Small(er) Firm Diversity, Evolution, Growth, and Longevity in a Megafirm Market - 1.0 PDH (LA CES/non-HSW)

Recorded On: 10/29/2023

Have you imagined having your own firm or joining others to do so? As trained landscape architects, business challenges around staffing, HR laws, accounting, and ownership transition may seem unfamiliar. We discuss how we run our small-to-medium businesses so you can learn techniques that might work for you.

Learning objectives:

Learn how to decide what size firm and what firm structure might work best for you.
Observe proven techniques and strategies for managing people, projects, and profits/losses.
Understand more about the challenges of ownership transition in these varied types of firms.
Learn how these varied firm models create diversity, equity, and inclusion through practice and projects.

Gretchen Wilson, ASLA, PLA, LEED AP

Principal/Co-Founder

Dig Studio

Gretchen Wilson, PLA, ASLA, LEED AP, CO Trustee is a co-founder and Principal of Dig Studio with offices in Denver, Phoenix, and Spokane. Gretchen is dedicated to utilizing the power of public space to bring diverse communities together, improve health and well-being, connect people to nature, create resilient habitats, and improve the environment. She has helped grow Dig Studio from four to forty-four people in 10 years with an emphasis on diversity, collaboration, and organic evolution. She is involved with CU Denver through scholarships, teaching, lecturing, jurying, and serves on the CU Denver Master of Urban Design Advisory Council.

Moyara H. Pharis, ASLA

President

Pharis Design

Moyara Pharis, President of Pharis Design, has been practicing Landscape Architecture in the United States and Brazil since 1993. Equipped with cross-cultural insights, her refreshing perspective informs design solutions and implementation processes in both public and private sectors. Moyara’s repertoire ranges from regional planning, neighborhood development, parks, sports and amenity complexes, street and highway corridors, entertainment and hospitality infrastructures to the design of ranches and residential gardens. Exceptionally site oriented, with an instinctive ability to read and understand environmental opportunities and constraints, Moyara has developed an informed eye toward unique, economical and environmentally balanced land-based solutions.

Shannon Blakeman, ASLA

Managing Partner

CARBO Landscape Architecture

Shannon Blakeman, ASLA, is the Managing Partner at CARBO Landscape Architecture. He received a BLA from the Robert Reich School of Landscape Architecture at LSU. Shannon has always possessed an appreciation for the unique culture and natural surroundings of Louisiana, devoting his career to creating innovative, thoughtful environments that enhance and nurture our communities. His people-centered approach to firm management focuses on developing talent from within the firm and fostering a sense of purpose for team members. Shannon has been an active member of ASLA for many years, serving as the Louisiana Chapter President and on ASLA’s Board of Trustees.