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Paul Paige, PLA
Brad Scheib, AICP
Bryan Harjes, PLA, LEED AP
Gabrielle Grinde, ASLA, PLA
Rita Trapp, AICP, LEED AP
Jeff Miller, AICP
Lance Bernard
Amy Bower, PLA
Josiah Clarke
Kevin Clarke
Kendra Ellner
Sarah Evenson, ASLA, PLA
Aimee Hackett
Jordan Hedlund
Hannah Jonasson
Jody Rader, ASLA, PLA
Beth Richmond, AICP
Hannah Schmitz
Tim Solomonson, ASLA, PLA
Natalie Strait
Izabel Wilde
Eric Blodgett
Amy has more than two decades of experience developing plans, site designs, and construction documentation for parks, public spaces, trails, recreation facilities, and streetscapes. Her background in industrial design, combined with her experience as a landscape architect, has enabled her to develop expertise transforming planning and design concepts into built projects. Her attention to detail and her superior technical efficiency have made Amy a valuable project contributor, particularly during the detail design and implementation phases of a project. Amy is also an avid cyclist and outdoors enthusiast, valuable experiences that provide additional insight into her trail, streetscape, and park design work.
The results of Amy's work can literally be seen throughout the state of Minnesota. Projects that best illustrate the quality of her design skill include the Broadway streetscape in Alexandria, the River's Edge Commons in Elk River, the Osseo Central Avenue Streetscape, and playground and park designs throughout the Twin Cities metro.
Amy has a Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of Minnesota and a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Design from the University of Wisconsin - Stout.
Landscape Architect
E: abower@hkgi.com
Josiah Clarke is a GIS specialist whose work includes coordinating with both client and consulting staff to assemble and compile the data that serves as the foundation for many of HKGi's community planning work. His contributions to the firm's planning work enable the team to operate more efficiently, expand our critical data collection and analysis capabilities, and produce superior deliverable products for our clients
Josiah earned his Bachelor of Arts in environmental studies and economics from St. Thomas University (MN). He has experience working for a municipal GIS department and as an electrical designer for an energy production corporation.
GIS Specialist
E: josiah@hkgi.com
Kevin Clarke is a planner and landscape designer whose work at HKGi has included project management, parks and recreation planning, land use and redevelopment planning, trail master planning, athletic facilities needs assessments, GIS mapping, and streetscape planning. Kevin also has training in economics, which means he is also a valuable resource for conducting research and collecting and analyzing data related to service standards and recreational or development trends.
Kevin has served as project manager for several recent athletic facilities needs assessments projects and was a key contributor to the award-winning Ironwood, Michigan Comprehensive Plan. He has contributed to downtown planning and streetscape projects in Alexandria, Chaska, Red Wing and St. Francis, and he has worked on several park and trail planning projects in Duluth's St. Louis River Corridor.
Kevin earned his Master of Landscape Architecture and his Master of Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Minnesota and his Bachelor of Arts in economics from St. John's University (MN). He has also been active in the Urban Land Institute's UrbanPlan program for High Schools and Universities, and he has served on the Minnesota Design Team.
Urban Designer
E: kevin@hkgi.com
Kendra provides planning support, assisting with research, data collection, GIS mapping, engagement, and other planning tasks that leverage her previous experience with the City of River Falls (WI), where she contributed to the city's Focus River Falls process and updates to the city’s Comprehensive Plan, Outdoor Recreation Plan, and Bike and Pedestrian Plan. She also wrote a successful Certified Local Government Grant for the City of River Falls Historic Preservation Commission to nominate two eligible properties for the National Register for Historic Places.
Kendra is a multifaceted planner who is committed to facilitating and creating equitable and livable communities. She has experience facilitating community engagement events, activities, and online marketing for planning processes, and her professional and academic experience has cultivated strong skills in policy research, data analysis and visualization, site plan and design work, grant writing, and manuscript development.
Kendra earned her Master of Science in Urban and Environmental Planning (Accelerated Program) and her Bachelor of Science in Urban Planning from Arizona State University. As a student she was Team Leader for a team that received the 2021 ULI Hines Student Urban Design Competition and was Runner-Up for the American Planning Association’s Outstanding Planning Student Organization.
Planner
E: kendra@hkgi.com
Sarah is a landscape architect whose background includes a focus on urban ecology and green infrastructure as part of the site design process. She has played critical roles in several park and public space design projects and has also contributed planning, design, and engagement services on several park and community planning projects. Sarah brings design creativity to her project work and combines that creativity with strong technical knowledge of best management practices and industry trends. Sarah is also skilled at developing visual communications materials, including 3D renderings, animations, plan drawings, that communicate clearly to clients and stakeholders and help them evaluate and envision concepts and designs under consideration. Her work is crucial to generating community support for public space improvement projects.
Sarah's project portfolio includes planning and design for improvements to the Oxbow Nature Center in Olmsted County; master planning for the Lake Byllesby Regional Park and Byllesby Park in Dakota and Goodhue Counties; and master planning for parks along the St. Croix River in both Stillwater (MN) and St. Croix Count (WI). She also provided key support for redevelopment planning for the Columbia Arena site in Fridley, now home to the new Fridley Civic Center and other adjacent public space and private redevelopment projects.
Sarah has a Master of Landscape Architecture and a Bachelor of Environmental Design from the University of Minnesota.
Landscape Architect
E: sarah@hkgi.com
Leilen is a landscape designer with experience in site design for campus improvement projects. She was a principal engineering assistant at the University of Minnesota's Landcare Department where she worked with the University's Landscape Architects to develop site concepts, design site improvements, and assist in plant and furnishing orders and installation oversight. She has experience using AutoCAD, Lumion, SketchUp, ArcGIS, and Adobe Creative Suite to develop plan graphics and construction documentation.
Leilen enjoyed a successful academic career. She received a Regents Scholarship and won a Student Academic Excellence Award from the College of Design. She is fluent in Spanish and has global experience, having lived in Argentina and Tunisia before settling with her family in Minnesota.
Leilen earned her Master of Landscape Architecture and her Bachelor of Science in Architecture with a minor in Landscape Design and Planning from the University of Minnesota.
Landscape Designer
E: leilen@hkgi.com
Aimee is a landscape designer whose expertise and experience includes site design and planting plans, park concept planning, construction documentation, and visual communication design. While in college she was named an Arizona Nursery Association Academic Scholar in Desert Studies and completed an internship with the Phoenix Desert Botanical Garden. Her senior project was nominated for the Herberger Institute's Design Excellence award and was also selected for presentation at the 2016 Annual Roads and Streets Conference. Her professional interests include urban design, green infrastructure, botany, master planning, community driven design, marketing, and graphic design.
Aimee earned a Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture from Arizona State University with an undergraduate minor in Urban Planning. In addition to her training as a landscape designer, Aimee has also received training in horticulture.
Landscape Designer
E: aimee@hkgi.com
Jordan is a landscape designer who has experience providing design and construction coordination services for a playground design/build firm. He brings experience working with vendors, contractors, and other consultants, and he is also experienced at tracking and managing project budgets and conducting construction administration. Jordan also has outstanding visual communications skills and is adept at using AutoCAD, GIS, Lumion, and Adobe Creative Suite to illustrate and create visualizations for park, trail, and open space improvement projects. Jordan focused much of his academic work on public engagement strategies and outreach. He is an active member of ASLA-MN.
Jordan earned a Bachelor of Environmental Design and a Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of Minnesota. He also served as an Advisory Chair for the College of Design.
Landscape Designer
E: jordan@hkgi.com
Hannah is a graphic designer who provides design services for both project deliverables and marketing communications materials. Her project-related work includes the design of engagement materials and digital or printed deliverables such as plan reports, maps, renderings, and social media content. Her work allows HKGi to create custom-branded materials for each project that reflect client branding, project a professional-quality image for planning and design initiatives, and generate interest and excitement amongst stakeholders for participation in the engagement process.
Hannah earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in graphic design from Iowa State University, where she graduated Cum Laude.
Graphic Designer
E: hannahj@hkgi.com
Jody is a landscape architect whose experience includes bicycle and pedestrian planning; park and public space master planning; and site planning and design. She excels at using design to address issues related to connectivity, active living, access and equity, sustainability, and safety. She is an outstanding communicator who brings a strong creative problem solving and critical thinking approach to her work. She has demonstrated her ability to collaborate with clients, community members, and other consultants to develop design solutions that incorporate stakeholder input, address key concerns, and achieve project goals and objectives. In addition to her training in landscape architecture, she also has training and experience in architecture, community design, and construction administration.
Jody's experience includes park planning and design, trail master planning, and bicycle-pedestrian planning. She also served for several years on the post-Hurrican Katrina rebuilding effort along the Gulf Coast.
Jody earned her Master of Landscape Architecture and a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Minnesota. She has also earned a Certificate in Ecological Restoration.
Landscape Architect
E: jody@hkgi.com
Beth provides general planning services to several municipal clients and has demonstrated her ability to provide outstanding client service in the review of development applications, report writing, and zoning ordinance interpretation and revision. She combines attention to detail with a strong understanding of zoning ordinance principals and how they impact and influence community development when applied. Beth also assists with comprehensive planning, grant writing, and zoning ordinance writing and amendments. She has provided general planning service to communities such as St. Francis, Maplewood, Shoreview, Mound, Stillwater, and Greenfield, and she has also provided support on planning projects in Onalaska (WI), Greenville (WI), Kasson, Otter Tail County, Stearns County, South St. Paul, and Grand Marais.
Beth earned her Master of Urban & Regional Planning degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison where she focused on land use planning. As a graduate student, she worked for UW-Extension’s Local Government Center. Beth also earned her Bachelor of Arts in political science from the College of Saint Benedict.
Planner
E: beth@hkgi.com
Hannah provides graphic and detail support for projects throughout the design process. She uses Photoshop, Illustrator, Sketchup, Lumion and other graphic production applications to create renderings that bring design concepts to life during the conceptual design phase. She also uses AutoCAD to contribute to the design development and construction documentation phases, creating landscape bases and details that will be used for construction. Her work experience includes working in collaborative environments to engage clients, stakeholders, and colleagues to create conceptual master plans for small communities, streetscapes, parks, and wayfinding enhancements.
Hannah earned her Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from Iowa State University where she participated in a semester long traveling studio, which visited both the Northwestern and Southeastern parts of the United States. She also studied abroad in Newcastle, Australia.
Designer
E: hannah@hkgi.com
At HKGi Tim has played a variety of roles and has contributed to a wide variety of planning and design projects. Some of his areas of specialty include GIS mapping and involvement of all phases of the design process including schematic design, design development, construction documentation, and construction administration. Tim is also adept at creating 3D renderings and other graphic materials to illustrate plan and design concepts and at conducting document layout and production for plan reports, engagement materials, and other forms of communication.
Some of Tim's project experience includes the design of park improvements, streetscape improvements, and a variety of community plans. Tim served in deployments under Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.
Tim earned a Master of Landscape Architecture, a Master of Urban and Regional Planning and a Bachelor of Environmental Design from the University of Minnesota.
Landscape Architect
E: tim@hkgi.com
Natalie is a versatile planner who provides support on a variety of projects including comprehensive plans, land use plans, zoning and regulatory tools, GIS data collection and mapping, and bicycle-pedestrian/trail plans. Her training and experience includes farmers market organizing, entrepreneurship, statistics, and civic engagement.
Natalie earned her Master in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Minnesota with a concentration in environmental planning and food systems. Prior to her graduate studies she earned a Bachelor of Arts in anthropology from the University of Wisconsin.
Planner
E: natalie@hkgi.com
Izabel provides planning and design support including data collection, engagement, GIS mapping, inventory field work, and report assembly. Izabel is working as an intern while she completes the graduate landscape architecture program at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. She was recognized for her leadership and involvement by the ASLA, Minnesota chapter, which awarded her the 2023 Joan MacLeod MLA Student Leadership Award for her work outside the classroom. She has served at the ASLA-MN Student Chapter President since 2021, and she also serves on the Board of the Minneapolis Chapter of the Audubon Society.
She earned her Bachelor of Science in Community and Regional Planning at Iowa State University and graduated magna cum laude. In addition to her work for HKGi, she has interned at the Iowa Department of Transportation, the Polk County Housing Trust Fund, the Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission, and has contributed to a variety of planning initiatives at HKGi and other landscape architecture firms.
Planning Intern
E: izabel@hkgi.com
Eric Blodgett has over ten years of experience as a communications professional, including work in the non-profit industry, higher education, and at HKGi, where he worked from 2001-2004. Eric directs HKGi’s marketing communications strategies, including proposal development and production, external communications, and online resources. He also assists in the editing of project reports and documents, striving to ensure that they communicate clearly in concise, reader-friendly language.
Eric earned his Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Texas at Austin and his Master of Arts in English with a focus on rhetoric and composition from Texas A&M University.
Marketing Director
E: eric@hkgi.com
