March 2026

LJC Office: St. Louis
Title/Role: Principal, Former Director
Focus: Architecture
School: Kansas State University
Affiliations: NCARB, Circle of Concern, DPL, Rebuilding Together STL 

If you could speak another language, what would it be—and why? 
I would love to become fluent in Spanish. I didn’t do very well in Spanish class in high school, so I never continued studying it afterward. Lately, though, I’ve been running into more people in everyday life and during jobsite visits that I wish I could communicate with in Spanish

What’s your most memorable vacation or trip?
In 2024, we did a 9-day trip to the Utah 5 National Parks, which consisted of Zion (steep canyons), Bryce Canyon (hoodoos), Capitol Reef (domes/cliffs), Canyonlands (vast vistas), and Arches (natural arches), with additional stops at Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon. Each park is magnificent and has its own different vibe. This trip kindled a desire to visit more of the National Parks across the country and an appreciation for the beauty of the Southwest.

If you could travel to any time or place, where would you go
I enjoy traveling, so this is a difficult question. Part of me would love to go back in time and see what the United States looked like before Europeans arrived. I’d also be fascinated to experience the Wild West in the 1800s. On the other hand, visiting Europe during the Renaissance to see Leonardo da Vinci and the other great minds of that era would be incredible. I’ve always enjoyed history, and the idea of experiencing it firsthand for a short time sounds amazing—though I would want to return to the present and its modern conveniences. It would also be interesting to travel 200 years into the future to see how humanity has progressed or regressed.

What non-work-related topic are you oddly knowledgeable about?
The airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow, and if you get that reference, you’re my people.

LJC Office: Chicago
Title/Role: Senior Interior Designer, Associate Principal
Focus: Commercial Interiors
School: University of Missouri
Affiliations: NCIDQ, LEED AP

What’s something coworkers might be surprised to learn about you?
Both of my parents were born and raised in Louisiana, and most of my extended family still lives in the South—we visit often. Growing up in the cornfields of central Illinois, my parents’ deep Southern accents and the unfamiliar foods they fed me were a source of embarrassment. Now, I feel deeply proud of and connected to my Southern Creole roots—the heat, the food, the smells, the music, and the people are all part of who I am.

What’s your most memorable vacation or trip?
I grew up spending much of my vacation time in Northern Michigan—and then married someone who did the same! We now find ourselves there many times a year. This photo was taken by my five-year-old, Ace, at Farm Club on the Leelanau Peninsula. Whether it’s the local food, the views, the fresh beer, or being surrounded by family, my trips to this region always fill my cup to the brim.

What’s a niche or unexpected interest you have outside of work?
My husband and I love to garden and grow things. Over the years, we’ve always maintained some kind of garden—some seasons more successful than others. Last year, we added two chickens to the mix. Rikki and Vikki provide more than enough eggs, composting services, and plenty of entertainment for our family!

What was your very first job?
My first job may have kick-started my early interest in agriculture. The summer before sixth grade, I worked as a professional de-tasseler. Local farmers would bus groups of kids out to the cornfields, where we walked the rows pulling tassels from the tops of corn stalks (something to do with pollination). I’m still not entirely sure how it was legal—but it paid for overnight camp and solidified my lifelong fear of spiders.

As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A ballerina, a doctor, or a fine artist. Maybe there is still time! 

LJC Office: St. Louis
Title/Role: Engineer III
Focus: Engineering – Food & Beverage, Renewable Energy
School: The University of Tulsa

What’s your most memorable vacation or trip?
I just returned from a trip to Guatemala with my girlfriend, where we immersed ourselves in the local culture while exploring Antigua and the towns surrounding Lake Atitlán, a large caldera lake similar to Lake Tahoe. At the beginning of the trip, we summited Acatenango, a dormant volcano that last erupted in 1972. We hiked 4.5 miles, climbing 4,000 vertical feet, and spent the night watching the neighboring volcano, Fuego, erupt every 5 to 10 minutes. It was an incredible once-in-a-lifetime experience! If you have time, look up Volcán de Fuego on YouTube!

What’s a niche or unexpected interest you have outside of work?
One niche interest I have outside of work is wildlife habitat restoration. In 2008, my family purchased hunting property in southern Missouri, and since then I’ve spent countless days helping restore and improve the land. We focus on removing invasive plant and tree species, thinning timber to promote understory growth, and conducting prescribed burns to help native species return and thrive. In 2018, we also began building a house on the property, with a subcontractor completing the foundation, framing, and roof while we have taken on much of the remaining work ourselves. It has been incredibly rewarding to help restore the land, and we are excited to complete the home—making it more accessible to family and friends.

What are you most proud of professionally so far?
I’m most proud of my diverse work experience. I began my career in the field, executing utility-scale renewable energy projects at McCarthy as part of its Self-Perform Electrical group, including the installation of what was, at the time, the world’s largest battery energy storage system. I then transitioned to the owner side at Anheuser-Busch, where I was responsible for brewing and packaging capital projects from cradle to grave—including estimating, leading design, procurement, and subcontracting all aspects of the work. My experiences prior to joining LJC shaped me into the engineer I am today and have allowed me to excel in both supporting and managing projects here.

Office: Birmingham, AL
Title: Structural Engineer I
Focus: Engineering
School: North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
Affiliations: National Society of Black Engineers

What’s a niche or unexpected interest you have outside of work?
I really love art! I’ve been drawing since I was a kid, took studio art classes throughout middle and high school, and even sold a few pieces at my senior art show. In high school, I focused mostly on canvas paintings, but once I got to college and had limited access to supplies, I started creating art on my iPad and then printing the pieces on canvas. This has become my go to method because I love having my spaces decorated with things I made myself, and it’s way easier than scrolling through endless poster options when I can just create exactly what I want. Most of the pieces in my office and apartment are my own, and I’ve even designed the most of my tattoos.

What’s the last show you binged and really enjoyed?
I binged a show called Invincible on Amazon Prime a few years ago, and it quickly became one of my favorite TV shows of all time. It’s an animated superhero series, but it offers one of the most layered and, in my opinion, realistic takes on superheroes and their lives. The story follows a teenager who gains superpowers and navigates his journey to become a hero like his father. The show doesn’t shy away from how brutal superpowers would be, portraying things in a way that mainstream superhero media often tones down to keep it more digestible. It also dives into the consequences and lasting effects of being a superhero; an aspect that’s usually overlooked or never fully explored. The first episode has an amazing twist, and I recommend it if you’re into superhero stories. Season 4 is out now!

What movie do you never get tired of watching? 
Shrek 2 has always been a favorite of mine. As a kid, I only had a DVD player in my room, and this was one of the first movies I ever owned. I think part of why it stuck with me is a scene where Shrek runs through a factory carrying two of his friends on his shoulders; and my dad would do the same with me and my brother, running around our bedroom to reenact it. Even watching it now, I catch tons of jokes and references I missed as a kid, and they still make me laugh.

LJC Office: St. Louis
Title/Role: Design Staff 1
Focus: Architecture
Schools: University of Florida, WashU
Affiliations: McDonnell Scholar

What’s your most memorable vacation or trip?
I went on a three-month trip through Peru, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic that combined volunteer work with adventure sports. I traveled with a group of ten people, helped build a dorm for girls near Cusco, taught English to kids (and Spanish to my fellow American volunteers), attempted surfing, and biked down Irazú volcano. It was the best time ever. Fun fact: I slept in 23 different places during that trip including a shed in the Amazon.

What’s a niche or unexpected interest you have outside of work?Water sports. Growing up in Caracas, Venezuela, I went to the beach almost every week and started swimming competitively when I was around three or four. I later joined the University of Florida wakeboard team and when I’m home, I take up kitesurfing. After moving to a landlocked state, that interest shifted toward biking. I’ll be doing Pedal the Cause for the second time this year!

What’s something coworkers might be surprised to learn about you?
I’ve been teaching a Core Design Studio at WashU for the past couple of years.

What is your favorite band and why?
Parcels. They are an Australian band with a retro, funky sound that works for any mood. They gained recognition after collaborating with Daft Punk on their song “Overnight.” I saw them live last year at The Salt Shed (shoutout to LJC!) and it felt like my Super Bowl. They recently collaborated with one of my favorite Venezuelan bands, which made it feel like they wrote it just for me. I highly recommend their studio sessions on YouTube for a slow Sunday morning.

LJC Office: Phoenix, AZ
Title/Role: Design Staff 1
Focus: Architecture
School: University of Arizona
Affiliations: NOMA

What’s a niche or unexpected interest you have outside of work?Plants, I have over 30 in my apartment. Growing up, my parents always had a lot of plants around the house, so when I moved out for college, I started collecting my own.

What is your favorite song and why?
I'm really into music; I’ve even been collecting vinyl for a few years now. It’s hard to choose just one favorite song since it’s always changing, but Khruangbin is a band I keep going back to. I used to listen to them all the time while working on studio projects. Some of my favorites are Friday Morning and Maria Tambien. I also like Spanish rock, I grew up in Mexico and moved to Arizona for college, so songs like Quiero Ver by Cafe Tacvba and Tiraste a Matar by Leon Larregui always remind me of home.

What does your ideal weekend look like?
A perfect weekend for me is a mix of music and friends, starting the day with coffee and a game of chess, then playing guitar, finding a cool spot to take photos, playing pool and ending the day at a concert.

As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Baseball Player / Artist

LJC Office: Chicago
Title/Role: Commercial Project Leader, Associate Principal
Focus: Interiors
School: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

What’s a niche or unexpected interest you have outside of work?
I love to knit. I started in grad school when I needed a creative outlet that had nothing to do with school, and it has been a constant thread through my life since. Lots of scarves in the beginning, then a ridiculous amount of socks (they are small enough to be good projects on the train ride home), and now mostly sweaters. It’s repetitive enough to be relaxing and engaging enough to fill a creative need.

What’s the last show you binged and really enjoyed?
Animal Control. If you, like me, fondly remember Community, this has a similar sense of humor, plus the added benefit of furry friends. Plus, they are 20-minute episodes that are easy to burn through when you need some light comedy in your life.

What book(s) would you recommend?
My two favorite recommendations are wildly different from each other. Rouge by Mona Awad (recommended to me by Jameson Skaife – Thanks Jameson!) is unpredictable and mysterious and takes some crazy turns. I promise you won’t see them coming. And The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab is the story of a life woven through history and time in unexpected ways, and how to leave a mark when you don’t have the pencil. I loved both immensely.