WASLA Board of Directors

Effective November  2023

Committee Description

The Board of Directors administers the Washington Chapter of ASLA including chapter events, conferences, finances, membership and advocacy.

Tasks and Goals

The main tasks & goals of the Board of Directors include:

  • Establishing and maintaining Chapter Strategic Plan with goals and objectives in accordance with ASLA’s and our members’ priorities;
  • Identifying  programs, activities, and events to reach Strategic Plan objectives;
  • Approving proposed amendments to the Chapter Constitution and Bylaws;
  • Setting the time and place for the Chapter’s annual conference and annual awards reception;
  • Issuing public statements in the name of the Chapter;
  • Establishing annual dues;
  • Overseeing committee operations;
  • Supporting student chapter activities;
  • Adopting Chapter programs and annual budgets;
  • Preparing Chapter annual reports including year-end financial statements
  • Directing staff activities and contract support services; and
  • Serve as a conduit between ASLA and our members

Board of Directors Positions

PRESIDENT

Role:

  • Sets the time, place, and agenda for meetings of the Board of Directors;
  • Presides at meetings of the Chapter and the Board of Directors;
  • Represents and acts for the Chapter as directed by the Board of Directors and consistent with the policies of ASLA;
  • Appoints the chairs and members of committees with the approval of the Board of Directors,
  • Serves as a member of the Chapter Presidents Council;
  • Oversees the management and administration of Chapter programs and budgets as adopted by the Board of Directors;
  • Reports on the state of the Chapter at the annual meeting of the Chapter; and
  • Acts as the Board of Directors liaison for the “Membership and Social Events” Committee

President: Nicholas Zurlini, ASLA

Nicholas is a 2019 graduate from the University of Washington, who received a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree and Minor in Architecture.
 
At the University, he served as Co-President for the University of Washington Student Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architecture and discovered one of his greater passions exists in community outreach and engagement. He sought out ways to improve communication between students and faculty, connect his peers with professionals, and engage the community around him.
 
Nicholas hopes to integrate these passions into his career, and engage the profession with new typologies and frameworks of youth outreach and mentorship, that can better inform design thinking and build future generations of landscape architects.

 

PRESIDENT ELECT

President Elect: Michael Faulkner, ASLA

As our profession continues to evolve and faces growing challenges, I’m excited to see how our creative and collaborative nature will step towards further addressing issues such as climate change and inequality. I believe that landscape architecture is a diverse and powerful profession that can bring us together in new and exciting ways while reconnecting us with the natural ecosystem.
As a landscape architect with 20 years of experience designing public spaces, I have seen firsthand the power of collaboration and advocacy to improve the health, equity, and resiliency of our communities. This has included donating my time alongside community non-profits to design, build and fund community gardens and gathering spaces which have helped to improve the overall health and well-being of the surrounding neighborhoods.
During these past couple of years as a WASLA board member, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed mentoring and working alongside students and emerging professionals as their creativity, optimism, and commitment to sustainability is advancing our profession in inspiring ways. I look forward to building upon these experiences by continuing to serve WASLA and the landscape architecture community in the years to come.

TREASURER

Role:

  • Collects all fees, dues, charges, and other funds due the Chapter;
  • Is the custodian of all Chapter funds and disburses such funds only as authorized by the Board of Directors;
  • Keeps the accounts of the Chapter that shall be open at all times to inspection by the Board of Directors;
  • Presents quarterly reports on the financial condition of the Chapter and year-end financial statements to the Board of Directors;
  • Initiates preparation of the Chapter's annual budget;
  • Works with the Board of Directors and standing committees regarding event budgets and sponsorships;
  • Acts as the Board of Directors liaison for the “Audit" and "Tellers" Committee.

Treasurer: Su Wanqin, ASLA


As a landscape architect with 5 years of experience, Su has worked in the San Francisco Bay Area, New Orleans, Shanghai, and Southeast China, before arriving in Seattle in 2017.

Growing up in a populated City along the Chinese coast, she has always been fascinated with how humans and the environment drive the transformation of each other. Her passion as a landscape architect is to create designs that speak to the nature of the site, as well as provide amenities for local communities to enjoy.

Currently, she is a member of the City of Redmond Design Review Board, and a Co-leader for Magnuson Park Children’s Garden Design Committee. She is interested in financial aspects of the practice and sees the treasurer position as an opportunity to hone her skills and be a leader.

SECRETARY

Role:

  • Maintains a record of the proceedings of the Chapter's Board of Directors meetings;
  • Leads compilation of and issues the Chapter's Board of Directors meeting agendas;
  • Administers annual and special elections: prepares, issues, and receives election ballots, and notifies candidates of election results;
  • Maintains the Constitution and Bylaws of the Chapter;
  • Organizes and sets the dates and times for the monthly Board of Directors Meetings;
  • Acts as the Board of Directors liaison for the "Public Relations & Communications" Committee.

Secretary: Jason Henry, ASLA

As a principal with Berger Partnership, Jason has built a practice around urban ecology and integrating ecological themes into the urban environment. Over the past twenty-four years his experience has involved every level of project development from master planning through construction completion for a wide array of project typologies, all bound by the philosophy that his work is an opportunity to educate people about the environments and communities in which they live while enriching their daily lives through placemaking and meaningful design. His collaborative work style and passion for creating lasting and memorable environments is evident in all of his work.

 

TRUSTEE

Role:

  • Stays informed on Chapter and Society goals and objectives, policies, programs, services, activities and events;
  • Serves as the Chapter representative on the Board of Trustees of ASLA;
  • Facilitates the conduct of the business of ASLA by bringing the Chapter perspective to the Board of Trustees and the national perspective to the Board of Directors and members of the Chapter;
  • Facilitates the conduct of the business of the Board of Trustees by serving on standing councils or committees, special study groups or task forces, or as a representative or delegate of the Society; and acts as the Board of Directors liaison for the “Advocacy” and “Fellowship & Scholarship” Committees.

Trustee: Tim Slazinik, ASLA

A Senior Associate and Senior Landscape Architect at GGLO in Seattle, I have dedicated many years to ASLA both on the National and State Levels. As a Past President of the Washington Chapter, I have helped to guide and plan for the chapter, including state conferences, awards ceremonies, and many other local and statewide events and functions. I have since had the honor of serving as the Chair of the Chapter Presidents Council at National ASLA. Prior to moving to Washington State, I also served as President of the St. Louis Chapter of ASLA, and in many other roles within that chapter.
As a licensed Landscape Architect with over 18 years in the industry, I have worked in both the private and public sectors. My work ranges from Corporate Headquarters to Local Parks, and from Urban Streetscapes to Rooftop Amenities. My involvement with ASLA and the relationships I’ve created within ASLA have helped to guide my career path and make impactful connections over many years. I feel the time is right that I step up to serve our profession and state professional community again but seeking the trustee position within WASLA. I look forward to focusing on the many issues that affect and threaten our profession, as well as helping us capitalize on the many unique opportunities we have to make change around us.

 

MEMBERS-AT-LARGE

Role:

  • Represents a cross-section of the Chapter’s regional membership;
  • Acts as the Board of Directors liaison for the “Student and Emerging Professionals” Committee;
  • Acts as the Board of Directors liaison for university professional advisory councils or boards
  • Acts as the Board of Directors liaison for WASLA student chapters.

Members-at-Large:

Statewide Member-at-Large: Harley Pan

Harley Pan is a marketing and digital media professional who has a hybrid background in landscape architecture. Since 2013, he has worked in an urban design firm, several university marketing departments, and is currently working at Sabey Corporation / Sabey Data Centers as a digital media producer and marketing advisor. Harley is frequently invited to give public lectures on visual media production and marketing, and he advocates for the importance of media and presentation strategies in the environmental design industry.
Harley excels at crafting business films, documentaries, public space design stories, marketing logic, and presentation strategies. In 2017, he won a Telly Award for his work. He is a strategist, workflow-focused marketer, artist, and creative researcher.

 

Eastern Washington Member-at-Large: Michael Sanchez, ASLA

I’m a registered landscape architect with more than 25 years of experience spread over the western states of California, Oregon, Washington and Idaho. I’m also an assistant professor of practice in landscape architecture at Washington State University.  My practice career spans the design typologies of commercial, mixed-use and urban design including green stormwater infrastructure; hospitality and resort design; civic, cultural and institutional projects such as educational and medical facilities, museums as well as regional and local parks and open space design; and many housing and community development projects, both affordable and market rate.  Creating community and a sense of place at a local scale, through excellent design using the processes of community engagement is a passion of mine.
My teaching focuses on all design phases (conceptual, design development, construction documentation and construction administration), beginning with foundational drawing, but particularly in site engineering, storm water management, construction technology and documentation at Washington State University’s School of Design and Construction. I advise our student chapter of NAMLA (National Association of Minorities in Landscape Architecture) and as part of meeting our university’s land grant mission, I co-direct our school’s Rural Communities Design Initiative (RCDI), a university/community partnership with a passion and concern for using the design of the built and natural environment to improve the quality of life for underrepresented populations and compromised landscapes in the Pacific Northwest.
I look forward to this role, representing WASLA and the Eastern side of our state, especially in developing professional relationships, creating networks between academia and practice, and connecting students with practitioners in this amazing profession of landscape architecture!

 

Western Washington Member-at-Large:Rhiannon Neuville


For more information please contact WASLA at Phone: 360-867-8820;  Email: [email protected]