Agenda

Dionne Darling

VP of Brand Partnerships

The Architect’s Newspaper

Dionne Darling has been with The A|N Media Group for over six years. As VP of Brand Partnerships and Associate Publisher, she manages A|N’s Texas headquarters and handles accounts in the West, Southwest and Europe territories. Dionne has over 28 years of direct B2B sales, management and business development experience.

Stephen Nederhoed

Building Envelope Specialist

Mitrex

Stephen is a seasoned architectural sales consultant with years of experience in the exterior envelope industry. He specializes in high-performance wall systems and sustainable solutions for the building envelope.

Matt Dumich

Senior Principal

SmithGroup

Matt Dumich, FAIA provides leadership for SmithGroup’s mixed-use and workplace practices in Chicago. Matt is an expert in the planning, design and delivery of large-scale commercial buildings, interiors and mixed-use developments worldwide. Long committed to mentorship and service, he is a past President of AIA Chicago, co-founder of the Bridge Mentor program, served on the Executive Committee of the Chicago Central Area Committee, and as Chair of the  ULI Chicago Green Flight Product Council.

Coty Sandberg

Senior Design Principal

SmithGroup

Coty Sandberg, AIA is a senior design leader at SmithGroup’s Chicago office who excels at creating thoughtful and innovative design solutions that positively impact the human experience. Her design philosophy prioritizes wellbeing, inclusivity, and timelessness, aiming to enhance the social, emotional, and physical wellbeing of individuals. With her diverse array of expertise spanning the health, higher education, community recreation, and science & technology markets, Sandberg is committed to engaging with all voices through an inclusive design process, addressing the right challenges and ensuring design solutions resonate personally and stand the test of time. Sandberg has led multiple award-winning projects including two net-zero energy facilities. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts, followed by a Master of Architecture from Savannah College of Art & Design. 

Jason Smith

Senior Principal, Architect

SmithGroup

Jason Smith, AIA is an intensively collaborative leader who believes in solving complex challenges through a process that is rooted in reflecting his clients’ values, clearly defining the design problem, and enabling effective decision-making. Smith’s inclusive approach and passion for building consensus through design benefits his clients through his role as a lead designer for a wide range of impactful projects spanning the health, higher education, workplace and science & technology markets. He is a member of the American Institute of Architects and the Chicago Computation Group. Smith graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago. 

Drew Ford

Regional Sales Manager

CUPACLAD

Drew Ford is an experienced sales professional currently serving as the CUPACLAD USA Regional Sales Manager at CUPA PIZARRAS since October 2020. Previously, Ford worked as an Area Sales Manager at Boral North America from November 2015 to July 2020, representing Cultured Stone® and Eldorado Stone, achieving significant sales growth and exceeding sales goals multiple times. Notable accomplishments during this tenure include surpassing sales budgets for various products and creating key account plans to enhance market strategies. Ford’s earlier roles encompass positions in sales and technical support, notably with Cultured Stone®, where responsibilities included training, product knowledge presentations, and managing leads through CRM systems. Educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts in International/Global Studies from the University of Missouri-Columbia and a study abroad experience in International Relations at the University of Galway.  

Chris Gall

Business Development Manager

Oldcastle Building Envelope

Chris Gall is Business Development Manager at Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope (OBE), North America’s leading vertically integrated manufacturer, fabricator and distributor of architectural hardware, glass and glazing systems. He is a technical product professional dedicated to working directly with architects from ideation to completion of projects using traditional and design / assist project delivery.

Chris has over 35 years of experience in the design, testing and product development for exterior facades. This includes product development in the General Services Administration (GSA) and Department of Defense (DoD) with a focus on new product and field testing, and product cross-over to meet many different applications. Chris also has extensive experience in Hurricane Impact Products, Security Glazing, ASTM/FPA & TAS, Building Forensics, and LEED Compliance and Documentation.

Prior to OBE, Chris spent decades in the building products industry, and began his career at U.S. Aluminum, an OBE subsidiary business brand, where he spent nearly 15 years.

Coty Sandberg

Senior Design Principal

SmithGroup

Coty Sandberg, AIA is a senior design leader at SmithGroup’s Chicago office who excels at creating thoughtful and innovative design solutions that positively impact the human experience. Her design philosophy prioritizes wellbeing, inclusivity, and timelessness, aiming to enhance the social, emotional, and physical wellbeing of individuals. With her diverse array of expertise spanning the health, higher education, community recreation, and science & technology markets, Sandberg is committed to engaging with all voices through an inclusive design process, addressing the right challenges and ensuring design solutions resonate personally and stand the test of time. Sandberg has led multiple award-winning projects including two net-zero energy facilities. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts, followed by a Master of Architecture from Savannah College of Art & Design. 

Kristina Eldrenkamp

Project Leader

Studio Gang

Architect Kristina Eldrenkamp is a Project Leader in Studio Gang’s Chicago office. She served as the Project Leader for Populus, a new hotel in downtown Denver that opened in 2024, and is currently working on an experiential walkway in Denver.

She earned her Master of Architecture from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she received the AIA Henry Adams Medal and the Marjorie Pierce ’22 / Dean William Emerson Fellowship Award. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Art History and Studio Art from Carleton College in Minnesota.

Chris O’Hara

Founding Principal

Studio NYL

O’Hara is facade director for the Skins Group, a division of Studio NYL, established to provide full service facade design specializing in thermal modeling, moisture/condensation analysis, and in-depth detailing. Although Studio NYL is recognized for its skins work with cutting-edge glass and glazing, their team also specializes in digitally fabricated metal skins, GFRC, reinforced polymers, stone, ultra high performance concrete, terra cotta, and traditional precast. O’Hara is currently working on multiple projects in the Boston area.

Jason Smith

Senior Principal, Architect

SmithGroup

Jason Smith, AIA is an intensively collaborative leader who believes in solving complex challenges through a process that is rooted in reflecting his clients’ values, clearly defining the design problem, and enabling effective decision-making. Smith’s inclusive approach and passion for building consensus through design benefits his clients through his role as a lead designer for a wide range of impactful projects spanning the health, higher education, workplace and science & technology markets. He is a member of the American Institute of Architects and the Chicago Computation Group. Smith graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago. 

Andreas Hafner

Managing Director

seele, Inc

Andreas Hafner is Managing Director of seele GmbH, responsible for strategic development, sales, and innovation. He joined seele in 1993 as a student trainee and advanced through roles in project and sales management as well as international leadership positions. In 2016, he became Managing Director of seele GmbH and, in 2018, President of seele, Inc. and seele canada. Andreas holds a degree in mechanical engineering (Dipl.-Ing.) from the Technical University of Munich and has led renowned façade projects across Europe and North America.

Michael Russo

National Sales Manager

Longboard Architectural Products

Jason Smith

Senior Principal, Architect

SmithGroup

Jason Smith, AIA is an intensively collaborative leader who believes in solving complex challenges through a process that is rooted in reflecting his clients’ values, clearly defining the design problem, and enabling effective decision-making. Smith’s inclusive approach and passion for building consensus through design benefits his clients through his role as a lead designer for a wide range of impactful projects spanning the health, higher education, workplace and science & technology markets. He is a member of the American Institute of Architects and the Chicago Computation Group. Smith graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago. 

Dionne Darling

VP of Brand Partnerships

The Architect’s Newspaper

Dionne Darling has been with The A|N Media Group for over six years. As VP of Brand Partnerships and Associate Publisher, she manages A|N’s Texas headquarters and handles accounts in the West, Southwest and Europe territories. Dionne has over 28 years of direct B2B sales, management and business development experience.

Carl D’Silva

Principal

Perkins&Will

Carl D’Silva is a Principal Architect at Perkins&Will in Chicago, and a licensed architect in Illinois. Carl has honed his knowledge of technically-advanced façade and enclosure systems through design and construction efforts on complex projects around the world, including Sony Center in Berlin, Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, O’Hare Airport terminal renovations in Chicago, the Doha Convention Center in Qatar, and most recently the new Damen Green Line CTA station in Chicago. Carl graduated from Virginia Tech in 1994 and was elevated to Fellow in the American Institute of Architects in 2014. Over the last 20 years, he has incorporated glass and façade technology lectures to current Hokie architecture students through the Virginia Tech’s Chicago Studio program.

David Rader

Architectural Designer

Perkins&Will

David is an Architect with a passion for improving urban environments with experience in many project types – from masterplans to museums. His interests in higher education and urban design culminated in David’s graduate thesis completed at Rice University. Titled Public Infrastructure, this project proposed a partnership between two public entities- the Los Angeles Community College District and LA Metro- to develop a new campus typology which is integrated with transit and extends public space. This academic experimentation with typologies has guided his professional experience, where he has sought out projects with hybrid public programs. Recently, David has contributed to the Damen Green Line station in Chicago, Smithsonian’s Bezos Learning Center, and the Vicksburg Civil War Interpretive Center.

Coty Sandberg

Senior Design Principal

SmithGroup

Coty Sandberg, AIA is a senior design leader at SmithGroup’s Chicago office who excels at creating thoughtful and innovative design solutions that positively impact the human experience. Her design philosophy prioritizes wellbeing, inclusivity, and timelessness, aiming to enhance the social, emotional, and physical wellbeing of individuals. With her diverse array of expertise spanning the health, higher education, community recreation, and science & technology markets, Sandberg is committed to engaging with all voices through an inclusive design process, addressing the right challenges and ensuring design solutions resonate personally and stand the test of time. Sandberg has led multiple award-winning projects including two net-zero energy facilities. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts, followed by a Master of Architecture from Savannah College of Art & Design. 

Rachel Traurig

Regional Sales Manager

Kingspan

Dakota Jones is a Business Development Manager at Kingspan Insulated Metal Panels with a Master’s degree in Architectural Building Sciences. Passionate about sustainable envelope design, he specializes in connecting clients with high-performance materials that promote energy efficiency and climate-conscious solutions. Dakota is dedicated to advancing building practices that prioritize sustainability while delivering innovative, high-performance designs.

Aaron Alterman

Consultant Support Specialist – US & Canada

STI Specified Technologies

Aaron joined STI in 2015 as a Territory Manager in the Gulf South.  In 2018, he was promoted to the Curtain and Facades Specialist role, working with glaziers, fabricators, curtain wall consultants and perimeter fire containments contractors in the Midwest, Gulf Coast, Texas and Central Canada.   In 2024, Aaron became the Curtain Wall and Facades Consultant Support Specialist for North America, working with curtain wall consultants, architects, engineers and code officials.   

With over 30 years in a variety of fields in construction, Aaron has become a critical partner for many of the top CW Consultants in North America.  With his knowledge and expertise of perimeter fire containment systems for all types of construction including Mass Timber, backpan or non-backpan glazing systems, precast, GFRC, and Steel Stud/EIFS assemblies, Aaron can assist from design conception to project close out while meeting critical life safety requirements for a better project outcome.

Originally from Detroit, Michigan, Aaron is now a proud resident of the great city of New Orleans.

Jason Smith

Senior Principal, Architect

SmithGroup

Jason Smith, AIA is an intensively collaborative leader who believes in solving complex challenges through a process that is rooted in reflecting his clients’ values, clearly defining the design problem, and enabling effective decision-making. Smith’s inclusive approach and passion for building consensus through design benefits his clients through his role as a lead designer for a wide range of impactful projects spanning the health, higher education, workplace and science & technology markets. He is a member of the American Institute of Architects and the Chicago Computation Group. Smith graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago. 

Juanita Garcia

Senior Project Manager, High Performance & Sustainable Construction

Pepper Construction

Drawing on more than 15 years of experience in mechanical design, Juanita joined Pepper’s High Performance team based on a shared commitment to improve people’s quality of life through the built world. Her work has been informed by her study of psychology, human rights and massage therapy, which allows her to incorporate a well-rounded health and wellness perspective into the built environment. Juanita’s contributions to the Chicago sustainability community include serving on the Board of Directors of the Illinois Green Alliance. She also collaborates with the Chicago Hub of the Carbon Leadership Forum in development of education programing for peers.

Bill Zahner

CEO

Zahner

Leo William Zahner III is the CEO of Zahner, an architectural metal company known for their contribution and execution of high-profile structures such as Sofi Stadium, Google Bay View Campus, and the de Young Museum. Bill is credited with transforming the company from a regional sheet-metal contractor into the acclaimed architectural metals and facades producer it is today. He also guided the company towards advanced manufacturing, technical innovation, as well as producing works by celebrated artists across the globe. Zahner has authored seven books on architectural metals, including the Architectural Metal Surfaces and Architectural Metals: A Guide to Selection, Specification, and Performance.

Zahner was inducted as an honorary AIA member in 2007. In 2013, Zahner was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce to the Manufacturing Council, where he represented Missouri’s Fifth District. Zahner holds over five patents which pertain to the Architectural Metals industry he serves as the Industry Liaison for the National Architectural Committee of SMACNA, and in 2006, was awarded the Copper Medal, Associazone Italiana di Metallurgia.

Lauren Van Reken

Senior Preconstruction Services Manager – Midwest Region

Harmon

Lauren Van Reken is a Senior Preconstruction Manager with Harmon, a leading curtain wall subcontractor in North America. In her role, she supports the company’s preconstruction activities throughout the sales life cycle, including consulting on product selection, system design, project schedules, budgeting, and client proposals. Lauren has a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Michigan Technological University and joined the Harmon team as an intern in 2015.

Since then, she has held various operational roles across North America, most recently managing Canada operations and leading a team of project managers. Lauren leverages her extensive operations and project management experience to engage with stakeholders in developing innovative solutions to address customer needs. Her experience partnering with design teams can be seen in prominent projects in Chicago and Toronto, including Wolf Point East, Salesforce Tower Chicago, and 160 Front Street. 

Matt Dumich

Senior Principal

SmithGroup

Matt Dumich, FAIA provides leadership for SmithGroup’s mixed-use and workplace practices in Chicago. Matt is an expert in the planning, design and delivery of large-scale commercial buildings, interiors and mixed-use developments worldwide. Long committed to mentorship and service, he is a past President of AIA Chicago, co-founder of the Bridge Mentor program, served on the Executive Committee of the Chicago Central Area Committee, and as Chair of the  ULI Chicago Green Flight Product Council.

Lucas Tryggestad

Technical Principal

Skidmore Owings & Merrill

Interested in the craft of architecture and the applications of digital design, Lucas Tryggestad specializes in designing and realizing technically complex building systems. A native of Illinois, Lucas draws upon his Midwestern roots, as well as a global portfolio spanning five continents, to apply his contextual knowledge to projects both locally and abroad.

His project work includes 100 Mount Street, an office tower that is efficiently designed to minimize the carbon impact of construction, and AMIE 1.0, a research partnership between SOM and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory exploring energy efficiency and the applications of 3D printing.

Ann Thompson

Executive Vice President

Related Midwest

Ann Thompson, FAIA, is Executive Vice President of Architecture and Design at Related Midwest. Since joining Related in 1995, she has led the creative oversight and planning of projects across the company’s portfolio of mixed-use, mixed-income, affordable and luxury developments, as well as all engineering, zoning and entitlement efforts. 

A proven thought leader on architectural concept and implementation, Thompson is a frequent speaker at industry events, has participated in numerous award committee juries and has authored or participated in articles for The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, The Washington Post and Chicago Tribune, among others. Thompson champions design excellence among a variety of stakeholders and prioritizes shared success in the built environment. Her work in this space includes mentoring the next generation of architects and designers, promoting industry career paths through teaching and civic engagement and leading balanced teams on Related’s projects. 

In her role, Thompson directs the work of architecture, urban planning, interior design and engineering teams to shape and execute the design and community vision for Related Midwest’s projects, from concept and delivery to building opening. They include the reimagination of the historic Lathrop community along the Chicago River; The 78, a 62-acre downtown development and one of the largest real estate projects in Chicago; and 8080 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive, a 400-acre master plan in South Chicago that will house the Illinois Quantum & Microelectronics Park (IQMP), anchored by what will be one of the largest quantum computing facilities in the world.

Thompson is a licensed architect in Illinois and serves on the boards of the Chicago Architecture Center and the Alliance Française de Chicago. She is a member of The American Institute of Architects, Economic Club of Chicago, International Women’s Forum and The Chicago Network. In addition, Thompson serves on the advisory boards for the Illinois Institute of Technology College of Architecture and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign School of Architecture, from which she obtained her Master of Architecture. In 2024 Thompson was elevated to The College of Fellows of The American Institute of Architects (AIA), the organization’s highest membership honor for exceptional work and contributions to architecture and society, bestowed on only 3% of AIA members.

Coty Sandberg

Senior Design Principal

SmithGroup

Coty Sandberg, AIA is a senior design leader at SmithGroup’s Chicago office who excels at creating thoughtful and innovative design solutions that positively impact the human experience. Her design philosophy prioritizes wellbeing, inclusivity, and timelessness, aiming to enhance the social, emotional, and physical wellbeing of individuals. With her diverse array of expertise spanning the health, higher education, community recreation, and science & technology markets, Sandberg is committed to engaging with all voices through an inclusive design process, addressing the right challenges and ensuring design solutions resonate personally and stand the test of time. Sandberg has led multiple award-winning projects including two net-zero energy facilities. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts, followed by a Master of Architecture from Savannah College of Art & Design. 

Diana Darling

CEO & Creative Director

The Architect’s Newspaper

Darling is CEO, creative director, and co-founder of The Architect’s Newspaper, celebrating its 20th year. The A|N media company consists of print and digital publications covering architecture and design news, as well as the Facades+ and TECH+ conferences. As A|N’s publisher, Darling won the AIA National Collaboration Award, Grassroots Preservation Award, and ASLA NY’s President’s Award. She began her publishing career as director of print production for The Gap’s European markets. She holds a BS from The University of Texas at Austin.

Matt Dumich

Senior Principal

SmithGroup

Matt Dumich, FAIA provides leadership for SmithGroup’s mixed-use and workplace practices in Chicago. Matt is an expert in the planning, design and delivery of large-scale commercial buildings, interiors and mixed-use developments worldwide. Long committed to mentorship and service, he is a past President of AIA Chicago, co-founder of the Bridge Mentor program, served on the Executive Committee of the Chicago Central Area Committee, and as Chair of the  ULI Chicago Green Flight Product Council.