DFC Leadership Summit on
The Future of Talent

Dave Gilmore is President and CEO of DesignIntelligence

Luis Rico-Gutierrez is dean of the College of Design at Iowa State University. Prior to this position he was associate dean in the College of Fine Arts at Carnegie Mellon University, and also served as associate head of the School of Architecture. He is co-founder of the Remaking Cities Institute in the same institution and served as its first director. Rico-Gutierrez’s research includes the use of information technology in the design process and grassroots participatory practice in urban design.

Iñaki Alday is a registered architect, landscape architect and urbanist, co-founder of aldayjover architecture and landscape. The multidisciplinary, research-based practice focuses on innovation and is particularly renowned for its new approach to the relation between cities and rivers, in which the natural dynamics and flooding become part of the public space and the buildings, eliminating the idea of “catastrophe”. Alday is Dean at Tulane School of Architecture since 2018, after seven years at UVa, where he was Professor and Chair.

Tiffany Atilano is the career services director for the Iowa State University College of Design. Integrated within the college’s Student Services and Programs Office, Design Career Services is part of a coordinated, collaborative network of specialized career services offices at Iowa State and offers career development services for more than 1,900 design students at all classifications across seven departments. For nearly 15 years, Tiffany has led efforts in student engagement, outcomes reporting, programming and events, and employer relations as well as delivering 1:1 support to design students and alumni.

Brad Bell is the Director of the School of Architecture at The University of Texas at Arlington. Since 2014 he has also directed the Digital Architecture Research Consortium (DARC) at UT Arlington, which is a group of industry and academic partners working on the integration of advanced digital technologies and material applications into innovative building solutions. In 2015 Professor Bell was awarded the UT Arlington President’s Medal for Teaching Excellence and in 2020 he was awarded the Texas Society of Architects Award for Outstanding Educational Contribution in Honor of Edward J. Romieniec FAIA.

Chris Box is an educational facility project designer who has been practicing for 8 years. Chris currently works in the education practice at HKS, a leading architecture firm known for their innovative solutions and commitment to sustainability. During his time at HKS, Chris has played a vital role in developing award-winning designs across Texas. His expertise in education facilities planning and design has made him a valuable member of the team, and he delivers his attention to detail, creativity, and commitment to projects that meet the highest standards of excellence.

James Brown is the Academic Recruiter for the College of Architecture, Planning and Public Affairs (CAPPA) at the University of Texas at Arlington. He has 12+ years of experience in higher education with expertise in advising and recruiting. He enjoys connecting and engaging with individuals to help them make informed decisions about their education. Before joining CAPPA, he worked in graduate business education at the University of Illinois at Chicago. James earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Advertising from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign.

An HR leader in the design profession, Michelle is a performance-driven, creative thinker with 20 years of broad experience in management, generalist, and recruiting roles. She provides strategic HR leadership in implementing firm-wide policies, procedures, and practices to maximize investment in human capital. Michelle is recognized for her attention to detail and ability to collaborate across a global organization. She is a member of the AIA LFRT, SHRM, CHIEF and the CHRO Mastermind Group.

As the Design Director for Corgan’s Commercial Studio, Cory leads project teams through the process of design conceptualization and execution. At the studio level, he works to promote a creative atmosphere of constant evolution and improvement. Cory believes that architecture should be thoughtfully inspired by its place and culture and that the architect’s role is to choreograph the user’s experience.

Josh is a Principal and the Chief Human Resources Officer at Corgan. Like the architects he works with, Josh enjoys creating better places by focusing on the people who inhabit them. But as the leader of the HR function, his methods are different. Josh is responsible for developing and executing a people strategy that allows Corgan to thrive — specifically the attraction, retention, and development of talent. Prior to joining Corgan, Josh served in HR leadership roles at Optum, Conifer Health, ORIX, Alliance Data Systems, and Texas Instruments. His educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from The University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Science Degree in Industrial-Organizational Psychology from the University of North Texas. He is also certified as a Senior Certified Professional through the Society of HR Management.

Britney sees architects as place makers, believing architects design places for people to inhabit and enjoy. Her experience ranges in scale from an intimate beach side expansion to large scale facilities in dense urban environments. With more than 17 years of experience in the design industry, Britney strives to use research, innovation and forward-thinking to consult with clients on designs that will inspire the guest experience. With both domestic and international experience, Britney skillfully designs contextually relevant, iconic places that fit the needs of the domestic market and generate revenue for the local economy. These iconic facilities, in turn, serve as vehicles for urban revitalization, oftentimes boosting regional tourism and growth throughout local communities.

Omkar is an Architectural Professional currently working on larger-scale Aviation projects at Corgan. He is a passionate advocate for community-driven projects and initiatives and enjoys mentoring aspiring architects through their journeys in the field of Design. Growing up and working in cities around India, Japan, and the US has shaped Omkar’s unique, multicultural outlook towards design thinking. He takes keen interest in woodworking, theatre, music, and linguistics, and enjoys the cross-collaboration between various fields to create innovative and sustainable design solutions for the built environment.

Dr. Gregory Luhan, FAIA, is a nationally recognized architect, scholar, author, professor, and academic leader whose work investigates how design, emerging technologies, critical theory, pedagogy, practice, and academic-industry partnerships intersect. His project-based, multidisciplinary pedagogical approach to education, leads to research, embraces technology, benefits communities, earns recognition internationally, and elevates architecture education by preparing students for practice. His professional practice includes award-winning, research-driven projects based upon collaborative relationships with disciplines outside architecture.

As the Executive Director of the ACSA, Michael represents a membership base of 200 architecture schools, 6,000 faculty members, and 200 affiliated firms. Working to keep architecture curriculums relevant, members collaborate and communicate to stay on top of evolving trends. For nearly 20 years, he has worked with nonprofit boards in higher education, with a particular focus on building evidence-based research that can improve the world.

Michelle Perry is the Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) for Walter P Moore. Michelle is a hands-on, service-focused human resources executive with a consultative, creative approach to solving business and HR issues. Michelle has over 25 years’ experience in the AEC industry, where she leads the full spectrum of human resources, including talent management, change management, employee engagement and cultural enhancement, employee relations, performance management, training and development, compensation, and benefits administration.

A. Plascencia is a third-year undergraduate architecture student at the University of Texas at Arlington. He has married his interests in architecture, community engagement, and design to bring leadership and conviction to the campus and his community through his collaborations with Freedom By Design, the Student Senate, and the Football Team, a Creative Collective. As well as his contributions to the campus, he engages in a private freelance design practice and is currently employed by the School of Architecture as a Research Assistant.

Born in Tehran, Shahrzad pursued her Bachelor's degree in architecture before moving to Toronto, Canada in 2015. During her time in Canada, she worked for an international architecture and design firm, where she gained extensive experience in designing commercial and mixed-use projects. In 2021, Shahrzad decided to take her career to the next level by pursuing a Master's degree in Architecture at the University of Texas at Arlington. Her goal is to enhance her leadership skills and become proficient in managing and leading a project. Shahrzad is also eager to develop her presentation and client management skills, as she aspires to work directly with clients and present her work to them.

As Chief Talent Officer, Sandra leads WATG and Wimberly Interiors’ global people strategies – creating a space where exceptional talent can realize their true potential and thrive across nine offices on six continents. With over 25 years of experience and a unique global view on “borderless” environments, her extensive knowledge in the professional services industry spans architecture and design, finance and accounting, oil and gas, education, and non-profits with companies such as CRTKL, HOK, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and Esso Argentina.