ACLA Board of Directors
Is a Principal at HED, where she serves as the National Housing and Mixed-Use Sector Operations Leader. She has extensive experience with large, complex projects and client stakeholder groups, utilizing her ability to effectively steer projects from inception through construction, with emphasis on collaboration and clear workflow.
As Operations Leader, Yu-Ming works with her team to advance quality control, production standards, and project delivery. She supports and guides project teams to achieve measurable project performance to promote business growth and firm initiatives.
Yu-Ming has established strong connections outside her organization to advocate and support inclusive leadership, mentorship, and career development. She served as 2022 co-chair for the AIA Los Angeles – Women in Architecture committee and is currently the 2024 Chair for the WWT(Women Working Together), a group dedicated to driving growth and leadership for women professionals across the AEC+O industry in Southern California.
Ashley Richardson, AIA, LEED AP is a Partner at Ehrlich Yanai Rhee Chaney (EYRC) Architects in Los Angeles, where she thrives on leading large, complex projects from vision to reality. With a passion for building collaborative and innovative teams, she has helped shape transformative educational environments—most notably two Living & Learning Neighborhoods at UC San Diego. Her portfolio also includes the Pendry Hotel + Residences in West Hollywood and the modernization of John Burroughs Middle School in Los Angeles. In addition to her project leadership, Ashley oversees firmwide operations at EYRC, bringing both strategic clarity and creative energy to the practice. A licensed Architect in California, Ashley holds a Project Management Certificate from UCLA, and is a legacy LEED Accredited Professional. Beyond practice, Ashley contributes to the profession through service and leadership: she is a past Chair of both the AIA Los Angeles Design Awards and Women in Architecture committees, and she is the incoming Vice President/2027 President-Elect of Architecture for Communities Los Angeles.
Chris is currently an Associate Vice President of Design for Related California. His primary responsibilities include steering design direction, managing a team of design professionals, and providing construction assistance for Related’s market rate and mixed-income/use developments in California. Chris joins the ACLA with more than 12 years of experience in the design and construction industry. Prior to moving to California, Chris was a Designer at Related Companies in New York City where he was responsible for the design and delivery process of numerous market rate and affordable residential/mixed use developments in the neighborhoods of Hudson Yards, Chelsea, Midtown and Far Rockaway.
A licensed architect in New York State and active AIA member, Chris endeavors to work with his cohorts at the ACLA to serve the community in Los Angeles.
Anne Frederiksen is an Associate Principal at PLP SoCal, a Los Angeles–based lighting agency recognized for its design-focused line card. She previously served as Vice President of Sales & Retail for Louis Poulsen Lighting.
An enthusiastic collaborator, Anne is deeply passionate about lighting, design, and building meaningful connections across the design community. She is an active member of the American Institute of Architects and a past co-chair of the AIA Los Angeles Interiors Committee, where she remains actively involved.
A dedicated advocate for the arts and design, Anne has supported numerous cultural and educational events, exhibitions, and organizations. She is a recipient of the AIA Los Angeles Honorary Award and currently serves on the advisory board of LightEquity | Light for LA, a nonprofit advancing access to and awareness of quality lighting for Los Angeles’ fire-affected communities.
Pooja is an architect with over 20 years of experience in award-winning mixed-use and multi-family housing projects. She has designed, detailed, and managed diverse built projects that have demonstrated innovative design, which have contributed positively to the urban fabric, engaged the community, transformed the lives of those who occupy them, and have enjoyed exceptional economic success.
Coupled with his knowledge of architecture and passion for policies that support excellence in the built environment, Carlo Caccavale brings 17 years of experience at the American Institute of Architects Los Angeles chapter to his position as its Executive Director.
Carlo has initiated several AIA|LA conferences that contribute to the profession and the surrounding region, including Encompass, the AIA|LA Conference to Actualize Diversity and Inclusion; Design for Dignity, the AIA|LA conference focused on homelessness and housing affordability; and Powerful, Women Leading Design. To facilitate greater recognition for design excellence and widen the spectrum of offices participating in design awards programs, Carlo launched the Restaurant Design Awards in 2005 and the Residential Architecture Awards in 2016. In 2017, he initiated the chapter’s Architectural Photography Awards to recognize those who translate three-dimensional design into a single plane while capturing its essence.
Marisa Keckeisen is a licensed architect in California and an Associate Principal at Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architects LLP (ZGF), where she has played a leading role in the design and delivery of high-performance projects across a range of sectors, including healthcare, higher education, civic, sports, and research facilities. With a Bachelor of Architecture and a minor in Real Estate Development from the University of Southern California, Marisa brings a multidisciplinary approach to her work, integrating design excellence with sustainability and mentorship.
Her professional portfolio includes landmark projects such as the California Air Resources Board headquarters, City of Hope Orange County Cancer Center, and the University of Texas Arlington Life Science Building. Marisa has been a consistent advocate for sustainable design and has presented at national conferences including Greenbuild, I2SL, and the NetZero Conference.
Beyond her architectural work, Marisa is deeply committed to community engagement and mentorship. She serves as a board member for the Youth Business Alliance and mentors through the USC Architectural Guild and ACE Mentor Program. As Director of Emerging Design Professionals at ZGF, she fosters professional growth and a supportive culture for junior staff.
Marisa is a member of AIA, NOMA (Associate Member), USGBC California, and NCARB. She thrives in dynamic team environments and is known for her passion for design, problem-solving, and leadership.
Heather Renée Barker is an engaged citizen and an internationally active professor, keynote speaker, and practitioner of human experience design and strategy. She serves the Downtown Long Beach Design District Council, leading development of a creative economic district in the city. She has served on the Board of Directors of the American Institute of Architecture, Los Angeles as Academic Liaison, where she organized the 2023 and 2024 Academic Summits on Artificial Intelligence. As the AIA|LA Chair of the strategic Plan Taskforce, she led the chapter’s future-focused strategic plan. Her award-winning work is focused on inclusive human engagement with systems in educational, social, mobility, and environmental contexts, as well as business and innovation. In her work with the Bloomberg-Philanthropies funded Long Beach i-team and as Design Lead for the Long Beach Office of Civic Innovation, she has worked with multiple stakeholders, leading participatory action workshops to synthesize complex challenges through a human experience design framework. As an educational leader, she has the opportunity to constantly test and refine co-creative processes through interdisciplinary and collaborative projects in high- and low-tech participatory environments. At the core of her research, teaching, and practice is the changing human experience. Heather is founding coordinator of the Immersive Design Research Lab (IDRL), and the graduate Human Experience Design Interactions program (MA_HXDI) program, at California State University Long Beach. As the author of ‘Designing Post-Virtual Architectures: Wicked Tactics and World-Building’, published by Routledge, Heather is leading the discipline developing rigorous and actionable design methodologies across actual and synthetic realities.
Christos Chrysiliou, FAIA, CCM, LEED BD+C
Is the Chief Eco-Sustainability Officer for the Los Angeles Unified School District, where he leads the development and implementation of sustainable and renewable energy initiatives. His work focuses on reducing the District’s carbon and water footprint while advancing climate literacy across the community. Before this role, Christos served for over a decade as the Director of Architecture and Engineering Services within the Facilities Services Division of LAUSD.
A licensed architect, Christos is a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), a certified construction manager (CCM), and a LEED Accredited Professional (BD+C). With extensive expertise in architectural planning, design, sustainability, and construction, he has been at the forefront of LAUSD’s efforts to promote sustainable design practices, campus ecology, and the transition to clean energy and decarbonization, all while fostering healthier, more eco-friendly school environments.
Christos’s broad knowledge and experience enable him to lead complex programs that are both environmentally responsive and community-focused. His foresight on climate challenges has been instrumental in building strategic collaborations and directing teams of architects, engineers, sustainability specialists, and energy managers to create resilient educational facilities. Christos’s vision is to transition LAUSD to clean energy across all sectors, developing environments that utilize sustainable materials and techniques to protect and restore natural resources, while promoting the health and well-being of students, staff, and the broader community.
Dr. Giovanna Brasfield (Dr. G) is an award-winning CEO and principal consultant of Brasfield & Associates LLC, known for her visionary leadership and impact in the construction and infrastructure sectors. She specializes in developing inclusive strategies, stakeholder engagement, proposal development, and workforce and supplier diversity programs that drive measurable economic outcomes and long-term organizational value.
Dr. G holds several national and regional leadership roles, serving on the Boards of the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of America and its California Construction Education Foundation, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Los Angeles – Architecture for Communities, and the South Central Los Angeles Regional Center. She also co-chairs AGC of America’s Neurodiverse Taskforce, promoting inclusion for neurodivergent professionals in construction.
An international speaker and Autodesk 2024 Global Construction Champion, Dr. G is widely recognized for advancing organizational inclusion, economic equity, and sustainable change. She holds two doctorates from the University of La Verne (D.P.A. and Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership), an MBA from the University of Phoenix, and a BA from Mount St. Mary’s University.
Gary commenced his professional career 42 years ago as an administrator at Bobrow Thomas & Associates (BTA), where he gained foundational experience in the AEC field. Subsequently, Gary played a pivotal role in establishing the Los Angeles office of Anshen+Allen (now CO Architects), honing his skills over a decade of dedicated service. Transitioning to ARC Document Solutions as an Account Manager, Gary continued to excel in his career, leveraging his expertise and personal touch to serve clients effectively.
His involvement in the AEC community extended beyond his professional roles, as evidenced by his board memberships in organizations such as The Southern California Development Forum, where he chaired the philanthropy committee, and the ACE Mentor program, where he served as a board member and co-chair of the Spotlight Awards.
His commitment to excellence and service earned him well-deserved recognition within the industry, including the SMPS/LA 2024 Legacy Award as well as the prestigious 2019 Honorary AIA/LA award. Now retired, Gary’s dedication to the AEC community persists as he joins the board of the ACLA.
