2020 Board of Directors
Karen Jenkins, AIA
2020 President
Karen is the co-founder and managing partner of Shear Structural, an all-women owned and managed structural engineering firm in Chamblee, Georgia. She is both a licensed engineer and architect, with over 30 years of practice in structural engineering and design. Karen’s background and experience in both disciplines gives her a unique perspective on the industry. She holds degrees from both the University of Florida and Georgia Tech. In 2018 and 2019, Karen was named one of the ‘Top 100 Influential Women in Engineering’ by Engineering Georgia magazine.
Tracy Carusi, AIA
2021 President
Tracy is president and CEO at Collins Cooper Carusi Architects. An industry leader in community-focused architecture, she believes that inspired design makes a significant difference in peoples’ lives. Over her 30 years of practice she’s led teams in various award-winning university, K-12, religious, cultural and recreational/wellness projects. Some notable projects include the Emory’s Candler School of Theology/Center for Ethics, Emory’s Convocation Hall, Global Ministries LEED Platinum headquarters and North Atlanta High School. She attended the University of Tennessee, graduating Magna Cum Laude in 1983 and has served on various educational, non-profit and editorial boards.
Chris Welty, AIA
2019 President
Chris is a tenured associate professor at Kennesaw State University in the College of Architecture and Construction Management and serves as the Department of Architecture Profession Program Sequence coordinator, and the KSU Architect Licensing Advisor for the National Council of Architectural Registration Board.
When not teaching Chris heads his small multimedia design firm, weltyworld, which specializes in the creation of spatial experiences in a virtual computer environment. His firm focuses on visualization, architectural animations, and web development. This expertise has led to an array of clients from architects and builders to developers and corporate owners.
Desmond Johnson, AIA
Treasurer
Desmond Johnson is a registered architect currently practicing at NELSON Worldwide. He is a 2013 alum of Florida A&M University, where he received his B.S. in Architectural Studies; and a 2015 alum of the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he received his Master of Architecture degree. Desmond has a broad range of experience in both the public and private sectors, where he has successfully contributed to mixed-use, multi-family, office, hospitality, retail, institution, and urban design projects of varying scales. In addition to serving as the local Emerging Professionals and Membership Director, he is on the planning committee for the Young Architects Forum.
Ian Hunter, AIA
Secretary
An associate principal at tvsdesign, Ian is a licensed architect and registered interior designer with strong backgrounds in education, residential, corporate office, and hospitality design. His broad experience covers design and construction phases of countless projects, ranging from single-story orthopedic centers in New Jersey to 6,000-room pilgrimage hotels in Mecca.
Mark Chen, AIA
Development Director
Mark is the managing principal of LEO A DALY’s Atlanta studio. In this role, he oversees design, operations and business strategy, leveraging talent across the globe to deliver world-class design services. He has 37 years of experience in the master planning and design of facilities in the U.S., Europe and China, including mixed-use, healthcare and education projects. Mark received his Master of Architecture degree from Harvard University and Bachelor of Architecture from Cornell University.
Simon Martinez, AIA
Development Director
Simon is an associate principal at tvsdesign with nearly two decades of professional experience. At tvsdesign, he brings unmatched office, project design management and innovative procedural technical expertise. Throughout his career in architecture and construction, clients have benefited from his consistent involvement in the total design and construction process with hands-on approach to guidelines and procedures focusing on opportunities, growth and quality architectural work. Current tvsdesign project involvement includes the “Las Vegas Convention Center – Phase II expansion”
Jeffrey Collins, AIA
Programs Director
Jeffrey earned his undergraduate and master’s degrees in architecture from Ohio State University and a doctorate in architecture with concentration in design computation from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Jeffrey is assistant professor of architecture at Kennesaw State University.
Sean Fowler, Assoc. AIA
Programs Director
Sean is an architectural designer at square feet studio with experience in projects both around Atlanta and across the country, including restaurant and hospitality spaces, adaptive reuse, and mixed-use developments. Sean is involved with AIA Atlanta, leads the committees planning the annual High School Design Competition and the Designers of Tomorrow Fair, and is a scholar with the AIA Georgia Christopher Kelley Leadership Development Program 2020 class. Sean earned a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the Georgia Institute of Technology, served as president of AIAS at Georgia Tech, and chaired a committee planning a 400-person conference for students across the southeast.
Daniel Dixon, AIA
Advocacy Director
Daniel is a project architect at The Beck Group, who has a passion for problem solving, technology and collaboration. He is a public speaker, former toastmaster and an Eagle Scout. His extensive knowledge of BIM and inspiration to help others advance their skills has led him to speak at national technical conferences such as Autodesk University, as well as mentor other young architects.
Heli Shah, Assoc. AIA
Emerging Professionals and Membership Director
Heli is a 2014 alum of Western Kentucky University, where she received her Bachelor of Science in Architectural Sciences. She is also a 2016 alum of the Savannah College of Art and Design, where she obtained her Master of Architecture degree. Heli currently works in the Education + Research Studio at CDH Partners, Inc. She is passionate about creating impactful educational spaces for the future leaders of the world. In addition to her work, she is an active member of the Atlanta AEC Community by being on the leadership committee of AIA Georgia’s Equity in Architecture and the AIA Atlanta’s Young Architect Forum. She is also a current scholar of the Christopher Kelley Leadership Development Program.
Sarah Woynicz, AIA
Emerging Professionals and Membership Director
Sarah earned a Bachelor of Architecture and minor in Leadership and Social Change from Virginia Tech, while also competing on the Division I Rugby team and serving as community service chair. As an architect at HKS, Inc, Sarah works on projects ranging from interior renovations to mixed-use/commercial projects over 500,000 square feet. She brings a passion for the design and relationships while presenting creative solutions, coordinated problem solving, and collaborative team workflow. Outside of work, Sarah is active in the Atlanta Harlequins Rugby team, Virginia Tech Mentorship Network, and is a part of the 2019-2020 class of the Christopher Kelley Leadership Development Program.
Laura Morton, AIA
Communications Director
After receiving her Bachelor of Architecture from Oklahoma State University in 2010, Laura came to Stevens & Wilkinson in early 2011. She is a dynamic and energetic Associate dedicated to client satisfaction. Laura has a strong working relationship with each of her clients and effectively works with contractors to maintain construction schedules and budgets. As project architect/project manager, she works on urban development, adaptive reuse, and mixed-use projects up to 350,000 SF throughout the southeast.
Outside of work and AIA Atlanta, Laura is active in several other organizations, including Equity in Architecture and ULI, and is a 2019 graduate of the Christopher Kelley Leadership Development Program.
Robert Woodhurst, AIA
Communications Director
Robert earned a Bachelor of Science in Architecture and a Master of Architecture from Georgia Tech, where he also served as vice president of the local AIAS chapter. He has since been involved with AIA Atlanta’s YAF program, Build Something Great, and the High School Design Competition. Part of the inaugural 2018-19 class, Robert is also a graduate of AIA Georgia’s Christopher Kelley Leadership Development Program.
As a project architect with Smith Dalia, Robert contributed to designs for Inman Quarter, Armour Yards, and Emory’s Phi Gamma Hall. Outside of architecture, Robert is a mediocre fly fisherman, occasional SCUBA diver, and practiced cruciverbalist.
Jared Serwer, AIA
Continuing Education Director
Jared Serwer, Senior Project Designer and Senior Associate at Perkins & Will Atlanta has more than 10 years of experience working as a designer and project architect on civic, corporate, educational and healthcare projects. This diversity of project type has provided Jared with experience in all aspects of project delivery; from early planning, programming, and end user meetings, through documentation and construction administration. A member of AIA Georgia’s inaugural Christopher Kelley Leadership Development program, Jared believes in giving back by working to further the mission of AIA Atlanta. He studied architecture at Princeton University and the Harvard GSD.
Randy Parrish
Allied Director
Randy, with our 2019 patron Smart Lighting Solutions, is a 39-year veteran of the lighting and controls industry spending most of that time servicing the design industry along with his responsibilities as an agency principal and sales professional. He has most recently been involved in the renovation of Hartsfield Jackson Airport and the ongoing upgrading of MARTA station lighting.
Over his career he has served as president of the Georgia Section of the Illuminating Engineer Society and remains a long-standing board member of that organization. He is a proud eight-year patron of AIA Atlanta. Randy is a graduate of Florida State University.