Michael Hsu, FAIA, IIDA is the founder and principal of Michael Hsu Office of Architecture, a fully integrated architecture and interior design firm. MHOA was founded in 2005 and employs 90 team members across studios in Austin and Houston, with additional staff members in Dallas and Denver. MHOA is a nationally award-winning firm, including AIA Austin’s Firm of the Year in 2016. Hsu graduated from the University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture and has practiced in Austin since 1998. Hsu is the Texas Society of Architects Austin Chapter Director, and a member of the UT School of Architecture’s Advisory Council. He is a Past President of AIA Austin and was elevated to AIA’s College of Fellows in 2021.

A graduate of Stanford with a masters from Penn, Heather McKinney, FAIA, RID is the Founder of McKinney York Architects which she started in Austin in 1983. A guiding force behind the firm’s design voice, her work is recognized for its understated vernacular forms and contemporary detailing. As the firm has evolved for decades from a singular designer to a truly collaborative creative studio, Heather’s focus on thoughtful architecture for humanity is at the root of the firm’s ethos of Engage, Inspire and Belong. Her own engagement has been multifaceted. She has served as a leader on arts and children’s advocacy boards and in the AIA as Presidents of both AIA Austin and Texas Society of Architects. Heather has been a juror on two dozen AIA design awards juries and is a frequent guest studio critic at Texas Tech and UT Schools of Architecture. She was recognized for her design acumen with elevation to Fellowship in the AIA in 2008 and with the 2020 Texas Society of Architects’ Lifetime Achievement Medal. She takes her own inspiration from architecture that is respectful of the earth’s resources and is dilated to not only meeting the needs of the people that it serves but, most importantly, providing a sense of belonging.

As a registered architect and interior designer, Vanessa is a leader in both disciplines and understands the intricacies of developing flexible, collaborative, state-of-the-art facilities for higher education clients. Over the past 19 years, Vanessa has managed multiple $100M+ projects, including several projects partnered with design architects, bringing lessons learned from peer institutions across the country.

At an early age, Chi knew he wanted to be an architect and his passion for the industry grew when he moved to New York City for college. A couple of years after graduating, he moved to Austin where he has spent the majority of his career. Chi is a trusted advisor, steward and friend to his clients. He is an excellent Project manager and makes it his priority to achieve the client’s goals and vision while monitoring and maintaining project

schedules and budgets. As the Austin Office Leader, Chi also prides himself on mentorship, hoping to cultivate a studio of creative and passionate designers. Furthermore, Chi takes great pride living in Austin and is dedicated to influencing and transforming the city he calls home.

Since 2021 Peter Mullan has served as Chief of Architecture and Urban Design for Austin Transit Partnership, the

new local government corporation charged with implementing Project Connect, Austin’s multi-billion-dollar transit

expansion, in collaboration with CapMetro, the City of Austin, and the entire Austin community. Peter brings

decades of experience working in public space design and community engagement to the extraordinary

opportunity for Project Connect to reinforce and enhance Austin's diverse and human-centered urban fabric. In

2022, Peter received the Taniguchi Award for Public Architecture from AIA Austin and the Austin Foundation for

Architecture.

From 2015 to 2021, Peter was the CEO of the Waterloo Greenway Conservancy, building an innovative public park

system around a restored Waller Creek, in partnership with the City of Austin, including the transformed Waterloo

Park and new Moody Amphitheater which opened in 2021. Waterloo Greenway combines access to art and

culture with an immersive natural experience in the heart of the city, to create a newly inclusive public space on

the east side of downtown Austin.

From 2004 to 2015 Peter was the Director of Planning and Design and Executive Vice President at Friends of the

High Line, the non-profit organization responsible for creating and operating the High Line, in partnership with the

City of New York. Peter is a graduate of Princeton University and the Yale School of Architecture, where he was

the recipient of the Alpha Rho Chi medal for Leadership. A converted lifelong New Yorker, Peter admires Austin’s

uniquely vibrant and welcoming community, which he enjoys with his wife Melanie, daughter Josie, and dog Mimi.

LightSpek is the result of a lifelong dream of Owner, Tejal Thakur. With over 20 years’ experience in the lighting business, the force behind LightSpek has built an impressive track record of working with the most talented architects and designers in Texas. The LightSpek team represents a collection of entrepreneurial and creative leadership that brings a fresh approach to the lighting and site furnishing specification process.

DeLea Becker is Founder & Broker for Beck-Reit Commercial Real Estate & Beck-Reit Asset Management. In addition, DeLea owns Beck-Reit & Sons, Ltd. – a company that has successfully been in business for 23 years. Beck-Reit & Sons is a Heavy Civil Contractor focusing on TxDOT Road and Bridge Repair.

Her "Boots On The Ground" experience makes her the ideal Commercial Broker in Austin to work with in the sale/purchase of property or leasing commercial space. She works with clients using her own personal knowledge and skills learned in the market as a Buyer, Seller and Landlord. She specifically specializes in East Austin. Due to her 22 years of being immersed in the community handles many off-market sales on both the Buyer and Seller side.

Her time is spent running the businesses, and she is always seeking and buying Commercial Properties that are income-producing or need to be gutted, rehabbed and repositioned in the market. This utilizies her 3 companies and creates a synergetic feedback loop. The majority of her holdings are in Austin, but Beck-Reit’s focus on Retail & Office properties spans across Texas.

As Broker & Developer, DeLea utilizes her knowledge of Austin Real Estate and the City of Austin Development and Planning Department with her network of Lenders, Investors, Architects, Engineers, Inspectors, Appraisers, Attorneys, CPAs, and Contractors to supply her clients with a wealth of information concerning their commercial space and investment property endeavors.

As an Interior Design Leader at DLR Group, Nena Martin guides teams and collaborates with clients by creating transformative spaces through our integrated design process. By aligning with clients, she works hand-in-hand to deliver environments that are shaped by their policies, work patterns, and culture. Her passion for design goes beyond planning and aesthetics; she strives to make a positive impact on society, fostering sustainability and promoting holistic wellbeing.

Brett Rhode is well known for his ability to design and manage large, complex projects, producing award-

winning buildings within budget and schedule constraints. Brett honed his skills for over a decade in New

York City on complex international commissions in the offices of I.M Pei and Phillip Johnson. In Austin as

a Vice President at Page Southerland Page, Brett worked on healthcare and civic projects for eight years

before founding Rhode Partners in 2005. Rhode Partners is organized in an open studio environment to

facilitate team communication and easy client access.

Throughout his 20 years in the profession and now as a Design Principal in Page’s Austin office, Josh has continuously sought to find innovative and creative design solutions for his clients and their award-winning projects. He believes successful design and project deliveries are found through intensely collaborative, research-fueled efforts with clients, consultants, and other members of the project and design team - including the skilled hands of the builders and contractors that are entrusted to materialize these solutions. Josh’s experience in multiple project types, including corporate office, medical and biotechnology education, performing arts, and most recently in high-rise residential with projects such as 44 East and 70 Rainey, has allowed him to develop a broad range of skill sets and experiences which he applies to the design thinking for all new projects.

David is the Principal, founder, and heart of Webber + Studio. His work as a distinguished architect has been recognized nationally and internationally. His commitment to both his craft and his team is reflected in the many award-winning designs and satisfied clients the studio continues to create.

Born and raised in Austin, TX, David achieved his Bachelor of Architecture with Highest Honors from the University of Texas at Austin in 1992. He founded Webber + Studio in 1997. He is a registered architect in several states.

David’s commitment to his craft is evidenced not only by the award-winning designs he creates, but also by the exemplary team he leads. In addition to his numerous accomplishments as a distinguished architect, David is a gifted manager, mentor, and friend to each and every young designer he works with. He is passionate about building a better world and has served on the Board of Directors for Frameworks Community Development Corp., the Board of Directors for the Ballet Austin, AIA Austin’s Facilities Committee, and was a Co-Chair for the AIA National Committee on Design at the Spring 2017 Conference.

With over three decades of experience designing and managing complex interior workspaces, Joe Gowing currently leads business development and manages client relationships for the Austin Studio of Perkins&Will. Regionally, he is respected for his ability to build strong relationships, synthesize ideas, achieve consensus, and forge new strategies to make great design happen. In his tenure in Austin, he has been engaged with many of Austin’s most notable office projects, from small start-ups, legal and professional service workspaces, to multi-story global headquarters. Joe drives the creative process towards inventive, implementable design solutions and measures success in client satisfaction, quality of a unique design product, use of innovation, meeting living design objectives, and fostering team professionalism and collaboration. His extensive professional experience combined with the international expertise of Perkins&Will in local and global markets enables Joe to strategize complex delivery models that will mitigate risk and achieve success with each project. Joe is a member of RECA and is WELL accredited.

Marc is one of the finding partners of EIS Lighting in May 2011 and now is serving as President. He has extensive experience in LED Lighting projects of all type use. Marc oversee all of design and fixtures selections on all projects. The goal always is to create an inspiring atmosphere and look for clients. And at the same time maximizing energy reduction with the use of lighting controls. Collaboration with all members on projects EIS is always on the cutting edge. Marc motto is “If we need to rent a helicopter to get the client what the need just do it.” Marc is LEED Green Associate, was well as a BOC Lighting Instructor. Marc is on both Dallas 2030 Districts boards, a member of SPEER, and is currently serving on the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) North Texas Regional Council and a member of North Texas Association Energy Engineers.

Gullivar Shepard is a Partner of Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, Inc. Landscape Architects.

While originally trained as an architect and a cultural anthropologist, he has been a landscape

architect for 23 years and has long been a guiding force at MVVA by steering many of the firm’s

urban-scale projects. Gullivar has held key leadership roles on large and complex projects

where coordination between the natural, infrastructural, and urban context is of primary

importance the CityArchRiver project in St. Louis, Brooklyn Bridge Park, and the Port Lands

Flood Protection and Enabling Infrastructure Project in Toronto. Gullivar is the lead planner

and designer for the Waterloo Greenway in Austin, TX.

He is recognized for his skill in navigating programmatic requirements, regulatory and

jurisdictional hurdles, and problematic site conditions to create rich public spaces. Gullivar’s

interdisciplinary perspective always aims to bridge the technical systems-thinking and the

cultural considerations of public space within the design process. His projects and research are

a laboratory for innovative building methods, site design, communication tools, engagement,

and project management. Since joining the firm in 1999, Gullivar has applied his integrated

design approach to challenges such as ecological restoration, flood control, transportation

planning, utility planning and choreographing