Yen leads all major strategic priorities encompassing architectural design and research, portfolio development, and brand culture of 5G Studio Collaborative. Along with Hoang Dang, he founded the studio in 2005 as a practice that has become known for deftly entwining matters of context, typology, and craft into emotive works that are lucid, uplifting, and tactile. His works convey optimism for new possibilities and approach the realm of the fantastic. Yen was elevated as a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects in 2023 in recognition of his leadership in design excellence at the national level.

As Method's Managing Principal, Rayburn ‘Jake’ Donaldson oversees the firm's four geographic market offices in Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio, 80 staff members, and 800+ projects annually. With over 20 years experience, Jake and his teams have designed millions of square feet of spec, manufacturing, cold storage, and distribution center facilities across Texas. Jake is passionate about exploring the next evolution of industrial building types including taller clear heights, innovative construction methods like 3d printing, AI, conveyance, and automation systems to help future-proof this asset class as a backbone of the U.S. supply chain.

As Principal and Chief Marketing Officer, Amanda is responsible for developing firm-wide strategic marketing and business development initiatives. She is passionate about building a brand centered around the firm's core mission to create places for people. She is also responsible for creating and maintaining successful client relationships, engaging all firm members in business development, as well as developing and sustaining a consistent brand identity that is evident throughout every facet of the firm.

Sarah is a Principal and Global Director of Research at Arcadis (formerly CallisonRTKL). She is responsible for overseeing the firm’s research programs, including the annual MicroGrants and Global Fellowship program, and championing research projects throughout the design practice. She specializes in trend forecasting, human-centered design, research design, and application. With over 20 years of experience, Sarah has worked with global clients to deliver meaningful knowledge and insights that positively impact projects and communities. Sarah has a Bachelors in Journalism from Oklahoma State University and is in the midst of finishing her Masters in Psychology from Harvard University.

Eurico Francisco is a Design Principal with Perkins&Will. Originally from São Paulo, Eurico has called Dallas home for the last 25 years and has a history of leadership and advocacy in the North Texas community. He is active in civic and professional organizations that work to elevate the quality of the urban environment, including the Dallas Architecture Forum, the Dallas Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, the Texas Society of Architects, and the City of Dallas Urban Design Peer Review Panel. He is also a contributing editor to Texas Architect magazine and most recently served as jury chair of the 2023 American Institute of Architects Healthcare Design Awards program.

Eurico is currently involved in a handful of projects in Texas, and he gets great satisfaction in knowing that all of them will play a role in building up the communities where they belong.

Dan Noble was born in Chicago but grew up in Aberdeen, South Dakota. After graduating from North

Dakota State University in 1982 with a dual Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in

Architecture, he moved to Texas. Prior to his appointment as CEO in January 2014, Dan’s leadership as

Global Director of Design significantly elevated the quality of the firm’s work and the reach of its influence.

A Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and American College of Healthcare Architects, Dan

is LEED certified and registered to practice in Texas, Florida, North Dakota, New Jersey, Alabama and

South Dakota, as well as Ontario, British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Alberta. His projects have been

honored by the Texas Society of Architects, Progressive Architecture, Architectural Record, Texas

Architect and the Dallas Business Journal.

A board member and former National President of the Academy on Architecture for Health (AAH), Dan is

also a trustee for the Foundation for the AAH and national chairman of the AIA/AAH regional initiatives.

He is a member of the Board of Regents of the American College of Healthcare Architects, Dallas

Regional Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Dallas Inc. and Y Dallas. He is a past president of the Dallas

Architecture Foundation and has served as design commissioner, editor and awards program chairman of

AIA Dallas.

Major Achievements

Under Dan’s guidance, HKS has expanded its global reach; developed state-of-the-art research around

the neuroscience of design’s impact on health and productivity; demonstrated profound impact in

environmental conservation and sustainable design; worked in cities across the globe to improve urban

design and resilience; donated design services and financial support to major charitable initiatives; and

worked with other members of the design community to elevate the profession.

HKS is ranked as one of the leading design firms in the world by BD World Architecture, Architectural

Record, Architect, Building Design+Construction and Interior Design. Over its 80-year history, HKS has

won hundreds of awards for design excellence.

The firm has enjoyed record revenue years under Dan’s leadership and 2019 is on track to be the firm’s

best year ever.

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.

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.

Evan joined GFF as an architect in 2005 and became Chairman and CEO in 2020. With over 20 years of experience in architecture and planning, he was named one of the Dallas Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 in 2013 and one of the “Top 20 Under 40 in Architecture, Engineering and Construction” by ENR Texas & Louisiana in 2011. He has managed complex residential, retail, and mixed-use projects, focusing on sustainable design, density, smart growth, and New Urbanist principles. Evan takes a collaborative approach to design, prioritizing project goals and client expectations. He frequently speaks at ULI, AIA, TREC, and other events on these topics.

Evan is an active member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), The Real Estate Council (TREC), and the North Texas Chapter of Urban Land Institute (ULI). He chaired the 2017 Associate Leadership Council leadership development program and serves on the Board of Governors for Downtown Dallas, Inc. Evan is also a City of Dallas Development Advisory Committee Member and was the founding member and former President of the Henderson Neighborhood Association. His community engagement has contributed to zoning change efforts and promoting best practices in walkable urban design and quality placemaking in Dallas.

President of Tournesol Siteworks, Christopher Lyon, purchased the company in 1994. Over 25 years later, he's thrilled Tournesol has grown into a leading manufacturer of commercial landscape products. Tournesol’s product line consists of pots & planters, site furnishings and container irrigation made in North America. Tournesol has locations in California, Washington and Mexico. In June 2023 Tournesol acquired Greenscreen – the leader in commercial trellis systems and green facades located in Southern California. Chris is a big believer in stakeholder capitalism, and as Tournesol has evolved, Chris has focused on developing manufacturing processes to use more sustainable materials, with the intent of improving Tournesol’s environmental stewardship. Chris is currently the Chair of the American Society of Landscape Architect's Corporate Member Committee (ASLA.org), representing the manufacturing trade members. He previously served as a judge for Green Roofs for Healthy Cities' annual awards. In his spare time, Chris loves to tinker with vintage cars.

Over the past 20 years, John has performed various roles in the exterior façade

business, He’s held positions such as project manager, facade consultant, and

presently as an Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope national architectural business development

specialist. He has given numerous presentations to architects, engineers, developers, and owners.

Communicating technical yet persuasive presentations to audiences ranging from 15 to

1,250 people in 5 different countries.

For the past 9 years, John also writes a blog for USGlass Magazine called “Mind Your

Business” where he writes about practical advice on selling, presenting, marketing, and

how to be more successful both personally and professionally.

As an award-winning architect with over 35 years of experience with a wide-range of building types, Michel’s training in both architecture and interior design has assisted clients on numerous corporate, institutional, educational, healthcare and hospitality projects. Michel’s leadership style is to actively orchestrate the design through strong, interactive and collaborative team development of all the various professional disciplines. This approach enables the team to discover the most creative and useful solutions to each of the client’s pragmatic needs. It is then necessary to possess the energy and drive to usher the design intent consistently through all aspects of the building process. Throughout his career, Michel has integrated teaching with his professional practice. He has taught design studios and classes at institutions like Princeton, NJIT, and The University of Virginia, and currently serves as an Associate Adjunct Professor at the University of Texas at Arlington.

As Co-Managing Director of Gensler’s Dallas office, Deeg is focused on delivering impactful placemaking environments and leveraging his experience across multiple practice areas, including adaptive reuse, mixed-use, retail, headquarters, government, and critical facilities. During his more than 20-year career at Gensler, Deeg has established an extensive portfolio of work specializing in high-performance, experience-driven environments that are a true reflection of his clients’ culture. He seeks the highest level of design and delivery for his clients and approaches his work with intellectual and creative curiosity. Deeg is passionate about design while also managing the office and challenging teams on achieving business outcomes and successful deliveries of all projects. He is a graduate of Mississippi State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture.

Brian Miller, Chief Design Officer at The Beck Group, is a seasoned architecture and design expert with over 20 years of experience in the industry. Brian's passion lies in elevating architecture and design for clients and communities, and he leads the charge in setting the design vision for Beck's projects. With a keen eye for detail and a commitment to maintaining the highest quality standards, Brian ensures design continuity and excellence in all of Beck's endeavors.

Throughout his tenure at Beck, Brian has spearheaded the design of several noteworthy projects, including the Hunt Oil Company Headquarters, Duke University's Wallace Wade Stadium, Omni Barton Creek Resort, and the RiverSouth office tower in Austin. Brian's expertise in technology and integrated processes is a result of his foundational role as a founding member of Beck's Studio i, the firm's first integrated studio.

Beyond his work, Brian enjoys exploring the world's most impressive architecture through travel.

Aarohi is the Principal and Studio Director of OTJ Architects Dallas office. She is an experienced architect who has led the planning, design, and delivery of complex mixed-use and office building projects across the United States, South America, and the Middle East. Armed with an investigative mindset, Aarohi works in partnership with her clients from the onset of each project to gain an in-depth understanding of stakeholder objectives, which she then translates into exacting design solutions that marry strategy, aesthetics, and buildability. Aarohi is also noted for her ability to bridge the gap between budgetary and schedule imperatives without compromise to design integrity. Aarohi is committed to contributing and giving back to our industry, she is actively involved in AIA Dallas’ Women in Architecture network, she also serves as the Director of Network’s on the AIA Dallas board and as the Director of Member Services on the Board of CREW ( Commercial Real Estate Women ) Dallas.

As the firm’s CEO and founder of the Boston branch of HLB, Carrie brings 30 years of substantive experience in the world of architectural lighting design. She is a dynamic and passionate leader, an architect by training, and has a design sensibility that transcends standard design schemes. Carrie is an active member of the architectural community and has served in many industry leadership positions, including board roles in various professional organizations. Carrie frequently shares her thought leadership with worldwide lighting and architecture communities, with recent speaking engagements that include virtual webinars, Lightfair, ABX, BisNow, and the IALD Americas, Europe and Asia Conferences.

Ryan Fanning is Vice President for the Texas-based general contractor, Gordon Highlander. Ryan is a Dallas native with 7+ years of experience in the commercial real estate industry, five of those years being spent in construction as a project manager. His background in project management has equipped him with hands-on experience and knowledge of the industry making him an integral member of the Gordon Highlander team. Ryan enjoys spending time with his wife Eleanor, son Liam, and newborn daughter Olivia; when Ryan is away from family, he enjoys playing golf.

Bruce understands successful design extends beyond a building’s walls to the broader community. Through an approach that emphasizes dialogue, transparency, and inquiry, he leads teams in the creation of designs that support the dynamic framework of life. Bruce has an international reputation for planning and designing high-profile hospitality and mixed-use developments around the globe.

As a firm leader, he coordinates office-wide initiatives and engages teams in participating in projects where the objective aligns with and furthers the firm’s mission and vision. Throughout his career, he has worked closely with many of the world’s leading hotel operators and real estate developers. Prior to SB Architects, he was an Associate at Hill Glazier Architects, where he worked on the Four Seasons Hualalai and the Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch.