Meet the Speakers
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Paul Cloutier
A Bolder Humboldt
Paul Cloutier is a designer and entrepreneur who is focused on rebuilding local economies and creating impactful destinations. After 25 years in the design industry, Paul moved back home to Kansas to help found A Bolder Humboldt a development organization that is revitalizing Humboldt Kansas, population 2000. We are creating the town we want to live in, and working hard to show young creative ambitious people that there are opportunities in rural America.
About A Bolder Humboldt
A Bolder Humboldt is an organization in Humboldt Kansas focused on the commercial, economic, and community development of our 2000 person town. We have worked to restart the economic engine of our community by supporting new businesses, home building, encouraging new residents and bringing the community together. It all starts with creating experiences that remind people that there are incredible opportunities in our rural places. We see people from all over the world come visit here, and our efforts have been featured as one of the New York Times 52 Places to Visit in 2022, The Kansas City Star, and NPR. We were also recognized by the AIA for our Fitness Center building with Hufft.
Steven Ehrlich, FAIA
Ehrlich Yanai Rhee Chaney Architects
Steven Ehrlich, the firm's Founding Partner, learned early on the significance of how architecture responds to the culture and the environment - a self-proclaimed "architectural anthropologist". Upon graduating from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Architecture, Ehrlich spent six years living and working in Africa, serving for two years with the Peace Corps as their first architect in Marrakech, Morocco. He later traveled across the Sahara and taught architecture at Ahmadu Bello University in Nigeria. The lessons of indigenous building were instrumental in forming Ehrlich's approach to design and continue to influence the firm's work today.
In addition to the Firm Award, Ehrlich Yanai Rhee Chaney Architects counts eight national AIA design awards to its credit, and Steven Ehrlich is a recipient of the AIA California’s prestigious Maybeck Award and the 2015 AIA Los Angeles Gold Medal for outstanding lifelong achievement in architectural design. He has lectured and taught as a visiting professor both nationally and abroad; currently as a visiting professor at Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS.
Scott Gales, AIA
CEO
Architect One, Inc.
A native Kansan, Scott joined the AO team in 1993 after graduating from K-State. Choosing to call Topeka home with his wife Cheryl, they have three children who are attending or have graduated from K-State.
Scott’s passion for well-designed Architecture has helped shape the skylines he and his family lives, works, and plays under every day. Building beautifully begins with building community and is the foundation of Architect One’s success since its founding in 1988.
When he is not immersed in his clients’ next design project, Scott is actively involved in numerous professional, business, and non-profit organizations in the communities Architect One serves.
Scott is professionally licensed and practicing in: KS, MO, TX, OH, VA, OR, IA, MI, CO, AR.
Patrick Tolin
President/CEO
MCP Group
Patrick L. Tolin serves as President and CEO and has held nearly every position possible in the construction industry. This has allowed him to develop a vast knowledge of field operations, estimating, scheduling, and project management.
He has successfully led an array of projects from their infancy to completion. However, his specialty and passion is the preconstruction phase of a project. During preconstruction he is responsible for coordination, preparing and analyzing cost models, preparing preliminary construction schedules, and assuring that potential risk factors have been properly evaluated.
Pat has 25 years of industry experience and is a graduate of Kansas State University, with a Bachelor of Science in Construction Science and Management.
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Seth Wagoner
CFO/CEO
AIM Strategies LLC
Seth Wagoner was named Chief Financial Officer and Chief Executive Officer of AIM Strategies in April of 2015. He is responsible for the financial management of the company and also spearheads AIM's operational management and strategic future vision.
Prior to being named CFO and CEO, Seth held roles of increasing responsibility with the Colgate Palmolive company over a distinguished 15 year career. Mr. Wagoner brings a unique skill set to AIM with a diverse background in procurement, costing, manufacturing, project management, new product development, and systems implementation. Mr. Wagoner believes strongly in managing with respect, paying it forward, and that everyone should strive to become that person their dog thinks they are.
Mr. Wagoner is an avid Boston Celtics and baseball fan. He holds degrees in accounting from Washburn University and a BGS in Political Science and a MBA from the University of Kansas.
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Dan Rockhill
CEO
Rockhill & Associates
Dan Rockhill is an ACSA Distinguished Professor of Architecture and the JL Constant Distinguished Professor of Architecture at the University of Kansas and Executive Director of Studio 804. He and his students have designed and built sixteen LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum buildings in Kansas and have also completed three Passive Institute Certifications. They have won numerous international design awards including three American Institute of Architect’s Honor Awards, two Wood Design Awards, two-time winner of the NCARB Prize, two-time winner of Architecture Magazine’s “Home of the Year” including their 2018 Sustainable House on 12th Street in Lawrence.
In addition, the work of his firm, Rockhill and Associates, is tightly bound to the natural milieu and culture of the Kansas region. In the spirit of regionalism, the areas archetypal forms, Spartan aesthetics, frugal methods, and relationship to nature permeate the results. They are the recipients of numerous awards, most recently; Residential Architect magazine’s Firm of the Year.
Amy Van de Riet, AIA
University of Kansas School of Architecture and Design
Amy Van de Riet is a licensed architect in Kansas and AIA member. She received her Bachelor in Architecture from the University of Kansas in 2003, and her Master of Science in Historic Preservation from Columbia University in 2005.
She worked in New York City as a preservation architect until 2012 when she begun teaching adjunct for Florida Atlantic University School of
Architecture.
In 2016 she began teaching adjunct at the University of Kansas School of Architecture and Design. Amy’s courses taught include Foundation Studios ARCH 108 and ARCH 109 and ARCH 508. Amy also teaches ARCH 649 Historic Preservation Technology, one of four courses that constitute the Graduate Certificate in Historic Preservation.
Amy is currently Chair for Douglas County Heritage Conservation Council.
James Roan
Account Executive, PC
Holmes Murphy
As an Account Executive in the Property Casualty division, James Roan is responsible for managing and growing the Holmes Murphy professional liability book of business by primarily serving the architecture and engineering sector.
Prior to joining Holmes Murphy, James was an Account Manager at Aerotek. During his time there, he worked with architecture and engineering firms by supporting their recruiting and staffing needs in both business development and a recruiting role.
James graduated from Iowa State University with a Bachelor's degree in Marketing.
Active in the industry, James is a member of th eProfessional Liability Agents Network (PLAN)..
When he's not at work, James enjoys spending time with his wife, Alex, as well as golfing and taking in all Kansas City has to offer.
Callum Vierthaler, AIA
Pulse Design Group
Callum Vierthaler, AIA, MBA, EDAC, LEEP AP BD +C is the Director of Innovation at Pulse Design Group.
He identifies, defines, and implements strategic initiatives centered around technology and workflow, evaluates emerging technologies, and conducts industry research to further position the firm as an innovative leader in healthcare design.
Additionally, Callum is a lecturer at the University of Kansas School of Architecture where he teaches courses in emerging architectural technologies, as well as comprehensive studio.
Basil Sherman II, AIA
Pulse Design Group
Basil Sherman II, AIA, NCARB, ACHA, EDAC is a Principal at Pulse Design Group and has over seventeen years of experience in healthcare facility design and project management.
His expertise includes planning, programming and schematics through to construction management/completion. Basil is particularly skilled in master planning and conceptual design. He plays an integral role in developing creative healthcare environments and assisting clients through the design development process. Basil has designed projects of various sizes and scopes; from ambulatory and clinical to surgical and acute care environments.
He has worked on virtually all project types within a healthcare setting but has a particular interest in designing the kind of healing and compassionate environments that behavioral health facilities require.
Robert (Bobby) Eklofe, MHSA
KVC Hospitals
Bobby Eklofe is President of KVC Hospitals where he leads strategy and operations and provides oversight to all leaders within a network of nonprofit children’s psychiatric hospitals and residential treatment centers serving Kansas and Missouri. Bobby Holds a Master of Health Services Administration (M.H.S.A.) from the University of Kansas School of Medicine.
Throughout his 30-year career in behavioral health, most of that with KVC, Bobby has gained experience working in residential services, psychiatric hospitals, social services and school settings. He has held positions in a range of disciplines giving him a well-rounded understanding of the psychiatric treatment environment, including direct patient care, human resources, training, staff development, hospital administration and executive leadership.
James Hailey, AIA
BRR Architecture
A seasoned architect and passionate goal setter, James now serves as Co-Chairman of the board for BRR after spending a decade as President & CEO.
He began his career as an intern after graduating from Kansas State University; when he began, he was the firm’s 17th employee. Today, the firm employs more than 300+ team members across 11 cities. Shortly after he was promoted to Executive Vice President, James was named as Ingram’s Magazine’s class of 40 Under 40 and went on to become the firm’s President & CEO.
He has led numerous design studios throughout his career, managed national retail design programs and contributed to securing the resources best needed to serve the firm’s clients.
He is an avid reader and continuous learner and now guides staff development efforts for the firm. James and his wife Linda have two grown children and enjoy skiing, mountain and road biking and supporting various community causes.
Rich Majors, AIA
BRR Architecture
Over the course of 30 years, Rich has touched more than 100 million square feet of global retail space for BRR’s clients. His dedication to continual improvement has been essential for enhancing the firm’s project delivery methods; he focused on enhancing the firm’s standards and streamlining design processes to create consistency across client projects and programs.
Rich also was instrumental to elevating the firm’s focus on design. He has been a principal at BRR since 2003 and served as the firm’s Chief Operating Officer from 2011 to 2021.
Rich and his wife Christine have a college-aged son; they enjoy Kansas City barbecue and time spent at the lake.
Will Chmylak, AIA
HOK
Will Chmylak is a project manager at HOK in Kansas City. HOK is a global provider of architecture, engineering and planning on a variety of projects.
Will has been actively working in architecture for over 26 years working with a broad range of clients that are focused in the markets of healthcare, science and technology and sports design.
Actively part of AIA Kansas executive board for the past four years, he is currently serving as AIA Kansas President. Will earned his Bachelor of Architecture at Texas Tech University.
Terry Humphrey
Executive Director
AIA Kansas
Founder and President of TERRY HUMPHREY Public Affairs Group, Inc. Terry has more than 40 years of experience as a lobbyist, public affairs specialist, and association executive director in Kansas.
She has worked with key decision-makers at all levels of government on a wide array of issues. Terry has a deep understanding of organizational and political processes, and has used this knowledge to grow organizations and influence public policies on behalf of her clients.
Since becoming AIA Kansas’s Executive Director in 2014, Terry has worked to grow AIA Kansas’s influence across the state and country. In addition to developing a strong advocacy program, Terry has also increased the value of an AIA Kansas membership. Most recently, she has worked with members and staff to develop EDGE, a leadership and business education program.