Announcing New Leaders and Promotions

Join us as we congratulate these outstanding individuals on their well-deserved promotions. As an employee-owned firm, our people are our greatest strength. We are thrilled to recognize the following leaders who engage people and places to create designs that enrich our world.

This year, we have asked our recently promoted employee-owners their thoughts on topics key to our success. Here’s what they have to say.

VICE PRESIDENT

Earl Purdue, Architecture
On engagement: “As a client-focused firm, we achieve success through an engaged process. Leading by example, communicating, and imparting lessons learned to next generation leaders is of the utmost importance with this level of client engagement.”

PRINCIPAL

Joe McNamara, Architecture
On mentoring others: “Being a leader means setting a tone and fostering a culture of excellence, a place where everyone is empowered to speak up in the name of improving the quality of our work.”

ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL

Michelle Kollmann, Interiors
On teamwork: “I’m an advocate for curiosity and collaboration. Every contribution is valuable and our impact is magnified when we work together to solve a problem. Not a day goes by that I don’t learn something from one of my talented and creative colleagues.”

SENIOR ASSOCIATE

Peter Baker, Architecture
On the mission of the firm: “Engage: take initiative, listen. Create: never sacrifice design and pursue creativity in all aspects of the design process. Enrich: support colleagues and look for interdisciplinary opportunities that build a holistic, sustainable approach to design.”

Justin Dahl-James, Architecture
On inspiration: “Great design inspires me and I’m most excited about historic renovations. It is gratifying to work on a project where the design team can find ways to celebrate or showcase specific elements of historical significance and re-purpose other elements within the new design.”

Mindy Dunn, Graphic Design
On leadership: “Leadership means understanding the benefits and challenges every opportunity presents in a firm-focused context. It means listening, modeling thoughtful co-working, and advocating for your passions with respect. It means taking initiative, digging deep, reporting, and championing efforts that improve projects, teams, processes, and the entire firm.”

Noah Harburger, Building Technology
On embracing change: “You never know where the next great idea will come from, so it’s important to be accessible to everyone, help them do their work better, and make their work easier. It is through this track record of helping others that an environment has been created at Ayers Saint Gross which welcomes positive changes.”

Silvia Hasty, Interiors
On staying challenged: “Positive change and growth can only come by challenging our comfort zone. Staying abreast of trends and sustainable practices, even if it isn’t what we are used to, leads to positive change. Leadership starts with being able to see the big picture and work with others towards a common goal.”

Jordan Hawes, Interiors
On taking risks: “I am a fan of design that takes risks to create or enhance an identity for a client. In interior design, there are so many new and interesting materials and products out there and I’m always thinking about how they can be integrated into the next project to provide that special “design moment.”

Elizabeth McLean, Architecture
On leading positive change: “Each individual in the firm is a leader, and we have a shared value-based vision. Our actions need to be equitable and we must be accountable. To lead positive change at Ayers Saint Gross, I advocate for diverse teams and promote leadership in others.”

Nicole Ostrander, Planning
On motivation: “Ayers Saint Gross’s mission motivates me to embrace each project as an opportunity. I am excited by re-envisioning space; transforming it in unique and inspiring ways. I strive to lead with compassion, as it is our relationships with people above all else that allow us to accomplish great things.”

Margaret Zivkovich, Graphic Design
On creating connections: “Wayfinding is not just a sign here or there, it’s using the full environment – through architecture, through color, through texture – to help people navigate their world safely. And in the design process – watching connections happen between people and ideas – I love seeing kernels of concepts evolve and develop as ideas begin to feed off each other.”

ASSOCIATE

Danielle Bersch, Architecture
On the growth of sustainable opportunities: “I’m inspired most by nature and look forward to working on new standards to assess the performance of our buildings. It’s exciting to see the market availability of new sustainable and regenerative materials in the United States.”

Francisca Bonilla, Architecture
On women in leadership: “Fresh out of college, it was a bit intimidating to sit in meetings as the only woman, but the strides women are making in the field is so empowering. The female leadership at Ayers Saint Gross has inspired me to believe in my experience and knowledge, no matter who is in the room.”

Gina Fernandes, Architecture
On issues of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion: “I put a voice to issues that lack representation and look for collaborative solutions. Issues of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) challenge our industry, and I work to engage others in this area – from how we foster professional development and career growth in the firm to how we engage the communities we work with and champion all voices in the design process.”

Russell Holstine, Architecture
On giving support: “I am continually inspired by the amazing and talented people I get to work with every day. Being a leader at Ayers Saint Gross means effectively supporting your colleagues and teammates to produce the best product possible for our clients.”

Ryan Johns, Accounting
On ambition: “Hearing and seeing individuals speak to what they’re striving toward inspires me to work harder. It’s a reminder that everyone needs to push themselves, and it shows me that there are standards being set firm-wide and I like to live up to and lead by those standards.”

Priscilla Korompis, Graphic Design
On timeless design: “I’m most excited about designing with function, longevity, and purpose in mind. Thinking about how something can be around for years, when beauty meets function and the project’s story – nothing excites me more than smart design.”

Stephen Pasquerello, Architecture
On transparency: “Today, people are more conscious of what they buy and where it comes from. Likewise, we need to be transparent and responsible in material selection and sourcing. I look forward to working to fulfill that goal.”

Connor Price, Landscape Architecture
On discovery: “I am inspired by the design process and the discovery of concepts through sketching. Keeping our mission in mind, this process teaches me to think about who we are designing for and how we are changing the built environment for the better.”

Maegan Smith, Graphic Design
On collaboration: “I strive to be a leader who is engaging, creative, and impactful and I look forward to continuing to increase collaboration. I believe that the earlier engagement happens among all involved, the better the outcome of the project and the higher the impact.”