CURRENT BOARD
TAYLOR KEEGAN
Past- President
Taylor is the past-president. She is currently a Landscape Archiect for Anchorage Parks and Recreation. In her free time, Taylor volunteers at the Off the Chain Bike Co-op, the Alaska Botanical Garden, and can be found hiking or biking on one of the many trails in and around Anchorage.
Trustee
Michele is in the 1st of a three-year term as ASLA AK board Trustee. She is currently the Chief Landscape Architect for the City and Borough of Juneau. Michele was also recently recognized for her work at the legislative level in helping preserve and advocate for state licensure and received the 2017 Rising Star award from ASLA National.
MELISA BABB
Current President
Having lived in a wide variety of western landscapes, Mélisa brings a deep curiosity about the interactions between human culture and natural systems to her work Alaska. Mélisa has served as Member-at-Large and Secretary for the ASLA Alaska Chapter for several years, and is currently the Vice President, South Central. She enjoys camping, canoeing, and exploring Alaska with her husband and two young kids. She is also secretly convinced that California mosquitoes and black bears are much fiercer and bigger than Alaskan variety, but would never admit that to an Alaskan.
2021 BOARD
MAEVE NEVINS-LAVTAR
Secretary
Maeve Nevins-Lavtar is the current Secretary of ASLA AK. She currently works as a Senior Park Planner for Anchorage Parks and Recreation. When not working on park or trail projects she can be found playing on the Kincaid Park singletrack trails with her English Springer Spaniel or skiing under the full moon in the Chugach backcountry.
M. ELISE HUGGINS
Treasurer
Elise is an ASLA Fellow, and a long time member of ASLA. She is the principle of Earthscape, a landscape architecture firm based in Anchorage, Alaska. When she's not working or donating her time to ASLA or Alaska Botanical Garden you can typically find her walking her two lovely dogs on the Coastal Trail.
MONIQUE ANDERSON
Vice President Southeast
Monique is the owner of Anderson Land Planning providing Landscape Architecture services statewide from Sitka. You can find Monique helping with representation and advocacy at the legislative level, nominating other LAs for their great work and forging local partnerships to make things happen. She also sails her charter sailboat around the fjords and glaciers of Southeast waters all summer long.
JONNY HAYES
Vice President Southcentral
Jonny Hayes is a professional landscape architect since 2010 and has recently switched gears to listen, explore and create as the Director of Design at the Anchorage Museum. Jonny started his professional design career at the legendary Land Design North way back in 2005 after a long drive up from Outside.
Jonny rose through the ranks of the Alaska Chapter, reaching his peak during his service as Chapter President a few years back. Jonny has been engaged with the board since then, dropping into meetings at times and carrying a torch or two as a Student Outreach committee member. He will advocate and assist those who desire to be leaders in Landscape Architecture and serve our communities through action. Jonny dislikes long walks, beaches, and being awake until sunset. He has young kids and loves to play, and stuff like that.
LEAH BURON
Vice President Interior
Leah works remotely in Fairbanks for Huddle as a landscape designer. Leah is passionate about stewardship and creating and maintaining environments that can be enjoyed for generations to come. She loves being on trails biking, hiking or skiing, or on the water paddle boarding in the summer.
LEIGH ANN BELLOLI
Member at Large
Leigh Ann Belloli recently returned to Alaska after working in California for 10 years on a variety of projects, including water conservation demonstration gardens, community centers, native habitat restoration, parks, transportation corridors, and residential design. Leigh Ann has never served on an ASLA board but wanted to serve as Member-At-Large for AK-ASLA to connect with Alaska's LA community. Leigh Ann is passionate about Low Impact Development, Rain Gardens, Green Roofs, Parks, Urban Revitalization, Ecological Restoration and Sustainable Design. You can find Leigh Ann volunteering at the Alaska Botanical Garden, gardening at home, playing guitar, hiking and traveling the State.
LAURA MINKSI
Member at Large
Laura recently rejoined the AK Chapter Board as member at large after having served as secretary several years ago. She currently works for the Fairbanks North Star Borough Parks and Recreation Department as a Parks Project Coordinator. In her spare time, she loves visiting the many gardens, parks, playgrounds and trails of the Fairbanks area. And visiting any number of tropical locations when winters get to be too tough.
BYLAW REQUIRED COMMITTEES
AUDIT COMMITTEE
Role: Coordinates an annual audit of Chapter financial operations. The
Audit Committee shall perform an annual audit of the Chapter accounts as specified in Section 1105 of the Bylaws and report its findings to the Executive Committee.
Chair: Secretary- Maeve Nevins-Lavtar
Important Dates:
• Complete audit within 120 days of the close of the financial year (per bylaws
this equals February 28th)
CONSTITUTION/BYLAWS COMMITTEE
Role: Address revisions to chapter constitution or bylaws on a periodic basis
as needed. Prescribe a format for the preparation of sponsored amendments. Review proposed amendments for consistency with the Constitution or
the Bylaws and assist the sponsor in rectifying any inconsistency. Draft amendments as necessary and appropriate to ensure consistency with the Constitution and Bylaws of the Society.
Chair: Secretary – Maeve Nevins-Lavtar
NOMINATING COMMITTEE
Role: Identifies candidates for chapter offices and prepares an annual election
ballot. Responsible for recommending candidates for the State AELS board’s landscape architecture seat.
Chair: Past-President/Past-Past President – Ed Leonetti
Important Dates:
• Call for Nominees – Review at June ExCom meeting, send out by June 15
• Final Slate – approve at July ExCom meeting
• Election – month of August (30 day period)
• Completed Annual Elections – September
STANDING COMMITTEES
AWARDS COMMITTEE
Role: Organize Chapter awards events
Chair: Jonny Hayes
BUDGET COMMITTEE
Role: Helps to develop annual budget. Evaluates and recommends funding
requests outside of the approved annual budget
Chair: Treasurer – Elise Huggins
Important Dates: Draft budget for board review 2 weeks prior to Chapter Annual General Meeting
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS/ADVOCACY COMMITTEE
Role: Monitors and recommends chapter action on pertinent public policy
and civic issues. Inform the Executive Committee regarding government issues at a federal, state and local level that are of interest to the membership. Review proposals brought forward to the Chapter and present findings to the Executive Committee regarding government affairs and potential impacts to the profession.
Chair: Trustee – Michele Elfers
Committee Members: APDC Representatives
Important Dates:
• In-State advocacy days
• National Advocacy day in Washington, DC
STRATEGIC PLAN COMMITTEE
Description: Annually request and receive proposals for project support and
funding. Perform initial review of proposals using the project support request form and project support evaluation grid. Present this review to the executive committee with a recommendation on which projects to fund. Communicate with successful proposers to transfer funds and receive project report upon completion.
Chair: Elise Huggins
Important Dates: 30 days prior to approval of fiscal budget
CONTINUING EDUCATION COMMITTEE
Role: Prepare the annual slate of educational programs to be provided by
ASLA Alaska Chapter, coordinating with the Executive Committee members. Organize sub-committees and sub-committee leaders to develop and implement programs. Review proposals brought forward to the Chapter and present findings to the Executive Committee regarding education opportunities for the Chapter. Schedule and coordinate educational programs for professionals including, continuing education classes, LARE review classes, lectures, and seminars. Assist with the appointment of committees necessary for programs
Chair: VP Southcentral – Jonny Hayes
PUBLIC RELATIONS & WEBSITE COMMITTEE
(SUB-COMMITTEES: WEBSITE, LAM, STUDENT)
Role: Prepare the annual slate of programs to be provided by ASLA Alaska Chapter, coordinating with the Executive Committee members. Organize sub- committees and sub-committee leaders to develop and implement programs. Review proposals brought forward to the Chapter and present findings to the Executive Committee regarding to the education and social program opportunities for the Chapter. Schedule and coordinate educational programs for professionals including, continuing education classes, LARE review classes, lectures, and seminars. Assist with the appointment of committees necessary for programs.o assist the current Secretary with content development and proofing
of new website as well as social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, and Instagram).
Chair: Taylor Keegan
SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE
Description: The Scholarship Committee manages and accepts applications for theAnnual ASLA AK scholarship. For more information, see our Student Scholarship Page.
Chair: Peter Briggs
SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM COMMITTEE
Role: Identify, Approach and Coordinate Sponsorship commitments with Firms
and Partners. Organize sub-committees and sub-committee leaders to develop and implement programs. Review proposals brought forward to the Chapter and present findings to the Executive Committee regarding sponsorship opportunities for the Chapter. Schedule and coordinate sponsorship program deadlines for commitments, serve as primary contact(s) for Firms and Partners, develop and administer Sponsorship logos and materials for Chapter use.
Assist with the appointment of committees necessary for programs
Chair: Josh Hooker
STUDENT OUTREACH COMMITTEE
(SUB-COMMITTEE: STEM)
Description: The Student Outreach sub-group includes efforts to present
and engage with students (k12 through MLA) on community projects and supporting curriculum while building connections to public spaces and exposing landscape architecture as a possible career path.The Science Technology Engineering and Math curriculum support and engagement group. For more inrormation about stem, visit this page.
Chair: Mélisa Babb
Non-member partner and Schools on Trails Coordinator: Meredith Guitierrez, Anchorage Park Foundation
TELLERS COMMITTEE
Role: Collects and tabulates chapter election ballots. Administer annual and
special elections and notify candidates of election results. Prepare, issue, and receive ballots (physically or electronically).
Chair: Secretary– Jonny Hayes
Important Dates:
• Ballots counted within 7 days after Election Closing Date
HISTORY OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE BOOK
Role: Coordinate book for ASLA AK chapter to record the history of Landscape Architecture in the state.
Chair: Monique Anderson
INACTIVE COMMITTEES
CIP COMMITTEE
Role: Develop and implement Chapter Improvement Projects
GARDEN WORKSHOP COMMITTEE
Role: Committee organizes, coordinates, and conducts the chapter Garden
Design Workshop event.
MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
Role: Committee administers the program for new/renewing members and
develops a volunteer database.
Please get in contact with the chapter if you have interest in chairing any inactive committees.