JULES KRINSKY, PLA, ASLA

Landscape Architect, Rhodeside & Harwell

Jules Krinsky is a creative problem solver, landscape architect and urban designer who has worked in the Washington Metropolitan area since 2012.  Currently, Jules works as a Landscape Architect with the multi-disciplinary firm Rhodeside & Harwell in Alexandria, VA.  At Rhodeside & Harwell, Jules works on projects ranging from small local parks to US Embassy projects around the world and everything in between.

Jules received a bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture at the University of Georgia and a Master’s of Science in urban design at Georgia Tech.  He is a licensed Landscape Architect in the State of Maryland.

KARA LANAHAN, PLA, ASLA

Principal, Jennifer Horn Landscape Architecture

Kara is a licensed Landscape Architect with over 10 years of experience. As Principal at Jennifer Horn Landscape Architecture (JHLA), she oversees the commercial and public work inthe office as well as key residential projects. Prior to joining JHLA, she worked as a Senior Associate at Oehme van Sweden (OvS), where she designed and managed a diverse mix of residential, commercial, and institutional projects, including the recently completed Circle of Remembrance at the National WWII Memorial. Prior to her time at OvS, she worked at Landscape Architecture Bureau, where she focused on multi-family mixed-use projects, city parks, and playgrounds within the greater DC region.

MATTHEW SELLERS, PLA, ASLA, LEED GA

Landscape Architect, Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

Matthew Sellers is a 21-year resident of the DC area, moving here from Ohio for graduate school at Virginia Tech in Alexandria, VA. His education is in urban planning and landscape architecture. He is a landscape architect licensed in the state of Maryland, and member of ASLA. His professional history includes work with the landscape architecture firms Stephenson + Good (9 years) and Clinton & Associates (5 years). He also taught courses in the Landscape Design and Sustainable Landscapes program at George Washington University (12 years). Matthew’s experience includes the design and construction administration of residential gardens, public plazas, playgrounds, perimeter security master plans, multi-acre mixed-use neighborhood developments, and animal habitats. Currently he is the Landscape Architect at Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute providing thoughtful and creative planning and design solutions for the Zoo’s visitors and inhabitants. Matt is also Acting Treasurer.

STEPHANIE PANKIEWICZ, ASLA, PLA

Partner, Land Design

Stephanie directs a number of LandDesign’s large-scale urban design and long-range master planning projects for some of the nation’s leading developers. As a creative project leader, she applies her knowledge by offering innovative approaches with state-of-the-art design tools to engage diverse stakeholders for building consensus and understanding. She enjoys working at a variety of scales throughout the design process and remains uniquely involved in all stages of a project. Her experience as a landscape architect includes urban design, park planning and design, community master plans, site planning, design guidelines, and streetscapes with a focus on utilizing green infrastructure techniques.

An example of LandDesign’s success under her leadership has been the number of significant projects in which Stephanie has been involved along the evolving redevelopment of the Washington DC area Metro Silver Line transit area sites. Located in Tysons, Fairfax County’s new downtown, and the urbanizing core of Reston, Virginia, these developments are transforming the region. Stephanie has been instrumental in creating the dynamic public realm and private amenity spaces that seamlessly integrate office, entertainment, and urban parks by interweaving pedestrian connectivity, flanked with amenities, commercial and residential spaces, all while emphasizing each’s unique client, program and character. Of note is The Boro – a 17-acre, transit-oriented mixed-use project in Tysons, Virginia that began in 2010 with several blocks already completed. The center crown jewel of this multi-functional hub is the popular Boro Park and its thoughtfully designed public open spaces for activities that enrich the community.

Lesley Conroy PLA ASLA LEED AP BD-C

Principal, Conroy Landscape Architecture

Lesley Conroy is a licensed landscape architect, certified arborist, and LEED accredited professional. In 2021, she founded Conroy Landscape Architecture to work on community-driven design projects in the DC region.

Lesley has designed and managed projects that span a diverse range of scales, including federal agency campuses overseas, commercial roof terraces and green roofs, public parks, university master plans, urban open space planning, and residential gardens. She has practiced in the DC area for the entirety of her career and is leading the Potomac Chapter’s advocacy effort to eliminate the sales tax on landscape architectural services in the District of Columbia. Through this experience, she became more involved with the Potomac Chapter and she is seeking the position of Secretary to continue to improve the organization and provide value to the membership.

Lesley earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry and a Master of Landscape Architecture degree from Virginia Tech’s Washington Alexandria Architecture Center. She strives to find collaborative approaches to design problems and excels at working in complex urban environments.

KAL ALMO, ASLA

Landscape Architect, AECOM

I discovered landscape architecture when I was in graduate school and was fascinated by its ability to directly address the ecological concerns of the built environment.  I worked for my landscape architecture professor (Diana Balmori of Balmori Associates) while in architecture school. After graduating, I looked for opportunities where architects could work closely with landscape architects to develop integrated solutions for buildings and sites.  After obtaining my architecture license, I transitioned to the landscape architecture profession, becoming a licensed landscape architect in 2021.

I am a landscape architect, project manager, architect, and urban designer currently working at AECOM in the Buildings + Places group. My interests include landscapes over structures, the integration of landscape and architecture elements, and resilient landscapes in the urban environment. In the past several years, I have led landscape architecture and architecture design projects that range from re-envisioning urban streetscapes to creating design guidelines for federal campuses. I have worked within a variety of market sectors including commercial, health care, arts & cultural, government, and higher education projects. I am very much looking forward to serving as a Member-at-Large for the Potomac Chapter of the ASLA.

BRAD BARTELL, RLA, ASLA, ISA

Brad Bartell, RLA, ASLA, ISA has 30 years of international and domestic and private and public-sector experience, working in thirty-five states and twenty countries. A registered landscape architect, land planner, ISA certified arborist, and golf course designer, Bartell has been involved in the entitlements process and in planning and landscape design of single-family and large-scale residential communities, parks, commercial developments, roadway projects, urban and green street streetscapes, sports complexes, large warehouse projects, office parks, church campuses, and 40 new and 55 renovated golf courses.

Bartell received a Bachelor of Science degree in Landscape Architecture at the University of Georgia and a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Michigan State University. He is a licensed Landscape Architect in fifteen states.

CARLA ELLERN, RLA, ASLA, LEED^® AP BD+C

Landscape Architect, Lila Fendrick Landscape Architects

Carla Ellern, RLA, ASLA, LEED® AP BD+C is a registered landscape architect with Lila Fendrick Landscape Architects in Chevy Chase, MD. She received her Master’s in Landscape Architecture from the Graduate School of Design at Harvard and would like to spread the word about what landscape architects do through her involvement with Potomac ASLA. In the public sector, she worked for the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Montgomery County, Maryland in the RainScapes program where she worked with homeowners and communities to reduce stormwater runoff. She’s interested in improving the environment and people’s lives by expanding green infrastructure and sustainability in our landscapes.

JAKE FETTIG, ASLA

Associate, RHI

For projects both close to home and overseas, Jake Fettig designs landscapes that reflect a sensitivity to culture, context, and long-term sustainability. He believes in landscape architecture as a vital ingredient in creating communities that are vibrant, equitable, and healthy. Jake advocates for the thoughtful integration of ecological measures within the urban realm, and in connecting people with the natural environment in ways that inspire, heal, and delight.

Jake holds a Master of Landscape Architecture from Virginia Tech, a Master of Science in Technology Management from the University of Maryland Global Campus, and a Bachelor of Science in Integrated Science and Technology from James Madison University. His work has ranged from the design of parks and public gardens to urban residential settings and American embassies.

Jake’s prior career with the World Bank enabled him to travel extensively and develop a deep appreciation for the wonders of different climatic and cultural regions of the world.

LOREN HELGASON, PLA, ASLA, LEED AP

Landscape Architect, STUDIO39 Landscape Architecture

Loren Helgason is a registered landscape architect at STUDIO39 Landscape Architecture in Alexandria, Virginia. With over 20 years of experience in the Mid-Atlantic and beyond, he has been involved in a broad range of projects including residential, hospitality, office, retail, and government.

Prior to putting roots down locally, Loren received a Master of Landscape Architecture from Kansas State University and a Bachelor of Science in Architecture Studies from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. With this background, he looks at the interface between design, engineering, and natural systems to uncover engaging solutions that celebrate this overlap.

LAN HOGUE, PLA, ASLA, LEED AP

Senior Landscape Architect, Michael Vergason Landscape Architect, Ltd

Lan has over twenty years of experience working as designer and project manager for a wide range of projects, in scope and scale and in both the private and public realm. She received her Master’s in Landscape Architecture from the University of Virginia and is a licensed Landscape Architect in Virginia. Her works at Michael Vergason Landscape Architects have received both local and national awards. Beyond design and project management, Lan continues to advocate for gender equity in the design of the built environment. She presented on this topic at the Association for Community Design conference, American Institute of Architects Design DC conference, and Women in Architecture lecture series. To promote awareness of design in the urban environment in her local community, she partnered with local organizations to lead Jane’s Walks through DC and Arlington neighborhoods.

JAMES JOYCE, PLA, ASLA

Senior Associate, Moody Graham

James is a registered landscape architect with over 14 years of professional experience. His experience includes a wide range of projects from strategic level, large-scale public realm urban design to medium and small scale hospitality, recreation and parks, educational, and commercial developments. Mr. Joyce brings extensive public engagement experience that has successfully guided design efforts from schematic phases through construction, accounting for all public voices.

James is a graduate of North Carolina State University, from which he received a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture. Mr. Joyce also studied at the NCSU Prague Institute where he focused on European urban plaza design. During his final year at NCSU, he was named the recipient of the American Society of Landscape Architects’ Student Award of Honor award.

TONY KOSTRESKI, PLA, ASLA

Senior Landscape Product Specialist | Vectorworks, Inc.

Tony Kostreski, PLA, ASLA is a landscape technology enthusiast bringing municipal, institutional, mixed-use, and high-end residential site design proficiency to his role as senior landscape product specialist at Vectorworks, Inc. Kostreski has improved the efficiency of design-build and landscape architecture firms across the United States through best practice workflows in design, modeling, documentation, GIS, and BIM.

Committed to empowering the next generation, Kostreski delivers customized workshops at universities, equipping students with essential tools. With a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from the University of Maryland, College Park, Kostreski brings a solid educational foundation.

An active member of professional associations, Kostreski has served as the secretary and program committee chair for the ASLA Maryland Chapter and is currently a member-at-large for the ASLA Potomac Chapter and serves on the ASLA Digital Technology PPN. His expertise and dedication position him to shape the future of our local landscape architecture community, driving innovation and sustainability.

CONNOR PRICE, ASLA, PLA

Campus Landscape Architect, National Institutes of Health

Connor Price is a licensed landscape architect in Maryland and Washington DC. Connor has a wide range of professional experience in landscape architectural design, project management, planting design, and construction administration in both the public and private sectors. Currently, Connor serves as the campus landscape architect for NIH in Bethesda, MD. At NIH, Connor reviews all new site design projects on campus, oversees site construction, creates landscape policies for all of NIH’s campuses across the country, and serves on design review committees.

His previous experience working on college campuses for a multidisciplinary design firm has provided him with the tools to engage with large stakeholder groups, as well as tackle projects at multiple scales. Mr. Price holds a BLA in Landscape Architecture from West Virginia University. Connor lives in Baltimore, MD. and enjoys volunteering his time for The Neighborhood Design Center, which helps local Baltimore neighborhoods by providing design services and securing funding for parks and other community spaces.

RACHEL SCHNEIDER, ASLA, PLA

Senior Associate, RHI

A talented and accomplished landscape architect and project manager at RHI, Rachel Schneider brings an artistic and resourceful vision to her work in historic landscapes, green infrastructure, and urban parks and public spaces. Her portfolio spans the mid-Atlantic and ranges from prominent projects at the Hirshhorn Museum, the Freer Gallery of Art, and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts to citywide sustainable measures to support the DC Clean Rivers Project.

Rachel’s appreciation for historic, social, and ecological context is reflected in her holistic approach to planning and design. She is passionate about equitable placemaking and revealing unexpected histories in the landscape. With versatile skills as a manager, designer, and artist, she is proficient in guiding multidisciplinary teams and community engagement efforts. Rachel holds a degree in Fine Arts, Sculpture +  Extended Media from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Master of Landscape Architecture from the Harvard Graduate School of Design.

Rachel’s interests reflect a love of landscape and the arts, including gardening, hiking, sketching, and sculpting.

AMY SOMMER, PLA, ASLA, LEED AP

Division Manager, CPJ

Amy is relatively new to the DMV area, having moved to Maryland two years ago from the New York City area to join Charles P. Johnson & Associates and is the Division Manager for the Silver Spring Planning Department. She is excited to get more involved locally after having been active in the NYASLA chapter for many years. At CPJ, Amy enjoys collaborating on projects with multiple disciplines and mentoring junior staff. She has over 20 years of experience in the industry, having worked on a wide range of complex projects from housing developments to green roofs, waterfronts, campus masterplans, transit stations, historic sites, schoolyards, and public parks throughout the East Coast. Amy currently holds licenses in Maryland and New York and is a LEED AP. Before moving, she served on the Hoboken (NJ) Shade Tree Commission for 6 years and was Chair for 3 years. As Chair, she lead the annual street tree planting program, approved tree planting and removals for new development, advised the Special Improvement District, and planned Arbor Day events with local schools.

Amy grew up on Long Island, NY and holds an undergraduate degree from Cornell University and an MLA from the Rhode Island School of Design. Outside of work, she is a huge history buff and has been enjoying working on her house in Kensington and exploring the DMV area with her husband and two daughters.

BEL St. JOHN DAY, ASLA, PLA, AICP, LEED AP

Landscape  Architect, Bradley Site Design

Bel has more than fifteen years of experience in the industry and ten years now at Bradley Site Design located in Washington, DC. Her experience ranges from US Embassy projects across the globe to education and redevelopments in Washington, DC and surrounding areas. She loves the challenges each new project brings and provides a holistic approach that addresses them with innovative solutions. As part of her research at BSD, Bel has pursued a particular interest in sustainable, renewable energy implementation methods that work seamlessly with Landscape Architecture design principles.  

Bel received her Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture from Purdue University and is a a licensed Landscape Architect in Virginia.  She also serves on Purdue University’s Professional Advisory Council.

DAVIS WALKER

Project Manager, Landscape Architect, and Arborist | Kimley-Horn

Christine Cotter

Before joining the Potomac Chapter of ASLA as Executive Director, Ms. Cotter was Vice President, Public Relations at American Professional Agency, Inc.  She brings more than 20 years experience in managing and working with membership organizations, as well, including the American Society of Psychoanalytic Physicians, American Psychiatric Association district branches, Maryland and District of Columbia Society of Clinical Oncology, and others.  Cris works with our boards and volunteers and is responsible for the administration of the association, as well as membership retention and services.