the Washington University in St. Louis Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts MLA Professional Advisory Council and a Past President of the Professional Advisory Board for the Fay Jones School of Architecture in Fayetteville, Arkansas. For many years he has volunteered for community clean ups and invasive species removal events. He was valedictorian of the Fay Jones School of Architecture where he received his Bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture.  

Tennessee | Larry Mizell, ASLA,

Tennessee Chapter

Larry Mizell, ASLA, is a graduate of Louisiana State University with a BSLA, and has been practicing landscape architecture for over fifty years. He has worked in Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi and now in Tennesee. In Louisiana, he was Planner-in- Charge of Community Planner, Inc. – a multi-disciplinary firm providing, planning, Landscape Architecture, Architect and Engineering. In Mississippi, Managing Partners of Anglin, Griffin, Mizell Associates – primary a planning and Landscape Architecture firm working on large scale land use developments. Larry was one of the original organizers of the Mississippi Chapter and held one of the first licenses in that state. Larry has been active in chapter leadership in all of these states.

Texas | Timothy W. May, ASLA,

Texas Chapter

Tim May has served the Texas Chapter as Treasurer, President-Elect, President, and now as Trustee. He has represented the Chapter on numerous occasions with the National ASLA and other Chapters across the country.  Throughout his volunteer service, Tim has contributed to the Chapter’s fiscal strategy of responsibility, sound decision-making, and accountability. With the Texas Chapter, Tim has been active in numerous national, state, and local advocacy decisions, as well as organizational structure and implementing diverse methods for communicating effectively with the Chapter membership. After graduating from Kansas State University, Tim has spent his entire professional career consulting in the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas. He currently serves as Director of Landscape Architecture & Planning for Teague Nall and Perkins in Fort Worth. In his spare time, Tim enjoys time spent with family, his Scottish Terriers, travel, photography, and community volunteerism.

Utah | Tina Gillman, ASLA,

Utah Chapter

Vermont | Gail Henderson-King, ASLA,

Vermont Chapter

Gail Henderson-King, PLA, ASLA, is a registered landscape architect in Vermont. She currently works for White + Burke, where she uses her landscape architectural and planning skills for assisting clients with developing creative projects. Gail is committed to development solutions while maintaining professional integrity and respect for the environment and surroundings. With extensive background in the public and private sectors, she is able to effectively navigate through all phases of permitting from public presentations to resolving sensitive issues.  

She currently serves on the State Office of Professional Regulations Landscape Architectural Panel, is the VTASLA HALS Liaison and committee member, and chair of the Shelburne Tree Advisory Committee. Ms. Henderson-King holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Ecology from College of the Atlantic and a Masters degree in Landscape Architecture from Cornell University. In her spare time, she enjoys running, gardening, hiking, yoga, and hanging out with her family.

Virginia | Shawn Balon, ASLA,

Virginia Chapter

Shawn is a Project Manager at Timmons Group in Richmond, VA. His experience as a landscape architect has helped him achieve a variety of success in non-profit, educational, and public/private design environments. Shawn’s fourteen plus years of professional experience includes work with a variety of award-winning firms in Florida, Texas, Washington, DC, Virginia, and Beijing, China. Most recently, his primary focus includes the design of urban spaces, public parks, and mixed-use developments in Virginia.

In the non-profit sector, Shawn developed and managed strategic efforts to increase awareness of landscape architecture as a career path to diverse student groups and developed Professional Practice Network (PPN) programs at ASLA. He also served as an adjunct professor at the George Washington University and Reynolds Community College.

Shawn has been an active member with the Potomac Chapter and Virginia Chapter as a Member-at-Large and Section Chair. Shawn graduated from Clemson University with a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture Degree and received a Master of Science in Urban Design Degree from the University of Texas at Austin.    

West Virginia | Tom Hall, ASLA,

West Virginia Chapter

Wisconsin | Jonathan Bronk, ASLA,

Wisconsin Chapter

Washington | Marieke Lacasse, ASLA,

Washington Chapter

  Marieke is on her first term on the Board of Trustees for the Washington Chapter. She has served as chapter president and has been working within WASLA for multiple chapter committees and as member at large. Marieke graduated from the Université de Montréal and is licensed in Washington and California. She has over 19 years of experience and is a principal in a multi-disciplinary firm, GGLO, headquartered in Seattle. She is accustomed to large integrated design teams with heavily involved community participants. The resulting spaces garner awards for their playfulness, highly sustainable features, long-term site stewardship and promotion of health and active living. Marieke’s studies abroad have given her an appreciation of history and culture, as well as bold contemporary designs and avant-garde concepts. She is active in her neighborhood and the community-at-large, with involvement in past and present efforts related to parks, P-Patches, and gardens. Marieke is a strong supporter of environmental and sustainability causes, affordable housing, and social equity. 

Tyler Richburg, ASLA, National Associate Representative

Tyler is an emerging professional working in Texas since his graduation from Auburn University. His work has carried him across multiple sectors throughout the state and he now resides in Central Texas working with Covey Landscape Architects. Tyler has served on multiple ASLA national committees since graduating from Auburn in 2015. His current role on the ASLA Board of Trustees as liaison for the Associate Advisory Committee is something he takes great pride in, serving as the voice for the next generation of landscape architects within our profession and society.

Jacoby Gonzales, Associate ASLA, National Student Representative

Jacoby Gonzales, Associate ASLA was born in San Antonio, Texas, and attended Oklahoma State University in pursuit of his Bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture. Jacoby served two years as the Student Chapter President while simultaneously serving on the national Membership Services Committee (MSC), Emerging Professionals Committee (EPC) and the Student Advisory Committee (SAC). After graduating from OSU, he moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma to work for the landscape architecture firm, Alaback Design Associates, as a Landscape Designer assisting with commercial, residential, multi-family, and public and park projects. He has maintained the momentum he had as a student and transferred it to his new position and to his State Chapter where he now sits as the Emerging Professionals Chair and the Associate-At-Large. He is very excited to work in this profession and is looking forward to putting his own mark on nature and society.

Stephanie Rolley, FASLA, LAF Representative

Barbara L. Deutsch, FASLA, LAF Representative