I grew up in a family of artists and musicians and learned at an early age that art and design are not just a profession but a lifestyle. My growth as a designer and landscape architect has influenced every part of my behavior and decision making both personally and professionally. I strive for uniqueness and the creation of meaningful and memorable places that are environmentally conscious and regionally rooted.

I have been ecologically and environmentally focused since High School. I trained in design, engineering and installation of solar and ground cooling systems in the early 1980’s long before LEED standards became prevalent. Early in my landscape architecture career I led the design of sustainable system strategies including non-irrigated landscapes in the desert southwest and stormwater cleansing systems. I have a love for mechanical things and have a passion for building and the art of detail.

As Meta’s Design Director, I have over 25 years’ experience leading projects ranging from Landscape Master Planning, Park Design and Planning, Urban Design, Mixed Use, Institutional, Cultural, Education and Resort and Leisure projects. Although I have run the gambit of project types and scales, I believe all projects are design and I use a rigorous process that begins with site and regional research and communication with clients and the community. I have led notable projects such as the American Indian Cultural Center in Oklahoma, the General Motors Riverfront Plaza and Promanade in Detroit, 31st Street Park and Harbor in Detroit and a series of Mixed-Use Developments in Los Angeles. In this increasingly globalized world, I believe research is essential for conceptual design to create designs that relate to the cultures and environment of the projects’ location; this is equally important when designing large scale international projects to specific community and neighborhood projects.

My passion for design led me to pursue a Master of Landscape Architecture at Harvard University Graduate School of Design and I also have a Bachelor’s of Science in Landscape Architecture with Distinction from Colorado State University and an Associate certificate in Alternative energy from the Alternative Energy Training Institute. Prior to starting META, I was a Design Director for EDAW / AECOM and a Design Principal and Managing Director at Hargreaves Associates’ San Francisco Office.