People

Mary Abelmann

Project Manager (Chicago, IL)

Mary is an architectural project manager with 20 years of experience in architectural professional practice.  She has established a strong portfolio with the completion of numerous successful, complex architectural projects.  She has worked as a project architect, project manager, and designer on a range of building types – including multi-family housing, healthcare, and public work.

Mary is a strong, leader who works closely with clients, consultants, and project teams to coordinate design and technical elements that meet the client schedule and budget. Through a collaborative environment Mary helps to create, she has a constant goal to provide high-quality projects and innovative spaces. Her passion for ecological and environmentally smart processes informs the project vision, and in the end provides unique and compelling design solutions for each client.

A skilled architect with extensive experience, Mary is excelling in the programming, planning, and design phases of projects, while providing a thorough understanding of project documentation and construction.

Mary holds an Advance Master of Architecture degree from UCLA, a Professional Master of Architecture degree from Tulane University. She is a licensed architect in Illinois, accredited in LEED BD+C and a registered Energy Code Professional in the City of Chicago.

Paul Andresino

Director of Architecture (DC)

As the Director of Architecture and Associate Partner in our Washington, DC. office, Paul Andresino leverages his 30 years of experience in delivering projects, and mentoring and managing staff. By assisting the DC office in executing our architectural language and processes, enacting new quality control measures, and spearheading professional development initiatives, Paul ensures the office’s compliance with complex project deliverables, schedules, and budgets. Through his work, Paul has built a thorough understanding of the technical and regulatory side of the architectural profession in Washington. This allows him to holistically lead a project from start to finish. With every project he undertakes, Paul wants the client to know that he has the project’s best interest at the forefront, and they can trust him and his team members to get the job done right. By maintaining consistency of communication with all architectural staff, Paul ensures there is an abundance of cross-mentorship and cross-pollination of ideas to further grow our Washington, D.C. personnel and portfolio.

Willy Bermudez

Willy Bermudez is a dedicated and highly motivated senior designer with more than 20 years of experience in single and multi-family residential design as well as retail interiors. He has focused his career on new construction, renovation, and expansion. He also has significant experience in the planning of complex large-scale residential, student housing, hotel, and mixed-use projects. Willy is a valued leader at BKV Group and is known for his contemporary design aesthetic, attention to detail, and collaborative approach to leadership.

Craig Carter

Craig Carter has more than a decade of nationwide experience in architectural programming, design, documentation, and construction administration with a focus on public facilities and government projects. He is a national leader in fire station design and construction, utilizing an innovative research-based approach. His projects have won awards for design as well as for demonstrating an exceptional level of cooperation between government and the private sector. Craig is an expert in the detailed requirements that enable public facilities to be effective tools for their users. With a family background in public service, Craig understands the culture of local government and strives to create an excellent working relationship with his clients by focusing on timeliness, follow-through, and clear communications, while keeping the best interests of the citizens at heart.

Charlie Charlton

Director of Construction Administration (MSP)

Charlie Charlton represents both BKV Group and the project owners throughout the construction process. He uses his expertise as a Construction Administrator to ensure that design performance is achieved and verified during construction. Charlie enforces BKV Group’s tactical approach to quality control by focusing on clear communication, project controls, monitoring, and detecting potential schedule delays & cost overruns before they occur in the field. His strong client relations have fostered innovative ways to resolve complex project issues in a timely and effective manner.

Brian Cornell

Director of Structural Engineering (DC)

Brian Cornell is a professionally licensed structural engineer and LEED accredited professional with 16 years experience in building design and construction. His responsibilities include meeting with clients to review engineering needs and providing solutions. He analyzes design requirements, specifications and performance requirements to determine best and most appropriate designs.

Lionel Dayton

Lionel Dayton has completed major design projects using post-tensioned concrete, precast concrete, cold-formed steel, composite beam and joists, heavy timber, and conventional wood framing materials. Lionel has been a structural project manager and engineer of record on projects of variable size, from single-family home renovations to $115 million mixed-use building complexes. He also has an extensive background in fastener production, testing, and design for all connection applications.

Mike Dugan

Mike Dugan has more than 30 years of experience in the design and specification of plumbing, ventilation, air conditioning, process piping, high purity water systems, chemical and gas piping systems, fire protection, and building automation systems. His project design and management experience includes work in a wide variety of markets, including commercial and industrial buildings, housing, education, healthcare, hospitality, retail, laboratories, and correctional facilities. Mike also has experience with forensic and code research.

Robert Ewert

As an architect with more than 20 years of specialized experience in renovation and new construction, Robert Ewert’s design portfolio includes corporate offices, government facilities, residences, and laboratories. He also has a substantial background in design for the nonprofit sector. Robert is a strong advocate of collaborative design, employing a “listen and lead” approach to the client relationship to allow for a comprehensive and intimate understanding of the client’s needs to realize the full potential of each project. It also allows him to offer leadership in emerging design strategies, including sustainability and energy conservation, collaborative workplace environments, resource sharing, and safety and building code issues.

Larry Farris

Code Specialist
As dedicated part of our Construction Administration team, Larry Farris brings the expertise of a Certified Building Official and a Certified Building Inspector. Larry has a solid background in commercial and residential construction methods. As a Certified Code Specialist, Larry closely monitors BKV Group’s projects with his extensive knowledge in both national and statewide building codes and enforcement practices.  Larry is also a Certified Plumbing Inspector & Certified Mechanical Inspector. Quality assurance control in design and construction is critical in Larry’s role on BKV Projects.

Renato Gilberti

Renato Gilberti has more than 20 years of experience in residential, mixed-use, senior living, and hospitality practice areas. He is driven by his desire to be challenged, to develop high-quality architecture, and to create innovative and progressive designs. Renato’s experience includes design leadership, master planning, diagrammatic studies, and rendering development. His designs have been developed locally, statewide, and nationally. He is a LEED-Accredited Professional with experience on multiple LEED projects.

Brady Halverson

Director of Landscape Architecture (MSP)
Brady Halverson’s work includes a broad range of project types including site design, master planning, corridor and transit-oriented development studies, comprehensive and redevelopment planning and process facilitation, and new town planning for both public and private clients. A common thread in all of Brady’s work is an emphasis on sustainability and creation of meaningful places that offer unique design solutions specific to each client’s needs.

Jim Hansing

Director of Construction Administration (DC, DAL)

Jim Hansing has more than 25 years of experience in architecture, construction administration, and project management on base building and interior construction projects. His project experience is primarily in housing, office, education, and government building types. He has a demonstrated knowledge of all aspects of project design and documentation from schematic design to project closeout.

Edward Heinen

Director of Specifications
Edward Heinen’s work includes maintaining a core practice in specifications writing and management of project manuals and managing BKV Group’s specialized specification writers, while pursuing expertise in high-performing, sustainable buildings and landscapes.

DuWayne Jones

DuWayne Jones has more than 20 years of experience, primarily with county and state government facilities. As a primary client liaison, his responsibilities include organizing, directing and executing work assignments, monitoring budget, scope and schedule for multiple projects at a time. DuWayne’s experience includes working closely with clients, often involving multiple stakeholders to understand their mission and unique project requirements and develop architectural solutions that enhance their operational goals.

Liza Kapisak

Liza Kapisak delivers design solutions that focus on aesthetic appearance while delivering functionality and efficiency. She has extensive experience in communicating with clients to develop programming and comprehensive concepts while exploring creative space planning solutions as well as finish and furnishing selections. She partners closely with architects, engineers, consultants and other professionals on all projects to ensure success.

Bill Ljungquist

Mechanical Engineering Discipline Lead

Bill Ljungquist has more than 30 years of experience in mechanical systems design. He brings seniority, extensive experience, and proactive design approach to the mechanical engineering discipline of BKV Group. His experience includes work in housing, retail, hospitality, commercial, healthcare, higher education, and government projects. Bill has also been at the forefront of energy efficient design for the majority of his career.

Mark Manetti

Mark Manetti has extensive experience in programming, planning, and designing government and education projects. He is a loyal, conscientious, and hardworking professional with a proven track record of managing and successfully implementing all phases of design and construction related services. Mark has a service-oriented approach to design, with a history of effectively managing design team resources to achieve project profitability.

Susan Morgan

Over the course of 15 years, Susan Morgan has established strong working relationships with clients by resolving the unique complexities each project and context presents. She has worked as a project architect, project manager, and designer within a range of building types – from libraries, to academic buildings, at a range of scales – leveraging a “listen-first” approach to help ask the right questions then develop a responsive integrated design solution. Susan holds a Master of Architecture from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from Washington University in Saint Louis, where she received the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts Distinguished Young Alumni Award in 2011. Susan’s work is informed by her personal passion for learning, which she has nurtured as a current co-chair of the AIA Higher Ed subcommittee for the Committee on Architectural Education, by teaching graduate level architecture courses for 14 years at the Boston Architectural College, and consistently providing presentations and jurying awards for organizations like Learning by Design, IMPACT, and local AIA chapters.

Kyle Olson

Kyle Olson is responsible for performing and directing others in the design, evaluation, and retrofit of metal, concrete, masonry, and wood structures. He’s experienced in the preparation of engineering studies, design documents, building and support structure layouts, engineering and construction cost estimates, and construction documents. Kyle is also responsible for supervision of design personnel, final project checking, and communication with clients pertaining to design and construction issues.

Henry Pittner

Henry Pittner is an award-winning licensed architect, author and presenter who has gained national recognition for his leadership managing, programming, planning and designing governmental projects. With more than 35 years of experience, he has led more than seventy projects in twelve states for city, county, and state clients including courts facilities, detention and correctional facilities, government centers, system and site master planning, and civic design.

Kyler Queen

Director of Marketing

Combining his advertising and marketing background with a Masters degree in Interior Design and previous leadership roles in the A/E/C community, Kyler Queen creatively builds the bridge between clients and BKV Group’s projects, people, and ideas. Kyler oversees all internal and external marketing efforts firmwide, leveraging the firm’s talent and comprehensive set of design services and processes to win new business, and develop successful outreach strategies aimed at growing the BKV brand nationally and globally.

Emily Rappe

Director of Professional Services
Emily’s education and experience in the architecture profession provides an expertise in orchestrating the coordination of project staffing and scheduling. Emily leads BKV’s professional staff recruitment, interviewing and hiring process, taking great pride in helping to shape our workplace culture with the great people at BKV. In addition she manages the annual performance review process, coordination of the mentoring/training opportunities and our important cultural initiatives across all practice sites. She’s passionate about the people at BKV and is an advocate for all!

Chris Sachse

 Director of Architecture (Chicago, IL)

Throughout his 26 year career, Chris Sachse has developed vast team leadership experience in many sectors including, multifamily high rise, senior living, student living, single family homes, healthcare, retail, commercial, corporate, and higher education. Chris is dedicated to establishing best practices for his architectural team members, integrating improved technologies into the daily workflow, and conducting research into new, innovative building materials to incorporate into our current projects. Chris is heavily involved in the management side of projects, but also the marketing side of the BKV Group housing sector at-large.

Alex Sawka

Director of Mechanical Engineering (MSP)

Alex Sawka is skilled in offering innovative mechanical design solutions to projects. He is a highly motivated and resourceful individual who interacts productively with people from diverse backgrounds. Alex is a natural problem solver and an innovative designer. His designs promote maximum efficiency while requiring minimal maintenance. He also has experience with projects in many different housing markets, including multi-family housing, student housing, and hospitality.

John Treiber

John Treiber has experience in design and project management of multiple project types including mixed-use and build-to-suit commercial, residential and retail renovations and new construction. John’s role involves working closely with clients, often involving multiple stakeholders to understand their mission and unique project requirements, and developing architectural solutions that enhance their operational goals.

Matthew Brooke

Matthew Brooke offers extensive design and documentation experience and his primary experience is in institutional, commercial, and residential building types. He also provides an expertise in building technology and sustainable design. With experience in small to mid-sized projects, Matthew coordinates efforts with clients and consultants throughout all phases of a project.

Joe Brown

Joe Brown has many years of architectural experience with a specialization in adaptive reuse. His renovation projects include the award-winning Schmidt Artist Lofts and A-Mill Artist Lofts. Joe has also worked extensively with teams on historic buildings across the country, converting them into modern, urban environments.

Doug Devos

Doug Devos is a team leader and collaborates with all disciplines from schematic design through construction phase to ensure projects meet expectations for building performance, code compliance, coordination, and constructability. He’s experienced in commercial architecture and multi-family mixed-use projects. Douglas has been in the industry for over 20 years and with BKV Group for 11 years.

Eric DeYoung

Eric DeYoung has more than 23 years of experience including 20 years at BKV Group in architecture and construction administration. He has extensive experience in all phases of architecture, from conceptual design to the final construction documents, and he works regularly on historical buildings and adaptive reuse projects. Eric’s construction administration experience ranges from smaller commercial tenant improvement jobs to high rises. His project experience is primarily in banks and office projects, Multi-family, and education. His broad range of projects and experience help to guide how the next project gets done.

Elaine Fitzgerald

Senior Project Specifier (Chicago, IL)

Elaine Fitzgerald has 22 years of professional experience as an architect. Her work includes high-profile developments nationally and internationally and includes high-profile projects within healthcare, higher education, multifamily residential, multibuilding high-rise, commercial, and public-cultural developments nationally and internationally. She is a skilled architect with a strong understanding of project documentation, delivery types, contracts, and construction. Elaine is also involved in the industry and local community with strong ties to the Construction Specifications Institute’s Chicago Chapter, her alma mater, the University of Illinois at Chicago, and as a long-time Board Member of the Chicago Public School’s Local School Council. Combining her background in architecture and specifications with her significant affiliations in the A/E/C community, Elaine also actively bolsters the collaboration efforts between consultants and BKV Group’s people and projects.

Heather Gleason

Director of Business Development (Chicago, IL)

Heather Gleason is experienced in leading business development for companies across many different verticals and has focused on commercial/multifamily real estate for the past several years. She is a results-driven expert who strategically leverages our internal multifamily housing resources to exceed our clients’ goals through innovative thinking, creative problem-solving, and team collaboration. Heather is also an active member of CREW Chicago, ULI (Urban Land Institute), REFF (Real Estate Finance Forum), and NSPB (Near South Planning Board). For fun, she is a dedicated globetrotter and passionate yogini.

Jon Hubach

Director of Pre-Development Services (Dallas, TX)

Jon Hubach has more than 14 years of experience in Economic Development, Urban Planning, and Communications. With Jon joining BKV Group, he brings a deep knowledge in government relations, urban planning, coordination with clients and navigating government apparatus. As Director of Pre-Development Services, Jon also provides the ability to build consensus with parties, find solutions between multiple practices and seek outside of the box ideas to steer development.

Rodney Howlett

Rodney Howlett brings over 20 years of experience in architectural design and construction to BKV Group. While specializing in multifamily residential projects, he also draws experience from his assisted living, hotel & hospitality, education, commercial, and industrial projects. In addition to his years as a project architect and a construction administrator, Rodney has also taught classes in construction management as a college-level instructor, with the goal of mentoring the next generation of young design and construction professionals.

Mark Jones

Director of Construction Administration (CHI)

Mark Jones is an architect with more than 30 years of experience in design, implementation, and construction of affordable housing and other project types. His background also includes new construction and renovation of existing, long-term care facilities, multi-unit housing, religious facilities, and various governmental, institutional, and educational buildings including science and forensic laboratories. Mark has a broad range of skills and responsibilities including architectural design, construction administration, specification writing, and construction technology. He values the importance of integrating the client’s program and design with aesthetics, coordination, and problem-solving while providing cost-effective solutions. Mark is a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), and is a Certified Construction Specifier (CCS) with the Construction Specification Institute.

Jason Krogseng

Jason Krogseng provides leadership with more than 17 years of experience in mechanical and plumbing design, construction and integration of quality mechanical systems required for various facilities types. He has knowledge of project planning, organization, collaborative design and implementation, and design innovations. His expertise includes heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems design integration and sustainable/energy efficient systems design. Jason has proven his design leadership and mentoring within the mechanical engineering discipline throughout his career and continues to encourage and new engineering colleagues at BKV. His dedication extends from internal personnel by working with the entire project team to working with client representatives to provide the quality and timely mechanical system solutions.

Julie Lux

Director of Pre-Development Services (Minneapolis, MN)

Julie Lux has more than 25 years of experience in commercial real estate, focusing on the multi-family market. She is an active member of CCIM, MNCREW, MHA and is board president of the East Bethel Economic Development Authority. Julie joined BKV Group in 2017 to head up the newly created Pre-Development Services group where she is leveraging her real estate experience to assist the firm’s clients source and acquire development sites.

Wellesley Lynn

Director of Electrical Engineering (DC)

Wellesley Lynn brings 13 years of experience in electrical industry to BKV Group‘s Washington, DC office. Throughout his years of experience, he had gained expertise in electrical engineering, project management, and leadership field. His design experience includes lighting system design, power distribution design, power system analysis, and lightning protection system design for the federal secured building, air traffic control towers, military base office, higher education, and commercial buildings. Wellesley is also a LEED accredited professional.

Cher Petersen

With 39 years of experience, Cher Petersen balances a diverse workload, operating seamlessly across multiple projects and bringing great value to clients by comprehensively overseeing the standard detailing and pre-install phases of design and construction. In building a rapport with clients who trust her implicitly to review drawings, conduct quality control measures, and manage an effective team, Cher has built up an impressive track record which extends internally where at BKV Group she mentors staff in designing and coordinating the building infrastructure, while curating BKV Group standards in Revit and helping steer the firm’s small group standards committee.

Jeremiah Smith

Director of Architecture (MSP)

Jeremiah Smith has extensive experience spanning mixed-use and residential, institutional, federal and municipal government, and higher education design for both public and private clients. He brings leadership in sustainability and project management to the team with an emphasis on fostering design quality and environmental stewardship. Jeremiah also co-chairs the Sustainability committee within BKV Group, helping to foster opportunities within projects and processes to include sustainable initiatives.

John Stark

John Stark has more than 30 years of expertise as a Project Manager on myriad project types. He has specialized experience in sustainable design and historic preservation projects. He orchestrates timely communication between owners, architects, engineers, and specialists to make projects successful. His consensus-building management style and mentorship provides everyone an opportunity to contribute.

Brad Sullivan

Brad Sullivan has extensive experience in all phases of architecture from conceptual design to construction administration. His varied experience has ranged from very large complex projects such as high-rise, mixed-use residential housing, and master planning, to small- and medium-sized projects such as adaptive reuse historic renovations and interior tenant improvements. With an emphasis on organization and clarity, he coordinates the efforts of the project team, maintains document compliance with project criteria and facilitates communication with all members of the team.

Keith Traywick

Keith is a skilled architect with over 20 years of experience on a broad variety of projects from around the world. From high-rise residential, hospitals and medical offices, to universities and sports arenas, Keith is seasoned in all sectors of architecture. Through honed communication skills, Keith brings value through construction administration in regards to project management. He is highly conscientious and innovative as he develops forward-thinking and leading-edge architectural solutions that meet the needs of his client’s project objectives.

Megan Van Beck

Megan Van Beck has extensive experience in the residential, corporate, and hospitality design sectors. She is involved in all phases of a project, from planning and programming to construction administration. Her dynamic approach to the design process helps her to deliver unique and purposeful interior spaces. Megan also brings energy and passion to each project as she strives to create exceptional design for every client.

Sam Watkins

Director of Architecture (DAL)

Sam Watkins is a seasoned architect and project leader with more than 19 years of experience on a wide variety of project types through planning, design, construction, and occupancy. This range of projects demonstrates an ability to adapt to challenging building types, budgets, schedules, and complex team environments. He has worked as an advocate for the environment at the local and state level, serving as AIA Dallas COTE co-chair and on the TxA Sustainable Communities Committee, and he seeks to be an agent for change in the profession by looking outside disciplinary boundaries as a graduate of Leadership Richardson, a member of the Richardson Environmental Advisory Commission, and instituting a community-focused sustainability recognition program for AIA Dallas. Sam obtained his Bachelor of Architecture degree at Auburn University where he participated in the Rural Studio, and more recently, he completed a research-focused master’s degree in interdisciplinary design at the University of Cambridge.

Bridget Wolff

Bridget Wolff has a background in administrative roles and client support, which led her to BKV Group in 2013. Starting in the accounting department, her passion for helping others steered her career path towards Human Resources. The best part of her job is helping teammates succeed; whether it is on-boarding a new hire or assisting current employees. She works closely with Lois Nicholas, our CFO, to continue to grow BKV Group while maintaining the commitment to full-service design.

Benjamin Yonce

Benjamin Yonce is a dedicated Senior Project Architect with 20+ years of experience on a variety of projects ranging from small tenant fit-outs to large-scale new construction developments. His portfolio includes multi-family housing, hotels, adaptive-reuse, and commercial buildings. In addition, Ben brings professionalism, great leadership skills, and creative thinking to the whole team.

Marisa Zambuto

Marisa Zambuto has significant experience in public, municipal, and government building projects. She is highly detail oriented and has extensive practice creating basis-of-design documents, documenting existing conditions, and coordinating demolition and construction phasing. Marisa’s commitment to sustainability includes a drive to retain the embodied energy in our existing structures. Her ease with BIM technology to manage phasing and communicate design intent make her the ideal architect to participate in any remodeling efforts. She is also experienced in sustainable design practices including the USGBC LEED certification process and has completed LEED documentation for numerous projects.