Summary
Architectural Designer with 34 years of experience in multiple facets of design, including 27 years involved in all phases of landscape design, construction and site planning.
Work experience includes working with Architects to create house and site master plans, landscape construction, estimating and project management, as well as developing planting layouts, drainage specifications and construction details for structures such as pool houses, arbors, fireplaces, outdoor kitchens and many other custom-built features. Have also worked as an independent designer, managing landscape project installations, ranging from $10,000 to well over $1,000,000. Experience also includes 7 years of educational background in Architecture and Urban Design at MIT and Columbia University, with additional work experience in residential and retail architectural construction.
Resume
Mentor
Education
1998 - present
Amy Mears Design
Sole proprietor of landscape design business, overseeing the designs, budgets and installations of hundreds of projects. Have worked with Homeowners Associations, religious organizations, architectural design teams as well as with individual clients and properties.
2014 - present
Lisa Brown Design
Design collaboration with Lisa Brown, formerly in the Bay Area, who moved to Arizona in 2015. As her design partner, I am responsible for the management and installation of the designs, as well as collaborating on design decisions and heading client meetings. Involved in many multi-year, large-acreage renovations in Atherton, Menlo Park and Carmel/Pebble Beach areas.
2012 - 2014
RGB Landscapes
Principal landscape designer for a landscape construction and maintenance company, servicing clientele in Atherton, Menlo Park and Palo Alto.
2008 - 2011
Alfonso & Harmon, Architects
Principal landscape designer to an architectural office, specializing in custom residential design. Responsibilities in this unique position were to market the integrated approach to potential clients, as well as overseeing all of the landscape installations, working with a wide range of general, specialized and landscape contractors.
1998 - 2002
2006 - 2008
Mary Gordon
& Associates
Mary Gordon was a pioneer in the field of landscape architecture, having been licensed to practice in California for nearly 70 years, until her passing in 2021. Her work in the Bay Area has encompassed originating the Regional Open Space Preserves, Bay Lands Open Spaces and the Tree Canopy for Palo Alto, as well as more than 1,000 residential projects throughout the Peninsula. As Mary’s principal assistant, I was involved in the design and installation of more than 50 high-end residential and estate properties, from initial site planning and documentation, program development, plant selection, construction details, estimating & management, to final documentation, garden feature selection and maintenance recommendations.
1997 - 2001
Candice Stein Design
Candice Stein is a landscape designer and licensed contractor. For her design-build business, I prepared detailed site studies and plans, preliminary landscape designs and final proposals.
1996 - 2001
McKenna Landscapes
As Eric McKenna’s office manager, I performed all of the accounting, payroll, staffing and office support duties to run a 15 person landscape construction firm. Within 5 years, my roles expanded to encompass all of the project construction estimating, plant brokering, landscape design, project cost managing, and construction management.
1993 - 1996
Columbia University
Three-year program in architecture, urbanism and technology with an emphasis on the design studio experience. Participated as a team member in an international design studio project & exhibition in Belgium.
1989 - 1993
MIT
Four-year architectural design program, with supplementary coursework in Architectural History, Building Technologies, CAD, Structural Engineering, Environmental Psychology, Japanese and a concentration in Urban Planning.