Career StagesYoung Architects Forum

California Region (North)

Jason Silva, AIA, LEED AP, is a partner and design principal with Dreyfuss & Blackford Architects in Sacramento, California, focusing on civic, higher education and arts-related projects. Licensed in California with over 15 years experience, he has overseen the design and construction of major projects throughout northern California. Mr. Silva is an active member of AIA Central Valley chapter and has presented continuing education programs at AIA national conventions. He is a graduate of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and attended Virginia Tech’s Washington Alexandria Architecture Consortium.

California Region (South)

John Wyka, AIA, is an associate at Barton Myers Associates, an architecture and planning firm in Los Angeles. BMA is a general practice firm with extensive experience in cultural, residential and commercial design as well as academic and civic planning.

John graduated from UCLA with a Master of Architecture in 2003and became licensed in California in 2007. Prior to that, he received a Bachelor of Arts from Tulane University in 1988 and a Juris Doctor from the New York University School of Law in 1992. In 2010 he was elected YAF Regional Director South and serves on the Board of Directors of the AIA California Council. In addition to being active with neighborhood organizations and the Architecture + Design Museum in Los Angeles, he also serves a commissioner on the Beverly Hills Design Review Commission. John lives in Santa Monica, California.

Florida-Caribbean Region

Joseph Benesh, AIA

Middle Atlantic Region

Jonathan Penndorf, AIA, is currently a Project Architect at Bowie Gridley Architects in Washington DC. Originally from New York, Jon attended the Catholic University of America in Washington DC where he earned his Master of Architecture degree.

Over the years Jon has worked on a variety of project types, including education, institutional, and multi-family residential. He lends his expertise in sustainable design and construction to each project, and has worked on many that have earned or are aiming for LEED certification. Jon also has served as a Faculty Associate-Lecturer at the Catholic University School of Architecture and Planning, teaching Pre-Design Analysis.

Outside of the office Jon works to promote the visibility and development of architects in the DC community. He currently serves as the President-elect of the Board of Directors for the AIA Washington DC Chapter (President in 2012). He also is a volunteer instructor for the AIA|DC and AIA Northern Virginia ARE prep courses, and writes a column on sustainable design for the Northern Virginia AIA newsletter. Jon was named Young Architect of the Year by the DC Council of Engineering and Architecture Societies in 2008.

North Central Region

Mike Schellin, AIA, is an Associate with Kodet Architectural Group, Ltd. Kodet Architectural Group specializes in Education, Religious, Public Facilities, Historic Restoration, Recreational, and Retail Design. Kodet Architectural Group is a medium-sized firm located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The focus of the firm is to represent the best interests of its clients. The firm has won numerous awards for design and interiors. Good design, while meeting budgets and schedules comprise the firm’s practice philosophy. The firm has extensive experience with religious and educational projects.

Mike Schellin received his Bachelor of Architecture degree from North Dakota State University in 1999, joined Kodet immediately following graduation and received his license in 2004. Shortly after becoming licensed in 2004, Mike moved from Project Architect to Associate within the firm and continues to provide a lead role on Kodet’s major projects. In 2008 Mike was honored with the AIA Minnesota Young Architects Award, and in 2009 Mike was one of eight recipients to receive the 2009 AIA Young Architects Award.

When not in the office Mike can be found running around with his family. Mike receives all of his support from his wife Holly and two children; Cooper and Parker.

Northwest & Pacific Region

Jeff Yrazabal, AIA, is currently a Senior Associate with SRG Partnership, Inc., in Portland, Oregon. Jeff graduated from Washington State University with a Bachelor of Architecture as well as a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies.

Jeff is currently the Young Architect Regional Liaison for the AIA Northwest & Pacific Region; he sits on the AIA Portland 2011-2012 Board of Directors. Previously, Jeff served as the AIA Portland Committee on the Environment (COTE) Co-Chair, 2009-2010.

Ohio Valley Region

Jack Baumann, AIA, LEED AP, has been with Braun & Steidl Architects (Akron, Ohio) since 1997. He was named an Associate in 2008 and is currently working on the new $40 million Cleveland State University Student Center and a new Emerging Technologies & Environmental Center at Cuyahoga Community College. He has been a member of AIA since 2002, and has served as the Associate Director for AIA Akron, the Associate Director for AIA Ohio, Ohio Valley Region Associate Director, and the 2009 NAC Knowledge Director. He is currently the 2011 President of AIA Akron.

Jack is a frequent guest lecturer and juror at Kent State University and a member of the Kent State University College of Architecture Advisory Committee. He is also currently serving his community in Cuyahoga Falls on the Fire and Housing Board.

Jack was born in Parma, Ohio, and now lives in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio with his wife Renee and their one cat Sophie. Leisure and free-time include restoring his second VW Beetle (1968), working on their home, working in the yard, and just relaxing at home with Renee either cooking together or watching classic movies.

Texas Region

Wyatt Frantom, AIA, LEED AP, is a Senior Associate and Project Designer with HOK as well as a Research Assistant Professor with the University of Houston’s Green Building Component (UHGBC) program in applied research.

Wyatt earned a Bachelor of Science in Architecture with Distinction from The Ohio State University in 1997 followed in 2001, by a Master of Architecture with full scholarship and Commendation from Rice University. During both his undergraduate and graduate studies, Wyatt worked professionally in the fields of architecture and industrial design and engineering while earning the James Gui Senior Design Award from OSU and the Margaret Fossi Traveling Fellowship from Rice University

Wyatt is an active member of the American Institute of Architects, the Texas Society of Architects, the Rice Design Alliance, and a Master Mod member of Houston Mod. During his professional tenure, Wyatt has participated in projects, both domestically and internationally, that have garnered numerous design awards and, in 2007, Wyatt was awarded the Young Architect of the Year by the Houston chapter of the AIA.

The Virginias Region

Terra Games, AIA, LEED AP, is a Project Architect and Designer for Cannon Design. Ms. Games is currently the Project Architect and Project Designer for Tidewater Community College’s New Student Center in Norfolk, Virginia, as well as for Texas Christian University’s Brown Lupton University Union in Fort Worth, Texas.

Ms. Games graduated from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, earning her Bachelors in Architecture, and has since been actively participating in outreach programs in her local community and in the A/E/C industry. Ms. Games has volunteered her time to the Columbia Pike Revitalization Organization, writing and developing streetscape ordnances

In addition to her commitment to YAF, Ms. Games is an appointed member of the Arlington Public School’s Advisory Council on School Facilities and Capital Programs, where she makes facility improvement recommendations to the Arlington Public School Board. For the past three academic semesters, Ms. Games has helped organize and teach architecture studies to elementary 3rd and 5th grade students through the Washington Architectural Foundation’s Architecture in the Schools (AIS) program. Ms. Games is a strong advocate on career and professional development, and volunteers this commitment to the Virginia Community College Systems’ Commonwealth Scholar Program.

Western Mountain Region

Virginia Marquardt, AIA, is an architect at DLR Group with 13 years of experience leading educational, justice, and municipality teams as a project manager and project architect. After graduating from Louisiana Tech University in May of 1999 with a Bachelor of Architecture, Virginia and her husband, Brandyn, moved to Phoenix, Arizona. She is a licensed professional in Arizona as well as a LEED accredited professional.

Virginia has been an active member of the AIA since August of 2004, where she has served on AIA-Phoenix Metro’s Board as Associate Director in 2005 and 2006, Emerging Professional Director and YAF Committee Chair in 2007, Director in 2008, Secretary in 2009 and is currently Treasurer. She is also AIA-Western Mountain Region’s (WMR) YAF Regional Liaison since 2008, is the 2010-2011 Emerging Professional representative for AIA’s Center for Integrated Practice Leadership Group and is a member of AIA’s 2011 Education Committee. In 2009 Virginia was honored by receiving AIA-Arizona’s Young Architects Citation Award.

Central States Region

David Meyers, AIA, LEED AP, has worked as a project architect on civil buildings (water treatment and pump building), recreation complexes, retail, restaurants and office developments. His latest project is one in which Jacobs is not only the designer but also the CM at risk. During the last two years, part of which was at the construction site, David has worked on a state-of-the-art data center. This facility is a fier III, 7 megawatt facility, which includes 80,000 sqft of raised floor area.

David received his BS in Business from Miami University in 1997 and his Master of Architect degree from Washington University in 2000. David received his License in 2004 and his LEED Accreditation in 2006.

David is also the chair of the Landmark Commission for the City of Kirkwood and a member of Rotary International. In the past, he has served as President of the St. Louis Chapter of the Miami University Alumni Association and chairman for the Class of 1997 reunion committee for Miami University.

Gulf States Region

Josh Flowers, AIA, LEED AP, a registered architect and licensed attorney, is General Counsel of Hnedak Bobo Group (HBG), a nationally-recognized leader in hospitality, entertainment and mixed-use design, based in Memphis Tennessee. Josh oversees legal, insurance and compliance matters for HBG and is a member of the firm’s Management Team.

Josh is the Communications Director and 2011 President-Elect of AIA Memphis and is a member of the AIA Tennessee Government Advocacy Committee. His work with emerging professionals includes appearances before the Tennessee Board of Architectural and Engineering Examiners to advocate for concurrent IDP and ARE. Josh has also led pro bono initiatives to assist emerging architects in starting their own firms, aid in negotiating client contracts, and form non-profit companies to promote sustainability of the built environment.

Josh received Bachelor of Architecture and Juris Doctor Degrees from the University of Tennessee. He is a member of the American Bar Association Forum on the Construction Industry as well as the Memphis and Tennessee Bar Associations and the Urban Land Institute. He is listed as a Rule 31 mediator in the State of Tennessee, and is a national speaker and writer on legal issues related to architectural practice.

Illinois Region

Mark Schwamel, AIA, is a registered architect and project manager for Gensler Architects in Chicago. In addition to architecture, Mark is an integral part of the Planning and Urban Design group at Gensler. His experiences include several large-scale urban redevelopments and multiple community design projects.

Mark attended Cleveland State University where he graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts and a Minor in Graphic Design. He then went on to receive a Bachelor of Architecture and a Master’s of Architecture in Urban Design from Kent State University graduating with Dean’s List honors.

Nationally, Mark has served as the Associate Director for the AIA Illinois Region on the National Associates Committee (2008-2009). Locally, Mark has served as Associate Director on the AIA Chicago Board (2007-2009), has championed the Chicago Rebuilding Together program, and was co-founder of the AIA Chicago Bridge program which received a Presidential Citation award from AIA Chicago last year. In 2003, Mark was a finalist in the first USGBC Emerging Professional’s design competition and also received finalist honors in 2006 for his design entry in the AIA Chicago’s ‘reThink/reDesign/reCycle’ competition.

Michigan Region

Maria Kook, AIA, LEED AP, is a principal of MSK Architects, based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Prior to founding MSK Architects, Ms. Kook has worked as a project manager and architect for two of the leading A/E fi rms in Michigan, and as an architect and an urban designer for NSW Government Architect’s Offi ce in Sydney, Australia.

Maria has served as a board member of AIA Huron Valley Chapter in Michigan and is currently involved in the AIA Michigan Committee on the Environment and AIA Michigan Mentoring Network. Being part of the planning of the AIA Women’s Leadership Development Summit in 2010 inspired her to be part of the “change” in the profession that she wants to see through YAF.

Maria is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley and the University of New South Wales, Sydney Australia. With her passion for bridging international cultures, rooted in her life experience canvassing three different continents and cultures, she serves as a business ambassador for Ann Arbor SPARK, a regional business accelerator, and organizes Community of Cultures education program for a local school.

Outside architecture, she loves books, visual art and concerts, however for the past seven years, she has had little time for hobbies while raising her two energetic children.

New England Region

Nicole C. Martineau, AIA, LEED AP, is a project manager at TMS Architects and responsible for design, management and construction administration of commercial and residential projects. Her experience includes new construction, alterations, adaptive-reuse and historic preservation. She was project manager for the restoration and renovation of The Music Hall in Portsmouth, NH and for three LEED Gold homes for Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, NH.

Nicole has taught undergraduate architectural courses at the Boston Architectural College and the University of New Hampshire. She received her Bachelor degrees in both Architecture and Art & Architectural History from Roger Williams University in Rhode Island.

New Jersey Region

Peter Kozielski, AIA, is a registered Architect in the State of New Jersey, with over 15 years experience in the fields of Architecture and Construction. Peter received a Bachelor of Architecture from the New Jersey Institute of Technology in 1998.

In 2005, Peter and two colleagues founded Parallel Architectural Group LLC and Parallel Construction Group LLC. As a result of their commitment to quality design, service and the community, Parallel Architectural Group was named the 2007 AIA Jersey Shore Firm of the Year.

Peter currently serves as the President of the Jersey Shore Section of the American Institute of Architects and is one of three representatives of AIA Jersey Shore to the AIA New Jersey the Board of Trustees. Shortly after joining AIA in 2006, Peter became active in his section serving a two year term as Secretary. As a member of the Jersey Shore Executive Committee he has attended Grassroots and has participated in the “AIA 150 Architects in 150 Schools Initiative”.

Peter is also active in his community devoting time for the last 19 years as volunteer firefighter where he has held various offices and is currently a trustee.

New York Region

Illya Azaroff, AIA, was educated in the United States and Europe; he attended Universitat Hanover, Germany and holds several degrees including a BA- Geography and a BSAS-Bachelors of Science Architecture Studies from the UNL-University of Nebraska, as well as a BArch-Bachelors of Architecture and a March-Masters of Architecture from Pratt Institute, Brooklyn.

Mr. Azaroff has served as director of design and co-founder of the Design Collective Studio from 1999-‘08 and is currently Principal of the successor studio, +LAB architecture and experimentation, based in Brooklyn. His studios are built on trans-disciplinary collaboration where he regularly works with artists, choreographers and architects on a wide variety of projects. Mr. Azaroff has presented his work in the United States, Asia, South America, Central America and Europe.

Illya’s AIA activity began in 1999 and he has served on the board of directors of the AIA New York Chapter and Center for Architecture as the Vice President for Design Excellence 2006-09. He was appointed to the AIA150 Sesquicentennial task force, severed as 2005 Architecture Week co-organizer with Mark Strauss FAIA. Recently Illya has been appointed as New York YAF regional Director (2011-12) and is a member of the AIA New York Chapter where he serves as co-chair of the DFRR – Design for Risk and Reconstruction committee. He also serves as an advisor to exhibitions committee at the Center for Architecture.

Pennsylvania Region

Denise Thompson, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, is a registered architect in the state of Pennsylvania. She is an NCARB certificate holder and a LEED AP BD+C. Ms. Thompson joined the architecture firm of Francis Cauffman in 2003 and is an Associate in the Philadelphia Office. She currently is a Project Architect in the firm’s Healthcare team. She also has been a leader in Francis Cauffman’s integration of sustainability initiatives within the fim. Prior to joining Francis Cauffman, Denise worked in the architecture field on residential, educational, and religious buildings.

Ms. Thompson graduated Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in Architecture from Temple University and is an active part of a growing Alumni Organization for the Architecture Program. Denise has been an Associate Adjunct Faculty member at Temple University since 2001, assisting in the area of Architectural History and has also been a guest studio critic and lecturer.

Ms. Thompson has also been an active AIA member since 2002 and has held various volunteer positions on a national, state, and local level; is a former member of the National Associates Committee, and is currently the Young Architects Forum Regional Liaison for Pennsylvania. She also has just been named a Vice President to the AIA Philadelphia Board of Directors in this second year of her two year term.

South Atlantic Region

Robert Barfield, AIA, received his Bachelor of Architecture from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte where he served for two years as the AIAS Chapter President and earned both the AIA North Carolina Architectural Book Award and the Student Mentor Book Award.

Robert has been employed at both Neill Fortune Architects and Paul Woody Architecture in Charlotte, North Carolina before joining MBAJ Architecture in 2005. He received his license to practice architecture in 2008 and has served as project architect and project manager on a variety of projects throughout North Carolina and South Carolina. Robert left MBAJ Architecture in the fall of 2010 to join Caddell Architecture as one of the firm’s principals.

Robert has served as the 2007 Associate Director on the AIA Charlotte Board of Directors and is currently serving as the IDP Coordinator for North Carolina until 2013.