Staff
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Thomas C. Sherry, Principal
Landscape Architect
Associations: AIA, Professional Affiliate
Washington State Board of Registration for Landscape Architects, Chair from 2006-2009
Licensure: Washington
Role at SPVV Landscape Architects
Tom is a Principal of SPVV Landscape Architects and has more than 27 years of professional experience across many areas of the profession. Tom’s responsibilities include project planning, public involvement processes, project design and construction documents, and construction administration. His areas of emphasis in the design world cover the spectrum of work within the firm, including public and private work, parks and recreation, municipal facilities, and K-12 through higher education facilities. Tom also handles the majority of the marketing and business development aspects of the firm and the dreaded accounting side of things…and he likes it.
Why I Work Here
A landscape architect I once met described the profession as the best way to do what you love with a constant variety of fun things before you….most times finding that the “work” isn’t really work at all. I wear a lot of hats at the company, including marketing guy, accounting guy, design guy, stand-up-in-front-of-big-crowds guy, construction observation guy, teacher, student, leader, and janitor. All of the things I get to do make me better at all of the others. Most days aren’t work, they’re highly organized play. Well, sometimes they’re just organized….
It really doesn’t get much better than that.
Education
Washington State University | Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture 1982
Email: tsherry@spvv.com
Kenneth L. Van Voorhis, Principal
Landscape Architect
Associations: WASLA, Internal Party Planning Committee, Citizen at large, Husband, Parent
Licensure: Washington, Oregon, and Montana
Role at SPVV Landscape Architects
As one of the three founding principles, Ken offers the highest level of design stemming from a strong background in urban revitalization, park planning, government facilities and business park development. Coupled with his practical experience in the agriculture industry, landscape maintenance and landscape construction, Ken provides a well rounded approach to Landscape Architecture. Using the skills developed from these unique life opportunities, Ken is able to provide a perspective rich in the basics of form and function. Specific project emphasis also includes street beautification, park planning, and large scale residential projects. Ken wears many hats as a principal and is responsible for design and management of the design process by others, assembly of construction documents, preparation of specifications, and many day-to-day office administration tasks, such as human resources, business development, and financial planning.
Why I Work Here
Because it is Fun! Landscape Architecture has many challenges as well as many opportunities. Working at SPVV provides me with a good balance of rewards and challenges. The work performed is interesting, fun and allows a bit of artistry along with calculated accuracy that is at an enjoyable level. Personally I believe that our built environment needs help in softening it to the natural environment. I find it very difficult to try as we might to outdo Mother Nature.
Other reasons are that this job is based in the Inland Northwest. The climate here is just right which allows for activity diversity throughout the year. Activities include boating, fishing, bicycling, and deck lounging in the summer, generally in that order. Fall activities include football, gardening, and general home maintenance. The winters can vary greatly but activities can consist of snow removal, Christmas with family, and collegiate level basketball entertainment into March. I enjoy my family the most, learning history and tinkering in my future shop/garage. I am hoping to complete a restoration of my 1956 Chevy truck. Overall I enjoy life and look at keeping a balance between the challenges of my career and providing for my family. Highlights of my career include working with my fellow colleagues, and the opportunity that this profession has afforded. These projects include international work as well as unique residential opportunities.
Education
Washington State University | Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture 1987
Email: kvan@spvv.com
Anne M. Hanenburg
Landscape Architect
Associations: ASLA, EDRA—Environmental Design & Research Association, Member of Spokane Arts Commission
Role at SPVV Landscape Architects
Anne is a landscape architect and project manager with 9-years experience, and expertise in healing garden and aging design. Prior to becoming a landscape designer she spent 16-years working in healthcare. Helping patients was tremendously rewarding; but there are only so many ways to reprogram a pacemaker and she needed a new way to honor her creative spirit. So she traded the 9-to-5 job for the 24/7 life of academia, earning a BLA at Washington State University, followed by an MS Architecture at University of Idaho. Anne focused her studies on aging design and healing gardens, under the guidance of Paul Windley and Keith Diaz-Moore. Anne is absolutely blissful every time she tackles a healing garden project— the most rewarding ones are those involving design for seniors and people struggling with dementia. She feels blessed to have discovered a rewarding career path where listening to needs and applying creative design makes a real difference in her client’s well-being and quality of life.
Why I Work Here
Two-years before graduation I began scoping out firms that mirror my philosophy of design and professional practice. I wanted a firm that valued honesty and integrity, and where I knew creative and exemplary work was produced. Most waking hours are spent at our jobs; it was important the firm be fun, creative, family-like, small, and supportive of my long-term mission in healing garden design. I had many talks with Tom, Tom & Ken before coming on board – and knew SPVV Landscape Architects was the place for me. We work hard, with genuine commitment and enthusiasm from every team member. I’ve been rewarded with challenging work and results I am proud of. But SPVV also knows how to have fun! That makes it a place I look forward to hanging my hat every morning.
Education
University of Idaho—Master of Science Architecture 2005 | Washington State University—Bachelor Landscape Architecture 2002 | Eastern Washington University—Bachelor of Arts 1986
Email: anne@spvv.com
Gina Bartley
Landscape Designer, LEED AP
Associations: USGBC
Role at SPVV Landscape Architects
Gina enjoys working on the wide variety of projects that come her way, but especially enjoys working on sustainable design projects, loose conceptual sketches and graphic material for presentations and marketing. She is proficient in AutoCAD, SketchUp, Photoshop, and even dabbles a little in InDesign. She has been a LEED Accredited Professional since Spring 2008 and will soon start on the long road to become a licensed landscape architect.
Why I Work Here
Gina joined SPVV Landscape Architects in the spring of 2007 after receiving her Bachelor’s of Landscape Architecture from Washington State University (with honors). A transplant from Western Washington, she never anticipated sticking around the Inland Northwest after graduation, but the thought of returning to insane traffic, rainy months, and frizzy hair made her joyful in her decision to stay. In her free time, Gina enjoys running with her schnoodle, Otis (her very cool dog), trying to grow vegetables in her garden, and working on her fixer-upper of a house that she purchased last spring.
Education
Washington State University, Bachelor of Landscape Architecture with honors, 2007. LEED AP.
Email: gina@spvv.com
Hilary Smith
Irrigation/CAD Designer
Associations: Irrigation Association
Role at SPVV Landscape Architects
Irrigation Design | CAD System Management | Assistant to the IT Manager
Why I Work Here
I started here at SPVV fresh out of my first year of the Architectural Technology program at SCC with little to no knowledge about Landscape or Irrigation design but with a huge passion for AutoCAD and Drafting Design. I thought I was pretty lucky back then to land a job that didn’t involve selling shoes or waiting tables, I had no idea. It wasn’t until a week or so after I was hired and we had my first office baseball game that it really started to sink in as to how lucky I really was. I couldn’t ask for a better place to work, we have a great balance of goofy family atmosphere, hard work and quality design principles. I’m looking forward to continuing to learn and grow with this firm for years to come.
Education
AAS in Architectural Technology SCC | Plant ID SFCC
Email: hilary@spvv.com