Robert W. Thorpe, AICP, Principal: With over 30 years of experience in the planning field, Mr. Thorpe has been the Principal-in-Charge on a wide range of the firm's urban and regional planning projects and environmental studies. He is involved in supervision of all firm projects. He is a certified planner and has served as Responsible Official for several communities. He was involved in the development of many unique and innovative planning programs while working at the City of Mercer Island and two large engineering/planning consulting firms. This included the development of a number of implementation tools such as SEPA Guidelines, Shorelines Management Program, Design Commission Guidelines, Zoning Codes, etc. Mr. Thorpe has extensive experience with citizen involvement and has been retained by a number of public agencies and private citizen groups as a consulting urban planner. He has served as a consulting planner to several Washington area cities, and is currently a college instructor in Urban Planning and the development process. His education includes a B.S. in Business Administration and Economics from the University of Nebraska and Masters degrees in Urban Planning and Urban Development Economics from the University of Washington. He has also been a candidate for the MAI (Appraisal) Designation, combining expertise in land economics with design and planning. Current management projects include: community and regional shopping centers, community master plans, mixed use developments, numerous rezones, and permit applications. He is a qualified expert witness in several jurisdictions and courts throughout Washington, Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, Nebraska, and Wyoming. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners, the American Planning Association, and an AIA - R/UDAT Team Member. He serves on the BIAW Legal Trust Committee, has served for 3 years on the East King County Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors, and is Past President of the Puget Sound Chapter of the American Planning Association.
Stephen Speidel, ASLA, Of Counsel: Mr. Speidel is a registered Landscape Architect with over 27 years of experience in land planning, landscape design, construction and landscape maintenance projects. He has a B.S. in Environmental Design from the University of Massachusetts. He has provided design/build landscape architectural services for major developers in the Puget Sound area. His management experience ranges from small crew construction jobs to large scale multi-disciplinary construction projects. He received an American Association of Nurserymen's National Landscape Award for work on the Boeing Computer Services Headquarters as a designer and construction manager. His construction management experience includes a Starbucks premier drive-through store development on Mercer Island. Mr. Speidel has provided land use and design expert witness testimony in Superiour Courts, local jurisdictions, and for mediation services. Current services include land use feasibility analysis, development design, permit application packaging and permit expediting. He is a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects, and past Chairman of the Redmond, Washington Design Review Board. His volunteer efforts include the Zoning Code Task Force, the Golf Course Best Management Practices, and the Critical Areas Ordinance Impact Techical Advisory Committee for the King County Council, as well as being an advisor to the Seattle Water Department for landscape water budgeting.
Lee A. Michaelis AICP, Planning Director: Mr. Michaelis joined RWT/A in May of 2007. He has over ten years of planning experience, both in the private and public sectors. He received his degree in Community and Environmental Planning from the University of Washington in 1998 with minor studies in Architecture, Urban Planning, and Geographic Information Systems. He is also the recipient of a Land Use Law Certificate from the University of Washington. He is a member of the American Planning Association and the American Institute of Certified Planners. During his ten years experience in land development, Mr. Michaelis has served as Project Manager for major commercial and industrial land use projects, and reviewed and managed residential subdivisions and multiple family developments. As a jurisdictional planner, Mr. Michaelis has extensive experience with community outreach, the public hearing process, writing and implementing land use policies and regulations. Among other projects, he performed the economic analysis for Lynnwood’s new Town Center. While working for private firms his experience has included feasibility reports, permit expediting, SEPA document preparation, and project design.
Jennifer Lee, ASLA, Associate - Project Manager: Ms. Lee, an Associate at RWT/A, is a registered Landscape Architect in Washington and has 10 years of experience in landscape architecture, planning, permit expediting, comprehensive plan amendments, rezones and variance applications at R.W. Thorpe & Associates. As project manager, Ms. Lee has managed a wide variety of projects, some of which include: single family residential subdivisions, short plat feasibility studies, commercial and residential landscape plans, conditional use applications, most probable use reports, condemnation analysis, graphics and cost estimating. Ms. Lee is a graduate of the University of Idaho, where she received a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture. She is a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects.
Lindsay Diallo, Landscape Designer: Ms. Diallo is a graduate of the University of Idaho, where she received the degree of Bachelor of Landscape Architecture. Before joining our staff, she worked as a designer and project coordinator for a Tacoma landscape company where she designed, installed, and maintained residential landscape and irrigation projects. Since joining the RWT/A team in 2004, Ms. Diallo has been involved in a variety of projects, some of which include: highest and best use studies, variance feasibility and application, shoreline mitigation design and permitting, condemnation analysis, a master planning project in Alaska, research and graphics.
Kelly Engelbracht, Landscape Designer: Ms. Engelbracht graduated from the University of Idaho in 2005 with a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree and a minor in Horticulture. Her studies include an AA from Whatcom Community College and two years at WSU. Before joining RWT/A in October of 2007, Ms. Engelbracht worked for a firm in Moscow, Idaho specializing in civil engineering, landscape architecture, and land use planning. Prior to her work in Landscape Architecture, she was employed for seven years as a Hydrographic Survey Technician for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in their Seafloor Mapping Division. At RWT/A she works on a variety of projects including: most probable use analysis, permit application, landscape design, master planning, graphics, and research.
Patrick Donovan, Associate Planner - Environmental / Economic / Land Use: Mr. Donovan holds a BA in Environmental Economics from Western Washington University. Before joining our firm, he worked as a Lobbyist / Outreach Specialist for the Wild Salmon Coalition in Portland, Oregon, and was an Environmental Youth Corps Supervisor for the Washington State Department of Ecology in 2005. Mr. Donovan's work with R.W. Thorpe & Associates has included: City of Woodinville - Residential Development Revenue & Expense Financial Analysis, City of Duvall - Residential Development Revenue & Expense Financial Analysis, People for Responsible Environmental Policies - Legal Seminar of 2005 Thurston County Critical Areas Ordinance Update, City of Brier - 2004 Comprehensive Plan Update, Section 30 - Feasibility Analysis of Section 30 within Clark County Washington, Port Blakely Tree Farms - Highest and Best Use / Most Probable Use Analysis.
Barbara Baker, Associate - Planner/Permitting/Financial Accounting: Barbara Baker is a graduate of the University of Washington in Urban Planning. While owner of her own firm she has successfully completed projects which include interior office space planning, SEPA Checklists, permitting, and short plat actions for her clients. Along with her planning and design talents, Ms. Baker brings the skills of full charge accounting experience to our firm. She is experienced in both public and private sector accounting. She coordinates permit applications with other team members and clients.
Jediah Hankin, Assistant Planner/GIS: Mr. Hankin joined R. W. Thorpe & Associates in January of 2007. He graduated from the University of Washington in 2006 with a BA in Sociology with minor studies in Urban Planning & Design and Geography. At RWT/A, Mr. Hankin utilizes the Geographic Information system to perform spatial analyses well as producing maps and graphics for a variety of projects. He also assists Principals and Project Managers with research and analysis.
Diana Paulson, Graphics/Admistrative Support: Ms. Paulson has a BA degree in Environmental Studies from San Jose State University, where she managed the Environmental Information Center and was actively involved planning and implementation of a Community Gardens Program. She also has a Certificate in Geographic Information Systems from Green River Community College. She served as Air Quality Representative for the Loma Prieta Chapter of the Sierra Club. At R. W. Thorpe & Associates, Ms. Paulson assists the Principals and Senior Project Managers with research and analysis for permit applications, code amendments, SEPA Checklists, and other land use entitlements. She has 20 years of experience in office management and database design.