Speakers & Moderators
SPEAKERS
We’re proud to welcome a talented and diverse range of speakers from across the country. We are currently adding speakers and moderators to our 2024 schedule – check back for updates!
Founding Principal
unabridged Architecture
Allison H. Anderson, FAIA
Allison was the first LEED Accredited Professional in Mississippi, is a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, and served for three years on the AIA Committee on Climate Action and Design Excellence.
Allison is the lead author of the AIA Resilient Project Process Guide and “Adapting to Climate-Sensitive Hazards through Architecture” for the Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Natural Hazard Science and the AIA Resilient Project Process Guide. She is a contributing author for the AIA Framework for Design Excellence (2023 update), Architect’s Guide to Business Continuity, and the AIA Climate Action Business Playbook.
Architect & Principal
WCIT Architecture
Sean Baumes, AIA
Sean is an architect and Principal at WCIT Architecture, an award-winning design firm of internationally trained architects and interior designers with a shared design approach which explores historical and cultural inspirations, incorporates indigenous and global sustainable strategies in meaningful and interactive ways, and has community at its core. With near two decades of experience designing award-winning academic and institutional buildings throughout the country and within Hawai‘i, Sean’s work is centered around the translation of the cultural and physical context into unique expressions of contemporary architectural form. Since joining WCIT in 2013, Sean has served as the project lead for much of the office’s significant planning and urban design work by overseeing design and community outreach. A graduate of Cornell University, his design expertise is derived from a diverse set of project scales and typologies from planning efforts such as the Blaisdell Center Redevelopment, Daniel K Inouye College of Pharmacy, Arrillaga Student Center, and the recently opened Bachman Hall.
Principal Architect
BRAZEN Architecture
Monica Gresser, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP
As owner of BRAZENarchitecture and AIA Nevada’s first Citizen Architect, Monica has over 25 years of experience working with and leading small public projects and medium to large commercial projects. She has led civic and housing projects, along with many tenant improvement and expansion projects for public, higher education, nonprofits, and private owners. Monica developed relationships with local communities and non-profits to create neighborhood initiatives and improvement projects in the neglected areas of Las Vegas.
In 2015, she created BRAZENconversations to provide a means for people to openly discuss and understand social issues affecting unhoused people and youth, poverty in seniors, and mental health.
In 2020, Monica and BRAZENstaff created the Neighborhood Kids Design Workshop for kids growing up in neglected neighborhoods. This is a 5-8 week summer activity session that teaches kids about their communities. Each year, Friends of BRAZEN donate their expertise and talents to the Workshop teaching kids through the observation of their immediate urban environment, hands-on craft projects, and writing campaigns.
Monica continues to collaborate with local municipalities and the faith-based nonprofit, Casa de Luz, to help find ways to improve the living conditions for children and families living in neglected neighborhoods.
Monica is a graduate of the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture + Design at the University of Houston and currently serves the AIA Las Vegas as the Chair for Women in Architecture and Co-Chair for the Affordable Housing committees.
Instructor
College of Information
University of Arizona
Damon Leverett, AIA
Damon is currently the 2024 Past President of AIA Arizona and a past Director at the National Architectural Accrediting Board. He has over thirty-five years of experience working as a design leader, architect, and principal in the architecture and design industry. Damon has actively spoken on artificial intelligence in architecture and design, including events at AIA Michigan, AIA Colorado, AIA Central Kentucky, and AIA New Mexico.
Principal Architect
Hawaii Off Grid Architecture & Engineering
David Sellers, AIA
David Sellers, AIA is the principal architect at Hawaii Off Grid Architecture & Engineering, with over 20 years of experience with energy systems and off-grid technologies. Raised as a mechanic’s son, David worked his way through undergraduate architecture school at Texas A&M University on commercial fishing boats in Alaska. This is where he learned about battery systems, potable and wastewater systems as well as generators as a ship’s engineer. Through that experience, he honed his skills as an electrician, fabricator, and welder.
Later David received a Master’s degree in Architecture, Urbanism, and Building Science from Technical University Delft in the Netherlands. After living abroad for a decade David moved to Hawaii to work with The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii as the operations manager and Interim Director of the Palmyra Atoll program. During his time at the Nature Conservancy, he ran the research station, managed the existing infrastructure, and spearheaded new projects such as the Palmyra Renewable Energy Project in which the research station was transitioned off of diesel generators via a renewable micro-grid saving over one million annually that could be directed into conservation and research.
In 2015, David started Hawaii Off-Grid with now-retired architect Rick McGovern and civil engineer Jacob Freeman. HIOG took over McGovern’s 18-year sole practitioner practice with a client base and project stream as a foundation to transform into Hawaii Off-Grid. McGovern remains an asset confidant and mentor. In 2020, Hawaii Off-Grid took a step to be the first architecture firm to require all new buildings the firm works on to be a minimum of Net-Zero and preferably off-grid or carbon positive.
David is the 2024 President of AIA Maui.
Founding Principal
Wilson Architecture
Curt Wilson, AIA
Curt has been an active member of AIA since 1990 and served in leadership roles at the local and state level and is currently the AIA Oregon representative to the AIA Strategic Council, where he co-chairs the Value of Architecture study group.
In 2019, he stepped away from practice to be the full time Executive Director for AIA Oregon until he started Wilson Architecture in 2021. In addition to the regular duties of a chapter Executive Director, he was actively involved in wildfire recovery efforts and remains involved in recovery and resiliency planning.
MODERATORS
President and Chief Operating Officer
G70
Charles Kaneshiro, AIA, LEED AP
Charles Kaneshiro is the president and COO of G70. Charles, who joined G70 in 2000, led the firm during a pivotal period in the company’s history that included:
- Rebranding of the firm in 2016
- Opening of G70 office in Jakarta, Indonesia in 2016
- Relocation of the Honolulu office from McCandless Building to the Financial Plaza of the Pacific office complex in 2018
- Reorganization and expansion of the firm’s leadership and operational structure
- Guiding the office through the 2020-2021 Pandemic
Charles was among the state’s first LEED Accredited Professionals and is a passionate sustainability advocate. Under his leadership, G70 has achieved many sustainability “firsts” including:
- First LEED Platinum School – Hālau Ho‘olako at Kanu o Ka ‘Āina Learning ‘Ohana
- First LEED Platinum Laboratory – University of Hawai‘i C-MORE Hale
- First LEED Platinum Commercial Interiors – Group 70 2nd Floor Offices
- First LEED Certified Preschool in Honolulu – Central Union Preschool
- First LEED Certified Public School – DOE Pu‘u Kukui Elementary in Wailuku, Maui
- First CHPS Project – ‘Iolani School Sullivan Center
Charles was nominated as the first green school advocate for the state of Hawai‘i in 2007 and served on the steering committee for the development of the Hawai‘i CHPS (Collaborative for High Performance Schools) green certification program. Under his leadership, G70 was recognized as Pacific Business News’ inaugural winner of the “Best in Sustainability” award during the 2014 Business Leadership Awards.
Charles has served in various leadership roles with the AIA Honolulu including 2010 president, secretary and director. He currently serves as Hawaii governor of the Association For Learning Environments.
Principal & Sustainability Director
MASON
Melanie Islam, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C, LFA
As Principal & Sustainability Director at MASON, Melanie Islam, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, LFA, is driven to work on projects that improve our communities and thrives on opportunities that guide smart choices in developing climate responsive buildings that adapt to evolving climatic conditions while working to draw down both operational and embodied carbon emissions.
She has applied this thinking to the reuse and LEED certification of the former Advertiser Building, now Headquarters for Hawaiian Dredging Construction Company to a new mixed use clean energy affordable housing development that is current under construction.
Melanie is one of five appointed Commissioners to the City and County of Honolulu’s Climate Change Commission, serves on AIA National’s Board Committee on Climate Action and Design Excellence, AIA National’s Framework for Design Excellence Working Group, and is current Vice President/President-Elect for AIA Hawaii State Council.
President & CEO
AHL
Bettina Mehnert, FAIA
A respected visionary and leader, Bettina is an indomitable force in the evolution and innovation of Hawai‘i’s architecture industry. Her novel philosophy of practice blends IT solutions, firm culture, client cultivation, and community service as inseparable filaments of professional leadership, keeping her firm faced towards the future. Her commitment to bettering the built environment, architecture industry, and AHL’s company culture has garnered widespread acknowledgment.
In 2016, she was designated a fellow in the American Institute of Architecture, a prestigious honor held by roughly 50 architects in Hawai‘i since 1948. In 2019, Bettina was named a Pacific Business News’ 2019 Career Achievement Honoree and Hawai‘i Business Magazine’s 2019 CEO of the Year, the first woman to receive this distinction. Most recently, she was honored as a Most Admired Leader in Hawai’i by Pacific Business News.
Following her tenure as a mayoral appointee to the Honolulu Climate Change Commission, she was appointed by former Governor Ige to the School Facilities Authority, newly established to generate preschool space, build new K-12 schools, and create affordable, desirable housing for teachers.
In 2006, Bettina instituted AHL’s 1% pro bono program, by which the firm annually donates 1% of its work effort to a worthy project. Each year AHL selects a nonprofit that has a building or planning project that would benefit the greater community by an increase in the number of people served or the addition of new services. This leadership has inspired the constellation of service providers surrounding AHL to chip in with their pro bono or discounted services. Two notable projects include Ho’ōla Nā Pua, the first rehabilitation campus in Hawai‘i dedicated to working with sexually exploited girls, and The Salvation Army’s Family Treatment Services Transitional Home in Mānoa accompanied by a roof garden to grow nutritious vegetables for the Institute of Human Services women’s shelter. The results have touched the lives of countless Hawaiʻi residents.
Owner & Director
Rav Productions Architectural Visual Design
Ramon Vrielink, Allied Member
With over two decades of expertise in the architectural and design sector, Ramon seamlessly blends his passion for architecture, art, and technology to craft breathtaking visual solutions. As the visionary Owner and Director of Rav Productions Architectural Visual Design, he leads the creation of high-quality imagery and animations for a diverse range of clients and industries, including residential and commercial properties, as well as hotels and resorts.
Ramon is masterful in Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI), the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI), and photography while employing software tools like Adobe Creative Suite, 3ds Max, AutoCAD, and Unreal Engine. Holding a Master of Architecture degree and endowed with exceptional skills in artistic direction, Ramon is on a mission to enhance and elevate his clients’ projects beyond their imagination.
