Jasmeen M. Shaw, P.E.
Jasmeen Shaw currently serves as the Director of School Facilities at the South Carolina Department of Education within the Division of Operations and Support. Jasmeen is the designated Building Official for new construction within K-12 public education. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Clemson University. In addition, she is a licensed Professional Engineer in Mechanical Engineering. Jasmeen is responsible for managing the review/approval process that is designed to award certificates of occupancy for newly constructed multi-million-dollar school facility projects. She and her team of four Engineers/Architects and two support staff serve 81 school districts comprised of over 1200 public schools and charter schools.
Prior to this role, Jasmeen served over 10 years in the Nuclear Industry at Plants Hatch, Summer and Vogtle for new construction and operations. She worked in several departments including Engineering, Quality Assurance as a Lead Auditor, and Regulatory Affairs as the Nuclear Development Site Lead (NDSL) for Georgia Power Company. As the NDSL, she was responsible for managing timely responses regarding new construction to the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC), Co-Owners, and Executives in a challenging political climate for nuclear industry. After the birth of her first child, Jasmeen and her family moved to Columbia, S.C. where she worked briefly as an Engineer for the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) performing calculations and issuing air quality permits for prominent chemical plants.
Jason Lembke, AIA, Architect, Principal, DLR Group
Jason Lembke is a K-12 designer with expertise in the planning and design of engaging learning environments that inspire and cultivate creativity. He was an integral member of the design team for Canyon View High School, A4LE’s 2019 James D. MacConnell award winning school. Practicing from Charlotte, Jason works closely with communities and school districts to design innovative spaces that respond to their unique educational needs for both learners and educators.
Taryn Kinney, AIA, Organizational Psychologist and Architect, DLR Group
After leading design of more than four million square feet of learning space, Taryn Kinney identified a gap in the industry: that to fulfill a new educational vision, support systems must be put in place to help educators change daily behaviors and ultimately shift mindsets.
Taryn obtained a master’s degree from Teachers College at Columbia in Organizational Psychology, specializing in Change Leadership — specifically to support organizations through their transitions to reach their ideal future state. An architect with DLR Group, Taryn incorporates current developmental research, environmental psychology, and organizational psychology to design facilities that respond to human learning and behavior.
Phillip Nowlin, Principal, Canyon View High School, Agua Fria Union High School District 216
Phillip Nowlin is the planning and founding Principal of Canyon View High School, the newest innovative STEM focused Career
Pathways comprehensive high school in the Agua Fria Union High School District in Waddell, Arizona. Phillip’s background includes experience in curriculum development and delivery, professional development, diversity and inclusion, and human capital management.
Jade (last name withheld), Student, Canyon View High School
A sophomore, Jade is in her second year attending Canyon View High School. As a member of the inaugural class in 2018, she is a visible student leader at the school and continues to be instrumental in shaping the campus culture as new classes are added each year. Jade is currently a member of Student Government and is on the Principal's Advisory Council.
Kenneth Stanfield, Principal Architect, Sherman Carter Barnhart Architects
As a Principal of Sherman Carter Barnhart's Education Studio, Kenny Stanfield leads the firm's innovation, development, and application of twenty first century and sustainable design strategies in k-12 schools. Nationally recognized as a leader of high performance, energy efficient designs, Kenny has led the design of groundbreaking "firsts", including the nation's first zero energy public school and the largest insulated concrete form (ICF) school in the nation. Kenny speaks frequently, both regionally and nationally on high performance, sustainable school design. This includes the Greenbuild conference, the National School Board Conference, the Council of Education Facility Planners International conference, and a Congressional Briefing for Net Zero Schools. Publications he has written articles for include Learning by Design, School Planning and Management, ICF Builder, and High-Performance Buildings.
Justin McElfresh, Principal Architect, Sherman Carter Barnhart Architects
Justin McElfresh, a Principal in the firm, focuses exclusively on sustainable building design. He served as Project Architect on Richardsville Elementary, the nation's first zero energy public school, and on Jennings Creek Elementary, the firm's latest zero energy building. Justin designed Kentucky's largest ICF school, and the first ICF Public Library in Kentucky. Justin is a LEED AP Accredited Professional as well as a Certified Interior Designer. He frequently speaks both regionally and nationally on sustainable, high performance design.
Becky Brady, AIA, CDT, LEED AP BD+C, Architect, Clark Nexsen
Becky Brady is an architect specializing in K-12 education design and a leading advocate for the creation of safe, engaging learning environments. Becky partners with her clients to understand their concerns and priorities and develop solutions that respond to each community’s unique educational needs. She is experienced in space planning, programming, design development, inter-disciplinary coordination, and the creation of specifications and construction documents. A proud Hokie, Becky holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Virginia Tech.
Albert McDonald, Architect, Clark Nexsen
Albert McDonald’s leadership in design has been recognized regionally, nationally, and internationally through his contributions on a range of projects and competitions. He has focused the educational qualities of design competitions into an initiative within Clark Nexsen called Combustion Chamber: a vehicle to foster experimentation and investigation in design of the built environment. Albert is the president-elect for the AIA Triangle Chapter and was honored with the 2018 Emerging Professional Award from AIA North Carolina.
Donna Francis, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Principal, Clark Nexsen
Donna Francis has focused her career on educational spaces and is passionate about design that supports and enhances student learning. She is a managing principal at Clark Nexsen, leading the K-12 Education practice. As an Accredited Learning Environment Professional, she has a well-established understanding of the connections between student learning and how the built environment supports student achievement. Donna holds a Master of Architecture and Bachelor of Environmental Design in Architecture from NC State University.
Jim Determan, FAIA, Principal, Craig Gaulden Davis
Jim Determan has designed learning space for more than 30 years. His work has received numerous design awards most recently for Green Street Academy which is the location of his most recent research study. He leads multidisciplinary teams of architects, educators and scientists in research to provide evidence of the link between design and learning and has presented to audiences throughout the country.
Anthony Cox, PE, Chief Operating Officer, Rock Hill Schools
Anthony J. “Tony” Cox serves as Chief Operating Officer for Rock Hill Schools in Rock Hill, S.C. Tony joined Rock Hill Schools in July 2010 after serving six years as Assistant Superintendent for Operations with Burke County Public Schools in Morganton, NC, and with Catawba County Schools in Newton, NC. His 14 years of experience as an education executive is built upon a 22-year military career in the US Navy’s Civil Engineer Corps.
Renee Hutcheson, FAIA, LEED AP, Project Manager, Willdan
Renee Hutcheson, FAIA, LEED® AP, is a Project Manager at Willdan, providing energy consulting services to assist design
professionals and building owners in selecting optimal energy-saving strategies for their project goals and budgets. She has over 25 years of experience working with designers, owners, and policy makers in helping advance energy efficiency in the built environment.
Ms. Hutcheson received her Master of Architecture degree from Virginia Tech and is a frequent presenter to industry audiences.
Jeanne Huntsman, AIA, LEED AP, Willdan, Contractor for Duke Energy
Jeanne Huntsman, AIA, LEED® AP BD+C, is a Principal at Willdan providing energy consulting services to design professionals and building owners in selecting optimal energy-saving strategies for their project goals and budgets. Ms. Huntsman has over 15 years of design and management experience in the construction industry. Previously, she was a project architect and office manager for an Illinois-based architectural firm where she designed specialized housing and healthcare projects. She is a frequent speaker on the subjects of energy efficiency and sustainable building design for organizations such as USGBC and AIA.
Bill Laughlin, Vice President, Moseley Architects
Bill Laughlin has practiced as a K12 architect for over 27 years in the mid-Atlantic with Moseley Architects. He has served as managing principal on more that 100 K12 projects over this time. Through extensive training, Bill has received his CPD (CPTED Professional Designation) through the National Institute of Crime Prevention (NICP). Having a specific interest in safe school design, he is excited to share the knowledge and best practices gained through his years of experience.
Benjamen Metz, AIA, LEED AP, Senior Design Manager, Earl Swensson Associates
Benjamen Metz has established a diverse portfolio of award-winning K-12 and higher education projects, ranging from athletic and event centers to cutting-edge health and life sciences buildings, over the past 13 years. Serving clients from across the country, including Shenandoah University (Winchester, VA), Tennessee State University (Nashville, TN) and Moravian College (Bethlehem, PA), Ben is drawn to education architecture because it is one of the most broadly encompassing fields of design.
Kearra Barkley, IIDA, NCIDQ, Interior Designer, Earl Swensson Associates
Kearra Barkley is a talented member of ESa’s Interior Design Team with over a decade of experience in the design of K-12 and higher education projects across the country. From the Northwest Nazarene University Leah Peterson Learning Commons & Riley Library (Nampa, ID), to the Jackson Center for Music and Worship Arts (Nashville, TN), Kearra’s beautiful, award-winning interior designs support the function of the user and enhance the experience of the built environment.
Tomas Jimenez-Eliaeson, AIA, LEED AP, Partner & Design Principal, Little Diversified Architectural Consulting, Inc.
Tomas Jimenez-Eliaeson, AIA, LEED, is a Partner & Design Principal for the Community Practice Area at Little, an industry-leading architecture and design firm with more than 410 professionals in seven locations across the country. Tomas is focused on projects that fuse typological redefinitions and environmentally conscious design with leading-edge technology and innovation. He is highly passionate about the future of education and has written about the Immersive Learningscape, an innovative approach to future learning spaces.
Mike Meechin, Principal, NeoCity Academy, School District of Osceola County
Michael Meechin, Principal at NeoCity Academy has worked with schools in Central Florida and Atlanta. Mr. Meechin serves on the Advisory Board for the Future of Educational Technology Conference, is a member of the State of Florida AVID Principals' Collaborative, and is a Fellow of the Florida Department of Education Brian Dassler Leadership Academy. In 2018, he was named Florida’s Innovative Principal of the Year by the Florida Council of Instructional Technology Leaders.
Philip Donovan, AIA, LEED AP, Community Studio Principal, Little Diversified Architectural Consulting, Inc.
Philip Donovan has over 16 years’ experience in a variety of project types. His experience has been deeply rooted in the design of high performance, human-centered spaces, working closely with clients, contractors, and design professionals to build better places that elevate the human spirit. As a project manager/architect, Philip excels at coordinating with teams of design and engineering professionals on complex projects and works closely with building code officials and contractors through construction administration and project closeout.
Frank Gordon, AIA, Senior Director of Building Innovations, National Ready Mixed Concrete Association
An experienced member of the design and construction industry with over 30 years’ experience working with and for design
professionals, contractor/builders, and owner/developers. Frank is a senior-level professional well-versed in Architectural Design, Strategic Planning, Construction/Facilities/Corporate Management, Marketing, and Industry Promotion with extensive experience in many specialty design facets and specific facility archetypes of the construction industry. CV provided upon request.
Ray Ramos, PE, President, Raymond Engineering
Mr. Ramos is the President of Raymond Engineering, a roofing waterproofing consulting engineering firm, w/offices located in Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, and North Carolina. Mr. Ramos has worked as a roofing engineer since 1984 and is a registered engineer in Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina and carries the designation of Registered Roof Consultant through the Roof Consultants Institute (RCI), where he is a certified RCI faculty member. He is a 1976 Civil Engineering graduate of The Virginia Military Institute. He also served as an officer in the U S Army Corps of Engineers for 8 years, where he was primarily stationed at Ft Bragg, NC.
Brian Crutchfield, PE, PLS, Principal, Timmons Group
Brian Crutchfield has devoted almost two decades of superior service to the civil engineering field. His expertise includes the planning and design of public schools, parks, libraries, athletic facilities, and stormwater management facilities. Brian’s extensive knowledge encompasses all phases of site development for educational facilities, which includes layouts, grading plans, sanitary sewers, water distribution systems, fire protection, stormwater management, and cost estimating. He is also well versed in collaborative design workshops for public school facilities.
Dr. Diann Kearney, Interim Principal, Wake County Public Schools
A native of Greensboro, NC, Dr. Diann Kearney serves as principal coach and interim principal with Wake County Public Schools. She retired as principal of Apex High School after thirty years in public school leadership. She holds an undergraduate degree in secondary education from NCSU, a masters in school administration from UNCW and a doctorate in education from NCSU. She taught grades 5 through 12 and served as principal at the elementary, middle and high school levels.