Keith Crouch, AIA, NCARB
Director of Church Architecture, Baptist General Convention, TX
Dallas, TX
Professional Architecture Advisory Council
Rita Chang
Atelier R Design
Pasadena, California
Rita has been serving the design and creative community since graduation from Harvard University Graduate School of Design. Rita draws from her well balanced academic and artistic background in business and design to create unique solutions addressing her clients’ goals. Her design experience ranges from healthcare centers, luxury residential projects, to large commercial projects around the world. Her strong client management skill and attention to detail allows for complicated projects to be realized with innovation and thoroughness.
Rita believes strongly in collaboration with different stakeholders. Rita gained her diverse project experiences from working with institutional clients, private developers, and residential owners. Rita thrives on managing design process and client’s expectations through seamless collaboration. Rita’s attention to detail and sensibility to design has earned her much trust and long-lasting partnership from her clients and collaborators.
Rita established her design firm based on her passion in enhancing wellness of our built environment and lifestyle. In the firm’s history, it has grown from a boutique firm into an international design firm serving clients around the globe in interior design, architectural design, and urban planning projects.
Mr. Crouch is a nationally certified and licensed architect. As a church architecture planning consultant with over 31 years of experience he has conducted over 2,500 individualized building consultations. Mr. Crouch has eight years of prior experience on staff with commercial architectural firms, specializing in religious architecture, healthcare and retirement community design. He is also Director of Church Architecture for the Baptist General Convention of Texas.
Mr. Crouch has been a guest lecturer at Southwestern Theological Seminary, Ft. Worth, and Dallas Baptist University, Dallas, on topics related to religious architecture and planning. He has also conducted seminars and building consultations throughout Texas and with churches, architects and denominational leaders in the South Carolina Baptist Convention, the Minnesota/Wisconsin Baptist Convention, Canada, and through the Partnership Missions Program in Germany, Estonia, Hungary, and Romania.
Marco Eacrett, AIA, LEED AP
Managing Principal, PBK
Ontario, CA
Since 1991, Marco has specialized in master planning, programming, design and project management of K-12, higher education, religious, and public works projects in California. As Managing Principal of PBK’s Ontario office, he performs as PBK’s day-to-day service champion and senior client executive in charge of the successful execution of each assigned project.
Bruce Faudrée, AIA, RIBA, NCARB
Director of Architecture, Mason & Hanger
Virginia Beach, VA
Mr. Faudrée, currently serves as the Director of Architecture for Mason & Hanger and is responsible for the supervision, direction, and management of all elements of the firm’s Architecture Department. Prior to his work at Mason & Hanger, Faudrée, spent the previous decade in service to the United States of America in the U.S. Department of the State Overseas Building Operation. Eventually rising to the Division Chief, Faudrée, supervised, directed, and managed the engineering / architectural project functions of the Near East Asia – South Central Asia Division, during which sixteen embassies and consulates where built throughout the region. Faudrée, has also served with the International Mission Board, SCB in the Pacific Rim Region as the Architect & Construction Projects Coordinator.
Herta Gaus, AIA, LEED AP
Managing Principal, Adrian ● Gaus
Redlands, CA
Herta Gaus is a licensed architect and LEED Accredited Professional in the State of
California. She graduated in 1994 from USC with a Masters in Building Science after
having completing a Bachelor in Architecture at Cal Poly, Pomona. Seeking for meaningful
design intentions her Master’s thesis lead her through theoretical explorations and
landed on finding meaning in architecture’s responsibility toward
sustainability. She subsequently had the honor of presenting her thoughts at the C.S.
Lewis “Oxbridge” Conference in Cambridge, England.
When after several years of practicing at large architecture firms Herta was asked
to lead the A/E team for a showcase school in sustainability for the Los Angeles Unified
School District, she jumped at the opportunity, eager to implement her conviction
that good design is more than a balance of form and function but must respond to real
needs, locally and globally. The project has been published and
featured by the Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS), the Los Angeles
Unified School District, Southern California Edison, and the American Institute of
Architects. Herta has been invited to speak at the Coalition for Adequate School Housing
(CASH), the U.S. Green Building Counsel, Global Green Conferences (Los Angeles) and
Municipal Green Building Conferences.
In 2005 Xavier Adrian and Herta Gaus launched their own firm, Adrian●Gaus Architects,
Inc. and joined the Architect Collaborative ac-6 in Redlands. At the time both partners
held positions of responsibility at respected architectural firms that focused on
educational, medical and municipal projects. The new firm expanded quickly and over
the last 13 years has designed a wide variety of projects spanning
all types, sizes, budgets and levels of complexity.
Herta Gaus is the Past-president of the American Institute of Architects, Inland California Chapter and served on the Board of the Institute’s California Council. She was privileged to participate as a member of the accreditation teams at USC’s School of Architecture as well as at SciArc.
Herta and Xavier live near their office in Redlands where they raise two beautiful children, adopted from Guatemala.
Ronald E. Geyer, AIA, NCIDQ
Architect and Principal, Good City Architects
Greenville, SC
Ron Geyer is an architect and interior designer with more than 30 years’ experience serving ministries, businesses and cultural organizations. Along the way, he’s become a master at helping full-time and volunteer leaders spell out the needs and aspirations that drive important projects, rally supporters, and equip churches to reach and serve the community. In the process, he’s produced great buildings that guard resources and speak volumes about what’s going on inside.
Ron has also served as a member of the American Institute of Architects’ five-person advisory group on religion, art and architecture.
E. Rochelle Harris
Vice President, SoCal NOMAS
E. Rochelle is a proud native Chicagoan. With high energy, enthusiasm and passion
she practices, mentors and teaches Architecture. An experienced Project Manager, Administrator
and Architect with more than 20 years of experience. E. Rochelle holds a Masters in
Architecture from the Pratt Institute in New York and a Bachelors of Architecture
from the University of Illinois in Chicago.
With a true passion for the development of young minority students interested in architecture and architectural students. E. Rochelle is the Southern California NOMA Chapter Summer Camp Director and the SoCal Student Chapter Liaison, E. Rochelle dedicates her time and talent to making sure that every student from middle school all the way through grad school not only knows about architecture and that they can become an Architect but that they can excel at it. Her hobbies include photography, running marathons, reading, skiing and traveling.
John Justus, AIA
Principal / Vice President, HGA Architects & Engineers
Sacramento, CA
As a principal with more than 30 years experience designing cultural and religious architecture, John fosters a collaborative team environment to explore a project’s creative potential. “A building should be a communicator of a client’s needs, express the clients program and function,” he says. His hands-on leadership style results in innovative designs and quality solutions that are cost effective, functional and inspiring. In addition to his work at HGA,
John has also previous served 5 years on the John also served 5 years on the Interfaith Forum on Religion, Art, and Architecture (IFRAA) – AIA Knowledge Community Advisory Board.
Nathan Kim
Firmwide Education Practice Area Leader,
Studio Director, Principal, Gensler
Los Angeles, CA
In his role as a Firmwide Education Practice Area Leader and Principal, Nathan combines more than 15 years of experience with a deep conviction in the power of education and the promise of its global impact. His work includes the California State University system, community colleges, K–12 and charter schools. Nathan fosters a collaborative process that leads to design innovation and technical excellence, and combines creative talent and in-depth practical experience to seamlessly bridge all project phases. Nathan serves as a board member for the Asian American Architects/Engineers Association, the Board of Regents for the Da Vinci Schools, and an Advisory Board member on the California Baptist University School of Architecture. Nathan received his Bachelor of Architecture from California State Polytechnic University at Pomona, and has remained involved in design education as an advisor to the Da Vinci Schools.
Ed Luebben, LEED AP, AIA, NCARB
Senior Architect, Meier Architecture & Engineering
Missionary Architect, Help Ministries
Kennewick, WA
Mr. Luebben has more than 25 years of architectural experience including six years in government and energy related industries and 22 years in private corporate practice. During six of his years in private practice, Ed was involved with setting up and managing a small branch office in Walla Walla, Washington. During the past five years, Ed’s responsibilities have included developing clients, interacting with permitting agencies, assisting contractors during bid and construction phases, and coordinating all consulting relationships.
Since 2011, Ed has served with Help Ministries as a Missionary Architect. Through these efforts, Ed has served numerous ministries such as CAM International, Caribbean Christian Centre for the Deaf, Church Mexico, Dale Kietzman University, HOLD the Children, Mama Tara Orphanage, New Frontiers in Health Force, Portland Rescue Mission, Scott Theological College, Serving in Mission (SIM), True Disciples, and Voices of Hope. In partnership with these organizations, Ed has aided the development and realization of built works in Latin America, Africa, and Asia.
Gary Nicholson, AIA, NCARB, DBIA
Sole Proprietor: Gary Nicholson, Architect
Nashville, TN
Amassing over 40 years of experience in church design, Gary has a long history of helping churches design and build facilities that enhance their ministry and foster growth. His architecture degree is from the University of Texas at Austin, but he also earned his Master of Divinity Degree at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and served on the staff of several churches in youth and music ministry before entering a full time career in architecture.
He worked with his father as an intern architect, as well as 22 years with LifeWay Christian Resources and Visioneering Studios, serving as the Director of the Architecture Department of the Southern Baptist Convention from 2006 to 2013.
He has been a guest lecturer at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and he has taught in local and national seminars all across the U.S. He has had many articles and interviews published in various magazines and his book was published by LifeWay in 2010 called Building Momentum – Leading Your Church to Plan and Build Effective Facilities for Ministry, offering practical guidance about almost every aspect of the building process.
With an emphasis on strategic master planning and feasibility, he now serves churches through his own firm, encouraging leaders to use their facilities to enrich and enlarge the Kingdom in fulfillment of the Great Commission.
Ken Salyer, AIA
HMC Architects
Ontario, CA
Ken Salyer has been working in the architectural profession since 1983, licensed since 1988, and has been with HMC Architects for the past 23 years. Ken’s current position at the firm is as a Principal in Charge and as the Higher Education Practice Leader. Past roles have been as a Managing Principal, and as Secretary for several years as a member of the firm’s Board of Directors. Ken is currently a member of the American Institute of Architects, Community College Facilities Coalition, and the Society for Simulation in Healthcare. He is passionate about designing intellectually stimulating and culturally significant learning environments for college students. A product of the community college system himself, Ken is drawn to that connection with how these institutions can dramatically propel young lives along the path to personal growth, professional advancement, and academic enrichment.