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.

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

Cupa Pizarras

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.  

Billy Strait

VP of Business Development

OldCastle

Billy Strait, CSI, VP of Business Development at Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope (OBE), leads a team collaborating with architects, GCs and developers from concept to completion. With 25+ years in architectural glass and glazing, he champions performance-driven solutions meeting standards like Net Zero and LEED. His team delivers design-assist and design-bid-build projects featuring integrated glass and glazing solutions. A CompTIA Project+ certified professional, Billy ensures meticulous project management and serves on the AIA Manufacturer’s Council.

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.

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.

Adam Cossick

National Brands Leader

Longboard Architectural Products

My name is Adam Cossick, and I am the National Brands Leader at Longboard. I was born and raised in Atlanta, GA where I live with my wife, 3 children, and 3 dogs. I graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in Forestry and have spent the last 11 years in the building material industry. Longboard Architectural Products is a premium cladding manufacturer based in Abbotsford, BC, Canada.

Carl D’Silva

Principal

Perkins&Will

FAIA

Carl’s belief that world-class modern architecture is feasible only through intricate understanding and integration of the design and technical sides, has driven his growth as an architect throughout his career. His development of complex designs and systems in mega-projects was instrumental in the successful delivery of signature buildings.

At our firm, Carl has found a forward-thinking firm with enough structural flexibility to continue on his integrated path.

While Carl has been proud to call Chicago home since 1994, he enjoys travelling to all corners of the globe, and is always looking to add to his running total of 40+ countries visited.

David Rader

Architectural Designer

Perkins&Will

Architectural designer with a passion for improving urban environments. Experience in design, documentation, and detailing through a variety of projects ranging in markets and scales.

While employed at the Dallas CityDesign Studio, a public/private partnership founded to advance urban design in Dallas, David gained experience in urban design policy and developed comprehensive design guidelines for protected neighborhoods in Dallas.

Following this high-level experience, David dove into architectural practice at HKS, a large architectural firm headquartered in Dallas. David worked on a range of projects in Hospitality, Education, and Mixed-Use development. He developed two primary schools from Schematic Design through Construction Documentation.

Dakota Jones

Business Development 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

Curtain Wall & Facade Specialist

STI Specified Technologies

Curtain Wall & Façade Specialist for the Strategic Accounts Division of STI Specified Technologies, covering the central United States and Canada.

Aaron joined STI Specified Technologies in 2015 and has over 30 years of experience in construction materials. He has conducted firestop trainings for STI, The International Firestop Council and to a variety of groups including; architects, engineers, consultants, code officials, inspectors and all types of trades. He is certified at Level 2 of Firestop Instructional Training (FIT II).

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.

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.

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.

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.