We are drawn to architecture because it sits at the intersection of design and culture, art and science. It’s a great privilege and responsibility to create places that influence how thousands of people spend their lives. This shared purpose knits us together as a team and drives us to create and improve each day.
Our studio spaces are open, allowing free exchange of ideas among our project teams. We believe friendship strengthens our working relationships, so we step away from our desks to share birthday cake, golf tournaments, charity drives, and potlucks—and we’ve been known to stop work for an impromptu toast when a project makes it through plan approvals. Through these bonds we’re all personally invested in the success of our colleagues as well as our design projects.
At SGPA, leaders and specialists don’t stand above the fray—they dive deep into each project, adding depth to the youthful and dynamic teams they lead. This combined expertise forms an unshakeable foundation for both our relationships and our designs. In the end, we love what we do, which helps us create places where clients and end users love what they do.
"If you're always trying to be normal you will never know how amazing you can be" -Maya Angelou
Aeeshah N. Diggs
Construction Administrator —
San Francisco
With over 6 years of professional experience, Aeeshah has been coordinating and helping complex teams communicate, bridging the divide between general contractors, designers, and engineers.
As a Construction Administrator, Aeeshah coordinates the communication involved in turning a project into reality. She is always available and reachable when things need to be done, and frequently assists project managers.
Credentials
Associates in Business Management, Peralta Colleges
Associate in Liberal Arts, Peralta Colleges
“Architecture should speak of its time and place, but yearn for timelessness.” – Frank Gehry
Anisha Shikre
Assistant Designer —
San Francisco
Anisha joined SGPA as an Assistant Designer in July 2022 after completing her studies in Architecture and minoring in Italian. Anisha has always wanted to do something that is design-oriented and creative in nature. Growing up, she traveled around the world every summer which spiked her interest in Architecture. She loves the industry she is in and enjoys learning about the more practical aspects of Architecture.
As Assistant Designer, Anisha works in Sketchup modelling coming up with schemes for a design, drafting in CAD and working on graphics for projects and entitlement packages as well as modeling in Revit.
"Never interrupt someone doing something you said couldn't be done." —Amelia Earhart
Annie Blessing
Accounting —
San Diego
Annie supports SGPA in our Accounting Department, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience to our firm. Her upbeat attitude and friendly demeanor help move processes along smoothly. She enjoys the high-paced environment and diverse challenges that are presented each day.
"Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works." —Steve Jobs
Cynthia Ayala
Senior Job Captain —
San Diego
From an early age, Cynthia has always wanted to give back to the community. This lead her to attend Cal Poly to pursue her career in Architecture. She now focuses her interests on educational projects and designing schools for future generations.
Architecture design has always been an inspirational experience for Cynthia. Through her involvement in all phases of design, she is now able to not only appreciate the experience but understand the process of getting there.
Credentials
B.Arch, California Polytechnic State University
"Eventually everything connects - people, ideas, objects. The quality of connections is the key to quality per se." - Charles Eames
David Santana
Marketing Manager —
San Diego
With over 7 years of relevant experience, David originally began his career in design. He entered business administration through marketing, and has built a career path into marketing professional services within the AEC industry.
As Marketing Manager, David oversees critical business efforts including proposal generation, internal branding and content development, and other types of business development support activities.
David is passionate about the opportunity to be involved in construction and influence the built environment through marketing leadership. He enjoys the challenge of getting into the client’s mind and out-positioning the competition – the real rush comes from winning a proposal and seeing the project through to completion!
Credentials
SMPS
B.A., Product Design and Material Studies, University of Oregon 2014
Deeksha Phadnis
Job Captain —
San Francisco
Deeksha joined SGPA in 2021, after 4 years of architecture at education oriented firms. Her goal is to always incorporate comfort and delight into her designs, and her main joys in the professional realm come from working together with others on the components and building blocks that make up our world.
As a Job Captain, Deeksha is the technical person on the back end, applying the solutions that project managers discuss with clients to see what works best. She researches and proposes solutions, and is in constant communication with our consultants and suppliers. Easy to talk to, open, and curious, Deeksha always takes care to address the needs of both the client and the consultants.
Credentials
AIA Associate
B. Arch, California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo
“I enjoy the process of Architecture, the evolution and the emphasis to detail as a project evolves from concept through completion.”
Fernando Cavazos
Associate, Project Manager —
San Diego
Even before working as a drafter of small custom homes in the Los Angeles area for a professor while attending the University of California, Fernando loved sketching buildings and sections. He eventually worked his way into a larger Architectural and Engineering firm in San Diego where he gained experience working in an office environment as part of a large production team focusing on large scale medical, commercial, and institutional projects. Familiarized with smaller and mid-sized firms along with hospitality & casino projects, small- & large-scale commercial tenant improvement, and high-end custom homes, Fernando has experience in overseeing production staff, coordinating with consultants & governing agencies, and Construction Administration. Fernando pays great attention to detail and has a growing appreciation for architectural history and design approaches, which is evident in his work.
Credentials
B.Arch, University of Southern California
"I most enjoy working on projects that combine great urban design with inspired architecture. I believe these types of projects can have the greatest positive impact on people's health, happiness, and quality of life."
Glenn A. Wood
Principal, Director of Design & Planning, Studio Leader —
San Francisco
With over 20 years of professional experience, Glenn specializes in the design of mixed-use urban environments that allow people to live more active, fulfilling, and healthy lifestyles while reducing their environmental footprint.
As a Residential | Mixed-use Studio Leader, Glenn has led the design effort on numerous projects that integrate residential, commercial, and civic uses into walkable and sustainable neighborhoods. His role includes leading the design direction of the San Francisco office, developing strong client relationships, and mentoring future firm leadership.
In each project, Glenn strives to develop a common vision that synthesizes the unique cultural, economic, and planning goals of the local community with the aspirations of the client to create livable and lasting new places.
Credentials
Registered Architect, California
B.Arch, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
LEED Accredited Professional
"Travel and experiences shape our perception and create a new and unique vantage in our way of seeing."
Hilary Backman
Senior Associate, Senior Designer, Studio Leader —
San Diego
With over 25 years of experience, Hil has designed a range of successful projects in California and abroad. He has been fortunate to design many building types including Residential, Retail, Mixed Use, Senior Living, Hotels, Higher Education, and Creative Offices. Hil has also designed large scale planning projects from Eco-Tourism to Urban Planning.
At SGPA, Hil blends effective communication skills and a flexible approach to design while working with clients, consultants, and colleagues to create special places that resonate with end users. He is also involved with the architectural and planning communities with associations such as ICSC, NIAOP, ULI, and BIA.
Hil’s deep passion and wonder of our built environment inspired him to pursue a career in architecture and design. He enjoys bringing life to the projects, or in other words “taking it from dream to reality.” He enjoys the collaborative process of working with clients as he believes it always deepens and enriches the work. Hil draws his inspiration from past and current architectural masters defining design with mass, texture, light, time and space.
Credentials
M.Arch, Dalhousie, Nova Scotia, CA
B. Environmental Design Studies in Architecture, Dalhousie, Nova Scotia, CA
B.F.A. Painting and Drawing, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, CA
“Being an architect means constantly approaching challenges and presenting solutions. It combines problem solving, technology and creativity into one profession, always inspiring you to push the boundaries and think outside of the box.”
Jaclyn Shor
Senior Associate, Senior Project Manager, Studio Leader - San Diego —
San Diego
Enamored with architecture’s profound ability to impact society, Jaclyn discovered her professional calling at an early age. Her interest in architecture has taken her abroad, studying the profession in Italy and cultivating her experience back in California. Her career goal is to apply modern day construction, technology and design principles to create communities that will promote healthy lifestyles and sustainable environments.
Jaclyn focuses on smaller details while also maintaining the larger goals of a project. Motivated by architecture’s long-standing, influential effects on a community, Jaclyn often works on senior living, wellness, multi-family, mixed-use, master planning or commercial projects, which she approaches creatively and thoughtfully.
Credentials
Registered Architect, California
B.Arch, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
NCARB Certified Professional
"Beauty is best found in a building that responds positively to both the people that inhabit it and the environment around it."
Josh Barnabei
Associate, Senior Job Captain —
San Francisco
As an Associate and Senior Job Captain, Josh works with Designers and Project Managers on a variety of project types. It ranges from multifamily housing to parking structures to technical details of a handrail.
Josh is an integral part of both our design and production team. He has experience with a variety of project types, including multi-family residential (both affordable and market-rate), commercial, mixed-use, and master planning. He also co-leads our social media team, curating content for Instagram and LinkedIn.
His passion for architecture is rooted in the opportunity to bring positive impact to the Bay Area. Good design supports the needs of the client and the larger community. It should offer a human-scaled experience that is both culturally conscious and accessible.
Credentials
B.Arch, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
"Whatever you do, do it with all your heart."
Keith Pittsford
Vice President, Director - San Diego, Studio Leader —
San Diego
Keith directs the San Diego office and oversees all projects, staff, and clients. Since joining SGPA in 1993, he has developed specialties in planning, design, entitlements, and repositioning strategies for large-scale projects that enrich the community.
At SGPA, Keith guides our project leaders to challenge conventional thinking and develop big ideas. He leads dynamic team efforts to find the path connecting great design, user experience, longevity, contextualism, community input, sustainability, and efficiency. Knowing that the decisions made early can affect factors downstream, he enjoys the early conceptual planning that set projects up for success.
Keith is a Registered Architect and an expert witness determining property value through evaluations of highest and best use. He is an active member of the Mission Valley Planning Group, ICSC, and NAIOP. Keith is committed to being a responsible contributor in the community and influence design for the betterment of our built environment.
Credentials
Registered Architect, California
B.Arch, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
"Good ideas come from everywhere. It's more important to recognize a good idea than to author it." —Jeanne Gang
Kerry Goethel
Associate, Senior Project Manager —
San Diego
After attending an architecture camp in the second grade, Kerry became hooked. As a young child, she started a portfolio of floor plans for imaginary houses, products, and businesses. Now, with over 18 years of experience, Kerry has engulfed herself in architecture and the collaborative process that comes along with design. On most project teams, Kerry can be found trouble shooting and turning potential issues into design opportunities using adaptability and creativity to look past the obstacles.
Credentials
Bachelor of Architecture with High Honors, University of Texas at Austin
LEED Accredited Professional
When Walt Disney was creating Disneyland and discussing the architecture of the park, he was quoted saying, "It's kind of fun to do the impossible."
Marianne Bates
Senior Associate, Office Manager —
San Diego
In 1995, Marianne took her first job with an architectural firm and fell in love with the profession. It was more than engineering and interior design—she admired architects’ ability to create vision not only within their firm, but within a community. She has worked in architecture ever since, collaborating with staff, consultants, and clients to reach the same common goal: beautiful design.
Known for her dependable nature and sharp eye for detail, Marianne assists principals and project managers in processing agreements for clients and consultants. She also manages the administrative staff and keeps the office running smoothly. In the ever-changing working environment of architecture, she helps the firm to continue moving forward as one team.
Marla Martin
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer —
San Diego
Marla has over 25 years of experience in the design service industry, including more than half that time at SGPA. As a Vice President and the Chief Financial Officer she is responsible for the firm’s financial operations: directing and coordinating all company financial objectives and obligations, ensuring integrity of financial statements, cash management strategies, and maintaining a financially solvent organization. She is also responsible for business management, firm risk management, and human resources. Marla has been featured in Real Estate Southern California’s “Women of Influence” Publication.
“There are 360 degrees, so why stick to one?” – Zaha Hadid
Megan Jones
Associate, Senior Job Captain —
San Diego
As a Senior Job Captain, Megan assists and collaborates with Senior Designers and Project Managers in the designing and presentation of projects. Megan focuses on residential, retail, and mixed-use projects. She works mainly in the Adobe Creative Suite to present our ideas in the most clear, efficient and effective manner.
Megan was first drawn to architecture for the chance to combine her mathematical left brain with her love for design. To Megan, architecture is limitless: With math, there’s only one right answer, whereas architecture allows for endless possibilities. She seeks to find a balance of aesthetics and practicality in each project.
As someone who grew from student intern in our San Francisco office to a full-time employee in our San Diego office, Megan continues to explore her passion and niche within architecture at each level of opportunity.
Credentials
B.Arch, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
LEED Green Associate
"Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing
or learning to do." – Pele
Miguel Lopez Farned
Job Captain —
San Diego
With over 6 years of relevant experience, Miguel began his love of architecture when he worked with his uncle, a landscape architect, where he enjoyed transforming outdoor spaces and receiving pleasant reactions from clients. He originally started in K-12, but has since worked in multi-family, outpatient clinics, residential, hospitality, workspace, and has finally come full circle at SGPA working primarily with the Education Studio.
As a Job Captain, Miguel constantly coordinates with consultants and utilizes detail-oriented approach to resolve any design conflicts. His ability to listen and come up with solutions greatly improves communication between design teams and clients.
Miguel is timely, detailed, and most importantly turns in high quality work whether it is documents, presentations, or exhibits.
Credentials
LEED GA
B.A., Architecture and Community Design, University of San Francisco, 2015
Nikki Rashidian
Accounting —
San Diego
Nikki joined SGPA in 2022 with a background in customer service, banking, and accounting. As SGPA’s Accounts Payable/Receivable Specialist, Nikki’s attention to detail gives the team precision financials internally and to our various clients.
She is experienced in the financial industry and is skilled in customer service, technical research, management, and various financial software. Nikki is currently following her passion in the arts to become a Graphic and Web Designer through courses at UC San Diego.
“Creativity belongs to the artist in each of us. To create means to relate. The root meaning of the word art is “to fit together” and we all do this every day. Not all of us are painters but we are all artists. Each time we fit things together we are creating – whether it is to make a loaf of bread, a child, a day.”
—Corita Kent
Credentials
Graphic and Web Design, University of California San Diego
BS, Business Administration and Management, California State University, Northridge
"When I'm working on a problem, I never think about beauty. But when I'm finished, if the solution is not beautiful, I know it’s wrong." —Buckminster Fuller
Pamela Camack
Principal, Director of Operations - San Diego, Studio Leader —
San Diego
As the Senior Living | Wellness Studios Leader, Pamela brings aging care and wellness expertise to the team. Her passion for these caring environments and knowledge of best practices translate into living and working spaces that are sensitive to the needs of the residents and efficient for staff.
Pamela blends strong management skills with 3D modeling expertise to help her clients visualize and complete successful projects. She is known for persistently tackling challenging issues and has built a reputation with clients, contractors, and teammates for getting things done thoroughly and on time. Pamela’s role as project leader includes over-sight of the project through all phases.
As a Registered Architect and LEED Accredited Professional, she believes in incorporating sustainable concepts into her projects. As an active board member of Leading Age, Pam stays ahead of current trends in universal design. She is also responsible for providing strategic ideas that influence firmwide operations.
Credentials
Registered Architect, California
B.Arch, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
LEED Accredited Professional
"It’s kind of fun to do the impossible." —Walt Disney
Philip D’Agostino
Principal, Director of Operations - San Francisco, Studio Leader —
San Francisco
As a Studio Leader in SGPA’s San Francisco office, Philip is responsible for managing retail projects from conceptual design through planning, governmental approvals, and construction. He believes the built environment has an extraordinary impact on our everyday lives.
Philip’s passion for retail design began on the east coast and grew deeper after working as a corporate architect for Gap, Inc. Philip calls upon this multifaceted, retail knowledge while working on projects for major retail centers, regional malls, and mixed-use developments.
Since joining SGPA in 2001, Philip continues to strengthen his retail knowledge by attending conferences, events, and workshops hosted by the International Council of Shopping Centers. He also serves as Operations Manager for the San Francisco office, where he helps to improve SGPA’s use of technology in order to meet our clients’ goals.
Credentials
Registered Architect, California
LEED Accredited Professional
B. Environmental Design in Architecture, North Carolina State University School of Design
"Architecture is a visual art, and the buildings speak for themselves." —Julia Morgan
Stephanie Antl
Principal, Studio Leader —
San Diego
Stephanie leads the Education Studio with a focus on creating healthy, supportive learning environments for students and staff in a wide variety of building types. She calls upon lessons learned from experience in Retail, Residential, and Mixed-Use to inform her projects.
Stephanie’s passion for collaboration has guided the growth of her career as an effective partner who inspires the team to achieve excellence. She guides clients, students, and user groups through the planning and design process of creating sustainable and innovative facilities. Her technical expertise has gained her recognition as an industry leader.
As a Registered Architect and an active participant in organizations including Coalition for Adequate School Housing and the Design Build Institute of America (DBIA), Stephanie stays ahead of current trends in design and delivery methods. She is also responsible for providing strategic ideas that influence firmwide operations and business development.
Credentials
Registered Architect, California
B.S. Architecture, University of Michigan
"Architecture can be very structured and technical, or organic and stream of conscience. It's fun to strike a balance between these two paradigms."
Steve Swartzendruber
Senior Associate, Senior Project Manager —
San Francisco
Thanks to his father, a building contractor, Steve has always been drawn to design and construction. He enjoys seeing physical buildings take shape after their conceptual beginnings on paper or on screen. At SGPA he assists with overall project management. Steve excels at coordination with both our in-house design and production teams and our external consultants and clients. On a typical project, he’s responsible for building detailing, permitting, specifications, and client relations.
Credentials
B.S. Architecture, Lawrence Technological University
"A great building must begin with the immeasurable, must go through measurable means when it is being designed, and in the end must be unmeasured." —Louis Kahn
Theresa Amurao
Assocaite, Project Manager —
San Francisco
From a young age, Theresa was always encouraged to explore her interests and potential. She enjoyed both the freedom of art classes and exactness of math. Architecture allows her to enjoy the creative problem solving that is involved throughout the process to make ideas come to life.
Theresa started her career working in multi-family affordable housing, where she gained valuable knowledge and skills. Her curiosity about architecture has led her to explore many project types and to learn the ways it is integrated into our daily lives. She is endlessly fascinated with how architecture can be a rich and complex intersection of life. Theresa has learned that by engaging logic, creativity, experience, and vision; her career will allow her to design, formulate, and coordinate built elements that exist in the natural world. Those built elements create our environment and the places we gather, work, play, and live.
Credentials
B.Arch, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
"Good design is scaled to a person, and responds to their needs."
Thomas Tarn
Project Manager —
San Francisco
Thomas credits two things as what led him to architecture: an unusually strong love for history growing up, and the fact that he was gifted a full-sized Mayline drafting board at the age of eight.
Early in his career, Thomas focused on retail and commercial design and planning. Seven years of infrastructural/transit-focused design work followed, with an emphasis in construction administration and specialized structural and architectural detail development.
As a Project Manager, Thomas’ duties include design and drawing production, detail development, precedent and case study research, construction management.
Credentials
B.A. Architecture, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
LEED Accredited Professional
"Everything plays a role in the finished product, and the goal is to find the balance between environment, economy, and equity."
Travis Keltner
Senior Associate, Project Architect —
San Diego
As a Project Architect at SGPA, Travis approaches design with a holistic viewpoint and believes that everything is linked – from form and function to materials and color to structure and infrastructure. Highly skilled in Revit, AutoCAD, Google Sketchup, Adobe and Microsoft programs, Travis, with a Bachelor’s in Architecture and a minor in Sustainable Environments, pays great attention to detail, which makes him a strong team player throughout project stages, especially document coordination and approval.
Architecture combines Travis’ passion for math, science, and drawing into a career he loves, one that propels him to find solutions to new challenges.
Credentials
Registered Architect, California
B.Arch, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
BSA: Eagle Scout
"Architecture is about more than just beautiful buildings – it’s also about how spaces interact with, and change the lives of those who use them."
Victoria Gray
Associate, Project Manager —
San Francisco
Imagine, for a second, the feeling of satisfaction after solving a difficult puzzle, or finding the solution to a tricky problem. It is that same feeling – the sense of pride and accomplishment stemming from being able to design a space from scratch that is both habitable and enjoyable – that drew Tori to pursue a career in architecture. Spaces like outdoor plazas, or any sort of social gathering area, which allow for interaction between users, have become one of Tori’s specialties since joining SGPA.
Tori is also instrumental in the production of design and construction documents for projects ranging in completeness from planning and site design to building design and construction.
Credentials
Registered Architect, California
B.Arch, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
"Architecture is a collaborative effort and I enjoy creating solutions that incorporate everyone’s input into a cohesive and beautiful project."
W. Stuart Lyle
President, Director - San Francisco —
San Francisco
Since 1988, Stuart has focused his career on all aspects of project management from preliminary planning and government entitlement processing through construction administration. His role as President and the Director of the San Francisco office is to ensure that all staff have the necessary resources and support available to do their best work.
Stuart specializes in transforming underutilized spaces and structures into new and vibrant environments. Staff and clients alike rely on Stuart’s ability to focus a diverse team on a creative solution to a design problem.
As someone who grew from student intern to President at SGPA, Stuart believes that assisting people with their professional growth is the most satisfying part of his job. He takes pride in managing a great group of people and hopes to give them all the same opportunities that he has had over the years.
Credentials
Registered Architect, Arizona, California, Oregon, Washington