Jennifer Dowdell (Practice Leader at Biohabitats Inc.) For over 20 years Jennifer has worked at the interface of ecology, landscape architecture, & conservation planning leading projects ranging from regional greenways to state and national parks, institutional and educational campuses, and citywide ecological networks merging landscape ecology, climate resilience, and equity strategies with regenerative design. Her practice engages principles of systems-ecology, resilience planning, and environmental justice, facilitating dialogue on socio-ecological narratives that engage nature in design. Jennifer has contributed written pieces to publications including Landscape Architecture Magazine, PLACES Journal, theEarthIssue#4, and The Landscape Approach: From Local Communities to Territorial Systems.

Claudia West is a leading voice in the emerging field of ecological planting design. Known for her passionate advocacy of plant-driven design, Claudia is a widely sought out speaker and consultant who applies the technologies of plant systems to bring essential natural functions back into our cities. She has worked on all sides of the green industry—as a designer, a grower, installer, and land manager—grounding her innovative work in pragmatic solutions that address the realities of our urbanizing world. She is the co-author of the critically acclaimed book, Planting in a Post-Wild World, and co-founder of Phyto Studio.

As a Senior Associate and the Raleigh Office Director at Andropogon, Martha works with both public and private sector clients to develop creative design solutions rooted in ecology and community. She has worked on award-winning projects throughout the United States and beyond, ranging from large-scale coastal resiliency and brownfield restoration efforts to small-scale urban interventions tailored to community character. In addition to her experience as a landscape architect, Martha draws from past positions as an anthropological researcher, horticulturalist, and public servant working to help small towns develop meaningful cultural spaces. She received her MLA degree from NC State University.

Madeline is a former Akronite living in Orlando, Florida. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture degree with a French minor from The Ohio State University in 2010. After the recession, she found her way back to landscape architecture with a position at Nimrod Long & Associates in Birmingham, Alabama. She gained experience in both public and private work then obtained licensure in June 2017. Later that year, Madeline joined Dix.Hite + Partners where her current project focus includes campus, roadway and streetscape design, multi-family developments, residential design, community hardscape and landscape renovations, and exterior building color studies.

Jeff Holzer is a licensed Landscape Architect in the Commonwealth of Virginia and is a Certified Playground Safety Inspector for Kimley-Horn and Associates. Jeff has 7 years of experience with a practice in active and passive parks, playgrounds, streetscapes, school/universities, and athletic fields. As Kimley-Horn's only CPSI, Jeff has advised on over 70 playgrounds across 19 states. Jeff volunteers on the LARE Prep committee for ASLA, and the REC TALK committee for the National Recreation and Park Association. In 2020, Jeff won the ANOVA sponsored napkin sketch design competition with a sketch and essay entitled Inclusive Playgrounds for All.

Rebecca is a co-founder of Puzzle and serves as Vice President of Customer Success with over 30 years of broad experience helping businesses achieve their goals through strategic management of their human capital. She most recently served for 14 years with Paychex, Inc. in senior leadership roles within their ASO/PEO, Retirement Planning and Payroll divisions. She has a track record of demonstrated leadership through developing national award-winning teams and consultants. Rebecca brings a wealth of client-centric human capital experience across recruiting and HR Consulting, which positions Puzzle to respond to our clients’ need for strategic HR solutions.

As a SHRM-certified professional, I possess a solid foundation of knowledge in HR (Human Resources) practices and principles. I have over 17 years of experience in Human Capital Management from account management to sales. Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to train and develop individuals on my team. This ignited my passion for people development, and I have loved every minute of it!

During the earliest years of my career, I worked for the largest privately held talent management firm, The Allegis Group, to identify top-level talent. For me, this taught me the foundations of professionalism, a strong work ethic, striving for excellence, and crushing goals!

Following my time with The Allegis Group, I spent 10 years working for Paychex, one of America’s Most Admired Companies. While at Paychex, I managed overly complex client accounts within the Professional Employment (PEO) division. Looking for a new challenge within Paychex, I shifted my focus toward becoming a sales representative and succeeded admirably. Consistently ranking among the top 15% of sales reps nationwide, I gained invaluable insight into what clients prioritize and how to respond to their needs.

My background in both operations and sales has provided me with valuable insight into what clients prioritize and how to meet their needs. This has broadened my understanding of the motivations and mindsets of sales and service professionals.

In 2020, I was approached by PuzzleHR to help assist in establishing a successful client onboarding experience for our new clients. The goal was to ensure a stellar first experience with our service divisions. Shortly thereafter, I joined the Learning & Development Team. My primary goal is to build and facilitate training programs; programs that foster the development of important skills such as emotional intelligence, a growth mindset, effective leadership in times of change, the ability to set clear expectations, and professional mentoring. I take tremendous pride in providing people with the skills and knowledge they need to reach their full potential!

My career has been marked by excellence and drive within each role I have held.

Derek is a dedicated advocate for personal and professional development, bringing with him years of leadership development experience. After spending over 25 years in the corporate world, he found his calling in helping others reach their full potential and launched his own company. Derek's role extends beyond a career—it's a passion and vocation, inspired by the belief that one should love what they do. As a certified coach, trainer, and speaker, he empowers individuals to broaden their horizons and achieve their goals. Leveraging his extensive experience, Derek provides valuable insights, strategies, and tools for effective leadership. He believes the answers lie within us, aiding clients in navigating their inner selves to uncover these solutions. Encouraging a commitment to exploration and embracing change, Derek views the transformative journey as an ever-evolving process.

Dr. Christensen earned a master’s degree in landscape architecture and doctorate in disability studies. He is well-known for his research based on understanding disability through a social constructivist perspective as the limiting of opportunities to take part in community life because of physical and social barriers. Keith's research emphasizes inclusive design and planning practices which support participation in community through the removal of environmental barriers to social access, rather than the regulatory aspects of site-specific design.

Jennie worked in the field of childhood development and exceptional learning for nearly fifteen years. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Exceptional Learning from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, a master’s certificate in Adaptive & Assistive Technology from the University of Miami, and a Master’s degree in Special Education with a concentration in Early Childhood Education from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Jennie has presented as a guest lecturer at universities and has presented at over 200 regional, state, national, and international conferences and play symposiums on a variety of topics surrounding inclusion, the developmental benefits of play, and aligning evidence-based research to creating high quality outdoor play and learning environments. 

Jennie joined PlayCore in 2008, and serves as the Community Outreach Director within PlayCore’s Center for Outreach, Research and Education to support research with our scholar network, create best practice programs to support play and recreation initiatives, provide continuing education through a variety of professional development events, and assist communities in advocating for environments which support the diverse needs of society. Deeply passionate about inclusive, multigenerational play, Jennie utilizes her expertise and personal experiences as a teacher to positively impact the development of innovative play and recreation destinations that focus on community health and wellness.

Evelyn Beaury is a global change ecologist specializing in the biogeography of invasive plants, climate change and land-use change. She received her PhD from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and conducted Postdoctoral research at Princeton University. Evelyn recently started a permanent position as an Assistant Curator at the New York Botanical Garden.

Erik Sechler has worked as Ecological Programs Coordinator for Native Plant Trust for six years. Prior to being at Native Plant Trust, Erik has worked for the Trustees and NY and PA Natural Heritage Programs as a staff ecologist/ecological information specialist and has a MS in Conservation Biology from Antioch NE University.

CeCe Haydock, ASLA, PLA, SITES AP, LEED AP, WEDG, is a licensed New York landscape architect WBE and has practiced in the public as well as the private sector. She is an officer for ASLA’s Sustainable Design & Development Professional Practice Network (PPN), a trustee of the Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park in Oyster Bay, NY, a member of the International Council of the Preservation Society of Newport County, and a visiting lecturer at the New York Botanical Garden.

Nicholas Pevzner is an assistant professor in landscape architecture at the University of Pennsylvania Weitzman School of Design, and a Faculty Fellow at the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy at Penn. Nick’s research focuses on energy landscapes, urban ecology, and climate policy. He studies the role of design in infrastructure planning for the clean energy transition, and the impact of energy systems on culturally contested landscapes. His work investigates the impacts of climate policy on physical built environment, on cultural attitudes, and on its implications for spatial justice, while seeking opportunities for design to accelerate decarbonization across sectors.

Yekang Ko is an Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture at the University of Oregon and a Senior Scientist at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Specializing in sustainable energy landscapes and climate action planning, she directs the Sustainable Cities and Landscapes Hub at APRU. Co-founder of the Landscape for Humanity Lab, her efforts in environmental justice through design have earned her multiple awards, including the CELA Faculty Excellence Awards in Service Learning (2024) and Research (2020). Ko earned her Ph.D. in Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning from UC Berkeley in 2012.

Jasper Hugtenburg is a senior landscape architect and physical geographer with over 20 years of professional experience, currently working as a project leader for H+N+S Landscape Architects in the Netherlands. His work focusses primarily on regional scale sustainable development plans and strategies. Topics include the energy transition, flood and draught protection and nature inclusive design.

Jay, a landscape architect with Coleman Company, has over 20 years of advocacy experience at all levels of government and has been instrumental in advancing public recognition and understanding of the profession with policymakers. Jay will highlight the necessity of educating and advocating to policy makers to protect public health, safety, and welfare through licensure of landscape architects. Jay will share tools and resources and use examples of his own experiences in both Wisconsin and Georgia working with state legislators to defend licensure and fight for the right to practice.

Doug Boyer, an associate principal at EDGE, has led numerous Ohio Chapter advocacy efforts to defend licensure and improve the understanding and profile of the profession within the State. Whether it be meeting with Ohio’s federal and state lawmakers, policy officials at the Ohio Department of Transportation, or regulators at the Ohio Board of Building Standards, Doug will share how he’s successfully carried the message of landscape architects, as licensed design professionals, in order to grow opportunities for landscape architects to lead projects around the state and the nation.

Janene, an attorney and partner with Holland & Knight LLP, works as a lobbyist for the Potomac Chapter of the ASLA. Janene’s wisdom and counsel was crucial to enacting a practice act in the District of Columbia in 2017 and in the Chapter’s recent efforts to eliminate the sales tax on landscape architectural services. Janene will share her insights and guidance on the importance of developing relationships with policy makers at all levels, and on navigating the legislative and regulatory aspects of local government.

Focused on making the public realm more equitable and just, Kounkuey Design Initiative (KDI) is a non-profit design and community development organization that works in disinvested places around the world, collaborating with communities that have been excluded, harmed, or marginalized by traditional design.

Darneka Waters is a Park Planner for Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation, responsible for capital planning and development coordination, public engagement, and master plan implementation for parks, greenways, nature preserves, and more. As an emerging professional and alumna of NC State University, she is known for her participation in industry and community-based organizations. Currently, she is a Black Landscape Architects Network (BlackLAN) Board member and regularly volunteers within the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA). Before joining Mecklenburg County, Waters worked on numerous urban design and planning projects as a Landscape Designer at an interdisciplinary firm in Charlotte, NC.

For over twenty years Barbara has worked as a landscape architect, with an emphasis on urban landscapes and ecosystem restoration. Barbara is passionate about the intersection of landscape architecture and planting design and has spoken across the country on the topic. She was HDR’s project manager for the Federal Highway Administration’s “Invasive Species Impacts on Transportation Infrastructure”. The report documented case studies from across the country, which included cost data where available, highlighting the significant impacts invasive species have on transportation infrastructure, life cycle costs, and long-term operations.

Michael is a professional landscape architect with 15 years of professional experience in ecological design. He works with project teams to develop and implement design and planning strategies that enhance ecosystem structure and function. His primary focus is on coastal climate resilience adaptation, ecological restoration, and green infrastructure, paying particular attention to waterfront access, conservation of biodiversity, and habitat opportunities.

Meet Fran Chismar. Fran has over 35 years of Nursery experience - 17 of which focused in the field of restoration serving as Sultan of Sales for Pinelands Nursery in Columbus, NJ. Fran is knowledgeable in the field of native plants and their use in restoration, reforestation, and mitigation. Fran has had speaking engagements for such organizations as The Native Plant Society of NJ, Xfinity Sustainability Week, Ecological Landscape Alliance, Society of Ecological Restoration, and Wild Ones.. Fran is also Co-Host of The Native Plants, Healthy Planet Podcast which is consistently ranked as a Top 20 Podcast on Apple Podcast.