Elizabeth Zucker
President
We believe that “none of us is as strong as all of us.”
We are architects, engineers, designers, and planners. We are urbanists, conceptual thinkers, artists, environmentalists, builders, and problem-solvers. We are dreamers and pragmatists, thinkers and doers, big-picture strategists and sweat-the-small-stuff tacticians. We are collaborators. We take particular pride in the range of experiences of our people and recognize the rich mix of talent and synergy this brings.
LJC has created a model for architecture, engineering, landscape, master planning, and interiors that uniquely combines the collective experiences of our talented staff. We strive to be a workplace committed to doing the right thing, not just one content to check the right boxes. With this emphasis and focus, we can foster a more inclusive company – an LJC that reflects our values in its project work and practice.
President
Chief Executive Officer
Executive Leader of Engineering
Executive Leader of Architecture
Executive Leader of Design Creativity & Innovation
Executive Leader of FP&A Business
Executive Leader of Talent
As President of Lamar Johnson Collaborative, Elizabeth oversees all aspects of the operations, including business development, marketing and sales, and serves as a mentor to the cross-functional teams within the business units working alongside her. She is most passionate about people and building places for individuals to bring their best ideas and be their best selves. She spent the first 25 years of her career at Herman Miller and then Interior Investments of St. Louis within the contract furniture industry creating great places to work and heal inside of buildings. At Clayco, she is doubling down on the next 25 years, inspiring the believers and the builders to continue growing their businesses in the St.Louis region.
Elizabeth currently serves as the Board President for Arch Grants, a non-profit committed to building the future economy in St. Louis by attracting and retaining entrepreneurs to the St. Louis Community. She also continues to serve within YPO, the largest community of chief executives in the world committed to becoming better leaders and better people, including having served as the 2019-2020 Global Chairman.
Zackery House, RCDD, OSP, RTPM, ITIL | Chief Executive Officer
As the new Chief Executive Officer at Lamar Johnson Collaborative (LJC) and Clayco Design and Engineering (CDE), Zac is at the forefront of innovative leadership within the architecture, engineering, and construction industry. Leading a dynamic and expert leadership team, Zac is central to advancing the company’s mission and vision for the future of the built environment. His role is instrumental in integrating cutting-edge technology to elevate buildings into spaces that not only exist but interact, creating intelligent, responsive experiences for occupants. With his strategic foresight, Zac has been a catalyst for change by fostering the convergence of digital and physical systems within LJC/CDE’s projects, delivering unrivaled economic, social, and experiential value for their clients’ real estate portfolios.
Justin Burgoon, PE, SE | Executive Leader of Engineering
With over 19 years of design and project management experience, Justin brings a large portfolio of industrial, life sciences, commercial, residential, institutional, and mission-critical expertise. As the executive director of engineering, Justin provides strategic leadership and oversight across all engineering disciplines. He works alongside a dynamic leadership team to ensure technical excellence and consistency while also driving innovation, collaboration, and efficiency
Sarah Jacobson, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, ND | Executive Leader of Architecture
Sarah provides extensive experience in both architecture and construction management. A licensed project architect, she has been involved in all aspects of project delivery from conceptual design through construction administration.
Sarah has led teams on a variety of developments across the globe, including office buildings, hotels, higher education, and high rise, in both new construction and adaptive reuse. A passionate advocate for Chicago, she is committed to improving the quality of life in our city and volunteers with several architectural organizations, as well as serving on the Planning and Advocacy Committee for the Chicago Loop Alliance and the local product council for the Urban Land Institute.
Sarah’s projects have won numerous awards including the ULI Global Award for Excellence, AIA Chicago Divine Detail Award, and the Greater Chicago Food Depository Redevelopment of the Year.
Tyler Meyr, AIA, LEED AP | Executive Leader of Design Creativity & Innovation
As an Executive Leader and award-winning designer with LJC, Tyler Meyr is a leading conceptual thinker with a strong national and international portfolio of projects, including built work in Los Angeles, London, Antwerp, St. Louis, and Istanbul. Having earned his Bachelor’s and Master of Architecture from Tulane University and Master of Architecture in Urban Design from Harvard University, he utilizes 20 years of experience in urban design, planning, and architecture to address the complex challenges of today’s urban environment.
His unique blend of urban design and architecture allows him to serve as a link between the disciplines, synthesizing context and program, along with the input of vital stakeholders into a cohesive vision. As a lead designer, Tyler strategically integrates diverse inputs into vibrant, distinctive, and inclusive environments. Tyler’s passion for cities and their public spaces make LJC a dream opportunity to collectively envision and advocate for the future.
He also contributes to both civic and academic discourse by serving as a board member on the Chicago Central Area Committee and as a Lecturer at the Sam Fox School, College of Architecture & Graduate School of Architecture and Urban Design at Washington University. He has served as a visiting Design Critic at Harvard Graduate School of Design, Illinois Institute of Technology, and the University of Hong Kong.
Patrick Hardin | Executive Leader of FP&A Business
Pat Hardin draws on two decades of professional experience—including 10 years in dedicated financial leadership roles—to steer the company’s commercial and organizational strategy. Pat believes that sound financial strategy is the hallmark of a successful enterprise, and uses this deep foundation to provide the LJC team with the precise financial insights and tools needed to stay focused on continuous improvement and long-term value. With extensive experience in developing enterprise-wide initiatives, Pat views finance as more than a department; it is the compass to stay on course for the entire organization’s success.
Matthew Richardson, LEED AP | Executive Leader of Talent
Matt serves as an advocate for LJC’s people, their career paths, and our firm culture. As a member of the Executive Leadership team, his focus is on integrating LJC’s talent operations with parent company Clayco and its enterprise of companies. Working in collaboration with Clayco peers and LJC colleagues, he connects our people to their benefits and talent development programs. Matt organizes LJC’s promotions and annual performance review processes while working with the leadership team to help facilitate compensation reviews and conversations. He consults with and counsels LJC’s President, CEO, and Executive Chairman and carries out special projects that sustain and advance our design firm. Matt champions LJC’s culture, especially its values of integrity, humility, and fearlessness; and is a proponent of the firm’s broad-based community engagement efforts. He is honored to represent Clayco and LJC as a board member for Chicago Public Media, the parent of WBEZ and the Chicago Sun-Times.
Industrial Market Leader
Institutional Market Leader
Studio & Talent Leader
Industrial Business Unit Leader
Industrial Market Leader
Commercial Market Leader
Regional Market Leader – Chicago
Commercial Business Unit Leader
Regional Market Leader – Los Angeles
Aviation Market Leader
Hospitality Market Leader
Building Services Engineering Leader
Life Sciences Market Leader
Residential Market Leader
Institutional Market Leader
Process Engineering Leader
Commercial Market Leader
Residential Market Leader
Institutional Business Unit Leader
Residential Market Leader
Residential Business Unit Leader
Compute Market Leader
Cory Adams, AIA | Industrial Market Leader
Cory brings over 25 years of experience in construction and architectural design, with a portfolio of industrial, commercial, residential, office, automotive and retail projects, including several large-scale fulfillment centers for a leading e-commerce company. As a Principal and an Industrial Market Leader, he is responsible for overseeing and leading the growth of the industrial market on the West Coast and managing projects from initial planning through the completion of construction. Along with his architectural experience, Cory’s background in construction provides him with a unique perspective on all projects and helps him to communicate effectively with the construction teams.
Erik Andersen, AIA, LEED AP, ACHA | Institutional Market Leader
Known by his clients and colleagues as an effective collaborator, Erik Andersen has led design efforts on transformational projects for prominent medical centers and large institutional clients across the U.S. and internationally. His award-winning work has been featured in a number of prominent publications, including World Architecture News, Architectural Record, and Healthcare Design magazine. He leverages his 30-plus years of design experience in the planning and design of healthcare, education, and research environments. Erik provides leadership and mentorship on project teams, integrating all design & engineering disciplines in collaboration with the client and construction management teams. He has a proven track record of building strong, long-lasting client relationships as a trusted partner.
Lina Chiu, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, NCARB | Studio & Talent Leader
Lina entered the architecture and interior design field in 2000 and has since garnered extensive experience in a wide variety of project types. She is multi-disciplinary and works consistently among different practice areas, including mixed-use developments, residential, hospitality, retail, and workplace projects. Her diverse experience enables her to approach complex projects with a unique perspective resulting in innovative solutions for the client. Lina provides the design and technical expertise required to execute all phases of the project and is committed to delivering projects aligned with the clients’ vision and goals.
Chris Connelly | Industrial Business Unit Leader
Chris Connelly is a results-driven engineering and construction leader with more than 13 years of experience supporting clients in the food and beverage, consumer products, pharmaceutical, pulp and paper, and industrial manufacturing sectors. As Vice President of Consumer Products at Clayco, Chris guides strategy, business development, and project execution efforts, working closely with clients to design and deliver facilities that improve operational performance, integrate advanced automation, and support long-term growth.
John Cross | Industrial Market Leader
With 13 years of experience in process engineering, project management, and design management, John brings deep expertise in the automotive and EV battery sectors. His career has spanned the development of manufacturing equipment for fuel, air, and emissions control systems, and more recently, EV battery production. He has led both process and project engineering teams and has managed the design of large-scale EV battery gigafactories.
In his current role as Director of Advanced Manufacturing, John serves as a subject matter expert supporting high-tech manufacturing projects, while also contributing to business development efforts. Known for his strong problem-solving abilities, cross-functional collaboration, and results-driven mindset, he plays a key role in driving innovation and delivering high-impact solutions.
Meghan Dougovito, NCIDQ, IIDA, LEED GA | Commercial Market Leader
Meghan, an esteemed designer, recently joined LJC as a Senior Interior Designer. With 19 years of experience and unparalleled expertise, Meghan excels in managing designers, architects, and consultants, enabling her to deliver exceptional interiors and FF&E collections for various project types nationwide.
Clients want Meghan on their team because she excels at balancing design and execution, ensuring the delivery of the best possible spaces that align with their goals. She listens carefully to understand their drivers and prioritizes their needs throughout the design process. This client-centric approach has earned her high praise from previous clients. She ensures that every detail reflects the client’s company, culture, and desired interior atmosphere. Clients describe Meghan as a calm presence, efficiently managing projects behind the scenes while bringing comfort and stability to every situation. She values being present throughout the process, engaging with clients from the beginning to understand their objectives and delivering on their vision.
Meghan’s remarkable communication skills, visionary design approach, and expertise in managing a team, make her a valuable advocate and champion for our client’s aspirations, ensuring their vision comes to life through the design process. Her unwavering dedication to creating innovative, dynamic, and sustainable office environments underscores her commitment to understanding and surpassing the needs of the modern workforce. With Meghan on board, LJC further solidifies its position as a leader in transforming spaces into remarkable, purpose-driven environments.
Lisa Dziekan | Principal, Regional Market Leader – Chicago
As a Principal focused on Economic Development, Lisa brings extensive experience and a strategic approach to creating Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) that drive economic development with a lens on the partners and innovation ecosystems that are leading growing industry opportunities. Formerly the Senior Vice President of Business Development at World Business Chicago, Lisa played a key role in securing over 410 project wins and creating 9,000 jobs, significantly contributing to Chicago’s recognition as a top region for corporate relocation and expansion. At LJC, Lisa is responsible for driving forward projects, initiatives and relationships that propel growth and impact across Chicagoland and other markets for LJC, Clayco, and its subsidiaries.
Al Fiesel, NCIDQ, IIDA, Associate AIA | Commercial Business Unit Leader
Al has over 30 years of experience in the design industry. His areas of expertise include programming, lease negotiations, schematic design, design development, initial budget development, issuance of contract documents, and construction administration. Throughout Al’s career, he has delivered over 58M SF of architecture, corporate shell & core, and interior projects.
Rob Jernigan, FAIA, LEED AP | Regional Market Leader – Los Angeles
Rob Jernigan’s years of experience have been driven by his deep understanding of the science of architecture and his desire to continually improve upon it. Rob possesses an instinctive ability to bring together diverse teams on behalf of a common goal, whether that goal is a high-rise office tower or a community outreach program. From pioneering fast-track methods for expediting delivery in the public and private sectors to redefining the state-of-the-art investment-grade commercial building through the integration of sustainable design, Rob has remained in the vanguard. Rob’s work includes multiple award-winning and highly complex projects.
Jim Jobes, AIA | Aviation Market Leader
As Senior Principal, Jim helps drive studio development in the aviation/aerospace and industrial/advanced manufacturing markets. For over 25 years, Jim has managed global teams and large-scale design and construction projects for Fortune 500s, such as Southwest Airlines, Amazon Air, and John Deere, in addition to establishing new offices for strategic growth. He holds an M.Arch from the University of Oregon.
Jeffrey Kim | Hospitality Market Leader
With over 25 years of experience, Jeffrey Kim leads the Hospitality practice with a vision for designing transformative, guest-centered environments. His portfolio spans luxury hotels, resort destinations, mixed-use developments, and cultural spaces—each crafted to deliver immersive experiences that seamlessly integrate storytelling, technology, and sustainable design.
A former educator at USC, Jeffrey brings a research-driven, design-forward approach to every project. His leadership is grounded in innovation, placemaking, and a deep understanding of the evolving expectations of today’s global travelers. He is attuned to each client’s need for creative, intelligent solutions that elevate both brand and experience.
Building Services Engineering Leader
Kyle has nearly 30 years of experience in mechanical system design, temperature control system design and programming, building system commissioning, energy conservation, project management, and multi-disciplinary business unit leadership. He seeks project solutions to meet the needs and capabilities of the client’s operational staff and requirements. His passion for energy-efficient and sustainable systems and solutions brings the tools needed to meet the client’s organizational goals. His relevant experience includes projects in Life Science Laboratories, Plant Science Laboratories, Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, Healthcare, and Mission Critical facilities.
John Lagodney | Life Sciences Market Leader
John has more than 23 years of progressive design and management experience on life sciences capital expenditure projects. He has successfully delivered greenfield scopes from master planning through construction, start-up, and commissioning, as well as extremely complex retrofit projects. With projects ranging from less than $1M TIC up to $500M TIC he has responsibility for executive management of budget, schedule, planning, resource commitments, technical design quality, and, ultimately, client satisfaction.
My-Nga Lam, AIA, LEED AP, NCARB | Residential Market Leader
As an architect in Chicago for over 20 years, My-Nga has left her mark on the industry, the firms she has worked with, and iconic properties in Chicago and beyond. As design principal, My-Nga oversees all design work in luxury residential and hospitality projects. With a keen understanding of lifestyle needs and how people genuinely occupy their spaces, she leads an insightful, strategic design process that balances the goals of the clients, the needs of the end user, and the inherent interplay between a building and its surroundings.
Amy Luchun, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, NCARB | Institutional Market Leader
Amy recognizes the success of a project begins with a strong client relationship. Developing the initial design concept into a built project and understanding the client’s expectations is an asset she brings to every client and team. She prides herself on not only her diverse architectural skill set but also the numerous projects she has led through construction. From coordinating historic rehabilitation to incorporating new cutting-edge technology, Amy enjoys and appreciates the challenge of collaboration within the architecture industry.
Lorrie McKenney | Process Engineering Leader
Lorrie is a senior piping designer with diversified experience in mechanical equipment design and coordination in food and beverage processing and bulk material handling areas. Successfully executing full mechanical and piping design engineering projects, from front-end engineering packages to design built.
Dave Myers, RA, LEED AP, NCARB | Commercial Market Leader
Dave is a Project Manager with over 20 years of comprehensive design experience working on commercial, educational, residential, healthcare, and entertainment projects. His expertise lies in leading complex projects with large audio/visual show experiences and theme park rides. Dave’s breadth of experience informs his creative and thoughtful solution-driven mindset. A life-long lover of learning, Dave can often be found with his head in a book if he is not already drawing or building a model looking for the best solution to any challenge.
Bob Neely, AIA, LEED AP BD+C | Residential Market Leader
As Principal and Market Leader, Bob approaches the design, management and execution of projects from a holistic point of view in response to the unique qualities of program, site and community. With more than 30 years in the profession, his hands-on leadership with interdisciplinary collaboration has allowed him to develop and deliver projects aligned with client’s visions and goals. His professional experience includes student living, multi-family, high-rise residential, commercial mixed-use, historic adaptation and cultural projects throughout the U.S., Europe and China.
Eduardo Perez, AIA, NCARB | Institutional Business Unit Leader
Eduardo has over 25 years of experience in architectural design, urban design, and project management in a truly collaborative spirit. He offers a diverse project management experience with complicated project types and a honed ability to coordinate multiple user groups and complex teams. Eduardo fosters consensus among stakeholders and relishes challenging aspirational projects. He prides himself on an open and accountable collaborative team setting where the team focuses on ideas, not people or authorship.
Jeff Smith, AIA, NCARB | Residential Market Leader
With 25 years of experience in architecture and design, Jeff has spent the last 15 years specializing in multi-family residential projects, delivering thoughtful and impactful designs across various scales. Known for his strategic insight and collaborative approach, Jeff works closely with studio and market leaders, managing project teams through all phases of design, documentation, and construction. In addition to his project work, he recruits and manages key talent for the Denver market and assists in the management of the Denver team. Jeff’s expertise in early-stage project development, including financial modeling and conceptual pro forma, allows him to provide clients with informed, data-driven recommendations. Passionate about numbers and great design, he thrives on creating spaces that enhance how people experience the world.
Tom Steidl, AIA, LEED AP BD+C | Residential Business Unit Leader
With 20 years of experience in the residential, mixed-use, and creative office sectors, Tom has designed award-winning work spanning the United States. Based in Los Angeles, Tom has spent the most recent part of his career focused on residential projects in the southwest region of the country. He has designed over 10,000 dwelling units and 500,000 SF of creative office and retail space in projects with a combined construction cost of more than $3 billion. He also designed and developed two award-winning adaptive reuse loft projects in Los Angeles.
Anu Tharanath, NCARB, LEED AP | Compute Market Leader
Anu Tharanath serves as the National Business Unit Leader for LJC, where she drives strategic planning, business development, and team-building initiatives across the organization.
With over 20 years of experience in designing and delivering complex public and private infrastructure, Anu is a seasoned leader with a proven track record across mission-critical, manufacturing, commercial, institutional, medical, and aviation sectors. She has held roles of increasing responsibility throughout her career and has successfully led both domestic and international teams on high-profile Design-Build projects.
Renowned for her ability to cultivate high-performing, deeply engaged teams, Anu builds long-standing partnerships with repeat clients by fostering trust, collaboration, and excellence.