Potomac Chapter Officers 2011-2012
Steve Lefton, President
Steve Lefton, ASLA
Steve.Lefton@kimley-horn.com
Steven E. Lefton, ASLA, AICP is a Principal with Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc., where he has worked since 1997 in both Virginia and Florida. While in Florida, Steve’s practice was focused on the redevelopment of Miami and Miami Beach, and also included projects throughout Florida, Raleigh, Bridgeport, Las Vegas and Honduras. In 2007 Steve relocated to the Washington DC area to lead a region of Kimley-Horn that includes 10 offices in 6 states. Today his practice includes parks and recreation projects, transit oriented development and private sector planning.
Steve received his undergraduate degree in landscape architecture and city and regional planning from Cornell University and his MBA from the University of Miami. He is a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects and American Institute of Certified Planners. While in Florida Steve was an active member of the Florida Chapter of ASLA. He received both a Chapter Service award and Award of Recognition for his work with the Florida Chapter. Steve has been a guest lecturer for ASLA, APA, AIA, ULI and IDA. His work has been recognized by numerous design awards.
Claire Bedat, President-Elect
Claire Bedat, ASLA
Bethany Carton, Past-President
Bethany Carton, ASLA
Beth Carton graduated from Iowa State University with a Bachelors in Landscape Architecture. She has worked for the Office of James Burnett in California and is currently working as a Park Planner for the City of Alexandria's Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities. Ms. Carton has been on the faculty at George Washington University since 2008 where she teaches in the Landscape Design Program. She has been a guest lecturer at the University of Maryland and involved in student outreach for Iowa State University. Ms. Carton has served on the Executive Committee since 2008-2009 and looks forward to continueing to serve the chapter and expanding member outreach.
Ron Kagawa, Trustee
Ron Kagawa, ASLA
Ron.Kagawa@alexandriava.gov
Ron M. Kagawa, ASLA served as Potomac Chapter President in 2000-2001, on the Chapter Executive Committee 1999-2001, and as invited juror for the Great Plains Chapter Annual Awards Program in 2005. He holds an undergraduate degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Texas-Arlington(1985) and a graduate degree in Architecture from Virginia Tech(1996)-both with academic honors, and is licensed in both Texas and Maryland(1988). In 1996 Ron founded the Landscape Architecture program at Virginia Tech’s Washington-Alexandria Center and as Associate Professor, served as Program Coordinator until 2005, and since 1988 has remained on the active faculty of The George Washington University’s Landscape Design Program. His constructed works have been professionally honored and his academic works have been published in numerous conference proceedings. Ron is co-author of the City of Alexandria, Virginia’s Landscape Guidelines(1997/2007) and the critically acclaimed Cobb’s Island, Virginia: The Last Sentinel(Donning Press, 2003). He is the Division Chief of Park Planning and Capital Development with the City of Alexandria’s Department of Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities.
Sarah Couchman, Secretary
Sarah Couchman, ASLA
scouchman@lardnerklein.com
Sarah is a landscape architect with Lardner/Klein Landscape Architects, P.C. in Alexandria, VA. Sarah joined the firm as an intern while pursuing her degree in landscape architecture and accepted a full-time position upon graduating. Since joining the firm, she has worked on several projects throughout the Mid-Atlantic region, among them two natural resources management plans for Fairfax County; multiple scenic byway corridor management plans, including the award-winning Journey Through Hallowed Ground; park master plans; and numerous GIS mapping projects. This work has enabled Sarah to pursue her interest in context sensitive design, watershed management and planning. She is a graduate of Wellesley College and has a MLA from Virginia Tech's Washington Alexandria Architecture Center.
Mark Mastalerz, Treasurer
Mark Mastalerz, ASLA
MarkM@rhodeside-harwell.com
Mr. Mastalerz, Managing Principal of Rhodeside & Harwell, a 25-person landscape architecture and planning firm in Alexandria, also serves as the Technical Director for the firm and is its LEED coordinator. He is a registered landscape architect in Virginia and Maryland and has over 30 years experience on both private and public sector projects including small-scale residential gardens, multi-million dollar commercial developments, institutional and governmental facilities, highway and transportation projects, and public park and recreational areas. He has worked with numerous architects, engineers, developers, owner project managers, and government agencies throughout the metropolitan Washington-Baltimore area and the Mid-Atlantic region. He has a BSLA from Penn State and has been a member of ASLA and the Potomac Chapter since 1982. He is also a member of the Construction Specifications Institute, the US Green Building Council and served on both the Arlington County Neighborhood Conservation Advisory Commission and the City of Alexandria Beautification Commission. He is currently serving on the Potomac Chapter Executive Committee as Treasurer (2008-2012).
Jeannette Ankoma-Sey, Member-At-Large
Liesel Fenner, Member-At-Large
Brad Garner, Member-At-Large
Paul Kelsch, Member-At-Large
Gary Wagner, Member-At-Large