CURRENT BOARD

ED LEONETTI

Past-President

Ed is in the first of a one year term as past-president and is a Landscape Architect at Coffman Engineers in Anchorage, Alaska. He has more than 16 years of experience and is passionate about collaborative site design with balanced infrastructure and celebrating Alaska Native Culture in projects across the state.

MICHELE ELFERS

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.

TAYLOR KEEGAN

President

Taylor Keegan is the current president for the chapter in the first of a year year term. She is currently a Park Planner for Anchorage Parks and Recreation. In her upcoming term, she wants the chapter to become more engaged in the national ASLA, promote advocacy and education of the profession. 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.

JONNY HAYES

Secretary

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.

BRI KEIFER

Treasurer

Bri is a landscape architect at the firm Huddle in Anchorage. Bri served on the board as a member-at-large in 2013 and 2014, she is currently running for treasurer. She is interested in treasurer to learn more about the organization’s logistics, plus she likes numbers and organizing. In her spare time she likes to be outside (hike, bike, run, be on the water, and in the mountains)!

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.

MELISA BABB

Vice President Southcentral

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.

LEAH BURON

Vice President Interior

Leah works for Earthscape, in Fairbanks and leads sponsorship, graphic design, and ties up all of the loose ends for ASLA AK. Leah is passionate about stewardship and creating and maintaining environments that can be enjoyed for generations to come. She loves riding singletrack around Anchorage and the Kenai Peninsula, gardening, and doing whatever hobby of the week she has stumbled into. Leah also has special expertise in Trail Design and being a Ray of Sunshine.

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.

JOSH HOOKER

Member at Large

Josh is the Vice President of Northwest Landscape, Inc located in Anchorage, Alaska. He has joined forces as the Member-At-Large and is excited to work with the board on education and sponsorship.

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- Jonny Hayes

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 – Jonny Hayes

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 – Bri Kiefer

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: Ed Leonetti

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 – Mélisa Babb

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.