Keynote: Alex Gilliam
A cheerleader of possibility, Alex Gilliam is the founder of Public Workshop, an organization that redefines the way youth and communities participate as citizens and leaders in the design of their neighborhoods and cities. Alex fundamentally believes that great design, empowerment, innovation, and having fun are not mutually exclusive. He creates inspiring curricula, transformative youth design leadership programs, innovative participatory community design tools, engaging events and thoughtful strategies that help people rethink possibility.
Alex has worked with numerous organizations, museums, universities, architecture firms and city agencies including the Charter High School For Architecture and Design in Philadelphia, Rural Studio, Hester Street Collaborative, Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum, University of Pennsylvania, University of Texas, Chicago Architecture Foundation, Landon Bone Baker Architects, Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, Open House New York, and the City of Austin, Texas.
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The Incredible Importance of Play, Playful Learning, and Student Created Play Spaces
In the current moment there is tremendous pressure for students to ‘catch-up’ from the years lost to inadequate remote or hybrid learning. Students are not the only ones suffering from this pressure, teachers are burning out too. Neglected in this push is the need to rebuild school communities, to give students the time to heal and feel ‘well again’ so that they can focus on learning. Prior to the pandemic, play, exercise, and recess were already diminished and often nonexistent in many learning environments. Now more than ever, play is needed to help struggling school communities rebuild. This can happen in many different ways including incorporating kinesthetic design processes and activities into STEM classes; having community build days or refocusing a school maker space on creating homemade ‘loose parts’ such as movable balance beams and seesaws for recess; or involving the whole school community in creating outdoor learning environments and nature-based play spaces. Alex has significant experience in all aspects of this work.
Ann Neeriemer, AIA, LEED AP, Associate Principal, Perkins Eastman
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Ann has a passion for place-making and community-based design which she has utilized on a variety of project types, including master and campus planning, mixed-use developments, and primary and secondary education facilities. With 15 years of experience in all phases of design and construction, Ann's expertise in visioning, master-planning, and programming for educational spaces guides schools to create sustainable facilities for the future.
Patrick Davis, Principal, Perkins Eastman
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Patrick is the K12 leader for PE Strategies, the strategic planning and consulting arm for Perkins Eastman. Through his extensive experience at two large urban school districts, Patrick has demonstrated that successful learning environments are imagined well before a design even starts and that great buildings begin with thoughtful visioning and data-informed strategic planning. Patrick’s planning has led to multi-billion-dollar investments in school facilities in Washington D.C. and Baltimore.
David Stubbs, President, David Stubbs Design
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Founder of David Stubbs Design, David is the creator of award-winning educational furniture solutions that continues to ignite the
industry. From his work in public school facilities, his passion focuses on the social/emotional and physical requirements of our
stakeholders supporting manufacturer’s, designers and school communities throughout the world from the disruptive approach to
design. David is not only an innovator, researcher, designer, and creator, he is also a writer, consultant, advisor, and speaker. Check
out his most recent book,
Hinge and Pivot.
Becky Brady, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, CDT, Senior Architect | Associate, Clark Nexsen
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Becky 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.
Julie Leary, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Senior Architect, Clark Nexsen
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Julie is a senior architect whose technical expertise reflects a passion for educational environments. She is committed to incorporating evidence-based design solutions to deliver effective, environmentally conscious, and community responsive design. Julie is LEED accredited professional specializing in building design and construction. She received both a Bachelor of Architecture and a Bachelor of Environmental Design in Architecture from the College of Design at NC State University.
Donna Francis, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, ALEP, Principal, Clark Nexsen
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Donna 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.
Diann Kearney, Ed.D., Principal Coach and Interim Principal, Wake County Public Schools
A native of Greensboro, NC, Diann 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.
Chuck Saylors, Greenville County Schools
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Chuck is in his 20th year as a Trustee of Greenville County and is currently A4LE Chair Elect.
David Bellamy, Principal, LS3P
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David, an LS3P Principal, has over twenty-five years of practical design experience
for K-12 school districts, technical colleges and universities. As head of the Charlotte Studio
for K-12 projects, he is the client liaison and oversees managerial tasks that fulfill
the Owner’s goals, major objectives, budget and schedule. He has designed 21st century
schools that support innovative, collaborative learning environments for STEAM education
initiatives (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math). David is experienced in integrated
sustainable design principles that lead to high performance buildings that are comfortable,
energy efficient, less expensive to operate, and improve student achievement
Mary Brehler, Project Manager, LS3P
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Ilijana Soldan, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, EcoDistricts AP, Hord Coplan Macht
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Ilijana is an Associate Architect at Hord Coplan Macht with a diverse background experience including higher education, K-12 schools, commercial office, retail, recreation, and master planning. She is a research-based designer with a passion for designing education spaces because of their important role in empowering the students who use them. Sustainability, equity, and emerging technologies are at the forefront of her overlapping interests with education environments.
Valerie Caruolo, AIA, CPHC, LEED Homes, BD+C, Hord Coplan Macht
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Valerie is an Architectural Designer and Research Lead at Hord Coplan Macht.
Passionate about designing spaces and experiences that enable humans to thrive, Valerie explores how access to restorative environments impacts the mental, physical health, wellbeing, and success of learners. A champion of radical collaboration, Valerie is co-author of AIA Upjohn funded primary research, The Impact of Biophilic Learning Spaces on Student Success, and seeks to promote translation of scientific findings into practice.
Leah Wettstein, ASID, CID, IIDA, NCIDQ, Hord Coplan Macht
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Leah is a Principal for Hord Coplan Macht’s Baltimore office. As an Interior Designer in the Education Studio, she brings an in-depth understanding of how to create spaces that are inspirational, timeless and reflect the unique culture and brand of each client. With over 16 years of interior design experience, she continues to push the boundaries of impact, innovation and client experience to all of her projects.
Zac Schneider, Partner, CMTA
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Zachary joined CMTA’s Louisville office in August of 2002 and became a partner in 2012. Zachary was the lead electrical engineer for the first school in the state of Kentucky to earn an ENERGY STAR score of 100. He has performed as the project manager and/or lead electrical engineer on numerous other Zero Energy, ENERGY STAR and LEED projects.
Michael Stewart, CTS, Partner, CMTA
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Michael leads CMTA Technology Solutions for CMTA's Lexington, KY, Washington, DC, and Richmond, VA offices. As an electrical engineer and AVIXA Certified Technology Specialist, he produces an innovative solution for every challenge encountered.
Michael believes technology shouldn't be dreadful – it’s exciting and deserves discussion. His expertise ensures expectations are met and guides him throughout a wide array of projects ‐ including University of Kentucky Federal Credit Union Esports Lounge and Theater project.
Vincent Spencer, Architect, NC-Work Studio Director, Gensler
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Vincent has over 17 years of experience in educational and investment commercial design. His guiding philosophy: better schools demonstrate communities care about education.
Vincent is involved in all aspects of the design and construction process, from advance planning, design, and production of contract documents to quality reviews to ensure the project meets environmental, zoning and regulatory standards. He is driven to make a difference in the lives of students, teachers, and their families.
Dr. Eboni Chillis, Chief Innovation Office and CTE Executive Director, Guilford County Schools
Eboni Camille Chillis, PhD a native of Buffalo, New York entered into her teaching career as an Audio/Video and Film instructor after working over fifteen years in television production and news. From the 1996 Olympics, Super Bowl XXXIV, Award and Comedy Shows, Music Videos, Artist Ne-Yo: Compound Organization, Bronner Brothers, Home Depot TV, Taking Authority Network, CBS to Tyler Perry Productions, her experiences in Mass Media have been vast. She has been recognized for her work in television winning an Emmy in 2003 from CBS-46 News and in education at the State and National level for truly contributing to Career and Technical Education (CTE). Eboni Camille was the Region II Representative for the Association for Career & Technical Education (ACTE) Administrative Division: Policy Committee and is an active Educators in Action blogger for the ACTE online publication. Her articles have been featured in STEM Brief and The National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER). She is a Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund Teacher who traveled throughout Japan to study the educational system, culture, economics, and sustainability. She formerly served on the Executive Board for the Georgia Association of Career and Technical Education (GACTE) as Treasurer for three years. Colleagues across Georgia elected her as the Administrator of the Year from the Georgia Council for Career & Technical Administrators and President for the Council of Career and Technical Administrators for the state of Georgia (GCCTA).
Dr. Chillis has presented at national and state conferences with an emphasis on CTE and workforce development through an interactive presentation entitled “Fishing for Strong Partnerships in the Sea of Unlimited Opportunities: Today, Tomorrow & Beyond...” She served on Governor's Advisory Committees, The Atlanta Regional Workforce (ARC), a Charter School Board, Aerotropolis Atlanta’s Educational Collective Group, North Carolina's Guilford Jobs 2030 Committee, Community of Practice Partner through Fannie Mae's Sustainable Communities Challenge, and has contributed to the Center for Global Education - Asia Society, CTE Professional Development. Her company, The Chillis Group, LLC focuses on Simple.Creative.Solutions to school improvement and innovative challenge projects for business and industry. She is most noted for an Augmented Reality School Bus Inspection APP challenge project in collaboration with business/industry and high school students in Clayton County, Georgia, Safer Together Green Housing Initiative in Guilford County, North Carolina, and the disruption of school design and renovation of four Signature Career Academies in Guilford County. Her current work in progress is an examination of future school designs with neuroarchitecture in mind. Dr. Chillis currently serves as the Chief Innovation Officer for Guilford County Schools, and is an active community volunteer and advocate for civic and social causes.
Tony Hans, CMTA, Inc.
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As CMTA’s National Director of Sustainable Projects, Tony works with architects and owners to increase the sustainability potential for projects and the built environment. He has served the majority of CMTA’s Zero Energy projects, including Warren County Public Schools' Richardsville Elementary – the first Zero Energy Public School in the United States, and more recently, Arlington Public Schools' Discovery Elementary School – the largest Zero Energy School in the U.S.
Heather Jauregui, PE, LEED AP BD+C, O+M, CHPC, Assoc. AIA, Director of Sustainability, Perkins Eastman
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Heather is a Sustainability Specialist who combines her research and architecture passions to propel the industry toward sustainability. She educates architects and provides them with access to research and tools needed to integrate sustainability into the design process. Heather also works as an internal consultant to guide the design process. Her expertise in passive design, building science, Indoor Environmental Quality, and pre/post-occupancy evaluations provides invaluable contributions to both projects and the firm.
Anne Seeley, AIA, LEED AP, Architect, Little Diversified Architectural Consulting
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Anne graduated with a master’s in architecture from NC State in 2010. Prior to exploring the world of architecture an architect, Anne studied political science and worked with child advocacy groups. Her approach to architecture and educational design draws on her early experiences and explores innovative ways the framework of physical space can support equitable education.