About Us
We design meaningful landscapes by understanding the history, nature, culture, and future of each place.
We started Rock Design Associates because we believe the places we build carry responsibilities to the land, to the communities that inhabit them, and to the species that depend on them.
We work at the intersection of ecology, culture, and design, bringing together diverse expertise to shape places that endure. We lead with purpose, grounding every project in a place’s history, ecology, and the species it supports before a single line is drawn.
Every project we take on is a collaboration with our clients, the communities we serve, and the land itself. We believe the most enduring places are the ones that honor what was there, amplify the voices of those who will shape and steward them, and evolve intentionally to serve their purpose over time.
Meet the team behind the work
Get to know the people who bring thoughtfulness, creativity, and care to our work.
Stay connected.
Have a project in mind or a place that deserves thoughtful attention? We’d welcome the opportunity to learn more and explore what’s possible.
Robert Rock
With twenty years of professional experience at every scale of project management across the continental United States, Rock’s upbringing on a rural Iowa family farm instilled in him a sense of resourcefulness, frugality, and pragmatism that permeates every facet of his work. In 2010, while at MVVA, Rock led the winning team in the ARC International Wildlife Crossing Competition, a globally recognized event that cemented Rock’s reputation as an expert in innovative design for wildlife connectivity. Rock brings his expertise and professional connections to a series of wildlife crossing projects at Rock Design Associates LLC, including the largest such project in the world: the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing in Agoura Hills, California.
Jamie Stoltz
Jamie Stoltz views operations as an integrated system powering people and processes. As Director of Operations, she constructs and sharpens organizational systems that drive teams to navigate change with clarity. She aligns people, processes, and tools to achieve scalable, adaptive solutions, consistently leading teams through adoption and transformation. Jamie is recognized for her direct, hands-on approach to change management, ensuring new systems are fully embraced. Grounded in a people-first mindset, Jamie believes strong operations promote collaboration, results, and long-term growth. At work and beyond, Jamie enjoys tending, exploring, getting her hands dirty, and appreciating the beauty in often overlooked details.
Alec Spangler
Alec Spangler is a landscape architect and assistant professor at the Penn State Stuckeman School of Design. He was a Senior Associate at Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates (MVVA) until 2017, working on a wide range of projects from small public gardens to regional plans. Since then, he has used his professional experience to lead first- and second-year undergraduate studios focusing on design fundamentals and the broad possibilities of landscape. He remains connected to professional practice through his role at RDA, where he specializes in high-level graphic and written communication.
Terrie Brightman
Terrie, a registered landscape architect and project manager, has twenty years of experience leading conceptual design, construction documentation, and construction administration for complex urban projects. Her work has included waterfront parks, public plazas, multimodal projects, and campus gathering spaces. Prior to joining RDA, Terrie worked at Merritt Chase and Strada in Pittsburgh, PA, and at Mathews Nielsen Landscape Architects (MNLA) and Robert AM Stern Architects in NYC. Terrie is an active member of ASLA and A/DE ASLA. She serves as a Board Member of the Avonworth Municipal Authority and is the President of the Penn State Landscape Architecture Alumni Program Group. She has been published in the Architects Newspaper and Metropolis POV. Terrie holds a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from the Pennsylvania State University.
Katie Rodriguez
Katie Rodriguez is a Senior Biologist from California. She holds a B.S. in Conservation and Organismal Biology and an M.S. in Conservation Biology and Ecology. Katie completed her Master’s thesis on black bear-vehicle collisions while working in Yosemite National Park as a wildlife ranger and has over a decade of experience in wildlife management and road ecology in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Great Basin, and Mojave Desert of California. During her nine-year tenure at the California Department of Transportation, she led efforts to plan, design, and construct two Yosemite toad wildlife crossing structures and two mule deer under crossings on a shoulder widening project, and she proposed and received a $3 million grant from the CA Wildlife Conservation Board for the Mammoth Lakes Wildlife Crossing project. Katie has also led several stakeholder groups throughout California to implement and plan wildlife connectivity projects. In her spare time, Katie and her partner James enjoy mountain biking, backpacking, gardening, going to concerts, and playing with her two dogs, Sage and Sequoia.
Toni Johnson
Toni Johnson is a Communications Specialist with expertise in brand strategy, digital marketing, and storytelling. At Rock Design Associates, she supports strategic communications, content development, and digital engagement initiatives, helping translate complex planning, design, and sustainability concepts into clear, compelling messages. Her work focuses on connecting organizations with the communities they serve through thoughtful content, audience-centered communication, and strategic outreach. With experience supporting nonprofits, mission-driven organizations, and small businesses, Toni believes that strong communication builds stronger relationships, stronger brands, and greater impact.
Marissa Angell
Marissa’s deep and enduring obsession with all things plant-related was a natural catalyst for becoming a registered landscape architect. With a decade of experience in the field and as the owner of Angell Landscape Architecture, Marissa relishes using her planting expertise as a cornerstone of her own practice and as a consultant for Rock Design Associates. Prior to collaborating with RDA, Marissa has worked with Miranda Brooks Landscape Design, Larry Weaner Landscape Associates, LVLA, LPLA, and more. She is a graduate of Harvard’s Graduate School of Design and Cornell University. Marissa is licensed in NY and CT.
Shannon Fusaro
Shannon Fusaro is a wildlife biologist with over thirteen years of experience in wildlife research, conservation biology, and ecological management. She earned her Master of Science in Wildlife Biology from the University of Montana, where she studied habitat selection and predator-prey dynamics in endangered Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep. Shannon has contributed to projects involving wolves, mountain lions, black bears, fishers, bobcats, deer, elk, bighorn sheep, and various reptiles and aquatic species. She has worked for state and federal agencies, private consulting firms, and non-profits across the country.Throughout her career, she has combined scientific research, GIS analysis, habitat assessment, and collaborative management to support effective conservation planning initiatives. Shannon is passionate about wildlife and ecological stewardship, utilizing adaptive management to develop science-based conservation strategies that balance environmental resilience with practical land management solutions.Outside of work, Shannon focuses on raising her young daughter and managing her family's horse farm. She and her family enjoy horseback riding, hunting, camping, and exploring any outdoor adventure they can imagine.
Corey Nelson
With over fifteen years of professional experience ranging from design to construction, Corey has a passion for detailing and extensive knowledge of practical constructability. Having spent his youth immersed in the construction industry, his work ethic, personal responsibility, and ingenuity helped to cultivate his character, preparing him for a career in landscape architecture. During his time at Iowa State University, he was able to travel extensively, exploring design and construction techniques in different cultures around the globe, offering him a worldly perspective that continues to inform his work and apply his considerable talents to his craft.
Shahab Albahar
Shahab has recently completed his Ph.D. in urban and environmental planning from the University of Virginia. His research interests revolve around the intersection of social and environmental justice in the built environment. His dissertation mainly focused on exploring the impact of urban redevelopment on marginalized communities in Washington, DC. Since May 2022, he has been supporting the National Weather Service Office of Water Prediction in its mission to disseminate Flood Inundation Mapping services nationwide by designing and developing educational materials related to river floods. He has received formal training in landscape architecture from the Graduate School of Design and holds a dual bachelor's degree in architecture and fine arts from the Rhode Island School of Design. Apart from his professional endeavors, Shahab finds his passion for travel and enjoys exploring new destinations. He also has a keen interest in cartography and is an avid aviation enthusiast, finding inspiration and creativity in the skies above.
Jamie Seguerra
Jamie Seguerra holds a master’s degree in Geography & Environmental Studies from California State University, Northridge, where her graduate research focused on habitat quality indicators for salmon spawning grounds in the San Joaquin River. She has a background in fluvial geomorphology, river restoration, anadromous fish, GIS, and all things drones and field surveying. While at Caltrans, she worked in environmental compliance for transportation projects, environmental project management, and wildlife connectivity. She likes to take a holistic approach to project development and implementation that balances people and the environment. Outside of work, she enjoys riding her horse, exploring and traveling with her partner and her dog Riley, and foraging for wild edibles.
Makala Gibson
Raised in the rural forests of Alabama, Makala has a passion for native plant design and increasing biodiversity in our environments. She has worked on designs in a number of locations across the United States, ranging from xeric gardens in California to lush tropical sites in Florida. Makala received her Master of Science in Landscape Architecture from Auburn University in 2020. During her studies, she focused on sustainable water practices, native ecological impact, and the intersection of education and the environment. Makala earned the 2020 Distinguished Leadership Award for a Planning Student Team from Alabama APA for her work with Pell City, designing plant-based brownfield remediation strategies. She is driven by her goal to create beautiful, native environments that are inclusive of all.
Joe Bivona
Originally from Connecticut and now settled in Los Angeles, Joe graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture from the University of Connecticut and earned his Master of Landscape Architecture with distinction from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design. He brings a unique set of skills to the RDA team, having spent over a decade at Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates in New York, working on and managing many of MVVA’s most visible projects in the US and in Canada. More recently, he has expanded his design acumen with his work in the Architecture and Interior Design field as a part of NAINOA Architecture & Interiors, working with a number of notable clients across the globe.
Jarin Tumpa
Jarin holds a Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), where she was her program’s 2024 LAF Olmsted Scholar. With a commitment to multidisciplinary collaboration and community partnership, she is passionate about reimagining urban infrastructure to bring nature back into our cities. During her time at UIUC, Jarin enjoyed volunteering in campus gardens and continues to expand her knowledge of native plants in the Midwest. Jarin’s upbringing in Bangladesh instilled a deep concern in her about the impacts of climate change in Southeast Asia and around the world.
Livi Dietrich
Propelled by a childlike curiosity for exploring the world around her, Livi obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies with Honors from the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC). During her three years at UCSC, Livi juggled several roles and hobbies, including playing goalkeeper on the UCSC Women’s Club Soccer Team, mentoring incoming freshmen as a Peer Navigator, and learning Italian. She also received recognition for her academic excellence at UCSC, earning the College Nine Leadership Award, College Nine Academic Distinction, and Terry Freitas Scholarship Award. Since returning home to Orange County, California, Livi has served the City of Irvine as a Community Services Leader and as a volunteer in local restoration efforts.
Lama Hasan
Lama brings a passion for cities, cultural heritage, and storytelling to landscape architecture. With experience in cultural and historic projects across Washington, DC, as well as international work in Nigeria and Thailand, she has managed unique and diverse projects such as The Falls Project in Minneapolis, Minnesota - an indigenous-led design and engagement process. Inspired by her upbringing in Saudi Arabia and the West Bank, Lama is driven by the resilience of communities and nature amidst rapidly evolving landscapes, seeing design as a means to infuse spaces with narratives of resilience, hope, and joy.
Jewlya Samaniego
Jewlya Samaniego is a proud enrolled tribal member of the Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians and serves as the tribal ethnobotanist. With deep roots in her community and traditional knowledge, she advocates for the preservation of native plants and their cultural significance. She is the Nursery Co-Manager for the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing and an active member of the LA Prescribed Burn Association, building community capacity for cultural and ecological fire management. Her work focuses on bridging Indigenous wisdom with modern ecological practices to promote biodiversity and environmental resilience. A devoted single mother of four, she is a fierce advocate for environmental health, Indigenous heritage, and the future of her children.
Jose Campos
Jose Campos has over 5 years of professional experience in horticulture, with California native plants. Most of the projects he has been a part of have focused on ecological restoration in the Santa Monica Mountains. As an Indigenous Mexican, his cultural background brings a unique perspective to his work through traditional ecological knowledge (TEK). Jose’s connection to the land comes from his family, which has been campesinos in Michoacán and Yucatán for generations. Currently, he is co-managing the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing project nursery.
Martin Egemo
Martin brings an incredibly unique skill set to the RDA team as a digital modeling specialist and a LEGO aficionado. His YouTube channel, TMX Brick Notes, where he showcases custom designs of his own creation and provides guidance to fellow builders, has attracted over half a million views. His collaboration with Robert Rock on the LEGO version of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing has been entered into the LEGO Ideas Competition and has already captured the imaginations of many, and with any luck, will be considered for production.
Paul Drummond
Paul has worked for interdisciplinary design studios for the last 13+ years, in Baltimore and New York City. His experience and inspiration stem from a working agricultural upbringing in Maryland and exposure to diverse landscapes at home and abroad. Paul focuses on attention to detail and progressing projects through the design development process. He has been published in Landscape Architecture Magazine on wildlife crossings and has presented on the topic at national conferences such as ICOET & ASLA. Paul received a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from the University of Maryland, and currently resides on his family farm in Maryland.