MODULE 1: Business is Social: Let's Talk About It - 1.0 PDH (LA CES/non-HSW)
Rarely do designers study business in school, and yet our profession relies on the cultivation and retention of paying clients, be they private, non-profit or public-sector. In this panel, two senior landscape architects will share their respective philosophies around business development and engage in a conversation about the importance of generosity, mentorship, openness and their own lived experiences as a basis for any business's success.
Learning Objectives:
- Learn from next generation professionals about how to progressively run a design business.
- Discuss strategies for scaling up your business and capturing strategic growth opportunities via building a robust network.
- Explore policies and processes that support a business's financial health, client relationships, internal mentorship and professional development opportunities.
Alexis C. Landes, ASLA
Managing Principal
SCAPE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE DPC
Alexis Landes is a designer, urban planner, and Managing Principal at SCAPE, where she has overseen the firm’s expansion from 12 to 90 staff members within the past eight years. Within SCAPE, she plays a critical role overseeing firm-wide operations, strategy, project management, business development and finances.
She has also served as Principal-in-Charge of several portfolio-defining projects. Externally, she manages client relationships and firm partnerships, developing tailored design solutions, teams and strategies to meet ever-changing needs. Alexis has taught professional practice courses and presented nationally at numerous conferences discussing collaborative approaches to business management and firm building.
Claire Agre, ASLA
Principal and Co-Founder
Unknown Studio
Claire Agre is Cofounder of Unknown Studio Landscape Architecture & Urban Design. Bringing with her a background in oil painting and ecology, she has led design and implementation for a diverse portfolio of projects, including Governors Island Park, Miami Beach Soundscape, Longwood Gardens, Duke University Sculpture Park, The Mount Desert Land and Garden Preserve, and Houston Botanic Garden. Her design and intellectual interests range from the large-scale, long-duration works on coastal resilience, to the wondrous and immersive scale of the garden. Claire holds an MLA from the Harvard University and a degree in Environmental Science from Duke University.