As Chief Executive Officer of VLK Architects, Sloan Harris has steered the firm’s growth and evolution to establish VLK as one of today’s most successful and innovative service providers in the industry. Sloan’s abilities as a strategic manager, designer, and entrepreneur and his commitment to improving the local communities VLK serves, positioned him for leadership since he joined the firm in 2003. Since becoming principal and then partner, Sloan’s vision precipitated remarkable growth for the firm, expanding from two to five office locations, diversifying its service markets, and more than doubling annual earned revenue. A passionate advocate for the significant role every team member plays, Sloan cultivates a durable firm-wide culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement in service to our clients.

Mark Vornberg graduated from UT Architecture and started at Dick Clark + Associates in 1996 as a part-time model builder, has done every role in the firm in this 27 years there and in 2017 he took over as Principal and continues to lead the 43 year old architecture firm through some exciting times in Austin. As one of three partners at DC+A, Mark focuses primarily on the commercial side of their business, having designed numerous restaurants, bars, offices, retail and other hospitality and projects. Mark continues to expand that role, and now leads his own development projects in East Austin that include their current office at 2120 E. 7th, a new mixed-use project at 7th & Pedernales, and previously Hotel Eleven on East 11th street that he and his wife owned and ran until recently.

Mark’s favorite quote? When you find yourself neck deep in a hole, the first thing to do is stop digging.

Frans van Vuure is a Senior Architect and the Managing Director of UNS Austin, where his ability to translate design concepts into technical and feasible construction processes and his emphasis on health-focused and sustainable solutions, is key to UNS’ global reach. He is focused on creating environments that perform and enhance individual health and well-being.

Following his graduation from the Academy of Architecture in Amsterdam, he joined UNS in 2008 where he has worked on projects across Europe, the Middle East and North America, these include Kutaisi International Airport, the Bruzzano Masterplan, Wasl Tower and the Austin Light Rail.

By combining data-driven insight with innovative design, Frans ensures that every project supports thriving communities and prioritises health at every scale.

Ashley works to celebrate communities and places with resilient, inclusive design. She believes that powerful connections made through the design of shared architectural spaces can inspire both individual and societal wellness.

Ashley's strengths have been recognized most recently with an AIA Austin Honor Award for Emerging Professional Achievement and as an Austin Under 40 Finalist. With over 15 years of experience, her professional expertise focuses on benefiting communities and ecosystems across diverse scales and typologies, including award-winning development, hospitality, and educational projects.

Alongside practice, Ashley teaches Advanced Studios at the UT School of Architecture, where her pedagogy engages adaptive systems, material experimentation, and urban narratives — most recently through projects in third-city contexts. She has been a featured speaker at AIA and ASLA events across the U.S., locally, and on international media. In addition, Ashley serves on committees for The Trail Conservancy, ULI Austin, and other local groups working to improve the Austin community. She ardently promotes education and mentorship, especially efforts to amplify female voices.

Sophia Razzaque is the Managing Director of LPA’s Austin studio, where she leads integrated design teams across civic, commercial, mixed-use, K–12 and higher education projects. An Austin native and former president of AIA Austin, Sophia brings more than 20 years of experience shaping communities throughout Central Texas and beyond. Her career includes global design work with Zaha Hadid Architects in London and regional leadership at Page and Lake Flato, where she helped launch the Austin office.

Sophia’s portfolio spans transformative projects like the Cedar Park Public Library and Hotel Magdalena, the first mass timber boutique hotel in North America. She’s known for her ability to guide complex projects from concept through construction, ensuring alignment with client goals, budgets, and timelines. Her design philosophy blends performance, sustainability, and community impact, making her a trusted partner for clients seeking meaningful, lasting results.

A passionate advocate for equity and mentorship, Sophia co-founded the Central Texas chapter of NOMA and helped launch Project Pipeline, a summer program for aspiring designers from underrepresented backgrounds. Her leadership continues to shape Austin’s architectural identity and elevate the role of design in building stronger, more resilient communities.

Nhat Ho is a licensed civil engineer and visionary entrepreneur who has shaped the landscape of Central Texas through more than 500 successful projects. As the Founder and CEO of Boot Civil, LLC, Nhat brings a results-driven approach that seamlessly integrates technical expertise with deep policy insight. His leadership is defined by a commitment to collaborative problem-solving, evidenced by his portfolio of mixed-use, public, and educational developments across the region.

A proud graduate of The University of Texas at Austin, Nhat’s influence extends far beyond engineering. He is a deeply engaged community leader, serving on the boards of the Long Center for the Performing Arts, the Real Estate Council of Austin (RECA), and the UMLAUF Sculpture Garden & Museum.

His contributions have been recognized with numerous accolades, including:

2024 RECA Member of the Year

2023 Leadership Austin Ascendant Alumni Award

2023 Austin Under 40 Award for Engineering and Architecture

Guided by values of excellence, humility, and innovation, Nhat continues to be a pivotal force in Austin’s professional and civic evolution.

As the Architecture Practice Leader in Austin, Jacqueline provides strategic leadership and oversight for the studio’s operations and project delivery, ensuring exceptional client results.

Jacqueline’s family background in design and construction inspired her to pursue the industry early. She values integrating architecture and construction, believing that while architects create inspiring designs, successful projects require the coordinated efforts of the entire team.

Throughout her tenure at Beck, Jacqueline has demonstrated strong leadership and project management. Her portfolio boasts projects such as Omni Barton Creek Resort and Spa, Texas Bankers Association Headquarters, and Duke University’s Wallace Wade Stadium.

Jacqueline is involved in the Austin community. She serves as Chair-Elect of the Real Estate Council of Austin (RECA), mentors through RECA’s Leadership Development Council, advises the City of Austin Technical Advisory Review Panel, and participates in Austin AIA, Women in Architecture.

She passionately serves on the Elizabeth Ann Seton Board, benefiting the NICU at Ascension Seton Hospital, and is engaged with the McDonald Observatory Board. Jacqueline, a proud University of Texas at Austin graduate, enjoys supporting the Longhorns with her husband and two children.

For 20 years, Matt Leach has worked to shape Austin as an architect driven by the curiosity of place, people, and the question “why?” As a Design Principal at Stantec, he works alongside owners, developers, and other creative collaborators to explore the potential of a place through its context and culture.
His work spans commercial, adaptive reuse, aviation, civic, healthcare, and institutional projects, including notable Austin projects at Community First! Village, Indeed Tower, Highpoint, The Austin Federal Courthouse, major projects at ABIA, the UT Dell Medical School, and The Austin State Hospital.

Elan K. Gordon – Principal - is a graduate of The University of Pennsylvania with a focus in Economics, Real Estate & Urban Studies. He has spent 17 years as an acquisition and asset management specialist acquiring over $2.8B of commercial real estate on the principal side.

Elan has a reputation as a reliable investment analyst, able to quickly aggregate information into relevant decision-making investment metrics. He provides meticulous attention to detail, identifying untapped value, driving increased cash flow and maximizing profits. Though his track record & experience involves office, retail, industrial, storage and other asset classes, Elan has now focused on multifamily rental after moving to Texas. During his short time in Texas he has closed over $750MM of value-add multifamily acquisitions. Recent market opportunities have pushed Elan to grow SHIR’s Hotel-to-Multifamily conversion portfolio and gain a unique set of knowledge on entitlements and physical upgrades needed to take advantage of misaligned building uses versus marked needs throughout the USA. Elan leads the SHIR Capital team and oversees all day-to-day operations of the Company.

As a design leader, Guy brings a seasoned and holistic perspective that translates into spectacular lighting experiences. Throughout his career of nearly 40 years, Guy has spearheaded the design of numerous award-winning projects as both a licensed architect and a lighting designer. He serves as an Associate Principal at HLB and a leader of firmwide initiatives related to business development and geographic expansion. He is a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Healthcare Steering Committee in Los Angeles and is certified through the National Council on Qualifications for the Lighting Professions (NCQLP).