MOBIUS LA 2009 PRESENTER BIOS (R-Z)
Reich, Stephanie
Stephanie Reich, AIA - City of Glendale, Planning Department
(Parks Without Borders: Public Park Design Across Agencies, Boundaries and Systems)
Stephanie Reich, AIA is Senior Urban Designer for the City of Glendale, California. Prior to joining the City of Glendale, Stephanie had similar roles for the City of Long Beach and the City of Santa Monica. She moved to Los Angeles from New York City in 1991, after practicing there for several years, excited by the enormous possibilities in Southern California for the development of important architecture, urban design, and to be a part of building a great city.
Reiner, Tom
Tom Reiner - Buro Happold
(Integrating Design and Technology: Performance as Paradigm)
Tom Reiner was born in Arizona and attended UC Berkeley, where he studied architecture and structural engineering. He then moved to Germany where he lived and worked for several years. Currently he is a structural designer with the Culver City office of Buro Happold Consulting Engineers, a firm that specializes in innovative structural, MEP, and environmental solutions for complex design challenges. He is serving as a guest lecturer at USC, co-instructing a second year graduate design studio with theorist Neil Leach.
Richmond, Deborah
Deborah Richmond, AIA - Touraine Richmond Architects
(Parks Without Borders: Public Park Design Across Agencies, Boundaries and Systems)
Deborah is a partner at Touraine Richmond Architects in Venice, CA, serving public and parks clients since 2001, including LACMA, the NHM, the City of Santa Monica and the CA Dept. of Parks and Recreation. Deborah's previous experience includes work for OMA/Rem Koolhaas. She has taught critical theory at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA and design studios at the University of Southern California and at SCI-Arc.
Ritz, Melinda
Melinda Ritz - Melinda Ritz Interiors
(Psycho-Decorating 101, or how to work with an interior designer to create a seamless project which represents the client’s desires and create a home with character)
President of Melinda Ritz Interiors. Interior Designer & Set Decorator, 7-time Emmy nominee and
3-time Emmy winner for Excellence in Art Direction on Will & Grace.
Robert, Christian
Christian Robert, LEED AP - 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)
Christian Robert, associate, is a designer at Gensler’s Santa Monica office. True to his technical European background he is focusing on the entire building process from initial conceptual design throughout the construction. His conceptual design approach is rooted in extensive research as basis for unique and sustainable solutions. He cofounded Gensler’s research and development initiative on high-performance facade systems and is collaborating with industry and academic institutions as USC on combining active and passive technologies for sustainable building solutions. Christian started on the conceptual design for the Ritz-Carlton Hotel and Residences in 2005 and is currently part of the full-time onsite construction administration team.
Robinson, Melanie
Melanie Robinson, RAIC, AIGA - KAA Design Group
(Brand Experience: The Benefits of Integrated Design)
Melanie Robinson is a Principal and Director of KAA Design Group’s Brand Experience studio. During her ten-year tenure at KAA, Melanie’s studio has won numerous design awards—with a total of sixteen awards in 2008 alone—including the Creativity Annual Award, the American Graphic Design Award, the W3 Award and the Creative Shake Award. Melanie works on a diverse range of projects at KAA, most recently designing a full range of collateral for Sashi: Sushi + Saké Lounge in Manhattan Beach and the eco-friendly manufactured housing and product line HOM Escape in Style.
Sabotin, Vince
Vince Sabotin, LEED AP - Waste Management (WM)
(Deconstruction Uncovered)
General Manager of Looney Bins, Inc. from 2004 through April of 2008. He oversaw all aspects of the hauling division including operations, sales and customer service. Sabotin was responsible for meeting all aspects of client needs and positioned Looney Bins Inc. as a leading competitor in the hauling industry by providing small and large clients with unparalleled customer service. Sabotin supports clients and contractors in the greater Los Angeles area by helping them meet waste mandates (AB 939, CHPS and LEED standards). The company has been instrumental in assisting contractors and architects attain LEED certification on their projects.
Schafer, Ron
Ron Schafer - Angeles District California State Parks
(Parks Without Borders: Public Park Design Across Agencies, Boundaries and Systems)
BIO COMING SOON...
Schulman, Marlon
Marlon Schulman, Esq.
(Trouble In Building Paradise? An Overview of Avoidance and Alternatives In Handling It)
Admitted to the NY State Bar in 1980 and thereafter, the Colorado Bar and several Federal Courts, Mr. Schulman continues his training in language technology and Alternative Dispute Resolution through several organizations and course study. Perhaps his biggest education took place recently when, along with his wife, he donated his beloved home in Los Angeles to Habitat For Humanity and, utilizing the services of architects, project planners, contractors, sub-contractors and numerous other vendors, collaborated first hand and otherwise built a new home. The experience, in all its aspects, cemented his desire to promote alternative dispute resolution for many circumstances and persons.
Seastrom, David M.
David M. Seastrom – DPR Construction, Inc.
(BIM, The Law, and The Revolution In Project Delivery)
Dave Seastrom has 27 years of construction experience, all in the Southern California Area. As Regional Manager for DPR Construction, he oversees its operations inLA, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. Dave is currently Principal-in-Charge for DPR on the City of Hope’s Gonda Research Laboratory, a project being delivered under an Integrated Project Delivery Approach. He sits on the Board of the Los Angeles Area Lean Construction Institute (LCI) and is also a Board Member of Ability First, an organization that provides programs for individuals with developmental or physical disabilities. Dave graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Southern California.
Shaffer, Rob H.
Rob H. Shaffer Jr. - Zetlin & De Chiara LLP
(BIM, The Law, and The Revolution In Project Delivery)
BIO COMING SOON…
Shaw, Kimberly A.
Kimberly A. Shaw - Grace Construction Products
(Below-Grade Waterproofing Fundamentals)
Kimberly A. Shaw has over 25 years of experience in sales and management with Grace Construction Products in a variety of divisions including fireproofing, concrete admixtures, waterproofing and air barriers and is currently Senior Sales Representative for Grace's Structural Waterproofing Division. Ms. Shaw works closely with architects, contractors and owners for their below-grade and plaza deck waterproofing and above grade air barrier needs.
Sheridan, Georgia
Georgia Sheridan - Torti Gallas and Partners, Inc.
(The Space in Between - Designing the Public Street)
Georgia Sheridan is an urban planner and designer at Torti Gallas and Partners. From Santa Fe to Atlanta, Washington, D.C., Paris, Shanghai, and now Los Angeles, Georgia has lived, worked, and studied in some of the greatest cities of the world. Her interest in both politics and art led her to urban design, ultimately getting her Masters in Urban Planning at UCLA. Previous to working for Torti Gallas as urban designer, she worked on carbon neutral policies for Global Green USA, co-authored the City of West Hollywood’s first green building program manual, and helped to create sustainable design plans for the ZhuozhouRiver while working in China. Georgia is an avid photographer and urban enthusiast.
Slade, Larry
Larry Slade, Esq. - Slade & Associates
(Trouble In Building Paradise? An Overview of Avoidance and Alternatives In Handling It)
New York City native Larry Slade is a savvy and experienced attorney with over 20 years experience in conflict resolution, civil and criminal litigation, government relations, trial advocacy and client relations. A superior record of academic and professional achievement distinguishes his career.
While impressive credentials are fully detailed at www.larryslade.com, perhaps the firm's most profound strength is its ability to resolve business disputes economically and fairly. Firm founder Slade is an unparalleled negotiator who believes fiercely in the concept of cost-effective dispute resolution, without resorting to litigation.
Smeck, Woody
Woody Smeck - National Park Service
(Parks Without Borders: Public Park Design Across Agencies, Boundaries and Systems)
BIO COMING SOON…
Smith, Melani V.
Melani V. Smith, Assoc. AIA - Meléndrez
(Creating The “THERE” There: New Places, Public Spaces And Mobility Choices for Downtown LA)
Melani Smith is Director of Planning and a Partner at downtown Los Angeles based Meléndrez, specializing in landscape architecture, urban planning and urban design. Her work includes engaging project stakeholders, visioning, planning, crafting design guidelines, and grant writing and implementation. She is currently leading a Streetscape Master Plan effort for Broadway. Smith is Vice President of the Los Angeles Downtown Breakfast Club, and an associate member of the AIA. In 2007 she was appointed to the City of Long Beach’s Planning Commission, and now serves as its Vice Chair.
Smith, Mott
Mott Smith - Civic Enterprise Associates, LLC
(Think Small: Reconsidering the Size Matter)
Mott Smith built his career crafting real estate innovations from positions in private industry and the public sector. He was Acting Director of Planning for the Los Angeles Unified School District, where he helped launch the District's $1.6 billion Phase II school construction program. Earlier work focused on expanding the application of joint-ventures, mixed-use and public-private real estate development models. Notable efforts include: implementing Fannie Mae-recognized public/private housing and development partnerships; innovation in the use of private non-profit corporations to expedite public real estate acquisition; execution of the first mixed-use public school/affordable housing project in the City of Los Angeles; and serving as the founding Executive Director of New Schools-Better Neighborhoods, an L.A.-based nonprofit that develops creative, community-based solutions for school and housing development. Mr. Smith earlier developed affordable housing and served as the editor/business manager of The Planning Report and Metro Investment Report. He is President of the Westside Urban Forum, a member of the Urban Land Institute's L.A. Executive Council, and sits on the Board of the Transportation & Land Use Collaborative. Mr. Smith received a Master of Real Estate Development from USC and a B.A. in Linguistics from UCLA.
Spieler, Christof
Christof Spieler, P.E. - Morris Architects
(BIM, The Law, and The Revolution In Project Delivery)
BIO COMING SOON…
Spilger, Alexander
Alexander Spilger - GreenStep Education
(Managing the LEED Documentation Process)
Alex has worked on over two-dozen diverse green building projects and taught green building workshops through organizations such as local chapters of the US Green Building Council (USGBC) and American Institute of Architects (AIA), the Sustainable Building Advisors Program and the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business among others. He has also developed curriculum for UC Berkeley Extension where he teaches a 6-week LEED Project Management course. His experience includes facilitating eco-charrettes, researching green building technologies and policy, and managing both the people and the processes involved with taking projects through LEED Certification.
Spitz, Katie
Katie Spitz, AIA, ASLA, LEED AP - Katherine Spitz Associates, Inc.
(Can Green Roofs Bloom In The Desert?)
BIO COMING SOON...
Stellwagen, Robert H.
Robert H. Stellwagen, Esq. - Collins Collins Muir + Stewart LLP
(How to Protect Yourself and Get Paid)
Robert H. Stellwagen is a partner with Collins Collins Muir + Stewart LLP.
Suman, Ed
Ed Suman - Carlson & Company
(Marrying Art & Architecture: How the Perception of Place is Benefited by Site-Specific Art)
Ed Suman is a Principal at Carlson & Company, where he has worked since 1992. The 75 person firm is one of the art world‚s leading fabricators, specializing in making large and complex works of art for artists such as Isamu Noguchi, Ellsworth Kelly, Claes Oldenburg and Jeff Koons.
Tadros, Michael
Michael Tadros - Igloo Studios
(Using Web 3.0 Technologies to Promote your Practice)
Mike is the principal and co-founder of Igloo Studios (www.igloostudios.com), an AEC Industry Media Company, established in 2004. His work experiences have been focused on the uses and implementations of CAD applications and digital media throughout all stages of the design + build process. Mike is the lead educator for School (www.go-2-school.com ) - Igloo's Continuing Education Studio, and he manages a team of 3D Specialists at Blue Marble Project (www.bluemarbleproject.com ) - Igloo's 3D Media Production Studio. Mike is a proud alumnus of University of California, Berkeley College of Environmental Design.
Takahashi, Edward K.
Edward K. Takahashi, FAIA - Edward K. Takahashi Architectural Corporation
(What Every Architect Needs To Know About IDM's, Mediation and Arbitration!)
President of Edward K. Takahashi Architectural Corporation. Ed is an innovative architect and an exemplary leader in forensic research and construction technology. Striving to attain the highest construction standards, he has inspired invaluable improvements in the architectural profession and the building industry. Ed has served as a forensic architectural expert consultant in over 700 litigation support assignments and in construction industry arbitrations and litigation matters. Ed is currently serving as Chair of the Los Angeles AIA’s Ethics Committee. He is also an arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association and serves on its Large, Complex Case Panel (LCCP).
Tangri, Shiraz D.
Shiraz D. Tangri - Alston + Bird LLP
(Creating The “THERE” There: New Places, Public Spaces And Mobility Choices for Downtown LA)
Shiraz is a partner in the Environmental and Land Development Group of Alston + Bird LLP, a national law firm. His legal practice involves all aspects of land use law relating to the entitlement and development of real property. He has extensive experience in handling residential projects and high-profile mixed-use urban infill projects. Shiraz chairs the Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council Planning & Land Use Committee, and serves as a trustee of the Bringing Back Broadway Initiative. He is also a member of the Political Outreach Committee of the Los Angeles chapter of the AIA, and co-chairs the Parks Committee of the Central City Association of Los Angeles.
Tanner, Ted
Ted Tanner, AIA - AEG Real Estate Development
(Creating The “THERE” There: New Places, Public Spaces And Mobility Choices for Downtown LA)
Guiding the real estate acquisition, master planning, entitlement and development strategy for L.A. LIVE, the 40-acre, nearly 6 million square foot sports & entertainment district adjacent to STAPLES Center, is Ted Tanner. With over 30 years of real estate development, architecture and urban design experience, Tanner has created the master plan that incorporates a 54-story, 1001–room convention “headquarters” destination, three clubs, 12 restaurants, the Grammy Museum, and additional residential units, entertainment, hospitality, and office space, parking and an outdoor plaza into this dynamic mixed use urban district. Tanner also oversees AEG’s public and governmental affairs division and has played a role in the company’s union negotiations as well as community/business outreach.
Taylor, Judson A.
Judson A. Taylor, AIA - Simpson Gumpertz & Heger Inc. (SGH)
(Below-Grade Waterproofing Fundamentals)
Judson A. Taylor is a licensed architect and head of SGH's Los Angeles Building Technology Division. Mr. Taylor has over 18 years of experience investigating and designing waterproofing, roofing and enclosures of all kinds on buildings in California, the Pacific Northwest and Northeast.
Thoeny, Scott M.
Scott M. Thoeny, PE, GE - TerraPacific Consultants Inc.
Below-Grade Waterproofing Fundamentals
Mr. Thoeny is a principal engineer with TerraPacific Consultants, Inc. His technical experience includes mass grading, specialty geotechnical projects and forensic investigations. Mass grading experience consists of quality control during construction and preliminary soil investigations and geologic mapping. Specialty projects include landslide analysis and repair design, shoring design, subsurface drainage design, seismic tieback systems, deep foundation analysis and computer modeling. He has been conducting forensic studies of soil/geotechnical-related problems for more than 20 years. Typical forensic investigation work has consisted of site condition observations, subsurface and fill settlement investigations, soil expansion, landsliding, pavement failure, groundwater influence, and moisture intrusion evaluations.
Vanech, Robert W.
Robert W. Vanech - Cadforce, Inc.
(BIM, The Law, and The Revolution In Project Delivery)
(Bioteaming; Using Lessons from Nature in Developing Virtual Distributed Teams)
Robert W. Vanech is the Founding CEO and a Director at CADFORCE Inc. Mr. Vanech comes from a technology and Venture Capital background; he seed funded CADFORCE in 2001 and served on its Board while a partner at ETF Group, a $250 million Swiss-based Venture Capital fund. In 2005, he joined CADFORCE fulltime as CADFORCE’s Chairman and CEO. Prior to that, Mr. Vanech served as President of Eureka Broadband Corporation, now part of Broadview Networks. Eureka raised $60 million in Venture Capital and grew to over 450 employees and $100 million in revenues before being sold to Broadview. Mr. Vanech spent much of his early career at MCI in various management and executive positions where he gained valuable network technology experience that is being applied in the technology development at CADFORCE. CADFORCE is a leading architectural and engineering design services company that uses a global project approach and a unique BIM technology platform to redefine ways AEC firms approach Integrated Project Delivery. Based in Marina del Rey, CA CADFORCE operates as the architectural subsidiary of Neilsoft, a global AEC firm. Together, the firm has offices in the US, Canada, Germany, and India, and over 800 employees worldwide. CADFORCE has raised $10 million in Venture Capital funding and invested much of that into a BIM hosting and synchronous collaboration process and system that allows disparate companies to work on a BIM project together without incurring large capital investments. CADFORCE’s clients include some of the largest, most innovative and most well-known AEC firms in the world. These firms have a particular tendency to be believers in the promise of true Integrated Project Delivery, the benefits of BIM, and the value in having global resources.
Wahlroos-Ritter, Roland
Roland Wahlroos-Ritter - wroad
(Integrating Design and Technology: Performance as Paradigm)
Roland Wahlroos-Ritter was born and educated in Germany. He is a principal of wroad, a design firm known for technologically innovative architectural design. He is on the faculty of USC's School of Architecture, where he coordinates both undergraduate and graduate design studios, as well as seminars, that explore the potential of parametric design and scripting to create new architectural form.
Wardle, Geoff
Geoff Wardle - Art Center College of Design
(Architects and Transit In Los Angeles)
With a bachelor’s degree in vehicle and mechanical engineering and a master’s degree in automotive design from London’s Royal College of Art, Geoff Wardle has spent nearly 30 years as a professional designer and a design educator. He has held both corporate and consultancy positions with many automotive companies in developed and developing countries. For the last 12 years, he has also been committed to design education and currently serves as a faculty member and director of Advanced Mobility Research at Art Center College of Design.
Welborne, Martha
Martha Welborne, FAIA - The Grand Avenue Committee
(Creating The “THERE” There: New Places, Public Spaces And Mobility Choices for Downtown LA)
Martha Welborne is the Managing Director of the Grand Avenue Committee, a public/private partnership focused on revitalizing downtown Los Angeles through the creation of a $3.0 billion project that includes six high-rise buildings and a 16-acre civic park. Recently, she was also the Project Director of an initiative that led to the creation of Los Angeles County’s Metro Rapid bus, one of the most successful new transit systems in the County. She holds two Masters degrees from MIT, was a Loeb Fellow at Harvard University, and is a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects. She is also the immediate Past-President of the Los Angeles Chapter of the American Institute of Architects.
Wen, Li
Li Wen, AIA - Gensler
(Morality and Architecture)
Li Wen, AIA is a Design Director at Gensler, a global design practice. He is responsible for leading the design on many of the firm’s corporate and civic/cultural projects, including the new William Morris Agency Headquarters under construction in Beverly Hills and the new LAPD Memorial for Fallen Officers that will be part of the new Police Headquarters facility downtown. Previous to joining Gensler, Li was a founding partner of Studio 0.10 Architects and helped lead the design team for the recently completed MuSH residence in West Los Angeles. Li is a graduate of the Yale School of Architecture and is a long standing faculty member at the USC School of Architecture. He has served on the Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department’s Public Art Administration Program and is a former Board member of the AIA/LA Chapter. He presently serves the Chapter as co-head of their Design Committee.
Wexman, Todd
Todd Wexman - Auburn Home, LLC
(Think Small: Reconsidering the Size Matter)
Todd Wexman has over 20 years of real estate finance and development experience. This experience includes real estate equity finance of residential and land development projects with Weyerhaeuser Realty Investors, real estate consulting experience. Mr. Wexman has developed a number of residential projects including the Auburn Seven Project, a seven unit small lot development project located in Silver Lake that was recently completed and sold out. He is currently constructing a condominium project in Silver Lake. Todd Wexman is a licensed California Real Estate Broker. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Lawrence University and graduated with honors from the USC graduate school of business.
Wicksman, Warwick
Warwick Wicksman, 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)
Warwick Wicksman has 25 years of experience in Architecture. He is a senior project architect and project manager in the entertainment and hospitality practice in the Los Angeles office. He is a member of the firm wide Technical Steering Committee and Specifications Liaisons Group, and has served on the Entertainment Task Force. Current projects include the Ritz-Carlton Hotel and Residences and Regal Cinemas at LA Live, and various cinemas for ArcLight.
Widom, Chester A.
Chester A. Widom, FAIA - WWCOT
(What Every Architect Needs To Know About IDM's, Mediation and Arbitration!)
As the founding partner of WWCOT, Chet has provided guidance and mentorship for more than 40 years. The firm’s reputation for quality design and service is exemplified by his election as the 1995 National President of the American Institute of Architects. His leadership in the community is evident in his service on the City of Los Angeles Planning and Building and Safety Commissions, and the State of California Hospital Building and Safety Board.
Wilkerson, Ryan
Ryan Wilkerson, S.E. - Nabih Youssef Associates | Structural Engineers
(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)
Ryan Wilkerson, SE has been a practicing structural engineering in the Southern California Region for over 12 years and is currently a Senior Vice President at Nabih Youssef Associates. He is responsible for the technical leadership and oversight from conceptual planning through construction for many of the complex design projects at NYA including the recently erected Los Angeles Police Headquarters Facility and the Ritz-Carlton Hotel and Residences, both in downtown Los Angeles. He is actively involved in the current performance-based structural design practice for seismically active regions and has presented and published case studies on the subject for the Los Angeles Tall Buildings Council.
Wittasek, Nate
Nate Wittasek, P.E., LEED AP - ARUP
(Trouble Spots in the 2007 CBC: The Top Ten Code Issues Encountered During Drawing Reviews)
Nate brings a practical approach to his work that reflects his diverse training and experiences in academia, structural design, sustainable design, the fire sciences, as well as the fire service. Using performance and prescriptive building and fire codes, Nate works directly with the regulatory and design communities, while collaborating with organizations such as ASHRAE, NFPA, SFPE and local governments to deliver information standards that promote application of sound fire science and fire protection engineering. Nate currently leads the fire discipline in the Los Angeles office of Arup, and is an instructor at Cal Poly and UCLA Extension.
Witte, Bill
Bill Witte - The Related Companies
(From Beginning to End)
William A. Witte, President of Related California oversees all multifamily development activity within California. From 1983 to 1988, Mr. Witte was Director of the Mayor's Office of Housing Economic Development. From 1988 to 1989, he was Deputy Mayor for Housing and Neighborhoods and acting Director of the Housing Authority, City of San Francisco. Mr. Witte graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Masters degree in City Planning.
Zellner, Peter
Peter Zellner, Assoc. AIA - SCI-Arc
(Architects and Transit In Los Angeles)
Peter Zellner is the founding principal of ZELLNERPLUS, an emerging architectural design, planning and research firm located in Los Angeles. He teaches at SCI-Arc, where he coordinates the SCIFI program with David Bergman. He holds a Master in Architecture from Harvard University and a Bachelor of Architecture from RMIT.
Zimmerman, Elyn
Elyn Zimmerman, Artist
(Marrying Art & Architecture: How the Perception of Place is Benefited by Site-Specific Art)
Although best known as a sculptor with an emphasis on large scale, site specific projects, Elyn Zimmerman has created and exhibited drawings and photographs since graduating from UCLA with an MFA in painting and photography in 1972. She continues to mix and match these media in her two dimensional works; sometimes emphasizing one over the other, but over time keeping a balance between these two processes. She is currently a commissioner on the Fine Arts Commission, Washington, DC.
Zucker, Laura
Laura Zucker - Los Angeles County Arts Commission
(Whose Art is it Anyways?)
Laura Zucker has been Executive Director of the Los Angeles County Arts Commission since 1992. The Arts Commission provides leadership in cultural services of all disciplines for the largest county in the United States, encompassing 88 municipalities. The Arts Commission administers a $4.5 million grants program that funds more than 250 nonprofit arts organizations annually; provides leadership and staffing to support the regional blueprint to restore arts education to all 80 school districts in Los Angeles County, Arts for All; funds the largest arts internship program in the country in conjunction with the Getty Foundation; programs the John Anson Ford Theatres; and implements the county‚s civic art program. The Arts Commission also produces free community programs, including the L.A. Holiday Celebration, which emanates from the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion of the Music Center and is broadcast nationally on PBS. In addition, a year-round music program that more than 40 free concerts each year in public sites.