Alena Capra, CMKBD

Alena Capra is an award-winning interior designer, television host, and Industry Ambassador for Coverings. She is also the owner and principal of Alena Capra Designs, a Fort Lauderdale–based design firm. With over two decades of industry experience, Alena holds the designation of Certified Master Kitchen & Bath Designer (CMKBD), and is a member of the NKBA Board of Directors. She is a proud alumna of both the University of Miami and the Metropolitan Institute of Design.

A frequent speaker at national design shows, industry events, and conferences, Alena’s expertise and approachable style have made her a sought-after voice in the field. Her work has been featured in numerous national and regional publications, showcasing her timeless and functional approach to interiors. She also enjoys assisting homeowners with kitchen design advice, as the Designer in Residence for the CAFÉ Style Studio.

On television, Alena hosts SoFlo Home Project, a weekly half hour home design show airing in Miami/Fort Lauderdale on WPLG / Local 10. She has hosted over 325 episodes to date. Her previous television experience includes both on-camera and also behind- the-scenes design roles on a variety of home makeover shows airing on networks such as Lifetime, the History Channel, FYI, and HGTV. She also appears regularly in industry- focused educational videos as a host or spokesperson, and is a contributing writer for Aventura Magazine, where she pens the monthly column “By Design.”

Alena’s passion for design is matched by her commitment to giving back. She has proudly contributed her time and talents to a variety of charitable organizations, including the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Ronald McDonald House, The Salvation Army, and Kid Sanctuary Campus. Giving back to the community through design is a mission close to her heart.

Craig Copeland, FAIA’s work on large-scale placemaking projects have transformed cities and communities around the world, including Brookfield Place (formerly the World Financial Center in New York). An award-winning sculptor with a focus on monumental sculpture, Craig was a Fulbright Scholar and visiting artist at the American Academy in Rome. He is the founder of Situcraft in Long Island City, a studio that creates innovative product designs in stone. He holds a Master of Architecture from Yale University and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Florida.

AIA, NCARB, LEED Green Associate

Born and raised in the Midwest, Jeff can’t remember a time when he didn’t want to be an architect. His family claims it must have been a pre-natal experience since they joke that architecture was his first word. As a child, he was always more interested in the box than he was in the toy that came in it.

Today, Jeff is a respected leader in the planning and design of healthcare environments. Given the demands of healthcare, Jeff’s particular expertise is programming and designing spaces that focus on human experience and helping staff delivering care. As a medical planner by function, Jeff realizes the ultimate success of a project begins during conceptual design and continues throughout. It is in the middle of that process, when pieces fall into place and buildings take a life of their own, that he knows the goals of the project will be achieved.

Away from work, Jeff is an avid cook and loves to spend time in the California wine country and at his vacation home in Palm Springs with his family and two Shar-Peis.

Ms. Ruther is a Senior Associate with Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates (WJE) and a licensed professional engineer based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering degree from Calvin University and a Master of Civil Engineering degree from Lawrence Technological University. Since joining WJE in 2012, she has developed broad expertise in structural engineering and building enclosure systems. Her work includes comprehensive investigations and analyses of existing and damaged structures, typically followed by the development of detailed repair and rehabilitation documents. Her project experience spans steel, wood, concrete, and masonry systems, as well as roofing, waterproofing, and various facade assemblies including curtain wall and storefront systems, both with historic structures and new construction.

Matthew Farmer joined WJE in 1986 and has served as a principal investigator on numerous evaluations of concrete, steel, and timber structures as well as those involving clay, concrete, stone, and cast stone masonry. Mr. Farmer has concentrated his practice in the area of building enclosure systems engineering, design, investigation, analysis, and repair. He is frequently asked to consult on the design of specialized exterior wall cladding systems and as an expert witness for construction-related litigation. Projects have included institutional, commercial, and residential projects as well as numerous historic landmarks. Mr. Farmer served as the manager of the Washington, D.C. office from 1994 until 2006, when he became a principal with WJE. Prior to joining that office, he was a structural engineer with Skidmore, Owings & Merrill in Washington, D.C.

Justin Russell has over twenty years of experience in the glazing industry and holds a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management. Growing up, Russell was destined for leadership in the glazing industry, training under his father and grandfather in their family business from an early age. There he held a multitude of operational positions that set the platform for his current role as the preconstruction lead on some of Enclos’ most recognizable projects, including the Chase Arena and Office Towers in San Francisco. Russell is a LEED accredited professional and has managed projects ranging from hotels, residential, transportation, office, to healthcare across the West Coast and Hawaii. He is highly organized, forward-thinking, thoughtful in his planning, deliberate in his actions, and always cost and schedule conscious to the satisfaction of his many clients.

John Kuchen, AIA NCARB LEED AP BD+C is a Technical Architect, and Associate Principal at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. During his 17 years at SOM, John has designed enclosures for high-profile projects around the globe. John’s broad portfolio includes high-rise office and residential towers, life sciences laboratories, and even automotive R&D facilities. He has played a significant role in designing civic architecture for the United States in China, including the US Embassy in Beijing, the US Embassy New Office Building Expansion in Beijing, and the US Consulate General in Guangzhou. As a technical designer, John specializes in architectural systems integration and development, and acts as an advisor for QA/QC in the studio, and in the field.