As the President Golden Empire Design Architects, I founded the company, led multiple series of successful multi-million dollar projects for clients in the financial services, hospitality, ecumenical, among other industries, and received the Community Citizen Leadership Award for Bakersfield, CA in 2006.
As Vice President of Architecture with M.S. Walker and Associates, I created the Architecture department and hired all employees, all of whom consistently met and exceeded goals. I received design-based awards such as the “Beautiful Bakersfield Award” and the “Arts Council of Kern Award” for the Bakersfield City Sign as well as an “Honorable Mention” for the Historic Renovation of Curtis’ Restaurant at the Ice-House.
I am currently licensed to practice architecture in California and have practiced for over 13 years both as a Vice President of a large firm (+200) and as a firm owner. I am also licensed to practice in Arizona, Idaho, Colorado, and Texas, and have a pending examination for licensure in Washington and am pursuing licensure in Florida and Hawaii.
I recently served as the Vice-President/President-Elect of the Golden Empire Chapter of the American Institute of Architects after having served in several other board positions during many years. I provided pro-bono services to Calvary Bible Church as a means of returning service where needed and as required. I served as a volunteer High School Coach to a fine group of young men and women; and also serve on a number of boards as a director and founding member to fulfill my personal duties in community service.
I have served as an International Cycling Official (one of 15 in the United States to achieve this level) since 2006 traveling the western hemisphere working as the Chief Commissaire at World-Cup Cycling events. This also involves serving as a mentor, instructor, and Official to hundreds of subsequent events throughout the United States. Additional areas of involvement are board membership in bicycle advocacy organizations, asthma education coalitions, elementary, middle, and high school public speaking in architecture and safe cycling, and many other areas of community involvement.
GOLDEN EMPIRE DESIGN ARCHITECTS, INC., Bakersfield, CA, US, President/Principal Architect
Oversee all functions and activities within architecture firm, supervising internal employees and external consultants. Provide all services including space planning, site coordination, plan design/construction documents (site/facility/floor/parking, etc.) and construction management. Design all corporate marketing materials, including web site. Manage broad range of architecture and design/build contracts, with an emphasis in the financial services industry (including industry-leading banking and credit union institutions), retail and commercial office projects, and high-end custom residential work. Lead teams through the entire project lifecycle. As such, we meet with clients as often as required to anticipate future organizational requirements to establish long-term facility and infrastructure strategies. We also evaluate existing facilities/projects in order to determine the most appropriate energy efficient and economical systems by which the facility can be operated and maintained.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Captured financial institution client that led to over $750,000 in billable dollars and $5.5 million-plus in projects. Facilitated client savings of $100,000 to $250,000 by acting on clients’ behalf to negotiate with government and redevelopment agencies on building issue resolution.
- Built the company from the ground up, implementing all company policies, procedures, and best practices. Grew the business through a combination of effective marketing strategies, excellent service, and top-quality work.
- Received the Community Citizen Leadership Award in 2001 in recognition of “contributions for volunteer work, charitable organization activities, fund-raising, and public speaking.”
Interbrand Design Forum, Irvine, CA, US, Project Architect/Entitlements
This position managed the facilitation of project start-up and provided guidance in coordination with Authorities Having Jurisdiction concerning the expansion of financial institutions. Although based in Irvine, CA, I traveled extensively throughout California to ensure our clients were very well represented to present briefings to clients and others at Architectural Design Commission meetings, Planning Commission meetings, City Council meetings, County Supervisor meetings, and all other required policy meetings to facilitate construction of new facilities as requested by our clients.
M.S. Walker and Associates, Inc., Bakersfield, CA, US, Vice President of Architecture
Hired to create the Architecture department in a small, local design-build construction company. Facilitated growth in department and company to assist in rapid expansion and to include all project types including hospitality/hotels, civic/governmental, office parks/industrial, retail/shopping centers, restaurants, tenant improvements, etc. Managed all aspects of Architecture department, including HR functions (hiring, performance evaluations, salary), client and contract management, project design, and production activities, including reviewing all work for technical accuracy and compliance with project criteria and budget. Oversaw the full project lifecycles from concept and initial client contact through construction and close-out.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Hired as the #12 employee in the company and spearheaded creation of the Architecture department where there had been none; groomed the first 8 people into top-performing employees in a 6-month period; capitalized on management capacity to play a key role in corporate growth from 12 to over 200 employees.
- Developed all corporate standards for construction documents produced by the Architecture department. Created and implemented all departmental standards (still in use) that streamlined document production.
- Received awards for design work that included the “Beautiful Bakersfield Award” and the “Arts Council of Kern Award” for the Bakersfield City Sign; Received “Honorable Mention” for the Historic Renovation of Curtis’ Restaurant at the IceHouse.
Kendrick Design Group, Inc., Bakersfield, CA, US, Project Manager
Managed beginning-to-end cycles (Client contact, conceptual design, construction documents, field verification, contract administration) of educational architectural projects including dozens of individual High Schools, Junior High School, and Elementary Schools. Scopes of work varied from extensive additions of relocatables to expand campus capacity to brand new school campuses of all grades levels with jurisdictional territory all across the state of California. Work processes were from initial conceptual design and layout through client coordination and design team, CADD-based documents creation, and authority having jurisdiction original submittals, redlines, resubmittals, permitting, closeout, etc.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Provided numerous suggestions for internal improvements, including staff hiring and retention decisions, all of which were accepted and adopted by upper management.
R.L.H. Fire Protection, Inc., Bakersfield, CA, US, Project Engineer
Hired initially to complete company-sponsored fire-systems engineering school (50% completion/retention rate). Hired subsequent to graduation as Fire Systems Engineer to provide comprehensive fire sprinkler system design, engineering, hydraulic calculations, pipe cut sheets and load documents. Completed comprehensive design and engineering of sprinkler systems for low-rise structures, strip malls, warehouses, and other buildings. Traveled throughout California to various sites in order to verify conditions and measurements prior to design of systems (drawings included comprehensive fabrication and take-off sheets for all system components).
HIGHLIGHTS:
Contributed to the successful completion of a $1 million system design / development / implementation for the Georgia-Pacific Warehouse in San Francisco. Additional projects included designs / installations at 660 J. Street (5-story office) and Golden Valley Produce, Bakersfield (2,400 heads).
- Designed the company’s corporate logo that is still in place; implemented the 1st automated fire systems computer design software program.
Beautiful Bakersfield Award - Historic Renovation of the project, Curtis' Restaurant at the Ice-House, Honorable Mention
Beautiful Bakersfield, 1st Place
Bakersfield City Sign project completed with music legend Mr. Buck Owens
Arts Council of Kern Award, 1st Place
Bakersfield City Sign project completed with music legend Mr. Buck Owens
“Community Citizen Leadership Award”, 1st Place
City of Bakersfield
