40 YEARS+
Illinois Chapter  

 

Douglas E. Hoerr, FASLA (pictured with John Brookes on the right).

Where are you from and how long have you been a landscape architect? I grew up on a farm in Milford, Indiana where I was immersed in the outdoors from an early age. I graduated from Purdue’s College of Agriculture in 1979 with a landscape architecture degree and have been working in the industry ever since – going on 44 years! How did you begin your career journey in Landscape architecture? After graduation, I moved to Peoria, Illinois to join a landscape design/build firm. It was an incredible learning experience that I still value to this day. It taught me how to sell landscapes, manage crews, install, and so much more. It also equipped me with an understanding of how to run a business since I was exposed to everything from billing to handling client feedback following project completion. The next turn in my career came after taking a garden design course at the Chicago Botanic Garden and getting connected with the influential English landscape architect, John Brookes. I learned a lot, but I knew there was much more to learn, and I told myself ‘if I’m going to stay a landscape architect for the rest of my life, I want to be the best landscape architect I can be!” So, at 32 years old, I made the unorthodox decision to go to the UK for a two-year sabbatical where I had the incredible opportunity to work in the gardens of Britain’s greatest plantsmen, Beth Chatto, John Brookes (pictured), and Alan and Adrian Bloom, becoming the heir to centuries of accumulated English horticultural traditions. Those two years were spent completely absorbed in the art and craft of English gardens. I’d spend the days working hands on and learning about soil, plant layering, perennials, microclimates around a home. Evenings were spent talking about plants and gardens over dinner. On the weekends, I would tour gardens across the country. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity. When I returned home, I decided to start my own firm and made Evanston, Illinois my home base. I started giving lectures to garden clubs to share what I’d learned, continued my relationships with my past clients in Peoria, all while organically growing my portfolio around Chicago one client at a time. What do you think is the most important issue facing landscape architects today? The biggest issue is garnering awareness of the profession and attracting young people to the industry. As a student, unless you’re closely tied to someone in the industry, many aren’t aware of landscape architecture as a career. We’re seeing lower enrollment in undergrad and grad programs; during my time I’ve seen a handful of universities drop their programs due to low attendance. There’s a critical need to continue to promote what we do. ASLA is a huge help in that process. What have you gained by being a member of ASLA for 41 years? ASLA has been instrumental in building industry relationships. Landscape architecture is a niche market, so having connections through ASLA gives us a place to share what we are doing, how we’re running a business, how to gain more visibility, and expanding our role in the industry with architects and engineers. ASLA also provides the platform to attract new landscape architects, teach and promote the profession, and raise the standard of what we do. What would you share with others as a reason for belonging to ASLA as a member? If you’re a landscape architect, you need to be involved in ASLA and the Landscape Architecture Foundation (LAF). These are the organizations to be involved in that are a part of pursuing the goals of the industry. Between conferences, industry events, and virtual seminars, it’s the best way to expand your network of firm and peer connections. We can always learn from each other. It’s a good reminder that you’re not in a vacuum; these organizations provide outside perspectives. And it’s comforting to know you’re not alone—being involved with ASLA gives you a place to connect with those who also get the ins and outs of what we do. What is your favorite project in your career and why?  I always say the next project I take on is my favorite! I’ve had the pleasure of working on a variety of residential and commercial projects across the country throughout my career. Each one has its own unique story and inspiration of how they came to be. It’s tough to choose just one. I’d be remiss however if I didn’t mention working on Michigan Avenue; this was one of the first major commercial projects I worked on when I started my own studio. It led me to heading Mayor Daley’s green roof committee and working with Apple on the first private sector green roof in Chicago. Flash forward to the present day, our team recently completed two of the nation’s largest rooftop amenity decks: the Meadow at Old Chicago Post Office (pictured above) and POST Houston. What in your view is the most important thing that landscape architects provide? Landscape architects provide a connection between people and the healing properties that come with horticulture. I truly believe that being outdoors, surrounded by landscape, feeds the soul. It helps remind us to slow down. Is there anything gloomier than an urban society with no environmental connection? Plants have a restorative power that cannot be overlooked. There’s an Irish poet and philosopher, John O’Donohue, who said it best in The Inner Landscape of Beauty. He notes, “What amazes me about landscape, landscape recalls you into a mindful mode of stillness, solitude, and silence, where you can truly receive time.”

40 Years+
Connecticut Chapter

Jane L. Didona, ASLA, ASLA

Where are you from and how long have you been a landscape architect? I am originally from NYC but moved to Connecticut right after graduating from SUNY ESF in 1978. I have worked in field since 1978 and obtained my license in 1983. I started my firm Didona Associates – Landscape Architects (DALA) in 1989. How did you begin your career journey in Landscape architecture? As a child, I was always fascinated with the outdoor environment and started a landscape business at age 13 with my brother. He mowed lawns and I did the planting, weeding, etc. I also was fascinated by art and design. My college advisor recommended Landscape Architecture and I was hooked. What do you think is the most important issue facing landscape architects today? Climate change, water quality issues and the LA role in the solution to these problems. Unfortunately, I have seen our role diminished as the engineers have taken over many of the services we traditionally performed such as grading and stormwater management design. The results are generic solutions to complex problems. Licensure is definitely important but what is included as accepted services in that licensing law should also be a focus. The ASLA should analyze all the states licensing laws and advocate for broader definition of Landscape Architects’ capabilities. What have you gained by being a member of ASLA for 40 years? I was able to support the profession. As a CT chapter president, I was able to have an impact on the state of our profession in CT and expanded our outreach to our members, our government representatives and our general public. I also made lifelong friends in the chapter that I can always call on for advice and help. What would you share with others as a reason for belonging to ASLA as a member? I think if you are a professional you should support your professional organization as they advocate for you, provide you with support and resources, provide networking opportunities and provide opportunities to serve. I believe membership is as important as licensure. What would you share with those new to the profession of landscape architecture? It is not easy but if it was, everyone would do it. I think that is a quote from a movie but I think appropriate because the profession has many challenges. However, an LA can shape a community, a home, a place of work, a place to learn, a place to play. When you see children playing in a garden you designed, playing exactly as you had envisioned, laughing and running with abandon, there is no better feeling than that. It does not always turn out exactly as you hoped, but take the time to examine, assess, learn and move forward. You may never know all the lives you touch, but, in many ways, that is the beauty of the profession. A few years back, I received a letter from someone I did not know. She got my name off the dedication plaque and wanted me to know that the only thing that kept her going through a difficult time in her life was her morning walks through a park we designed and her daily wonder of the landscape. That letter was a highlight of my career.  What is your favorite project in your career and why? Would you like to submit/share a picture of it? Wow, that is a hard one after 43 years of practice, I usually say, the one I am working on right now. I guess if I had to choose, it would be Danbury Library Plaza. It has become a central meeting place for the city. I have attached two photos taken by my husband, Thomas Didona, at a children’s reading event in the plaza. What in your view is the most important thing that landscape architects provide? A wholistic view of the landscape. I often say, Architect’s use architectural scales, Engineers use engineer scales but LA s use both. We connect people to the land. It is the most important thing any professional can do. Is there anything else you would like to share to commemorate your 40 years with ASLA? I think to advise emerging professionals that if you want to serve but do not have the opportunity to serve at a national level, reach out to your chapter. I feel my service to the CTASLA was the most rewarding time of my professional career. 

40 Years+
International Chapter

Catherine Berris, ASLA

Where are you from and how long have you been a landscape architect? I’m originally from Toronto and I’ve been a landscape architect for 45 years! That’s hard for me to believe as I’m very grateful that I still feel young. I spent some time in the US - grad school at U of Michigan, some work at EDAW, and teaching at Colorado State University - then I returned to Vancouver, Canada. I’ve been practicing here since 1986. How did you begin your career journey in Landscape architecture? I’m one of likely few people who went into landscape architecture straight from high school. I was having trouble deciding what to study because I liked arts and sciences. I was visiting a friend at University of Guelph and saw the “Landscape Architecture” sign outside a building. I wandered in, talked to some people, and the profession called out to me, especially because of my love of nature and the outdoors. What do you think is the most important issue facing landscape architects today? The biggest one for me is the declining state of our planet. It breaks my heart to see so much habitat loss, species loss, and climate change. Landscape architects are in a good position to address these challenges. What have you gained by being a member of ASLA for 40 years? I have appreciated keeping in touch with US colleagues, reading LAM, and keeping tabs on new approaches, processes, and tools. In some areas, the US is often one step ahead of Canada - only in some areas! What would you share with others as a reason for belonging to ASLA as a member? I think it is important to support our professional organizations to spread information about our work, lobby, and promote our profile and professional roles. My volunteer work has mainly been in Canada, where I’ve recently been on committees working on our move towards professional regulation. I’m just about to step into the role of President Elect of the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects.  What would you share with those new to the profession of landscape architecture? If you care about the environment, design, and people, and the way we experience outdoor spaces, you can find a place in this profession. The opportunities are very diverse in terms of where you can work and what you can do. Just a few examples of project types within my current team include planning provincial parks, urban forest strategies, cemetery planning and design, and traditional use studies for Indigenous communities. What is your favorite project in your career and why? My favourite project is from early in my career - Fishtrap Creek Park. (Shown)

I had a small firm and we were approached by a civil engineer to design a path around a stormwater pond in a park (which was very innovative at that time). I went to the site and couldn’t believe the opportunities. It was an old farm field with a ditch through the middle, but it was big, there was history, and two endangered species of fish lived in the creek. The design has an entry pier, islands, boardwalks, wetlands, shelters, and we designed interpretive signs. It is now one of the most popular parks and a birdwatching destination in the City of Abbotsford. What in your view is the most important thing that landscape architects provide? We provide broad knowledge and perspectives, especially related to the land, and we bridge other disciplines so we are good at leadership, facilitation, and collaboration. Is there anything else you would like to share to commemorate your 40 years with ASLA? I feel fortunate to have found a profession that has suited me so well. My career has been fully engaging to the degree that I still don’t have a plan to cut back or stop work. My early- career daughter in a health care field says “Mom, I don’t know if I’ll ever love my work as much as you do”.

20 Years+
Florida Chapter

Ryan R. Binkowski, PLA, ASLA

Where are you from and how long have you been a landscape architect? Originally from Wausau, WI, I lived in Davenport, IA for the later part of my childhood through middle/high school. I became licensed in 2005 in Florida. How did you begin your career journey in Landscape architecture? Growing up in a family of proud backyard gardeners, I did pick up a green thumb. However, I believe it was the creative people that I was surrounded by, including family and friends that built things and gave me the inspiration to create. I spent years doing landscaping projects and had a small pick-up truck business before deciding to pursue a formal education. What do you think is the most important issue facing landscape architects today? Landscape architects need to better assert our value as professionals in the design and development industry. Our profession has unique skills that better suit us to lead and manage complex design and planning tasks for which others lack the expertise. Failing and unwillingness to participate in leadership of what we do will be our slow demise as a profession. What have you gained by being a member of ASLA for 20 years? Exceptional educational opportunities, countless relationships and friends, access to continued professional and practice support. What would you share with others as a reason for belonging to ASLA as a member? Be in touch with your profession! Understand what it is we all do—the range of LA professionals. And participate—you’ll be surprised at what you get back from it! What would you share with those new to the profession of landscape architecture? Work hard and continue learning. It is amazing how much there still is to learn. Your career will only be as successful as YOU make it. What is your favorite project in your career and why? Would you like to submit/share a picture of it? Our work over the past 15 years with Florida Gulf Coast University has been extremely rewarding to us. The projects we have done have been a broad range of campus planning and master planning efforts, working with all of the university’s boards and programs. The transformation of the university over this time has been wonderful. What in your view is the most important thing that landscape architects provide? No other professional is required or expected to be the creative steward of the outdoor realm. While some professions dabble in parts of this, rarely does any one profession similarly pursue design solutions that bring a balance and harmony to the weighing factors of what guides a project. The ability of landscape architects to delicately measure each of these ingredients, and lead the project’s successful realization is truly the critical value we bring. Is there anything else you would like to share to commemorate your 20 years with ASLA? During my career, I’ve been fortunate to marry my Penn State classmate (’03) and fellow LA, Katie (Gonzalez) Binkowski. We have lived together in Naples, Florida since and have 2 children, Abigail (9) and William (5). I am the Senior VP of Operations for RVi Planning + Landscape Architecture and proud of having help the group grow to 120 people in 10 offices and 6 states.

30 YEARS
California Southern Chapter 
George Schmok, Affiliate ASLA 

Maryland Chapter
Daniel P. Lynch, Affiliate ASLA

25 YEARS
California Sierra Chapter
Travis Segebart, ASLA 

15 YEARS
Alabama Chapter
Birgit Kibelka, ASLA

International Chapter
Sophie Robitaille, ASLA 

Tennessee Chapter
Cleve Mizell, ASLA 

Washington Chapter
Shikha Chauhan, ASLA 

10 YEARS
Illinois Chapter
Jose Castillo-Pilcol, ASLA 

Pennsylvania/Delaware Chapter
Aislynn E. Herbst, ASLA 

5 YEARS
Oregon Chapter
James Thomas Solomon, ASLA

Pennsylvania/Delaware Chapter
Michelle Armour, Associate ASLA 

Potomac Chapter
Melissa Rainer, ASLA 

Texas Chapter
Nena Scott, ASLA 

NEW MEMBERS
Boston Chapter
Kyle Holden, Affiliate ASLA 

California Southern Chapter
Hyunch Sung, ASLA 

Colorado Chapter
Anthony Mazzeo, ASLA 

Idaho/Montana Chapter
Kimberly Siegenthaler, ASLA

International Chapter
Shuyang Sun, International ASLA 

New York Chapter
Sara Abousaid, International ASLA 

Pennsylvania/Delaware Chapter
Hannah R. Mazzaccaro, Affiliate ASLA 

Tennessee Chapter
Mamie Finch, ASLA 

Texas Chapter
Abby Dieter, Affiliate ASLA
Michael Webb, II, ASLA 

Washington Chapter Jacob Stephens, ASLA 

Student Members
Sam Blum, Student ASLA
Yuxuan Ca, Student ASLA
Hazel Catley, Student ASLA
Maria D'Alessandro, Student ASLA
Yuqing Guo, Student ASLA
Jakob Johnson, Student ASLA
Anh Khuat, Student ASLA
Yiming Lei, Student ASLA
Jinting Liu, Student ASLA
Jose Lopez, Student ASLA
Lac Ngo, Student ASLA
Chandana Palika, Student ASLA
Brendan Pugmire, Student ASLA
Jorge Misael Rodriguez, Student ASLA
Oscar Sanchez-Ruiz, Student ASLA
Katherine Upchurch, Student ASLA
Ma Wenbin, Student ASLA
Tianyuan Yi, Student ASLA

Student Affiliate
Casey Chapman, Student Affiliate ASLA
Deserae Foster, Student Affiliate ASLA
Dunna Sai Ganesh, Student Affiliate ASLA
Tricia Houseman, Student Affiliate ASLA
Janhavi Manjrekar, Student Affiliate ASLA
Filene Monteiro Caldeira Yount, Student Affiliate ASLA
Anishka Morales, Student Affiliate ASLA
Ethan Rhett, Student Affiliate ASLA
Justin Blake Watson, Student Affiliate ASLA
Sara Zandi, Student Affiliate ASLA Student 

International
Xinyi Bao, Student International ASLA
Zhangchi Chu, Student International ASLA
Yun Duan, Student International ASLA
Kaidan Guan, Student International ASLA
Xineui Guo, Student Intl ASLA
Shijia Han, Student Intl International ASLA
Yueheng He, Student International ASLA
Yingjie Hu, Student International ASLA
Qinqi Huang, Student International ASLA
YuTong Jiang, Student International ASLA
Long Keliang, Student International ASLA
Hasan Mert Keskin, Student International ASLA
Huanyang Li, Student International ASLA
Jin Li, Student International ASLA
Xinran Li, Student International ASLA
Yilei Li, Student International ASLA
Yifei Liang, Student International ASLA
Kun Liu, Student International ASLA
Yaqi Liu, Student International ASLA
Yuhan Liu, Student International ASLA
Xi Liu, Student International ASLA
Yaxin Lu, Student International ASLA
Jiaqi Luo, Student International ASLA