2024 ASLA UTAH EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE NOMINEES
PRESIDENT ELECT
Jesse Allen
I’m honored to be running for the position of President Elect for the Utah Chapter of ASLA. My goal is to build upon the hard work of the Executive Committee over the last several years by:
1) continuing to implement the chapter’s strategic planning document
2) promoting cross-disciplinary collaboration efforts
3) advocating for increased public understanding and value of the profession.
One of my specific goals is to advocate for landscape architecture services to be acknowledged and added to our State’s standard fee structure for public projects. This fee structure is often referred to as the standard for many local municipalities and government agencies and currently doesn’t include landscape architecture as part of the core services.
In the past, I’ve served on the board of the Utah Chapter of American Institute of Architects and Urban Land Institute and am familiar with the opportunities and challenges facing our profession and broader AEC industry.
I’ve been with GSBS Architects since 2007 and a principal with the firm since 2016. After graduating with my bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning from Utah State University in 2004, I went to the dark side and got my Master of Architecture from University of Utah. My time at GSBS has allowed me to work on several significant Salt Lake City landmark projects, such as the redesign of the SLC Main Library Roof, Regent Street Improvement Project, Natural History Museum of Utah, Japantown Concept Design, 20-year plaza plan for the Gallivan Center, and currently the Price Computing and Engineering Building at the University of Utah. Outside of the office, I love to backcountry ski, trail run, and mountain bike. My wife and 3 children love to travel and take cooking classes wherever we go.
SECRETARY
Ladd Schiess
Our profession’s value and licensure have faced challenges in recent years, which has been a wake-up call. Serving as ASLA chapter secretary for the past two years, I have witnessed the importanceof ASLA to our field. The tireless efforts of our volunteer-run chapter have safeguarded our profession. They prevented us from potentially losing licensure or, at the very least, landscape architect representation on the licensing board. (Let me emphasize that this is all being done byvolunteers and we could use more volunteers.)
I’'m grateful for the hard work and successful outcomes achieved by our chapter. On the Executive Committee, I hope to continue advocating for our profession. I kindly ask for your vote to serve another term as secretary.
For those unfamiliar with me, I’m a landscape architect at G Brown Design, residing in Bountiful. After graduating from USU’s Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning program in 2005, I pursued a Master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign two years later. My career has been rewarding, encompassing projects from community design to construction details.
TRUSTEE
Bryce Ward
It has been my honor to serve as a trustee for our chapter, and I am excited to announce my candidacy for reelection. Over the past term, I have dedicated myself to advancing our profession and fostering a collaborative community that thrives on inclusivity and innovation. During my tenure on the board, one of our first achievements was establishing a shared space with AIA. This partnership enhanced opportunities for cross-disciplinary collaboration, amplifying our collective impact. It has also strengthened our professional network and fostered new growth and design advocacy avenues.
Additionally, thanks to our strategic planning committee, we spearheaded developing and implementing a strategic planning document that has guided our chapter’s growth with clarity and purpose. Looking ahead, my goal is to build upon this foundation by further integrating diversity and inclusion practices. Specifically, I aim to expand opportunities and support systems for women and BIPOC professionals within our field, ensuring that our chapter reflects and embraces the rich diversity of our community.
Furthermore, our advocacy efforts have yielded tangible results, including hiring a lobbyist whose work has been instrumental in keeping part of our licensing advisory board intact and expanding the role of landscape architects in leading state landscape capital improvement projects. This achievement underscores our chapter’s influence and positions us as leaders in shaping the future of our profession statewide. As we continue to navigate the challenges and opportunities, I am committed to leveraging my experience and leadership to elevate our chapter further. Together, we can strengthen our profession, advocate for meaningful change, and cultivate an inclusive, innovative, and resilient community.
I humbly request your support and the opportunity to continue serving you on the Board of Trustees. Together, let’s build upon our achievements and create a future where landscape architects in Utah thrive.