Passionate People Sustainable Design
X 
Resume: Tim Van Meter
Tim Van Meter
Partner Emeritus
Architect / Urban Designer
303-298-1480 x18
Tim Van Meter, a firm partner and founder, is a leading architect and urban designer whose work has focused on green architecture and sustainable urban design. Tim heads the firm’s Denver office, which he established in 1999. He has led the design team on many of the firm’s complex and award-winning architecture and urban design projects in Colorado, Hawaii, Texas, New Mexico, and California. He is experienced in a wide range of architecture and urban design projects at various scales, focusing on transit-oriented development, neighborhood design, mixed-use urban infill, and affordable housing. On the national level, Tim is the Urban Design Adviser for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Smart Growth Program. He also is co-chair of CNU XVII, the 2009 national conference of the Congress for the New Urbanism. A licensed architect in Colorado, California, Hawaii, and Utah. A graduate of the University of Colorado School of Environmental Design, Tim has traveled extensively worldwide, studying design, planning, and environmental issues and their effects on communities. He is a community design consultant for numerous communities and organizations, and has extensive experience achieving consensus through the public process. He lectures on issues of urban and sustainable design and development across Colorado’s Front Range and throughout the West and Hawaii.Resume: Tim Van Meter
Tim Van Meter
Partner Emeritus
Architect / Urban Designer
X 
Resume: Rick Williams
Rick Williams
Partner
Architect / Urban Designer
415-974-5352 x203
A partner and founder of Van Meter Williams Pollack, Rick Williams is a leader in urban design and transit-oriented development. Rick excels at using his architectural development background--understanding building types and the architectural realm--to inform urban design projects. The scale of his work ranges from residential and mixed-use neighborhoods and urban infill multifamily affordable and workforce housing in inner-ring Bay Area communities to new town plans. His diverse experience also includes designing commercial and institutional projects. Rick has worked extensively with public agencies, cities, and nonprofit organizations, and is adept at negotiating the regulatory framework and writing codes for mixed-use and transit-oriented development. Rick handles project management and construction administration for the firm’s building projects, and has enhanced the firm’s reputation for implementing projects that are successfully completed because they work on all levels of design, financing, and development. Rick earned a Masters degree in architecture and city planning from the University of California-Berkeley, and a Bachelors degree in architecture from California Polytechnic State University. He is licensed as an architect in CA, CO, MN, MS, NV, and TX. Rick has lectured extensively on issues of contemporary urban planning, and his urban design projects have been published in books and leading design and planning journals.Resume: Rick Williams
Rick Williams
Partner
Architect / Urban Designer
X 
Resume: Fred Pollack
Fred Pollack
Partner
Architect, LEED AP
415-974-5352 x202
As a partner and founder of Van Meter Williams Pollack, Fred for over two decades has worked at the forefront of mixed-use pedestrian and transit-oriented planning and urban design. His focus as a leader in green and sustainable architecture has been designing urban infill on a scale that ranges from individual buildings to blocks, and includes mixed-use communities, adaptive re-use of buildings, and multifamily affordable housing. Fred has led many of the firm’s larger and award-winning projects through the entire design and development process. Fred also manages the firm’s business practice. A LEED-Accredited Professional, Fred has worked closely with municipal and nonprofit organizations to implement sustainable building practices. He is a technical advisor for Global Green USA, and serves on several technical advisory committees for developing green and sustainable architecture, including the Multi Family Green Building Guidelines Committee for the Alameda County Waste Management Authority and the steering committees for the Green Affordable Housing Coalition and the Zero Net Energy Housing Project in California. Fred is a licensed architect in California and Hawaii. A graduate of the University of Colorado School of Environmental Design, he has traveled extensively worldwide, and for two years studied and worked as an architect in Denmark on a variety of highly published projects.Resume: Fred Pollack
Fred Pollack
Partner
Architect, LEED AP
X 
Architect / Urban Designer
Resume: Karen Murray
Karen Murray
Partner
Architect / Urban Designer
LEED Green Associate
415-974-5352 x207
As a partner at Van Meter Williams Pollack, Karen provides firmwide leadership and direction for projects ranging in scale from the neighborhood to the individual building. Her unique blend of architecture and urban design skills allows her to act as a bridge between the two disciplines, providing implementable design solutions, feasibility studies and prototypical building design for many of the firm’s projects.Resume: Karen Murray
Karen Murray
Partner
Architect / Urban Designer
LEED Green Associate
X 
Architect
Resume: Benjamin Chuaqui
Benjamin Chuaqui
Partner
Architect
LEED AP
415-974-5352 x215
Licensed in California. Ben joined VMWP in 2002 and became a Partner of the firm in 2021. He holds master degrees in both Architecture and in City Planning from UC Berkeley. Prior to attending graduate school, Ben was an accomplished classical pianist, earning an undergraduate degree in Music. Ben has been involved with all phases of the design and construction process, and his interest as a designer is focused on not just creating good buildings but creating good spaces around the buildings. Being both bicultural and bilingual (Chilean-American), Ben brings multiple perspectives to each architectural project. As a design professional, Ben’s interests in the social landscape as well as the more technical and idiosyncratic aspects of wood construction have influenced his work.Resume: Benjamin Chuaqui
Benjamin Chuaqui
Partner
Architect
LEED AP
X 
Resume: Brett Jacques
Brett Jacques
Partner
Architect
303-298-1480 x11
Licenced in Colorado. Partner and Architect, Brett leads the VMWP Denver office, overseeing multi-family urban housing projects from schematic design through construction administration. His roles in the firm encompass Project Architect, Project Manager, and team leader. As a Project Architect, Brett has led many multi-family housing teams of various architectural projects including urban housing, mixed-use, multi-family affordable housing, single-family residential, educational, commercial, and historical preservation. He focuses his time on quality sustainable urban and affordable housing in the Denver, Colorado regions, most recently, AVi at Olde Town, Crossing Pointe North & South in Thornton and 32nd and Shoshone affordable housing projects. As team leader, Brett is known for keeping a project team on task and on schedule through clear communication with client and his design team. Efficiency in housing keeps costs down, and Brett guides his team to better design and productivity, keeping the project on budget. Brett enjoys the diversity and collaboration of sustainable urban design and architecture and looks forward to continuing a tradition of pushing the boundaries in a broader sense of stewardship of people and the environment. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family, serving in his church, playing guitar, drawing, spending time outdoors, snowboarding, and playing volleyball.Resume: Brett Jacques
Brett Jacques
Partner
Architect
X 
Architect
Resume: Laura Shagalov
Laura Shagalov
Partner
Architect
LEED AP BD+C
Certified Passive House Consultant (CPHC)®
612-601-1330 x208
Licensed in MN, CA, and WI. Laura leads VMWP's new Minneapolis office which opened in 2019. Projects in the Minneapolis office have included feasibility studies for multifamily modular construction, concept design for hybrid live/work apartments, City design standards, urban design consulting on a corridor study and a 30 acre master planning study. Laura's Bay Area projects include affordable multi-family, mixed-use, and rehabilitation projects, where Laura works with a wide variety of client and resident needs to create beautiful, healthy, energy-efficient, and accessible living environments. Prior to joining VMWP, Laura worked with a community design studio in coastal Mississippi and contributed professionally to research studies on affordable and energy-efficient housing, as well as temporary disaster housing. Outside of work, Laura is committed to serving her community and has volunteer experience in working with refugees, new immigrants, and international students on language and cultural skills.- CPHC® are certification marks of Passive House Institute US (PHIUS). Used under license.
Resume: Laura Shagalov
Laura Shagalov
Partner
Architect
LEED AP BD+C
Certified Passive House Consultant (CPHC)®
X 
Architect
Resume: Michael Kloefkorn
Michael Kloefkorn
Principal
Architect
LEED AP Homes
415-974-5352 x209
Licenced in CO. As one of the Associate Principals at VMWP, Mr. Kloefkorn brings a mixture of experience in California, Colorado and Australia including furniture, interior design, commercial/retail, mixed-use, residential, multi-family residential, adaptive reuse and construction. He joined VMWP in 1998 and relocated to Colorado in 1999 to assist in establishing the new Denver office. He has been involved in projects ranging from Belmar CO, to Valencia Gardens Hope VI, to Railyard Lofts (reuse), to affordable senior housing projects Cottonwood Court and Warner Creek and the Jewish Home SF and 2175 Market St, SF, Rebuild Potrero (Hope SF), Block X, Rotary Plaza, and 55 Laguna. Mr. Kloefkorn specializes in sustainable urban architecture. As the resource on sustainability at VMWP, he seeks to push the envelope on every project. As an active chapter leader of the Northern California Chapter of the USGBC, he founded and chaired the Residential Green Building advocacy Committee. Mr. Kloefkorn is active, professionally and in the community, to promote better human environments while decreasing the human impact on the natural environment. He is an advocate for affordable housing and for moving our profession from green to sustainable to regenerative design. In his spare time, Michael enjoys snowboarding, hiking, backpacking and flyfishing.Resume: Michael Kloefkorn
Michael Kloefkorn
Principal
Architect
LEED AP Homes
X 
Associate Principal
LEED AP Homes
Resume: Elitsa Shepherd
Elitsa Shepherd
Associate Principal
Architect
LEED AP Homes
Certified Passive House Designer
415-974-5352 x222
Licensed in CA. A Bulgarian native, Elitsa moved to the United States during her late teens. After living in Las Vegas for 7 years and having had enough of the desert sun and pompous architecture, she relocated to San Francisco. Elitsa has always been an architecture devotee but her professional experience has taken numerous directions: before joining VMWP, she worked as a master control operator at a TV station, office manager at a financial network and a customer relations manager for a wealth management company. She and her husband Andrew like spending their free time playing foosball with friends and working on independent film projects.Resume: Elitsa Shepherd
Elitsa Shepherd
Associate Principal
Architect
LEED AP Homes
Certified Passive House Designer
X 
Architect
Resume: Pam Goode
Pam Goode
Associate Principal
Architect
LEED AP Homes
Certified Passive House Designer
415-974-5352 x220
Pam has recently completed affordable multi-family housing projects for formerly homeless veterans in Mountain View and in Colma, California. She has worked on senior affordable housing in Marin and is currently working on family affordable housing projects throughout the Bay. Pam has focused on sustainability and building science over the last 25 years. Integrating greywater, advanced framing, passive solar, strawbale building and many other sustainable building practices in her designs. Pam has called San Francisco home for almost 30 years and enjoys spending time with family and the great outdoors. While not at work, she enjoys time with her family, spending as much time outdoors hiking, running, biking, or sitting in the sun.Resume: Pam Goode
Pam Goode
Associate Principal
Architect
LEED AP Homes
Certified Passive House Designer
X 
Architect / Urban Designer
Resume: Andrew Faulkner
Andrew Faulkner
Associate
Architect / Urban Designer
Project Manager
612-601-1330 x217
Andrew has contributed design and project management experience across urban design and architecture projects at VMWP for over half a decade. He has contributed subject matter expertise to the Balboa Reservoir Development Standards and Guidelines and oversaw the construction of Hana Gardens senior housing for Eden Housing, which was recently honored with the 2019 California Governor's Historic Preservation Award. Andrew is currently working with the cities of Pleasanton, CA and Wayzata, MN to develop design standards for new development. In addition to his work at VMWP, Andrew has advocated for environmental justice and the removal of urban freeways through leadership of the City To River and ConnectOakland advocacy groups and was an adjunct professor in architecture and urban design at Washington University in St. Louis. He enjoys bicycling, backpacking, and woodworking and has been known to sew his own outdoor gear and create toys for his nephews and nieces.Resume: Andrew Faulkner
Andrew Faulkner
Associate
Architect / Urban Designer
Project Manager
X 
Resume: Lilly Wellington
Lilly Wellington
Associate
Architect
415-974-5352 x219
Licensed in CA. Lilly has always loved design and the functional beauty that comes with architecture. She finds the lasting impact of space on the individual to be fascinating and strives to design a positive and meaningful experience. After interning at VMWP in 2014, she finished her Bachelor’s of Architecture at California Polytechnic SLO and immediately returned to San Francisco and VMWP to resume doing what she loves in her favorite city. Outside of Architecture, Lilly's other passions include creative storytelling, costume design and fabrication, and baking.Resume: Lilly Wellington
Lilly Wellington
Associate
Architect
X 
Associate
LEED AP
Resume: Ruchira Gaur
Ruchira Gaur
Associate
Senior Urban Designer
LEED AP
Certified Passive House Designer
415-974-5352 x210
Ruchira is passionate about minimalist designs and sustainable community development. Prior to joining VMWP, Ruchira worked closely with developers and city planning departments in New York City and Stamford to design market rate and affordable housing. She also worked as an Urban Designer and Land Planner in Philadelphia, where she worked on transforming suburban malls into new urban centers with mixed-use development. Apart from Urban Design and Architecture, she loves graphic design, creating tangible and visual art via 3D modeling printing.Resume: Ruchira Gaur
Ruchira Gaur
Associate
Senior Urban Designer
LEED AP
Certified Passive House Designer
X 
Resume: Elaine Uang
Elaine Uang
Associate
Architect / Urban Designer
415-974-5352 x204
Elaine is passionate about crafting human centered places and good community design, and has extensive experience both with physical design and engaging communities in the design process. She joined VMWP in 2018 to merge her residential architecture design skills with her interest in good urban planning and policy. Before joining VMWP, Elaine ran a residential architecture and community design practice and co-founded a community group to educate and advocate for better housing and transportation policies. She holds a Master of Architecture from the University of Virginia and B.A in Human Biology from Stanford University. She lives with her family in a historic structure that was the first office of Palo Alto.Resume: Elaine Uang
Elaine Uang
Associate
Architect / Urban Designer
X 
LEED AP BD+C
Resume: Jeos Oreamuno
Jeos Oreamuno
Architect, AIA
LEED AP BD+C
303-298-1480 x17
Jeos has been involved in multi-family urban infill, adaptive reuse projects from concept design through construction documentation offering visual graphics, schematic design, code analysis, and consultant coordination. Jeos has also contributed on urban design projects providing physical needs assessments, site analysis, bulk plane studies, parking analysis, and overall master plan design. Before applying himself to academics, Jeos served active duty in the US Air Force as a field engineer providing site planning, land surveying, and technical drafting support for Air Force bases at home and abroad. During college at the University of Colorado, he worked for the Regional Transportation Department (RTD) as an urban design intern for the Capital Programs FasTracks team. Jeos was fortunate to collaborate on the design of the bus canopies for downtown Denver’s Free MetroRide bus loop.Resume: Jeos Oreamuno
Jeos Oreamuno
Architect, AIA
LEED AP BD+C
X 
Resume: Pei-Chi Chen
Pei-Chi Chen
Architect / Urban Designer
415-974-5352 x221
Before coming to the States, Pei-Chi had five-year practical experience as a licensed architect in Taiwan where he worked on a wide range of architectural design projects including transportation facilities, campus buildings, commercial, mixed-use and housing. Then he came to UC Berkeley to study in urban design, pursuing solid design training from different angle and broader context. As an architect and urban designer, he integrates his interdisciplinary expertise into diverse design approaches and comprehensive solutions, bringing in unique idea for individual project.Resume: Pei-Chi Chen
Pei-Chi Chen
Architect / Urban Designer
X 
Resume: Camille Lo
Camille Lo
Architect
415-974-5352 x230
Camille’s expertise includes site planning, building design, and consultant and city coordination. She has 5 years experience working on ground up and renovation retail projects, predominantly in the design and entitlement phases. Camille loves architecture and urban design for the opportunities to create vibrant places serving local communities. She is especially passionate about social and environmental sustainability and integrating nature into urban environments. Prior to joining VMWP, Camille worked at an architecture firm in Southern California repositioning under-utilized retail centers. Outside of the office, Camille fosters her interest in ecology through gardening, aquascaping, and fish keeping.Resume: Camille Lo
Camille Lo
Architect
X 
Resume: Stephen Ellis
Stephen Ellis
Architect
415-974-5352 x238
Stephen began his professional experience in the Bay Area with and has over 5 years practicing as a registered architect. During his time in the Bay Area, he developed an expertise in multi-family housing, primarily with high-rise and large scale projects sized over 200,000 sqft. Lessons learned from developing a variety of projects fed his passion for user-oriented design at the community scale, supporting some of the grassroots stakeholders in San Francisco. This work consists of pro bono services for United Playaz and West Bay Filipino Center in SoMa and advising on a STEAM program for Rosa Parks Elementary School. As an instructor at the Academy of Art University, he aspires to build in his students an awareness of community needs, emotional connections to underserved users of design and to develop their own architectural styles rooted in positivity, thoughtfulness and sensitivity.Resume: Stephen Ellis
Stephen Ellis
Architect
X 
Resume: Sara Mae Parker
Sara Mae Parker
Architect
415-974-5352 x213
Born in Tahoe, raised in Davis, educated in Berkeley, Sara Mae’s Northern California upbringing fuels her desire to create more housing and more types of housing in the state. She is passionate about creating senior housing environments that support residents in their pursuit of full, rich, and connected lives. After work Sara Mae can be found in the nearest ocean, lake, river or swimming pool. She is a member of a masters women’s water polo team and dances regularly for mental and physical fitness.Resume: Sara Mae Parker
Sara Mae Parker
Architect
X 
Resume: Courtney Mehta
Courtney Mehta
Architect
LEED AP BD+C
415-974-5352 x 244
Licensed in CA and TX. Courtney is a transplant from Texas and is happy to now call the Bay Area home. With a strong passion for sustainability and socially responsible work, San Francisco has always been a dream destination to live and work. Courtney has over 12 years of work experience in an extensive variety of project types ranging from interior renovation to ground-up new construction, working in all phases of development and through various project delivery methods. She is excited to apply her background experience and creative problem-solving skills to generate successful projects for one of the most prominent social injustice issues hampering the Bay Area, affordable housing. In her spare time, Courtney enjoys exercise, exploring the beautiful Bay Area, reading, and cooking.Resume: Courtney Mehta
Courtney Mehta
Architect
LEED AP BD+C
X 
Resume: Timothy Bowen
Timothy Bowen
Architect
415-974-5352 x 248
Licensed in California. An expert in multi-family housing, Tim has designed and built hundreds of units of mixed-use, senior, market-rate housing throughout NorthernCalifornia. His favorite projects in his portfolio are community-focused affordable housing. A steady Project Architect and lead, Tim is comfortable coordinating complex projects, their teams, funding, and client relationships. Tim is looking forward to working with the talented and dedicated team at VMWP. As a Navy and Air Force veteran, Tim has honorably served his country, and continues to serve his community in Santa Rosa through volunteering and his church. When he is not designing housing, he is in his garden or workshop making sawdust.Resume: Timothy Bowen
Timothy Bowen
Architect
X 
Resume: Derek Westby
Derek Westby
Architect
303-298-1480 x 125
Licensed in Colorado. Derek has a background ranging in scale from single-family residential to high-rise and mixed-use projects. He also has experience working in hospitality, restaurant design, and adaptive re-use. His journey has included both architecture and planning, from initial concepts and pencil strokes through construction administration. Derek prides himself on being a team player and making a positive community impact. A native of the North Star State, Derek moved to Colorado in 2008 to pursue his graduate degrees. He has a passion for placemaking, and how the human experience interacts with the forces of design. When not at the office, Derek enjoys hiking, volleyball, travel, and volunteering.Resume: Derek Westby
Derek Westby
Architect
X 
Resume: Giselle Alcazar
Giselle Alcazar
Architect
415.974.5352 x 259
Giselle moved to the Bay Area for college but remained after graduation when she discovered the unique mix of people and cultures, and subsequently the housing challenges that such a dense area presented. Her experience working on luxury, affordable and supportive housing has led to a well-rounded knowledge of alternative approaches to common design conditions. She works tirelessly to streamline processes and apply creative problem solving skills so as to manage projects effectively. Giselle is adept at data modeling with a clear understanding of multi-family design and code integration. She also utilizes her work experience to serve as a mentor and source of careful considerations on topics such as documentation and standard of care. Apart from architecture, Giselle enjoys time with her family and friends, pilates, crafting, reading and doing smaller projects at home.Resume: Giselle Alcazar
Giselle Alcazar
Architect
X 
Sherry Scott
Architect
415.974.5352 x263
Sherry Scott
Architect
X 
Resume: Emily Axtman
Emily Axtman
Architect
720.415.5869 x29
Emily is guided by the Mississippian architect, Samual Mockbee, who is quoted to have said both “Everyone, rich or poor, deserves a shelter for the soul”, as well as, “It’s not about your greatness as an architect, but your compassion.” Emily is dedicated to using her skillset towards high-impact projects with mission-driven clients.Resume: Emily Axtman
Emily Axtman
Architect
X 
Resume: John Doyle
John Doyle
Senior Urban Designer
LEED AP
415-974-5352 x218
John’s professional experience in urban design and architecture spans 16 years and ranges from designing multifamily residential buildings in the Bay Area to planning senior community campuses in Oregon. John has the unique ability to design and illustrate concepts in a variety of ways from hand sketching and rendering to digital techniques and SketchUp. He has completed ARE testing and all IDP credits towards architectural licensure. He has lived in Chicago, Portland, and the Bay Area, three of his favorite American urban places. Today he resides in Roseville and enjoys time with his wife and two young boys, running, visiting breweries, and golfing.Resume: John Doyle
John Doyle
Senior Urban Designer
LEED AP
X 
Resume: Sophia Zhang
Sophia Zhang
Designer
415-974-5352 x206
Sophia is a native of the Bay area and developed an interest in architecture while traveling with her family at a young age. She decided to pursue architecture after volunteering for a summer at a skills training center for the blind and visually impaired. Sophia believes in design that is both beautiful and universal. Prior to receiving her Bachelor of Architecture degree from California Polytechnic University San Luis Obispo and joining VMWP, she worked on single residential and commercial projects around the Bay Area. During her free time, she enjoys traveling, riding her motorcycle around the city, rock climbing, and backpacking.Resume: Sophia Zhang
Sophia Zhang
Designer
X 
Resume: Gretchen Till
Gretchen Till
Designer
LEED Green Associate
415-974-5352 x216
Gretchen began her career in the built environment bicycling through the forests and wetlands of New York City as a planner for the NYC Parks Department. By supporting the creation of greenways and bike paths throughout the many neighborhoods and ecologies of the five boroughs of New York City, she developed a strong sense of critical advocacy. This work also opened up her awareness of ecology in relationship to architecture, which led her to study architecture in California. In the Bay Area, since completing her master’s, she has worked on adaptive re-use and rehab projects that support vibrant neighborhoods and facilitate improved connections for people with their physical environment. Crafting the simplicity and beauty of these connections is where Gretchen finds inspiration in her architectural design.Resume: Gretchen Till
Gretchen Till
Designer
LEED Green Associate
X 
Resume: Liz Murphy
Liz Murphy
Designer / Job Captain
303-298-1480 x16
Liz has always been drawn to the arts and sciences. Specific to her interest in architecture, Liz has enjoyed exploring architecture as a multi-sensory experience, as well as its role within the landscape. Her architectural studies were cultivated at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo and enhanced further by a four-month stint in Rome, Italy, where she experienced and studied the renowned city’s ancient and modern urban fabric first-hand. Liz first interned with VMWP in SF during school, where she developed an early affection for affordable housing. Upon graduating, she moved back home to Colorado, joining the VMWP team in downtown Denver. In her off-hours, Liz enjoys spending time outdoors, drawing, painting, and playing ultimate frisbee.Resume: Liz Murphy
Liz Murphy
Designer / Job Captain
X 
Resume: David Gregory
David Gregory
Designer
415-974-5253 x426
David has pursued his passion for environmental design and planning since the late 90’s across a range of countries, climates, and development contexts, from big cities to small mountain towns and rural areas in the US, South America, China, and the Caribbean. When not at work, David is likely to be found playing with his family, working on their house, gardening, or some combination.Resume: David Gregory
David Gregory
Designer
X 
Resume: Hao Tian Chen
Hao Tian Chen
Designer
415-974-5352 x228
Hao lived and studied in China, Canada, the United States, and Japan and visited even more places around the world. Hao is an international traveler and explorer of diverse cultures. When pursuing his education at California Polytechnic at San Luis Obispo, he had the opportunity to participate in the off-campus study program in San Francisco. The experience revealed to him the housing crisis in the Bay Area. After graduating from California Polytechnic in 2019, Hao is very excited to join the talented team at Van Meter Williams Pollack. Most especially Hao is looking forward to becoming a part of the solution to the ever-increasing housing crisis in the Bay Area.Resume: Hao Tian Chen
Hao Tian Chen
Designer
X 
Resume: Yaner Chen
Yaner Chen
Designer / Job Captain
415-974-5352 x232
Yan was born and raised in Zhuhai, a coastal city with a diverse culture in China. She is passionate about architectural designs that focus on sustainability and create an interactive experience. During her undergraduate study in California Polytechnic San Luis Obispo, she had the opportunity to participate in a three-month study abroad program in Tokyo, Japan, where she experienced and studied traditional and contemporary aspects of dwelling and urbanism. Outside of work, Yan loves traveling and exploring different local cultures and unique architectural expressions.Resume: Yaner Chen
Yaner Chen
Designer / Job Captain
X 
Resume: Preeti Srinivasan
Preeti Srinivasan
Urban Designer
415-974-5352 x233
As an architect and urban designer, Preeti is deeply passionate about the evolution of cities and the synergy between people and place. Having spent her life shuttling from one major Indian city to another, she is interested in understanding and curating the sociological impact of urban environments. She is especially interested in community-oriented development and urban infill. Prior to joining VMWP, Preeti worked for almost three years in India on residential, institutional, healthcare and master planning projects. Through sensitive and strategic design, she hopes to create meaningful places that bolster communities and boost local economies.Resume: Preeti Srinivasan
Preeti Srinivasan
Urban Designer
X 
Resume: Vrushali Sathaye
Vrushali Sathaye
Senior Urban Designer
LEED AP ND
415-974-5352 x235
Vrushali is an Architectural and Urban Designer, who brings her eclectic background and design sensibilities to VMWP. Combining that with a varied design software expertise and code knowledge, she manages projects and teams working on master planning, feasibility studies, and area plan updates. She also mentors teams to create seamless transitions of early conceptual designs to entitlements and design development work in the firm using Revit/BIM tools. Being a multidisciplinary professional, and a strong advocate for equitable solutions, she believes that some of the best places are made from many minds, many voices and many hands. Apart from Architecture and Urban Design work, Vrushali is a digital painting enthusiast, a diagrammist, an Urban Sketcher, and loves dabbling into visual storytelling.Resume: Vrushali Sathaye
Vrushali Sathaye
Senior Urban Designer
LEED AP ND
X 
Resume: Jamilla Afandi
Jamilla Afandi
Job Captain / Urban Planner
415-974-5352 x236
Jamilla was born and raised in San Francisco. Her passion for architecture and urban planning stems from growing up in the Bayview which shaped her view of the social injustices of the built environment. Her passion is designing affordable housing and socially just spaces for everyone. When she is not studying for her ARE exams, she volunteers for renter’s rights activists non-profit organizations, loves to bake while watching her local favorite teams (Warriors, SF Giants, and 49ERS) and enjoys biking and taking long walks all over the city.Resume: Jamilla Afandi
Jamilla Afandi
Job Captain / Urban Planner
X 
Resume: Ruofei Gao
Ruofei Gao
Designer
415-974-5352 ext. 229
Ruofei grew up in Harbin, a city in the Northeast China, which is famous for its yearly Ice and Snow Festival and European style streets and architectures. At a young age, he was interested in drawing and painting. He set his mind to becoming an architect since high school. He received the Bachelor of Architecture degree in Tsinghua University, Beijing. Then he came to the US for further study and got his Master of Architecture degree in Cornell University. Before joining VMWP, he worked at BCV Architects on retail and winery projects. Then he designed and built his own modern house in Palo Alto. Now he lives there with his wife and two cats. In his spare time, he likes to travel, visit museums and watch movies.Resume: Ruofei Gao
Ruofei Gao
Designer
X 
He believes architects have a civil duty to learn from and aid the public, collaborating with communities to celebrate their rich diverse culture to produce new creative solutions. He strives to do community outreach and collaboration with the intent to unify communities to provide equal opportunity for surrounding local businesses, organizations, and schools.Outside of work, he is an artist and his hobbies include cooking, baking, traveling, and learning about different cultures.
Resume: Daniel Arzaga
Daniel Arzaga
Designer
Resume: Daniel Arzaga
Daniel Arzaga
Designer
X 
Resume: Diepriye Olali
Diepriye Olali
Designer / Job Captain
415-974-5352 x212
Diepriye has worked on a wide range of project types from civic facilities to multi-family affordable housing. As a Job Captain he is involved in developing healthy, sustainable and affordable housing for hundreds of low-income and formerly homeless residents throughout the Bay Area. Over the years he has developed an affinity for addressing California’s housing shortage crisis while maintaining a careful eye towards implementing sustainable design solutions that improve the health and well being of the public. He has a particular interest in working on historic renovation projects; addressing long-standing deferred maintenance issues while improving the overall efficiency and experience for the building users. He has worked closely with a number of nonprofit developers planning, designing and managing complicated projects with budgetary constraints, complicated construction schedules and additional requisites required to meet client funding sources. Outside of work, Diepriye enjoys travel, DIY projects, and Cuban salsa dancing.Resume: Diepriye Olali
Diepriye Olali
Designer / Job Captain
X 
Resume: Talayeh Hamidya
Talayeh Hamidya
Designer / Job Captain
415-974-5352 x240
Talayeh started her professional experience as an intern in 2006 and since then she has worked internationally in variety of projects types, building systems and occupancies. During this time she has accumulated a hands on knowledge of design & delivery of single & multi-family residential buildings, cultural institutions, high-rise offi ces & public spaces. Her built projects include several high-end family houses (2012-2016), a 10,000 s.m infill urban park (2020), and a series of above ground subway facilities (under construction) which were developed in close collaboration with urban designers. She is particularly interested in design as an instrument for encouraging social equity, to this goal all aspects of design, from finance to sustainability are regarded as decisive forces.Resume: Talayeh Hamidya
Talayeh Hamidya
Designer / Job Captain
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Resume: Cris Magalhaes
Cris Magalhaes
Designer / Job Captain
415-974-5352 x 241
Cris is from Sao Paulo, Brazil and her interest in architecture began at an early age through her father’s real state endeavors in the very dense metropolis. Currently, members of her family are engaged in the use of recycled wood and metals in new construction in the Brazilian countryside. She graduated from Cal Poly Pomona in 2009 and also attended architecture school in Florianopolis, Brazil and a Summer quarter in Athens, Greece. She has worked in Orange County, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Berkeley. Prior to joining VMWP, Cris had been working on Berkeley bungalows and San Francisco Victorians’ remodels and additions. She has a son who is a graphic designer in San Francisco with whom she trades creative experiences, hiking and cooking. She spends much of her free time traveling with her partner, researching, volunteering, and visiting with friends and family.Resume: Cris Magalhaes
Cris Magalhaes
Designer / Job Captain
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Resume: Natacha Ikuzwe
Natacha Ikuzwe
Designer
415-974-5352 x243
Natacha grew up in Kigali, Rwanda known as a country of thousand hills. She lived in Sacramento for seven years, where she did her community college and worked as a proctor, help desk, and Intervention Specialist. Natacha also worked as a French and Math tutor before transferring to California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, where she graduated. She was fortunate to participate in a six-month internship at Van Meter Williams Pollack during her time at Cal Poly. Natacha enjoyed learning and contributing to some of the projects in the firm, and she has joined the firm after earning her Bachelor of Architecture. Her interest lies in designs that prioritize humans’ needs. Natacha likes dancing to different dance styles mainly Afrobeat and her traditional dance since they both involve drums. She also loves hiking, drawing, and spending time in nature.Resume: Natacha Ikuzwe
Natacha Ikuzwe
Designer
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Resume: Kimia Kiani
Kimia Kiani
Designer / Job Captain
415-974-5352 x245
Kimia has a wide range of experiences in Architecture, Urban Design, Urban Planning, Modular Design and Construction in both Iran and United States. She has worked in public and private sectors in the US and has been involved in many projects from early stages of design all the way through the construction document and construction administration. In her last position, she was a project lead working with a modular-construction company in bay area focusing on multi-family affordable housing projects. She had worked closely with consultants and engineering teams on several pre and under construction projects. Kimia is a people person, she loves flowers, music, people, art, nature and kindness, strives to send love and peace all around the world with every interaction.Resume: Kimia Kiani
Kimia Kiani
Designer / Job Captain
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Resume: Omar Rodriguez
Omar Rodriguez
Project Manager
303-298-1480 x 24
Working in residential, mixed-use, retail, healthcare, corporate, and arts & culture projects across the United States, Omar has over a decade of experience designing and developing projects as a Project Manager. While he has managed all facets of a project from early stages to plan check submittal, he excels in keeping the project phases coordinated by maintaining a consistent communication with consultants. When he is not designing affordable homes for the people of Denver he enjoys spending quality time with his love ones.Resume: Omar Rodriguez
Omar Rodriguez
Project Manager
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Resume: Abby Kummer
Abby Kummer
Designer
612-601-1330 x 247
Abby Kummer is a designer at the Minneapolis office. At VMWP Abby is assisting in different architectural phases for multi-family and senior housing projects. Born and raised in Iowa. Moved from Ames to the Twin Cities area to start school in 2018. Abby also is a part time server on the weekends. When not working or at school, she loves spending her time going for runs, painting canvas, drinking coffee, and spending time with friends and family.Resume: Abby Kummer
Abby Kummer
Designer
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Resume: Jia Xu
Jia Xu
Urban Designer
LEED Green Associate
415.974.5352 x 249
Jia is passionate about urban design and building environmentally and socially sustainable communities. Prior to joining VMWP, she worked in Montreal, Canada on a variety of cultural and entertainment projects, from cutting-edge new theaters in Las Vegas to a 9000-seat performance center in Osaka, Japan. After work, Jia enjoys traveling, hiking, swimming and watching films and stand-up comedy shows.Resume: Jia Xu
Jia Xu
Urban Designer
LEED Green Associate
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Resume: Eric Sandoval
Eric Sandoval
Designer / Job Captain
415-974-5352 x 255
Eric believes that affordable housing has the ability to transform lives of people from all different backgrounds, providing opportunity for many underserved communities. Eric is dedicated to creating more affordable housing closer to people’s daily destinations, reducing vehicle emissions and promoting density.Resume: Eric Sandoval
Eric Sandoval
Designer / Job Captain
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Resume: Jason Gonzalez
Jason Gonzalez
Designer
415-974-5352 x 256
Jason was born and raised in the Bay Area. His passion for providing and designing affordable housing comes from his personal experience and struggle to find housing amidst the housing crisis. Because of rising rents, insufficient opportunities, he understands the disruption that constant moving can have on a person, the roots that are never able to be established in the community. His desire to be creative and to work toward collective solutions enhances his passion in designing the built environment. He sees the value in listening and understanding various views and stories people experience throughout their life, which molds our shared communities. In his free time, Jason enjoys training in Muay Thai and Jiu Jitsu while also developing his skills on the saxophone. Listening to music and spending quality time with loved ones is also a plus.Resume: Jason Gonzalez
Jason Gonzalez
Designer
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Resume: Pratibha Singh
Pratibha Singh
Urban Designer
415-974-5352 x 257
As an Urban and Architectural Designer, Pratibha has a passion for exploring integrated design solutions to create resilient, sustainable, equitable and transformative environments. Prior to joining VMWP, she worked in Nashville, Tennessee on a variety of urban infill projects ranging from mixed-use developments, cultural institutions, multi-family residential and affordable housing projects at different stages. Pratibha has previously worked as a spatial analysis and planning Research Assistant with Columbia University and as an Architect with government and private organizations in India. She now lives in Oakland, CA. Pratibha enjoys traveling and feeding her curiosity towards the build environment, and takes great interest in understanding more about people, cities, systems and ecology.Resume: Pratibha Singh
Pratibha Singh
Urban Designer
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Resume: Marija Marin
Marija Marin
Job Captain
415.974.5352 x 258
Marija has over 14 years of experience in architecture and planning, including running her own architectural office for more than 5 years. As a licensed architect in Croatia for 10 years, she worked on a variety of projects including residential design, commercial, interior design, and urban design, energy calculations and reports. As a designer and job captain, Marija has successfully led projects through all phases from design to construction. Outside of work Marija loves to socialize, travel and explore with her husband and dog.Resume: Marija Marin
Marija Marin
Job Captain
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Resume: Zuzana Skelton
Zuzana Skelton
Job Captain
415.974.5352 x262
Zuzana's architectural experience started in Europe where she worked on single and multi-family residential buildings while completing her Bachelor of Science in Architecture at the Technical University in Vienna in 2016. She moved to San Francisco in 2017 and continued her work in residential design. Zuzana believes good architectural design can create sustainable, high-density housing for low-income families that is also aesthetically pleasing. She strives to achieve this by emphasizing functional amenities and maintaining a less is more ethos in building design. When not in the office or project site, she enjoys traveling around the world with her family.Resume: Zuzana Skelton
Zuzana Skelton
Job Captain
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Resume: Mariana Lueck
Mariana Lueck
Project Manager / Job Captain
303-298-1480 x 26
Before moving to the United States, Mariana had her own architectural office in Brazil, where she worked on various residential and commercial projects. After the move, she worked in different construction-related fields like building surveys, interior architecture, vertical transportation consultancy, and commercial and residential architectural projects. She is also a travel enthusiast and has been all around the world. All of that has given her a broader view of projects and creative problem-solving skills.Resume: Mariana Lueck
Mariana Lueck
Project Manager / Job Captain
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Resume: Chelsea Clark
Chelsea Clark
Job Captain
303-298-1480 x 27
Chelsea enjoys pursuing both affordable and sustainable architecture. This passion for equitable design originated during her undergraduate studies when she and her classmates collaborated with a community of artists at the Za’atari Refugee Camp to design shade structures for their growing camp. Chelsea then continued her education at the University of Oregon in Portland where she focused her thesis on new refugee housing and community support. Her studies and project experience continue to highlight a need for affordable and supportive housing especially through the lens of environmental justice.Resume: Chelsea Clark
Chelsea Clark
Job Captain
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Aditi Gupta
Designer
415.974.5352 x 264
Aditi Gupta
Designer
X 
Mary Helen Kennedy
Designer
415-974-5352 x 265
Mary Helen Kennedy
Designer
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Matthew Kaea
Business Manager
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Matthew brings over 15 years of experience in accounting for small to medium businesses to VMWP. His previous position was the Controller for a VoIP (voice over internet) start-up. Before that, Matthew was a Staff Accountant for one of the Big Five CPA Firms in California where he worked with small to medium businesses. Matthew is the Tongan record holder in marathon. He has run five of the six world major marathons (Berlin, Boston, Chicago, New York and Tokyo). He is also an avid bicycling and swimmer - triathlete. He loves to travel. Before joining VMWP in 2015, he travels to six different countries (Mexico City - Mexico, Buenos Aires - Argentina, Beijing - China, Tokyo - Japan, Frankfurt - Germany, Positano - Italy).
Matthew Kaea
Business Manager
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Hayley Wrubel
Marketing Director
415-974-5352 x205
Hayley believes in the power of architecture; that responsible design of a built environment can offer social, economic, and ecological balance to communities. In joining VMWP, she melds her passions for marketing and sustainable design. Hayley has had the pleasure to work in the multi-family residential architectural field in the Bay Area for over a decade, primarily supporting firms with marketing and business management. Before that, she worked with artists, photographers, and children’s art schools. Out of the office, Hayley can be found with her family, volunteering for Oakland Unified schools, environmental causes, and the local food bank.Hayley Wrubel
Marketing Director
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Pamela Camacho
IT Support
415-974-5352 x237
Pamela Camacho
IT Support
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Resume: Bob Martin-Waddell
Bob Martin-Waddell
BIM Manager
415-974-5352 x246
Bob Waddell has over 44 years of experience in architectural design and large-scale construction. As a designer and BIM specialist, he has a complete understanding of integrating design with new technologies. With more than 30 years as a BIM Specialist and systems analyst, Bob has become a leading force in the implementation of virtual design, construction, and digital “handover”. He has a strong background in the architectural design and coordination of large scale projects. Bob is experienced in all phases of construction and has been responsible for contract administration, contract documentation, and visualization. He maintains a strict adherence to procedures and standards in accordance with AIA, NBIMS. Bob draws on his multi-faceted background to anticipate and solve problems at the desktop and in the field.Resume: Bob Martin-Waddell
Bob Martin-Waddell
BIM Manager
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Darla Rovetti
Accounting Assistant
415-974-5352 x250
Darla Rovetti
Accounting Assistant
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Raheel Ahmad
Designer
612-601-1330 x266