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Compelled to give voice to underserved communities, Jeanie Lai upholds design as an expression of care for people鈥檚 well-being. She has led Bora鈥檚 innovative work in academic environments, civic and cultural centers, and collaborative workspaces.

These projects include the mass-timber Portland Community College Opportunity Center at 42nd Avenue; the Texas A&M University Innovative Classroom Building; Bora鈥檚 award-winning studio at Volta; and Multnomah County Library鈥檚 mass-timber Holgate Library.

More recently, Lai led Bora鈥檚 collaboration with Colloqate on the renovation and expansion of Portland鈥檚 Midland Library. The new entry canopy provides a covered space for farmers鈥� markets, fairs and other events. Its double-height central space features a ceiling mural depicting the Columbia River and shelves lined with books in Chinese, Russian, Vietnamese and Spanish, in addition to English.

Lai told The Architect鈥檚 Newspaper that the library鈥檚 鈥渢hree buckets鈥� are tables and seating for people to hang out, the materials collection, and meeting spaces. 鈥淲e tried to make them all equal in the use of space: a community-centric library for modern times,鈥� she said.

Beth Lavelle serves as senior sustainability strategist at SmithGroup, which she joined in April 2024. She has spent 14 years advancing sustainable design practices in the built environment. Throughout her career, Lavelle has focused on engaging clients and design teams to achieve more sustainable and resilient project outcomes by integrating existing technology, tools, incentives, and materials. Her work centers on connecting disparate elements to help project teams reach aspirational sustainability goals.

Lavelle explained that her greatest achievement lies in the cumulative effect of countless moments of engagement, education, and leadership rather than any single project. Her role as an integrator and synthesizer often provides the catalyst projects need to achieve ambitious environmental objectives.

She maintains a focus on reducing climate impacts and implementing resilient strategies to ensure a livable future. Lavelle is involved with the Carbon Leadership Forum, continuing her commitment to advancing sustainability practices in architecture and design.

Lauren Loosveldt quickly rose to become one of the youngest associate principals in Opsis Architecture鈥檚 history. With a background in green building and interior design, her passion for sustainability has influenced award-winning projects such as the Oregon Harbor of Hope Navigation Center and the Wacheno Welcome Center at Clackamas Community College.

An Opsis Green Team focus group member and influential leader in the development of the firm鈥檚 Sustainability Action Plan, Loosveldt has demonstrated dedication to environmental justice.

She was the driving force behind Opsis鈥檚 mentorship program, leading the development of a unique framework that strives to create an environment of learning from each other rather than just singular mentor/mentee relationships. Loosveldt also founded the Opsis Women鈥檚 + group that meets quarterly and provides an opportunity for the women in the firm to come together to support each other both personally and professionally.

Loosveldt has served on several AIA Oregon committees, and her work on the Oregon Harbor of Hope Navigation Center earned an AIA Portland Design Award in 2019.

Casey McKenna has spent 28 years leading complex architectural projects at Otak. He specializes in dense, urban high-rises and large-scale mixed-use developments, guiding multidisciplinary teams through intricate design challenges. His work focuses on delivering solutions that balance client needs with community impact.

McKenna鈥檚 leadership philosophy centers on servant leadership, which he explained emphasizes empowering team members through mentorship and active listening. This approach, he noted, builds trust and encourages open communication while fostering innovation and creativity essential to the design profession.

A member of the American Institute of Architects and the Urban Land Institute, McKenna brings nearly three decades of experience to urban development projects. He serves on the board of a local youth football organization, supporting young athletes from kindergarten through middle school. McKenna continues to lead Otak鈥檚 most challenging projects, working with collaborative teams to address the complex requirements of contemporary urban development.

Alexi Meuwissen serves as a marketing professional at Scott Edwards Architecture; she has spent 15 years gaining expertise in the architecture and design industry. Throughout her career, Meuwissen has focused on strategic positioning and brand development for the firm.

At Scott Edwards Architecture, Meuwissen led the rebranding of the firm to better reflect its identity and values. Her work positioned the company’s team and expertise to competitively pursue projects that make an impact on the local community.

Meuwissen’s leadership approach centers on identifying individual strengths within teams and providing resources that enable professionals to develop their careers around their passions and capabilities. She focuses on long-term vision and strategic thinking, leveraging creativity and organizational strengths to achieve goals.

She is active in the Society for Marketing Professional Services鈥� Oregon chapter, contributing to the professional marketing community in the architecture and design sectors.

Amalia Mohr became the first interior designer named principal at LRS Architects in Portland, marking a significant milestone in her 21-year career. The achievement represents meaningful recognition of interior design’s value within the broader architecture profession, she explained.

Mohr’s leadership philosophy centers on compassion and curiosity. She noted that the best ideas emerge through listening, asking questions and remaining open to new perspectives. Success comes from building teams of dedicated professionals and providing them with space and support to thrive, she said.

Currently, Mohr serves on the Downtown Portland Clean and Safe board and participates in the 2025-2026 Leader Portland class. She holds community advisory positions with the city of Tigard for River Terrace 2.0 and Universal Plaza projects. Mohr also serves on the Tigard-Tualatin School District’s Bond Oversight Committee and Pre-Bond Committee. She maintains membership with IIDA Oregon, contributing her expertise to advance interior design within the regional professional community.