Editorial Board

Colin Alley

Associate, BCV ARCHITECTS

Career Stages

Colin Alley, AIA, LEED AP has over 17 years of experience as an architect, practicing in Arizona and California. Having spent the majority of his professional career on the development of mixed-use, urban infill projects exemplified by their "social spaces," he is well-versed in the concepts of place-making, and bringing a human scale to large projects. While nearing the midpoint of his career, Colin serves as a fulcrum between the experienced, design-savvy generation of architects ahead of him, and the technologically adroit generation behind him. Colin received his M. Arch from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, and has served as Director of Planning and Urban Design at BCV Architects in San Francisco, California for the past 11 years.

Shobhit Baadkar

Principal, Titan AEC

Integrated Practice/IPD

John Benware

Architect, JFBjr Architect, P.C.

As a Project Architect, John Benware, Jr., AIA, is responsible for all facets of project delivery, from schematic design through construction services. Throughout his career, John has explored the use of various technologies to improve and inform the efficiency of the design delivery process, including the evolving building information modeling systems. John also participates in many architecture-related volunteer local boards and committees.

Philip Bona

AIA, Principal, Baucentrum Urban Studio

Integrated Practice/IPD

Phil’s passion for architecture and construction began when he started designing and building model cities as a boy. Through his work, teaching, mentoring, lecturing, writings, research and systems development, Mr. Bona is a licensed architect in California and respected and award-winning leader in the business of architecture, planning and construction. Recent leadership roles include Chair of buildingSMARTalliance San Diego, Chair of AIA San Diego Urban Design Committee, member of San Diego Association of Governments Public Health Stakeholders Group, member of San Diego Downtown Education Taskforce, member of AIA’s Technology in Architectural Practice Knowledge Committee and Adjunct Faculty member of NewSchool of Architecture & Design, San Diego, CA. Phil has also served as a Principal at Baucentrum Urban Studio, a planning and architecture firm in San Diego. Phil received his M’Arch. from University of California, Berkeley.

David Brotman

FAIA, Principal, Sunset Consultants

Integrated Practice/IPD

David J. Brotman, FAIA, is founder and principal of Sunset Consultants, a firm that provides strategic, integrated services to developers, architects and other professional real estate-related firms. Prior to founding Sunset Consultants, David served as Vice Chairman and Executive Vice President of RTKL Associates Inc. Having practiced nationally and internationally for 40 years, David has earned a worldwide reputation as an authority on mixed–use and commercial architecture and has used his experience to provide litigation assistance. David holds a B. S. in Architecture from the University of Cincinnati and has taught at the university level. He is frequently a speaker at real estate development conferences and a regular contributor to national and international journals. David has served as a California Regional Director on the National Board of the American Institute of Architects

Stephan Castellanos

DCA

Governmental Affairs/Advocacy

Steve has practiced architecture in his hometown of Stockton, CA for the last 35 years with his wife and partner, Linda Derivi, AIA, focusing on a wide variety of building types including education, government, healthcare and work for non-profit organizations.
Steve has been involved at all levels of the American Institute of Architecture leadership, serving as a director from his local chapter to the AIA California Board, an AIACC Vice President, two terms as an AIA national Director, AIA national Secretary, and AIACC president.
In 2000, Governor Gray Davis appointed Steve to serve as California State Architect. During his tenure, Steve worked to streamline school plan review, established a green schools initiative in concert with the Collaborative for High Performance Schools, and created the Excellence in Public Buildings Program, and was instrumental in developing California’s Integrated Project Delivery initiatives.

Michael Chambers

Architect, MCA Specifications

Codes / Specification

Michael Chambers, FAIA, CSI, is Principal of MCA, a consultng firm that provides quality assurance/peer reviews, specification consulting and coordination support for a wide variety of projects. As an architect and specifier, Michael develops and presents a wide range of continuing education programs for design professionals, especially on the use of specifications in enforcing design intent and using Division 01 to protect design concepts from substitutions and quality assurance failures. As an accessibility surveyor, Michael has extensive experience in reviewing disabled access issues and universal design. Michael is an architectural graduate of the University of Southern California, a Fellow of AIA and CSI, a past Chair of the national AIA/CES Providers Council, and past Vice-president of the Specification Consultants in Independent Practice (SCIP). Michael is currently Vice President for Professional Practice for AIA California Council.

Karen Compton

Principal, A3K Consulting

Marketing & BD

As a Business Development consultant, Karen Compton brings a focused approach based on a thorough understanding of the A/E/C environment and needs and expectations of the client. Her integrated approach of business management and business development has resulted in increased revenues of as much as 20% and the alignment of long- and short-term business goals and objectives for a variety of firms. Karen has served as Director of Business Development and Director of Marketing for small companies, mid-sized, multi-office firms and national and international corporations. Karen holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Mount St. Mary's College in Chemistry where she currently serves as a member of the Board of Regents; and an Advanced Management Certificate from the University Of Southern California. In November 2008, Xlibris Publications released her first book, "The Prospector: A Guide for Developing Clients and Winning Work in a Competitive Environment".

Mitch Conner

Principal Architect, ArchiLOGIX

Practice Management

As a registered architect based in Sonoma County, California, Mitch Conner, AIA, has enjoyed a variety of clients and work relationships. A nationally recognized leader in fire station design, Mitch's expertise includes urban design, wineries and mixed-use developments as well as a blend of public and private projects, including commercial, manufacturing, hospitality and civic projects. For nearly seven years, Mitch taught classes for the fire service throughout California on topics ranging from facility programming, design, long-range planning, and project and budget management. Mitch received his Bachelor of Architecture from Montana State University.

Elise Drakes

Project Coordinator, TAYLOR

Career Stages

Elise Drakes, Assoc. AIA is an architecture graduate from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and has four years of experience in healthcare architecture. She is experienced in construction administration, OSHPD coordination, medical equipment planning, and programming. Elise is involved in several practice areas within TAYLOR, including women's health, children's health, and ambulatory care. In addition to organizing philanthropic endeavors at TAYLOR, Elise is extensively involved in the community. She has been involved with non-profits such as Art and Creativity For Healing, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Project Tomorrow, and the Make-a-Wish Foundation. She is a mentor at Jordan High School, Cal Poly Pomona and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. She is currently an MBA '13 candidate at Chapman University.

David Ericksen

Esq., Severson & Werson

Practice Management

David A. Ericksen is President of the law firm of San Francisco-based Severson & Werson, which employs over 110 attorneys with three California offices, and leads the firm’s Construction and Environmental Practices. For nearly twenty years, David has represented architects, engineers, construction managers, design-builders and other construction professionals. His expertise covers all aspects of such professional practice as lead litigation and trial counsel. David serves as an active resource for and as a trusted resource to design and construction professionals and their insurance carriers across the US. David graduated from Boalt Hall School of Law, Univ. of CA, Berkeley, is a former law clerk to the Washington State Supreme Court, and a member of numerous construction and environmentally-related professional organizations. Mr. Ericksen is a frequent speaker at professional organizations such as AIA, SEA, ACEC, CSI and others, and provides in-house training seminars for firms.

Ezequiel Farca

CEO, Chief Creative Officer, Ezequiel Farca

Lisa Gelfand

FAIA, Principal, Gelfand Partners Architects

Sustainability

Lisa Gelfand, FAIA, LEED AP, is the Founding and Managing Principal of Gelfand Partners Architects in San Francisco, and a principal of Roesling Nakamura Terada Architects in San Diego. Both practices are leaders in sustainable, energy-efficient design, affordable and special needs housing, educational facilities and commercial projects. At Gelfand Partners, Ms. Gelfand has designed or supervised the design of over 34 education projects and over 2,500 units of affordable housing created primarily through the adaptive reuse of existing or historic buildings. Lisa is the principal author of Sustainable School Architecture, Wiley and Sons, 2010, and co-author of the forthcoming Wiley title Sustainable Renovation. She has practiced in New York and Utah and held faculty appointments in New Zealand, Univ. of California at Davis and Univ. of Utah. Lisa is a frequent lecturer and writer. She received her M.Arch. from Yale in 1978.

Janis Kent

AIA, CASp Architect, Stepping Thru Accessibility

Accessibility, Design

Janis Kent, AIA, CASp, has over 25 years of experience as an architect in California. In addition to her experience in architecture, interiors, construction, risk analysis and ADA/FHA accessibility, she is certified with the California Certified Access Specialist program. Using her experience in working with diverse clientele, Janis has acquired extensive familiarity with building codes and regulations as well as sustainable design and procedures. Janis received her M. Arch from the University of California, Los Angeles and is currently Principal of Stepping Thru Accessibility in Long Beach, California. She is also the Founding President of the Certified Access Institute in California.

Rena Klein

FAIA, Principal, RM Klein Consulting

Practice Management

Rena M. Klein, FAIA, is Principal of RM Klein Consulting, a Seattle-based firm offering strategic planning and management coaching to owners of small design firms. She is the author of The Architect's Guide to Small Firm Management, published by Wiley in 2010. Rena is a member of the AIA's Practice Management Knowledge Community's Advisory Group and is co-executive editor of AIA's Architects Handbook of Professional Practice, 15th edition, slated for release in 2013. Rena regularly presents seminars and workshops on small firm practice at AIA Conventions and to various AIA Knowledge Communities. Rena's 20+ years of experience as a small firm owner and her engaging approach to professional education has helped architects nationwide achieve success in their practices

Evelyn Lee

EcoLuxLife Consulting

Sustainability

Evelyn Lee, AIA, LEED AP has over 10 years of experience in the architecture profession.  An avid writer, Evelyn has contributed more than 500 articles to both web and print media regarding sustainable design, architecture and planning.  She is a senior editor for Inhabitat, (www.inahabitat.com) one of the leading weblogs on sustainable design receiving more than 5 million hits a month and more than 200,000 subscribers to its weekly newsletter.  Evelyn received her B. Arch with honors from Drury University where she minored in global perspectives and photography and her M. Arch from the Southern California Institute of Architecture

Mike Leinback

FAIA, JML Architects

Construction Techniques

In July 2010, after 30 years in the practice of architecture (18 as the principal of a small architectural firm), J. Michael Leinback, joined the firm of Randall Scott Architects of Dallas as the director of a new satellite office located in Tyler, Texas. In recent years, Leinback developed a informal consortium of architects, designers, and building modelers, located throughout the country, who collaborate remotely to develop various small projects while utilizing BIM software applications. Leinback has been privileged to share this concept through presentations at various AIA events and Revit User Groups.

Ted Levin, Esq., P.E.

Partner, Morris Polich & Purdy LLP

Governmental Affairs/Advocacy

Ted Levin is a Partner at Morris Polich & Purdy LLP where he serves as a practice group leader for design and construction attorneys. He is both a practicing lawyer and registered civil engineer, and specializes in the representation of architects, engineers, contractors, owners and insurers in all aspects of construction law, contract and defect claims, risk management, contract analysis and advice, and mechanics lien/design professional law. Ted has lectured and written extensively on a broad range of topics including design professional and construction risk management issues, legal developments affecting the design and construction industries, sustainable/"green" design, project delivery methods strategies including Integrated Project Delivery and Building Information Modeling, ownership of design professional plans and designs, and insurance issues affecting the construction industry.

Michael Malinowski

AIA, President, Applied Architecture Inc.

Practice Management

Michael F. Malinowski AIA has led Sacramento-based Applied Architecture, Inc for 35 years. His design credits include historic adaptive reuse of Sacramento's most blighted property, Globe Mill, transforming an abandoned industrial site to mixed income/age/use transit oriented housing. Michael specializes in residential affordable housing, single family; urban infill/mixed use and strip commercial façade updates. As an AIA member since 1975, Mike was elected VP Communication in 2010 for the AIA California Council. Other service stints include leading the AIA Central Valley Sacramento's Preservation Commission, Design Commission and founding its groundbreaking Development Oversight Commission. In 2009 Mike received the AIA Grassroots Excellence Award for Individual Contribution for his work on Virtual Meetings.

Branka V. Olson

Principal, Sindik Olson Associates

Integrated Practice/IPD

Branka V. Olson, AIA, CID is principal of Sindik Olson Associates since 1989. Branka integrates her expertise in core & shell and interior architecture into a holistic understanding of project criteria and delivery methods. Branka’s primary professional focus has been in architectural pre-design and post-occupancy services, which inform design and planning solutions that meet the needs and expectations of clients, users and communities. Branka’s contribution to successful project delivery is to define a sustainable metrics, based on a “Metabolic Workplace Model” (MWM), that delivers solutions which can be successfully implemented and validated over the life of the project. Branka has a Master of Architecture from University of Michigan and a B.S. in Architecture and Interior Design from University of Illinois.

Jason Pierce

Architect, HOK

Career Stages

Jason Dale Pierce, AIA, LEED AP, has been working with Emerging Professionals even before graduating from Drury University with his professional Bachelors of Architecture in 2000. Former Vice President, Academy of Emerging Professionals, AIA California Council, he was instrumental in creating a cohesive organization that leveraged professionals across experience levels to address mentorship, career development, and architectural licensing. Jason currently serves as the AIA Young Architects Forum Regional Liaison Advisor, using his experience to assist others in developing programming for the next generation of design professionals. Jason lives in St. Louis, Missouri where he is a project architect with HOK.

Miguel Rodriguez

Principal, Rodriguez Architects, Inc.

Integrated Practice/IPD

Miguel Rodriguez, FAIA, is the founding partner of Rodriguez Architects, Inc., located in downtown Coral Gables, FL. The firm serves clients regionally and specializes in office, retail, hospitality, K-12 education and industrial facilities. Mr. Rodriguez has “hands-on” construction experience and is a recognized expert in the American with Disabilities Act, the Florida Accessibility Code for Building Construction, the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards and the Fair Housing Act. Miguel is also an expert on professional practice and standard of care issues and has consulted on the Florida Architectural Practice Act and the Florida Building Code. Miguel received his professional degree from the University of Miami in 1981, holds licenses in several states and teaches practice related topics at both the University of Miami and the Florida International University Schools of Architecture. He regularly delivers continuing education courses on the AIA documents, Professional Ethics, Practice issues, the Florida Building Code, the ADA and the Fair Housing Act to fellow professionals, nationally. Miguel has contributed to the accreditation review of national universities and serves as a Director on the Board of the National Architectural Accrediting Board. His professional and civic service includes leadership at all levels of the AIA, serving as Component and State President, as Regional Director and most recently as Vice President of the Institute.

Henry Siegel

Siegel & Strain Architects

Sustainability

Since the early 1990s, Henry Siegel, FAIA, LEED AP, has championed the idea that ecological design and design excellence are inseparable; he has put that idea into practice as lead designer of many award winning Siegel & Strain projects.  He is past chair of the COTE National Advisory Group and active at the national level in advocacy for sustainable design.  Henry has taught sustainable design and design studios at the University of California, Berkeley, and is a past member of the University's Design Review Committee. He has spoken widely on ecological design and the work of the firm at national conventions and universities, and has served on many national and regional architectural awards juries.

Alex Spilger

LEED AP, Principal, GreenStep

Sustainability

Alex Spilger, LEED AP, is President & Founder of GreenStep and the Director of Sustainability at BCCI Construction. He has worked on over 50 diverse LEED projects and taught over 100 green building workshops through organizations such USGBC, AIA, Sustainable Building Advisors Program and the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business. Alex has also developed curriculum for UC Berkeley Extension where he teaches a 6-week LEED Project Management course. His experience includes facilitating LEED-charrettes, researching green building technologies and policy, and guiding projects through LEED Certification.

Alex holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from UCLA, is an active member of the Northern California Chapter of the USGBC and serves on the USGBC Corresponding Committee for LEED-EBOM. Alex is a LEED Accredited Professional with specialties in BD+C, ID+C & EBOM. Hei s also a USGBC NCC Faculty, a Certified Green Building Professional, an AIA Continuing Education Provider, HERS Rater.

James V. Vitale

, AIA, LEED AP, CASp, Senior Architect, DSA

Marketing & BD

James V. Vitale, AIA, LEED AP, CASp, RCI, is an adjunct professor in the Construction Technology Department at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, California, and an architect with over four decades of diversified public and private sector experience. James is a lecturer, curriculum development specialist, subject matter expert to the state architect, a DSA Academy Trainer, a Certified Access Specialist "CASp-007," a Registered Construction Inspector and expert witness, and maintains an extensive research library focusing on past and present methods and means of construction, building codes and the ADA .

Allyne Winderman

Director of Housing and Redevelopment, City of West Hollywood

Design

Allyne Winderman, AIA is the Director of Housing, Rent Stabilization and Redevelopment for the City of West Hollywood. She has practiced in the public and private sectors including the office of Arata Isozaki in Tokyo. Her fields of specialization include affordable housing, preservation and urban design. She has been visiting faculty at the schools of architecture at USC, Sci Arc, and Cal Poly Pomona, is a frequent lecturer and has published articles here and in Japan. Allyne received her BA in fine arts from University of Hawaii, and a Master of Architecture from Columbia University.