2020-2021 ILASLA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Executive Director

Susan Ragaishis, affiliate asla, earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Arizona, where she studied theater performance, directing, and art. After 10 years of professional theater, she changed her focus to nonprofit management and worked in administration for the Latino Institute, corporate development for Brookfield Zoo, and as a Regional Director for the American Cancer Society. She joined the Illinois Chapter ASLA in 2011 and works with the executive board and committee chairs to provide rich and meaningful experiences for members, advocate for the profession and engage allies for the chapter.

President

Magdalena Aravena, asla pla is a Landscape Architect with six years of experience in practice, and seven years as an engaged volunteer and leader in ASLA. Driven by her experiences as a first-generation immigrant from Chile, she is passionate about exploring the role of designers in improving disadvantaged communities through education, advocacy, and collaborative design. She pursues opportunities for growth through volunteering, outreach programs, leading and participating on professional educational panels, and through her leadership in various national and local committees. Most recently, she served as ILASLA Membership Co-Chair and Advocacy Committee Member. Nationally, she is invested in representing Illinois through her more recent roles in the ASLA Finance and Investments Committee Member and as one of six members of the ASLA CEO Search Committee, which led to the eventual hiring of Torey Carter-Conneen as our ASLA CEO and Executive Vice President.

Past President

Rob Reuland, asla pla, is the Studio Director at site design group, ltd. (site). He earned a Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture from Purdue University. As a licensed Landscape Architect, Rob’s professional experience is diverse, with a focus on planning and visioning, historic preservation, parks and recreation, and riverfront design. Before serving as President, he served as the Illinois Chapter External Communications Chair

President Elect

Adam A. De Foor-White, asla pla is a Senior Associate Landscape Architect at Omni Ecosystems. He earned a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. As a licensed Landscape Architect, Adam’s enthusiasm for sustainable design, attention to detail, and coordination skills prove to be very important in project management for a broad range of design projects. As an active member of ASLA, Adam has co-lead the Host Booth Sub Committee for the 2015 ASLA Annual Conference, served as Illinois Chapter Membership Chair / Student Outreach Coordinator (2017-2020), and is actively engaged in landscape architecture student presentation reviews and mentorship programs.

Trustee

Alan Watkins is an account representative with Clarence Davids & Company and an Adjunct Instructor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He earned a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a Master of Business Administration from Northern Illinois University. His responsibilities at Clarence Davids & Company entail developing and maintaining business relationships with current and prospective clients, as well as managing landscape construction and landscape maintenance projects. He is actively involved in a variety of professional organizations. He served as President of the Illinois Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects in 2016, currently serves as the Chairperson of the University of Illinois Department of Landscape Architecture Resource Committee, and is also an active member in the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association.

Secretary

Cassandra Rice, associate asla s a Landscape Architect and planner at site design group, ltd. (site Her work focuses on synthesizing environmental, economic, and cultural influences to create evidencebased, sustainable strategies. She is passionate about community-based design, aiming to create innovative and engaging participatory processes for all of her projects. Some of her recent projects include the Chicago River Design Guidelines, the Milwaukee Harbor District Design Guidelines, and the University of Chicago Laboratory School Master Plan. Prior to serving as the Chapter’s secretary, Cassandra served as the 2017-2019 Emerging Professionals CoChair and the 2015-2016 Awards Chair. She is also actively involved in the American Planning Association.

Treasurer

Committee Chairs

Sarah Dreier, asla pla cpsi

LEED Green

Associate is a graduate of Iowa State University and is a Professional Landscape Architect in the states of Illinois and Indiana, with over fourteen years of experience. At JSD Professional Services, Inc., she contributes her ability to a wide range of planning and design projects throughout the office and is a proven thinker, collaborator and leader who works well with others and her experience with both public- and private-sector clients has yielded skills that facilitate an enriched project process. Sarah is an active member of the Illinois Chapter, leading a field session at the 2009 ASLA Conference on Landscape Architecture, serving on the Awards Committee (2011-2015), was a team member for Host Booth Sub Committee at the 2015 Conference on Landscape Architecture, and acted as Celebration Co-Chair (2015-2020).

Advocacy Chair: Mark Jirik, asla

Awards Co-chairs: Jessie King asla, Dana Kraus asla

Celebration Co-chairs: Sarah Dreier, asla Scott Stewart asla

Communications Co-chairs: Jim Forrester, asla Nicole Maskooki asla

Education Chair: Amanda Arnold, asla

Emerging Professionals Co-chairs: Maddie Clark asla Sophia Essian, asla

Events Chair: David Traphagen asla

Fellows Nomination: Susan Jacobson, fasla

HALS Representative Chair Ken Horinko, asla

Membership Chair Josh Bauman asla

Service Committee Chair: Camille Applewhite asla

Sponsorship Chair: Amy Olson, asla

Webmaster: Deborah Steinberg asla

2020 Magdalena Aravena, asla

2019 Rob Reuland, asla

2018 Keven Graham, fasla

2017 Jack Pizzo, asla

2016 Alan Watkins, asla

2015 Darrell Garrison, asla

2014 Bradley McCauley, asla

2013 J. Christopher Lannert, asla

2012 Christopher M. Gent, asla

2011 Steven Halberg, asla

2010 Amy Olson, asla

2009 Greg Stevens, asla

2008 Erin Fiegel, asla

2007 James Gamble, asla