| PANEL SPEAKERS
Brandy Thompson, AIA — Clearscapes, Principal
Brandy joined Clearscapes in 2004, and as a Principal is responsible for the leadership and development of projects throughout all phases of design and construction. She was drawn to architecture by her interest in historic preservation and adaptive reuse and found a passion for improving communities through quality design and place-making. Brandy’s experience includes a range of public and private sector work, often requiring consensus-building among complex stakeholder groups. Many of the projects Brandy has led are Historic Tax Credit projects and contribute to the preservation and revitalization of historic districts and cultural heritage sites across the state.
Meredith Kirkpatrick, AIA — Maurer Architecture, Partner & Architect
Meredith is passionate about placemaking and understanding the ways in which the built environment can help communities thrive. She is a partner at Maurer Architecture where she enjoys working with local businesses to reimagine existing buildings. Meredith’s work is centered around adaptive reuse and historic preservation, and her design process is thoughtful, collaborative, and client-focused.
PANEL MODERATORS:
Scott Hefner, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C — Perkins&Will, Project Architect and Senior Associate
Scott brings a contagious energy to his projects – a design leader with a sensitivity toward community impact. He thrives in complex and visionary teams, with a can-do attitude and collaborative spirit. His curiosity often lies at the intersection of digital and physical experiences, exploring how digital interactivity can enhance our experience of the world around us. He leads Perkins&Will North Carolina’s Social Purpose initiative, empowering nonprofits with pro bono design services. Scott believes that everyone has something to contribute to the design process – all we have to do is listen. These unique relationships have reinforced his conviction that design can be a powerful tool to unite and inspire. Scott also serves as an intermittent guest lecturer and juror for academic studio courses at North Carolina State University, helping give back to the next generation of designers.
Julie Barghout, AIA, NCARB — Hanbury, Project Architect and Associate
As an architect with a strong interest in the civic and cultural sector, Julie Barghout delivers beautiful and impactful designs that address complex project needs and thoughtfully integrate public input. In-depth research is central to Julie’s design process, including deep examination of project precedents, materials exploration, and historical and contextual research. She loves working collaboratively with colleagues and clients, iteratively translating research and insights into sketches and model using both analog and digital methods. Julie has experience in all phases of design including preliminary and concept design through construction administration, as well as BIM management and documentation. Julie is a strong advocate for women and marginalized voices in architecture and looks forward to seeing the industry continuously evolve to better support emerging architects from all backgrounds. Julie is also an avid reader and traveler, both of which inform her perspective as a designer.
PANEL SPEAKERS:
Kate Pearce AICP — City of Raleigh, Planning Supervisor – Dix Park
Kate Pearce is the Executive Director for Dorothea Dix Park for the City of Raleigh. She is responsible for the planning, development and operations of the park. Prior to joining the City she worked as both an urban planning and business management consultant. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and a MBA from Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi and a Master’s Degree in City and Regional Planning from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Janet Cowell — Dix Park Conservancy, President & CEO
Janet brings a passion for nature, history, and design and 30 years of experience in both public and private-sector roles, including state treasurer, chief executive officer, corporate director, state senator, and city councilor. Her broad and diverse career experience spans finance, education, and healthcare in the United States and abroad. She has been engaged with the Park since its inception and immediately before joining the staff team she served on the Dix Park Conservancy Board.
Trey Roberts — Dix Park Conservancy, Manager of Community Engagement
Trey combines his passion for community building, local advocacy, and the arts in his role to expand community engagement and collaboration at the Dix Park Conservancy. He is a co-founder of Raleigh Pride and earned a BA in Communications from William Peace University. He is also a proud member of the Haliwa-Saponi tribe. When Trey isn’t working, he’s probably watching a movie. |
