MOBIUS LA 2009 PRESENTER BIOS (H-P)
Hawkes, Amber
Amber Hawkes - Torti Gallas and Partners, Inc.
(The Space in Between - Designing the Public Street)
Amber Hawkes is an urban planner and designer working in downtown Los Angeles. Amber's work focuses on the social implications of design and her work experience is managing large scale vision and master planning projects and interfacing with members of communities during design charrettes. Amber’s previous work was art and behavioral therapist and youth educator in Mexico and Belize. She studied urban studies at Vassar College in New York and received her Masters in Urban Planning from UCLA. Amber has given talks on urban design at a variety of design and planning conferences.
Hoffman, Karen
Karen Hofmann - Art Center Director of the Color, Materials and Trends Exploration Laboratory
(Designstorm®: Taking Corporate America by Surprise)
BIO COMING SOON…
Hoffman, Sherry
Sherry Hoffman - (M)Arch. branded architectures
(Designstorm®: Taking Corporate America by Surprise)
Sherry Hoffman is a founder of (M)Arch., a firm based in Los Angeles which is engaged in design projects that explore the relationship between architecture and branding. She has a MBA in marketing and international business from NYU and was previously a marketing executive at Universal Studios and an advertising executive at Young & Rubicam. She teaches branding strategies at both Art Center College of Design and Otis College of Art and Design.
Hogan, John V.
John V. Hogan IV, Esq. - Collins Collins Muir + Stewart LLP
(How to Protect Yourself and Get Paid)
John V. Hogan IV is an attorney with Collins Collins Muir + Stewart LLP in the Commercial Transactions and Corporate Practice Department.
Hricak, Michael
Michael Hricak, FAIA - Michael Hricak Architects
(Running a Design Focused Practice Like You Mean It)
Professor Hricak, USC Lecturer in Professional Practice, has been in private practice since 1980, after working for Welton Becket & Assoc. and SOM. Since that time his firm has been honored with numerous awards and has been published in GA Houses, Metropolis, LArca, Interior Design, Interiors, Trends, and Deseno Interior, among others and in numerous books. Mr. Hricak coordinates project team efforts providing direction, analysis, design and construction strategy, and management. He has worked with public, institutional, commercial, industrial and private clients on historic restoration, adaptive reuse and renovation, multi-unit housing, custom residences, office buildings, corporate headquarters, department stores, retails shops, restaurants, and a wide variety of interior design assignments. An AIA Upjohn Fellow, he served as a member of the national AIA Board of Directors from 2001 to 2004. Prior positions include president of AIA California Council. In 1996 he served as president of the AIA Los Angels Chapter. He is frequently invited to speak at conferences, universities and professional meetings and writes on a variety of topics. Mr. Hricak is also a design studio critic and Dean's Distinguished Instructor at UCLA Extension's Arc_ID Program. He recently served as Editor-n-Chief of the Architecture Student's Handbook of Professional Practice, published by John Wiley and Sons, Inc. October 2008.
Johnson, Scott
Scott Johnson, CID, IALD, LEED AP - Wolcott Architecture | Interiors
(Basic Hand-Drawing Techniques for Architects and Interior Designers)
Emmy and Tony nominee for both scenic and lighting design, Scott brings over twenty-five years of experience in all aspects of architectural interior design and lighting design. Scott has designed and overseen a wide variety of project types including office, hotel, civic buildings, entertainment and cultural venues, retail, fitness, and has also provided production and lighting design for Neil Diamond worldwide tours, and stage productions in New York, Los Angeles, and Europe. Scott is a Certified Interior Designer, a professional member of the International Association of Lighting Designers, and is LEED accredited by the U.S. Green Building Council. He is Design Principal at Wolcott Architecture•Interiors in Culver City.
Kadribegovic, Coomy
Coomy Kadribegovic - Davis Langdon
(Can Green Roofs Bloom In The Desert?)
BIO COMING SOON...
Kanschat, Melody
Melody Kanschat - Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)
(Parks Without Borders: Public Park Design Across Agencies, Boundaries and Systems)
Melody Kanschat, President and Chief Operating Officer of LACMA, oversees the day-to-day operation of the museum, with a total annual expense budget of over $60 million and construction projects totaling $338 million over 5 years. She manages senior-level staff in administration, fundraising and external affairs, and is responsible for strategic planning and government relations. She has developed and implemented a multi-phased functional building program and associated capital and endowment fundraising campaigns as well as directed all city, county, state, and federal inter-agency activity in support of capital projects.
Kent, Janis
Janis Kent, AIA, CASp - Perkowitz + Ruth
(Stepping Thru Accessibility for New Public & Private Commercial Buildings per CBC & ADA)
Janis Kent is a licensed architect in the State of California and is the current accessibility specialist for a nationally recognized architectural firm. She has been involved in the world of Accessibility since the 1980's. In addition to managing a variety of architectural projects she has surveyed existing buildings for accessibility compliance, provided quality control for numerous surveys of existing facilities throughout the country; and has been responsible for compiling standard architectural details nationwide.
Kephart, Paul
Paul Kephart - Rana Creek
(Can Green Roofs Bloom In The Desert?)
A trained biologist and dedicated ecologist, Paul Kephart has over twenty years of diverse experience in the field of ecological design. Positioned as one of the leading green roof consultants in the Western Hemisphere, Paul applies ecological design alternatives to conventional development through vegetative building systems. He is recognized as one of the top horticulture experts in California, designing living roofs dedicated to watershed management and corridors for migratory wildlife.
Kimble, Kris D.
Kris D. Kimble, Affiliate AIA/LA - the green hive
(Deconstruction Uncovered)
Business professional for 26 years. Mr. Kimble is the son of parents who recycled, bought health food by the pallet and sought sustainable alternatives “before it was cool”. A graduate of Michigan State University, Mr. Kimble has developed his sales, marketing, management and leadership skills with firms such as IBM, Motorola, and Pagenet. The environmental and energy conservation interest manifested itself in positions with Waste Management, Lighting Technology Services, and Sun Energy Solutions. The entrepreneurial professional development has been in the formation of DDK & Associates, a real estate LLC completing 13 real estate projects and most recently The Green Hive.
Kimm, Alice
Alice Kimm, AIA - John Friedman Alice Kimm Architects
(Integrating Design and Technology: Performance as Paradigm)
Alice Kimm earned a B.A. in Economics in 1986 from Cornell University and an M.Arch. in 1990 from Harvard University. She co-founded John Friedman Alice Kimm Architects in 1996. In 1998 she was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship. Alice has taught design studios at USC, SCI-Arc, and Otis College of Art and Design. She served on the Board of Directors of the AIA/LA and is currently a peer reviewer for the Government Services Administration's Design Excellence Program. In 2008, she was appointed Visiting Associate Professor of Architecture at USC.
Kirkpatrick, Grant C.
Grant Kirkpatrick, AIA - KAA Design Group
(Brand Experience: The Benefits of Integrated Design)
Grant Kirkpatrick, AIA is Founding Principal of KAA Design Group, an integrated design firm specializing in architecture, landscape architecture, interior design and brand experience design. Under the direction of Kirkpatrick and his longtime partners and associates, KAA has built a loyal and passionate clientele who consistently challenge them with high-end projects. In addition to its ever-growing portfolio of widely recognized custom residences and estates, KAA has an extensive collection of boutique commercial work, including Comme Ça, Sashi Sushi & Saké Lounge, Oceana Hotel Santa Monica and Christie’s West Coast Auction House.
Kuharski, Allison
Allison Kuharski, AIA - Screed Architecture
(Trouble In Building Paradise? An Overview of Avoidance and Alternatives In Handling It)
Ms. Kuharski is a licensed architect who has worked at and with the top custom residential design firms in Los Angeles (Hablinski Manion, Kerry Joyce, others) for over 20 years. She transitioned to construction project management with the leading residential construction firm, Quillin Construction, acting as liaison between the design architect, home owner and construction firm. Her critical knowledge of design enables her to translate the design intention of the architect, the requirements of and explanations to the homeowner and work with the contractors and vendors bringing projects to a positive conclusion, the client‚s „dream come true.
Lehrer, Michael B.
Michael B. Lehrer, FAIA - Lehrer Architects LA
(Whose Art is it Anyways?)
Michael B. Lehrer, FAIA, founded his practice, Lehrer Architects LA, in 1985. Practitioner, leader and teacher, he designs for community with a reverence for light, space, and sustainability in the pursuit of beauty and joy. The firm’s internationally published and award-winning work consists of institutional, urban design, residential, commercial, and industrial projects. Michael has won over forty design awards, including honor awards from the national, state, and local chapters of The American Institute of Architects. Michael was President of AIA/LA in 1999. He has been a member of the faculty at USC since 1986, as an Adjunct Associate Professor of Architecture.
Leitner, Martin
Martin Leitner, Assoc. AIA - Urban Studio
(The Space in Between - Designing the Public Street)
Martin Leitner, designer at Urban Studio, has worked on architectural and urban design projects in Southern California and Europe. His experience ranges from the design of residential developments, such as workforce housing for South Los Angeles, to the engagement in urban renewal projects in several German cities. Martin has a particular interest in the design of cities seeing our built environment as the spatial embodiment of life. Martin studied economics at University College London, UK and holds a professional degree in architecture from Bauhaus University Weimar, Germany.
Lillo, Alejandra
Alejandra Lillo, Assoc. AIA - Graft
(Morality and Architecture)
M. Alejandra Lillo received her first professional degree and license in Architecture at the University of Mendoza, Argentina, later pursuing a Masters degree in Architecture at the University of California Los Angeles. As a designer, project architect and project manager she has worked on numerous international award winning educational, institutional, commercial and residential projects while practicing in Canada and the USA. In 2007 M. Alejandra Lillo became Partner for the Graft Los Angeles office.
Lloyd-Simmons, Suzanne
Suzanne Lloyd-Simmons, IIDA - IIDA Associate
(Preservation design IS sustainability: Sustaining historical and environmental integrity in historic districts)
Ms. Lloyd-Simmons has over twenty years experience in architectural interior design, completing over 2 million SF of space for corporate, hospitality and medical projects. Working with historic structures, she has met needs brought about by aging structures in traditional neighborhoods. She is involved with the preservation and heritage movement in the West Adams district where her 1907 home is located. She is Chair of the Adams-Normandie HPOZ DRB and has won awards for her work with historic color. She served as the representative to ENANDC, chairing its Land Use & Planning committee, impacting preservation of residential areas through an Interim Control Ordinance which covered all areas near USC not protected by Specific Plans or HPOZ designation.
Louden, George Taylor
George Taylor Louden, AIA - GTL | HA
(Preservation design IS sustainability: Sustaining historical and environmental integrity in historic districts)
After receiving a BS in Architecture from the University of Virginia in 1976, Taylor Louden apprenticed with a Williamsburg Restoration historical architect. Subsequently earning a Masters in Architecture from Columbia University in New York City, Louden began professional practice with the office of the Dean of the school, working on City landmarks including Carnegie Hall and the Federal U. S. Customs House. After relocating to Los Angeles, he worked with nationally recognized firms in historic preservation practice. Since 2004 he has pursued an independent historical consulting practice, including National Register - listed landmarks such as the Will Rogers Ranch House and the Wadsworth Chapel. Taylor is the chair and the board architect of the Miracle Mile North HPOZ in Los Angeles.
Lubell, Sam
Sam Lubell - The Architect's Newspaper
(Architects and Transit In Los Angeles)
Sam Lubell is California Editor for the Architect's Newspaper. He has written for The New York Times, The New York Times Magazine, The Los Angeles Times, Architectural Record, Architect Magazine, Travel + Leisure, and New York Magazine. He has published two books with Monacelli Press: Paris 2000+ and London 2000+, and this fall will publish Living West: New Residential Architecture in Southern California.
Ma, Qingyun
Qingyun Ma – Dean, USC School of Architecture
(Brand Experience: The Benefits of Integrated Design)
Qingyun Ma became Dean of the USC School of Architecture in January 2007. Previously, Ma founded the Shanghai firm MADA s.p.a.m. in 1996 after practicing with Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates in New York City. Ma also coordinated Rem Koolhaas’ first Harvard Project on Cities, which yielded the 1993 book The Great Leap Forward. The two collaborated on the Central China TV headquarters in Beijing and the Stock Exchange Building in Shenzhen as well. Ma has served as a visiting professor and critic at Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Columbia University among other prestigious institutions.
Magruder, Stuart
Stuart Magruder, AIA, LEED AP - Studio Nova A Architects, Inc.
(The Current State of Water and Power in Southern California)
Stuart Magruder, AIA, LEED, runs a young architecture and design practice in Los Angeles, Studio Nova A Architects, Inc. The firm‚s work includes residential, commercial, and mixed use projects. Of particular interest to the firm is the integration of sustainability with design to create works of lasting beauty and durability.
Malik, Kap
Kap Malik, AIA - Gensler
(The Ritz-Carlton Hotel and Residences, JW Marriott at LA Live and Convention Center at LA Live: Design, Engineering and Construction of a 55 storey Condominium-Hotel)
Kap Malik, principal, is a regional design director for Gensler’s five-office Southwest Region. Working in the Los Angeles office, Kap leads design of large, complex projects, including The Ritz-Carlton Hotel and Residences and JW Marriott at LA Live in Downtown Los Angeles. Kap has also designed several projects for Gensler’s airports and transportation practice including Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, Terminal C at Chicago O’Hare International Airport and the Automated People Mover at MGM MIRAGE’s CityCenter in Las Vegas. Kap believes in idea-driven design that is contextual and appropriate. Each project begins with extensive research to identify site and the culture within in which it exists. With an open mind that absorbs input from clients and his project team, Kap designs from the inside out, so that buildings serve their program. His exhaustive diagrammatic process evaluates all multiple solutions before deciding on the most appropriate for that project.
Marble, Tom
Tom Marble, AIA - Marble Architecture
(The Architecture of the Aftercity )
Tom Marble, AIA is a native Angeleno who studied architecture at UC Berkeley and Yale. After working for forms as diverse as Morphosis and SOM, Rios Associates and The Irvine Company, Tom opened his own practice, Marble Architecture in 2001. Focusing on the design of buildings, cities, and stories, Marble Architecture is concerned as much with what buildings mean as how they form space in a world of diminishing resources.
McKechnie, David
David McKechnie - Habitat for Humanity
(Deconstruction Uncovered)
Dave was hired in late 2003 to implement Habitat’s first Store in the Los Angeles area. Prior to Habitat for Humanity, Mr. McKechnie worked for over a decade with two large west coast based construction and tool supply companies and held several positions within those organizations. Dave also has extensive experience in the home improvement industry having been with the Lowes organization for many years. Since its inception in August of 2004, the Store has contributed over $1.8 million dollars in profits back to the affiliate.
McLean, Jessica Wethington
Jessica Wethington McLean - Executive Director, Bringing Back Broadway
(Creating The “THERE” There: New Places, Public Spaces And Mobility Choices for Downtown LA)
Jessica Wethington McLean serves as Executive Director for Bringing Back Broadway, initiated and led by City Councilmember José Huizar. Bringing Back Broadway is multi-faceted public-private partnership with goals and projects ranging from historic preservation to economic development, urban planning and design to transportation systems, cultural arts and entertainment to marketing, capital finance and governmental policies – all focused on the Historic Broadway corridor, a National Register Historic District. On behalf of Councilmember Huizar, Jessica leads the Board of Trustees and oversees the policies, projects and coordination necessary to implement the Bringing Back Broadway vision.
Mendez, Rebecca
Rebeca Mendez - Rebeca Mendez Design
(Whose Art is it Anyways?)
Rebeca Méndez is an artist living in Los Angeles and is professor at UCLA, Design | Media Arts. She has participated in numerous exhibitions worldwide and her work is represented in public and private collections including Blythe and Thom Mayne, Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, The National Design Museum, NY, and Museo Jose Luis Cuevas, México, DF. Through her photography, videography and art installations, Méndez explores the nature of perception and media representation. Méndez is published widely and has received numerous awards and international recognition, including in 2008 an art residency in Iceland.
Menjou, Christopher
Christopher J. Menjou, Esq. - Morris Polich & Purdy LLP
(The Owner-Architect Agreement: Nuts & Bolts - Magic Words & Phrases – Insurance)
BIO COMING SOON…
Menon, Krishnan
Krishnan Menon - Phenomenon
(The Brand Experience: The Benefits of Integrated Design)
Krishnan Menon is one of the world's leading consumer marketers. As the Chairman & CEO of PHENOMENON, a marketing think-tank with offices in Los Angeles, New York and Dubai, he leads multi-disciplinary teams on innovation projects for some of the world's leading consumer brands. He has always been on the agency side, with stints as the Chief Strategy Officer of DDB Worldwide and President of Digitas West. He lives and works out of Los Angeles.
Moser, Cliff S.
Cliff S. Moser, AIA, MSQA, LEED AP – Cadforce, Inc.
(Bioteaming; Using Lessons from Nature in Developing Virtual Distributed Teams)
Cliff is the Vice President of Operations and Architecture Healthcare at CADFORCE Inc. Mr. Moser brings to the table 30 years in architecture and construction management; he also sits as national chair of the Design and Construction division of the American Society for Quality (ASQ) and in 2010 will be national chair of the AIA Practice Management Knowledge Community. He joined CADFORCE in 2007 after working as a principal at RTKL and Perkins and Will. Within CADFORCE, Cliff is responsible for global business development and operations of $6m in annual revenue with our design workshare-resource partner. Mr. Moser started out his career in the building end of delivery where he became familiar with construction and architecture from the ground up. He is a regular presenter at AIA and ASQ events, and having his hand on the pulse of the industry allows him to help guide those who attend his presentations nationwide, as well as CADFORCE and its clients, to design in the right direction.
Moss, Eric Owen
Eric Owen Moss, FAIA - Eric Owen Moss Architects
(Architects and Transit In Los Angeles)
Eric founded Eric Owen Moss Architects in 1973. He is best known for reinventing spaces for commercial uses and performing arts facilities, breathing new life into marginal area in the celebrated sequence of buildings in Culver City’s Hayden Tract. Moss received the AIA/LA Gold medal in 2001, and his work has received numerous Progressive Architecture, AIA/LA design awards. He has taught at most leading U.S. schools of architecture, including Harvard, Yale, Rice, Columbia, UCLA, and USC.
Norris, Merry
Merry Norris, Hon. AIA/LA - Merry Norris Contemporary Art
(Marrying Art & Architecture: How the Perception of Place is Benefited by Site-Specific Art)
(Whose Art is it Anyways?)
Merry Norris is an art consultant, arts advocate, and curator based in Los Angeles, and Principal of Merry Norris Contemporary Art. A renowned collaborator with artists, architects and developers, Merry was instrumental in the founding of MOCA, a founding trustee of the Pasadena Museum of Art, and a member of the SCI-Arc Board of Directors. Named an honorary member of the Los Angeles Chapter of the AIA in 1990, she currently serves on the boards of directors of SCI-Arc, AIA/LA, and as a Founding Trustee of the Pasadena Museum of California Art.
Oliver, Alex
Alex Oliver - Igloo Studios
(Using Web 3.0 Technologies to Promote Your Practice)
BIO COMING SOON...
Palladino, Michael
Michael Palladino, FAIA - Richard Meier & Partners Architects, LLP
(Whose Art is it Anyways?)
Michael Palladino earned a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1977 and a Masters of Architecture from Harvard University Graduate School of Design in 1979. As a Principal Designer of Richard Meier & Partners since 1979, Michael Palladino has collaborated with Richard Meier on many award-winning projects located throughout the world. Appointed Partner in 1985, Michael moved to Los Angeles in 1986 to open Richard Meier & Partners' west coast office with the primary purpose to design and build The Getty Center. Since that time, as Design Partner, he has also been responsible for numerous civic, cultural, institutional and residential projects both locally and abroad.
Michael is a recipient of the prestigious Rome Prize for the year 2001 and the 2005 Gold Medal from the AIA/LA. Michael was elevated to Fellowship in the AIA in 2008.
Pally, Marc
Marc Pally - Artist and Public Art Consultant
(Marrying Art & Architecture: How the Perception of Place is Benefited by Site-Specific Art)
Marc Pally is an artist and consultant on public art programs, policies, and projects. His interest in providing opportunities for artists and bridges to audiences was formed while director of LACE (Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions) and refined while arts planner for the Community Redevelopment Agency in Los Angeles.
Pardo, Jorge
Jorge Pardo, AIA - Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
(Architects and Transit In Los Angeles)
Jorge directs Metro’s art and design excellence programs, which commission wide-ranging projects by visual artists and promote overall quality design of customer environments to promote ridership on the Metro system. Prior to joining Metro Creative Services, Jorge was Cultural Planner and Art Consultant for the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles and Director of Visual Art & Design for the Arts Council for Long Beach.
Pastucha, Simon
Simon Pastucha - LA Department of City Planning Urban Design Studio
(Architects and Transit In Los Angeles)
Simon Pastucha is co-director of the Urban DesignStudio of the Los Angeles Department of City Planning. Its mission is to integrate urban design into the basic building blocks of the City (www.UrbanDesignLA.com). Prior to his current position he served as Chief Planning Deputy for Councilman Michael Feuer working on major planning, transportation, public works projects and legislation. He was a key part of implementing the new Los Angeles City Charter, and has worked on amendments to the Los Angeles Municipal Code resulting in reducing impediments to new housing, adaptive reuse of existing structures, and code simplification.
Perry, Jan
Hon. Jan Perry - Councilwoman 9th District, City of LA
(From Beginning to End)
Whether implementing cutting edge improvements or ensuring delivery of fundamental services, Jan Perry is making a positive change in the lives of her constituents. Now in her second term as Councilwoman of the Ninth District, Perry represents some of the most diverse and vibrant communities in Los Angeles including Bunker Hill, Little Tokyo, and South Los Angeles.
Poirier, Paul
Paul Poirier, AIA, LEED AP - Poirier + David Architects
(The Current State of Water and Power in Southern California)
Paul Poirier is a principal architect in the Santa Barbara Architecture and Planning Firm Poirier+David Architects designing both commercial and residential projects with emphasis on „green‰ building and design excellence. He is the past President of the Santa Barbara Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, a past AIACC Director, and the current chair of the AIACC Committee on the Environment. Paul is a founding board member of both The Sustainability Project and The Green Building Alliance, two active Santa Barbara based environmental organizations. In addition, he is a U.S. Green Building Council LEED accredited professional and has recently served as the 2008 President of the USGBC California Central Coast Chapter. Paul is committed to maintaining the architectural beauty of the central coast, while improving the environmental quality and sustainability of our community for future generations.
Powell, Michael R.
Michael R. Powell - American Arbitration Association
(What Every Architect Needs To Know About IDM's, Mediation and Arbitration!)
Michael R. Powell is Vice President of the American Arbitration Association’s (AAA) Construction Division for the Southwest District (AZ, CA & HI). Mr. Powell is primarily responsible for the promotion of dispute resolution services to the legal and business communities. In addition, he is responsible for the recruitment and training of construction arbitrators and mediators. He is a frequent speaker and trainer, and has written several published articles in the ADR field. Mr. Powell is a member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association and serves on the Board of Directors of the California Dispute Resolution Council.
Poznick, Grant
Grant Poznick - Art Center Student
(Designstorm®: Taking Corporate America by Surprise)
BIO COMING SOON…