These promotions represent our commitment to shaping a resilient and future-forward organization. As we continue to grow and adapt to new industry challenges, our people remain our greatest strength.
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05.02.2025
Announcing Our 2025 Promotions Cohort
We are pleased to announce firmwide promotions that underscore our continued commitment to excellence, the professional development of our people, and to an award-winning work culture that empowers individuals at all levels of the organization to do their best, most creative work.
Studio Directors Katherine Tong, IIDA, NCIDQ, and Natasha Tashian, IIDA, NCIDQ, have been elevated to the position of Senior Principal. Both are proven design and business leaders who have been instrumental in the realization of key strategic initiatives. Katherine serves as a catalyst for the deployment of technological solutions that advance our ability to manage and deliver on ever more complex projects in service of a growing roster of national client accounts. Natasha, in turn, leads our continued expansion into the technology and life sciences sectors, with a singular commitment to developing new partnerships and deepening existing ones.
OTJ has also promoted several team members to Principal in recognition of their contributions to our firm’s growth, stability, and culture. This new cohort includes Stacey Gracia, Tamra Green, Aaron West, Becky Boyer, Tom Neal, Michelle Yack, and Greg Diedrich. Oriol Aguilo, Margaret Walsh, and Lee Greenberg have been named Associate Principals.
In addition, John Adamek, Anastasia Epshteyn, Erica Penttila, Kala Fagan, Betsey Friedman, Rami Cohen, Leslie Neilson, Jen Phan, Melissa Garcia, Sara Bodzy, Shannon Dennis, Jireh Klein, and Erica Woody have been appointed Senior Associates. Izabela Marsh, Laurel Duff, Jennifer Pearson, Oscar Vanegas, India Hartwell, Jorge San Martin, Colleen Morris, Lizzy O’Brien, LeAnne Freeman, and Meghan Shelkin have also been recognized as Associates.
Kala Fagan, Gelsie Isgro, and Robyn Rubino have each taken on new responsibilities as Directors of Design. Greg Diedrich has also been recognized as Senior Director. Several promotions reflect the deep bench of talent found in OTJ’s operational teams: Shannon Dennis has been promoted to Marketing Director, and Falynn Schmidt will serve as Senior Strategic Partnerships Director. Ryland Auburn has been named Director of Digital Technology, and David Johnson assumes the role of Director of Information Technology. Lastly, Colleen Huber has advanced to Senior Marketing Manager.
New specialist roles have been created to meet increasing client demand for design expertise in the fields of sustainability, lab planning, and operational systems. Betsey Friedman has been named Senior Designer & Senior Specialist in Sustainability, while Kendra LeBlanc, Harrison Maki, and Anthony Wolff step into roles as Lab Planning Specialists. Jennifer Tapley has also been appointed Senior Billing Specialist, reinforcing the firm’s commitment to operational excellence.
These promotions not only celebrate individual achievement but also represent our commitment to shaping a resilient and future-forward organization. As we continue to grow and adapt to new industry challenges, our people remain our greatest strength.
