Design Review - Boards & Staff

Dennis is a Research Analyst for the Transportation Security Administration, a small business owner and a retired Army officer. He earned a Bachelor of Computer Science from Prairie View A&M University before completing Master of Science degrees in operations research/systems analysis from the Florida Institute of Technology and in professional studies/publishing from The George Washington University. Mr. Comer is the program manager for the Central Area Collaborative, a member of the Central Area Land Use Committee, and participated in the development of the newly adopted Central Area Design Guidelines.

Azzurra is a Landscape Architect at Gustafson Guthrie Nichol where her design process focuses on incorporating history, culture and ecology during concept development, design development, and construction documentation. She previously worked as a designer at PROAP Arquitectura Paisagista in Portugal and supplements an interdisciplinary background with professional writing and volunteering. She is an active volunteer on the Africatown Preservation & Development Association. Ms. Cox holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Studies and a Master of Landscape Architecture, both from Harvard University. She lives in Lower Queen Anne.

Jeffrey is an Architect at LMN Architects. His nearly 30 years of experience as a manager and project architect have included multifamily, single-family, civic, educational, and hospitality projects. He completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at the University of Utah before earning a Certificate of Urban Design and a Master of Architecture from the University of Washington. Mr. Floor has lived in the Central District for the past 23 years. During this time, he has become involved in community life by serving as the chair of the Central Area Land Use Review Committee and has participated in the Central Area Collaborative which worked to develop the Central Area Design Guidelines.

Sharon is a principal at Fivedot Architects where she oversees public and non-profit work. Her background is in architecture that specializes in public, civic work, and non-profit community healthcare clinics. She holds a Master of Architecture from the University of Washington and a Bachelor of Arts from Lehigh University. She has served her community extensively by serving on the Southeast Design Review Board and the Central Area Land Use Review Committee, and chaired the Central Area Collaborative that developed the Central Area Design Guidelines. Ms. Khosla lives in the Central Area with her family.

Kenny owns Global Investor Solutions, a real estate investment business with a mission to preserve and restore community, promoting real estate rehabilitation and development. He is also a licensed real estate broker at Re/Max. He sits on the Board of Directors for the Seattle King County Realtors - Young Professionals Network. Mr. Pleasant is a founding board member of the Africatown Community Land Trust and was previously a member of the East Design Review board. He lives in the Madrona neighborhood.

Ed is a licensed Architect at Perkins+Will where he works on the design of institutional, commercial, office, and multi-family residential developments. He holds a master's degree in Architecture from the Southern California Institute of Architecture and a bachelor's degree in Architecture from Syracuse University. Ed lives in the Arbor Heights neighborhood in Southwest Seattle. He is affiliated with the U.S. Green Building Council and American Institute of Architects, and has served as a Steering Committee member at United Way King County, a guest architecture critic at the UW and WSU Schools of Architecture, and on the Board of Directors at the Baltimore Architecture Foundation and American Architecture Foundation.

Aaron is a Landscape Architect at Hough Beck & Baird Inc. His projects are mostly public and include small pocket parks, higher education institutions, and large-scale infrastructure projects. He is also a lecturer at the University of Washington. Aaron received a master's degree in Landscape Architecture and a historic preservation certificate from the University of Washington and a bachelor's degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Idaho. His extensive public service commitments include serving on the Seattle Landmarks Historic Preservation Board for 8 years, first as a Get Engaged member and later as board chair.

Grace has been a resident of the downtown neighborhood since 2001 and lives near our beloved Pike Place Market. She is an architect and the owner of Studio MGL. She is a board member with the Pike Market Child Care and Preschool (a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization). a steering committee member with Parents for a Better Downtown Seattle, and a task force member with Seattle Public Schools. She has a Bachelor of Science in Art and Design from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Master of Architecture degree from the University of Washington. Previously, she worked as an architect with Weinstein Architects + Urban Designers and with The Miller Hull Partnership. Both firms are located downtown and have portfolios that include civic, educational, residential, mixed-use, and office projects. Grace is dedicated to living in the diverse downtown neighborhood with her family.

Belinda is a Senior Vice President of Development with Bentall Kennedy, a real estate investment company. Her work focuses on residential, office and industrial projects and she previously worked extensively on hotel development. She holds a Master's in Business Administration from the University of Washington and a Bachelor of Architecture from Washington State University. Belinda lives in the Green Lake neighborhood. She has volunteered with the Burke-Gilman Place Public Development Authority and served as board member with The Children's Center. She is LEED AP certified.

Aaron recently received his Masters of Architecture from the University of Virginia and is currently working at LMN Architects. During his time at UVA, he developed a pedagogy of cross-disciplinary design advocating that urban design, landscape architecture and architecture are all vital to the success of any project and urban infrastructure. Aaron strives to involve himself in youth education and outreach programs, such ACE Mentoring, CIRT, and Rebuilding Seattle Together. Being raised in a multicultural home with a sibling with special needs, Aaron often finds himself advocating for equity and social justice in all things he is involved with. Aaron lives in the Queen Anne neighborhood.

Matt is an economic development specialist for the Downtown Seattle Association. In this position, he manages and supports a team that is coordinating and planning various projects across King County. Matt holds a Bachelor's degree in Operations Management and a Certificate in Urban Planning from the University of Cincinnati. He additionally studied abroad in Europe and India to learn more about design and planning practices. Matt lives in the Capitol Hill neighborhood.

Betsy is a Senior Planner for Bellevue Parks and Community Services, where she develops the department's long-range planning and policy documents. Previously, she served as a Landscape Architect at the National Park Service's Pacific West Regional Office, where she prepared planning documents, site plans, and resource studies for parks along the West Coast and in the Pacific Islands. She draws on her past experience as a residential landscape designer and landscape historian, having worked for Exteriorscapes LLC in Seattle and the National Trust's Plant Conservation Programme in the UK. Betsy lives in the Admiral neighborhood. She regularly writes about urban design issues for Landscape Architecture Magazine and presents her original work at conferences. She received a Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of Washington and a Bachelor of Arts in French Studies from Smith College.

AJ is an Architect and project designer at HOK where his experience spans a wide range of project types including aviation, civic, institutional, commercial, technology, and justice. Previously, he was a design architect at Perkins+Will and contributed to the design of the Burke-Gilman Trail and Life Sciences Building at the University of Washington. He holds a Master of Architecture degree from the University of Washington and a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Nevada. He also has professional experience in landscape architecture and finds inspiration in the landscape of his native Hawaii. AJ lives in Capitol Hill.

Melissa is a licensed architect who currently practices as an urban designer/planner with NBBJ in South Lake Union. She works on a wide variety of projects, including the development of digital planning tools for healthcare and academic master plans, mixed use development, and civic work for various sized municipalities. She recently completed a fellowship to study high speed rail systems throughout the world, focusing on their impact on urban places. She holds a Master of Architecture in Urban Design from Harvard University, a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Tennessee, and a Certificate in Design Education from the Boston Architectural College. She has also enjoyed positions as a studio instructor at Harvard University and the University of Tennessee, and as lead faculty at the Boston Architectural College. Melissa lives in Capitol Hill.

Alistair is a Senior Development Analyst at Bentall Kennedy, a real estate development company where he oversees capital funding for a nation-wide portfolio of real estate assets under development. He was previously the founder and architect of BAKOKO Design Development based in Tokyo, which focused on single-family residential and tenant improvement projects. Alistair earned an architectural diploma from the Architectural Association in London before completing a master's degree in Real Estate from the University of Washington. Alistair has spoken professionally on the issues of housing design, affordability, and economics to the Wall Street Journal, CNN and NPR, and has presented lectures before the Urban Design Institute and Harvard's Graduate School of Design. He has additionally edited the architectural journal A+U (Architecture + Urbanism). He lives in Capitol Hill.

Andrew works as a Project Manager and Ecologist at Seattle City Light, implementing the fish and aquatic measures required by Seattle's FERC License for operating Boundary Dam on the Pend Oreille River in eastern Washington. He previously worked for Snohomish County as Principal Habitat Specialist and the Tulalip Tribes as an Ecologist. Andrew has lived in the Capitol Hill neighborhood for the past 25 years and is active in the community. His educational background includes a MA in public administration from the University of Washington and BS in environmental studies and BA in economics. He also served as the Chair of the Snohomish Basin Salmonid Recovery Technical Committee for a decade and their ran monthly stakeholder meetings, which were open to the public, so he has extensive experience in the forum of public meetings.

Carson is an applied researcher working as a Research Analyst with the Research and Policy Lab at The National Trust for Historic Preservation in Seattle. In this position, Carson maps, analyzes, and inputs data into various reports for evaluation and design planning. Carson is an advocate for built infrastructure and political systems that advance equity and sustainability in cities. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Geography and GIS from Middlebury College. Carson lives in the Leschi neighborhood.

Brian is a Landscape Architect at Site Workshop. He has previously worked at the offices of Schack A+D, Gustafson Guthrie Nichol and GGLO here in Seattle. His portfolio includes several parks, civic open spaces and mixed use development. Brian lives in the Pinehurst neighborhood in NE Seattle. He educational background includes a Masters in Landscape Architecture, from Ball State and a Bachelors in Public Affairs Environmental Science at Indiana University.

Dan Rusler is a licensed Architect at Workshop AD, a small design firm with projects spanning a wide range of geographies and scales. He was previously a project designer at Mithun Inc. Dan has experience in teaching architecture at the University of Oregon as a design studio mentor and at Washington State University as a visiting instructor in the School of Design and Construction. He has been a visiting critic locally at Cornish College of the Arts and the Art Institute of Seattle. Dan earned a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Oregon after he received an Architectural Technology Diploma from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. He is involved with the local community through youth hockey coaching and serves on the Hearing, Speech, and Deaf Center's PTA. He lives in Seattle's North Beach neighborhood with his wife and three young children.

Katy is a Planning Analyst with the Seattle Planning Commission. She also owns a bar/restaurant in the Maple Leaf neighborhood. She has previously worked as a Land Use Planner with the City of Seattle and as a Project Planning Associate at the NW Center for Livable Communities. Her work has included guiding applicants through the design review process, conducting Land Use reviews, and drafting design guidelines used to shape Seattle communities. Katy lives in the Ravenna neighborhood in Northeast Seattle. She has considerable community leadership experience including as the Young Professional Representative of the WA State American Planning Association Board and as the Continued Education Coordinator at the Office of Planning and Community Development. Katy holds a master's degree in Urban Design & Planning from the University of Washington and a bachelor's degree in Landscape Architecture from The University of Wisconsin.

James is a project manager at Touchstone, a development firm that focuses on urban in-fill office, hotel, and multifamily development. While passionate about business finance, he is also very interested in urban place-making and the public process. Originally from Boise, Idaho, he lives in the Capitol Hill neighborhood after relocating to Seattle from California. James' educational background is in business administration with an emphasis on finance.

Anita is a Green Building Specialist with the U.S. Green Building Council, guiding design and construction professionals on green building certification for development around the world. She is a LEED AP and WELL AP. Anita previously worked as a sustainability consultant and project manager at Paladino and Company where she specialized in designing green building programs for portfolio owners. Anita received her Master's in Building Science from the University of Southern California and a BS in Mathematics from the University of Minnesota. As an avid urban explorer, she sat on the Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee while living in Princeton, New Jersey. Anita lives in the Wedgwood neighborhood.

Andy is a developer at HAL Real Estate where he leads the design and entitlement processes, attends community meetings, and directs development activities. His interest in volunteering and public service began when he served as a human rights commissioner for the City of Tacoma. He valued the rewarding process of working with the City and drafting policy recommendations to further the goal of equitability. Andy also has experience leading charrettes in the early stages of project development. Andy attended the University of Washington where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies/Urban Planning before studying finance, economics, and management at the graduate level. He also has a Certificate in Geographic Information Systems. Andy lives in the Broadview neighborhood of Northwest Seattle.

Chris was raised here in the Puget Sound region, but he and his family have recently returned to Seattle after spending the past 15 years living in Europe. Chris is trained in architecture and urban planning and has extensive experience working as the Director of Urban and Regional Design for a large architecture firm on complex mixed-use projects and master-plans throughout Europe, the Middle-East, Africa, and India. He has a small firm here in Seattle and in London providing architecture and urban design consulting services. He has previously served on the Conservation Board with the City of Steilacoom, the Practice and Ethics Committee of the Seattle chapter of the AIA, and the Advisory Board of the Waterford School of Architecture in Ireland. He currently serves on the Honor Awards Committee for the Seattle chapter of the AIA, and resides in the Ballard neighborhood.

Emily is a licensed architect at Grouparchitect, a firm that primarily works on multifamily housing, custom residences, and commercial development. She grew-up in the greater Seattle metropolitan area, has been a Seattle resident for the past 23 years, and has settled with her family in the Ballard neighborhood. She also holds a LEED AP Homes credential and emphasizes the importance of quality universal design. Emily volunteers for local community organizations, such as the Ballard Food Bank and University Unitarian Church, assisting them in their space planning needs. Emily's educational background is in architecture with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Washington and she previously owned her own firm which focused on single-family residential design.

Lauren is a licensed architect at Weinstein A+U. She has previously worked at the DLR Group here in Seattle, and Brereton Architects and Arcsine Architecture in California. Her portfolio includes multifamily housing, fire stations, and rehabilitation projects of historic buildings. Lauren has lived in northwest Seattle for over seven years, first in Fremont and currently in Ballard. She has a Master of Architecture and Certificate of Urban Design from the University of Washington and a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Michigan.

Keith works at nbbj, an architecture firm handling business development strategies for urban planning and design services on a wide variety of projects including health care, higher education, and transportation, both civic and commercial. Keith is trained as an urban planner and an urban design and landscape architect. He has extensive experience working in the field in cities including San Diego, Boulder, and Tucson. Also, included in his experience are inclusivity and diversity training, conflict resolution training, and project management certificate. In addition, he has served on numerous boards and commissions through his career, including the United States Green Building Council, Habitat for Humanity, and City of Tucson Public Art and Community Design Committee. He resides in the Eastlake neighborhood.

Carey is an architect at Weber Thompson, an architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, and urban design firm located in South Lake Union. She has a strong design background including professional work experience with Cutler Anderson Architects, Bosworth Hoedemaker, and John Pawson Design. Her work over the past 14 years has focused on multifamily, commercial, and custom residential projects. Carey cares deeply for community work and has volunteered extensively for many community non-profit agencies including Habitat for Humanity, A Li Mi A for the Crow Indian Reservation, Auburn University's Rural Studio, and AIA Seattle. Carey holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Virginia Polytechnic University and is LEED accredited. She has resided in the Beacon Hill neighborhood for over 10 years.

Jhomar is a Development Manager at Spectrum Development Solutions, a real estate development and advisory company. His work focuses on mixed-use multifamily and student housing, healthcare, and civic oriented projects. Jhomar previously worked for CBRE Commercial Real Estate Services and Skanska USA Building Inc. Jhomar has worked in the local construction and development industry for the past 12 years. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Construction Management from the University of Washington. Jhomar lives in Wallingford.

Charles is a transplant to Seattle who brings with him prior experience in Denver, Colorado and Shanghai, China. He has helped successfully execute projects including education, office parks, commercial, and housing with a focus on community building and sustainable practices. As an architect at VIA Architecture his emphasis is on mixed-use development with an urban planning approach. Charles received a Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design from the Art Institute of Colorado, and holds a Master of Architecture from the University of Colorado at Denver. He resides in South Beacon Hill, and is encouraged to discover opportunities that perpetuate professional practice and the community at large.

Chris is a licensed Architect and general contractor employed by Graham Construction. He has previously worked for FORMA Constructions and SRG Partnership. He holds a bachelor's degree in Architecture from California Polytechnic State University. Chris has worked extensively on K-12 schools and colleges including master and campus planning. His "bilingual" professional background allows him to translate and connect ideas that span the fields of development and design. He looks forward to identifying creative and equitable solutions through design by his participation on the board. Chris lives in the South Beacon Hill neighborhood.

David is a Landscape Architect at Seattle Parks and Recreation, where he designs upgrades to new and existing park facilities and performs public outreach to engage the community in the design process. He earned a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from Ball State University. David lives in Madrona. David has experience with school campus designs, community master plans, and active transportation and streetscape design from his work at the Cascade Design Collaborative. He has also coordinated Safe Routes to School programs in South Seattle and Texas to encourage walking and bicycling among students.

Crystal is a licensed architect at working Mithun. While she has worked on multi-family, retail, restaurant, institutional, workplace, and urban planning projects her primary focus is on the design of people-centered public spaces. She has spent time with continuing education on the topic of placemaking and community based design, and holds Masters and Bachelor's degrees in architecture from the University of Idaho. Crystal has considerable community engagement experience working with the Seattle Architecture Foundation where she has been a committee member, co-chair of the public lecture committee, and now serves on the Board of Directors Executive Committee.

Donald is a Senior Architect at GGLO and previously worked at Integrus Architecture, his own practice, Mithun, and Callison Architecture. His current work focuses on mixed-use and multifamily development and his past work included several schools, student housing, and office projects. He holds a Master of Architecture and a Bachelor of Environmental Design from Miami University in Ohio. He currently resides in the Beacon Hill neighborhood.

Matt is the founder of CAST Design/Build and CAST Architecture. He has practiced architecture in Seattle for nearly two decades, leading community design projects that include the Interbay P-Patch Community Center and the Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza. He has experience with the Living Building Challenge, Passive House, and Builtgreen sustainability standards. Matt received a master's degree in Architecture from Arizona State University and a bachelor's degree in Environmental Design from the University of Colorado. He is actively involved in public discourse having participated in the MHA Focus Groups, AIA Housing Design Forum Committee, and has participated in public charrettes for the Seattle waterfront, Seattle Center Intervention, and Lid I-5 projects. Matt lives in the Admiral neighborhood in Southwest Seattle.

Scott is a Senior Project Manager at SECO Development where he specializes in development of mixed-use buildings with a focus on active, transit-oriented, and sustainable projects. He is also a Landscape Architect and has previously worked at the offices of Hewitt, Karen Kiest Landscape Architects, and Mithun here in Seattle. Scott lives in the West Seattle Junction neighborhood. He received a bachelor's degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Oregon and a Commercial Real Estate Certificate from the University of Washington. His professional affiliations include membership in the American Society of Landscape Architects, NAIOP, and the real estate association The Belden Club where he was previously president.

John is a licensed architect and project designer at NBBJ. His portfolio includes workplace, residential, senior housing, high-rise, retail, hospitality, and mixed-use development. His current work is primarily in Seattle and he draws from an extensive background of regional and international projects, including those in Canada, China, and Hong Kong. John lives in West Seattle. He earned a bachelor's degree in Architectural Studies from the University of Hong Kong before pursuing a Master of Architecture at the University of Oregon

John is a licensed Architect at Jackson|Main Architecture where his work on diverse project includes multifamily housing and commercial development specifically focusing on modular construction. He previously worked as the principle and lead designer at J Arthur Design Corp specializing on residential design, and was the Founder and CEO of Architecture 5¢, a design outreach company based on engaging with city residents about the built environment. John lives in Magnolia. He holds a bachelor's degree in Architecture from the University of Arizona.

Brian is a licensed architect working at Olson Kundig on the design of mixed-use buildings, commercial spaces, and residential projects. He holds Master of Architecture and Bachelor degrees in Architecture from Washington State University. As a Board Member for the Seattle not-for-profit organization Space.City, Brian works to provide events and forums for the discussion of diverse design issues relevant to the community. He considers serving as a Design Review Board member an extension of his interest and experience in improving the built environment. Brian lives in the Belvedere neighborhood of West Seattle.

Homero has almost 20 years working with Seattle area firms focusing on public, transportation, and multifamily projects for the firms of Arai Jackson, Selkirk Miller Hayashi, and Johnson Architecture & Planning. He is currently running his own firm and resides in Magnolia. He's a graduate of Cal Poly Pomona in Southern California where he focused his studies on affordable housing in diverse and dynamic urban environments. As a native of Argentina, he speaks various languages. He enjoys cycling and is interested in native gardening, construction, and all things vintage.

Stephen is a Development Manager with Skanska USA Commercial Development in South Lake Union. His work places a high value on the urban fabric and strong urban design. He holds a Master's degree in real estate from Cornell University and studied business at the University of Cincinnati. He previously worked in the financial sector at the US Department of the Treasury before pursuing a real estate degree at Cornell, where he sought to meld his knowledge of business and finance with his passion for vibrant urban places. Stephen lives in Ballard and is excited for the opportunity to provide public service.

Petreese is as Associate Principal at the architecture firm of Bohlin Cywinski Jackson. She is a LEED accredited professional and actively advocates for both good design and sustainability. She received her Master's in Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelors of Arts in Architecture from the University of Washington. Petreese is a former Board member of the Seattle Chapter of the American Institute of Architects and former president of the University of Washington Department of Architecture Professional Advisory Council. Patreese frequently serves on student juries at university architecture programs and as a guest speaker at North Seattle Community College. Ms. Martin and her family have been residents of the Queen Anne neighborhood since 1999.