PGAV, world leader in the planning and design of unique destinations, has announced a series of strategic new hires, welcoming new team members who will strengthen its St. Louis, Kansas City and Orlando design studios. This growth allows the company to continue its collaborative teamwork on a variety of projects, from small nonprofits to large aquariums and more.
“As our company enters a new phase of growth, we are very excited to share this news,” he says. mike kozen, General Director of PGAV. “These new hires represent remarkable talent across a variety of disciplines that enable us to better serve projects around the world and across our key market sectors in our Destination and Planning groups.”
The expansion of PGAV Destinations reflects its growing national and international activity within the travel, tourism and entertainment sectors. Meanwhile, PGAV Planners is also experiencing a boom in economic development and community planning.
Designing for the complexities of destinations, from theme parks and museums to aquariums, zoos, hotels, retail brand experiences and more, as well as planning with communities for their future, requires a diverse team with experience, knowledge and skill sets in the guest experience, customer operations, bottom lines, and community goals.
New members of the PGAV Destinations team
Five new additions join PGAV Destinations.
Dawn Jasper Waymire is a creative writer and storyteller from Troy, Illinois with over 18 years of media promotion experience with FOX Sports Midwest. He specialized in Audiovisual Communication and Public Relations at SIUE.
Alex Ramirez, a project architect, is from El Paso, Texas and brings seven years of experience in the architectural profession to his new position. Ramírez has a Bachelor of Science in Architecture and a Master of Architecture from the University of Texas San Antonio.
designer/illustrator molly rodabaugh She has a bachelor’s degree in Themed Entertainment Design from the University of Tennessee, College Scholarship Program and has prior experience as a projection designer and freelance illustrator. She is from Buffalo, New York and Knoxville, Tennessee.
kyle russell is a graphic designer with over 20 years of experience at the McGinty Company in Boulder, Colorado. He is from Shelbyville, Illinois and has a bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Finally, Sarah Stapleton is an Executive Assistant from Arnold, Missouri with over 20 years of experience at firms including AT&T Yellow Pages, Thryv, and UPS. She has an associate’s degree in office systems and technology from Jefferson College.
New Team Members for PGAV Planners
Meanwhile, PGAV Planners welcomes four new staff members.
sarah diett is a project planner joining the firm from Atlanta, Georgia. He has a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Washington University in St. Louis and a Master’s in City and Regional Planning and a Master’s in Real Estate Development from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Dyott has prior experience in mixed-income housing development, affordable housing preservation, and community and economic development.
Project manager christian hardin has experience managing a variety of short- and long-term projects in the Economic Development and Community Development Departments. Hardin is from Brooklyn, Illinois and has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from SIUE and a Master of Urban Planning from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
jill mead, Senior Project Manager, rejoins the PGAV Planners team after previously working for the firm from 2018 to 2020. Hailing from Portland, Oregon. Mead is a graduate of the University of Washington and has a Master’s degree in Planning and Public Health from UNC-Chapel Hill.
Lastly, project planner. sareh tabrizchi He has experience as a GIS technician, urban planner, graphic designer and draughtsman. She is from Isfahan, Iran and received her BA in Urban Planning Engineering from Isfahan University of Art and her Masters in Urban Design from the University of Tehran.
PGAV Destinations recently announced that it is continuing its partnership with Connor Prarie and is working on a new Experience Master Plan for the attraction in central Indiana.