As the CEO of Elevar Design Group, Tom Fernandez is responsible for the overall vision and innovation of the firm. He facilitates design direction and ensures that his staff is equipped to provide the best solutions to clients. Since assuming executive leadership of the firm in the late 1980s, Tom has been instrumental in growing the staff into the multi-disciplined team of specialized designers it is today. Tom is the recipient of many prestigious design awards commemorating his innovative direction on projects.
Kim Patton serves as President of Elevar Design Group, guiding the design staff in daily operations and profitability. Kim’s energy and innovation have been the key to his successful career which has spanned nearly 30 years in many different markets. An Architect by trade, his vast experience has influenced his ability to grow Elevar’s staff and to provide clients with cost-effective and creative solutions.
Tony Lozier has more than 45 years of experience in MEP Engineering. As the leader of the Engineering team at Elevar Design Group, he directs all engineering services and ensures the highest quality results for clients. His widespread experience has served as an asset to many of Elevar’s projects, as Tony has the ability to lead the engineering team toward the best solutions for all client projects.
Dara has more than 25 years of experience in interior design excellence and workplace strategy, shaping environments that add value to people’s lives. She has partnered with clients to develop nearly 10 million SF of space that support their brand, culture, and business strategies. Her portfolio includes a wide variety of project types and sizes from conceptual design through project management and construction administration with the common goal of always exceeding the client and end-users’ expectations.
David Breda emphasizes communication as the key to job-site efficiency, expressing common team goals and explaining design and standards necessary to achieve quality construction and eliminate costly and avoidable mistakes. With nearly 30 years of experience, he approaches construction administration from multiple points of view, focusing on schedule, budget and quality.
Mark Browning has been recognized for his work by local and national organizations including the AIA/ Design for Aging Knowledge Community. Mark is a Certified Eden Associate and has been an advocate for advancing the senior housing industry through innovative design, research and participation in national and international conferences. With 40 years of experience, Mark has been involved in both the for-profit and not-for-profit industries, and he has a large portfolio of projects focusing senior living clients.
Lisa Cameron Gulley has 20 years of experience in educational programming and design. She has been involved in nearly every educational project the firm has completed since 2000. Her knowledge of public and private education design allows Lisa to bring creative and unique solutions to each facility. Having been involved in numerous bond issue assistance efforts and community engagement campaigns, Lisa is highly skilled at incorporating important stakeholder values into her designs.
Emilio Fernandez founded Stallsmith Fernandez Architects (SFA) in 1967 on the simple premise that each client deserves a high degree of personal service, and each project the search to find the “right” design solution, both artistically, and technically. The patron of our firm, he exemplifies the modern Master-Architect philosophy of eminent responsibility for the “whole” solution, and for the life of the building. These beliefs permeate the Elevar culture even more strongly, 50-years later.
Regan Henry is a scientist and an architect - a rare combination of skill that affords her the ability to apply experimental methodologies and efficiencies in space planning and design. Using research to inform how the physical environment affects the end-user, Regan uses these evaluations to inform her designs. With more than 10 years of experience, Regan has engaged these principles in a multitude of markets and project types.
David Hester has a proven school design track record, having been entrusted to manage the four largest academic projects at Elevar with a combined budget exceeding $180 million. David seeks creative best-value design solutions for each project’s dollars, while ensuring durable, attractive and lasting educational environments.
Dan Montgomery specializes in the field of roof assembly and building enclosure analysis, design and project management. Dan has more than 30 years of design and construction experience and is one of approximately only 800 RRC’s in the country. Having passed all possible certifications from IIBEC, Dan is rare in the field - standing out as a unique expert advisor on roofing and building enclosure services.
With more than 30 years of experience, John Rademacher has served a long list of notable clients in various market sectors. John is registered in Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Wisconsin, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Rhode Island, and West Virginia, and serves as the President of the Ohio Architects Board. As the Leader of Elevar's Dayton office, John stays actively engaged and works on behalf of his clients. By using his insights, talents, training and experience, John contributes meaningfully to clients and the community.
Jay Thelen serves as President of Elevar Quick Draw. In this role, he works with banks and other private clients to produce fast and accurate reports of contractor activities to procure the construction draw. Jay works within bank requirements for the draw schedule to inspect on-site construction activities to implement project financing and payments.
David VonderBrink has a passion for design and aesthetic sensibility. His strength lies in his ability to communicate this sensibility in his housing designs while efficiently working with clients to achieve the best and most cost-effective solution. David has nearly 20 years of experience in design development and project management of multi-family and student housing projects.
