It’s Your Move: A Conversation on Creating Your Future

Keynote Speaker

Marjanne Pearson

Co-Founder, TOKONEXT

Marjanne Pearson is recognized as an industry pioneer, bringing a creative and integrated perspective to the business of design. She has the ability to ask questions that should be on the agenda of every design firm, bringing diverse experience in talent and leadership development, practice management, and market expansion, while facilitating leadership and ownership succession, and guiding mergers and acquisitions.

Marjanne has worked with a constellation of colleagues, from signature designers and emergent studios to regional powerhouses and global practices, shaping resilient, opportunity-driven organizations.

After over three decades of firm consultation and talent searching, TALENTSTAR is now TOKONEXT, with Marjanne, Megan DeTratto, and Linda Wallack as co-founders. Our focus on the strategic alignment of people, purpose, and practice sparks conversations that ensure firm leaders are ready for the future and poised for success.

She was honored to be a contributor to The Architecture of Vision by Craig Park and Barbara Shuck. (Download a PDF of Chapter 10 | Influence: Developing Leaders)

Panel

Aditi Gupta

Architect, SCB

Aditi is an architect in San Francisco, who has grown up in the U.S. and India. They graduated from Virginia Tech with a B. Arch, and had the opportunity to live/learn in Mexico and Germany during their tenure as a student. During their education, they realized the impact of architecture on a societal and political level and its potential to serve the betterment of the environment and the people. They moved to San Francisco, their first time in California, and fell in love with the city, food, landscapes, and people. They have worked on a variety of residential projects- ranging from ADU’s, single family, duplexes, and affordable multifamily housing- while also participating in conversations around sustainability and resiliency in architecture. They currently work on high-rise residential projects at SCB as an architect.

Outside of work, Aditi volunteers their time as the role of Chair of BAYA (Bay Area Young Architects). Being in leadership for almost three years, has given them the opportunity to give back to the community whilst developing skills as a leader. They are also an avid dancer, and enjoy exploring the world through photography and travel.

Quyen Luong

Principal, EHDD Architects

Quyen has worked as an architect for 14 years, and for the past 4 as a principal at EHDD, a majority-woman owned, legacy firm based out of San Francisco and Seattle. She splits her time between San Francisco and Los Angeles with projects in both cities.

Quyen brings imagination and sensitivity to complex design, working on projects that range from aquariums to multi-use housing, schools, and libraries. She approaches design with the intent of transforming the everyday into the unexpected, translating concepts into places that embody her client’s core mission. Recent projects include the Pacific Visions expansion at the Aquarium of the Pacific, UC Davis Tercero Student Housing, and the National Aquarium of New Zealand.

Julia Weatherspoon

Associate & Project Architect, Gensler

Julia Weatherspoon is an architect on a mission to create more inclusive spaces within design. She has experience working on an array of architecture projects of various scales from workplace commercial interiors, aviation, community and civic design, and higher education.

Julia is committed to pushing the envelope for improvement in diversity, inclusion, and belonging within the design industry and dedicated to increasing visibility and representation in design. She is a member of the American Institute of Architects San Francisco, and the President of the San Francisco Chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects and sits on the NOMA Board of Directors as the Recording Secretary. She is engaged in a variety of advocacy communities in the Bay Area and sits on various committees including AIASF Equity x Design, Mentorship, Professional Practice.

Julia is a champion for change and uses her voice to challenge people to look at design holistically and through an equity lens. Her inspiration is driven by the belief that architecture and design can do more. It has the power to change our perspective, elevate the human experience, and transform our lives. Her passion has brought her to moderate and speak on a number of panels including events for UC Berkeley, San Francisco Design Week 2018, and AIGA Pasadena 2019. She has also been featured in Architect Magazine in December 2018. Julia holds a Bachelors of Architecture from the University of Arizona.

Jim Zach

Founder, Zack/de Vito Architecture

Jim Zack, is the founding principal of Zack/de Vito Architecture + Construction,  trained as a builder, educated as an architect, leading a diverse practice based in San Francisco specializing in the design and making of buildings, interiors and custom furniture.  A California native, he completed his Bachelors and Masters degrees in Architecture from the University of California at Berkeley,  receiving numerous honors and design awards. 

Jim’s philosophically and aesthetically a modernist, he has the hands-on experience of a builder, the craft sensibility of a furniture maker, and the rational, thoughtful approach of an architect. His projects have an obsessive, expressive attention to spatial clarity, detail and craft.

Vincent Wenzel

Panel Moderator

Structural Engineer, Degenkolb

Vincent Wenzel is a structural engineer based in San Francisco, California. In his eight years at Degenkolb Engineers, he has had the pleasure of working on a great variety of projects including renovations, retrofits, and construction engineering for a variety of clients. Vincent is particularly interested in existing buildings, adaptive reuse, and sustainable design. He is licensed as a Professional Engineer (P.E.) and a Structural Engineer (S.E.).

Outside of work, you can find Vincent out and about in San Francisco taking a class in art, Spanish, or yoga and taking in some arts at a museum, concert, or movie theater.

• 5:30-6:00: Networking

• 6:00-7:30: Event program

  • 6:00-6:30: Introduction, keynote

  • 6:30-7:30: Panel discussion

  • 7:30-8:00: Networking