Board of Trustees

Emily O'Mahoney, FASLA, President-Elect

As an activist, advocate, and passionate landscape architect, Emily O’Mahoney, FASLA, has used her leadership positions to develop quality continuing education programs, remove barriers to practice, mentor students, and provide encouragement and support to emerging professionals with the LARE Review Course. She is also actively involved in ACE Mentorship, ACE Legacy and FLAA (Future Landscape Architects of America) to support career discovery. It is the growth of the profession that fuels her commitment to serve aspiring landscape architects and emerging professionals. She was recognized for her professional service to the Society as the 2016 recipient of the ASLA Outstanding Service Award. The award recognized Emily’s exceptional volunteer spirit and many years of service.

Emily received her BLA from the University of Florida and has been in private practice since 1980. For the last 20 years she has been a Partner at 2GHO in Jupiter, Florida, planning and designing award winning and sustainable spaces, places, and communities. Emily and her husband Brian raised three wonderful children and are blessed with five grandchildren and her daily walking partner, one crazy golden retriever.

Tom Mroz, FASLA, Immediate Past President

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.

Adrian Smith, FASLA, Vice President, Professional Practice

Adrian Smith, FASLA, has called New York City home for over 30 years. After graduating from Penn State, he developed his skills working for several award-winning private firms, including Sawyer|Berson and EDAW in New York, and Reed|Hilderbrand in Boston. He created landscapes for college campuses, museums and residential clients in the US, and for housing developments, resort towns, and college campuses in Egypt, Libya, and Oman. Currently working in the public sector at NYC Parks, his team of over 20 landscape professionals, designs and builds the parks on Staten Island, including Freshkills Park and the resiliency measures along the island’s south shore. 

Adrian’s volunteer service reflects his core belief in the power of landscape architecture to transform communities. Growing up on a dairy farm, he learned early that people have a powerful connection to the land. At university, he learned the importance of a strong professional network. As ASLA NY’s president and two-term trustee, he employed these ideas to help build a vibrant community of landscape architects in NYC. 

Ebru Ozer, ASLA, Vice President, Education

Ebru Özer, ASLA, is an associate professor at Florida International University and a co-founding principal of LandscapeDE. She has over 20 years of experience in design practice and 15 years in academia. She earned an MLA from Louisiana State University, a BArch from Dokuz Eylül University, and a diploma in Physics from Ege University. She is also currently a Ph.D. candidate in civil engineering, completing her dissertation on climate-conscious stormwater infrastructure design.

Özer devotes majority of her time to educating the next generation of landscape architects. Her teaching efforts have been recognized with many awards and honors, including the FIU Faculty Senate Teaching Medal in 2015 and the FIU University Top Scholar Award in 2020.

Ozer is a board member and registered ACE mentor at ACE Miami where she helps with career development and recruitment by sharing her passion for landscape architecture through weekly teachings at local high schools. She has been part of the ASLA Florida’s executive committee for over a decade and is currently chairing its ACE Legacy Project.

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.

Joy Kuebler, ASLA, Vice President, Government Affairs

Joy Kuebler, ASLA, PLA, is an award-winning professional with more than 20 years’ experience.  A Cornell University landscape architecture graduate, Joy participates in Cornell’s Professional Practice course, is a Student Awards Competition juror and participant in the Applied Economics and Management Department’s entrepreneur video interviews.  Joy’s ASLA leadership began with her service as 1996 ASLA Student Chapter Co-President.

  Joy founded Joy Kuebler Landscape Architect in 2013. JKLA has won more than two dozen design and practice as well as accolades recognizing Joy’s leadership and passion for her practice. JKLA continues to evolve to include highly interactive site analysis and community engagement platforms.

Joy exuberantly shares her love of design. Her Summer Shadowing program has provided more than 25 students from a variety of universities as well as local high schools immersive, practical experiences. Joy began teaching as an adjunct in the SUNY Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning in spring 2020.

Brad McCauley, ASLA, Vice President, Membership

  Brad McCauley is the Managing Principal at site design group, ltd. (site), a landscape architecture firm based in Chicago. Brad, a graduate of the University of Illinois oversees the management and operation of the diverse 26-person firm. He has contributed to over 65 professional awards at the firm, including 26 ILASLA project awards, 1 National ASLA project award, and 3 ILASLA service awards. Brad is actively involved in a number of professional and service organizations, including serving on the Stewardship Council of the Cultural Landscape Foundation and the University of Illinois, Department of Landscape Architecture Resource Committee. He is the former Chair of the Consortium for Design and Construction Careers, and has a long history of service with the American Society of Landscape Architects. 

Brad strongly feels that his professional development and involvement with ASLA, coupled with a bit of hard work and dedication, have directly impacted one another. His two terms of service as trustee taught him that leadership is not about yourself, but rather an ability to empower, excite, and elevate others. This knowledge contributed to his elevation to Managing Principal in 2017. Since then, he has helped grow the firm to include an inter-disciplinary collaborative of talented professionals comprising more than 50% women and minority team members.  
 

Tamas Deak, FASLA, Vice President, Finance

 A passionate and larger-than-life personality, Tamás Deák came from Budapest, Hungary in 1991 with an architecture master’s degree in hand to pursue a Master’s in Landscape Architecture at the University of Georgia. His interest was in systems-based design and planning, sustainability in development and green architecture.

After earning his MLA, he moved to the Great Land in 1994 seeking adventure in both his professional and personal life. He has been practicing in Anchorage, Alaska ever since. He has been the landscape architect in-responsible charge at KPB Architects since joining the multidisciplinary design firm in 2002. Many of his projects have received local, state, and regional landscape architectural and architectural awards for design, planning, and research, although he is principally interested in applying his technical design skills on built projects, particularly affordable housing.

Tamás has been consistently called to serve on public boards and commissions to lend his expertise to the Anchorage community serving as the only, and often the first landscape architect. He led the municipal Platting Board, the Housing and Neighborhood Development Commission and currently serves on the Watershed and Natural Resources Advisory Commission and the Board of Adjustment. He was inducted into the ASLA Council of Fellows in 2020.

Torey Carter-Conneen, Chief Executive Officer

Torey Carter-Conneen joined ASLA as Chief Executive Officer in August 2020. He has served in executive leadership roles for companies ranging in size from $7 million to $750 million in annual revenues and staff of nearly four hundred. Prior to joining ASLA, Torey served as Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. Prior to his leadership at AILA, Torey was the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Center for American Progress (CAP), COO and later Acting President and CEO at the LGBTQ Victory Fund and Institute, Divisional Controller of MV Transportation--a privately held North American transportation management corporation--and an auditor at a CPA firm.

Torey is a proud alumnus of George Mason University, where he earned degrees in economics and accounting. He later attended the University of Maryland Global Campus where he obtained an M.B.A. with a concentration on global business management and emerging markets.

Torey is also a volunteer member of ASAE’s Executive Management Professional Advisory Council and sits on the executive committee of the board for Shepherd’s Table--a community organization in Silver Spring, Maryland, providing food and support to people most in need. He also serves on the board of the American Immigration Council.

Torey and his husband Mike are fathers to two amazing children, Drew and Aiden.

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 is nearing the end of his second term as a Trustee.  He has previously served the Alabama Chapter as president, secretary, newsletter editor, and 10 years as the Twin States Conference bookkeeper. 

Stephen spent the first five years of his career creating outdoor living spaces for high-end residential clients in New Orleans and across the Gulf Coast under the guidance of René J. L. Fransen, FASLA. After Hurricane Katrina, Stephen relocated to Birmingham.  Now a partner at Renta Urban Land Design, he has completed a wide variety of projects including streetscapes, parks, and higher-education projects, over a dozen of which were designed to achieve LEED certification. 

Stephen holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Auburn University. He is a CLARB Certified landscape architect with active registrations in Louisiana and Alabama. He has presented educational sessions at ASLA’s Annual Meeting (2011), Cities Alive (2014), the Vectorworks Design Summit (2015 and 2018), and LABash (2017), and numerous others.

Alaska | Jonny Hayes, ASLA,

Alaska Chapter

Arizona | Ken Brooks, FASLA,

Arizona Chapter

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, FASLA,

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 | Gretchen Wilson, ASLA,

Colorado Chapter

Connecticut | Barbara Yaeger, ASLA,

Connecticut Chapter

Florida | David Flanagan, ASLA,

Florida Chapter

David Flanagan, PLA, ASLA, is the Practice Leader in the Kimley-Horn office in St. Petersburg, Florida with 34 years of experience as a landscape architect and site planner. His primary areas of expertise are in urban design, park planning, and sports architecture. David has built his practice in St. Petersburg over the past three decades and continues to shape the vision and growth of the Tampa Bay area through his projects and community involvement. His comprehensive portfolio of signature public and private sector projects includes the St. Petersburg Pier Park and the Tampa Riverwalk. As ASLA Florida Chapter President he effectively improved the visibility of the profession, grew membership, and established the Florida Career Discovery Scholarship which is awarded annually to students at the two landscape architecture programs within the state of Florida. David continues to serve on the ASLA Government Affairs Advisory Board and is sought after as a spokesperson in academic, professional, and advocacy settings related to our profession. He treats every project as a unique opportunity to thoughtfully shape the way we live, work, and play, while unifying the built and natural environments and creating memorable and meaningful places.

Georgia | Todd Hill, ASLA,

Georgia Chapter

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 | Alan Watkins, ASLA,

Illinois Chapter

Alan Watkins is an account representative with Clarence Davids & Company and an adjunct instructor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He earned a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a Master of Business Administration from Northern Illinois University. His responsibilities at Clarence Davids & Company entail developing and maintaining business relationships with current and prospective clients as well as managing landscape construction and landscape maintenance projects. He is actively involved in a variety of professional organizations. He served as President of the Illinois Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects in 2016, is currently serving as the Chairperson of the University of Illinois Department of Landscape Architecture Resource Committee and is also an active member in the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association.

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 | Michael Gaunt, ASLA,

Iowa Chapter

Kentucky | Amin Omidy, ASLA,

Kentucky Chapter

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 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 | Benjamin Baker, ASLA,

Michigan Chapter

Minnesota | Joni Giese, ASLA,

Minnesota Chapter

Mississippi | Jim Jackson, ASLA,

Mississippi Chapter

Nebraska/Dakotas | Chad Kucker, ASLA,

Nebraska/Dakotas Chapter

Nevada | Barb Santner, ASLA,

Nevada Chapter

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 | Michele Palmer, ASLA,

New York Upstate Chapter

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 | Geoff Evans, ASLA,

Oklahoma Chapter

Oregon | Jean Senechal Biggs, ASLA,

Oregon Chapter

Jean Senechal Biggs, ASLA, is the Transportation Planning Manager for the City of Beaverton, Oregon. She has made transportation the focus of her career and frequently finds herself bridging the gap between planning and engineering. She is passionate about building livable communities and the transformative power of walking, biking and transit.

Jean is a champion of ASLA’s partnership with the National Park Service Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program (NPS RTCA). Through the partnership, she supported the Oregon Chapter’s participation in community-based design projects for the Yamhelas Westsider Trail in Yamhill County, the Barnes Butte Recreation Area in Prineville, and the Lewis and Clark Trail in Vancouver, Washington. In 2017, she received an ASLA Outstanding Service Award in recognition of her work as the Communications Coordinator for the Transportation Professional Practice Network. Jean has served on the Oregon Chapter’s Executive Committee since 2014 with roles as Education Chair and Chapter President, before becoming Trustee in 2017. A Boston native, Jean earned a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from the University of Oregon.

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 | Nathan Socha, ASLA,

Rhode Island Chapter

South Carolina | Holley Bloss Owings, ASLA,

South Carolina Chapter

St. Louis | Christopher Moon, ASLA,

St. Louis Chapter

Tennessee | Allen Jones, ASLA,

Tennessee Chapter

Texas | Vaughn Eric Perez, ASLA,

Texas Chapter

Utah | Bryce Ward, 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 the Executive Director at Storefront for Community Design, a non-profit design center in Richmond, Virginia. He has worked in the design, education, and non-profit sectors throughout the U.S. His experience as a landscape architect and urban designer 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 Washington, D.C. and Richmond.

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, advance equity and inclusion best practices for the profession, and update 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 | Todd Schoolcraft, 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. 

Maria Maurer, Associate ASLA, National Associate Representative

Madeline Kirschner, Student ASLA, National Student Representative

Monte Wilson, LAF Representative

Barbara L. Deutsch, FASLA, LAF Representative